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Desideria Mesa | 20 Questions: BINDLE PUNK BRUJA

September 8, 2022

1–What is the title of your latest release?

BINDLE PUNK BRUJA

2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?

A part-time reporter and club owner takes on crooked city councilmen, mysterious and deadly mobsters, and society’s deeply rooted sexism and racism, all while keeping her true identity and magical abilities hidden – inspired by an ancient Mexican folktale

3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?

My great-grandmother’s journey from Mexico to Kansas City was a huge inspiration for the setting. The period was wrought with danger and uncertainty as well as strong familial bonds for immigrant families, so the story just seemed to lead me to Kansas City in a way.

4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?

Absolutely. I poured a lot of myself into her character, and I’m pretty fun to hang with, so yes.

5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?

Witty, Loyal, Brave

6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?

I learned how much hasn’t changed since 1925 in the political and social arenas.

7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?

I edit as I go. It’s just what works for me.

8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?

Sushi or bar food

9–Describe your writing space/office!

I love to write outside on a comfy patio set in the evening.

10–Who is an author you admire?

N/A

11–Is there a book that changed your life?

N/A

12–Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.

I was a nervous wreck and excited out of my mind. It’s difficult to explain the feeling of when all of your hard work begins to pay off and finding out that something you’ve created has touched someone else.

13–What’s your favorite genre to read?

I love anything fantasy, historical, or literary. And poetry.

14–What’s your favorite movie?

Tombstone

15–What is your favorite season?

Summer. I’m all about dresses and cold drinks.

16–How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

All month long – going out, eating good food, and seeing all my friends.

17–What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?

Answer: N/A

18–What’s your favorite type of cuisine?

Answer: N/A

19–What do you do when you have free time?

I like to create music by writing songs, playing the piano, or attempting the guitar for the twentieth time ever.

20–What can readers expect from you next?

A sequel to BPB, and several more historical fantasy projects are in the works.

BINDLE PUNK BRUJA by Desideria Mesa

Bindle Punk Bruja

Boardwalk Empire meets The Vanishing Half with a touch of earth magic in this sexy and action-packed historical fantasy set in the luminous Golden Twenties from debut author Desideria Mesa, where a part-time reporter and club owner takes on crooked city councilmen, mysterious and deadly mobsters, and society’s deeply rooted sexism and racism, all while keeping her true identity and magical abilities hidden—inspired by an ancient Mexican folktale.

Yo soy quien soy. I am who I am.

Luna—or depending on who’s asking, Rose—is the white-passing daughter of an immigrant mother who has seen what happens to people from her culture. This world is prejudicial, and she must hide her identity in pursuit of owning an illegal jazz club. Using her cunning powers, Rose negotiates with dangerous criminals as she climbs up Kansas City’s bootlegging ladder. Luna, however, runs the risk of losing everything if the crooked city councilmen and ruthless mobsters discover her ties to an immigrant boxcar community that secretly houses witches. Last thing she wants is to put her entire family in danger.

But this bruja with ever-growing magical abilities can never resist a good fight. With her new identity, Rose, an unabashed flapper, defies societal expectations all the while struggling to keep her true self and witchcraft in check. However, the harder she tries to avoid scrutiny, the more her efforts eventually capture unwanted attention. Soon, she finds herself surrounded by greed and every brand of bigotry—from local gangsters who want a piece of the action and businessmen who hate her diverse staff to the Ku Klux Klan and Al Capone. Will her earth magic be enough to save her friends and family? As much as she hates to admit it, she may need to learn to have faith in others—and learning to trust may prove to be her biggest ambition yet.

 

Paranormal Historical [Harper Voyager, On Sale: September 13, 2022, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780063056084 / ]

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About Desideria Mesa

Desideria Mesa

Desideria Mesa is often found getting lost in a historical, sci-fi, or high fantasy novel or crafting her own stories, of course. Aside from churning out novels, she enjoys writing songs, poetry, and short stories.

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