MM: There will be a sequel! Nocturna is the first in a trilogy. JP: Will there be a sequel? If so, can you tell us anything about it? I think that that relentless self-doubt is such a big part of growing up and not only learning about who you truly are, but also learning to embrace that.
I always connect most to characters who are always in their heads and question themselves left and right. He spends so much time and energy questioning his value and self-worth and worrying about both who he is and who he will become. That being said, I think Alfie resonates with me the most. It’s impossible to keep yourself out of your characters. MM: I think every character in every book, from hero to villain, has a bit of the author in them. JP: Which character resonated with you the most and why? There are nuances and circumstances that lead otherwise good people down dark paths, but there is always time to make things right. It was important to me that I give her a moment of redemption to show that people who do wrong aren’t pure evil. She represents those of us who are so desperate for love and support that we are manipulated into doing terrible things. To me, she represents the most vulnerable of us all. JP: Did you intend for Xiomara to have a redemptive moment towards the end? So, they pay the price of that extra bit of vulnerability to have that power. The shadows also serve as a sort of check on their power, because only the characters who have a very special kind of magic called propio have moving shadows. I wanted to give my characters a physical manifestation of that kind of duality and emotional vulnerability. When I saw Peter’s shadow, it made me think about the duality of a person - the image of yourself that you project to the world versus what’s really going on inside. It was such an amazing image that has stuck with me for life. I would re-watch the scene where Wendy sews Peter’s shadow to his feet over and over again. MM: From a young age I was OBSESSED with Peter Pan. JP: What inspired you to characterize/personify the characters’ shadows? I wanted to show readers that they should never be ashamed of their heritage because their culture is powerful. So, when I wrote Nocturna I decided to bring my culture to the forefront of the story. Speaking Spanish was seen as un-American and strange, which made me want to hide my heritage. Likewise, during the day in my real life, it had been made clear to me that my culture wasn’t always welcome. Maya Motayne: Growing up, I spent my nights reading fantasy novels with a flashlight under the covers, and though I devoured book after book, I never saw myself or my culture in the stories I loved so much. Jen Pino: Why did you decide to use Spanish terminology as the spell work for magic? Maya Motayne (Photo credit: Tochi Mgbenwelu)
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