The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

How Bestselling Author Isabel Cañas Writes: Part Two

The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

Show Notes

Bestselling author and historian Isabel Cañas returned to speak with us about the influence of Latin American history and family lore on her writing, the stakes of historical fiction, and her YA debut, THE HOUSE OF GARDENIAS.

Isabel Cañas is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of The Hacienda, Vampires of El Norte, and The Possession of Alba Díaz.

Her fourth novel is The House of Gardenias, and her YA debut. “Set in revolutionary-era Mexico, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Minerva Treviño as she escapes an abusive home and begins a new life as a lady's maid to a wealthy widow.”

#1 NY Times-bestselling author Marissa Meyer said of the book, "This is gothic storytelling with teeth: a lyrical and devastating tale of one maid caught in a spiderweb of loyalty, courage, revolution, and monsters both dead and alive."

Isabel holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and heritage.

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In Part Two of this file Isabel Cañas, Milena, and I discussed:

“The existential dread” of the week before pub date

How she came of age as a writer during the YA fantasy boom

Why she pivoted to adult horror early in her career

The familial inspiration behind her latest novel

How she walked away from her very first YA offer

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

⁠⁠isabelcanas.com⁠⁠

The House of Gardenias by Isabel Cañas [Amazon]

⁠Isabel Cañas Amazon Author Page⁠

⁠⁠Isabel Cañas on TikTok⁠

⁠⁠Isabel Cañas on Instagram⁠⁠

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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