Author Spotlight: Yásnaya Aguilar

Yásnaya Aguilar is a Mexican author and activist who has fought to preserve endangered languages, including her own - Ayuujk, the language of an indigenous Oaxacan community. Aguilar’s writing blends sharp cultural critique with reflections on language, identity, and power.

What is your favorite book?

 My favorite book is one of the first novels I ever read - Crime And Punishment.

What are you reading now?

I am reading a book about language diversity - Cartas a las Lenguas de España by Juan Carlos Moreno Cabrera. It is a collection of letters to the languages of Spain - one letter for every language.

Which authors inspire you?

I am most inspired by story tellers of oral tradition - those who keep language and memory alive.

What are you working on now?

Right now I am working on a story of fiction based on my childhood times in Oaxaca.