Short Bio (150 words)

Pablo Cartaya is an award-winning author whose books have been reviewed by The New York Times, featured in The Washington Post, received starred reviews from Kirkus, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and School Library Journal, and featured on many Best Books of the Year and state award lists. He Is the author of the critically acclaimed middle-grade novels The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora (a 2018 Pura Belpre Honor Book) and Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish (currently in development as a feature film adaptation). His most recent novel, Each Tiny Spark, was honored with the 2020 Schneider Family Book Award for its portrayal of the disability experience and published by the Kokila Penguin Random House Imprint, which focuses on publishing diverse books for children and young adults. Pablo is proudly bilingual en español y ingles. While currently available for virtual visits only, he looks forward to once again visiting readers around the country soon. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter at @phcartaya

10 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT PABLO

1. I write entire drafts long hand before typing it on a computer. 

2. I was in sitcoms and commercials in English and Spanish including co-starring on NBC’s “Will & Grace”.

3. I was Ricky Martin’s body double in a music video.

4. I did Spanish voice overs for South Park.

5. I was a bottle dancer in the musical "Fiddler on the Roof" in college.

6. My dad is a veteran of The Bay of Pigs.

7. I worked in professional kitchens and restaurants for a long time – I’ve done practically every job.

8. I love the Miami Heat – like seriously, I’m kind of a fanatic.

9. I’ve met and hung out with a lot of really cool people but the coolest is probably Ricky Martin. Queen Latifah is a pretty close second.

10. If I were going to choose another career I would probably be a pianist, who is also a rockstar :)

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