COLOR ME IN, by Natasha Diaz, Delacorte Press, August 2019

#YADebut2019 #MagicMirror

For reasons both personal and universal, this one has a special place in my heart. I CANNOT WAIT. Just from the description I know that this story, featuring a mixed-race Jewish voice is going to be impactful, profound and important. COLOR ME IN is coming out from Delacorte Books in August.

From the publisher: “Debut YA author Natasha Díaz pulls from her personal experience to inform this powerful coming-of-age novel about the meaning of friendship, the joyful beginnings of romance, and the racism and religious intolerance that can both strain a family to the breaking point and strengthen its bonds.”

Welcome, Natasha! Was this your first manuscript?

Tricky question! Yes and no. I started a bunch of books but midway through, I would succumb to imposter syndrome or self-doubt that I couldn’t write a book OR I convinced myself that any book I did write wouldn’t be good enough for anyone to want to read. They are all hidden where I stashed them, in drawers and dropbox, and I might try to revisit them, but Color Me In was the first book that I hunkered down and finished.

I totally get it. Also, I think many of us have been there 🙂 How long did the writing process take you?

ANOTHER TRICKY QUESTION! Honestly, I have been dreaming about and writing this book in my head my entire life. But in terms of actually writing it on paper, the whole process took about two years.

What was the most fun moment or your favorite part of writing this story?

Because COLOR ME IN is inspired by my own experiences, it was really fun to write characters that are loosely based off of real people in my life, friends and family. No one is a carbon copy, since the story itself is mostly fictionalized, but there are a handful of characters who had me smiling as I wrote them because I could hear their real voices clear as day in my head.

Your protagonist is a Jewish Person of Color. Are you one too? What would you say is the hardest thing about straddling these two identities? How about the most awesome?

Yes! My MC, Nevaeh Levitz is a biracial (half Black, half white) Jewish young woman. I am a multiracial (Liberian, Brazilian, and half white/Ashkenazi Jewish woman, so we do share similar mixed race identity.) The other aspect of our identities that we share is we are both white-passing, which adds a layer of nuance and confusion on top of the already complicated existence of being multiracial. It’s sort of hard to qualify what’s the “hardest aspect” of my identity, as well as, “the most awesome.” But what I will say is, there is a constant insecurity that I don’t belong or have a right to claim my whole identity because I don’t visually represent half of myself since I present as white. I am also not religious, and it took me a long time to understand and believe that I could claim my Jewish heritage without participating actively in the religion any more (I did as a child). The message of the book (I hope) is that I want people who are white passing and also mixed race to acknowledge their privileges instead of fighting against them, and to know that they don’t take away from their ability to own who they are entirely. I do feel blessed every day to have been born into such a diverse, multicultural family. I am extremely proud of who and where I come from and I pull strength and inspiration from all my various communities and cultures.

Which part of your book are you most proud of or excited about: can you hint at it and tease us?

OOO, well, while the book is written in traditional prose, I incorporated a lot of original poetry, which I like to refer to as the heartbeat of the story. I can’t give you too much of a tease, but I will say, a small portion of it is featured on the cover.

Poetry incorporated into the prose. Like I needed another reason to want to read this book!!!

Thank you, Natasha, for writing this important story, and for teasing us with it here on the Magic Mirror!

Natasha is unable to contribute an ARC to our giveaway, so be on the lookout in August! Here is a link for pre-orders and Goodreads.

You guys, the contest is almost OVER! Tomorrow is the final day — aaand the grand reveal of my Big Secret. Are you ready?

Love,

Katia

Remember, to enter — or to re-enter — the contest today or tomorrow:

1. One entry: Comment on this blog, and I will enter your name once for every comment during the week of the contest.
2. Two entries: Share the link to this contest on Facebook or Twitter #YADebut2019 #MagicMirror (You can also either tag me or email me with proof at katiawrites@gmail.com.)
3. Three entries: Subscribe to this blog ( if you haven’t yet.) Or re-subscribe, if it’s been a while!
4. Four entries: Contribute a short guest blog post about a 2019 YA debut you are excited about, to be featured here!
5. Five entries: Promote this contest #YADebut2019 #MagicMirror and join in on your own blog! (If you have one).