Tombolo Books welcomes Florida poet Yael Valencia Aldana to the bookstore for a National Poetry Month event for her award-winning collection Black Mestiza. Valencia Aldana will be in conversation with fellow Florida author Annabelle Tometich!

In Black Mestiza, Yael Valencia Aldana reckons with her identity as a Caribbean Afro-Latinx/e woman with Indigenous, Black, and white roots and pays homage to the legacy, resilience, and fortitude of her ancestors. These stunning poems paint a vivid picture of everyday life and Aldana's experiences as a mixed-race woman, daughter, and mother.

Valencia Aldana beautifully interweaves narratives regarding the constant presence and influence of her Caribbean parents and a desire for more connection with her Colombian grandmother and ancestry, capturing the essence of origins, blood ties, and the idea that nothing is ever truly lost. This collection is not only a testament to Aldana's deep-rooted connection to her heritage, but also a compelling celebration and expression of pride, recognition, and a profound sense of community.

Yael Valencia Aldana is Afro-Latinx/e award-winning poet and writer. She is the author of the poetry collection Black Mestiza (University Press of Kentucky, 2025) and the chapbook Alien(s) from (Sweetie Press). She is a Pushcart Prize winner, and her work has appeared in Torch Literary Arts, Literary Mama, and Slag Glass City, among others. She teaches creative writing at Florida International University and is the editor-in-chief of Purple Ink Press. She lives in Florida near the ocean with her son and too many pets. You can find her online at YaelAldana.com.

Annabelle Tometich went from medical-school reject to line cook to journalist to author. She spent 18 years as a food writer, editor, and restaurant critic for The News-Press in her hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. Her first book, “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony” published in April 2024 and was called “sweet, sharp” by The New York Times. “The Mango Tree” was named among the best books of the year by The Washington Post and NPR. It was also a finalist for The Southern Book Prize. Tometich’s writing has appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today, Catapult, the Tampa Bay Times, and many more outlets. She (still) lives in Fort Myers with her husband, two children, and her ever-fiery Filipina mother.