LAS MUSAS BOOK BIRTHDAY - On the Wings of La Noche

Cover art by Monique Muñoz

​Today, we are celebrating the book birthday of On the Wings of la Noche by Musa Vanessa Torres. We sat down with Vanessa to learn more about this book.

In her human form, Noche is a lonely science girl grieving the tragic accidental drowning of her girlfriend, Dante Fuentes. At night, she is a Lechuza—an ethereal jet-black owl that guides
the dead to the after—who visits her dead girlfriend at the lake, desperate for more time with her. The longer Dante’s soul roams the earth, the more likely it is that she will fade into the unknown, lost forever, but Noche cannot let go . . .

That’s when a new kid comes to town, Jax, another science nerd like Noche. They connect in a way she can’t ignore, seemingly pulled together by an invisible thread. For the first time, Noche begins to imagine a life without Dante. As Noche’s heart begins to beat for two people, her guilt flares. Then, she finds herself at risk of losing both Jax and Dante, and Noche is forced to question her purpose as a Lechuza and everything she has ever believed in.

Learn more after the break!

Where did you get the idea for this particular book?
I am from a tight-knit Mexican American family. On the Wings of la Noche is inspired by
eerie ghostly tales my grandmother used to tell me about the legend of La Lechuza,
shapeshifting witchy women who transform into owls to take the souls of the dead. I’d sit
at the kitchen table, watch my grandmother make tortillas, and listen to her stories. She
is no longer with me, but I like to believe part of her lives on in this book. I miss her
colorful soul every day.

What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story?
Well, this book is about love and death. I think of my main character Noche as a
Wednesday meets Sabrina. And it wasn’t until after writing the first draft, that I realized
how much we are alike. Her need to hang out in the morgue, her affinity with the dead,
and her obsession with collecting mementoes from her passengers, make up her dark
side. But she also lets music carry her away, she loves with her whole heart, and has a
deep sense of empathy. I come from a first responder background, having been a
paramedic for thirty years. I have been present for so much death, and over time, I’ve
found the beauty in this. I see it as an honor to have been bedside with those passing
on. Like my grandmother, Noche is a piece of me on the page.

What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always enjoyed writing, but it wasn’t until I read the Twilight series that I began to
admit to myself, “This is what I want to do.” And I can’t really put my finger on what it
was about Stephenie’s books. I just know I was instantly motivated to tell my own
stories.

What three words would you use to describe your book?
Dark. Passionate. Fantastical.

What three recommendations would you give writers out there who are just starting out?
Find your people. Writing is such a solitary endeavor. Fill your world with other
creatives. They will be the ones who understand firsthand, the challenges, rejections
(because this is a reality in this business,) and they will be there to celebrates your wins
like no one else.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I set a timer for forty-five minutes and just write. I
don’t care about spelling, grammar, or if the story makes sense. I just get words on the
page. When I read it back to myself, I pluck out the gems within the slush.

Give yourself plenty of grace. Writing is hard. But it’s also supposed to be fun. Let
yourself go and see what comes of it. You might be surprised.

Thank you Vanessa, and congratulations!

Buy on the wings of la noche

Photo credit: Young Lee Photography

Vanessa L. Torres is a Mexican American author, an adventure seeker, and a mom to a flashlight-under-the-covers-reader. She is a thirty-year veteran of the fire service and is equally proud to call herself an author. Her debut young adult novel, The Turning Pointe, released in 2022.

When she’s not writing, she balances her time between anything outdoors, and spending time with her family close to home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Connect with Vanessa:
IG and TikTok: @vanessaltorreswrites
Website: https://www.vltorres.com/

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