by Cyrus Webb
C. I., it is a pleasure to have you join us
for Conversations Magazine’s #BooksYouNeedtoRead issue. Congratulations on the
response to AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE. What has it been like for you to see the way
readers are responding to the story?
I
want to describe this experience in a way that doesn’t lean on a cliché, but I
can’t seem to get past ‘a dream come true.’ Writing a book that pulled out some
of my deepest emotions and parts of my soul in a way that felt artistic and
engaging for readers has been something I’ve closed my eyes and dreamed about
since I was a very young girl. I’ve spent years tormented by stories that I was
too afraid to tell because I wasn’t sure I could be trusted to tell them
correctly. I’m so glad I got over that!
I
also feel very blessed to be releasing a book during a time in our history when
an author can connect with readers all over the world very easily, and they can
share pictures of the book and their experiences reading it with only a few
clicks.
Connecting
with my readers and hearing about how my book has touched their hearts and
opened up new worlds for them has been one of the most beautiful experiences.
You write the book, and you hope and pray readers will connect to the story. When
it actually does…Well, for me, it’s a moment to look up at the sky and simply
say, “Thank you.”
·
Did you always know that storytelling in some
form was something you wanted to do?
Oh
yes. I would read books by Judy Blume, R.L. Stein, Francine Pascal, and more
when I was in the second, third, and fourth grade, and I was fully immersed in
the idea that I was practicing and studying for the day I would grow up and
write them myself. I have always believed I was born to be a writer. I also
knew I would lean toward fiction. I’ve read and enjoyed non-fiction, but, for
me, there’s no greater joy than getting lost in the artistry, magic, and
creativity of a story.
·
The book AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE has so many
layers, with fights on a battlefield and figuratively as well. How did the
story come about?
After reading The
Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni, I was inspired to write
something with a strong message. I’ve always dreamed of writing books that
would transcend generations with powerful messages of humanity. Not a tall
order or anything (laughing). When I dream, I tend to dream big, and after
reading Dugoni’s novel, I was inspired to do something that would leave readers
with the same feeling I had after closing his book, and I knew there would be a
precocious and intelligent little boy at the heart of my first book. I’ve
proudly raised three beautiful daughters, so the mystery of raising a little
boy still fascinates me, and writing would allow me to explore that
relationship.
As I began to develop
my character, 9-year-old Matteo “Teó” Salvador, I realized the story was
actually about his mom, Lina, who served in the Army.
One morning, after a
week or so of thinking about Teó, I woke up with an idea. What if his mom, Lina,
an Army medic and a self-proclaimed saver of lives, was forced to take a life
on the battlefield, and the combatant she confronted was a young man who
reminded her deeply of her son back home? Immediately, I understood the
complexities of her identity as a mother, a soldier, and how the cultural
aspects of being a Latina would all plague her in different ways. I knew what
it was to be a young mother in uniform during this tenuous time in our nation’s
history, which empowered this idea that I could create Lina’s journey with the
depth and intimacy it deserved.
Everything flowed from
there.
Lina is such a relatable character. We’re
able to see her struggles as well as her quest to do better and be better. Do
you see parts of yourself in her?
I
do! Lina is a dreamer, and she’s proven to herself that she can be fearless in
pursuit of her dreams. She also loves her child deeply and sacrificially. Those
are two areas where I connected with her the most. I will admit that I chose
very distinct and different flaws for her than the ones I battle in myself
because I didn’t want her to be me, and as a debut author, that’s a very real
risk. By making Lina different enough, I was able to get to know her as her own
person and didn’t just sit down to write a character who thinks, acts, and
feels the way I do. It was an enlightening experience to create that distance
and see how, through it, I gained a profound and genuine understanding of her
as well.
Truth is also a big part of this book. Living
with the truth and realizing what has been kept from you. Lina experiences this
with her own mother. Did you know this was going to be a big part of the story
when you started writing it?
