Welcome to Las Musas Book blog Delia and congratulations on this gorgeous book. We are excited to have you here today. 

Let's start by talking about Ways Papi Says I Love You. 
When Papi, who is always busy working at el rancho, asks Maricruz to jump in the truck with him to go get groceries for Mami, she grabs the list and sprints! During the drive, they wave to the people in their community and enjoy quality time. Ways Papi Says I Love you / Las maneras en que papi dice te quiero is a book that shows all the love languages.

That is very sweet! What 3 words would you use to describe your book?
​Joyous, authentic, and tender.

Where did you get the idea to write this particular story?
I drafted this story in 2022. I remember thinking of memories that brought me joy from my childhood and one that stood out was the rides on my dad’s pickup truck. I took that moment of quality time and played with adding all the other love languages in to create the first draft of my story.

Can you share your path to publication for this book?
This is the book that landed me my agent in 2023. I took an in-person class with my agent the year prior but did not pitch it to her because she was closed to submissions ( I had no clue conference attendees could submit). I waited until she was open and sent a revised edition which got me “the call.” It was sold within one month of signing in an auction to Charlesbridge.

While many editors had different visions, I went with one that resonated the most with the story. I’m so happy it landed at a wonderful publishing house where the team has rooted for the story since day one.

What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story?
I loved seeing the sketches come in. Carlos (illustrator) had lots of creative freedom and since his dad also comes from a rural place in Mexico, he illustrated it in a way that matched the story visually. Many of the places looked like my own ranch and even the father resembled my own. It was as if my vision of the story came to life when I saw the artwork.
​

Connect with Delia:
◦ Instagram: @aventuras.en.esl
◦ TikTok: @aventuras.en.esl
◦ Bluesky: @aventurasenesl.bsky.social
◦ Substack: @aventurasenesl

We are thrilled to welcome Maria José Fitzgerald as she celebrates her newest book, Mystery on Macaw Island.

Maria José, just looking at the delightful cover art makes us want to pick up this book! Tell us more about this project. 
Birds of a feather solve crime together in this exciting middle grade mystery! When eight endangered macaws are stolen from a bird sanctuary in the Mayan ruins of Copán, four
sleuthing cousins must find out who took them—and why.

Nico and his cousins don’t have much in common, but they’re all excited to visit the Mayan ruins at Copán and witness the release of the scarlet macaws. Nearly extinct in Honduras, eight of these majestic birds are about to be introduced to a brand-new bird sanctuary. But on the eve of the big day the birds are stolen!

Who could have planned this bewildering bird heist—and why? Nico and his cousins are determined to find out—and anyone could be a suspect: poachers, developers, Mama’s  annoying novio . . . The investigation will take them from bustling downtown Copán to the mist-shrouded ruins of Macaw Mountain, uniting the cousins as they unravel a plot far stranger than any of them could have imagined.

Connect with Maria José:
www.mariajosefitzgerald.com
Instagram: @author_maria_jose

Today we celebrate the book birthday of Musa Marcia Argueta Mickelson's The Writing Room. We sat down with Marcia to learn more about this book.

Immediately after high school graduation, eighteen-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy
dad's NYC home; he prides himself on forcing his kids to "make their own way in the world". Maya's mom lives in Guatemala, so Maya crashes with friends while working and trying to land
freelance writing gigs.

Maya struggles to find her footing until she gets access to a writing room―a shared workspace where she can focus (and get to know the intriguing neighbor, Jake, who's often there).

When she discovers her dad is bankrolling a virulently anti-immigrant candidate for governor, Maya―the daughter of an immigrant―realizes she can’t continue quietly accepting his choices. She’ll have to take a stand, using the voice she's found in the writing room.

​Read more about this exciting YA novel after the link...

How would you describe your main character and why did you create your character that way?

