Book Title: BOSS LADY Character Name: Antonia “Toni” Arroyo   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My childhood was defined by our tight knit Afro-Puerto Rican family of five and welcoming community events. We had little money so even small affairs at our church and around our neighborhood made big impacts on me. Some of my fondest memories include sitting on the couch trying to keep my younger twin brothers quiet while my parents entertained friends and danced salsa until I thought they’d tap and flick a hole in the living room rug to the music of Martin Santiago. Before my father died, our lives were simple and safe, and I never wanted any material thing more than I wanted the love of mi familia.   What was your greatest talent? Curiosity is my greatest talent. I was a scientist even as a kid, and no one could tell me different. I remained a scientist as an adult even though I didn’t have letters of degree behind my name. Though I was forced to leave college because my family needed me at home, I never lost my sense of wonder and my urge to discover what knowledge…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BETTER HALF 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? From comedy writing duo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans comes The Better Half, a side-splitting spin on reaching the pinnacle of life, only to stare down a slippery slope on the other side. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? So far, we have placed our stories in California.  We wanted a sophisticated Southern California setting without being in the typical Los Angeles or San Diego areas.  For The Better Half, we landed on Pasadena and traveled there together to get a feel for the vibe of the city. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely!  We adore Nina and her best friend, Marisol.  It would be great to sit on a patio with them for happy hour and throw back some margaritas. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Intelligent, Purposeful, Multitasker 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? We aimed to analyze every angle of Zora Neale Hurston’s quote, “All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk,” as it is one of the main themes we explore in The Better Half. We continue to expand…