Author Interview – Jacquelyn Marquez

1. For readers discovering you for the first time, can you introduce yourself and tell us about your journey into becoming an author? 

My name is Jacquelyn Marquez. I go by Jackie. I studied Creative Writing at CSULB and got my BA in 2012. Since then, I got caught up in corporate America. I thought I was going to have an office job until I died. But then COVID happened and I was furloughed. During that time I realized I wasn't really happy, that I needed a creative outlet. So, I actually got into baking. I'm a vegan and if I want a sweet treat I need to make it myself. Even in a vegan friendly area like Los Angeles, all the good vegan spots are on the west side, too far especially with traffic. I've been running my own vegan micro-bakery, Chaqueta Cakes.  After I had my daughter, I was deep in post-partem depression and re-discovered my love for stories and reading. I literally read 50 books in 2023 and got to a point where I thought, I could do this. I saw friends I had made through Booktok on their own author journeys, and I was so inspired. I read From Blood and Ash from Jennifer Armentrout and no shade to her, I really enjoyed that book, vampires are my bread and butter, but I was so tired of the naive FMC who is inexperienced and the whole plot hinging on the poor decisions she makes because she is so young and doesn’t have a fully developed brain. So I wrote what I wanted to see. Older FMC, a mom, struggling, someone tall and beefy. You cannot knock Searra over with wind. 

2. Your novel DEVOURANCE blends urban fantasy, gothic romance, and supernatural action. What can readers expect when they enter this world? Take the action and wit of Buffy, the love triangle of Twilight, and the spice of True Blood, add in Mexican Folklore and magic and set it in East LA. 

3. You describe your stories as having “intimacy with teeth.” What does that phrase mean to you as a writer? To me, there is a rawness in it. Everything is realistic, truthful and earned, there is humanity and sharpness. My characters are real people in my head. 

4. Your work draws inspiration from stories like Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Twilight. How did those influences shape your storytelling? I’ve always loved the paranormal and the supernatural. Having physical monsters to fight, or being the monster just really spoke to me. It made processing problems in the real world easier. Which is how I approached DEVOURANCE. My FMC is a new mom, a widow and grieving. All of that is hard, and yet when the monsters are introduced, she finds her strength. Seeing strong women like Prue, Piper and Phoebe from Charmed and Buffy, WIllow and Faith from Buffy definitely influenced my need for a strong female protagonist. Not someone who has it all figured out, but women who will get shit done, no matter how hard. They will find a way to make it happen and won’t wait for the MMC to do it. 

5. A major element in your writing is reimagining classic monsters through Mexican folklore and brujería. What inspired you to incorporate those cultural elements? Historically we have looked to Europe for monster lore. The fae in Celtic lore, vampires in eastern europe and slavic lore, and a lot of high fantasy takes from Norse Mythology and their warrior culture, so much so that since Tolkien, it’s become the default. But the culture in Mexico is just as old, and unexplored in Modern Fantasy spaces. We have nuhales, lechusas, brujas, chupacabras, sirenas, and vampires too. It shows that as humans, some things are universal.  

6. Why is it important for you to include Spanish language and bilingual storytelling in your books? It is important because my characters are bilingual, they are from East LA and Mexican American– The MMC is a straight old school Spaniard. The reality is that most of the world is bilingual. My FMC is a “pocho” Mexican, so she is disconnected from her culture, but the people around her are not. Part of her journey to find her strength comes from reconnecting with her roots, and discovering her bloodline. I’m actually working with a Latina focused Audiobook company, Sirena Audiobooks, and they are focused on making authentic Spanish Audiobooks. So my books will be fully represented, even in the Audiobook space. And then after the English version comes out, we have plans to make a fully Spanish version. 

7. You’ve spoken about the lack of Latina representation in fantasy. How does your work aim to help change that landscape? I’m hoping that exposure and representation will beget more exposure and representation. There are a few of us out here already, like RC Luna,  Isabel Cañas, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Jennifer Givhan and Zoraida Córdova. For myself, I didn’t know what was possible until I saw it. 

8. Your stories feature women in their thirties who are grieving, complicated, and powerful. Why was it important for you to center that type of protagonist? I don’t see that much. I see young women in their early 20s and late teens. I want someone who has lived, someone I feel like I know. I’m just at that stage in life and I know that if I’m feeling like that, there are other readers out there that are too. 

9. Many fantasy stories focus on very young heroines. What new perspectives do older protagonists bring to the genre? For one, they don’t need to be taught or be scared of the MMC. I mean, I love a slow burn sometimes, but, when you are older, there is no need. If there is interest, you know what to do. I’m also tired of plot just happening to the FMC and everyone having to be reactive over and over again.

10. Your romances focus on becoming powerful rather than being saved. How do you approach writing those dynamics? As a person, I have a problem asking for help. I was taught to power through until I got it done. (Which I get is also not healthy.) It was the same with my mom, she never asked for help. So my mom was a strong woman, and I keep women like her in my mind. She proposed to my dad, she was the one that fixed things around the house. She became a Quality Engineer without finishing high school. She was and STILL is my hero. I lost her in November and I wrote Book 2 in the trenches of grief… so there is that. I keep her strength in my mind as I write, so all of my characters will have that same inner steel. 

11. What was the most exciting or emotional scene to write in DEVOURANCE? For me, the most exciting scenes to write were the spicy ones. It was the first time I had done it, I wasn’t sure if it was for me. I’ve been writing so long and it NEVER occurred to me that I could write spice. But then, I did and it was so much fun! I truly feel that if you aren’t having fun writing the spice, you shouldn’t do it in your book. (I don’t consider non-consent spice.) If you aren’t getting excited and hot, then don’t do it. If you are embarrassed, don’t do it. (Unless your characters are embarrassed, then I think that is an exception.) I think you can feel it as a reader, when the spice is forced. As for emotional, I was processing some preemptive grief and a certain death scene gets me choked up every time. I don’t want to spoil it though. 

