Adriana Erin Rivera, an award-winning New Jersey-raised author of Puerto Rican descent, shared excerpts of her first book published by the Smithsonian Institute, “Paloma’s Song for Puerto Rico – A Diary from 1898,” Saturday, July 19th at Agelier Mone Art Gallery owned by Damaris Mone in Mount Vernon.
Paloma’s Song was created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Latino, Nuestras Voces shares inspiring Latino stories. It is 1898, and twelve-year-old Paloma lives in Puerto Rico with her Papi, Mami, and little brother, Jorge. They are coffee farmers, and Paloma loves the chickens and fruit trees that she helps to care for. She also loves music–the song of the coquí frogs who sing her to sleep, and the melodies from Papi’s tiple guitar. But Paloma’s world begins to change when war arrives on Puerto Rico’s shores. What will happen to their culture, the island? As Paloma and her family navigate changes they can’t control, they hold tightly to each other and hope for a better future. In diary format, the Nuestras Voces series profiles inspiring characters and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.
Adriana’s writing has been published in Barzakh Literary Magazine, Latina Magazine, Metro New York, and Footwear News. She is also a songwriter and has written theatrical pieces that have been performed on New York City stages. A Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Marketing Communications.
Adriana’s middle-grade historical fiction novel, PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898, is a collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum for the American Latino. The children’s book won the Gold Medal for Best Educational Chapter Book at the 2024 International Latino Book Awards. A Spanish edition, LA CANCIÓN DE PALOMA PARA PUERTO RICO: UN DIARIO DE 1898, will be released in August 2025. Currently based in Westchester County, NY, she is a Marketing Manager at a university in New York.
For more on Adriana Erin Rivera and her books, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn
PALOMA’S SONG FOR PUERTO RICO: A DIARY FROM 1898 by Adriana Erin Rivera is available everywhere books are sold, and you can also reserve it at your local public library today!
Damaris Moné, the founder and owner of Atelier Moné, is a self-taught artist who began to create art and jewelry after a dedicated career in public service, policy making, and politics, when her life took an unexpected turn when she lost her career and was simultaneously diagnosed with breast cancer. It was during recovery that Damaris began to paint using acrylics and mixed media as part of the healing process. Since there are no rules in art, this allowed her to create without fear, using her mind’s eye. Since her childhood, she had loved drawing and wanted to be an artist. One of her earliest childhood memories is wanting to apply for art school after seeing an Art School ad in the “TV Guide”.
At Atelier Moné, expect different designs for the home, office, and one-of-a-kind pieces of Jewelry inspired by her artwork. From policy making about how to live in society to no rules in art, Damaris’ unwavering passion for the environment, her life experiences, and art are evident in her work. Atelier Moné offers open editions and eventually limited editions, with hand-painted embellishments in 2024 and one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces through her online gallery.
For more on Atelier Moné, visit the website and follow on Instagram, X (Twitter), and Facebook.
