We chat with USA Today bestselling author Priscilla Oliveras about her new novel West Side Love Story, a heart-stirring romance of star-crossed love, feuding familias, and the bonds of sisterhood.
Hi, Priscilla! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hola everyone! Like my bio mentions, I’m a Puerto Rican-Mexican contemporary romance author who’s a huge fan of the genre and who also loves the beach, Zumba, sports, hammock naps, and time spent with familia and friends.
If you follow me on social media, you’ll find me sharing pics and stories about my bookish travels and fun moments with loved ones—karaoke parties, family tennis matches, selfies of us cheering for our beloved Gators (all sports) and Cubs (the best baseball team out there, just ask my abuela–LOL), and more.
I enjoy writing about familia themes—the triumphs and trials many of us experience in our daily lives. My books are about people who could be your neighbors or mine. People proud of their Latinx culture, working hard, living and loving and striving to lead good lives. Much like you and me.
How has the first half of 2022 been for you?
Ooh, my positive nature immediately leans toward highlighting the blessings 2022 has brought my familia and me so far. But truthfully, there have also been sad times. In May, a beloved tía in Puerto Rico passed away. My mami and I had just sent my tía a signed early copy of West Side Love Story. It didn’t arrive in time and learning of her death was a hard blow. And yet, while we feel her loss deeply, our faith comforts us with the knowledge that she’s at peace, enjoying her reunion with my abuela and all their siblings and familia members who passed before her. I’m also comforted by having visited the island and gotten a chance to see her in February.
That same faith has me counting my blessings, one of which is finally seeing West Side Love Story going out into the world. Sharing Mariana and Angelo’s star-crossed, secret romance with readers; introducing readers to my Papi’s hometown…it’s all such a thrill.
Another blessing is the ability to travel more safely thanks to vaccines and boosters. Quality time is my main love language, so any quality time spent with familia and friends…being able to hold in-person author events & chatting with readers again…HUGE blessings the first half of 2022 has been filled with.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
I think my love of writing really started in high school when my English class was assigned a short story writing project my sophomore or junior year. My English teacher was the first one to seriously talk with me about writing careers and the idea of majoring in English…a conversation that planted the seed the slowly took root and eventually flourished. Several years later as a young college student, military spouse and new mom, I sat down to try writing my first romance novel. Twenty-six years years after I typed “Chapter One” for the first time…yeah, 26, so emphasis on that “slowly took root and eventually flourished” part…I signed my first publishing contract.
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!
Ooh, fun!
First book I remember reading: Charlotte’s Web; I cried, but loved it!
The one that made me want to become an author: The stacks of Harlequin Romances and Presents my papi kept around our house when I was a teen. Papi is the one who ushered me into the marvelous world of adult romance novels by sharing his books with me. J
Two (so hard to pick only 1) recent releases I can’t stop thinking about: Adriana Herrera’s A Caribbean Heirress in Paris & Sonali Dev’s The Emma Project…definitely must-reads!
Your new novel, West Side Love Story, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Emotional, culturally rich, familia-themed romance
What can readers expect?
Yes, West Side Love Story is a “Romeo & Juliet” re-imagining, but it’s also an homage to San Antonio, my Papi’s vibrant hometown, and my familia who live there. It’s a rally cry for strong women like the Capuleta sisters who form an all-female mariachi band and are determined to make a place for themselves in a male-dominated industry. It’s a book about music and its influence on us, about found familia and community ties and finding our place in a sometimes difficult world. And love, Mariana and Angelo show us how love and healthy relationships can build bridges, offer comfort, and create a sense of home.
My hope with West Side Love Story is that readers finish feeling like they’ve visted San Antonio and made new friends with the Capuletas and the Monteros having experienced some of our beautiful Mexican culture and sighing with satisfaction over Mariana and Angelo’s heartfelt romance.
Aside from the amazing source material, what inspired you to write West Side Love Story?
