We chat with author Vanessa L. Torres about On The Wings of la Noche, which combines the haunting folklore of the Lechuza with an aching, star-crossed romance to create a dark romantic fantasy.
Hi, Vanessa! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Thank you so much for having me! I am often asked what I did before becoming an author, so here goes. I am a thirty-year veteran of the fire service and newly retired. Before and during my time as a first responder, I also waited tables, bartended, sold shoes, worked at a golf course, ski patrolled, and flew in a medical helicopter as a flight medic. I love anything outdoors, especially when there is snow on the ground. This is probably my inner-Minnesoatan shinning through, which is why this book is set in Duluth. I still pinch myself now and then because I can’t believe I am a published author. It was a long road to get here. I could write an entire post about my journey alone. That said, I never take for granted where I am. I am forever grateful there are readers who love my work. They are why I write.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I wrote my first “book” when I was in third grade, (my mom still has it.) It is written in crayon, bound with red yarn, and titled FIRE AND ICE. It’s about a dragon who longs to eat ice cream, but his fire-breathing tendencies keep him from … well, you get the idea. I still love that book and look to the story often for inspiration, especially when I am writing about a character who must overcome an insurmountable obstacle.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Hooray for Captain Jane!
- The one that made you want to become an author: Twilight
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Like Water for Chocolate
Your latest novel, On the Wings of la Noche, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Magical love and letting go.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect to be taken on a journey with a girl deeply in love who must also navigate what it is to be a magical creature. And that magic is the very thing that threatens to tear her away from the girl of her heart. This book is my own heart on the page, and my hope is that my readers feel the love as much as I did while writing it.
Where did the inspiration for On the Wings of la Noche come from?
I am from a close-knit Mexican American family. Noche is inspired by ghost stories my grandmother used to tell me about spirits and the legend of La Lechuza (shapeshifting brujas/owl women who take the souls of the dead.) My grandmother could not read or write. She attended school through the third grade before having to leave her education behind to help her mother run a boarding house. But this did not stop her from becoming a beautiful storyteller. I’d sit at the kitchen table, watch her make tortillas, and listen to her weave her tales. She is no longer with me, but I like to think part of her lives on in this book.
With this your first step into fantasy, can you tell us about your process in writing and weaving folklore into the story?
Oh, gosh, I loved every step of this process. As a reader, I am drawn to grounded worlds mixed with the fantastical, so Noche was so much fun to write. There are endless directions a story can take when magic sets the stage. I love the secrecy that often accompanies a hidden identity. I love the reveal that ultimately happens. And truly, I like to believe we all have a little magic within us, which makes contemporary fantasy relatable.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There were so many! But what I loved writing about the most, was Noche’s dark side—her need to be near the dead, her obsession with hanging out in the morgue, and her morbid collection of momentoes from her deceased passengers. I guess this means I have a dark side too, probably a result of being witness to a lot of deaths during my years as a paramedic. It’s only recently that I realized writing about Noche was beautifully therapeutic for me.
On the Wings of la Noche delves into love and loss. What do you hope readers take away from reading your book?
I hope they feel tingles in their feet, flutters in their hearts, and a way through when the world is dark. I hope they come back for more.
What’s next for you?
I am working on another contemporary fantasy romance. I am really loving this space and think I will hover here for a while.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up in 2025?
Ahhh, so many! But here are a few. I am reading A Cruel Thirst right now by Angela Montoya. So sharp, decedent, and lovely. At the top of my stack is my preorder from Emily J. Taylor, The Otherwhere Post. And I am re-reading Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.
