Author Spotlight – Adriana Ramírez

Welcome to “Author Spotlight” series! I want to introduce you to authors in the Spanish language space I think you NEED to know. I’m setting this up Q&A-style so that you can learn more about each author’s purpose, the books that they’re most proud of, and the resources they have to support you in your classroom. I hope you enjoy these wonderful people. I know you’re going to love the stories they have to share!

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Adriana Ramírez

WHY DID YOU START WRITING?

I started writing because there was a lack of representation of authentic voices telling their own stories. I am a big advocate of the Own Voices movement.

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE AND MISSION IN WRITING YOUR BOOKS?

With my books, I want my readers to learn about Colombia from the insider’s perspective. I want to tell stories about my country that help people understand the beauty of my people and my land. Most of my stories are built around social justice issues. So, you are not only learning Spanish and culture but also questioning the status quo.

WHICH BOOK(S) ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? WHY?

I am proud of all my books as they are all a part of me. I truly love each story. If I have to choose one (so hard), I would say LA MARIMBA DE MI ABUELO as it was written in honour of my grampa and it was inspired by my family’s history –it has real events, history and fiction.

DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS WE SHOULD KEEP OUR EYES OUT FOR?

I am always writing 🙂 My latest book was published a month ago: ¿Qué dijiste?
My plan for this year is to publish three more books. One that I am currently writing. The next MOSCA book (the MOSCA books are part of the Por si las moscas collection, a collaboration with my friend and author Margarita Pérez García). The next REVOLUCIONARIA book (another collaboration with Margarita, we each write a book that is part of the collection every year).

How to Bring Adriana’s Books into Your Classroom

If you are wondering where to start, Adriana’s books make it easy to bring authentic, culturally rich content into your Spanish classes. Her stories are written with students in mind, which means they are accessible without being watered down. Each book includes real emotions, real experiences, and real cultural insights, all in language your students can understand.

Try using La marimba de mi abuelo as a class novel in an upper level course. Build in mini lessons on Colombian geography, Afro Colombian music, or even oral history traditions. For level one or two classes, books like Soy yo, la mosca or Cara de mosquita muerta offer just the right mix of humor, accessible language, and culture to keep students curious and motivated.

Adriana’s teacher guides make planning a breeze, so you can spend more time discussing and less time prepping.

Why It Matters That Students Hear These Voices

Representation in language classrooms is not just a bonus. It is essential. When students read stories from authors like Adriana, they gain more than just vocabulary. They learn empathy, they hear diverse Spanish voices, and they engage with real world topics that matter.

This is especially powerful for heritage speakers or students who have never seen their identity reflected in classroom texts. Choosing Adriana’s work is not just about excellent storytelling. It is about offering students a more complete, inclusive picture of the Spanish speaking world.

HOW CAN WE BEST SUPPORT YOU?

You can support my work by buying my books at CPLI.net. When teachers, students and people in general buy my books, they are supporting an Own Voices author: a Colombian woman writing about her culture, her people and her country. It does not get more authentic than that.

WHERE CAN WE CONNECT WITH YOU?

• adrianaramirez.ca
• Instagram
• Twitter

Books Available:

Level 4 (Perfect for IB, AP, and advanced Spanish classes!)
El Cóndor de los Andes – Teacher Guide available here
Rigo – Teacher Guide available here
El camino del café
Es posible soñar
Un nuevo amanecer
La marimba de mi abuelo

Level 3:
El entierro – Teacher Guide available here
María Cano, La Flor del Trabajo –first book in the collection REVOLUCIONARIAS–
¿Qué dijiste?

Level 2:
Julio
Me perdí en Medellín – Teacher Guide available here

Level 1:
Soy yo, la mosca –part of the collection POR SI LAS MOSCAS–
Cara de mosquita muerta –part of the collection POR SI LAS MOSCAS–

Teacher’s Guides Available!

Adriana has been working on adding teacher’s guides for her novels. Check out the ones she has available here in her TPT store!

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