VáZQUEZ-GóMez, Juana 1940-

PERSONAL: Born August 5, 1940, in Mexico City, Mexico; immigrated to the United States, 1977; naturalized U.S. citizen; daughter of Juana Pérez-Castro (a homemaker); married Sergio Muñoz (a journalist), April 11, 1970; children: Lorenza, Sergio C. Ethnicity: "Hispanic." Education: Attended Marymount College, Quebec, Canada, 1958. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Roman Catholic. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, gardening, travel.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—2113 B Marshall Field Ln., Redondo Beach, CA 90278; fax: 310-372-1601. Agent—David Fugate Waterside Productions, Inc., 2191 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007.

CAREER: Writer. De Lorenz Travel, Mexico City, Mexico, manager, 1959–69; freelance writer and translator, 1979–. Jani Pua Nani Boutique, owner, 1962–65; Russell Davis Boutique, sales representative, 1965; Platanos Restaurant, manager, 1986–88. Worked in press office for Olympic games of 1968 and World Cup soccer, 1970. Jewish Elder-Care Corp., volunteer, 1992–.

AWARDS, HONORS: Silver Feather Award, best travel story written in Spanish and published in the United States, Mexican Government, 1981.

WRITINGS:

Prontuario de governantes de México, 1325–1982, privately printed (Mexico City, Mexico), 1982, 2nd edition published as Prontuario de governantes de México, 1325–1989, Editorial Diana (Mexico City, Mexico), 1989, 3rd edition, Editorial Patria Cultural (Mexico City, Mexico), 1998, translation published as Dictionary of Mexican Rulers, 1325–1997, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1997.

Author of "La Communidad," a column in La Opinion, 1981–85. Contributor to periodicals, including Latina, Moderna and Los Angeles Times.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A manuscript of interviews between U.S. and Mexican presidents, 1909–99; a manuscript about the author's mother's life and Mexican cooking.

SIDELIGHTS: Juana Vázquez-Gómez once told CA: "I have a keen interest in history. I also like to do research. I believe there is a huge need to have reference books that are written to help readers find out what happened at a given moment in history in a fast, efficient, and professional manner.

"I like simplicity. I like books that are written for the common reader, and I like it when they are organized in a way that facilitates easy consultation. Dictionaries should be short, concise, and with cross-references.

"Writing starts with research. I read as much as I find on a topic. Then I select the information I believe is relevant, following a process that compares and contrasts testimonies, accounts, reviews, articles, and documents. Then I finally sit down and write, edit, rewrite, and rewrite."