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Author Interview – Gerardo Sámano Córdova – Monstrilio On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, author Gerardo Sámano Córdova shares what inspired him to write his story of of a mother’s grief and the monstrous side of love, Monstrilio, and his creative writing process.
Written by JJ Barnes
I interviewed Gerardo Sámano Córdova about his life and career, the story of his new novel, Monstrilio, and what inspired him to write it.
Tell me a bit about who you are.
My name is Gerardo Sámano Córdova (friends call me Samanito). I’m a writer and artist from Mexico City currently living in Brooklyn, NY. My first novel is Monstrilio.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
When I was a kid (maybe seven or eight) and I read the first book I absolutely loved. Instead of just cherishing the story, I thought, I can do this! I should write a book.
When did you take a step to start writing?
My first step was in high school when I joined an after school creative writing workshop. My teacher was bonkers and amazing and gave us the freedom to write whatever we wanted. He imparted no discipline, but shared with us the absolute joy that comes from being an artist.
Second big step happened many years later, when I left my job in advertising to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing. I again found the joy of being an artist, I gained a fabulous community of fellow writers, plus I learned the needed discipline and some of the tools required to be a professional writer.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Four and a half years from the first word I wrote on Monstrilio to the moment it was sold to a publisher.
What made you want to write Monstrilio?
Two things: the challenge of writing my first novel and the need to explore the question of how far love can stretch. Will the people that love you still love you even if you were a monster?
What were your biggest challenges with writing Monstrilio?
Committing to one story. I had so many ideas and somehow wanted to fit them all into one book. I had to keep telling myself that this was only one book, my first, and that there would be others.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
I’m not sure there’s a protagonist in the traditional sense of the term. Monstrilio has four main characters through which the story is told, and they’re all both protagonists and antagonists to themselves and each other. I’m not very interested in the protagonist-antagonist binary. I set out to write a queer book, and in that queerness, I wanted to challenge traditional binary structures.
What is the inciting incident of Monstrilio?
A boy dies and his mother cuts out a piece of his lung, she feeds this lung and it grows into a little monster.
What is the main conflict of Monstrilio?
Living as a family trying to raise and live with an actual monster, a monster that you love deeply.
Did you plot Monstrilio in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
The one thing I knew for sure is I wanted to have a family love a monster and see what mess they’d get in. Other than that, I flew by the seat of my pants through many drafts, through many discarded pages until I found the story the book wanted to tell.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did Monstrilio need?
I have a few trusted and wonderful writer friends who read versions of the novel and gave me feedback. My agent, the great Jenni Ferrari-Adler, also gave me feedback through several drafts. And once the book was sold, my editor and I worked together on large and small edits.
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Do it. Don’t think too much about it, particularly in the first draft. Write the first word, then the second, then the third, and so on.
Can you give me a hint about any further books you’re planning to write?
I’m in the middle of writing my second novel. I can’t say much about it except that it’s impishly weird and I’m relishing writing it.
And, finally, are you proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
Absolutely! I’m so happy with how Monstrilio is doing, and I’m hoping it continues finding its readers now that the little monster has come to the UK!
Pop all your book, website and social media links here so the readers can find you:
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3YUMoLx
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3yT8bbO
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/3YRf9st
Site: www.gerardosamanocordova.com
Insta: @hello.samanito
Twitter: @samanito
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