Writer and cartoonist, Hernán Vera Alvarez ­– who normally is known only by his surname, Vera – was born in the port city of Buenos Aires, Argentina where he grew up in the Bajo Belgrano neighborhood. He lived with his mother and father, both doctors. He has a degree in Peninsular literature and Spanish American literature that he completed in the United States. Vera says he had “a childhood of the streets.” He remembered fondly being able to spend his time in the streets with his friends going on adventures and says, “Spending time outside is one of the most fantastic experiences a child could have, in Buenos Aires or anywhere around the world.” Vera came to the United States and was here 7 years undocumented during which he worked hard to sustain himself. He told me that while here, he has worked construction, in a shipyard, as well as in bars and clubs; this all while he was still writing for newspapers across North America and Europe. Although Vera writes in both English and Spanish, he much prefers to write in Spanish. He told me that his writing in English is very mechanical and does not flow like he would like for prose. He went on to tell me that writing in another language “can be fun for a while,” but “to master another language is a full-time job.” There are have been many artists that have influenced Vera as a writer, everything from writers and musicians to scientists, but he told me that his biggest influence was his grandfather, and his ability to tell stories. Vera has a very artistic view of life. When asked about his audience, he says he “would like them to be poets.” Poets to him are not just people who write verses, but just possess a certain outlook on life. To anyone hoping to become a writer, Vera extends several pieces of advice: “Read everything and often. If you don’t like a book, you can leave it. Watch movies. Get to know people from different areas.” Possibly my favorite piece of advice from Vera is his definition of success. He says, “Do what you want. And not to let anyone bust [your] balls.”