Lucia Zarate (Velastegui) - Author Bio

Author Bio
• Birth—September 29, 1953
• Where—Quito, Ecuador
• Education—M.S.Ed., University of Southern California
• Awards—First Place-International Latino Book Awards (twice)
• Currently—Dana Point, California, USA


Cecilia Velastegui received First Place from the International Latino Book Awards for her novels Missing in Machu Picchu (2013) and Traces of Bliss (2012). The Association of American Publishers and Las Comadres International organization selected her novels to the National Latino Book Club. Parisian Promises (2014) was the runner-up for the Paris Book Award and Gathering the Indigo Maidens (2011) was a finalist for the Mariposa Award. Her children’s bilingual fables: Olinguito Speaks Up, Lalo Loves to Help, and Howl of the Mission Owl have received numerous awards.

Cecilia is an experienced public speaker and has been invited to present her novels and fables at the Los Angeles Times Book Festival, Literary Orange, the Smithsonian Institution, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Big Orange Book Festival, the California Bilingual Education Association,  and the Los Angeles and Orange County Libraries.

Cecilia was born in Ecuador and raised in California and France. She received her graduate degree from the University of Southern California, is a former Marriage and Family Therapist, speaks four languages, serves on the board of directors of several educational and arts institutions, and has traveled to one hundred countries. She lives in Dana Point, California. (From the author.)