Interview with Mayra Lazara Dole

Mayra L. Dole at Wordpress.com

Mayra Lazara Dole at Harper Collins

Let’s get some of the typical interview questions out of the way first. When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

At age three, I wrote the word REFRIGERATOR on a napkin with an orange crayon. My mom didn’t know I’d copied it from the fridge tag. She ran around our barrio carrying me in one arm, waving the napkin in the air, “La Chiquitica can write! She’s a genius!” What an ego boost! From then on, I adored words and have never stopped writing.

Tell us a little bit about either your latest or upcoming release. If you could only tell your readers one thing about the story that had to persuade us to buy the book, what would it be?

Down to the Bone is set in exotic, tropical, Miami with an all Latina/o cast of wild teen characters that’ll have you laughing, crying, and moving here, today!

What, or who, has been the greatest inspiration for your stories?

My mom. She’s my heart and soul.

Let’s hear about your family, who I’m sure are thrilled to have a published author among them!

Thrilled? Thank the universe that my mom and aunt don’t speak English and won’t be reading my book. I haven’t told most of my family that I’ve published an LGBTQ book or they’ll jump off a cliff! My dogs, though, have expressed great enthusiasm and congratulate me every day about having Chispi, Laura’s golden retriever pup, in my novel. My life-partner Damarys hasn’t stopped doing cartwheels. Her support and love is incredible! My friends still can’t believe I’m published. “You? Are you sure it’s not someone else with your same name?”

Now for some fun facts. What’s your greatest comfort food?

Mashed centipede spleen… Oh, FAVORITE, not LEAST fave. This is for real: Frijoles colorados y platanitos maduros.

What are the first three things you do when you wake up in the morning?

Open one eye and look around. If I know for sure I’m in the right place, I yawn, scratch, lean over and kiss my beloved Damarys. She’ll then say, “I wish you’d wake up after 4 am , honey.” I’ll whisper into her ear, “My characters are waiting to get loose.” I tiptoe to plug on comp and start writing! Oh, no. That’s five things! Oh well…

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?

That I don’t have a closet, attic or basement!--I’m serious. But if I had a closet, I’d never, ever, go in it! Do you know how long it took me to come out?

Everyone asks the question about “if you could be a tree, which tree would you be?” so I want to know: If you could be a color, which color would it be, and why?

No one’s ever asked me about being a tree and I LOVE trees more than anything! : ( I’d want to be a Gumbo Limbo tree with sun-burnt skin so you could sit under it in the shade and read my novel, Down to the Bone. What’s my fave color? Orange… it’s vibrant and reminds me of fun and laughter and eating mandarins at the beach.

Who is your favorite cartoon character?

Kenny from South Park

Which cartoon character is most like you?

Butters from South Park

If you could beam yourself to anywhere in the world (“Beam me up, Scotty!”), during any time in history, where and when would it be—and why?

I’d beam myself into the future so I can come back and help save the world.

So what’s your favorite type of music to listen to? Favorite musical artists? Do you listen to music while you’re writing?

I love Bossa Nova, Pop, experimental, Rap, Hip-Hop, acoustic, everything, really, except heavy metal. I can’t listen to music while writing. My one brain cell will spazz-out and explode.

Do you have any favorite T.V. shows? Movies you watch over and over again? What was the last movie you saw at the theater?

I’m a Reality Show Ho and a foreign film buff. Would take me ten years to list the fifty-billion films I adore. One of my faves is Valentin by Agresti. I LOVE Italian, French and Chinese films.

You have the chance to give one piece of advice to your teen readers. What would it be?

Don’t ever give advice! Darn. That’s advice, isn’t it? OK. If I HAD to give advice, I’d say, “Ask questions, find your own answers, and think for yourself!”

One last question. What stories can we look forward to from you in the future?

YA novels, middle grade novels, and picture books.

Again, thanks so much for joining us at TeensReadToo.com!

Thanks again Jen! This was fun.