No,
not at all. When I wrote the scene where Lina discovers her family has been
hiding something from her “for her own good,” I had no idea the story was going
to go in the direction it did. Looking back, I know undoubtedly that it was
organic and true to the story, so I’m glad that when the idea flowed fresh from
my mind onto the page, I didn’t fight it.
I
think writers who write their books or, in my case, parts of their books, by
the seat of their pants (a.k.a. “pantsers”) experience an internal affirmation,
at times, that what has just uncovered itself was meant to be there all along.
We simply didn’t know it yet.
This
subplot in Lina’s story was that kind of case. Writing this book, in fact,
introduced me to many magical moments like that, where I understood that as a
writer, our responsibility when writing our first draft is to be spiritually
and creatively open. It’s only in the openness that the story will easily flow
through your fingers, just as it was meant to be all along.
You’ve talked online, C.I., about the writing
and publishing journey. What keeps you inspired, even through the challenges?
Some
days I call it inspired, other days I call it tormented [Laughing], but it’s
the important stories swirling around in my head that I want to share with the
world. I’m very lucky to have lived such an eclectic and interesting experience
so far.
I’ve
traveled and lived in so many different parts of the U.S. and abroad. My family
background is a diverse mix of cultures, blending Irish, Spanish, and Caribbean
influences, made more unique after being raised on the Mexican border. I’ve
worked in many different industries, in different places, in many different
roles. I believe all of this has been with a purpose. I’ve had a direct eye view
of so many unique people and their experiences that my brain’s idea bucket is
filled with characters, topics, and stories that I’m dying to share with the
world.
I
am a true student of humanity and the human experience. I love to discover
people, and the way I process their journey and experiences is through story.
Writing is part of my existence, who I am, and I’m happiest when I’m behind the
keyboard bringing a new story to life. I think there’s a reason God made me
this way and allowed me the journey I’ve been on. Writing is where I fulfill my
end of the deal in this agreement called life.
Speaking of social media, that is one of the
ways you’re able to connect to your readers. What has that experience been like
for you?
Overwhelming,
most days, because I’m not sure if I’m doing it right.
I’m
a strong Type-A personality, and I want to master everything I dedicate a
concerted effort to. So, I often remind myself that I’m not trying to be a
social media influencer; I want to be an author. This means I need to spend my
time and energy accordingly on the efforts that have my heart, like writing
books! I don’t dive in and study how to make beautiful reels or drive virality.
My goal is to be present and available for my readers, using social media to
connect with them, let them know what's coming next, and hopefully inspire new
readers to join me on the journey. I really like social media as a tool for
connection in ways that actors, musicians, and authors couldn’t connect before.
I just ask for grace when the story cuts off mid-sentence, or the book title
looks backwards. I’m still learning!
Any advice you have for aspiring writers that
you want to share?
I
have three pieces of advice that I think changed the tide for me and put me on
a path to publishing:
1.
Read at least three or four good craft-related novels. I recommend Sol Stein,
Tiffany Yates Martin, and Lisa Cron’s books on craft.
2.
Join a writer’s group where most of the writers have professional experience
and LISTEN to their feedback. Even if you don’t take it, learn from it. Be open
and pay attention to their first reactions to your book, and don’t take it
personally. This is where we learn.
3.
Lastly, read your work out loud and record yourself. Then play it back and
listen to it. Different parts of your brain engage each time, and you will
connect with the flow. Don’t do this until you’ve finished your first draft and
let it sit, without touching it, for at least two to three weeks.
Thanks again for your time, C.I. How can our
readers stay connected with you?
I’ve
surprised myself at how engaged I’ve become on social media! You’ll find me on
Facebook as C.I. Jerez, on Instagram, and on Threads as @c.i._jerez. And
on TikTok at CIJerez. And I love when readers connect with me on my
website. I do have a monthly newsletter I send out at www.cijerezbooks.com .
