DEBUT SPOTLIGHT: Malia Márquez
Today, I’m delighted to feature debut author Malia Márquez and her recently-released novel, THIS FIERCE BLOOD, a multicultural saga spanning the lives of three generations of women. Combining elements of magical realism with lush historical and cultural details, Márquez skillfully weaves the threads of this epic story to blur the lines between science, reality, and myth. This book is one of my most anticipated new releases for 2021, as it combines three of my favorite themes: Family legacy, history, and fabulist/speculative elements. And have a look at that gorgeous cover!
THE FULL SYNOPSIS:
In rural late-nineteenth-century New England, Wilhelmina Sylte is a settler starting a family with her Norwegian immigrant husband. When she forms an inexplicable connection with a mountain lion and her cubs living near their farm, Mina grapples with divided loyalties and the mysterious bond she shares with the animals.
In 1927 in southern Colorado, Josepa is accused of witchcraft by a local priest for using the healing practices passed down from her Native mother. Fighting for her family’s reputation and way of life, Sepa finds strength in worldly and otherworldly sources.
When Magdalena, an ecologist, inherits her great-grandmother Wilhelmina’s Vermont property, she and her astrophysicist husband decide to turn the old farm into a summer science camp for teens. As Magda struggles with both personal and professional responsibilities, the boundary between science and myth begins to blur.
Rich in historical and cultural detail, This Fierce Blood combines magical realism with themes of maternal ancestral inheritance, and also explores the ways Hispano/Indigenous traditions both conflicted and wove together, shaping the distinctive character of the American Southwest. Readers of Téa Obreht and Ruth Ozeki will find much to admire in this debut novel.
“This Fierce Blood is a gorgeous and ecologically tender generational odyssey. The rebellious, loving, and brilliant Sylte women at the heart of this magical debut novel offer us a vision of what is possible when we consider both the power of our familial bonds and a natural world beyond the human. Malia Márquez has given us a spellbinding novel that remembers and fiercely reclaims our shared histories.”
―Michael Zapata, author of 'The Lost Book of Adana Moreau'
Check out this beautiful book trailer for THIS FIERCE BLOOD
And now for our interview…
Paulette: Hi, Malia! Can you tell us about THIS FIERCE BLOOD and what inspired you to write it?
Malia: This Fierce Blood is a matrilineal family saga following challenges in the lives of three women of a mixed race family from different generations. It was originally inspired by women in my own family — specifically my paternal great-great grandmother who was a respected Hispano/Indigenous curandera-partera and rancher living in southern Colorado in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and my maternal grandmother, a social worker from Rhode Island who was of Irish heritage and lived a life deeply intertwined with the natural world.
Though the book draws inspiration from some aspects of their lives, it’s more for them than about them. Beyond that, it’s for my whole family; all of the ancestors going back through the ages, the current generations all working in our own ways to understand who we are and who we want to be, and future descendants who will inherit the strengths and follies of previous generations. I think Womxn’s lives throughout history have been infinitely more rich and varied than represented, and this book is my small gesture toward adding something to the *fictional* historical archives.
Paulette: I agree. I think there are a lot more layers to feminist history than are often portrayed in media and one of the most compelling reasons for writing historical fiction for me is the opportunity to explore these varied aspects of women’s history in the world. This Fierce Blood has such a fascinating premise, but I know from experience that weaving so many timelines and points-of-view can be tricky when you’re crafting a story that spans several time periods. Can you tell us a little about your writing process?
Malia: I research a ton and in many different directions, following every thread of interest, reading a lot of nonfiction. I often get pulled down internet rabbit holes at this stage, which is fun but also exhausting because I feel I have to work hard sometimes to maintain a balanced perspective. Yikes, the internet... amiright? When I'm done with initial research I put everything aside and try to “forget” it all, if that makes sense. I like to work from what I’ve absorbed, not from the research materials.
After researching, when I’ve started composing in my head (this is also called insomnia), I’ll write a few pages of something to get a sense of the tone, then do some detailed plotting. But the original plan is always revised or thrown out at some point. Characters and stories have their own agendas that cannot be wrangled at the outset.
Paulette: I have definitely had that happen as well! Characters often come to us with such strong voices that it’s fun to go along for the ride to see where their story takes you. What are your favorite and least favorite aspects of writing?
