Daniel Miyares on How To Say Goodbye in Cuban
Acclaimed children’s picture book author and illustrator Daniel Miyares joins co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Christian Barter to discuss his first graphic novel, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban; immigration and Cuban history; and the effects of U.S. sanctions on Cuba,
In the podcast conversation, children's book author and illustrator Daniel Miyares discusses his first graphic novel, "How to Say Goodbye in Cuban," which is based on his family's immigration story. Miyares explains how he decided to research and write about his family's journey as a fictionalized version of his father's experience during the Cuban Revolution.
He shares that his father moved from Cuba to the United States when he was a young boy, and he uses his father's story to explore the impact of U.S. sanctions on Cuba.
Miyares talks about his decision to illustrate the book using ink and watercolors, drawing each image by hand. He explains that this approach allowed him to connect with the medium and learn the process of creating a graphic novel, as computers were not yet widely available in the early 1960s when he started working on the project. Miyares reflects on the challenges of researching and narrating someone else's story, particularly as his father passed away before the book was completed.
He also discusses the different waves of emigration from Cuba, explaining that his family's immigration occurred during a different period than the one Marco Rubio's family experienced. Miyares emphasizes the importance of understanding the motivations behind each family's decision to leave the country, which can vary depending on the specific circumstances they faced.
Written by urgent.news from Literary Hub's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
