This summer, the students of Lee University’s annual Colombia Trip and Fifth Symposium had the opportunity to attend the book launch of “Cuentos y poesías de Estados Unidos, Colombia and Paraguay,” a collection of narratives, poetry, and short stories. The work was edited and compiled by Professor Marcos Ybáñez, president of the Paraguayan Writer Association, and Lee’s Dr. Alexander Steffanell and published by Editorial de La Paz of Resistencia of Argentina. 

Students from Lee were encouraged to submit work for consideration, and Kretel Arzola, Elizabeth “Elle” Lancaster, and Kirshea Smith were selected for publication.  

Arzola is a senior Spanish major from Las Tunas, Cuba. Her contributions to the book included two short stories titled, “El Arbol de Navidad” and “Las manos de Fidel.” Both pieces speak to her Cuban upbringing and creatively share significant memories from her childhood. Arzola has previously self-published children’s books, but this marks her first publication of non-juvenile fiction.  

“I was thrilled about this book opportunity, and seeing my work published was very rewarding,” said Arzola. “In the future, I want to become a Spanish professor, but I also want to keep writing and publishing my books. I love writing and creating new worlds from nothing, so for me, this is just the beginning of something much bigger.” 

Lancaster is a senior Spanish and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee. “No Girl,” “And With the Rising Sun,” and “The Girl in the Mirror,” her first pieces to be published, are included in this publication. Lancaster’s short stories deal with difficult themes, such as child loss and the effects of childhood trauma.  

“I’m especially honored to be a part of this project because it synthesizes three languages into one book through creative literature,” said Lancaster. “After I graduate, I hope to connect with other cultures and people groups through language and being published in a book that does that has been a highly rewarding experience.” 

Smith is a senior psychology major from New Providence, Bahamas. Two of her poems, “Troubled Water” and “Memories,” were included in this book. “Troubled Water” speaks of the guidance and comfort of Christ as a protecter, while “Memories” highlights the significance of interactions and the memories they create. Smith previously published another poem, “Only,” in the 2023 Lee Vindagua.  

“Providing students with opportunities to share their stories is an invaluable component of the academic experience,” said Smith. “What are we if not constantly learning from one another, and what better way to engage in such experiences that facilitate the development of new conversations than writing and publication?  I am incredibly thankful for this opportunity; it brings me such joy to have a space to engage with the Lee community in a new and beautiful way.” 

“Cuentos y poesías de Estados Unidos, Colombia and Paraguay” was a tri-country endeavor and multilingual publication. Important Latin American writers, such as Delfina Acosta, Lilian Aliente, and Tahiana Larissa, also wrote pieces for the book to show support of the emerging, young writers it contains. The work has been translated into English, Spanish, and Guarani, an ancestral language.  

“It’s putting Lee University and its Spanish program on the international map,” said Steffanell, professor of Spanish at Lee. “We [professors] prepare our students to speak and master the language and this speaks to our program and the opportunities that a multilingual speaker can have.”  

“Cuentos y poesías de Estados Unidos, Colombia and Paraguay” can be found in various book-coffee shops throughout Colombia and Paraguay. The work will again be launched in November at the Feria Internacional del Libro in Asunción, Paraguay.  

A copy of the book is available in Squires Library on Lee’s campus for those who wish to read the publication.