Daisy Hernández (she/her)

Daisy Hernández is the author of "The Kissing Bug," winner of the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award and the inaugural title for the National Book Foundation’s Science + Literature Program. Her memoir, "A Cup of Water Under My Bed," won Lambda Literary’s Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award and was a Publishing Triangle Award finalist. She co-edited the classic feminist anthology "Colonize This!" and is an associate professor of creative writing at Northwestern University. Her latest book is "Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth."

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Awards: National Book Award, PEN Literary Award, PEN/Jean Stein Book Award; IPPY Award for best coming-of-age memoir and Lambda Literary’s Dr. Betty Berzon Emerging Writer Award

Communities: LGBTQ+, Hispanic or Latinx

Carrying Home: Migration Memories

Examine the history and impact of immigration in the U.S. and hear stories from three authors who look at the phenomenon from distinct perspectives in their groundbreaking books. The authors all have personal ties to immigration, either as immigrants themselves or as the descendants of immigrants.

Nuestras Raíces Stage (Seats 150)  
Sat, Mar 14, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Nuestras Raices
Signing area: Pima County Public Library/Nuestras Raíces/Craft Tent & Signing Area (following presentation)  

Panelists: Daisy Hernández, Daniel Olivas, Dora Rodriguez
Moderator: Carlos Parra
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Pima County Public Library

Finding One's Place

Belonging, identity and heritage come together as we explore the difficulty in finding one’s place in a diverse culture where some are more privileged than others. These authors share unique journeys defining a place in our society grounded in cultural and ethnic heritage, migration stories, and botanical legacies.

Integrated Learning Center Room 150 (Seats 155, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Current Issues / Politics / Social Science
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)  

Panelists: Julian Brave NoiseCat, Daisy Hernández, Nicholas Lemann
Moderator: Tony Paniagua
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Hughes Federal Credit Union, Kimberly Peters and Bruce Peters, Frank and Kathryn Hartley

Books:

Citizenship

Notes on an American Myth
Nuestras Raices
Random House
February 2026
ISBN 9780593730171
304 pages
Buy now

A Cup of Water Under My Bed

A Memoir
Nuestras Raices
Beacon Press
September 2024
ISBN 9780807017333
200 pages
Buy now