About me
Hi, I'm Luciana
I am a writer, a mother, and an advocate for maternal mental health. I carry two countries in my heart: Colombia and New Zealand.
Colombia raised me with warmth, music, and family; New Zealand gave me calm skies, resilience, and the space to dream.
I am proud to be a citizen of both, and my writing is shaped by the meeting of these two cultures on the page.
Why I write
I believe stories can heal. They can comfort, open dialogue, and help us feel less alone. Through my books and poems, I aim to create a bridge between children and parents, between cultures, between silence and understanding.
My passion for stories began with my father. He showed me the love of books and introduced me at an early age to philosophy, teaching me that within philosophy we can often find a path to better understand the world and the people around us. While philosophy opened doors to reflection, it was poetry that captured my heart. Writers like Mario Benedetti, one of my favourites, revealed to me the gentle and beautiful ways language can express what often feels unspoken.
My work
I write poetry, children's books, and literature that open gentle conversations around motherhood, resilience, and love.
My debut book When the Sky Feels Heavy began as a letter to myself on a difficult day, and now serves as a light for other mothers walking similar paths. It has been endorsed by psychologists, poets, and midwives.
Beyond writing
Beyond writing, I find peace in music. I learned the violin at an early age, but my heart has always belonged to the cello. Playing it every day gives me a moment of calm, a chance to breathe and reconnect with myself.
Music, much like writing, reminds me to slow down and listen deeply.
I also enjoy watching cartoons, not just for the fun, but to appreciate the stories and the creative work behind them. These small joys, together with my family and music, keep me grounded and inspired.
In the press
Luciana’s story, told worldwide
In October 2026 Lancôme launched “I’m Fine”, a global initiative on women’s mental health created with the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and HealthyWomen. Luciana was invited to share her own experience as one of the campaign’s personal stories, alongside voices including Demi Moore and Christy Turlington.
“The biggest lesson I learned from this experience was to be humble and understanding with myself.”
- 1 in 3
- women will experience anxiety or depression in her lifetime
- 80%
- of women have said “I’m fine” when they were not
- 72%
- regret hiding how they really felt
Ipsos for Lancôme, 4,000 women across France, the UK, the USA and China (2025–26); ADAA, The Reality of Women’s Mental Health (2026).
“Music, much like writing, reminds me to slow down and listen deeply.”
Read the book
When the Sky Feels Heavy is available now through Wheelers Books, and through good bookshops across Aotearoa.