If themes of fate vs freewill and wishes going awry interest you, then check out "These Vengeful Wishes" by Vanessa Montalban.
What was your inspiration behind your most recent book?
I’ve always had a hard time remembering the exact moment I get an idea for a book. It usually starts with a random thought, like “hey, a wishing well sounds cool” then snowballs into something more fully-formed. With "These Vengeful Wishes," I have the unique opportunity to see what my thought-process was like because it’s the first book I’ve ever outlined entirely before starting and I have documented proof! I remember mulling over the concept of wishes that come at a cost. I’d read “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs in college and the idea wouldn’t shake me. I kept thinking about the kind of character that would barrel ahead, desperately wish for something despite knowing that their desires will cost them something else. But I also needed a reason why this wishing well, or in this case, this wishing cavern had the magic that it does. That’s where I started looking for a folkloric creature that could grant such power but I knew I wanted Central American legends for this story. The legend of La Cegua was so alluring and had enough gaps in the narrative that I could weave a new story for her into the world of "These Vengeful Wishes." She would become my villain, but also my story’s heart.
What does Reading Rainbow mean to you?
I approach all reading with an empathetic and broad mind. The purpose of reading, for me, is to view life through lenses different than my own so that I may approach the world a more compassionate human. When I read with pride, I share in a community filled with a wide range of diverse experiences and history. I read to inform myself and to share in the rich stories of the LGBTQ+ space.
Why do you feel representation of a variety of people is so important when it comes to writing books?
The world is a diverse place. We share our communities with so many different people, but sometimes we’re in this bubble of perception, and our exposure to different cultures and people are limited. Reading is the all-access path to expanding our worldview. It’s the method in which we learn, understand, and appreciate lives different than our own. I feel an immense responsibility when it comes to writing from my perspective. My experience alone does not represent the entirety of my community, but it does represent a life lived that may be different to the reader who picks up my book. Reading creates empathy and connection, necessary traits for a diverse society to function.
Tell us a little more about the book and why you decided to write it.
In "These Vengeful Wishes" a teen girl moves to a small Florida town plagued by a vengeful spirit of the woods. The girl uncovers a wishing well that grants her deepest desires but at a cost. As her wishes bring out the worst in her and she begins to unravel a deadly town secret, the girl wonders who’s the real villain in this story and can she truly trust the creature who destroys wicked men.
I started writing this story because I wanted to play with the idea of a character’s desires going against their better interests. In creating that character, I had to create her biggest opposition — a monstrous spirit she could relate to a little too much. La Cegua was such a fun character to explore. There are different accounts on the folk legend, but it boils down to a beautiful woman who lures cheating men into the woods and then petrifies them by revealing her skeletal horse face. Her backstory is a little less certain, many claiming the legend is born of a young girl who disobeyed her mother and was punished for it. I wanted to give her story a different depth, and I truly hope I did her justice!
What can fans expect from your book?
Hopefully all the good, spooky things! But to provide more of a list, they can expect an atmospheric folklore retelling, lots of female rage, themes of fate vs freewill, a murderous spirit of the woods, wishes gone awry, Florida gothic vibes, found family, and a golden retriever love interest paired with a black cat main character.
What's up next for you in the bookish world?
I’m less than a month away from release day and I’m gearing up to do so many local events and some virtual ones! I’ll be updating my newsletter and my Instagram so readers can follow me there for more. I also have a few unannounced things in the works that I can’t wait to talk more about!
