Talking with René Colato Laínez
- Salvadoran teacher and children's book author. He has lived in Los Angeles for many years.
TDP: When and why did you left El Salvador?
RCL: I left El Salvador in 1985 due to the civil war. I was 14 years old. My father and I left in the dawn of February 17, 1985. The journey was long and tired but it was my inspiration for my new book My Shoes and I. This book tells the relationship between a boy and his new pair of shoes and how these shoes wore down throughout the journey.
TDP: Who has influenced your life as a writer?
RCL: The first person who inspired me was my mother’s uncle, Jorge B. Laínez. He was a teacher and author in El Salvador. I was so proud when I discovered a poem written by uncle Jorge in my fourth grade-reading textbook. This incident made me think that I could also be an author in the future.
TDP: What's your first book called?
RCL: My first book is Waiting for Papá/ Esperando a Papá and it was published by Arte Público Press. This book tells Beto’s story, a Salvadoran boy who had to travel to the United States with his mother. His father had to stayed behind and now Beto’s wish is to be reunited with his father.
TDP: Would you like to go back to El Salvador?
RCL: I will love to come back and visit my elementary school República de Chile and my junior school Liceo Cristiano Reverendo Juan Bueno anexo El Granjero. I would tell them, “Here I am. Thank you for teaching me how to read and write and to make me a good student. Thanks to all this knowledge, I was able to accomplish my dreams in the United States.
TDP: Do you have a message for the Salvadoran children?
RCL: I tell all Salvadoran children to dream, study and fight for their goals. In this life everything can be accomplished through education and effort. Let’s make of El Salvador a great country day by day. The future of El Salvador is in your hands.
Visit him at www.renecolatolainez.com
TDP: When and why did you left El Salvador?
RCL: I left El Salvador in 1985 due to the civil war. I was 14 years old. My father and I left in the dawn of February 17, 1985. The journey was long and tired but it was my inspiration for my new book My Shoes and I. This book tells the relationship between a boy and his new pair of shoes and how these shoes wore down throughout the journey.
TDP: Who has influenced your life as a writer?
RCL: The first person who inspired me was my mother’s uncle, Jorge B. Laínez. He was a teacher and author in El Salvador. I was so proud when I discovered a poem written by uncle Jorge in my fourth grade-reading textbook. This incident made me think that I could also be an author in the future.
TDP: What's your first book called?
RCL: My first book is Waiting for Papá/ Esperando a Papá and it was published by Arte Público Press. This book tells Beto’s story, a Salvadoran boy who had to travel to the United States with his mother. His father had to stayed behind and now Beto’s wish is to be reunited with his father.
TDP: Would you like to go back to El Salvador?
RCL: I will love to come back and visit my elementary school República de Chile and my junior school Liceo Cristiano Reverendo Juan Bueno anexo El Granjero. I would tell them, “Here I am. Thank you for teaching me how to read and write and to make me a good student. Thanks to all this knowledge, I was able to accomplish my dreams in the United States.
TDP: Do you have a message for the Salvadoran children?
RCL: I tell all Salvadoran children to dream, study and fight for their goals. In this life everything can be accomplished through education and effort. Let’s make of El Salvador a great country day by day. The future of El Salvador is in your hands.
Visit him at www.renecolatolainez.com