You know how some celebrities believe they’re “self-made” but come from privileged comfortable lives? Claribel Ortega proves that she’s the actual definition of self-made— an entrepreneur, podcast host, writer, and graphic designer, all while maintaining a social media presence that is both hilarious and enlightening. Read along this interview to learn about her book Ghost Squad and the importance of community and remembering.
You’ve been outspoken about the long and winding road you’ve had in publishing, especially through your podcast Write or Die. Has doing the podcast and hearing about other writers’ experiences, or even the industry professionals’ you’ve had as guests, in publishing helped in any way? Especially as you prepare other books to be published?
It has absolutely helped and honestly sometimes I feel like Write or Die is like my own little cathartic bubble/therapy session. We get to vent, talk about how hard this industry is but also we get to talk about the triumphs which is so incredibly encouraging. Knowing that even when things seem hopeless, they can turn around and you can get that thing you’ve been working so hard for, offers me a lot of comfort. I’ve also been able to learn from some of the best authors in the game, which I’m so grateful for. There are many things thrown at you, a lot of things to learn when you’re about to be published, and hearing the experiences of those who came before me has been a blessing. You can learn as much about publishing as you can before being in it but you don’t really know what it’s like and the things you have to face until it’s you going through it, so having this platform to help others navigate and hear the real unfiltered advice of people who’ve been there, is everything.
You’re a big advocate for finding your community and supporting each other, like with Las Musas [a collective of Latinx writers] or through social media, especially since writing can be such an isolating job. Is community essential in your development as a writer?
It is yes, both for when things feel really bleak in the publishing journey, when you just need a helping hand somewhere with your writing, and when it’s time to celebrate wins. If it weren’t for people who were kind enough to give of their time to give me feedback on my writing, I wouldn’t be where I am in my journey. It’s also so much better going through everything with people who truly understand how hard this industry can be. We this sort of built in common interest that’s so intense and can be all consuming at times but anything you’ve been through, someone else has experienced, and being able to hear you’re not alone, or get help on a tricky plot point, is crucial.
How does your identity affect your writing?
My identity is part of everything I do, part of my upbringing, how I view and handle interpersonal relationships, all of it is colored by who I am. I always infuse my writing with a bit of my culture, of the stories I grew up hearing, and also of the things that I’ve discovered about myself along the way like my sexuality. Some of those things can be scarier to write about than others, but I strive to always be as honest and open as I can as a person and that hopefully translates to my books. For a long time I thought my identity meant I couldn’t be an author, but now that I have a foot in the door I’m trying to let all the other Brown kids in [and] let them know if I did it you can do it, and who you are is a beautiful part of you that will make your writing richer, not unworthy.
Lucely in Ghost Squad relies heavily on her family, the spirits and the living ones. How important is it to honor family, alive and/or dead, through writing?
I wrote Ghost Squad inspired by the loss of my older brother, who I lost to cancer. For me, writing about family has been a way to keep him and his memory alive. Even the A. initial in my pen name is for him, as his middle name began with a. He loved to write lyrics and poems and always encouraged me to write so I promised him I would live my life for the both of us, so that is what I’m doing. I think especially for Latinx cultures, where a lot of our mythology and folklore was lost and taken from us, it’s important to pass on the little we do have and to create new stories to celebrate and pass on our culture.
A publisher gives you free reins to collab with another Latinx author and the author is free and on board as well, who are you picking and what are you writing?
Elizabeth Acevedo, for sure. I admire her so much as a fellow Dominican author, her success has inspired me immeasurably. Not to mention, her writing is just so beautiful I would love to be able to work with her and learn from her.
Who do you write for?
I write for all kids, whichever ones need or want my story. I write for them.
What movie(s) would you pair your book with?
I never thought of this until a bookseller mentioned it in a review but Hocus Pocus and Halloweentown! Also we do use Coco (for the family dynamics and after life components) and Ghostbusters for the fun, adventure/ghost hunting elements so those two fit really well too!
Shoutout a Latinx writer or creator whom you admire!
I said Liz Acevedo above so I’ll say DJ Older for this one! He’s one of my biggest writing inspirations.
Anything else you can share about your upcoming projects?
Yes! I have a graphic novel called RIZOS (for now) coming from First Second/Macmillan in 2022 and I’m currently hard at work on two projects: a middle grade that asks the question, what happens when the sorting hat puts you nowhere? And a dark YA fantasy that’s Infinity Son meets Curse Workers with a Killing Eve twist!
Ghost Squad is available for pre-order now and will release on April 7th, 2020!
You can listen to the Write or Die podcast, co-hosted by Kat Cho, on Google Podcasts, the Podcast App, Stitcher, and Spotify. Subscribe to their Patreon to unlock bonus content and keep the podcast going.
Follow Claribel Ortega on Twitter and Instagram @Claribel_Ortega. To find out more about Claribel and her upcoming projects, check out her website claribelortega.com.
Claribel Ortega
Claribel Ortega went from journalism student, editing her classmates often times hilarious ads and ramblings on the back page of SUNY Purchase’s Independent Newspaper, to a small town reporter, where she enjoyed going to board of ed meetings and texting the town mayors about the line at Starbucks.
Today she’s busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic and video games into books while traveling the world for her day job in marketing. She is the host of the WRITE OR DIE podcast, owner of small graphic design business GIFGRRL and the GIFGRRL SHOP which creates apparel for writers and creatives.
She lives in New York with her motorcycle-riding poet boyfriend & her suspiciously intelligent yorkie, Pancho Villa.
Claribel’s debut middle grade novel GHOST SQUAD is coming from Scholastic April, 7th 2020.