Gabriel Mundo

What was your favorite book as a child?

I don't remember many of the books I read as a child but I do distinctly remember being obsessed with Shel Silverstein's "Where the Sidewalk Ends". At that time, I only read it because it was less boring than other books but I think that was the start of my love of poetry.

Do you remember the original reason or motivation why you started writing creatively?

Well, I first started writing poetry in middle school and the motivation then was to impress girls. It didn't work. I didn't write poetry at all through high school but once I got to college my focus shifted. I began to write poetry because I fell in love with the power of language. I would study all these amazing writers throughout history and I could see how their voices impacted the world around them. The only problem I had was that none of the voices I admired looked like me. I want to be the voice I wish I had had growing up.

What was the most adventurous or thrilling thing you ever did/experienced?

I would say that going to Italy in 2016 was one of the best experiences of my life. Coming from the suburbs of Chicago and being poor most of my life, I am not the most traveled person. Being able to experience another country's culture first hand is something I will never forget and something I want to experience again.

Do you listen to music while reading or writing?

I usually listen to music while I'm writing, but never when I'm reading. I listen to music while I'm writing because it allows me to drown out the rest of the world. The music I listen to varies as I go from classical music, to alternative and rap. However, I usually end up listening to the Hamilton or In The Heights soundtrack.