​I wanted to create Maya as a character who is generally good, but she’s extremely
sheltered and that colors how she sees the world. When her father kicks her out of their
home to go and make it in the world, she calls herself homeless as she’s being driven to
stay at a friend’s house. She doesn’t understand the true sense of the world. She isn’t
homeless as she had 3 different options of where she could stay. She considers herself
less fortunate until she truly understands the dire circumstances others face that give
more meaning to the word. She loves books and puts classics on a pedestal until she
understands that literature can be just as valid in different forms. Her understanding is
clouded, but she allows others’ words, lives, and examples to be instructional in her
learning about the world. As the book progresses, she comes to understand her
privilege and uses it for good.

Where did you get the idea to write this particular story?
I started writing The Writing Room about fifteen years ago. Originally, it was an adult
fiction about the rift between a woman and her father due to her conversion to a
religion different than the one she was raised in. After her religious conversion, he cuts
her out of the family. So, I wanted it to be a book about a woman who was raised in a
wealthy household, is suddenly cut off from everything she knew, and now has to make
her way in the world without that family support. 

I didn’t finish the book, set it aside, and started writing young adult fiction. After
several years, I had the idea to rewrite what I’d written and finish is as a young adult
novel. In that time, the world around me was changing. There was so much division in
our country due to the deplorable ideas of a president who targeted the most
marginalized members of our society. I saw the denigrating words used against
immigrants by people in power, and it fueled me to keep writing. Gradually, the book
became about Maya, a young woman who grew up in a wealthy household. She has a
White father and an immigrant mother who eventually moves back to her home
country of Guatemala. She is cut off financially after she graduates high school and has
to make her way in the world on her own. Again, I wrote about the world around me. I
am from Texas, and our governor is married to the granddaughter of Mexican
immigrants, and he has said very offensive and cruel things about immigrants. I used
him as a template for Maya’s father who was married to an immigrant, whose own
children are half Latino, and yet he espouses and supports white supremacist ideology.
This wasn’t how the story started off, but it is what the story became.

What comes next for you as an author?
I am so excited about my first picture book. It is called Double Enchiladas and will be
published in 2027. I’ve recently been able to see sketches and a tentative cover, and they
look amazing! The illustrator is amazingly talented, and I can’t wait to share more.

What 3 recommendations would you give writers who are starting out?

1. I would recommend that writers read a lot in the genre that they are writing.
   
2. Read craft books that will help you improve your writing, such as Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody and Self Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Brown and Dave King.
3. Be patient and don’t rush things. Writing and publication take a long time. Don’t be in a rush for it to happen. Take your time with everything and know that it is not something that happens quickly. Trying to get an agent takes a long time, even up to 200 rejections. Being on submission can take months. Waiting for the book to get published can take years. If you want it, be in it for the long haul. Don’t think it will happen quickly.

What books are on your to-be-read list?
Right now, on my to-be-read list are: The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler,
The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach, and El Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa.

Marcia Argueta Mickelson was born in Guatemala and immigrated to the United States as an infant. She is the author of several young adult novels, including The Writing Room, The Weight of Everything and Where I Belong, a Pura Belpré Young Adult Honor Book. She lives in Texas with her husband and three sons.

Connect with Marcia:
Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok @marciamickelson
Bluesky: @marciamickelson.bsky.social​

Grab your cafecito and join us for a conversation with Maritere R. Bellas about her beautiful book Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky No Habla Inglés.

Maritere, welcome to this interview with Las Musas! We are eager to learn about your project. Tell us more! 
Parents will adore this bilingual English/Spanish hardcover picture book as it spotlights a nephew-uncle relationship in which language barriers know no boundaries. This book showcases the genuine importance of speaking two languages, encouraging bilingualism in our future generations, and the power behind translation, especially between multigenerational individuals.​

Certainly sounds like Tío Ricky Doesn't Speak English / Tío Ricky No Habla Inglés tocuhes on an experience many of us can relate to. Tell us, what inspired you to become a writer?
I think my why has always been language and culture. My first two books for parents were inspired by a mission to support parents that wanted to engage in a bilingual, multilingual, multicultural lifestyle. Parents that wanted to preserve language and culture while embracing the country they had adopted.  My three bilingual children’s books were inspired by the books my 50% Greek, 50% Puerto Rican and 100% American children didn’t have when they were growing up. Books with characters they could identify with and with universal stories that would pay tribute to their cultures.

