Author Interview: Emma Otheguy and Adventure in the City of Stories Giveaway

Happy Monday, Everyone! Today I’m excited to have Emma Otheguy here to share about her MG historical Adventure in the City of Stories. This is both a historical and time travel story, and I’m looking forward to reading it.
 
Here’s a blurb from Amazon:

When stolen artifacts magically appear in their aunt’s closet, cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy travel back in time to 1930 New York City to clear her name before history is irreparably altered in this companion to the “spellbinding” (School Library Journal, starred review) Cousins in the Time of Magic.

Cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy never imagined that dusty old puppets and a mysterious book would launch them into a time-traveling adventure. But when they discover their aunt has treasures belonging to Pura Belpré, the trailblazing Latina librarian and storyteller, they’re transported back to 1930s New York City. Their mission? Race against time to return Pura’s puppets and a signed first edition of her book, proving their aunt isn’t a thief.

The past is full of danger, though. A powerful woman will stop at nothing to steal the book, the cousins’ nosy neighbor is snooping around, and the hardship of the Great Depression is all around them. Luckily Jorge, Camila, and Siggy meet Antonia, a fierce Puerto Rican girl fighting injustice against her community.

The cousins will need courage, quick thinking, and a little help from history to protect Pura Belpré’s legacy, clear their aunt’s name, and make it back home. Can they pull it off before time runs out?
 
Hi Emma! Thanks so much for joining us.
 
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
 
I’m a reader, a native bilingual (Spanish/English), a Latina, a New Yorker, one of three kids, a mom of three kids, a historian and a knitter, to list a few things about me. I’ve been interested in children’s books since I first volunteered at my public library’s story time, but it wasn’t until I was in graduate school studying History that I got serious about writing for children. I realized then that so many of the most exciting parts of history never made it outside the academy, let alone to kids. It was a time when I felt very strongly drawn to creative work, both to counter the more serious academic research I was doing and also to give that research meaning. I haven’t stopped writing for children since my first book was published almost a decade ago.
 
2. Where did you get the idea for Adventure in the City of Stories?
 
I have always been interested in history that transcends nation. That might be because my family is from another country, but it’s also because growing up as a Latina in New York, our closest family friends were from many different parts of Latin America, not just Cuba (where my parents are from). It was an experience I consider quintessentially American, and because of that, I always take note when I hear about intersections of different Latino groups in the United States. When I found out that Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral had lived and taught in New York City in 1930, when Puerto Rican librarian Pura Belpré was putting on her famous story times and puppet shows, the idea for Adventure in the City of Stories was born! I had a blast researching all of the other connections and meetings that take place in the book.
 
3. This book is the second book in your series, with Cousins in the Time of Magic being book one. How much of the series did you know when you wrote the first book, and how have you plotted them out?
 
I had a few key historical moments that I knew I wanted to touch upon, but the details of each plot took many drafts to get right! 
 
4. Adventure in the Cities of Stories is set in New York City in 1930. Reviewers have said you included a lot of historical information that many people and kids might not know about. How did you research this time period and decide what historical facts to include in your story?

Reading about the city, where I live, and all of its interesting people was nothing short of delightful. Research for this book took me to the map room and archives of the New York Public Library, and I also read guidebooks and first-hand accounts by people who lived at the time. I especially enjoyed reading memoirs written by Puerto Ricans living in New York, which gave me what felt like a very direct and personal connection to the time period. 
 
5. Your agent is Adriana Domínguez. How did she become your agent, and what was your road to getting your first publishing contract like? 

I found my agent through the query process! People are always surprised to hear that, and I know it can feel like to get anywhere in publishing you must need some kind of special “in,” but the simple answer to how I found an agent is querying. That being said, I actually met Adriana at a conference critique before I queried her. I don’t think she remembers that meeting at all and it was at least a year later when I finally did query her, but talking to agents and editors at conferences definitely helped me craft a strong manuscript and a compelling query letter. 
 
