Sandra Proudman's "Salvación" is a Zorro retelling. Check out our interview with the author below.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
"Salvación," my YA fantasy debut, is a Zorro retelling set in historical and magical Alta California. So much of the inspiration for "Salvación," of course, came from the original source materials, both the books and the movies that have been inspired by Zorro. I also drew a lot of inspiration from some of my favorite romances, such as Bellamy and Clarke from "The 100" (I did also love Lexa and Clarke!), as well as the time period itself. This is a story set in a historical world that I was able to research, and what I read and learned also played a large role in what would become the final story.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
I truly believe that books are the most magical thing in the entire world. And to me, Reading Rainbow is how we share this magic among ourselves and ensure that every single person gets to see themselves as the heroes of their own stories and celebrate how beautiful it is that we live in a diverse world filled with love of all types.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
I grew up attending some of the most diverse schools in the entire nation here in Northern California, and I’ll never forget nor take for granted how it’s shaped the person I’ve become as an adult. And to me, there is nothing stranger than not having a variety of people represented in books because I grew up surrounded by so many different teens and so many cultures that I respected and loved; it’s all I know. I really see books as the way to reach people, especially young people, who haven't experienced this and to create a world where we're truly all happier and able to be ourselves.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
"Salvación" follows Lola de La Peña, who becomes the masked vigilante Salvación in order to protect her small mining town of Coloma and the magic it holds, a magic in the form of healing salt called sal negra. Everything changes after the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and we see Lola’s family having to struggle with mining the sal negra and the fact that Alta California is no longer a part of México. Then a man arrives and promises to once again make Alta California a part of México. This man, however, has nefarious plans to take over the world using sal roja, a red magical salt that’s the opposite of sal negra. Where sal negra heals, sal roja destroys everything in its path. Salvación must race to stop him.
The final version of this story was something that honestly just came so easily to me; I was really inspired by Zorro and the time period. I wanted to just tell a story that was very Mexican, something I’m so proud of being.
What can fans expect from your book?
Readers can expect a badass Mexican hero who is fully devoted to always doing the right thing; an adventurous romance a la Zuko and Katara; a family that has to battle their own demons and real baddies; horse racing and sword fighting; a bit of social commentary involving colonization and ecocide; and overall, just a sense of adventure and a look at this historical period through a magical lens.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m thrilled to be following up "Salvación" with my sci-fi debut, "Love in the Oasis," a dual-perspective dystopian romance coming out next fall. There is also more to come from me in 2027 already on my schedule, and although I can’t share many details about that project yet, it is also a retelling. I have been having a wild time drafting it and am loving every minute of being in that story. I am so excited to keep sharing stories with readers and am incredibly thankful to everyone who picks up my work!