What 3 words would you use to describe your book?

• Heartwarming
• Engaging
• Inspirational

Are you agented? If so, can you share how you got one?
I love this question! And I am proud to share it! It took me a year and a half of writing, editing, revising, polishing, querying, writing workshops, learning from others, etc.… It was a long process. Along the way, I continue to be active in social media, wearing my bilingual parenting mentor hat offering information, tools and resources for parents raising bilingual, multilingual
and multicultural children. My agent found me, actually!! She sent me a private message asking to see my work, from following me on IG! She ended up being the perfect agent for me as she will be championing my work nationally and internationally. I am forever grateful!

What was the most difficult scene to write in this story? 
We decided early on that something was going to happen to Tío Ricky that would make Enrique reflect on his ability to communicate in two languages and translate for his uncle. I needed to come up with something that wasn’t going to be scary for the young readers. It took some creativity, but ultimately, we did it.

What books are on your to-be-read list?
Anything Yamile Saied Méndez, Adrianna Cuevas and Andrea Beatriz Arango. I am an audiobook reader. MG and YA are my favs! These women are gifted writers, and they do a beautiful job at weaving culture and language into their stories.

Maritere R. Bellas is a Puerto Rican award-winning author, speaker, writer, podcast host and bilingual and multicultural parenting mentor. For over two decades, she has provided education, information, resources and support to families engaging in a multilingual, multicultural lifestyle.  She is the creator and co-host of the Mamás 411 Podcast, listened to in 27 countries, and co-host of the Hablemos Bilingual IG Live series. Mari has published two parenting books in English and Spanish and is the author of three bilingual children’s books. Her favorite social media platform is Instagram—and when she’s not writing, you’ll find her enjoying Southern California living in a suburb of Los Angeles.

Instagram: latinaboomermom
X/FB/LI: MarirereRBellas

Today we celebrate the book birthday of Leslie Adame's Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic. We sat down with Musa Leslie to learn more about this book.

Twelve-year-old Chloe Vega’s biggest fear is that her undocumented parents will be detained by immigration. That is, until she learns that her parents are actually part of a secret magical society…and that the suspicious looking police officers who have been hanging around their block are henchmen for an evil sorcerer determined to settle a decades-old score.

Just when Chloe discovers that she has powers, too, her parents are kidnapped! In order to rescue them, she’ll need to harness her abilities at an elite academy, run by the very agency who exiled her parents from the magical world. Finding herself in the center of a magical war that might destroy everything she has ever known,

Chloe can’t shake the feeling that the Agents of Magic are hiding secrets. With her parents’ lives hanging in the balance, she must uncover who is truly on her side and fast to save her family—and the world itself.

Read more about this exciting new book after the link...

Where did you get the idea to write this particular story?
I was a huge daydreamer when I was a kid, mostly because there was a lot going on in my community (loved ones struggling to make ends meet, friends whose family members were being deported, etc.). It’s tough to deal with that kind of stuff as a kid, so I turned to books and shows to escape it all. I became drawn to magical books about wand-wielding, sword-fighting, and misunderstood kids taking down huge foes. During really tough times, I imagined myself as part of the stories I loved, drawn to the courage and resilience of the characters. I realized I wanted to create stories where characters inspired by my community faced magical challenges of their own. That’s when the idea for Chloe Vega began to take shape.

At first, Chloe Vega was just that—an idea. I had no intention of turning it into a book. But in 2018, as I witnessed news coverage of kids in tears as they were separated from their parents at the border, it lit a fire under me. I wanted to write something those kids could read; not to make them forget about their reality, but to show them that the situation they’re in doesn’t define them. They, too, could be the heroes of their own story.

