Meet Fabiana Sandoval

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Fabiana Sandoval. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Fabiana, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

Being an older woman pursuing her dreams comes with much negativity. I’m often told that instead of pursuing my interests I should think about retirement. Having worked as an elementary school teacher for over forty years, I have taken pride in educating new generations. Seeing my students grow up and pursue their dreams and aspirations fills me with great joy.
It wasn’t until recently that I started dedicating more time to publishing fiction books and poetry. I have been very fortunate to have come across many people who have been supportive of my work, nonetheless I have faced many challenges in the process. Despite people’s opinion of my age, I strive to maintain a positive attitude and focus on what’s really important: fulfill my professional dreams and aspirations of becoming a well-known author. I strongly believe that there are no timelines for pursuing our goals. As long as I remain inspired and have a desire, I will keep looking for opportunities to share my writing.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I started writing poetry in my teen years as a way to protest for the things I believed were injustices. Having been bullied during elementary school, I decided to step in and help those who I saw getting bullied at school. Throughout my adult life, I kept writing but had no intention of publicizing any of my work. Then I got the opportunity to write a monthly parenting column for a local magazine and a newspaper. The editors were very pleased with the public’s response, often citing how parents enjoyed the way the information was presented.
Shortly after, I decided to start getting more involved with arts organizations and have been fortunate to have participated in many events both nationally and abroad. Being around so many talented individuals prompted me to keep polishing my writing skills by attending workshops and literature related events.
Most of my writing is in my mother language, Spanish however some of my work has been translated and published in English and Italian as well.
Since I still work full time as an educator, I attend literary events, do book readings and schedule book signing events mostly on the weekends. I am also a delegate for Miami Based arts organization “The Cove Rincon. ” Next year, I plan on hosting a limited number of events to give other writers the opportunity to showcase their work. As an Indie Author, I know firsthand the challenges that come with it, therefore I want to create a space where we can support each other.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

For me, the three most important skills are determination, consistency, and a positive attitude. Everyone has dreams and aspirations but sometimes we neglect those because we are too focused on fulfilling everyone else’s needs. We have to remember that while it is important to lend a helping hand, we also have to make time for the projects we are involved with.
It might sound cliché, but we must make a constant effort in order to succeed. There will be many challenges and setbacks along the journey, but maintaining a positive attitude will help us start over and continue. I usually try to see the good in everything I do, I even won an award at work for constantly exhibiting a positive attitude.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents instilled in me the value of education, hard work and teamwork. My father, always used to say that the one thing he wanted my siblings and I to do was to go to school and get a degree. I come from a very humble family where the basic necessities were met but there were no luxuries. My siblings and I used to walk for an hour to get to school, under the scorching sun in the summer, under the rain during rainy season, during the cold winter months it seemed as if our breath would get frozen but during spring it was quite the journey. Birds singing, flowers all around.
My parents work tirelessly all their life and used to tell us that no matter how much we studied, once we had a career we had to put in a good effort at work.
When I started taking my writing journey more seriously, I realized I wasn’t going to go far by myself. I am fortunate enough to have met many people, especially many women who have shown me the way and opened doors for me that would not have opened otherwise. Once again, my parents’ teachings proved true.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @fabi_sanrubi
• Other: email: fabianasandovalauthor@gmail.com

Image Credits

All images are my own.