My first book was published nearly ten years ago, which means the contract was signed over a decade ago. The first manuscript I worked on with Adriana—the one that I queried and got me my agent offer—was rejected at the acquisitions stage and never published. That was heartbreaking, but it meant that I got right to work on a picture book manuscript I had been playing around with for years, which became Martí’s Song for Freedom. Many, many editors sent initial feedback saying that José Martí was too unknown for an American audience, but Adriana and I both understood Martí’s central importance. The book received many starred reviews, won an award, has gone through many reprintings, and will be coming out in paperback this summer. It was not an easy publishing process, but it mattered tremendously to me, and that made sticking with it worthwhile.

 
6. You’re the author or co-author of 12 picture books and middle grade books. How have you grown your career and continued to sell so many books?
 
I have only one useful adage about writing, which is: keep coming back. I am not a writer who has particularly good tricks or rituals around productivity, and while I consider myself a fairly disciplined person, kids and illnesses, especially, are constantly interrupting my workflow. These disturbances used to make me want to tear my hair out, but with the benefit of a dozen books under my belt, I know that as long as you come back to the manuscript, you will eventually finish. 
 
7. How are you planning to promote Adventure in the City of Stories? How has your approach to marketing changed since you were a debut author? 

For Adventure in the City of Stories I’m trying something new and already really fun: I’ve created a “Pub Club” of educators who are excited about the book. In the fall I’ll be writing letters to their classrooms and hosting a webinar for their students, and in exchange they’ll help spread the word about the book by writing reviews and sharing lesson plans. I’m already enjoying connecting with the educators who have joined, and looking forward to what I hope will feel like a truer and more meaningful connection with the first few classrooms to read the book. 
 
The reason I’m trying this new approach is that when I started ten years ago, social media seemed relatively harmless. It was easy to brush aside what were then emerging concerns about the impact of social media on young people, and interactions with bots and trolls online were relatively rare, especially in the KidLit world. It is much harder to ignore concerns about social media today, and so I wanted to try something for Adventure in the City of Stories that would connect me with educators around the country without requiring me to be “very online.” These days, my newsletter is my primary way of engaging with readers. I’ve found it to be a much more direct and fruitful connection!

 
8. That’s a fantastic idea! I noticed on your website that Lisa Nadel is your publicist. What made you decide to hire her, and how has this helped you market your books?
 
Lisa is my booking agent and schedules all my author visits, as well as working with me on book promotion. Her support has been a total gamechanger for me: I have more time to focus on writing and planning great talks and assemblies when I don’t have to worry about logistics, and I feel much less alone. Even when I’m traveling far from home for an event, I know I have someone in my corner making sure everything goes smoothly. Here’s an interview with Lisa for those who want to learn more!  
 
9. What are you working on now?
 
As I get ready for the publication of Adventure in the City of Stories I’m reading and writing even more about the women in the book, from Gabriela Mistral to Anne Carroll Moore to Pura Belpré, and how to include their legacies in upcoming talks, workshops, and assemblies.  
 
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Emma! You can find Emma at https://emmaotheguy.com/.
 

Giveaway Details

Emma’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of Adventure in the City of Stories for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by August 1st. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be sure I have your email address.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Emma on her social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is US.

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog. 

Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops

 

Saturday, August 1st, I’m participating in the Apple a Day Giveaway Hop
 
Wednesday, August 5th, I have an interview with Lindsey Olsson and a giveaway of her YA To Drown a Witch and my IWSG post
 
Monday, August 10th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Riley Jay Davis and a query critique giveaway
 
Sunday, August 16th, I’m participating in the Old School Giveaway Hop
 
Monday, August 17th, I have an interview with Máire Roche and a giveaway of her MG Little Monsters
 
Wednesday, August 19th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Jackie Garcia-Morales and a query critique giveaway
 
Monday, August 25th, I have a guest post by Paige Classey and a giveaway of her MG Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
 
I hope to see you on Saturday, August 1st!