Those who think the Caribbean is just for beaches and resorts should think again. Santo Domingo covers it all—historical sites, contemporary art, eclectic musical heritage, and an emerging food scene—all served with a dose of island attitude, of course.

This interview is part of a collaboration with Penguin Random House to celebrate Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month. We sat down with award-winning writer, Cleyvis Natera, author of Neruda on the Park, a novel that explores the impact of gentrification in a predominantly Dominican part of New York City.