Meeting the Literary Community: Laura Elena at a Tertulia in León, Guanajuato
As part of her book tour in Mexico, author and illustrator Laura Elena Rodríguez Garcidueñas had the opportunity to meet members of Guanajuato’s literary community during a Tertulia Literaria at the Biblioteca Central Estatal Wigberto Jiménez Moreno in León.
The morning brought together writers, readers, and people involved in promoting literature in the state, creating a warm space for conversation around books, culture, and the stories that help us understand where we come from.
Laura was invited to present Juego de Pelota: Descubre sus secretos con La Catrina Bohemia, sharing the story behind the book and the journey that led her to research Mexico’s ancestral ballgames. She spoke about her work as an author and illustrator, the importance of connecting with players and cultural organizations during her research, and her interest in creating books that make Mexico’s cultural heritage accessible to younger readers.
For Laura, being welcomed into a literary community in Guanajuato was especially meaningful. Although she has lived in Prague for many years, Mexico continues to be an important source of inspiration for her work. Returning to the country with her books has given her the opportunity to reconnect with readers, writers, artists, and cultural promoters who share an interest in preserving and sharing Mexican culture.
The Tertulia also included the presentation of La Constitución Política del Estado de Guanajuato en verso, by Rafael Álvarez, bringing together two very different books and perspectives within the same literary space.
What made the evening special was precisely this sense of community. Juego de Pelota was not simply presented to an audience; it became part of a conversation among people who value books as a way to explore history, culture, identity, and the stories that connect generations.
Editorial Parangueo is grateful to the Red Estatal de Tertulias Literarias Guanajuato José Luis Calderón Vela, the organizers, and everyone who welcomed Laura into this literary community and made space for Juego de Pelota among the voices and stories being shared in Guanajuato.
For Laura, each encounter during this tour has been a reminder that a book’s journey does not end when it is published. It continues through the people who read it, talk about it, and make it part of their own communities.