12. How do you balance action-driven supernatural storytelling with emotional depth? I think you just got to keep it as real as possible. Make sure there are consequences to shit that happens, even emotional ones. Trauma happens with action and sometimes heroes feel untouchable, but they are human and as readers, we need to see everything ripple out.

13. When you start writing a new story, do you begin with a character, a monster concept, or a central emotional theme? I start with one character concept. For DEVOURANCE, I wanted a strong, older, mom FMC. I wanted to see how the paranormal would feel in a real life, of a mom who was just struggling to keep her head above water. But for ANGELOUS (Book 2) I’m exploring what it looks like to have a soul. What it truly means to be human. My characters are all dealing with the fallout of Book 1 and humanity is a major theme. 

14. What does your writing routine typically look like? I wake up at 4am and if I don’t have a cake due, I’m writing until my daughter gets up at 7am. My goal is 250 words at least. Right now I’m editing, so I’m aiming for one chapter a day to edit, but currently I’m a little slower than that. Then after my daughter goes down for the night, hopefully by 8pm, then I’m up and writing if my husband is busy doing his own thing. 

15. What part of writing do you enjoy the most? When I’m really in the flow and it’s like I’m watching a movie in my head and just writing what I’m seeing. I’m definitely having peak fun. 

16. What part of the writing process challenges you the most? I’m not a planner at all, I’m not organized and have ADHD. So, I envy people who have everything mapped out, but it could never be me. 

17. You’ve shared that your writing began during a deeply emotional time in your life. How has writing helped you process grief and personal experiences? I was just coming out of Postpartum Depression when I started the book, it gave me focus and a way to channel my emotions. I definitely processed my mom’s death before she passed because of writing. As a result, I don’t think it hit me as hard as it could have. Instead it was more of a steady drip. I’m really glad she saw me publish though and I know she is proud. 

18. Your readers often describe your work as gritty yet deeply human. What do you hope readers feel after finishing one of your books? I hope they had fun. That something touched them. I know it sounds heavy, but I do think the action keeps the pace moving. Most readers tell me they binge it in a matter of days. 

19. What authors or stories have influenced your love of dark fantasy and paranormal romance? Christine Feehan. Hands down. 100%. I read ALL of her books when I was 19/20 and I didn’t know you could write paranormal fantasy with romance and spice. It never occurred to me until I SAW it. Even then, it took me almost 20 years to try it myself. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sarah J Maas. Seeing the appetite for her books, that definitely encouraged me to go for it. 

20. What has been the most rewarding moment of your author journey so far? My first signing. Being in an indie bookstore, talking to readers, signing my book. It was so surreal. I couldn’t believe I was DOING IT– exactly what I had dreamed of in college. 

21. As an indie author, what have you learned about building community with readers? It’s 100% important. Not every book is for everyone and finding your readers is essential to getting your story the right eyeballs. Bootok was a huge community I leaned on during my writing. I had no idea what I was doing and still really don't. Everyone I’ve met has been super supportive, especially other indies. 

22. Are there future stories planned in the world of DEVOURANCE? Oh yeah. I’m definitely going to have at least 4 books in the series… possibly more. But it’s becoming more apparent that multiple POVs are going to become a thing the farther along I get in the story and the more fleshed out the world becomes. DEVOURANCE is very much just Searra’s POV. Yes, it is in 3rd person limited, but I don’t shift at all to anyone else– Except in the Prologue. 🙂

23. You also run a vegan micro bakery. Does creativity in baking ever influence your writing process? I’ve made a few cakes for debuts. I did one for my debut too. So I would say there is a little cross over, plus I include cookies in my Debut Author Boxes that I sell on my site–because I feel like cookies are the perfect companion to a book.) But to me, the cake making is very much labor intensive, physically, while the writing is mental labor. I definitely brainstorm while I cake though– either while I’m working out or decorating.  

24. What advice would you give to writers who want to incorporate culture and folklore authentically into fantasy? I think intention has a lot to do with it. I’m by no means an expert, but I think it does have to come from a place to do justice to the source material. Because everything is fiction, liberties can be taken, but I think you need good intentions behind it. Also, do stuff that fascinates you, that will fascinate your readers. 

25. Where can readers connect with you and follow your work? I’m @jacquelynmarquezbooks on Instagram and Tiktok. I’m pretty active on both platforms, but my reach is bigger on TT. 

 

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Rapid Fire Fun 🔥

26. Coffee or tea while writing? COFFEEEE ALL DAY –Black. ADHD so I can drink all day and night.
27. Morning writer or night writer? BOTH, but I prefer the morning.
28. Favorite supernatural creature to write? Vampires! All day, everyday!
29. Paperback, ebook, or audiobook? All 3?! But mainly audio right now so I can read while I cake or do chores and take care of my toddler.
30. Favorite gothic aesthetic? Deep red lip!
31. One word to describe DEVOURANCE? Visceral
32. Favorite writing snack? The Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips from Trader Joes.

33. Music while writing or silence? Always music. I can’t stand silence.
34. Favorite paranormal romance trope? Fated Mates! And Reluctant Villain. 👏
35. One thing readers might be surprised to learn about you? I wrote and published DEVOURANCE all on my phone! I didn’t have a laptop at the time and was watching my daughter, who was only 2 at the time. Now she is almost 3 now, but I share a new laptop with my husband. 

 

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