Las Musas Podcast

On this episode of the Las Musas Podcast: Sophomore Social, Musas Jonny Garza Villa, Juliet Menendez, and Ana Siqueira join Marcia Mickelson to discuss lessons learned and taken from writing our debut and implemented into our sophomore book process, going through the submission process again as an established author, personal growth, and future plans. If you enjoyed this episode or plan on using t...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Mónica Mancillas joins Adriana Hernández Bergstrom, Anna Orenstein-Cardona, Mariana Rios Ramírez and Terry Catasús Jennings in opening up about their biggest debut fears, their struggles with self doubt, where/who they turned to for support, what they did or are doing to prepare for their big book launch, and the nitty gritty of promoting yourself on socia...

On this incredible and informative episode of the Las Musas Podcast Debut Diaries series featuring our middle grade and young adult Musas, Andrea Beatriz Arango, along with Camille Gomera Tavarez, Vanessa L. Torres, and Angela Velez discuss mental health during the debut year and debut jitters. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying a book (or a few) to say thanks! Pre-order Andrea Be...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Terry Catasús Jennings joins Ana Siqueira, Maria José Fitzgerald, Cindy Rodriguez, and Vanessa Torres to talk about their favorite summer book recommendations for swaying in a hammock or just trying to escape the heat. From heart-warming picture books about communities coming together to scuba adventures to fun romances, they've got you covered.  If y...

On this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Adrianna Cuevas interviews debut middle grade author, S. A. Rodriguez, about her exciting new  book, Treasure Tracks, coming out today, June 28th, 2022! In this fun and inspiring conversation, they share their favorite Florida shark stories, their love of the Florida keys, S.A. Rodriguez's journey from marketing to publishing, and the close family bon...

No new episode this week, but stay tuned for much more from the Las Musas Podcast starting next week! And, until then, take a moment to re-listen to your favorite episodes and let us know which ones you're tuning into in the comments! Thanks for your support, and we'll see you next week. Check out all our incredible books, ranging from picture books to young adult, at our Las Musas Bookshop page !...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Mariana Llanos interviews debut picture book author, Cynthia Harmony about her beautiful new book, Mi Ciudad Sings/Mi Ciudad Canta, coming out today, June 14th! They talk about the 2017 earthquake that inspired her book, the power of music to bring together a community (you might want a box of tissues ready for the story about Cielito Lindo), and how to ba...

On this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Adriana Hernández Bergstrom talks with Terry Catasús Jennings, Mariana Ríos Ramírez, and Karina Nicole González about how publishers decide the amount of publicity they offer authors and how to boost those efforts and get support from your community. They offer great tips for reaching out to librarians, joining marketing groups, getting more reviews, creat...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Jonny Garza Villa joins Racquel Marie, Crystal Maldonado, and e. E Charlton-Trujillo for a beautifully bookish celebration of Pride Month. In this love letter to QTBIPOC authors and readers, they talk about the books that changed their lives, the books they would have loved to have read as kids, the books they're reading now, the books they hope to see in...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast: Debut Spotlight, debut Musa Eliza Kinkz joins fellow Musa Zara González Hoang to discuss her picture book, Goldie's Guide to Grandchilding and have a fun, fascinating discussion on inspirations in comedy and humor, art style and meaningful aspects of illustration, the author-illustrator-publisher relationships, origin stories, and finding community. If you...

This episode of the Las Musas Podcast's Debut Diaries, the Middle Grade and Young Adult Edition, Angela Velez is joined by Andrea Beatriz Arango, Racquel Marie, Sallie Anne Rodriguez, and Vanessa L. Torres for a discussion on the importance of breaks in the writing process and their favorite ways to break, to share debut year and pub day words wisdom, hopes, and reflections, and talk about the rol...

In this episode of Ask a Musa, Mia García joins Andrea Beatriz Arango, Maria Jose Fitzgerald, and Karina Nicole González to share tips about how to go about outlining different drafts, how the revise and resubmit process can be a bit of a gamble, and how to listen to the vibes your manuscript is giving off to know whether to move forward with it or save it for another time. They also spend some ti...