Malia: I’ll start with what’s hard, really hard, and that is what happens after a project is finished and before I begin a new one. It absolutely kills me. It’s like, I’m grieving the old thing and wondering if it's really done (code for wondering if it’s “good enough”), and at the same time, I’m waiting and looking for inspiration. I tend to get impatient and grumpy when my mind doesn’t have something to chew on. I tend to bake a lot of pies and cakes during this time.
One of my favorite parts of the writing process is research. I love love love reading and learning and making connections. Coming to know and understand my characters is up there on the list as well. Most of all, I love getting lost in writing… when it’s just flowing and it seems like I could sit there and write forever. Nothing compares to that feeling.
Paulette: It’s truly the best feeling! And “yes” to stress baking! Sometimes a batch of cookies or a cake can make everything seem less daunting when you’re in the midst of discovering a new story and hashing out the details. How have you celebrated reaching those hard-won writing milestones?
Malia: Hmmm. For me, celebrating is very much about gratitude and honoring the give and take, ebb and flow of the universe, you know? As a mom, fiction writer, and freelance writer, life often feels very busy. I do a lot of my writing in the evenings and on weekends. When there is a pause in work I take a break. I rest. Have a glass of wine. Hang with friends. Cook for my family. I go for long runs and walks in nature. This is how I celebrate, process, and integrate… pretty much everything. Writing milestones are no different.
Paulette: Yes—that grounding. I can very easily drown in my work—taking on too many projects, saying yes to too much—and forget to be present. Taking walks, working in the garden, or going to the coast to bury my feet in the sand and listen to the ocean helps clear my head so much. Gratitude is an active verb, and you’re right—it’s a celebration in itself that we can engage in anytime, anywhere.
What have been some of the more challenging aspects of your debut year?
Malia: I tend to get quite stressed about promoting my own work on social media (TBH, I get stressed about using social media at all, period:). However, I believe in my book and all the time and effort that I and others, especially my editor at Acre Books, Nicola Mason, have poured into it… so I’ve done my best to push past the anxiety to show up for the work as authentically and clearly and enthusiastically as I’m able. Also, I’ve navigated my debut year without a literary agent, which has been both challenging and an incredible learning experience. The process has forced me to slow down, consider everything carefully, and prioritize clear communication above all.
As I published with a small press, I feel I can only speak to that– informed, of course, by what I’ve gathered from friends and colleagues with different experiences. I think that publishing with a small press comes with both challenges and benefits. One of the greatest benefits is feeling like my input was sought out and appreciated along the way. I think authors are able to retain a unique sense of agency beyond the original manuscript when there are only a few hands on deck, which may tend to be diluted when working with larger teams. However, this role also feels like a huge responsibility. I’d say the greatest challenges regarding publishing with a small-but-mighty press are around resources, scope, and reach.
Paulette: Having that smaller, focused team who asks for input and feedback every step of the way is one of the benefits of a smaller publisher, for sure. My publisher is unique in that they have their own model for author success, and it really resonated with my lifestyle and career goals. As a busy mother, having a digital publisher with a strong marketing platform that could put my work out in front of more readers more quickly was the perfect fit for me, but that might not be as important to someone else, whose goals might include book tours and in-person signings and events.
I think there are many important elements to consider when you’re seeking publication—whether independently or through an agent. There are positives and negatives, as you said, but balance is huge and it’s so important to protect your health—both physical and mental—during your debut year, I think.
Do you have any advice for fellow debut authors on how to strike the right balance?
Malia: I’ve been working on allowing waves of emotion to pass before acting/reacting. Also, taking the time to feel gratitude for anyone and everyone who offers help and support and making sure I express it. I think both of these things help with maintaining a sense of equilibrium and perspective during what is sure to be a wild ride!
Paulette: Yes—perspective is something that helps keep the anxiety and stress at bay! At the end of the day, we’re really lucky to be here, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me on my path, in big ways and small. Thanks so much for joining me, Malia, and congratulations on the launch of THIS FIERCE BLOOD
This Fierce Blood is available on Bookshop, The University of Chicago Press, and Amazon. You can also request it from your favorite independent bookseller.
Malia Márquez was born in New Mexico, grew up in New England, and currently lives with her family in Los Angeles. Her fiction has appeared in literary journals such as Hobart and Coffin Bell Journal and has been anthologized and shortlisted in literary contests. She has a BFA in visual arts from Massachusetts College of Art & Design and an MFA from Antioch University Los Angeles. Her first novel, THIS FIERCE BLOOD is out now from Acre Books. You can connect with Malia through her website and Twitter