CSUSB alumna and author Isabel Quintero: Writing her own story

For Isabel Quintero, Cal State San Bernardino wasn’t just a place to earn a degree — it was where she found her voice. The award-winning author of “Gabi, a Girl in Pieces” and “My Papi Has a Motorcycle,” among other works, credits her time at CSUSB with shaping her journey as a writer and deepening her connection to her identity.

A lifelong resident of the Inland Empire and a first-generation college student, Quintero earned both her bachelor's degree in English literature in 2005 and her master’s in English composition in 2013 at CSUSB. Coming from immigrant parents who didn’t have the opportunity to pursue higher education, attending college was a major milestone.

“Being the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I think a lot of times we’re asked to leave our culture behind,” she said. “But my experience at CSUSB taught me that my language, my culture, my everyday life — it was all valid and worth writing about.”

Quintero recalled the moment in a Chicana/Chicano literature class when she first saw herself reflected in a book. “I didn’t know Mexicans wrote books until I was in that class,” she said. That realization, along with encouragement from CSUSB professors, like Ellen Gill Gomez, Julie Paegle, and Jackie Rhodes, gave her the confidence to pursue writing as a career.

Quintero’s work has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the California Book Award, and the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award. Yet, for her, the most meaningful recognition comes from readers who see themselves in her stories. “Being able to connect with people who perhaps never felt a connection with writers before — that’s been the most rewarding part for me,” she said.

Her advice to aspiring writers? “Write. Read. Surround yourself with people who encourage you. And don’t be discouraged by rejection — your voice matters.”