Interview with Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban Author of Two Moon Princess

Fantasy books can be such a fun read. I have many that kept me engrossed and then others that had me wishing to be somewhere else. But when I found this unique book, Two Moon Princess had me intrigued. Instead of a girl from Earth finding her way to a new world, this story is of a young girl finding her way to Earth and unknowingly to the world of her ancestors. It is a story of adventure, secrets, discovery, and realization.

Though I enjoyed reading the book, I enjoyed corresponding with the author more. Here is the interview I had with Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban who used her own life story and history to create this young adult fantasy book.

First of all, thank you so much, Rebecca, for having me in your blog.

I’m very pleased to be here.

Two Moon Princess was such an interesting tale. Where did you come up with the idea?

Thank you, Rebecca. I am so glad you liked it.

The idea for the story of a girl from the Old World (Spain) coming to California and falling in love with an American boy is autobiographical.

In the book, I made the girl's world medieval to emphasize the contrast between the stern, chauvinistic Spain where I grew up and the more liberal XXI century California I found when I moved to the States.

The idea for the door between worlds in Two Moon Princess came from a real place: a broken arch in a beach in northern Spain I remember from when I was young.

(see Cave picture at right)

Most stories have someone from Earth falling into another world. Why did you do the opposite?

The short answer is: because I am from Spain and when I moved to California, California was for me the “other” world.

As for the long answer:

In most of the books I read while growing up, Anglo-Saxon protagonists travelled to distant places (Africa, Medieval England, imaginary lands) playing hero with an unshakable belief in the superiority of their social values and the moral certitude that theirs was the right way.

Although I identified with the characters in these stories (from Tarzan to the Pevensie siblings in The Chronicles of Narnia or the Yankee in A Connecticut Yankee in Kings Arthur's Court), and fell in love with them repeatedly for their godlike blond hair and blue eyes, I was well aware I (being Spanish) was one of those "others" the heroes "rescued" from their "misguided" ways and I didn't appreciate being condescended upon, nor considered a member of an inferior tribe and sex (for in my childhood novels the heroes were men).

I guess that’s why in TWO MOON PRINCESS, the protagonist, Andrea, is a girl from a primitive world, and that the story is an inversion of the journey of my childhood heroes:

In TWO MOON PRINCESS, Andrea grows up in a medieval society--I based on XII century Spain--and travels to present day California.

For somehow, it didn’t seem realistic to me that a boy raised by monkeys could become the king of the jungle. Or that four children from XX century London could become warriors and leaders with two months of training. Or that an ordinary American could survive and thrive in King Arthur's Court.

And so, in my story, the Spaniards are not naive barbarians, the boy from our time does not become a better swordsman than a king who has trained since childhood, and the girl from the primitive world saves the day.

Because for me, that is more likely.

Andrea is such a unique and strong young woman. Was she based on anyone you know?

I based Andrea on my boy who at the time was about eight years old. He was so independent and strong minded that it was a challenge to keep up with him, as I imagined Andrea would be for her parents. In my mind, while writing the story, I identified with Andrea’s mother.

Later, when TWO MOON PRINCESS was published, my daughter told me Andrea was just like me. I don’t think she meant it as a compliment, though.

Did you find any particular part of the book hard to write?

As you may have guessed by now, English is my second language. TWO MOON PRINCESS is the first book I ever wrote. So my English was not as good as it is today, and I found both the descriptions and the action scenes quite challenging to write.

Did you have other storylines that you abandoned as you began writing?

No.

Actually, it was the opposite. TWO MOON PRINCESS started as a short story, so, as I wrote the longer version, I weaved in other storylines to give more depth to the characters and their world. For instance, Kelsey was not in the short story, nor John, nor the background of the Houses in Xaren-Ra.

I have to admit that you threw me a curve ball with where Andrea’s heart would rest. Was that your intent all along or did her true love develop during the writing?

It was always my intent. The last scene of TWO MOON PRINCESS was already in the short story.

What was it about Rose that had all the men falling for her? Was she really that special?

She was beautiful. That seems to be reason enough for many boys. Plus she was the Princess heir.

Why did you direct John’s attention elsewhere?

I didn’t. I just created the character. And the character I created would have totally fallen for the person he did in the book (Sorry the answer is so cryptic. I don’t want to spoil the plot.)

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes and no.

I am a storyteller by nature, meaning I’m always making up stories. When I was really young I wanted to be a writer, but when I was a teen writing was not a career choice. Back then, in Spain, creative writing was not taught anywhere. So instead, I followed my other love: Biology at the University and beyond.

When I quit working as a researcher for personal reasons, I returned to my first love: making up stories. This time, I wrote them down.

You have an extensive background. Could you elaborate on your educational and writing background?

I was born in Galicia (Northern Spain) and went to college in Madrid, where I finished my Ph.D. in Biology. For the next ten years, I worked as a researcher both in Madrid and at the University of Davis in northern California.

After moving to Pennsylvania in the 1990s, I took two courses (two years each) from The Institute of Children Literature. The first was a crash course on writing. The second was on writing a novel. I wrote Two Moon Princess as my assignment for this second course.

Apart from my fiction work, I have also published nonfiction magazine articles and four books for Chelsea House (Facts on File): Heroin, Ritalin, Mad Cow Disease, and Lung Cancer.

Will there be a sequel to Two Moon Princess?

When I was writing Two Moon Princess I planned it as a standalone novel. But after I finished it, its characters remained in my mind talking to me, until, to preserve my sanity, I decided to write their story.

What I wrote became a new book, THE KING IN THE STONE.

You can read a blurb and a teaser for THE KING IN THE STONE at my blog.

http://carmenferreiroesteban.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/the-king-in-the-stone-teaser/

http://carmenferreiroesteban.wordpress.com/2011/12/12/blurb-for-the-king-in-the-stone/

I expect to publish THE KING IN THE STONE in late spring, early summer of 2012.

Do you have any other projects planned?

My agent, Ginger Knowlton from Curtis Brown Ltd., is querying my third YA Fantasy THE REVENGE OF THE WOLF KING. You can read the teaser for THE REVENGE OF THE WOLF KING here:

http://carmenferreiroesteban.wordpress.com/carmens/requiem-for-a-king/

I have also finished a paranormal story Becquer Eternal.
http://carmenferreiroesteban.wordpress.com/page/2/?s=becquer

Do you have a personal writing place where you can really let the words flow?

When working, I always write on my PC.

But I can write anywhere and on anything, from a fancy notebook to a grocery receipt. I have to write my ideas as soon as they come to my mind and they seem to pop up on the most unexpected places and usually when I do not have the proper notebook to write them down.

If Two Moon Princess became a movie, who would you see playing the main role of Andrea? Don Julian?

For Andrea India Joy Eisley (Ashley in The Secret Life of the American Teenager) would be perfect.

For Julián I would love Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia) to take the role.

I want to personally thank Carmen Ferreiro-Esteban for taking the time to correspond with a fan and to answer all my questions. I really enjoy it when an author takes the time to interact. I have become a true fan and can't wait to read her new book coming out.

If you haven't read "Two Moon Princess", check it out at the link below. You can read my review here to learn more.