Margo Candela's Blog

From Writer to Author to Writer

I committed to The Neapolitan Sisters manuscript as a writer on March 31, 2021. Exactly a year later, I had my first meeting with my public relations and marketing consultant to figure out how to best connect with readers.

Promoting a novel is a full-time job leaving little time for the blocks of uninterrupted hours a writer needs to put words on a page. Switching between being an author who can (and will) chat your ear off about the novel she wrote, to a writer who could happily spend all day shut away in her office while mumbling to herself, isn't easy.

As an author, I’ve connected with hundreds of readers at community colleges, libraries, bookstores, book clubs, and received silver place from the 2023 International Latino Book Awards for The Neapolitan Sisters for the Best Popular Fiction - English category. I’ve also started and stopped three separate manuscripts. As much as I’ve enjoyed my time as the author of The Neapolitan Sisters , it’s time for me to focus on writing.

Thanks to some thoughtful conversations and great advice, I’m developing three ideas I can bring my sense of humor to, and also tell with honesty and compassion. Which one will make it from idea to draft depends on a number of factors, with the most pragmatic being which of the three is the most viable. I will share more in my next newsletter , including word count goals and why a good book title is just as important as a great book cover.

I'll also be sharing my writing progress with updates on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter [X] accounts throughout the month and will share a more in-depth account in my next newsletter.

If you’ve read The Neapolitan Sisters (or any of my other four novels), please consider leaving a review. Taking the time to write and post a review is a great way to show your support, and help improve the visibility of books you like (and, yes, don’t like). I truly appreciate each and every one.

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Writing and Waiting

Writing and Waiting
A couple weeks back, I sent my editor a draft of a very sexy, thriller/suspense novel I’ve been working on since forever. The idea came to me when I used to work at a dot.com in San Francisco and would walk from the Montgomery Street BART station to Bay Street (a little over a mile between the two, no hills so no sweat). At that time, phones weren’t in front of faces and while I did listen to music (via a portable SONY CD player—yeah, I’m that old), I used that half hour or so to think about whatever I wanted. What I wanted to think about was a fun, smart and sexy story where the main characters were complex, the banter was witty, and there was intrigue and action to keep the plot and story moving from one European location to another.

This is a long shot novel, as it’s way out of my usual genre and written in third person, and two of the three main characters are male with one being one hell of a man. I refreshed and revised it during my first pandemic summer, so there's a lot of pent up energy in those pages. (Honestly, the hot scenes are SO racy, they made me blush. Plural times, because why only have one!?)

I'm not a betting woman, but I'd put my money on my current publisher passing on it. This doesn’t mean it won’t find a home and I’ll keep you updated on what happens. I won’t be keeping my fingers crossed, though. I need all of them to keep working on the next novel.

Officially known as Book Six until it’s announced as a done deal, Book Six has finally cracked the first chapter phase. Yes, one measly chapter, but it was a relief to make this small amount of progress.

I’m writing thanks to the cracking playlist I created to not only put me in the mood to write, but also compliments the story. I better like those songs, since I’m devoting the rest of this summer to Book Six. Well, the first three chapters and a proposal for the entire novel.

Why not just commit to finishing the first draft? Thank you for asking! I have a great problem in that The Neapolitan Sisters is keeping me busy. This makes it hard for me to keep Dooley, Claudia and Maritza off my mind long enough to spend hours on end with Nicoletta Valencia, the main character of Book Six. I’m going to have to be okay with not having a complete draft to pitch to a potential agent who I’m reaching out to next week. For this, I will cross my fingers.


Want to read more? Subscribe to my newsletter . And if you’ve read The Neapolitan Sisters (or any of my other four novels), please consider leaving a review. Thank you!

Guess Who Joined The Club?

The special news I’ve been keeping to myself these past few months has to do with one of my favorite’s—a book club! The video announcing The Neapolitan Sisters as part of this summer’s Poder Circle Book Club, means over 265,000 plus followers of the Poderistas digital community (which was co-founded by Eva Longoria, America Ferrera, among many other notable Latinas) are now going to get to meet Dooley, Claudia and Maritza.

