Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Diana López!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Diana López
Diana López is the author of the adult novella Sofia’s Saints as well as of numerous middle grade novels, including Confetti Girl, Nothing Up My Sleeve, Lucky Luna, and Los Monstruos: Felice and the Wailing Woman, and the picture book Sing With Me: The Story of Selena Quintanilla. She also wrote the novel adaptation for the Disney/Pixar film Coco. Diana retired after a twenty-eight-year career in education at both the middle grade and college levels, but she still enjoys meeting with students when she visits schools to chat about books and writing. She lives in her hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas. Many of her books are available in English and Spanish, and you can learn more at DianaLopezBooks.com.
About the Book: ROOSTER AND THE DANCING DIABLO
A thrilling follow-up to Felice and the Wailing Woman by Diana López that explores the Texas-Mexico border myth of the Dancing Devil.
The magical town of Tres Leches, home to the figures of Texas–Mexico border lore, has been through a lot. Most recently, the town was released from a curse that kept La Llorona, the wailing woman, haunting the shores of their river. But just when the townsfolk were preparing to return to sunny riverside picnics and barbecues, the children of Tres Leches mysteriously began to go missing. The town suspects another monstruo, the Dancing Devil, is luring kids to El Camarón Dance Hall & Arcade. The Dancing Devil’s son, Rooster, who has a foot in both the human and monster worlds, feels compelled to lead the search for the missing children with the help of his friends, Ava (the daughter of La Lechuza) and Felice (the daughter of La Llorona). Their journey takes them to an old gothic mansion with a twisted family history and a pull so powerful that it’s nearly impossible to resist.
Picking up where Felice and the Wailing Woman left off, Rooster and the Dancing Diablo brims with magic, adventure, and Mexican folklore, and is perfect for fans of fantasy adventure series like Paola Santiago by Tehlor Kay Mejia and the Jumbies by Tracey Baptiste.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
Rooster and the Dancing Diablo is the next book in my Los Monstruos series. In the first book, we meet Rooster and learn that he has a special power because no one can refuse his invitation to dance. We also learn that most people shun him because he stinks and no amount of deodorant can take away his awful smell.
The book is also inspired by the South Texas legend of the dancing diablo. In this story, a girl disobeys her parents by sneaking out to dance. She meets a handsome gentleman who is a fantastic dancer. She’s having a great time, but when she looks down, she notices that he has chicken feet. That’s when she realizes that she’s dancing with the devil. A cloud of yellow smoke surrounds her, and she disappears, never to be seen again. In my book, both boys and girls disappear. Rooster goes on a journey to find them and bring them back home, but he must break a powerful spell in order to do so.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love Rooster! Even though he is half-devil, he has a good heart. He’s very self-conscious about being so stinky, and it reminds me of how awkward and embarrassing those middle school years can be. I also like his connection to dance, how he expresses his emotions and his imagination through movement. He has an artist’s soul.
YABC: What research did you do to write this book?
When I first started to write, I decided to write fiction because I’m too lazy for research. As it turns out, I have to do a lot of research even when I’m writing about fictional people in a fictional town. For example, there are javelinas and a squirrel in this book. How do they move? How do they sound? I looked at pictures and out my window. I watched YouTube videos and listened to recordings of their vocalizations. Rooster loves to dance, so I researched different dance moves and types of dances from around the world. To really get into his character, I tried to dance and am so grateful that no one but my dogs were around to watch. There’s also a fire karaoke scene, so I spent time listening to music that references fire.
And then there’s the legend that inspires the book. Since the dancing diablo is from a folktale, I asked different people for their versions of the story. In some, the devil has chicken feet; in others, goat hooves; and in others, one chicken foot and one goat hoof. It’s fun to hear the variations.
So, even though I’m making up characters and places, there’s no escaping research, and it’s always a surprise to see what extra information I might need.
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
My favorite warm-up activity for writing is to read other middle grade books. Even when the story is very different than mine, reading other MG books connects me to that youthful voice. I also spend time with young people. I talk to my nieces and nephews, and when I visit schools, I love to hear the students tell me about their experiences. Another strategy for keeping a young voice is to write in the present tense. Its immediacy prevents me from slipping into an adult perspective that’s looking back, something I kept doing when I first started writing for young people. But the best way to stay true to the youthful voice is to tap into your inner child. At the end of the day, I’m just a big kid having fun with stories!
YABC: What is your favorite writing space?
I have a writing room in my house. It’s got a desk, a recliner for reading, and an aquarium because watching my fish swim around really sparks my imagination. It also has windows because I prefer natural light and enjoy seeing the shadows make their way across my backyard. My second favorite place to write is in hotel rooms. They are quiet, bland, and without distractions. It’s amazing how much writing I can get done in them. I love when I can spend a whole day in my pajamas and write.
YABC: What fandom would you write for if you had time?
I’m a Trekkie. I keep up with all the Star Trek series, but my favorites are The Next Generation and Voyager. I would absolutely love coming up with episodes for those shows.
YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?
Between novels, I write short stories and these are for adult readers. I’ve almost completed a collection that I would love to publish someday. It’s called Dutiful Daughters and a Few Bad Boys. I also have some ideas for novels aimed at the adult reader, but I keep pushing them aside because I absolutely love writing for young people.
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I am working on the third book for the Los Monstruos series. It is called Ava and the Owl-Witch and draws its inspiration from the legend of La Lechuza, a giant owl with a woman’s face who harasses anyone who is out too late. It features all our favorite characters with an emphasis on Ava, a girl who just wants to fly.
Title: ROOSTER AND THE DANCING DIABLO
Author: Diana López
Release Date: May 7, 2024
Publisher: Kokila
ISBN-10: 0593326520
ISBN-13: 9780593326527
Genre: Hardcover Middle Grade
Age Range: 8-12
*Giveaway Details*
Three (3) winners will receive a hardcover copy of ROOSTER AND THE DANCING DIABLO (Diana López) ~ US Only!
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*
What a cute book!
I love this fun cover and enjoy reading fantasy based on folklore.
Felice and the Wailing Woman has been a favorite in our school’s media center collection, so I know our readers will be excited that there’s another book coming!