Lilliam Rivera is the author of the young adult novel The Education of Margot Sanchez.From her Q&A with Deborah Kalb:
Q: How did you come up with the idea for The Education of Margot Sanchez, and for your main character, Margot?--Marshal Zeringue
A: The idea for the novel came to me somewhat from my own experience. My first job at 14 years old was working with my father. My father worked as a nursing aide in a private hospital in Manhattan.
At that time, I really looked up to my father. He could do no wrong. Although we never really worked in the same department, I did get to see him. It was the first time that I saw him doing humbling work. He took care of mentally handicapped children.
I got to see him in quite a different light. He became human, if that makes any sense. I tried to capture that moment in a teenager’s life when you see your parents for the first time, flaws and all.
Q: How was the novel’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: I actually did not come up with the title. The title was done by...[read on]