For the uninitiated, the quinceañera celebrates the passage of a fifteen-year-old girl into adulthood: It's a bit bat mitzvah with a dash of debutante ball, and loaded with the same potential for hilarity and adolescent angst. In this original anthology, fifteen of the brightest and funniest Latino writers, men and women alike, share their own memories of these moving and often absurd extravaganzas—tales of that unique form of familial humiliation that is borne of the best intentions, fierce love, and the infectious joy of parents finally allowing their little girl to grow up.
About the Author
Considered one of the leading Latin music journalists in the world, Cobo is also Billboard's executive director of Latin content and host of "Estudio Billboard," the critically acclaimed interview show that airs weekly on the V-Me network.
Also a former concert pianist, Leila Cobo is a native of Cali, Colombia, the setting of her debut novel, "Tell Me Something True."
Leila decided early on to blend her two loves--music and writing--into one, and has forged a career as a leading music journalist who considers that being a musician is essential in accurately covering other musicians.
Leila is the the organizer and host of Billboard's annual Latin Music Conference, where where a major component are her one on one interviews with superstars like Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Paulina Rubio and Enrique Iglesias. Leila has also written liner notes for the likes of Shakira and Chayanne. She is also the host of the television show Estudio Billboard, which features in-depth interviews with top Latin acts. Leila is Fulbright Scholar with a master's degree from the Annenberg School at the University of Southern California and also holds dual degrees in journalism, from Bogota's Universidad Javeriana, and in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
She concertized extensively as a classical pianist before dedicating herself full-time to writing and journalism.
She lives in Key Biscayne, Fl. with her husband and children.