How would you describe your main character? Why did you create your character that way?
Chloe is how I would describe most children of immigrants: hardworking, anxious to please, and desperately trying to find her place in the world. I thought it would be interesting to explore these themes in a magic school setting, especially a magic school attended by students from all across the American continents and the Caribbean. Chloe grew up with this “keep your head down and everything will be okay” mentality, but in the book, you’ll see how this gets challenged when Chloe has no choice but to break some rules to get answers to
questions she has. 

What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story?
My hope is that, through this story, readers can get a glimpse of what it’s like to live a day as a member of a family where at least one person is undocumented. To understand that getting to wake up every day knowing that your family won’t be forced to separate is a privilege that many take for granted. But also, I want readers to get fully sucked into the magical world!

Chloe Vega being the daughter of undocumented immigrants is only part of the story. There are friendships, rivals, found family, and betrayals at every corner, and Chloe is going to embark on a journey that is as much about finding herself and learning to trust her instincts as it is about saving her parents. Chloe’s journey is a reminder that even in the darkest moments, the bonds we forge can light the way as we learn to step into our power.

What comes next for you as an author?
I’m currently deep in the revision trenches for CHLOE VEGA Book 2, but once this is finished, I plan to draft a new YA story that takes place in Mexico’s Land of the Dead, which I would comp as COCO meets SIX OF CROWS.

If you’d like to hear writing updates about that, follow me on Instagram @leslieadame. That’s where I’m most active! I also plan to start a newsletter at some point, so there’s also that option if you’re not active on social media (leslieadame.com).

What 3 recommendations would you give writers who are starting out?
I can give you five, especially if you’re looking to be traditionally published as well! I recommend referencing these amazing podcasts and articles to get a better understanding of the industry:

● How to Find Agents to Query
● How to Find a Literary Agent
● Writing a Query Letter to Literary Agents
● Write or Die Podcast (to hear anecdotes from published authors regarding their road to publication)
● Paper Trail Podcast (lots of good perspective on the BIPOC experience in publishing)

Leslie Adame is a first-generation Mexican American and graduate of UCLA with a degree in political science and a minor in film, television, and digital media. She’s always enjoyed giving back and telling stories about characters not often found in books or films.

Leslie grew up in the Inland Empire, specifically Ontario, California. When she’s not writing, you can find Leslie scanning the aisles of your local bookstore, lovingly pestering her family, and catching a flight to explore a new place. She loves watching rom-coms, Disney movies, and trashy reality TV in her spare time, especially while cuddling with her cat.

​Find her at:
Website: leslieadame.com
Instagram/Threads/Substack/Bluesky: @leslieadame

We immediately fell in love with the cover art, and could not wait to ask you, what is this book about? 
This book is a moving portrait of the absence lost loved ones leave in our lives—and the food traditions that keep their memories from fading. Lila and her Abuelo Carlos miss Abuela Ana. Without the sound of her laughter, the rhythm of her dancing, or the aromas of her cooking, home just isn’t the same. So Lila devises a plan to hold onto every detail she can remember. She and Abuelo will make Abuela’s signature dish—sancocho! Off to the market they go, guided by a faded recipe that takes them through the stalls, where each ingredient sparks a warm memory. As Lila and her abuelo learn to lean on each other, Abuela’s words help them recreate a dish that tastes like love. When We Find Her is a contemporary picture book (ages 4-8). 

Read more after the break ...

We are delighted to welcome Lulu Delacre and hear all about the newest addition to her Rafi and Rosi book series! Let's dive in. 

Lulu, what is this beautiful, beginner reader book about? 
Rafi and Rosi, the curious, fun-loving tree frog siblings, are cooking up a storm with delicious Puerto Rican treats on the menu. 
​
Rafi and his younger sister, Rosi, are excited to help Abuela make her holiday order for sixty pasteles, a traditional Puerto Rican root vegetable dish. When Abuela discovers she is missing one key ingredient, Rafi and Rosi set out to buy it. On the way back they get to make crunchy arañitas and at home they learn Abuela's secret recipe for yummy guava shells in syrup. Later, when their friends can't come to help make the pasteles, Rafi and Rosi save the day, and the best Pasteles Making Party ensues! 