The Neapolitan Sisters joins Robyn Moreno’s memoir, Get Rooted: Reclaim Your Soul, Serenity, and Sisterhood Through the Healing Medicine of the Grandmothers, and Adriana Herrera’s hot historical romance, An Island Princess Starts a Scandal. I'm flattered The Neapolitan Sisters was included in this book trio and we were referred to as “incredibly talented and diverse Latinas" by the Poderistas Poder Circle Book Club.

If you'd like to join the Poder Circle Book Club, it’s easy to sign up and here’s what you can look forward to:
-Save 10% off the cover price of The Neapolitan Sisters when you order from Bookshop.org and use code PODERISTAS
-Bi-monthly book club emails and exclusive book club content
-An invitation to private events, including a virtual discussion with me and the Poder Circle Book Club later this summer (date TBA)
-A special in-person event with me and my publishing editor from Alcove Press/Crooked Lane Books, Toni Kirkpatrick, on Saturday, July 29th at 2pm at Village Well Books in Culver City, CA
-A discussion guide for The Neapolitan Sisters
-Plus, surprise appearances, giveaways and more!

How does something like this happen? Lots and lots of little steps, starting with my being smart enough to realize I wasn’t going to be able to make big things happen for The Neapolitan Sisters on my own. Writing a book is one thing, having it published is a bigger thing, but getting the word out especially after a decade between novels is a monumental task.

I’m so glad and grateful that Nicolle Blanco, my publicist and engine that pulls my whiny caboose, has proven to be not only a great person and friend, but aces at marketing and publicity. She also laughs at my jokes and lets me be as raunchy as I need to be to get it out of my system, so it doesn’t wind up anywhere that will come back to bite me in the butt.

Together we’ve achieved some important goals for The Neapolitan Sisters , despite me dragging my feet when it comes to the more challenging parts of being an author. A recent example of me being a pain is when I was asked to record a video introducing myself and The Neapolitan Sisters to the Poder Circle Book Club. This time last year, I was adamant I’d never do anything like that. It took a lot of takes, but I did it. Look out for that video later this summer!

So here we are and while it’s a great place to be, I can’t wait to see where we go next.

Mellow Chaos

Lately, I’ve been more than a little distracted, and not just by all the great things going on with The Neapolitan Sisters. While I’ve worked hard to eliminate a lot of unwelcome and unnecessary stress in my life, it was replaced by stressing out from the lack of, yeah, stress. Besides working out (I’ve also added low key, centering yoga, and a couple of sweat-my-balls-off indoor cycling classes), I’ve been turning to music to not only get my head straight, but also get me out of my head.

My latest 14 song playlist, Podge of Hodge, is 64 minutes of an all over the place, punchy yet tranquil vibe that’s cooler than I’ll ever be:

“Kids,” MGMT
“I Will Poses Your Heart,” Death Cab for Cutie
“Dangerous,” Big Data, Joywave
“Electric Feel,” MGMT
“Your Woman,” White Town
“Pumped Up Kicks,” Foster The People
“Journal of Ardency,” Class Actress
“A Real Hero,” Electric Youth, College
“Time to Pretend,” MGMT
“Praise You,” Fatboy Slim
“Daft Punk Is Playing at My House,” LCD Soundsystem
“Young Folks,” Peter Bjorn and John
“I Turn My Camera On,” Spoon
“Weapon of Choice,” Fatboy Slim

You can listen to Podge of Hodge on Spotify.

Here's a true story I can't help remembering when the sixth song on that playlist comes on, which has nothing to do with the song or the band...

More than a few years ago, I was at a Christmas party and not entirely thrilled to be there. My son, who was about 15 or 16 at the time, felt the same way. As we both enjoy each other’s company, we were within arm’s reach of each other for most of the night. When he stepped away to get something to eat, a random guy approached me. He was wearing a deliberately designed to be ugly Christmas sweater which I instantly realized was not only from Target, but from the Women’s section. He was also more than slightly tipsy and feeling himself enough to try to chat me up.

So, of course, I decided to have some fun at his expense. I started with the sweater and went from there. My son, catching on to what was going on, came to stand by me. I said to the rando guy, “This is my son, Foster.” He said, “You named your son Foster?” and I replied, “Oh, no, what I meant to say is that this is my foster son.”

