Virtual Tour and Author Interview -- Sisters of Element
Sisters
of Element: Book One of the Luna Family Chronicles
By O. Salazar de
Breaux
Genre:
Young Adult
Fantasy Fiction
Sisters of Element is the first book in
a series about the Luna sisters, four Mexican American young women living in
present day Percival Falls, Washington. Lina, Val, Zo, and Rory Luna have
special abilities based on the elements: water, fire, air, and earth. Having
lost their parents at an early age, the sisters have an unbreakable bond. When
faced with a dark force that threatens their very existence, they don’t
hesitate to fiercely protect each other — even if it means the ultimate
sacrifice.
Lina has it all — her soulmate Gabriel, her dream job, and a
close-knit relationship with her three younger sisters. But meeting her sister
Val’s new boyfriend triggers a series of nightmares leaving Lina frightened
that something terrible is about to happen to her sister. Little does she know,
she and her family are in even more danger than they could have imagined.
Readers will go on a magical and mysterious journey with the
Luna sisters. The characters will share their inner strength, their sacrifice,
their resilience, and the power of sisterhood. At its heart, Sisters of Element
is a story about unconditional love and how with it, you can overcome even the
greatest obstacles.
About
the Author
O. Salazar de Breaux
grew up in Olympia, Washington with five younger sisters. An entrepreneur and
community leader with a long career in public service, Salazar de Breaux is
also an incurable creative who’s inspired by her Mexican- American heritage.
Her work incorporates her love of family, food, music, and culture.
She stayed in Olympia
to study, earning a B.A. in English from The Evergreen State College, and still
lives there with her husband – her sweetheart of more than 20 years – and their
two sons, whom she considers her greatest achievements.
Sisters of Element is
her debut novel.
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sisters-of-element-o-salazar-de-breaux/1132733380?ean=9781733893701
Tell us about your genre.
How did you come to choose it?
Why does it appeal to you?
I’ve thought about this question a lot recently. Someone
asked this at my book launch event and I don’t think I articulated it very
well, so I’ve been reflecting. My genre is Young Adult Fantasy Fiction. I’m not
sure I chose it as much as it chose me. I didn’t necessarily set out to make a
young adult book (series, actually), but early into the writing process I
realized it was a perfect fit. These are the books I gravitate towards. I find
them relatable, fun reads that are easy to get into, and if I’m honest, close
to my authentic voice. Fantasy fiction is one of my favorite genres because it
allows you creative freedom and imagine infinite possibilities. I also wanted
my story routed in reality because I didn’t want the story to completely
revolve around the magic, but to revolve around the family. Magic is a part of
them, but not ALL of them.
What do you find most challenging about the writing
process, and how do you deal with it?
For me, the most challenging part by far was my schedule. Aside
from being a mama to two young boys, I also work full time in the public
sector, I own and operate a business, and run a networking group for female
entrepreneurs I co-founded which involves a lot of meeting and event planning
every month. I was working closely with my amazing author coach to carve out a
writing schedule, but it was tough. It meant working on my book till late in
the evenings and weekends when I didn’t have other meetings, and on lunch
breaks during the week. I was pretty much in survival mode which isn’t the best
place to be when you are pouring your creativity and heart out on the page.
I handled this by scheduling times on my calendar for book
work, and sticking to it (sometimes I had to be flexible, but for the most part
I committed myself to this time). I had a relaxing writing space set up with
minimal distractions. I also started my writing sessions by writing in my
gratitude journal, which helped snap me out of that frantic stressful state and
back into an open, heart centered, creative state. I also leaned heavily on my
author coach for moral support and troubleshooting.
Writing a book is an incredible process, but it is also a
process that leaves you emotionally and physically raw at times, and I was
truly grateful to have her there with me every step of the way to lend support.
When and where do you do your writing?
I touched on this briefly already in the previous question.
I created a serene space inside my house with minimal distractions. I would
play music, turn my social media and phone notifications off, and keep the door
closed. I write mostly on evenings and weekends. The best, most successful
writing sessions are when I can dedicate several hours to uninterrupted
writing. I don’t get those opportunities very often, so I’m grateful when I do
get that chance.
What have you learned about promoting your books?
That it is a constant thing. There isn’t just one magic
promotional tool and you don’t just promote something once. Social media is
super important to build community and to engage with my readers. Face to face
events are important too. Because of my schedule being what it is, I am
committing myself to one event a month. It doesn’t sound like much, but when it
comes to coordinating with local businesses to host or partner with me,
designing flyers, scheduling advertisements, etc., it is time consuming and
also expensive.
I’m also learning to get better about sharing. The “author”
title is new to me, so I’m still learning how to own it and speak about my book
and myself in this role.
What are you most proud of as a writer?
That I can hold my finished work in my hand and tell people,
“I DID THIS!!!” I’ve accomplished a lifelong dream and am living my passion
right now…as an author. Not many people can say that. We talk ourselves out of
going after our dreams because we are scared, we don’t believe in ourselves, or
it feels impossible.
All of that hard work paid off and now people can share my
love of this amazing family of characters and story that I created. That is the
coolest thing. Ever.
If you could have dinner with any writer, living or dead,
who would it be and what would you talk about?
JK Rowling. Aside from being incredibly talented and
brilliant, she seems like a girlfriend I could sit and talk to for hours. She
is not afraid to speak up for social justice and to give voices to the
underdogs. Also, she came from very humble beginnings and I’d love to talk to
relate to her as a mother…with big dreams and big stories in our heads!
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