Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Kali Fajardo-Anstine did not see herself, nor her family, represented in books or television. But, she knew she wanted to be a writer.

Kali is a mixed Chicana woman with Indigenous and Filipino ancestry; she brings all of that into her work in hopes of creating a space where readers feel represented and seen.

Kali is also the author of “Sabrina and Corina,” a collection of short stories that explore the lives of Chicanos and Chicanas in and around Dever, and she recently released her debut novel, “Woman of Light.”

In this episode of Latino USA, Kali talks about how her life experiences and identity blend into her work and how she’s honoring her ancestors from the American West through her writing.