Episode 87 with Natalia Sylvester, Heartfelt Writer of Stirring Works for Kids, Teens, and Adults

Episode 87 Notes and Links to Natalia Sylvester’s Work 

 

On Episode 87 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Natalia Sylvester and talks to her about her stellar writing for kids, young adults, and adults. The two talk about, among other topics, her inspirations, her love of “I Love Lucy,” and her dynamic topical, and moving award-winning book, 2020’s Running.

 

Natalia Sylvester is the award-winning author of several novels for adults and young adults. CHASING THE SUN was named the Best Debut Book of 2014 by Latinidad and EVERYONE KNOWS YOU GO HOME won an International Latino Book Award and the 2018 Jesse H. Jones Award for Best Work of Fiction from the Texas Institute of Letters.

 

Natalia's debut YA novel, RUNNING, was a 2020 Junior Library Guild Selection, and her next novel for young adults, BREATHE AND COUNT BACK FROM TEN, is forthcoming in May 2022 from Clarion Books/HarperCollins. A MALETA FULL OF TREASURES, Natalia's first picture book (illustrated by Juana Medina), will be published by Dial Books in 2024.

 

Natalia's non-fiction has appeared in the New York Times, Bustle, Catapult, Electric Literature, Latina magazine, and McSweeney's Publishing. Her essays have been anthologized in collections such as A MAP IS ONLY ONE STORY and A MEASURE OF BELONGING: WRITERS OF COLOR ON THE NEW AMERICAN SOUTH.

 

Born in Lima, Peru, Natalia came to the US at age four and grew up in Florida and the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. She received a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Miami, was a 2021 Visiting Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and was formerly a faculty member at the Mile-High MFA program at Regis University.

 

Buy Running from Bookshop.org

Buy Everyone Knows You Go Home from Bookshop

Preorder Breathe and Count Back from Ten

 

“Natalia Sylvester is Changing the Narrative” from July 2020 in Austin Woman Magazine

 

From Buzzfeed, 2020: “30 YA Books By Latinx Authors We Can't Wait To Read In 2020”

 

“Abuelito: Natalia shares the story of her grandmother's poetic influence on her as a child with NPR's Latino USA.

 

Everyone Knows You Go Home review on Latino Book Review

 

At about 2:10, Natalia talks about having work included on the legendary “Latino USA” show

 

At about 3:30, Pete and Natalia talk about her prolific nature, with her stellar works coming in quick fashion in recent years; Natalia talks about the process as “surprising at every turn”

 

At about 5:30, Natalia talks about the challenges of writing for children and young adults

 

At about 6:40, Natalia responds to Pete’s questions about her relationship with language in her youth, as a young immigrant to the US

 

At about 10:00, Natalia talks about what she loved reading as a child, especially Dahl’s Matilda and comics, and she and Pete bond over their shared love of The Babysitters’ Club

 

At about 12:40, Pete asks Natalia if she “saw herself” in what she read as a younger person

 

At about 16:40, Natalia discusses formative texts that resonate(d) with her and were “completely revolutionary,” such as Cristina Garcia’s Dreaming in Cuban, and Natalia notes how it was surreal to meet and speak with Cristina Garcia in later years

 

At about 20:25, Natalia lists Isabel Quintero, the stellar writing duo Dhonielle Clayton and Sona Charaipotra, Taherer Mafi as "giants of YA"-writers who inspire and thrill her

 

At about 23:50, Natalia reflects on whether or not becoming a successful writer has affected her pleasure reading

 

At about 25:05, Natalia notes that storytelling is widespread, and talks about how Breaking Bad and other media inform her writing, and Pete and Natalia talk about “ripple effects” in stories 

 

At about 27:05, Natalia talks about “ ‘Eureka’ moment” that have given her the impetus to continue; she cites supportive teachers 

 

At about 29:45, Natalia responds to Pete’s questions about nonfiction and fiction, and she talks about lessons learned from both and how she honed her craft using both

 

At about 33:20, Pete shares a borrowed quote that speaks to the power of fiction

 

At about 33:45, Pete asks Natalia about how she did so well writing about the Mexican-American experience in Everyone Knows You Go Home, as well as feedback about the book and her research for the book

 

At about 38:45, Natalia summarizes her 2020 YA book, Running

 

At about 39:40, Natalia and Pete discuss YA books, Natalia’s light touch with slang, and banned books “mature themes” in YA literature like her book

 

At about 43:55, Pete and Natalia discuss Anthony Ruiz, the father and POTUS candidate from the book; Natalia discusses the spark for the book

 

At about 46:30, Natalia outlines the real-life connections between events of the book and happenings in Florida around 2018

 

At about 48:25, Natalia talks about “research” for the book, some of which was intentional and some was simply “drawing from experiences”

 

At about 50:55, Pete and Natalia discuss the younger characters of the book, especially the protagonist Mariana/Mari  and their connections to injustice and political decisions as Pete compliments Natalia for not “dumbing it down” for young readers

 

At about 52:55, Natalia expands upon the background of Juliana Ruiz, Mari’s mother, and including the ways in which she was present in early drafts of the book

 

At about 56:45, the two discuss Mari and her gaining of strength and “positive mob mentality” as Pete reads some dynamic quotes from the book that illustrate this and other themes like independence; especially action/inaction as key in the book

 

At about 58:30, Natalia reads an excerpt from the book that deals with Mari’s favorite memory with her father

 

At about 1:03:00, Natalia sets up a reading of an excerpt that deals with “I Love Lucy” by talking about her own love for and connections to the show

 

At about 1:06:45, Natalia talks about upcoming work, including the book set to be published in 2022, Breathe and Count Back from Ten, and themes of fitting in that excite Natalia about writing for the youth of today and her younger self

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Please tune in for the next episode, a conversation with Father Greg Boyle, the legendary yet humble Jesuit priest who has been lauded worldwide as the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang-intervention and rehabilitation program, and for his transcendent talks and books. The former pastor of Dolores Mission Church in Los Angeles, his latest book is The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness, and it came out on October 19. The episode will air on October 26.