Ask the Author: Natasha Diaz
Answered Questions (18)
Natasha Diaz
Hello! Thank you so much for your question. I think I just try to take everything one day at a time. I have dealt with a lot of imposter syndrome in both my writing and my identity but I have to remind myself that I have a right to who I am and my story. In terms of conquering difficulties, I think everything is just a work in progress and I try my best to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on issues or negativities!
Natasha Diaz
Thanks so much! We haven't met, but for the record, I don't think there are many dumb questions out there :)
Natasha Diaz
What a thoughtful and wonderful question, thank you! First, I just want to take a moment to say that I too love this cover! The image of the main character, Nevaeh, cut out and filled with words (a poem from the book) is significant to the journey she takes in finding herself and also the way that her writing helps to inform who she is. On the cover she is surrounded by two women (who in my mind represent her two cousins) and I love how they are both so full of life. In the book, Nevaeh is desperate to feel connected to her cousins and find commonalities between them, so the contrast between them and Nevaeh on the cover is very representative of how Nevaeh feels in the beginning of the book: lost and invisible.
Natasha Diaz
True story: my first word was 'Book'. I have always wanted to write novels, but poetry and screenwriting/playwriting came more naturally to me. Or perhaps, I was too afraid to try to write a book, so instead, I started to write poetry and scripts. Either way, I got so into the other styles of writing, that I think I just convinced myself I would never be able to write a book, but when this idea came up, my managers and my husband convinced me to at least give it a shot :)
Natasha Diaz
Favorite time is definitely night, but I am trying to train myself to be more productive during the day so I can have some semblance of a normal life.
Natasha Diaz
HOW LONG EVERYTHING TAKES! But I will say the waiting makes every milestone that much sweeter :)
Natasha Diaz
Great question, thank you, Lisa!
I am a total pantser in terms of my writing, so I sort of imagine what is happening in the book in my head (like a movie) and then translate that into words as I go.
I would LOVE to be the screenwriter to convert Color Me In from the page to the screen, but I have heard it is REALLY hard for authors to remove themselves from their manuscript and that is usually to the detriment of the film, so I would be open to co-writing it with a screenwriter that can act as a neutral party and keep the script on track!
I am a total pantser in terms of my writing, so I sort of imagine what is happening in the book in my head (like a movie) and then translate that into words as I go.
I would LOVE to be the screenwriter to convert Color Me In from the page to the screen, but I have heard it is REALLY hard for authors to remove themselves from their manuscript and that is usually to the detriment of the film, so I would be open to co-writing it with a screenwriter that can act as a neutral party and keep the script on track!
Natasha Diaz
I sold Color Me In on spec (with a five page summary and the first 6 chapters) so my schedule has been a little different than most debut authors who have a finished product. I spent about six months writing the first draft AKA pacing around my apartment until inspiration struck and then writing until I felt like I was going to pass out, rinse and repeat. I submitted draft 1 to my editor in November and then got my edit note a month later and have been revising since then (same pacing/stressing system) and I am hoping to have this revision in by the end of the month!
Natasha Diaz
Thanks so much for the question! Color Me In is loosely based off my own life and experiences, though mostly as inspiration since the book does not really ring true to my actual real life story (mine is far more boring).
Natasha Diaz
Bah, a million, but I am basic, so I have to go with Harry Potter(s). I would wait in line to buy them when they came out and stay up all night to finish them. In terms of a more recent book that I wish had been published, I would say Mexican White Boy by Matt De La Pena and THUG by Angie Thomas.
Natasha Diaz
Thanks so much, Claire!
Multiracial identity is something I think about and engage with on a daily basis, so in that way, writing about the internal conflicts associated wasn't too difficult. However, it took me a while to feel the comfortable taking inspiration from my own experiences and then the freedom to twist and adjust them as needed to better serve the story and book, I had to keep reminding myself that this is not a memoir.
Multiracial identity is something I think about and engage with on a daily basis, so in that way, writing about the internal conflicts associated wasn't too difficult. However, it took me a while to feel the comfortable taking inspiration from my own experiences and then the freedom to twist and adjust them as needed to better serve the story and book, I had to keep reminding myself that this is not a memoir.
Natasha Diaz
Hmmm that's a tricky one. There is a scene at the West Indian Day Parade, which was my favorite to write because it is inspired by such a vibrant, exciting experience that it was a fun challenge for myself to try to capture it/ do it justice with words.
Natasha Diaz
Great question! Yes, the premise of the book is based on my own experience and a lot of the characters are inspired by (not based on) family members, but beyond that, I wanted to create a new path for this story in a fictional world. Doing so gave me the creative freedom to tell the best possible story as opposed to sticking to the truth, which at times, is far less interesting than what (I hope!) I have created.
Natasha Diaz
Currently developing a new book (series!) idea, but not diving into it too deeply until Color Me In is in better shape!
Natasha Diaz
The main character was raised in White Plains but moves in with her mom's family in Harlem when her parents separate at the beginning of the book. I grew up in New York City and specifically in Harlem for the majority of my life, although I did spend some time when I was really young living in other parts of manhattan as well. I chose White Plains because I spent a lot of time there at one of my best friend's home and I always wondered what it would have been like to actually live in the suburbs since I am such a city kid. As the main character wrestles with her biracial identity, I thought it would be fun to have her literally traveling between her two worlds as she figures out who she is and how she fits within the contrasting communities and cultures.
Natasha Diaz
REVISING! Drafting gives me agita and heart palpitations.
Natasha Diaz
I am multiracial and have always struggled with my identity not fitting my appearance (I am inadvertently white passing and look a little "ambiguous"). I knew I wanted to write a story inspired by my unique experience, but hadn't figured out what the driving force of the story would be. One day, I was in LA for meetings and I met with a producer who asked if I had any movie ideas. I must have done something with my face to imply that I did and she asked what it was and then all of a sudden I remembered my bat mitzvah. I hadn't thought about it in years, but basically it was the most diverse, unconventional bat mitzvah on earth and I realized that it was the perfect inspiration to draw from to tell a version of my story!!
Natasha Diaz
J.K. Rowling, Shel Silverstein, and Zadie Smith!
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