Engaging and informative, this book is perfect for newly independent readers. Children will enjoy Rafi and Rosi's explorations of some of their favorite foods.

Read more after the link ...

Ah, the book sounds delicious! Can you tell our readers what inspired you to become a writer?
I never intended to become a writer. But early in my career as an illustrator I realized that even when English was not my mother tongue, I could draw characters into existence, and dream up adventures for them. The craft of writing is imagination mixed with persistence. That is at least for an English-as-a-second language creator.          

What 3 words would you use to describe your book?
Fun, engaging, informative. 

How would you describe your main character? Why did you create your character that way?
For me Rafi and Rosi Coquí are ambassadors to the culture of Puerto Rico. At the core of their adventures is the sibling relationship and abiding love for each other.  Rafi is the all-knowing older brother who relishes tricking his little sister and boasts about all that he can do that she can’t. Rosi is the little sister in awe of her brother’s knowledge but with a mind of her own. She's resourceful and not shy about putting Rafi in his place when needs arises.

Where did you get the idea to write this particular story?
We decided to close the series with a fifth and last title. Having touched on the natural world, the history, the traditions, and the music of Puerto Rico, I knew one last subject I needed to touch on was the delicious traditional food of the island.

Are you agented? If so, can you share how you got one?
I was agented for the first twenty years of my career. From 2000 on I decided to manage this aspect of my work.

Can you share your path to publication for this book?
On a visit to Umana Academy in  Boston, second graders and I brainstormed possible next adventures for the siblings. They had intimate knowledge of the books, as the series is in their curriculum. The students got so excited talking about foods I could feature, that I knew I was onto something. Then, I approached my publisher, who gave me the choice of creating a brand new series, or working on a closing title for this one. It was an easy choice, specially when my editor at Lee & Low Books came out of retirement to work on Rafi and Rosi Menu.  

What was the most difficult scene to write in this story? 
Nothing was difficult on this book. I relished each and every step.

What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story?
Getting to work with Louise May, my editor of several decades, one last time. And revealing to my readers the pasteles puertorriqueños recipe that I’ve been tweaking for two decades! 

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a writer until now?
It’s important to diversify your offerings, in terms of genres, to survive in an ever changing publishing world. Also, you must believe in the project, when in doubt maybe the manuscript needs reshaping or it’s not its time.

What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story?
That learning to read can be a lot of fun following the adventures of Rafi and Rosi. These are not books that will garner literary awards, These are books that will allow young readers to become confident independent readers of literary fiction, while learning fun stuff in the process. 

What comes next for you as an author?
Great question! I’ve spent about six months researching the amazing agricultural methods of some of the major indigenous societies that inhabited Latin America prior to its colonization. I’m fascinated with what I’ve learned. Now, it’s about distilling that knowledge into a story that entertains with remarkable facts and stunning art. A tall order, right?

What 3 recommendations would you give writers who are starting out?
Read the genre you want to master. If you find a particular book that speaks to you, copy it word by word to learn from this process. Then, forget all about it and do your own thing. 

What is on your creative bucket list? 
On day I’d like to write snapshots of my life into a memoir for adults. One day I’d like to paint a dream I had in 2004. 

What books are on your to-be-read list?
I’d like to reread two classic novels: The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo and A Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.

Well, what a beautiful way to close your book series. Congratulations, Lulu!

Today we celebrate the release of BOLD, BRILLIANT, AND LATINE written by Musa Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and illustrated by Sol Cotti. We checked in with Alyssa to learn more about the book:

Inspire the next generation of changemakers with this celebratory biography anthology of 52
Latine and Hispanic heroes. In Bold, Brilliant and Latine, young Latine and Hispanic children
can see themselves reflected in 52 heroes from the past and present, whom everyone can
look up to.

