Friendy Friday with Adriana Herrera...and GIVEAWAY!
Earlier this year I followed the excitement over Adriana Herrera's debut on social media and I was anxious to read American Dreamer. It sounded like everything I love in a romance and BOY did she deliver. And then came American Fairytale and I swooned. I finished it last week and loved it as much as the first. It was refreshing to read a new world, to read about cultures I only had limited exposure to, and to fall into a story so hard you stay up most of the night reading. Those are my favorite nights, and these books were perfect. While anxiously awaiting American Love Story — which is out October 7th from Carina Press — I thought I'd see if Ms. Herrera would be up for a stop on the Rock 'n' Romance Blog! Imagine my delight when she agreed.
Not only does she write fantastic stories full of hope, love, and wow, so much sexy, she's also doing the good work IRL. Her work with survivors of Domestic Violence influences her work and she uses her experience to educate others, which hits close to home for me. I'm so glad I got a chance to chat with her, and I hope you'll love her books as much as I do.
Here's the interview!
1. Give us a visual of you dancing. The Carlton? Napoleon Dynamite? Solid Gold?
Nah, I'm Dominican. I grew up dancing Merengue and Salsa, so it's more something out of a Latinx people film.
2. What’s one thing every reader should know about you?
That I'm a book fiend. I can talk books for hours, days without stopping. Also I love Beyonce.
3. What’s your worst habit as a writer?
Procrastination.
4. Ever get caught reading/writing sexy times in an awkward place/time/situation?
I commute to work in the NYC subway, so it happens very often!
5. What is the best reader response you’ve ever received?
I love when Latinx readers tell me my stories made them feel seen for the first time. It's why I started writing.
I love this!
6. What is the most fascinating/creepy/disgusting thing you’ve discovered because of writing?
I've been researching the Gilded Age recently (for a secret project) and it's been fascinating to see how current some of the issues of those times are prevalent right now.
Absolutely. And you had me at Gilded Age!
7. Name a book that scared the bejeebers out of you and why it scared you.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, it is a very VERY fast paced thriller and the villain is literally the devil.
Checking it out now!
8. What music inspires you?
I listened to a lot of stuff, but a go to for me is always Lemonade.
Listening now... because JACK WHITE! AND BEYONCE! Chills, people.
9. Did a teacher in school ever encourage or discourage your desire to write? Care to share?
I didn't really explore being a writer until I was older, but my teachers always thought my writing was good. One teacher in particular was incredibly encouraging. In a small world twist, we ended up living in Ethiopia like fifteen years later. Ending up with your 7th grade English teacher from school in Dominican Republic in Ethiopia is no small feat.
10. What's your favorite genre to write? And...what's a genre you haven't written but would LOVE to write?
I write contemporary, but would love to try historical. Or Magical Realism.
Yes, please, to Magical Realism!
11. What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Writing my first novel and getting it published. And getting a shout out for it on the TODAY show was pretty cool.
Huge accomplishment! So damn excited for you, Adriana.
Here's a little more about her:
Adriana Herrera was born and raised in the Caribbean, but for the last 15 years has let her job (and her spouse) take her all over the world. She loves writing stories about people who look and sound like her people, getting unapologetic happy endings. When's she not dreaming up love stories, planning logistically complex vacations with her family or hunting for discount Broadway tickets, she's a social worker in New York City, working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence
Thank you for being here today! Be sure to follow her in all the places!
And for this week's giveaway, of one of Adriana's books, I'd LOVE for you all to share with me what music you're listening to right now. Have a favorite album from 2019 so far? Anything you're looking forward to? Email me at rlmerrillauthor@gmail.com and let me know! I'll choose a winner next week.
IN ROCK 'N' ROMANCE NEWS...
I finished the first draft of my next book in the Magic and Mayhem Universe this week and I'm super excited! The next Blast Off goes up for Pre-Order on September 30th so be sure you're subscribed to my newsletter so you get all the deets! Also, I've got three big events coming up and I hope to see some of you there:
Bookstore Romance Day - August 17th at Books on B in Hayward CA. Local authors are signing from 12-5 and the panel will begin at 5:30. Don't live in the Bay Area? Check out the national website and see where the closest event is to you!
Romance Reading at the San Mateo Public Library - Saturday August 24th 3:00pm
The Romance Retreat - September 4-8 at the Riverside Convention Center.
Thanks for joining me this week! Next week my girl Eva Moore will be here and I can't WAIT to get in some trouble with her! Until then...
Stay Tuned for more Rock 'n' Romance...
