Where I live, the weather is hot, Hot, HOT, and the kids are back in school. Perhaps where you live, dear reader, kids are getting ready to return to school. Or they may have two to three more blissful weeks of summer vacation. Wherever you are, I hope your days are full of light, love, fun, and lots of reading! And thank you for stopping by First Stories!
Each day and week that passes brings us closer to the release of my second picture book, Backyard Stew! This little story is perfect for the long days of summer right before school starts, or after-school afternoons, or the long weekend hours that stretch before you with no plans. That may seem like a long time ago for us adults, but think back to when you were a kid and an hour felt like an ETERNITY when there was nothing to do. I hope Backyard Stew inspires lots of new outdoor “recipes” and imagination. If you’re in the Southeastern United States, please consider dropping by one of my upcoming story times + signing sessions! I’d LOVE to chat with you!
Today on First Stories, I’m delighted to welcome Paola Santos! Paola is a children’s book author born and raised in Venezuela. After moving to Canada, she found the courage to share the words and stories that had long been enclosed in her imagination. Her stories are now woven with her culture, experience in a new country, hope, happiness, and diversity. Paola holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Literature and Children’s Literature and Reading Promotion. She is the author of How to Eat a Mango / Cómo se come un mango (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House), 2024, and the forthcoming picture book A House in My Barrio (Henry Holt / Macmillan), 2026. She lives in Edmonton.
Me: Paola, thank you so much for joining me on First Stories!
Paola: Thank you for having me!
Me: So here on First Stories, I love to talk with authors (and illustrators) about their first stories, the ones that really drove them to pursue writing. The ones that made them sit up and say, “I MUST write this.” I’ll jump in to our discussion with the first question: Tell me about your “first story.” The one that really pushed you to consider publishing. What inspired you to write it? What was it about?
Paola: I love the premise of this blog, Heather. I’ve never gotten to share my first story before. In fact, that first manuscript was a bit dark. It was about a girl who had a secret that little by little was getting bigger and more destructive. Finally, she was able to pay attention to it instead of ignoring it. This was the moment the secret deflated and eventually lost its power. My inspiration came from the darkness all humans carry. However, the message was driving the story and not the other way around. Oops!
This was the story that made me realize the healing power of words. It was what I needed to get through a difficult period of my life. This epiphany pushed me to hone my craft beyond my fears and find a way to share this power with readers, with the kids who feel alone and trapped by harsh circumstances.
Me: What an interesting idea! And I’m sure so many of us writers can relate to not knowing much when we first sit down to write and so we look at our work later and think, “I probably shouldn’t have structured it that way.” But each story teaches us something, doesn’t it? Where is your first story now?
Paola: It’s still tucked away in a drawer, and honestly, who knows if it will ever come out! Maybe it will stay there forever. I still have a soft spot for it, but I’m just not in that place anymore. Life has changed me, and my writing has grown along with me.
Me: I understand that! I have returned to a few of my early stories in attempts to revise them…and simply couldn’t. I wasn’t in the same place in my life, in my experience, in my growth as a writer. Are there any themes in this story that you see in your writing today?
Paola: Yes, lyricism is still there. I guess my voice has always carried poetry in its veins.
Me: Oooh, I love that expression. What a melodic thought. So, if you enjoy lyrical picture books, be sure to check out Paola’s works. (We’ll talk about them more in a minute!) Looking back, what elements of that first story made it unmarketable? Did you receive feedback on that story? What did that feedback teach you?
Paola: Oh yes, I received extensive feedback. Maybe too much! Looking back, I think the story was a bit too preachy and the message too on-the-nose. What I learned is that you don’t have to take every piece of advice to heart. It’s easy to lose your own voice if you try to please everyone. Now, I try to be thoughtful and selective, and trust what feels true to me.
Me: As I scrolled through Instagram once, I stumbled across a meme of a pizza with every topping and then strange items piled on top. The caption was something like “me trying to incorporate all the feedback.” It’s so true, and is another way of making your point. You have to be selective about what feedback you use as you revise. Why is this story special to you? How was it important for your writing journey?
Paola: It was important because it showed me that I could focus on something I love and have longed to do for many years. Above all, it pushed me to improve my language skills. That was the first story I translated into English.
Me: So true, right? Often those first stories give us the courage we need to press on. Because so much of any art is not only the creativity, but the persistence. And congratulations! You persisted and sold your first picture book, How To Eat a Mango, which released in 2024, and now you have My House in My Barrio. Coming soon in September! Tell us all about My House in My Barrio!
Paola: Well, first of all, it really does not relate to my very first story that we’ve been discussing. This story is bright and rich in cultural elements. Unfortunately, my first project lacked these cultural elements. Maybe because of fear? I had the idea for A House in My Barrio one day while I listened to children’s songs with my daughter. One of these songs struck me to the core with its message of community around a single house and the person who lived there. The song stayed with me because I had experienced this with my Abuelita and many people I knew. Sometimes these houses could be the center of one barrio, but I also wondered why so many people didn’t receive the attention and care they deserved after giving their love to their community. That was the moment the first line of the story came to me: “There is a house in my barrio where we love to go. It is tiny, but it seems to have no walls.” This first line stayed unchanged during the editing process! It also became my favorite spread, illustrated by the super talented Olivia Sua.
Me: And we get a sneak peek of it HERE!
Me: It’s gorgeous!!
Paola: Thank you so much. This book is very special to me, and I can’t wait to see it out in the world.
Me: We’re very excited too! Thank you, Paola, for joining me today to discuss your first story!
Paola: Thanks for having me, Heather!
Pre-order a copy of A House in My Barrio at every major bookseller (Amazon, B&N, Bookshop.org, or your local indie). Paola is generously offering to give away a copy of her new picture book OR a picture book manuscript critique (up to 700 words). To enter, comment on this post OR comment on the original Instagram post. The winner will be announced September 1 and receive their choice of prize. (Book shipment within in continental US only.)
Leave a Reply