Hello everyone! Today’s posts are an author interview with the amazing author, Anabel Soto. So, without further ado, let’s get on with the spotlight!
About the Author:
Anabel is a VONA Alumni, Kweli Journal Fellow and has performed for PEN America Lit Crawl NYC. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Health Magazine and Seventeen magazine, the national-award-winning magazine Dollars & Sense, the literary journal Encounters, the New Voices Anthology and the Anthology Ritmo Que Late. Anabel’s children’s picture book is available on AnabelSotoWrites.com.
What and when started your love for writing?
I have loved reading and writing since elementary school. English was my favorite subject growing up however I never received positive feedback for my writing until my senior year in high school where I had one teacher champion my writing. It felt so rewarding to hear someone else’s belief.
Of all of the book genres, what drew you to write about yours?
I never thought about or wanted to write children’s books. When I had my children I was motivated to the point of obsession to write a children’s book. I wanted to make sure my daughter found books with lead characters that looked like her. Reading to her helped me discover new books I had never read as a child. I fall in love with the genre all over again as I discover new treasured stories.
What’s your favorite book cliché or trope?
This is a great question and a hard one. In scary movies I love the trope that it is never wise to leave the group because it clearly tells what will happen next and I can close my eyes (I’m not a fan of scary movies) but in my writing I try to avoid them.
There are many tropes in children’s writing that are dated and can leave some little readers feeling left out such as a blond and blue-eyed protagonist or adults always being happily married parents. The protagonist can be anyone that looks like you or me and families are dynamic and all look different and that’s okay.
If you could meet your favorite author who would it be and why?
I love Elizabeth Acevedo, I am lucky to have met her and bonus she is awesome in person! I have many writers I’d love to meet such as Oprah, our favorite auntie, because she exudes wisdom and realness and generosity of spirit, and a hunger to be lifelong learners, and the best of what it means to be a human–I want to soak it all in. I love many other authors across several genres and I’m introduced to new ones almost daily.
What makes your book(s) special?
My book is special to me because it is based on an actual day in my life with my daughter. What I want others to take away is to keep that curiosity about life that children have forefront in their own daily activities. Everyday is a chance to have fun and to learn, children teach us this and remind us of it when we forget. They can teach us much more if we only let them.
So… what are you working on now?
I’m working on my second childrens book “Ari to the Rescue” . It will be available in English and Spanish and will be released later this year. I’m also in the process of a novel in verse and other children’s books in the early stages of production. Please check my website to join my reader list and find out more! You can also follow me on Instagram.
Anabel is such a treat to have on the blog! I can’t wait to see what other great things she accomplishes! For more information about Author Anabel or to connect with her, please visit:
Check out my twitter feed!
It’s finally here!!!
— Winnie Tataw (@WinsBooks) December 5, 2020
The 3rd Book in the Gods’ Scion Series, The Lone Star Child is out now !!!
A thrilling Sci-fi Fantasy about loneliness and revenge
Order your copy here:https://t.co/7V2uBcBEVd pic.twitter.com/yHtDMWKOTP
Live. Love. Laugh.
