of her title character and her novel "reflects upon the diverse and unpredictable revisions that [Malinalli/La Malinche's] mythical identity has undergone continuously since the period of the Conquest. . . . seek[ing] a middle ground between Malinalli’s autonomy and Malinche’s predetermination" The novel's book jacket features an Aztec-style codex designed and executed by Jordi Castells) printed on its interior surface that is meant to represent Malinalli's diary. Esquivel's most recent novels are A Lupita le gusta planchar (2014 SUMA, Madrid) and El diario de Tita (May 2016 Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, Barcelona). The former has been translated into English as Pierced by the Sun (Trans. Jordi Castells. Amazon Crossing, Seattle 2016). Personal life Laura Beatriz Esquivel Veracruz was born the third of four children to Julio César Esquivel, a telegraph operator, and Josefa Valdés, a homemaker. Her father's death in 1999 was the inspiration for Tan veloz como el deseo. Trained as a teacher, Esquivel founded a children's theater workshop and wrote and produced dramas for children. She first married actor, producer, and director Alfonso Arau, with whom she collaborated on several films. Esquivel and her present husband make their home in Mexico City. In March 2009 Laura Esquivel ran as preliminary candidate of the Local Council in District XXVII of Mexico City for the PRD. Her candidacy was supported by the current Izquierda Unida, which combined various PRD groups. In 2012, she was elected Federal Representative (in Spanish: diputada federal) for the Morena Party. She has also served as head of the Mexico City Cultural Committee and member of the Science & Technology and Environmental Committees for the Morena Party. Bibliography Como agua para chocolate (1989) (English: Like Water for Chocolate) La ley del amor (1995) (English: The Law of Love) Íntimas suculencias (1998) Estrellita marinera (1999) El libro de las emociones (2000) Tan veloz como el deseo (2001) (English: Swift as Desire) Malinche (2006) (English: Malinche: A Novel) Escribiendo la nueva historia (2014) A Lupita le gustaba planchar (2014) (English: Pierced by the Sun) El diario de Tita (2016) Mi negro pasado (2017) References External links Esquivel's website about her candidacy for local congress (offline, retrieved via WayBak Machine) Biography (bookrags.com) Short bio (biography.com) Fantasticfiction.co.uk Bio at Dailycelebrations.com 1950 births 20th-century Mexican women writers 20th-century Mexican writers 21st-century Mexican politicians 21st-century Mexican women writers 21st-century Mexican writers Living people Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Mexico) Mexican