From sporting legends to fashion icons, political leaders to fearless changemakers,
as well as renowned writers, musicians, artists, scientists, and more, these heroes’ lives are
vividly recounted by queer award-winning Dominican and Puerto Rican storyteller Alyssa
Reynoso-Morris and brought to life by Argentinian illustrator Sol Cotti’s artwork. Kids will find
motivation in the stories of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (politician, youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress), Lionel Messi (superstar soccer player), Sonia Sotomayor (US Supreme Court Justice), Frida Kahlo (iconic artist), Cesar Chavez (activist and labor leader), Ellen Ochoa (first Latina astronaut in space) and Lin-Manuel Miranda (actor, composer, creator of Broadway musicals).

A heartwarming and empowering book for Latine and Hispanic children and families, this
anthology is also ideal for homeschoolers and educators looking to diversify their
perspectives through Latine and Hispanic history and achievements, with one new figure to
explore each week of the year. Proud, talented, and boundless, these extraordinary men and
women will inspire readers of all backgrounds to chase their dreams… whatever they may be.

Read more after the link...

1. What is the most important lesson you have learned as a writer until now?

The most important lesson I have learned as a writer is to not give up. Getting
published takes time. It takes time to write and edit your manuscript. Finding
the right agent takes time, patience, and perseverance. I was rejected by over
50 agents. Just keep at it and stay organized in your outreach. Finally, even
when you have an agent, you still have to struggle with rejection. I have spent
countless hours on manuscripts that never sold, but I keep going. That is the
key - keep writing and do not give up.

2. What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story?
I want kiddos to know that they can be heroes. Maybe they love to sing and dance?
Maybe they like math and science? Maybe they hope to be artists one day as they
experiment with various media, like words, paint, or fabric. Whatever your wildest
dreams are, remember that you can accomplish them and inspire others to dream
big.

When I was a kid, I could not even name five Latine heroes because I was not
taught about them in school. The only heroes I knew about were the Mirabal sisters
because my Abuela told me about how they bravely opposed the dictator Trujillo. I
remember thinking, ‘I hope I can be as brave as them.’

As I researched the incredible legends in this book, I was inspired, and I hope all
young readers, especially Latine readers, can see themselves as heroes in the 
making. I hope they know that they have the power to decide their destiny and that
they can make the world a better place.

Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a queer Afro-Latine/x Dominican and Puerto Rican award-winning storyteller, author, motivational speaker, mother, and community organizer.

During the day, she works with community members, non-profit organizations, and government officials to make the world a better place. Then she puts on her writer’s hat to craft heartfelt stories. 

Alyssa was born and raised in The Bronx, New York, and currently lives in Philadelphia, PA,
with her family.

She is the author of Plátanos Are Love & Los plátanos son amor (a NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Read); The Bronx Is My Home; Gloriana Presente: A First Day of School Book & Gloriana Presente: De la República Dominicana al Bronx; Bold, Brilliant and Latine: Meet 52 Latine and Hispanic Heroes from Past and Present; and Pieces of Home. You can learn more about her at AlyssaAuthor.com and on IG @AReynosoMorris

Today we celebrate the series launch of Terry C. Jenning's CAMI CAMPOS. We sat down with Terry to learn more about this series.

Grumpy Cami Campos is always getting in a mess-mostly of her own making. How she gets herself out of these messes, real and imagined, is the source of hilarity--from dealing with a splinter in her butt and a baby brother’s blow out at the posaditas pageant; to saving snakes around St. Patrick’s Day; to finding the true history of America’s Thanksgiving.

With a diverse cast of characters, the six-book chapter book series follows Cami as she finds solutions and navigates American holidays within the backdrop of her Cuban and Latine customs, exploring the intersection of culture, family, and sense of self.

Read more after the link...

How would you describe your main character? Why did you create your character that way?

Cami is a grumpy kid with a big heart who, in each book, starts out to get her own way, comes to understand the error of her ways and in the end does a really good deed to atone for her messes.

