Diversity Month 2022 Spotlight Series: Melissa de la Cruz

 

“Because love was not the answer to every question. Because real love meant sacrifice. Sometimes love means letting go.” - Gates of Paradise: Number 7 by Melissa de la Cruz

Melissa de la Cruz is a Filipino author born in Manila, Philippines, but later immigrated to the United States at the age of 13. She graduated from Columbia University with a major in Art History and English. 

At a young age, de la Cruz always dreamt of becoming an author. Her first full-length novel at the age of 22 was sadly not a commercial success, but with a suggestion from an editor to try journalism first, she decided to work freelance. Her years as a journalist started when her first essay was published in the New York Press in 1996. Following that release, she became a fashion and beauty editor for publications such as Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, The New York Times, and many more. In 1998, she sold her first novel titled “The Cat’s Meow.”

Her most notable works are the Descendants Series which is based on Disney’s Descendants Movies. The four novels revolve around the children of the well-known villains Maleficent, Jafar, Cruella de Vil, and the Evil Queen and how their descendants Mal, Elvie, Jay, and Carlos come of age in the first book, The Isle of the Lost. 

Photo from Book Depository

She is also known for her critically-acclaimed novel “Something In Between” which sparked debates and discussions about immigration. “Something in Between,” tells the story of an undocumented Filipino-American high school senior named Jasmine de los Santos. The novel tackles the life of an undocumented child and her anxiety and shame to reveal her status to the people closest to her. Melissa de la Cruz hopes that the story of Jasmine makes undocumented teens feel not alone and for other teens to be open to these kinds of situations. 

Photo from Goodreads

Melissa de la Cruz is now a  #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author and a USA Today Best-Selling Author of many award-winning novels and series such as the Blue Blood Series, The Au Pairs Series, Alex and Eliza Series, just to name a few from a long list of her works. 

De la Cruz shows what great talent Filipinos have in writing. She paved the way for other Filipino writers to reach success globally. Perhaps more importantly, she serves as an inspiration for so many young aspiring Filipino writers to never give up on their dreams and to quote her, “...keep knocking on that door till it opens!”