Fine. Except that Carmen’s company is hired for her spoiled cousin Ariana’s over the top quinceañera.
And of course, her new dance partner at work is none other than Mauro Reyes, Carmen’s most deeply regrettable ex.
If Carmen is going to move into the future she wants, she needs to leave the past behind. And if she can manage dancing in the blistering heat, fending off Mauro’s texts, and stopping Ariana from ruining her own quinceañera Carmen might just get that happily ever after after all.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Monica Gomez-Hira, and Once Upon a Quinceañera is my debut novel. I’m a first generation Colombian-American who grew up in North Bergen, NJ, went to college outside of Boston, then moved to Austin, Chicago, and Los Angeles before making my home in Minneapolis. I live here with my husband and daughter.
How was the creative process behind Once Upon a Quinceañera? Where did the idea come from? How long did it take you to write it?
I think I’ve had the idea for Quince germinating for a long time—ever since I attended some very elaborate quinceañeras thrown by family friends. I was fascinated by this very specific Latin coming of age experience, and I knew that I’d write about it someday. Eventually, I started to get glimmers of the characters and then I knew that I could officially start.
I’m a pantser, which means I write by the seat of my pants and don’t outline in advance, so the drafting process was messy and a bit chaotic, but eventually after a few years of stopping and starting, I had a full draft. And then the REAL work of rewriting started!
Besides Carmen, who is your favorite character and why?
I loved writing Mirella! I love her frank voice, her humor, and her sass. She is an homage to so many of the outspoken, larger than life Latinas I grew up around. I try to channel her swagger when I’m feeling exceptionally nervous about things (to varying degrees of success!) She deserves her own book, as she would be the first one to tell you!
Quinceañeras are important for some Latinxs. Why did you decide to include it as part of the title and story?
Quinceañeras, past and present, were very important to the characters in my book, and really shaped their history and their relationships with each other. It’s not just one night of a coming-of-age, but something that tied them to their family history and culture. Once Upon a Quinceañera suggests that the parties are to some extent just the beginning of the story. It also captures the fairy tale elements of the book as well, since Carmen and Mauro work as Beauty and the Beast for a party princess company.
Since we are talking about Latinx, what can you tell us about the importance of representation in books?
I think representation is VERY important in books. I was a big reader as a kid, and I think I was searching for myself in every story. I loved connecting myself to my favorite characters, and learned so much through that. But none of the main characters in the books I loved ever quite looked like me, or sounded like me and the people around me. So I wanted to write something that really celebrated our specific experiences and voices, even as it also connects to the universal feeling of growing up and falling in love for the first time.
I know this is probably too early to ask but, are you working on another book? If so, what can you tell us about it?
I am working on my second book! The story is still very much in flux, but I can share that it’s going to be another YA contemporary romance starring Latinx teenagers, set in Miami.
And just for fun, tell us 5 random facts about you.
1) I am a lipstick FIEND and probably have over 200 at this point. So even with masks, I change up my color several time a day.
2) Spanish is actually my first language, and I learned English as a preschooler watching shows like Sesame Street and Electric Company—which is also how I learned to read!
3) I grew up obsessed with soap operas, and one of the highlights of my life was getting to attend the Daytime Emmys in 1996.
4) I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 25 years old.
5) I’ve been with my husband since we were teenagers—I was 18 and he was 17. So...I really did end up with my YA romance! :)
Monica Gomez-Hira is the daughter of Colombian immigrant parents, the wife of an Indian immigrant, the mother of a half Latina/half Indian daughter, and the quintessential Jersey girl who loves her salsa as much as her Springsteen. After getting her BA in English at Wellesley College, Monica spent most of her professional life surrounded by books, and the people who love them. She began her career working for literary agencies, moved to publicity and editorial at Simon & Schuster and Random House, and most recently was a Children's Lead at Barnes & Noble. She lives with her family in Minneapolis, MN. Once Upon a Quinceañera is her first novel.
