 Cover illustrated by Valentino Lasso. Today we celebrate the book birthday of RELIT: 16 LATINX REMIXES OF CLASSIC STORIES. We sat down with Musa Sandra Proudman to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book: Relit features sixteen stories by award-winning and bestselling YA authors center a Latinx point of view in an empowering anthology that reimagines classics through fantasy, science fiction, and with a dash of magic, for fans of A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN and RECLAIM THE STARS. In classic stories remixed, Latinx characters take center stage. Pride and Prejudice is launched into outer space, Frankenstein is plunged into the depths of the ocean, and The Great Gatsby floats to an island off the coast of Costa Rica. A shape-shifter gives up her life to save the boy she loves from an evil bruja. La Ciguapa covets a little mermaid’s heart of gold. Two star-crossed teens fall in love while the planet burns around them. Whether characters fall in love, battle foes, or grow through grief, each story will empower readers to see themselves as the heroes of the stories that make our world. Can you share your path to publication for this book? This project started as a dream, really. As an unpublished author it is extremely difficult to sell an anthology. Because I’ve always been a huge advocate for Latinx voices, even though I wasn’t published yet, I was a known name in the industry and was able to bring together a really amazing list of Latinx voices. Once I put the proposal together and we sent it out on submission, it took only three months to find a home. Though the path has still been rocky. Relit has been the product of two agents and three editors. And it is one of the last Inkyard Press titles that will be published. I’m really thankful for the community, my contributors, and Carolina Ortiz, our new editor on this project, for seeing it through until publication. What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story? My favorite part has been working with 15 Latinx voices that I’ve admired. It has truly been the biggest honor and one I’ll never forget. To launch my traditionally published career this way, is incredible. What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story? With my story, Tesoro, I hope that readers take away that they don’t have to try to do things alone; that there will always be people who want to help you and sometimes you have to let them. From the anthology as a whole, I’m hoping a few things happen—that Latinx readers know that they can be the heroes of their own stories, that non-Latinx readers come to find that we aren’t a monolith, and that the publishing community as a whole sees that Latinx authors can write science fiction, fantasy, and horror, too. What comes next for you as an author? After Relit, I have a horror short story coming out later in the year in THE HOUSE WHERE DEATH LIVES edited by Alex Brown and being published by Page Street Books. I am also working on finishing up my YA fantasy debut, SALVACIÓN, which comes out next year from Wednesday Books. I’m so excited about both! What 3 recommendations would you give writers who are starting out? 1) Don’t get tied up on one project and keep writing, learning, and building your community. 2) Wear rejections like badges of armor that will make you that much stronger. 3) Always remember that nothing in publishing is more important than taking care of yourself and being there for other communities that need our voices and support.
She is passionate about bringing underrepresented voices to the forefront and is also a committee member of #LatinxPitch. When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler, catching up on all her shows, and taking care of her vegetable garden.
Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, and TikTok @SandraProudman. Social media handles: @sandraproudman everywhere. Comments are closed.
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