Why did I create her? Confession time—Cami and I have a lot in common. I’d like to think that I don’t always start out to get my way, but I do often . . .well, pretty often. . . well . . . I think I have a great idea that needs to be universally implemented for the benefit of humanity . . . or I rush to
conclusions. I’d also like to think that, like Cami, I can see the error of my ways and always try to do something spectacularly good to make up for my slippery beginning. But aren’t we all like that . . . at some time? That’s why I created Cami the way she is. We mostly have good intentions that often go awry. How we solve our messes is what makes us grow into who we are—my hope is that we all end up as Cami does at the end of the arc of the series.

Where did you get the idea to write this particular series?

This series began with my wanting to write a story that juxtaposed American and Cuban Christmas traditions. In particular, I wanted to highlight the idea that Santi Clos wasn’t a huge deal in Cuba and then when I came to the United States, having to wait for Los Reyes just
wouldn’t do. Actually, I was already 12 when I came to the United States and I remember only getting a tube of lipstick for Christmas. And Santi Clos brought it because I had a four-year-old brother and my parents wanted him to be like all the other kids. But what if they hadn’t?

I could see a kid who wanted and needed a new bike having to wait until January 6 th to get that bike. School had already started, for heavens sakes. In real life, in Cuba, gosh, this is really true confessions, I must have had a tantrum once because I remember my mother calling los Reyes and putting all my presents on the porch. Cami incites a rebellion. Why shouldn’t she get her presents when the American kids do? Inciting a rebellion sparks a phone call to Los Reyes. In the end Cami finds someone in need and preforms a spectacular act of kindness.

Can you share your path to publication for this book?

My agent, Natalie Lakosil, liked the Posaditas Story, but she said it would not sell as a stand-alone story—it was too short and for a very young audience. If this had been my first series, I would have written book two, and then given Natalie several ideas. But since I’d proven to
her and myself that I could write a series already, I just came up with other ideas centered around holidays. ABDO Publishers bought it, I believe it was in March of 2024. I got a contract in May and I was supposed to pump out a book a month for the next six months. And I did!

There were some bumps along the way. The Easter story is about bunnies. Bunnies poop a lot. Apparently I got a little too deep into the subject but we solved the problem by using Caca instead! And then…I went off on a tangent about saving snakes during St. Patrick’s day, and
I was grateful that my editor at ABDO, Bridget O’Brien, went along with it, we changed the title rather than change the book. The Halloween book is centered on Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Did we even have the right to mention the book? We did. Megan Dillon, our illustrator,
did an amazing job for that book. The book centered on Thanksgiving was somewhat of a challenge. Cami makes the comment that the Spaniards mostly killed the Ciboneyes and Tainos so there was no Cuban Thanksgiving, but then the kids delve into the facts of the
American Thanksgiving story, and we had to be very careful. In discussing how history is written by the victors and in the case of the American Thanksgiving, the history has not been portrayed accurately, it was difficult to do that, and still be funny.

Megan has a background in Anthropology in addition to being a super illustrator and she made
suggestions. I talked to the descendants of the native Wampnoags and to many more anthropologists. There’s a current of feminism in the story that serves as comic relief, and in the end, the diverse cast of characters comes to really understand each other and celebrate that
we’re all human and we love to share our customs and our traditional foods. Yum.

What was the most difficult scene to write in this series?
 
The most difficult scene to write was the scene in the Thanksgiving book in which the kids wanted to put on a Thanksgiving Pageant. The kids all want to dress like the native Wampanoag. But we had to portray that traditional clothing is not a costume, it is part of who we are as a people. Wearing someone else’s traditional clothing when we are not of that tradition can be seen as disrespectful. It was a very tricky part to write. Had lots of help with that. We ended up having each kid talk about the part of the Thanksgiving history that interested them and give the true facts. No one dressed up. No one pretended. Just the facts.

What message are you hoping readers will take away from these stories?

