Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Desideria Mesa | 20 Questions: BINDLE PUNK BRUJA
Author Guest / 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…

Isabel Canas Interview – Gothic Delights
Author Guest , Interviews / May 4, 2022

First of all – I love the cover for your book THE HACIENDA. It seems to capture the mood based on the book’s description. Your book is described as “Mexican Gothic” and “supernatural suspense”. What does that mean to you? How would you describe that for readers? THE HACIENDA is a genre-bending novel that combines elements of historical, horror, thriller, paranormal, and fantasy, tying it all together with a dash of romance. I believe the term “supernatural suspense” signals to readers what kind of experience awaits them between the covers: a suspenseful, terrifying tale of ghosts, witchcraft, and things that go bump in the night. Mexican Gothic is both a comp title (as in, THE HACIENDA will appeal to readers of the novel Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia) and, I believe, a genre in and of itself with ample room to grow! So many things about Mexican culture and history lend themselves beautifully to the Gothic as a genre: ghosts, tempestuous colonial histories, long-buried secrets, buildings that are hundreds of years old, the cultural predominance of and tension between Catholicism and traditional religious beliefs, and the skeletal iconography of holidays such as the Day of the Dead. I eagerly await…

Allie Therin | Exclusive Interview: WONDERSTRUCK
Author Guest / February 10, 2021

Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Allie! Please tell us about yourself and your Magic in Manhattan series.   Thank you so much for having me! I’m Allie, a Cuban-American author, attorney, parent, spoonie, and occasional oversharer of cat pictures. The Magic in Manhattan series is a blend of urban fantasy and romance set in 1925 New York City. It follows an “opposites-attract couple” through three books: Arthur, a non-magical WWI soldier from a political family who hunts supernatural relics, and Rory, an immigrant’s son hiding his ability to see visions of objects’ pasts by working in a Hell’s Kitchen antiques shop.   WONDERSTRUCK is the final book in your Magic in Manhattan series. What is it like bringing a series to an end? What are some of your favorite things about writing this magical series?   Endings are hard! It’s bittersweet to say goodbye, but at the same time, it was really nice to finally be able to give Arthur and Rory their happily ever after. Some of my favorite things about writing this series were learning about New York’s history, and coming up with ways to intertwine magic and history and romance all together. I love that these books…