Puerto Rican-born novelist, Eleanor Parker Sapia, was raised in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Europe. Eleanor’s life experiences as a counselor, alternative health practitioner, a Spanish language social worker, and a refugee case worker inspire her passion for writing. When Eleanor is not writing, she facilitates creativity groups, and is making plans to walk El Camino de Santiago a second time. A Decent Woman is her debut novel. Eleanor is the mother of two adult children, and she lives in West Virginia.

About the Book 

Ponce, Puerto Rico, at the turn of the century: Ana Belén Opaku, an Afro-Cuban born into slavery, is a proud midwife with a tempestuous past. After testifying at an infanticide trial, Ana is forced to reveal a dark secret from her past, but continues to hide an even more sinister one. Pitted against the parish priest, Padre Vicénte, and young Doctór Héctor Rivera, Ana must battle to preserve her twenty-five year career as the only midwife in La Playa.

Serafina is a respectable young widow with two small children, who marries an older wealthy merchant from a distinguished family. A crime against Serafina during her last pregnancy forever bonds her to Ana in an ill-conceived plan to avoid a scandal and preserve Serafina’s honor.

Set against the combustive backdrop of a chauvinistic society, where women are treated as possessions, A Decent Woman is the provocative story of these two women as they battle for their dignity and for love against the pain of betrayal and social change.

Find out more on Amazon.

Q: What’s inside the mind of a historical fiction author?

A: Great question. Since I began writing full-time, I find my mind never rests. I’m either thinking about the next story I want to write, the story arc in my work in progress, and research that always manages to lead to more research, which is exactly what happens to me. It doesn’t matter if I’m watching a period film, reading a new or classic novel, at the museum, or at an antique market, something will inevitably remind me of history which leads me to think of my historical novels. I live in an historic, 109-year-old house, full of antiques and vintage accessories, so I’m very comfortable in old surroundings, if you will. An old book, a vintage iron, or a period dress—they transport and inspire me.

I sometimes worry that I missed or left out a juicy, interesting historical facts or snippet of daily life that I might have used in my first book. But at some point, a writer has to leave it alone, and if I’ve left anything out, I’ll simply use it in my next book. No overwriting or information dumping; it will show and lessen the work.

Q: Tell us why readers should buy A DECENT WOMAN.

A: Readers have described A Decent Woman as an important and moving novel about a little known corner in history—the lives of Caribbean women in colonial Puerto Rico. I wrote about black and white, and rich and poor women, society women and prostitutes. It is the story of Ana Belén, an Afro-Cuban woman born into slavery, who escapes Cuba and becomes the only midwife in La Playa de Ponce, Puerto Rico. Ana lives through many hurricanes, an earthquake, the occupation of Puerto Rico by the United States, and she fights male doctors who are entering the birthing room for the first time. Life was difficult for women in the early 1900’s, and more so for a poor, black woman with no education, and no man to protect her. Colonial Puerto Rico was a male-dominated society where men pitted women against women for their financial security and protection, which aggravated women’s lives, and forced many into situations that were considered ‘indecent’ at the time.

Q: What makes a good Historical Fiction novel?

A: To me, a good historical fiction novel stays true to the historical timeline, dialogue, and customs of the era. The research must be thorough and accurate. For example, if your character is ironing, your reader must see the iron in her mind’s eye, smell the damp fabric, and see the strain on the woman’s face and arm muscles, as those coal irons were heavy and unyielding.

I love a story that immediately pulls me in, makes me care about the characters, and invites me to see their vulnerabilities, flaws, and triumphs. I don’t write historical romance, so I don’t have to have a happy ending, but it must make sense to the time. Life was raw and difficult for many in days past; a good historical novel transports me, because at the end of the day, what we care today about isn’t so very different from a person living in 1900. We flirt, date, marry, have children, and we live through challenges before we ultimately die. If I don’t feel connected to a fictional character, I tend to believe that the author didn’t either.

Q: What is a regular writing day like for you?

A: I wake up between 8 and 9 every morning, and immediately prepare a pot of coffee or tea. After I’m adequately caffeinated and watered, I journal long-hand, and sit down to work with the social media sites I’m a part of. I read the headlines of the day online, and decide which to tweet and share on my social media pages. After lunch, I might write a blog post for that week, and then my writing session begins, often running between five and six hours; longer if research is involved, which is always required for historical fiction. After dinner, I take a walk in town with my dog, and prepare for more writing. My best writing occurs from 9 pm on, and it’s not unusual for me to turn off the writing lamp at 2 and 3 am. As I’m a single lady, I usually write on weekends and always take time off for Thanksgiving and the week of Christmas (but I might write a blog post!). In the summer months, I garden and spend time at my place on the West Virginia side of the Potomac River which has no Internet. A lot of good writing sessions take place out there with very few interruptions or disruptions.

Q: What do you find most rewarding about being an author?

A: Other than the fact that I don’t need an extensive wardrobe for my full time writing, I’d say sharing Latin American and Caribbean characters with my readers. I write what I’d love to read, and I’m blessed to write full time and live a creative life, which took many sacrifices to achieve. I am passionate about writing, and find it very rewarding to write stories about little known historical facts/events that took place in the Caribbean, and how the lives of Caribbean and Latin American women were affected by these events.

Seeing my books in print is thrilling and very rewarding, and I especially love interacting with my readers.