Are you ready for the first interview of December? I hope so because we’re coming to you today with just that! Elba Luz’s debut novel releases next month (preorder links at the end of this post!) and so it’s about time to start getting excited — which is why we have this post for you. So, what are you waiting for?
Don’t forget you can also keep up with Elba via instagram.
Have you always known you wanted to be a writer? How old were you when you wrote your first story?
I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer in some capacity, but I thought I’d write for a video game series or maybe become a screenwriter. Those forms of media were my first introduction to storytelling—not including the school curriculum books that little Elba refused to read and enjoy simply because someone told her to. Then, when I was in sixth grade, I was grounded and couldn’t do anything fun for six months straight! My mom only allowed drawing and reading, so I picked up a copy of The Lightning Thief I found in the basement, and before I knew it, it was evening. I begged my dad to get me the rest of the series, and it marked the beginning of my love for reading. After that, I began trying to write my own stories and learned that writing books was as wonderful as reading.
What pieces of media would you say were formative for you? Do you see any of their features in your own writing?
Rick Riordan’s writing, of course, helped me realize that I love reading and writing. Something more recent that I think has shaped and definitely inspired me is the show This Is Us. I’m currently rewatching it with a friend, and to me, it’s the greatest show ever written. Each episode is never long-winded and deals with various topics, characters, and emotions. I loved every single character and every journey that everyone went through. What was so special to me about it is that it is emotionally poignant and heartfelt, but where is all the tension and conflict coming from? There’s no actual villain, but the character’s emotional journey is what keeps you watching. It made me wonder if my characters could stand up against them. If I could love my own characters as I loved the people on This Is Us. Of course, the actors are phenomenal, but if I shut my eyes and listen, the writing is impeccable. Each piece of dialogue is intentional, whether it’s to make you laugh, make you think, make you angry, or make you sad; every sentence was masterfully crafted. I try to replicate even a fraction of the writing in that show whenever I write.
When you close your eyes and imagine an apple, what do you see? An actual apple, a sketch of one, a blackness? Do you think that impacts your writing process?
I see the actual apple. I know some people can’t, and I seriously can’t wrap my brain around that! To be able to write without seeing it fully in your head is amazing. For me, it’s definitely helpful. It may make me look out of my mind, but when I’m writing, I usually stare off into space and play out scenes I’ve envisioned in my head, trying to picture them like a show. Does it have an impact? Is it robotic? Where is everyone? I have to play it out that way.
If you wanted to learn about craft, which three authors would you suggest reading?
The best advice I have received is not to read any authors in general but rather to read authors in the genre you’re writing. Whenever I am writing, I have something I call a “Mentor Book,” which is a book in the same genre with similar themes that I look to for guidance. Like studying for a test, you need to know the material, and you’ll find it in the works of talented authors who have already published. Sometimes, I’ll have multiple books on hand where I know an author excelled at something I need help with. For example, if I know an author who mastered laugh-out-loud banter, I’ll keep that book handy while I read another book focusing more on plot beats. I use a different formula for every book I write, so I recommend finding your own!
When you’re building your world, what do you focus on? How do you try to make it come to life?
I rely on the main character so much for this. My books are usually first-person, so the reading experience is seeing the world exactly as the MC does. I try to make the MC as realistic a person to me as possible, with their own hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes, and distinct personalities. Someone who is shyer might have their head down, so you’ll see the tops of shoes and broken pavement as they walk, along with the ripped skin beneath their nails. They won’t notice things certain things someone else might. Someone outgoing, with their chin always held high, will. These details help me shape the world because if something is important, real, and noticeable to the MC, then it feels like real life. An anxious person might hear footsteps because they’re worried about too many people in the room. Someone else might not hear a thing because they’re only focused on seeing leaves fall off a tree through a window. In my case, world-building starts with your MC and viewing the world through their eyes, not as a third-party typing words on a screen. If you believe in my character, you believe in their world.
What projects are you currently working on? Can you share any details yet?
My next two projects will be more rom-coms filled with hijinks, fun, and occasional second-hand embarrassment.
Three pictures that capture the aesthetic of your book?
Three songs you would put in your book’s soundtrack?
BTS – Butter
Dasha – Austin
Bad Bunny – Titi Me Pregunto (Clean Version lol)
What would be your dream project?
It’s not my sweet spot, and I’ll need to write many more books to feel like I’ve grown enough to write this. However, I have had this niche, dark, magical realism book idea in my head for years that I always think about. I’d love to reach a point in my career and skillset where I can do the story justice.
Which of your characters would you most want to fight a zombie apocalypse with?
The main character’s sister, Sofia, is scrappy, smart, and resourceful. She could take down an NFL player and will definitely be the only survivor in a zombie apocalypse, if only to spite anyone who thinks she wouldn’t survive.
You’re stuck on a desert island and you’re allowed only three (LGBT) books. What are you taking?
First of all, I love this question because if I’m stuck on a deserted island, I am giving up immediately. I do not have the willpower to try. But, before I just lay on the ground and wait for the inevitable, I’d read This Ravenous Fate by Hayley Dennings, She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick, and They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera.
You can collaborate on anything with anyone in the LGBT community: who would it be and why?
Tough question! There are so many I’d love to. Maybe Hikaru Utada. They wrote and performed the two theme songs from one of my favorite video games, Kingdom Hearts. And since I started my writing career, I have always written with those songs on my playlists. It has always made me feel close to them, and I think it would be amazing to write something in short form with someone who impacts my career in such a quiet but needed way.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elba Luz is a Puerto Rican author and a lover of stories, whether in the form of anime, manga, video games, or, of course, books. Speaking of books, she should be writing her own. Instead, you’ll probably find her replaying Final Fantasy, listening to classical music, or cuddling up with her adorable pit bull, Stormy.
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