What inspired you to write Petra Luna?

Growing up I loved listening to stories about my great-grandmother’s experience during the Mexican Revolution. They all told of extraordinary events and unbelievable trials she endured as a child. One story in particular intrigued me. It was of my great-grandmother and her family anxiously waiting for the US border to open along with thousands of other people so that they could reach safety. I decided to do some research to find out if it was true. Without having an exact date, I searched through old newspapers and after a few months, I found an article that described the event exactly as my great-grandmother had recounted it. I knew then I had to share her story with everyone, and Petra Luna was born!

How much of Petra Luna is real?

Petra Luna’s character and some of her experiences were inspired by my grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s childhood. Though the story’s characters are all fictional, their circumstances and experiences are based on actual stories I was told by elders or read in newspapers and books.

Are the songs in Petra Luna real songs?

They are. Some songs were composed before the Mexican Revolution and others during the conflict. You can find out more in the Fact or Fiction Guide.

How did you come up with names in your book?

For my main character, I wanted a strong name and Petra came to me from the very start. It’s a name that means “rock” or “stone”. I wanted to complement Petra’s name with a gentle last name that would resemble her soft-natured spirit towards her siblings, and Luna came to me. Check out the Fact or Fiction Guide to learn more.

Have you ever thought about making Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna into a movie?

I think Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna would make a great movie or a series adaptation. I’m learning the basics of script writing and maybe I’ll start writing one for Barefoot Dreams next year.

Where were you born? Do you speak Spanish?

I was born in Mexico but moved to the U.S. when I was very small. Growing up, all I ever spoke at home and in the neighborhood was Spanish. I feel very fortunate to have grown up that way and also for having a mother who taught me how to read and write Spanish before starting school.

Have you ever had any other jobs besides being a writer?

Yes! I’ve worked as a telemarketer, a server at restaurant, gift shop attendant at a wax museum, salesgirl at a men’s clothing store, bank teller, Spanish Montessori schoolteacher, math tutor, lab assistant, convenience store clerk, peanut seller at a baseball stadium, chocolate sample giver, mime, and as an electronics technician in the U.S. Air Force (and later for the City of San Antonio). I've also worked with concrete (mixing it, sawing it, and testing it) outside in the Texas heat. When I graduated, I worked as an engineer. And finally, five years after that, I became a writer. I truly believe that every job I’ve had has had an impact on my writing. Every person I've met, interacted with, or observed has fueled my imagination for stories then and now.

Did you write as a child?

As a child I never kept a journal or wrote much. Even though I started kindergarten in America, it took almost five years for me to learn English. I was good at math and science so, in my young mind, I thought I ought to be a scientist. However, I’ve always been an observer. I’ve always enjoyed watching people talk and interact. And ever since I can remember, I’ve had a passion for stories – for listening to them and telling them

When did you decided to become a writer?

In high school, I began to read poetry and after writing a couple of poems, the idea of becoming a writer came to me. However, my English wasn’t great, and since I seemed to have a talent for math and science, my teachers encouraged me to pursue the sciences. I started college and was crushed when I was placed in remedial English. I took action, though, and signed up for courses that would help me improve. I took two years of Latin and one of German, and both vastly improved my English. Still, I heeded my teachers’ advice and pursued degrees in physics and engineering. In 2010, when I lived in Italy, I finally found the courage to pursue my dream of writing.

How long did it take you to write and publish your first book?

The idea of Petra Luna came to me in 2013. I first wrote the story as an article for a children’s magazine and then expanded it into a picture book. A year later, during a writing conference, an agent suggested I turn my picture book into a novel. It then took me five years to write Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna.

Did you ever feel like giving up while writing your book?

Absolutely! There were times when certain setbacks in life made me question my writing. Fortunately, I have a very supportive husband and two wonderful kids who never stop believing in me.

Where do you get your ideas?

That’s a fun question. Ideas are everywhere, all around you, and as a storyteller it’s your job to poke at them to see if they’re “alive”. Sometimes ideas twitch or glimmer and require more poking or turning over to see what they’re made of. Then there are ideas that remain dull and motionless no matter how much you prod, and all you can do is move on to the next one. The best ideas leap right at you, anxious to be carried away. I find ideas in newspapers, family stories, sunsets — pretty much in anything and everything. Check out the Inspiration Article under Educational Resources on the Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna page.

Do you have any advice for young aspiring writers?

- Read everything you can get your hands on.

- Read for pleasure but also find books that you enjoy and analyze them. Like a biologist who dissects a specimen to learn more about it, do the same with your favorite books. Dissect each scene, each paragraph, each sentence and read it aloud to learn how it flows.

- Don’t forget to write every day (you’re a writer, after all!)

- Read your own writing aloud and listen to its rhythm and flow. See if you stumble anywhere.

- Don’t be afraid to share your writing with people you trust. It takes courage but improvement will always follow.

- Seek a mentor to guide you through.

- Don’t be discouraged. Don’t give up. And learn to listen to your own voice. Always remember that writing is HARD, HARD work!

How do you combat “writer’s block”?

What works for me is stepping away from my work and forcing myself not to think about it. I go for a walk, ride my bike, dance, or read a book not related to what I’m doing. The less I think about it, the better. I let my subconscious work on it, and before I know it, ideas jump at me from everywhere, even in my sleep. If I’m in a crunch, I take my favorite book and begin typing it. After about the third page, I’m anxious to return to my own work.

Where do you write?

I write in a lot of places. Sometimes at home, or at the local coffee shop, or while my kids practice sports. There are times when ideas come to me while driving or in the middle of the night. That’s why I always keep a pen and paper close!

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I like to spend time with my family, go on walks, read, ride my bike, dance, and sleep.

What’s your favorite color?

Depends on my mood but royal blue tends to be my favorite. Sometimes I love bright yellow. Other times crimson red. Emerald green is also a gorgeous color.

What is your favorite book?

I have many, but I’ll give you my top three for each category.

Picture Books: On A Beam of Light by Jennifer Berne, The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, and The Wonderful Things You Will Be by Emily Winfield Martin.

Middle Grade: Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson, and Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

Young Adult: Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

What is your favorite movie?

Contact. Having studied physics and the fact that the story was written by a physicist, really pulls at my strings. Also, the movie’s visual aspects and the music are phenomenal.

What is currently your favorite show you watch on TV?

My Brilliant Friend. I love the show for three reasons: (1) it’s based on a novel, (2) I identify with both main characters, and (3) I’ve lived in the story’s geographic setting, Naples, Italy. Mamma mia!

What is your favorite music?

Now that’s a tough one. I listen to anything from George Gershwin to Juan Gabriel, Pink Floyd, Hank Williams, Glenn Miller, Fito Olivares, Aretha Franklin, Drowning Pool, Lady Gaga, Eminem, Zac Brown…I could go on and on.