Available to book
Explore fresh perspectives on belonging and identity with Karla Montalván, Cuban-born writer and journalist. Karla helps audiences understand what it means to grow up between borders through her powerful storytelling and personal experience of migration. Published novelist featured in People, Cosmopolitan, mitú, and more.
Karla Montalván is a Cuban-born writer whose fiction and journalism explore the emotional terrain of migration, identity, and belonging across borders and generations.
A graduate of Miami Dade College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Karla has spent over a decade reporting on identity, gender, and diaspora for outlets including People, People en Español, Cosmopolitan, and mitú. Her debut novel, The Sun and All the Other Stars, examines immigration, gender, queerness, and artistic expression through a deeply human lens.
Throughout her work, Karla draws on her experience of leaving Havana during Cuba's economic crisis of the 1990s, going on to live in Ecuador for three years, and then settling in Miami, all by the age of ten. She explores what it means to grow up between borders and the emotional landscape of "unbelonging". Karla's work also challenges the media industry's tendency to flatten Latino identity into a monolith, offering creators and editors practical strategies for telling intersectional stories that honor the real diversity of race, class, and region.
Book Karla Montalván to bring an authentic, grounded voice on migration, storytelling, and diverse representation to your stage.
Topics, sessions and talks
What does it mean to grow up between borders? In this session, Karla Montalván explores the emotional landscape of "unbelonging"—the unique perspective gained from a life shaped by Havana, Quito, and Miami. Moving beyond basic immigration tropes, this talk delves into how we use memory and storytelling to cultivate a sense of home when the physical soil beneath our feet is constantly shifting.
The "Latino market" is often treated as a singular block, but the reality is a vibrant tapestry of distinct cultures, histories, and voices. Drawing from her experience writing for People, Cosmopolitan, and FIERCE, Karla Montalván breaks down the pitfalls of stereotypical storytelling. This masterclass provides actionable strategies for creators and editors to champion intersectional narratives that honor the specificities of race, class, and regional identity.
Writing for People is not the same as writing for People en Español. This talk explores the linguistic and cultural nuances required to navigate both English and Spanish-language media. Karla Montalván discusses the "art of the pivot"—how to adapt tone, cultural references, and storytelling structures to authentically resonate with bilingual audiences without losing the core of the message in translation.
How do you balance the "write-it-now" urgency of digital journalism with the "write-it-right" patience of a debut novel? Karla Montalván discusses the duality of the modern writing life, offering practical insights on how to protect your creative energy. Learn how the investigative rigor of journalism can strengthen fictional world-building, and how the emotional depth of fiction can bring a fresh perspective to high-traffic digital content in an era where AI is believed to be more valuable than writers.
With a decade of editorial experience and her lifelong journey rebuilding across Havana, Quito, and Miami, Karla brings deep insight to the intersection of migration, identity, and narrative voice. She provides actionable strategies for creators and editors looking to champion intersectional narratives that truly celebrate diverse voices.
Featured Projects
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Karla Montalvan, email karla.montalvan@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Karla's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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