In the second Sophomore Social episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Rebecca Balcarcel and Jonny Garza Villa join Laekan Zea Kemp to talk about the differences in production and publisher support between debut and sophomore releases and navigating a healthy relationship with publicity while maintaining a writing schedule, deadlines, and life. If you enjoyed this episode or plan on using the resources...

In this episode of the Las Musas podcast, Terry Catasús Jennings speaks with Cynthia Harmony, Mariana Ríos, Anna Orenstein-Cardona, and Eliza Kinkz about how picture books evolve during the editing and illustration process and how the work is truly a group effort. In this conversation, they delve into what it is like to do a revise and resubmit with editors, the importance of listening and being o...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast's Debut Diaries featuring Middle Grade and Young Adult Musas, Camille Gomera-Tavarez, Sallie Anne Rodriguez, and Vanessa L. Torres discuss debut year marketing, publicity and author branding, giving listeners some tips and best practices practically, professionally, and personally. Resources Mentioned: Sallie Anne's website Camille's website Vanessa's websi...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, debut Musa Camille Gomera-Tavarez joins fellow Musa Donna Barba Higuera to discuss her much anticipated YA collection of short stories, High Spirits. They talk about Camille's unique publishing journey from graphic designer to author, uncovering family secrets, magical realism, and being true to your own voice as an author. If you enjoyed this episode, ple...

On this episode of Ask a Musa, authors Jonny Garza Villa, Racquel Marie, Vanessa Torres, and Ana Siquiera discuss managing time while writing, finding a Latine critique group, knowing if you are being underpaid as a marginalized author, and the latest publishing chisme. Resources mentioned: KidLit Latinx The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) NYC Latina Writer's Group Lati...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, Rebecca Balcarcel joins Laekan Zea Kemp and Anika Fajardo to talk about their experiences living through the sophomore slump and the pressures to make their second books just as good -or better- than their first. They discuss how the sophomore slump manifested in each of their lives, how it was compounded by the pandemic, and what it's like to juggle the p...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, debut Musa Terry Catasús Jennings joins fellow Musas Karina Gonzalez, Mariana Ríos, and Eliza Kinkz. They discuss different approaches to query agents -from the methodical and data-driven to the serendipitous ways in which destiny decides for you- as well as submissions and editing. If you enjoyed this episode or plan on using the resources provided, pleas...

This episode of the Las Musas Podcast is packed full of useful tips, gems of wisdom, and lessons learned. Vanessa Torres talks with fellow Musas, Angela Velez, Sallie Anne Rodriguez, and Andrea Arango about how to find an agent, how to stand out in the famous query letter, the ups and downs of going on submission, revision techniques for the plotter and pantser, and when you should accept feedback...

We're bringing back Ask a Musa episodes and they're better than ever! Join Musas Terry Catasús Jennings, Jonny Garza Villa, Laekan Zea Kemp, and Vanessa L. Torres as they blurb some recent favorite reads; discuss the current book banning initiatives occurring around the country, the challenges of rewriting a manuscript; and share some writing craft tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please conside...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, debut Musa Vanessa Torres joins fellow Musa Alda P. Dobbs to discuss her historical YA novel The Turning Point. Hear how Vanessa's experience as a dancer and later as a paramedic informed this emotionally gripping novel about a Latinx girl finding freedom through dance and breaking expectations in 1980s Minnesota.  If you enjoyed this episode, please...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, debut Musa Angela Velez joins fellow Musa Crystal Maldonado to discuss her contemporary YA  Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity, how her own high school to college journey and working in college admissions inspired her book, sisterhood, and writing dual POV novels. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying a book (or a few) to say thanks!...

In this episode of the Las Musas Podcast, author Racquel Marie joins fellow Musa Ana Siqueira to discuss her contemporary YA debut Ophelia After All, how she acquired her agent through PitMad, and the challenges of juggling querying and submission with college life and the pandemic.  If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying a book (or a few) to say thanks! Buy Racquel Marie 's YA b...

In this very special episode of the Las Musas Podcast, author Jasminne Mendez discusses her debut picture book Josefina's Habichuelas, how her own sweet tooth inspired Josefina's story, how she manages to write across so many different age categories and genres, and the importance of representation in children's books. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider buying a book (or a few) to say th...