If you want to read Adult Romance, perhaps you’ve had to deal with the stigma of Romance not being '“intellectual” or being “too white.” In Zaida Polanco’s world, Romance can be critical and a reflection for the multiple identities that aren’t being sufficiently represented through the medium.
A screenwriter by day, and a romance author who procrastinates too much by night, Polanco’s work spread through the Romancelandia thanks to Swing Batter Swing. Her work centers Latinx protagonists, particularly Afro-Latinx, in an effort to expand the hegemonic knowledge of what a Latinx can be. As a self-published author, she also brings her own experiences in Romance writing and insight into the versatility of the genre.
What are some common misconceptions people have with self-publishing?
I think a common misconception regarding self-published books is that they are lower quality than traditionally published works. When in reality, the quality varies no matter how something was published. A self-published book is not inherently less professional. So many self-published authors nowadays work with professionals like editors, cover artists, agents, and publicists.
There are still people out there who scoff at the premise of romance as a “respectable” genre. Do you believe Romance can be subversive?
I absolutely think romance can be subversive. I honestly believe that the reason people scoff at it is because it was initially a genre built on centering women's pleasure and society likes to diminish women's interests as being 'less than' men's interests. I love how so much of romance focuses on concepts like mutual respect and pleasure for all partners while highlighting enthusiastic consent, which is sadly something that a lot of our media still ignores.
Why was it important for you to have an Afro-Latina as a main character in your book, Swing Batter Swing?
It was important to me because I wanted to make us visible, even if just in my tiny corner of Romancelandia [community of Romance readers]. I think the genre is definitely moving toward trying to be more inclusive, but as I and many other Afro-Latinas will tell you, it's often an either/or thing: you can have either a Black heroine OR a Latinx heroine.
And it's not just a publishing issue— it's still hard for some people to wrap their minds around the existence of Afro-Latinx people in general, which is wild [to me]. If I'm walking down the street, someone who just sees me and doesn't know my name or anything about me would think "oh, there's a Black girl." But then if I say my name and where my parents are from, suddenly I'm no longer Black (to some people).
It's interesting and sad, and honestly I'm just trying to challenge these preconceived ideas of Latinidad whenever I can. We are not a monolith. That goes for Latinx folks, but also for Black people as well.
You have free reins to collab with another Latinx creative and they’re free and on board as well, who are you picking and what are you making?
Oh my gosh, I have so many to list (I'm still plotting to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda), but for the sake of brevity I'll pick just one: Elizabeth Acevedo. I would love to work on an Afro-Dominican coming of age screenplay or TV series with her!
How does your identity affect your writing?
It would be hard to separate my identity from my writing, to be honest. Writing is how I try to make sense of the world.
Who do you write for?
Hmm, in my primary career as a screenwriter, I would say I write for awkward first-generation girls (both teen and adult) who never see themselves on screen.
In romance writing? I, perhaps selfishly, write for myself. Oh wait, 'awkward first-generation girls who never see themselves on screen' also describes me, so I guess what I'm saying is I'm a narcissist.
What movie(s) would you pair your book with?
This is such a hard question and I honestly can't answer it!
Shoutout a Latinx writer or creator whom you admire!
I admire the hell out of M.M. Collins who is not published yet but is currently working on a bruja series while also parenting her adorable children and generally being an all-around badass. I'm in awe of her and how she's able to juggle all of her roles. And, I've read an early draft of her book and it's AMAZING so... be on the lookout for her!
Anything else you can share about your upcoming projects?
Not really, because I have ADHD and am constantly starting new things and then putting them down when something else excites me more. I will say I've been writing a lot, so I've got a few romance novellas I hope to release at some point in the near future.
Swing Batter Swing is available on Kindle (it’s free on Kindle Unlimited)! Follow Zaida on Twitter @ZPolancoWrites!
Zaida Polanco
Zaida Polanco is an Afro-Dominican Slytherin and professional procrastinator who enjoys useless trivia, 90s hip-hop, useless trivia ABOUT 90s hip-hop, and spending more time than is probably healthy staring at her dog. But come on, he's adorable. Find her on Twitter @zpolancowrites or email her at zaidapolancowrites@gmail.com so you can distract her from the thing she claims to be doing (see above re: professional procrastinator).