Caro De Robertis Discusses Weaving Voices in 'So Many Stars'

Caro De Robertis, a genderqueer Uruguayan American novelist, reflected on their experiences in conducting interviews for "So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color," released in May. They recognized that their background has included gathering testimony and listening to the lived experiences of various communities for years. Their previous work, "Cantoras" (2019), which focuses on five queer women's lives during and after the Uruguayan dictatorship, involved 15 years of listening to older queer Uruguayan women.

The initiative for "So Many Stars" began when De Robertis received a fellowship in 2020, aimed at collecting oral histories from queer and trans BIPOC elders on the West Coast, as a part of Jacqueline Woodson's "I See My Light Shining" project. As one of nine fellows, De Robertis learned various ways to frame questions that could create a safe environment for interviewees, allowing them to access significant stories from their memories.

De Robertis was deeply moved by the testimonies of trans and gender-nonconforming elders and sought to share these narratives widely. They compiled excerpts from interviews to create a fluid collection of 20 narratives in "So Many Stars," which they describe as a thematic conversation among the voices included. The book is organized into four sections: "Emergence," "Forging Lives," "Being the Change," and "Horizons," with further subdivisions such as "Glimmers in Childhood" and "Chosen Family." De Robertis aimed to offer readers a compelling narrative journey.

During the interview process, De Robertis was experiencing personal changes, including the end of their marriage. In a small studio, they surrounded themselves with images of influential writers, including Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison. Amid the difficulties of writing during the pandemic with children at home, they found solace in the act of creating "So Many Stars," considering it a healing experience. The stories shared were often poignant, prompting emotional responses that connected deeply with De Robertis's own history of supporting individuals at a rape crisis center.

While some narratives resonated personally, others offered profound insights outside De Robertis's experiences. They emphasized the importance of understanding both connections and the gaps in personal knowledge. "I fervently hope that this book will offer some nourishment and tools for continuing on to everyone and anyone who is feeling despair about where we are as a society right now," De Robertis expressed. They reiterated their belief in the transformative power of storytelling and the necessity of sharing truths for collective survival.