#GrowYourWriting Creator Interview: Paola Santos

Welcome to the #GrowYourWriting 2025 Creator Interviews blog series. I’m thrilled to feature talented kidlit creators this year and spotlight their beautiful work and inspiring journeys. 

Kicking off the new year, I welcome Author, Paola Santos and her gorgeous book How to Eat a Mango / Cómo se come un mango illustrated by Juliana Predomo and published by Neal Porter Books / Holiday House.

You can connect with Paola on X/Twitter, Instagram, and her website.

Stay tuned to the end of the interview for your chance to win a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything” with Paola.

1 – What inspired you to pursue a career in children’s literature, and when did you start creating?

When I was around six years old, I took great care in creating a folder, found some nice paper, and wrote the only poem I remember. It was about the Three Wise Men. I don’t recall if I wrote more, but in my heart, I was a writer. I remember feeling amazed at the thought of creating something new and mine. I believe that was the seed that later on blossomed in the desire to become a writer. Also, my mom and sister always read to me as a child. That memory and the sense of love through reading inspire me to share stories with others.

After that, many things changed, life happened and I left Venezuela to move to Canada. So many experiences made me forget my dream. In 2015 a deep sense of urgency filled my heart with the longing for the written word. So, I started filling pages and pages with poetry that was waiting to be free. I found myself in libraries and bookstores, wandering through the picture book section and realizing writing for children had always been waiting for me and not the other way around.

2 – Can you share your kidlit journey thus far with our readers?  What writing/illustrating credentials, awards, contest wins, or other recognition would you like to share?

In 2015, I began my official journey as a writer. It took me several years of honing my craft and taking courses to reach where I am today. It’s no secret that many writers go through a long process of self-discovery. For me, it involved understanding myself, my goals, and the audience I wanted to write for.

My critique partners have been crucial in this journey, offering me support and confidence. One of them suggested that I apply to a mentorship program. I took the advice and applied to two! I was fortunate to be awarded the Las Musas and the We Need Diverse Books Mentorship Programs with authors Alexandra Alessandri and Meg Medina, the current National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. Their wisdom and willingness to help me were game-changers. Their honest feedback shed light on my weaknesses and, more importantly, my strengths.

Thanks to these relationships, I connected with my agent, and we have been working together since 2021. My debut picture book, “How to Eat a Mango” (Neal Porter Books / Holiday House), illustrated by the talented Juliana Perdomo, was published in July and earned four starred reviews!

However, my biggest accomplishment has been seeing wonder in the eyes of the children I have had the privilege to read the book. It is priceless when a parent hugs you speechless and mutters a “thank you.” Those are the best moments!

3 – What part of the process, from the first draft to submissions, do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome that?

The most challenging part is finding the right structure for the story and voice for my characters. It takes me a long time to have the necessary elements and motivation behind my character’s actions. I would love to own the secret to overcome challenges or speed up the writing process, but I don’t! I mostly daydream. I sit and think and try new things until something clicks and makes sense.

Also, I put the manuscript aside hoping to get a different perspective I didn’t previously consider. It usually works, but it’s a slow process.

4 – Can you tell our readers more about your journey from ideas to publication?

As I said, daydreaming is an important part of my process. I believe we all have the same starting point. I love to search through the nooks of my memory and emotions for what filled me and made me reflect when I was a child. After that, I crawl under my sheets and write in my notebook. I let the words come to me in an endless mix of Spanglish without looking at grammar or spelling rules. I let out, first, what I remember and then loose ideas that could serve as the foundation of a story. This part is very intuitive.

When I finally have a picture of the structure and the beginning/end of the story, it’s time to go to my computer. There, I shake off my ideas, remove the excess, and write them down. Ready to subject them to a long rewriting process that varies with each story. In this process, I evaluate the technical aspects, the rhythm, and the musicality (which I love to apply to my manuscripts) and the layers that can add depth. Afterward, I rely on the help of my fabulous critique partners, who help me see things that have gone unnoticed. Then comes the best part, working with my agent in a back-and-forth of ideas that bring out the best in each of my words. It’s a long process, but I love every bit of it! 

5 – What overall advice would you like to give aspiring kidlit creators to grow their writing?

Be patient. Be persistent! Build community! It seems simple, but it is easier to hide in the little corner of our room. Having a community has developed my sense of belonging and purpose. It has given me the tools to recover during the low moments of my career. You cannot change the NOs of this industry but you can change your reaction to them.

6 – What’s next for you as a creator?

It is always exciting to share upcoming projects. My sophomore picture book, A House in My Barrio (Henry Holt / Macmillan), illustrated by Olivia Sua, is scheduled for release in fall 2026. Also, I hope there will be a third announcement soon, but I cannot share much about that. Additionally, I have a story currently under submission while writing many others. The life of a writer is always busy! I hope to share more news with you all soon.

Are you participating in the #GrowYourWriting Challenge this year? Paola has some advice to share on how to earn your CULTIVATE CONNECTIONS badge.

This year, I was honored to co-present at When Words Collide 2024, along with my good author friend, Dianne Koebel-Pede. We were excited to share our insights about building community and the importance of connection. It is not a coincidence people put such an emphasis on the importance of having a support system. In this industry, the highs are beautiful, but the lows can be overwhelming and lead to burnout. There is a community for each step: critique partners when you are beginning the journey—and on; contests and courses when you are honing your craft; mentorships to help you push through; and organizations that can help you amplify your reach. 

However, the thing I love the most about community is knowing I’m not alone in my feelings, with a problem, or question. If all these things are creeping into my mind, I reach out to my community and have words of wisdom and encouragement.

Guess What? It’s giveaway time! Paola has graciously offered to giveaway a 30 Minute Zoom “Ask Me Anything.”

To enter, leave a comment on this blog post below! The entry period closes on January 13, 2025, at 12 am PST. One Winner will be announced on January 14, 2025.

1 Bonus entry is available for anyone who shares this post on X/Twitter, follows, and tags @pgsantosb and @C_Alemshah on X/Twitter.