An encounter with a goth working at a store led to the inspiration behind "An Amateur Witch’s Guide to Murder."
What was your inspiration behind your book?
I walked into a local print shop needing something last-second for a convention, and the most magnificently goth guy I’ve ever seen was behind the counter. Stiletto nails, black lipstick, immaculate eyeliner — and a jaunty store-branded polo for ultimate contrast. I love goths in unexpected places, so was delighted. And he got my order ready expertly (while in claws). As soon as I left the store, I started making up a backstory for him, deciding he did magic out of the shop. That encounter became the initial idea of the main character.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
We’re in a weird place in history right now. The gains of the last few decades are being reversed. It’s scary. But we can’t just lie down on the floor and cry (as strong as the desire is some days). I think Reading Rainbow means celebrating in the face of uncertainty. It means uplifting and highlighting queer stories precisely because there are people out there wanting to silence them. It means finding joy in our stories despite the efforts to strip us of it.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
I was 32 years old when I read a book that helped me realize what flavor of queer I was. Years after, I saw a Puerto Rican character in a book for the first time. It was this very year, attending a convention, that I finally experienced a Puerto Rican author on a panel. And at each one of those moments, I cried. It was out of relief, but also out of frustration. The possibilities of a person shouldn’t be so hard to conceptualize. Literature is one of the most powerful tools to show people what they can be, and if it doesn’t reflect you, it’s that much harder to cast yourself in those desirable roles.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
Mateo Borrero has 99 problems, and they all hinge on the fact that his bruja mother turned him into the vessel for an ancient evil and then bounced. He needs money for an exorcism. Enter Topher, who's cursed, rich, (kind of cute), and too clueless to clock that Mateo’s never had a client before.
As for why I wrote this book — aside from the aforementioned goth copy shop employee — I wanted to tell a story about how weird it is being Puerto Rican but not raised in Puerto Rico. There’s distance from my extended family, from the culture, and I’m surrounded by people who barely understand Puerto Rico exists even though it’s a territory of the United States. I really wanted to write about that sensation but cloaked in magic and messy people. And cannibalism.
What can fans expect from your book?
"An Amateur Witch’s Guide to Murder" is a bit of a mashup: Urban fantasy, found family cozy, with a tinge of horror. I love complex characters, people trying their best but making things worse, and that moment “me against the world” becomes “us against the world.” This isn’t one of those paranormal detective stories where the detective’s been at the job for years and knows all the answers. The magic’s dangerous, the motivations aren’t pure, but the friendships are, and it’s funny (nothing sounds less funny than telling someone you’re funny but I promise).
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
It’s still early days, but I’m drafting an adult fantasy I’m having a blast with. There’s an accidentally treasonous devil prince, a revenge-fueled lesbian mage, and a baby monster they have to raise together in order to get vengeance.
