Irma Heidi Ortiz Torres – författare

Living in Puerto Rico as a single mom and schoolteacher, was not an easy feat. Struggling to make ends meet, the only way to break the cycle, was to move northbound to the United States, our mainland. Florida became our new home, and despite the change of scenery, language, and culture, I was determined to raise my daughter culturally aware of her origins. Promoting the preservation of our mother tongue, our music, literature, food, and everything else that entails being a Puerto Rican islander, became my number one priority. My daughter grew up to be fully bilingual and preserved her native culture, but also embraced a new one. Years later, my daughter welcomed the first generation in our family to be born in the mainland and made me a grandmother of twins! Now, as grandmother, together with my daughter and her Venezuelan husband, have the double task of teaching the twins their cultural heritage through awareness and ethnic identity. Our collective goal is for the twins to blend and not melt into the American melting pot, by preserving the rich Puerto Rican and Venezuelan cultural essence. Arepas y Piononos: The Twins, is here to inspire the preservation of culture for the new generation that is born and raised away from their parents and grandparents homeland. The book is written in dual language for beginner readers with beautiful illustrations to turn family story time into a journey back home. Irma Heidi Ortiz-Torres Yaya

The year 2020 will go down in history as the one that changed our lives. Everyone suffered during the pandemic crisis, many lives were lost, some too close to us, and families experienced chronic sadness in their shared struggle. People immersed in their own sorrows and sometimes forgot about the loved ones besides them, especially the young ones. De Aqui y de Alla: The Twins is a testament on focusing on the good around us in the face of adversity. Julian and Ana Marie, the beloved Venezuelan- Puerto Rican twins of Arepas y Piononos, turned four years old in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The illusion of having a birthday party never vanished because their mom promised them two surprises despite social distancing guidelines. The book is written in both English and Spanish for beginner readers and showcases how creativity in challenging times can bring family and friends together no matter how far they live. The book s colorful illustrations are conversation starters about places in the world, its flags, how to overcome the distance imposed by a pandemic and share the love.