These books are sold pretty exclusively to the school and library market and as such I hope many young readers will get to read them. Holidays are events that set us apart as a culture while at the same time, they bring us together as we celebrate. Holidays remind us of our roots, and are occasions for families to get together, but regardless of what we celebrate, regardless of our nationality or ethnicity, each of us clings to our customs and, I argue, this is what makes us all human. We all have a need to celebrate our creation, to celebrate love, to give thanks. We actually, are very much the same.

Terry Catasús Jennings is a Cuban-American author who loves to write about funny and engaging Cuban-American children who live in communities that embrace and celebrate diversity.

Her goal in life is to lead us to mutual understanding, as well as sing the
praises of Cuban food.

SOCIAL HANDLES
www.terrycjennings.com
X @terrycjennings
Insta @Terry.C.Jennings

We are delighted to welcome Hilda Eunice Burgo as she celebrates her newest book, Bodega Cats: Pawsome Pals. 

Hilda, welcome to this Las Musas blog interview. Please tell us about this fun project.
This illustrated middle grade book is told in two points of view: 11-year-old Gregory, and Amber the cat. Baseball means everything to Gregory. It feels like he’s flying when he hits a home run, and it also reminds him of summers spent playing with his cousin in the Dominican Republic. But when an accident benches him for the rest of the season, he’s doomed to sit around his parents’ bodega every afternoon and weekend. For stray cat Amber, who was born with a missing leg and left on the street as a kitten, life has always been about staying away from danger, keeping her belly full, and finding joy in the little things. When she spots a human boy whose leg is broken she remembers what it’s like to need help when you feel lost and alone. How far will these two go to make a friend when they need one most?

How would you describe your main character? Why did you create your character that way?
The two main characters are Gregory and Amber. Gregory is an athletic fifth-grader who prides himself on being the star of his baseball team. Winning means everything to him. After he breaks a leg during a game, he feels like he’s useless to his team and to his parents who need his help in their bodega. Amber is a stray cat who “adopts” Gregory when she sees him with a broken leg. She was born with three legs and knows that others see her as defective, but she is very nimble, capable, and independent. I created these characters to show how perceptions and attitudes are not always correct, and how Gregory and Amber can learn from one another and become friends.
 
What was the most difficult scene to write in this story?
There is a scene where I tell Amber’s background story. I wanted to show that she was discriminated against as a kitten because she has three legs, but I didn’t want her story to be too sad. So I tried out a few different ideas, and finally came up with a backstory that I hope stirs some empathy without being upsetting to readers.
 
What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story?
In this story, Gregory feels that he is only of value when he is healthy, scoring runs for his team, and stocking shelves at record speed in the bodega. Amber is determined to be independent and do things on her own. They both learn that everyone has value and that it’s okay to be vulnerable and accept help from a friend every now and then. I hope readers also feel this way after reading this book.

Are you agented? If not, can you share how you got your book deals?
I am not agented, but I have published several books plus a story in an anthology. My first book, Ana María Reyes Does NOT Live in a Castle, was published after I entered it into a Lee & Low Books contest; even though the book did not win, Lee & Low still offered me a contract. After that book was published, Lee & Low made an offer on my second middle grade novel, Miosotis Flores Never Forgets. My picture book, The Cot in the Living Room, was published by Kokila (an imprint of PRH) when I submitted it in response to a call for unagented submissions. And this Bodega Cats series came about because an editor from Macmillan reached out to me and said she had an idea for a series about three different bodega owners’ kids and their newly adopted cats; she had read my books and thought I would be the perfect person to write this series. I know it’s difficult to get published without an agent, but there are opportunities out there, and I have been fortunate to find some of them.
 
What is on your creative bucket list? 
I’d like to take a drawing class. I have done some drawing in the past, and I’m okay at it but not super talented. I don’t plan to try my hand at book illustration, but I think it’s good to see things through an artist’s eye. I once took a writing workshop where one of the participants was an artist, and his descriptions of scenes were beautifully detailed and vivid. I realized that I don’t pay as close attention to the details of my surroundings, and I think a drawing class will help me get better at that. I’m always looking for ways to improve my writing, and I believe an art class will help me do that.