Ana Castillo, acclaimed novelist, poet and short-story writer, spoke about race, sexuality and gender in the Jack Arends Visual Arts Building Tuesday night.

Castillo’s novel So Far From God and her poem-turned-novel, “Watercolor Women, Opaque Men,” both deal with these themes. So Far From God won the Carl Sandburg Literary Award in fiction in 1993 and features Castillo’s favorite character, a young girl named Sofi.

“In terms of research, a lot of it is just living life and personal stuff,” Castillo said.

Castillo said her primary inspiration when writing So Far From God was New Mexico.

“I’m a writer that really gets affected by place,” Castillo said.

Castillo mixes Spanish and English in some of her novels and poems, including “Watercolor Women, Opaque Men.” Castillo said the idea for this book came to her by accident. The novel first started out as a “dismal poem,” but she later expanded it into a more upbeat novel.

Castillo started her career as a poet, but she said she finds it easier to expand her stories into 300-page novels.

Some students who attended said they enjoyed Castillo’s presentation.

“I like that she discussed the political poem and the novel,” said Aline Hernandez, senior political science major. “I liked the two different perspectives. The fiction book is new and different from the poem.”

Daniella Hernandez, senior psychology major, said she enjoyed Castillo’s presentation.

“I came because it was something new,” Daniella said. “I’m also minoring in Spanish, so that was motivation to come too.”

Castillo’s presentation was followed by a short Q&A session. Many in the audience asked Castillo where she got her inspiration and how she went about creating her characters.

“People always believe my poems are autobiographical, but they are really just stories, myths and history all coming together,” Castillo said. “I like to create real people that readers can identify with in some way.”