Several years ago a dear writing amiga, Sabrina Sol (check out her books!), sent me a link to a news segment about an all-female mariachi band in California with a message that said the article made her think of me. J As I watched that two minute or so clip, something sparked inside me and I knew…I just knew…I had to write a book or series about an all-female mariachi band. Only, if I was writing about mariachis, then of course I had to set it in San Antonio, the city that holds a special place in my heart because of my familia ties to it. That was the spark that flared, then caught fire and breathed life into the Capuleta sisters.
Can you tell us a bit about the challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
I’ll be honest, writing during the pandemic was hard for me. It was a real struggle trying to shut out the uncertainty and worry of the real world so I could get lost in my characters and their story world. Pep talks and “you can do it, girl” cheers from familia and writing friends really helped me keep on keeping on when deadlines loomed.
For West Side Love Story in particular, another challenged involved trying to weave the two subplot threads—one for the feud (the Battle of the Mariachi Bands and the gentrification issue) and one with Mariana and her sisters—through the main romance story line with Mariana and Angelo. The subplots are so much a part of who Mariana and Angelo are—their beliefs and values—yet they’re also what the two struggle against. Giving the subplots their due while not allowing them to overshadow the romance was tricky, but I received super helpful feedback and suggestions from my beta readers, critique partners, and my two amazing editors at Montlake. I hope seeing how Mariana and Angelo overcome the conflicts makes their happily ever after that much sweeter for readers.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
Writing about the Capuleta sisters’ bond with each other, along with Nina Capuleta and Brenda Montero’s new friendship, was really special. I felt such pride for all of them. Writing the Mariachi Las Nubes performance scenes in Mariana’s perspective, looking out at the crowd—seeing the young girls cheering them on and Mamá and Papo smiling with joy—oh, those were incredibly moving. Mariana and her sisters are determined to carve out their place in an industry that for too long has overlooked female mariachis like them. They understand that they represent more than simply themselves and their familia when they’re on stage. They represent all the strong, talented women who came before them, those working hard in the industry alongside them today, and the generations to come. It was powerful writing about how important the competition and their representation is for them, and so many others.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
The best: “Don’t compare your writing path to others’.” Whether the advice is specifically about your writing process or book sales or contracts or social media followers or any other author life aspect…comparing yourself to others is the path to despair. You concentrate on doing you. Cheer for friends and fellow authors when good news is shared. Maybe use it as inspiration…I find that others’ good news helps me stay motivated over here in my little writing cave in Romancelandia. I try to keep a “we’re all in this together” mentality.
The worst: Many pieces of advice that start with “I do (insert craft tip) and you need to do it, too.”
The thing is…my process works for me. The way I do some things might work for you, or parts of my process might resonate with you. But then again, maybe not. We’re all different, and that’s okay. Find what works for you, keeping in mind that perhaps your process might even change a bit from one book to another. I think any how-to workshop or presentation or book should come with a caveat that goes something like, “I find this helpful, you may want to give it a try. Or tweak it to fit your needs. Or ignore it if you find it gets in your way.” J
What’s next for you?
I just received the final clean copy document for Kiss Me, Catalina, book 2 in the Queens of Mariachi series.
Kiss Me, Catalina is my “Taming of the Shrew” re-imagining starring Catalina Capuleta, the second oldest sister who’s also the musical director for Mariachi Las Nubes, and Patricio Galán, the international mariachi superstar/hearthrob you meet in West Side Love Story. Cat and Patricio’s novel is a road trip, adversaries to lovers romance featuring two strong-willed, super talented artists, both dealing with familia pressures and pains while fighting an intense attraction to each other. These two were super fun to write, and I’m really excited for you to hit the concert tour with them when Kiss Me, Catalina releases on November 1!
Lastly, do you have any 2022 book recommendations for our readers?
Ooh, there are SO many great romance novels already out and coming our way in 2022! I shared two earlier, but here are some other must-read romances available now and some that I’ve been lucky enough to read via an advance copy: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa, By the Book by Jasmine Guillory, Dating Dr. Dil by Nisha Sharma (also a Shakespeare re-imagining), A Proposal They Can’t Refuse by Natalie Caña, The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon, Knot Again by Kwana Jackson, After Hours on Milagro Street by Angelina M. Lopez, American Royalty by Tracey Livesay, and Big Chicas Don’t Cry by Annette Chavez Macias.
