Interview with Raul Ramos y Sanchez, author of America Libre

It is with great pleasure that I introduce you to my guest today, author Raul Ramos y Sanchez. His novel, America Libre, has been creating a lot of controversy since its release in late July.

The author will be giving away a copy of his novel to one lucky winner. To be eligible, all you need to do is leave a comment at the end of this post. Please leave email contact info in the comment.

Sanchez is touring the blogosphere with BronzeWord Latino Authors. You can see the full blog tour schedule HERE.

Congratulations on the release of your novel, America Libre. Would you tell us a little about it and what inspired you to write it?

AMERICA LIBRE bends a lot of genres. At its core, it’s a love triangle. It’s also an action thriller (with a touch of science fiction) based on a Latino-issues theme. Above all, I hope the novel is captivating and entertaining. I’ve been especially gratified to hear readers say the book was a real page turner yet they were surprised to find new insights into the people and history of Latin America. The novel has political overtones, but it’s really a story about a family caught in a world that’s threatening to tear them apart. It’s a world not far in the future where some of the trends of today have grown much worse and the U.S. finds itself in a nightmare scenario: a Hispanic uprising sparked by a violent supremacist backlash is engulfing the American Southwest. I wrote AMERICA LIBRE as a cautionary tale to help avoid that future.

Your road to publication is a wonderful success story. You self published the novel before it was picked up by Grand Central Publishing. How did that happen?

The decision to self-publish came from my agent. She’d never suggested it to a client before. But knowing about my more than 20 years experience in the ad business, she felt it might help prove the novel’s market viability. We had tried for months to find a publisher but the novel’s genre-bending premise had left several houses puzzled. Well, my agent’s idea proved to be a good one. Within five months I’d made 14 radio and TV appearances, held three book signings – and had a contact for the first two books of the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy from Grand Central Publishing. A lot of writers have asked if I think self-publishing is the way to go. I believe the decision will depend on your skills and willingness to promote your book. If you choose to self-publish, be prepared to be relentless.

I hear America Libre is already creating a lot of controversy. Are you surprised?

Immigration is a white-hot issue. So I’m not surprised a novel that imagines a Hispanic insurrection would be misunderstood. I expect the controversy to continue. I’m also sure I will receive bad book reviews from people inspired by ideology. AMERICA LIBRE has already been called subversive by nativists—and even some Latinos. To me, that says the novel has touched a nerve that makes those on the political fringes uncomfortable. I hope the novel inspires discussion among reasonable people. I’m sure hardcore ideologues of every stripe will not like the book. It is an indictment of political extremism—on both sides of the immigration issue. 

What are some of the themes and issues you wanted to explore in the novel?

I think the best way to diffuse a crisis is to recognize our common humanity. Nothing does that better than art. Whether it’s a book or a film, drama helps us see ourselves in other people. That one-to-one connection is more persuasive than a dozen political talking points. At the same time, I felt the widespread misunderstanding of the Hispanic identity was widening the growing chasm between Latinos and the U.S. mainstream. Latinos are not a group that thinks with a single mind. We are as diverse in politics, affluence and even race as mainstream Americans. Yet the media (and unfortunately even some Hispanic “marketing experts”) persists in painting the same simplistic picture of Hispanics: poor, uneducated and lacking in English skills. Hollywood is especially fond of the barrio gangbanger, drug lord, spicy señorita, and other low-life stereotypes. The Hispanic characters in AMERICA LIBRE go beyond these limited portrayals, giving readers what I hope is a wider perspective on what it means to be Latino.

I found Jo's character fascinating. For me, she was more real than all the others. Tell us a bit how you created her. Did you initially make a character profile? Were there times in the novel where she 'took over' and told you what to write? She's so strong, I wouldn't be surprised!

I wrote a complete back story bio on all the significant characters in AMERICA LIBRE.  But I will admit to lavishing more attention on Josefina “Jo” Herrera than any of the others. Her character is in many ways emblematic of the novel because she explodes so many Hispanic stereotypes. She’s single, rich, blond and blue-eyed, impeccably bilingual and manages to successfully navigate the macho culture around her. Because I knew Jo would be a shock to many mainstream readers, I worked hard to make her character believable. Like any good character, Jo is flawed. She’s driven by political ambition yet torn by pangs of guilt for her ruthlessness. And she falls in love with main character Mano primarily because of his loyalty to his wife. Yeah, it’s hard not to be intrigued by Jo. I’m glad you appreciated her uniqueness.

The 'impossible' love between Jo and Manolo adds a strong element of romance to the novel.. Was this a conscious decision on your part?

At the center of every great tale is a love story—and with very good reason. Romantic attraction is essential for characters to feel real—and for readers to connect with them. No matter what language you speak, your politics, the color of your skin, or the size of your paycheck, we all want to love and be loved. Every one of us has also known longing, the pain of rejection and jealousy. This emotional common ground is usually the foundation for a reader to bond with the characters and get involved in a story.

Which brings me to the next question: did you prepare a detailed outline before writing the story, or did the plot evolved as you sat and wrote?

After more than 20 years as an advertising writer, I have become very deliberate. I begin with a plot summary of the entire book, then break a story down scene by scene, and finally add dialogue and narrative to each scene. I also create a scene by scene timeline which helps tremendously when I am editing the plot. I can’t imagine just sitting in front of a blank screen and “letting it happen.” But I know it works for a lot of writers.

Did the novel require a lot of research?

Creating the AMERICA LIBRE trilogy has led me to research a wide range of subjects: history, politics, culture, religion, gangs, santeras, botanicas, guerilla tactics, weapons, childbirth, explosives, and Chinese name conventions are just a few that come to mind. I was also very fortunate to have input from an international group of scholars for much of the story’s historic premises. 

Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

I’m very grateful to Grand Central Publishing for taking a chance on AMERICA LIBRE. This novel represents an opportunity to show the publishing industry a Hispanic author can create commercial fiction with “crossover” appeal in the thriller genre. I hope the success of AMERICA LIBRE helps paves the way for other Latino writers. We have a diverse range of voices. They deserve to be heard.

Thank you, Raul, and good luck with your book!

Watch the book trailer!