"I get a few e-mails a week from people asking me what they ought to read. . . .Here's a start. Read Candela."
~Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, New York Times bestselling author of The Dirty Girls Social Club
 
More Than This by
Margo Candela
Margo Candela gives us the scoop on her latest book More Than This, her next book and her favorite restaurant (and I have to agree, it does have the best flautas in East L.A.)
Questions for Margo
1.What was the inspiration behind More Than This?
The inspiration came from an experience I had in college where a really cute guy was obviously interested in me but we were both too shy to even say 'hi' to each other. In writing and talking about More Than This, I've found that many people can identify with having an instant connection with someone but it may have not gone past a look. Even if it was years ago, they still wonder what might have happened. The story of Alexander and Evelyn in More Than This is my attempt to explore two sides of a 'what if' experience. As in, what if two people fall in love but never met and what if two people are destined to be together but decide to ignore fate and act on facts instead.
2. If you were casting the movie version of More Than This, who would be your picks for the main characters?
I'd by a big fat liar if I said I haven't given this a lot of thought. I'd love to see an actress like Liv Tyler or Anne Hathaway play Evelyn. For Alexander role, Jay Hernandez or Adam Rodriguez would do just fine by me.
3. Tell us about Mr. Eberts, how has he influenced you?
Mr. Michael Eberts was my Mass Communication 101 teacher and the person who opened up the world of writing for me. There comes a time in every young (and maybe not so young) person's life when they need a little nudge and Mr. Eberts was the person who gave me mine. I will be forever grateful that he let me into his class and suggested I continue on to the school paper. As corny as it sounds, he did change my life.
4. Your next book is scheduled for 2009, can we get a glimpse of the plot?
I'm going back to a single point of view/one main character story like my first two books. This one is a little different because it's set in Los Angeles and it deals with a whole other set of quirks I get to explore both in the city and character. Raquel is dedicated to her job, her family and not having much of a life outside of that. When she finds herself shown
the door at work, she tries to keep the news from her family and goes back to temping on the sly. Since I've been working at home for a few years now, I've developed a real fetish about office work and going along with Raquel as she slogs through some pretty wacky assignments gives me license to explore 'real' work without having to do it myself.
5. What is your favorite children's book?
Hand's down, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. I read it as a kid, as an adult and now I'm watching my kid read it to himself. It's smart and subversive, witty and entertaining, you couldn't ask for more in a children's or grown-up's book.
6. Where's the best place to eat Mexican food in East Los Angeles?
My family will kill me if I don't say Ciro's (705 N Evergreen Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90033). Going there is a family event for us, we all get excited even if it means packing too many bodies into one car to get there. Next to my mom's flautas, their rolled taquitos are the best.
For more information about Margo's books and her blog, visit: www.margocandela.com
Purchase your copy of More Than This www.lacasaazulbookstore.com |
