We chat with debut author Angela Montoya about her spellbinding romantic fantasy Sinner’s Isle, which follows a powerful witch who will do anything to escape the remote island she’s being held captive on, including blackmail a notorious, charming pirate who washes up on shore.
Hi, Angela! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Angela Montoya and I wrote YA romantasy Sinner’s Isle. When I’m not lost in the world of words, I can be found co-hosting the podcast, Of the Publishing Persuasion or hiding away on my small farm in Northern California with my partner, two children, dogs, goats, chickens, and an ancient rescue cat who refuses to chase mice.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I have always loved creating stories in some way. As a child, I forced my younger sisters to act in plays that I wrote and choreographed for the entire neighborhood. They were terrible, the plays not my sisters, but I loved every second of building a story and seeing it through to the end. It wasn’t until I was much older that I truly discovered my love for writing. Both of my kids were in school and I had recently stopped working, so I was looking for an outlet. My partner was the one who suggested I give writing a try because I loved reading and come from a family of storytellers. That was in February of 2017, and I haven’t stopped writing a day since.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Wanrner
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Pride and Prejudice by THE Jane Austen
Your debut novel, Sinner’s Isle, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Swashbuckling. Magical. Swoony. Heartfelt. Fierce.
What can readers expect?
Sinner’s Isle is a YA romantasy about a formidable witch who wishes to escape the island she’s been held captive on before she and her powers are bound to a man. After her first attempt at freedom is thwarted, she blackmails a recently marooned pirate, forcing him to help her flee. Lots of hijinx and romance ensues, but the true heart of the story is about fighting for your right to have control and ownership over your own body and learning that even in the darkest hour of our lives, we can still find space for joy and love.
Where did the inspiration for Sinner’s Isle come from?
I wrote Sinner’s Isle in 2020. There were obviously so many terrible things happening in our world and I felt completely out of control. The idea of a young woman being prepared for an event that she wanted no part of came to mind. I started to explore that. I asked myself why her? I came to the conclusion that it must be because she has some sort of power people (particularly men) covet. I then started to ask myself what she plans to do about this event that she is being forced to be part of. Does she bow down and let herself be controlled? Or does she fight for her own autonomy? Clearly, I went for the latter of the two. It took me many more drafts to clearly understand the world I was attempting to build, but once I did, all the other characters formed easily in place.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I had so much fun writing every chapter. I love the ways each character interacts with the others as they traverse this world. But I definitely feel like I had the most fun writing scenes where the two main characters, Rosalinda and Mariano, were together and the scenes where Mariano and his best friend Santiago were together. The bromance between those two had me smiling every time they were on the page.
This is your debut novel! Can you tell us what the road to becoming a published author was like for you?
The road has been wild but in the very best way. I started writing my first novel in 2017. I queried the book in 2018 and into 2019, but slowly I came to the realization that the book wasn’t that great. It was a bit heartbreaking to shelve something I worked so hard on, but I never counted the book a loss. I learned so much about craft and myself during that time. I also learned that I can handle rejection. Not particularly well, but I can handle it. I started writing Sinner’s Isle shortly after I shelved the first book and not long after I finished it I was chosen to be part of a mentorship program called Pitch Wars. I learned everything I could during that mentorship, and I also started to build friendships and community within the writing space online. All of those things carried me through many more rejections, but they also showed up to cheer for me when I found my agent and eventually sold Sinner’s Isle in a two-book deal to Joy Revolution in December of 2021.
What’s next for you?
I’m so excited about answering this question! As of right now, I have one more book coming out with Joy Revolution. A Cruel Thirst is a YA romantasy slated to be published in the fall of 2024. This wild tale follows a recently turned vampire who is rather terrible at being a vampire. Desperate to turn himself human again, he travels to the land where he believes he can find his cure. Instead, he runs into a wannabe vampire hunter who wants to prove to her family how skilled a hunter she is. The two clash at first but learn that they might be the only people who can help each other achieve their ultimate goals.
Lastly, are there any 2024 book releases you’re looking forward to?
There are so many releases I’m looking forward to! I recently read The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew (another Joy Revolution author) and I LOVED IT. I truly believe this book is the YA sci-fi/dystopian we’ve all been waiting for. Here Lies A Vengeful Bitch by Codie Crowley is a YA horror being published in August of 2024. This book is absolutely wild in the very best way. I also cannot wait for Where the Library Hides by Isabel Ibañez.
