Gilbert Cruz

And he said, Isabel, maybe this is it for you.

And he said, Isabel, maybe this is it for you.

Let's just take a step back. You're in the home of this literary genius, and he tells you something that to most people would be crushing. I was crushed, too, of course.

Let's just take a step back. You're in the home of this literary genius, and he tells you something that to most people would be crushing. I was crushed, too, of course.

But you did not listen to him at the time.

But you did not listen to him at the time.

You had to go to Venezuela because there was a military coup. What was the moment you knew it's time for me to go?

You had to go to Venezuela because there was a military coup. What was the moment you knew it's time for me to go?

How did you explain it to your children?

How did you explain it to your children?

After the break, Isabel tells me about the years she spent writing daily letters to her mother.

After the break, Isabel tells me about the years she spent writing daily letters to her mother.

So, you wrote your first novel, House of the Spirits, at the age of 39. In Venezuela. And I think a lot of people have a feeling that at a certain point, maybe it's too late for doing the thing that they want to do. They were meant to do. They've always dreamed of doing.

So, you wrote your first novel, House of the Spirits, at the age of 39. In Venezuela. And I think a lot of people have a feeling that at a certain point, maybe it's too late for doing the thing that they want to do. They were meant to do. They've always dreamed of doing.

When you got to that point where you started to write a letter to your grandfather that then turned into this incredible novel, did you think, what am I doing here? Like, this is not, I'm 39 years old. I'm not going to become a novelist at this age.

When you got to that point where you started to write a letter to your grandfather that then turned into this incredible novel, did you think, what am I doing here? Like, this is not, I'm 39 years old. I'm not going to become a novelist at this age.

You say you had a feeling that your life was going nowhere. You had nothing to show for it other than your two children. I think if I felt that way, I would be overwhelmed, and I didn't know that I would be able to start anything. I'm wondering if you could talk about that feeling a little bit more.

You say you had a feeling that your life was going nowhere. You had nothing to show for it other than your two children. I think if I felt that way, I would be overwhelmed, and I didn't know that I would be able to start anything. I'm wondering if you could talk about that feeling a little bit more.

It's been a little more than 30 years since you published that memoir that you just referred to, Paula, which is named after your daughter. Yes. It's about your life with her and the situation you found yourself in, where she was in a coma for quite a long time, and then she eventually passed. I'm curious how your grief has changed after or evolved in the 30 years since you lost your daughter.

It's been a little more than 30 years since you published that memoir that you just referred to, Paula, which is named after your daughter. Yes. It's about your life with her and the situation you found yourself in, where she was in a coma for quite a long time, and then she eventually passed. I'm curious how your grief has changed after or evolved in the 30 years since you lost your daughter.