by Liz Goldner
FROM: KCET.org

Sarah Rafael García, a familiar writer/entrepreneur/celebrity in her hometown of Santa Ana, exudes radiance, energy and success. Yet she attributes her accomplishments in writing, teaching, publishing and recently becoming the owner of a bookstore to acknowledging discomfort in her life. She uses that discomfort — as an out-of-place Chicana — as a major source of motivation.

One of García’s most notable achievements was the creation of her nonprofit LibroMobile bookstore in 2016, from which she sells her own books of memoirs and fairy tales, along with low-cost Latino, bilingual and feminist volumes, and those dealing with mental health and LGBTQ issues. Her incentive to start the rolling bookstore was the closing of the Santa Ana bookstore, Librería Martínez, founded years ago by Chicano activist and MacArthur Foundation genius grant winner Rueben Martinez.

With little money to invest, García repurposed a planter cart and stacked it with books. Her LibroMobile soon became an itinerant venue that she moves from place to place in downtown Santa Ana. The cart attracts book lovers, librarians, bilingual children, curious local residents and los señores or elderly gentlemen. These gatherings of diverse residents and working people encourage her to continue her mission of selling books while spreading the power of the written word.

Shortly after its founding, LibroMobile became the LibroMobile Arts Co-op, evolving into a community of organizers, cultural producers and local artists. It is now aided by volunteers and others who receive small stipends.

Financed by a small grant, she initially rented a secure staircase and hallway in downtown Santa Ana where she stored and sold her books. Soon after, LibroMobile moved into a small warehouse in Santa Ana, where its books are now displayed, its repurposed planter cart is housed and the sale of new and used books pays the rent. Read Rest of Article Here