Chilean Writer Dedicates Book to Her Mother

Luz María Ruiz, a Chilean writer of Croatian descent, has published a book as a tribute to her mother, and the work has been presented at international book fairs. She participates in cultural activities within the Croatian community, such as presenting books by other individuals of Croatian origin.

"It is a privilege and an honor to address the Croatian people. My name is Luz María Ruiz; I am Chilean and live in Santiago, Chile. My Croatian origin stems from my great-grandfather, Roko Mesić Barišević, who arrived in northern Chile from the island of Veli Lošinj in 1892. He came to work in the nitrate processing plants at a time when the so-called “white gold” - nitrate - was attracting people from all over the world. He married a Chilean woman with whom he had four children. One of them was my grandmother, Irma Mezzic.

Shortly after arriving in Chile, my great-grandfather joined the Austro-Hungarian Mutual Aid Society in the city of Iquique, where he participated in all community activities. The members supported one another, and the society provided a space to connect with compatriots who had also arrived in Chile during that period. Later, my great-grandfather returned to Croatia and, unfortunately, was unable to return to Chile. Despite this, his Croatian heritage continued to live on through his descendants - including me, as a member of the fourth generation.

I believe that from Croatian culture, among other things, I inherited kindness, hospitality, and a propensity for hard work. I currently work as a real estate agent and as a writer. I have been writing since my early youth, but in this more recent phase of my life, I dedicate myself to it with much greater commitment," points out the Chilean woman of Croatian roots.

Luz María is a co-author of the book, along with other descendants of Croats.

"A few years ago, I published a book - a tribute to my mother - titled “Poemas de una matrona” (Poems of a Midwife), as a token of gratitude for everything she provided for me throughout my life. She trained as a midwife.

A midwife is a person who helps bring children into the world. But that is not all; she also plays a very important role in society and in the lives of women in general. For example, she deals with issues such as reproductive health, family planning, prenatal care, identifying risk factors during childbirth, supporting breastfeeding mothers, and women's health throughout their lives, as well as the care of newborns. There is also a specialized field known as neonatology, which is dedicated to the care of newborn infants.

I had the honor of being a co-author of a book titled “Puentes sobre el mar” (Bridges Across the Sea), published in 2024, together with other writers of Croatian descent - a group consisting of eighteen men and two women. One of them is me. The other is my friend and fellow writer Dragica Vukelić, who recently published her latest book, a work I had the honor of presenting," states the Chilean writer.

Luz María participates in various activities of the Croatian Club.

"I am a member of the Association of Professionals and Entrepreneurs of Croatian Descent in Santiago, Chile. We regularly organize activities, such as presenting books by members who are also of Croatian origin. Our events also include a dinner to commemorate the Statehood Day of the Republic of Croatia.

We organized excellent activities for the students of the Republic of Croatia School in Santiago. We held a lecture on the importance of Croatian immigration during the period of nitrate exploitation, organized a pleasant field trip into nature around Santiago, and took the students to the Military History Museum. The association of Croatian professionals remains dedicated to supporting the school, striving to ensure that these children - who come from very vulnerable socioeconomic backgrounds - have access to cultural content.

That is what I can share with you for now. From Santiago, Chile, I send a big and warm hug to the entire Croatian community in the region and to Croats around the world. Warm regards to everyone," points out Luz María Ruiz, a Chilean writer of Croatian descent.

Source: Voice of Croatia

Translated by Branko Lozančić