Natalie Caña turns up the heat, humour and heart in this debut rom-com about a Puerto Rican chef and an Irish American whiskey distiller forced into a fake engagement by their scheming octogenarian grandfathers.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Natalie about her debut novel A Proposal They Can’t Refuse, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Natalie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi All, I’m Natalie Caña, I love to incorporate my many you’ll-never-believe-what-just-happened-to-me personal experiences, enthusiasm for telenovela tomfoolery, and love for my Latinx culture into creating funny, heartfelt, and just a little bit over-the-top contemporary romances for characters who look and sound like me.
How has the first half of 2022 been for you?
The first half of 2022 has been A Ride with some soaring highs and deep lows. Through it all I just keep telling myself “It’s your debut year! Soak it all in!” That’s what I’ve been trying to do.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I’ve loved writing since the moment I could pick up a pencil. My mom likes to say that she’s known I am a writer since I was in the first grade. We had to write a summary about a fairy tale and instead I turned in a four page (front and back) retelling of The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas, and The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead
Your debut novel, A Proposal They Can’t Refuse, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Octogenarian matchmakers force grandkids’ HEA
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect tons of tropes. I tried to shove as many in there as I could. There’s obviously fake engagement and meddling family, but there is also grumpy/sunshine, just one bed, friends to enemies to lovers, it’s always been you, and more…
Where did the inspiration for A Proposal They Can’t Refuse come from?
A Proposal They Can’t Refuse actually started as a dream. In my dream there was a funeral for an important business man. His grandson was there and so was the man’s best friend and his family. When it was time for the eulogy, the best friend stood up and announced to everyone that in order to receive his inheritance the grandson was going to have to marry his granddaughter. I woke up out of the dream at like four in the morning and went “YES!” Then I wrote it down in the ideas section of my notes app and went back to sleep because I had to work in a few hours.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
When I first began writing this story it was a billionaire romance and the hero was a straight up Alphahole. Then a certain election happened and I was over billionaires. I had to figure out how to tie the hero and heroine’s businesses together in a way that was believable. There have been many incarnations of this story as I tried to get all the pieces to fit together, but writing this book forced me to focus on the craft which has given me way more confidence in myself and my storytelling abilities.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I LOVE KILLIAN (The hero’s grandfather). For many of the previous versions he was already dead (as in my dream). There was even a point where Liam would hear his grandfather’s voice in his head like a conscience which was kind of weird, but it helped me realize that I wanted Killian to still be alive. After that all bets were off. Killian is so pivotal to every aspect of the story and he just plays so well off of every other character. I can’t say that he’s the glue that holds everything together, but he’s like the dye that seeps into the fabric and changes it into something new and amazing.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I wouldn’t call my road to publication unique, but it was unconventional. I spent a LONG time getting the story to the point where I felt like it was ready to query. But once it got to that point, things went very very quickly. I sent out my first batch of queries on a Monday morning and by Tuesday evening I’d already had a call with my agent offering me representation. By the end of that week I think I had like four or five more offers. Once I chose an agent (at the beginning of November), we went right on submission and sold a three book series at auction before everyone left for Holiday vacation. It was a whirlwind and completely unexpected, but I do have to keep reminding myself that I put in years of work beforehand.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best advice I received was from the incomparable Beverly Jenkins. I was listening to her speak and she said “Finish. The. Book. Stop just talking about it. You’re a writer not a talker.” So I sat my butt down and finished the book. I think the worst advice I’ve gotten is “your heroine needs to be less ambitious to be likeable”. I feel like I don’t even need to explain why that is wrong on many levels.
What’s next for you?
Right now I’m working on book 2 of the series which will be released next year around this time. This hero and heroine are very different from Liam and Kamilah, but I’m very excited about their story.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris by Adriana Herrera is the perfect historical romance for lovers of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn, and Lisa Kleypas.
West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras is such a heartwarming and inventive “retelling” of Romeo and Juliet/West Side Story. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one writes families better than Priscilla.
Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias is Latinx Women’s Fiction amazingness. It comes out 9/1/22
After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez is super sexy opposites attract story with tons of interesting history that connects to real life. Out on July 26th!
