Image Credit: Christine Chambers
Debut YA author Natasha Díaz pulls from her personal experience to inform this powerful coming-of-age novel about the meaning of friendship, the joyful beginnings of romance, and the racism and religious intolerance that can both strain a family to the breaking point and strengthen its bonds.
Hi Natasha! Tell us a little about yourself!
Hello! My name is Natasha Díaz and I am a writer, an eater, and a born and raised New Yorker. I grew up in Manhattan, moving around a bit after my parent’s divorce, but spent the majority of my childhood/formative years living in Harlem. Fun fact: I have never been behind the wheel of a car and never ever will.
Your debut novel, Color Me In, publishes on August 20th. If you could only use five words to describe it, what would they be?
Ohh that’s hard…hmmm: Own your place and voice.
Let’s hear a little more! What can readers expect?
Color Me In is a contemporary coming of age story about Nevaeh Levitz, a biracial (Black and Jewish), white passing, 15-going-on-16-year-old who is learning how to own her privileges and find her place between her two worlds as she adjusts to her new life now that her parents have separated and she is prepping for a belated Bat Mitzvah.
Was there anything in particular that inspired you to write Color Me In?
Yes! Color Me In is loosely based off my own experiences being a multiracial, Jewish woman who presents as white. Most of the story is fictionalized, but I did pull specific moments and encounters from my life that informed a lot of the story and Nevaeh’s journey. Many of the characters were also inspired by people in my life, but again, they are all fictional characters with traits that came from family and friends.
Were there any aspects that were more challenging to write such as a scene or a certain character?
Honestly, the whole thing was tough to write because it was so personal. It was hard to separate what I had lived and what made a compelling story to read. Nevaeh and I share a lot in common, but we are also very different and were raised in very different circumstances, so getting into her head took some time and tweaking, but I had to keep reminding myself that she is not me.
What do you hope your readers will take away from this book?
I hope that anyone who reads the book is inspired to reflect on their privileges, whatever they may be, and to activate them to uplift the members of their communities who may not benefit in the same way. I also hope it makes readers feel empowered to take ownership of their identities and pride in who they are and where they come from.
The road to becoming a published author can often be a long one. What was this journey like for you?
This has been a wild ride! I always wanted to be a writer, truly, my first word was ‘book’, but it took me a long time to build up the confidence to go for it. I fell into entertainment as a career, working as a producer, but always felt like I was adjacent to what I wanted to be doing, IE: making other people’s stories come to life when I wanted to be telling my own. Eventually, I took some classes in scriptwriting (I feel most comfortable with dialogue, so it felt like the most natural path) and was able to representation through one of my scripts. Eventually, when I pitched them the idea of Color Me In, they encouraged me to write this book of my heart, which I had been writing and dreaming about my whole left and just needed the support and confidence to fully commit to.
Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Yes, use your voice and be loud, because we need your stories now more than ever.
What’s next for you?
I’ve got a few projects in the works right now that I can’t talk about just yet but stay tuned!!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations?
OMG! Do I? Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno, Opposite of Always by Justin Reynolds, Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson (and honestly, anything by Tiffany D. Jackson), It’s a Whole Spiel, an anthology of stories written by Jewish authors edited by Katherine Locke and Laura Silverman.
Author Bio
Natasha Díaz is a born and raised New Yorker, currently residing in Brooklyn, NY with her tall husband. Formerly a TV producer, Natasha is both an author and screenwriter. Her scripts have placed in the Austin Film Festival, the NALIP Diverse Women in Media Fellowship, and the Sundance Episodic Story Lab. Her essays can be found in The Establishment and Huffington Post. Natasha’s first novel, Color Me In, will be published by Delacorte Press/Random House August, 20 2019.
