María Dolores Águila is a San Diego–based, self-taught Chicana writer who believes that stories can change the world. In all her work, she seeks to honor where we come from and spark new connections, always rooted in the belief that creativity can heal and transform. Her writing is shaped by the histories she carries, the comunidad that raised her, and a lifelong love of words that create space for hope.

When she’s not writing, María is drawn to strong coffee, ridiculously spicy food, and occasionally earning a teen eye-roll whenever she dares to use slang. She writes for anyone who has ever carried a story inside them and wondered if it mattered. With every sentence, she hopes to leave a little more room for courage, and to remind us that our voices have always been powerful.