The very befuddled and slightly horrified look on his face was perfection. My son, who had played an unwitting accomplice in my verbal shenanigans, clapped one hand over his mouth and grabbed my arm with the other. I pretended to see Bitsy arriving (there was no Bitsy, as it wasn’t that kind of party) and excused myself and my son. We found ourselves a relatively private corner to laugh our asses off and that’s where we stayed for the duration of the party.


Want to read more? Subscribe to my newsletter . And if you’ve read The Neapolitan Sisters (or any of my other four novels), please consider leaving a review. Taking the time to write and post a review is a great way to show your support, and help improve the visibility of books you like (and, yes, don’t like). I truly appreciate each and every one.

Q&A with Author Margo Candela

What was your inspiration for The Neapolitan Sisters?
I wrote the first draft of The Neapolitan Sisters many, many years ago before any of my previous four novels (Underneath it All, Life Over Easy, More Than This and Good-Bye to All That) with more of an intention than inspiration. I wanted to tell the story of three complex characters who were Latinas but, more importantly, were their own selves both as women and sisters. Family dysfunction is universal, and all of my books have dealt with it to a certain degree. With The Neapolitan Sisters I wanted to explore how their particular issues stemming from their shared childhood both drove them apart while also forming a strong bond between them.

How does being a Latina influence your writing?
There isn’t just one type of Latina and there isn’t just one way to write novel. Being a first generation Mexican-American plays a huge part in how I see and experience the world, but it’s not my only influence. My journalism training taught me to be as objective as possible which I combine with wanting to tell a good story through Latina and Latino characters.

What issues and obstacles have you faced as a Latina author?
I’ve faced the same issues and obstacles as any writer when it comes to navigating the business of publishing as well as few more by virtue of being a writer who is Latina. We are underrepresented as authors and in all areas of publishing. This factors into less opportunities and also less understanding of what it takes to get published and how those of us who have been, made it happen.

I was recently at an author event where a parent of an unpublished poet complained to me that her son had a prestigious MFA, but his manuscript couldn’t attract the attention of an agent or editor. “All they want are women writers and writers of color,” she told me. Realizing that she was speaking to a woman writer of color she added, “And I guess that’s not wrong because...” That “because” is what I—as I published author who is Latina—have to address both personally and professionally.

How important is it for Latina narratives to be told in books?
It’s not only important that our stories be told but that they’re told from a wide variety of perspectives. What's also important is supporting authors who are writing these narratives. There are three ways to do this: buy the books, recommend others buy their own copies and write and post reviews. If publishers don’t see a demand for Latina and Latino narratives, the writers of these books won’t get published.

How can Latina writers go about getting their stories out there?
When I was first starting out, I read how-to books, did lots of research and then wrote, revised, and polished my first novel until I was ready to query agents. That took more research and was like looking for a job. There are many outlets out there for writers but it’s up to the writer to decide what her ultimate goal is and then focus her time and energy to where she’ll have the most success. Having other writer friends and being part of a writing community are also important not only to the process but also for the support.

How important was the public library to you as a writer?
I spent a lot of time reading when I was growing up and the library was filled with endless possibilities. I’m absolutely convinced that this early exposure to reading library books played a huge part in my becoming a writer. Now more than ever, public libraries are essential to the communities they serve. Librarians are very aware of what their patrons need and want and not only loan out books, they also provide crucial social services and all manner of outreach programs.

Can you share what you're working on now?
I’m currently writing my sixth novel which focuses on a minor character from my fourth novel. It tells how Nicoletta Valencia, an overworked production assistant who’s struggling to pay her rent, becomes Nicolette Meyers, an actress who’s paid her dues and making her red carpet debut. It’s going to be funny, dark and honest about sex.

Visit www.MargoCandela.com for more information and to contact the author about appearances, events, and book clubs. The Neapolitan Sisters was published by Alcove Press on August 9, 2022 and is distributed by Penguin Random House.

[Not] Reading When Writing

When I’m writing, I’m not reading fiction—it’s too distracting to try to immerse myself in someone else’s imagination—but I do read…a lot, and only long form journalism from a variety of sources. This makes me a great dinner guest, because not only am I informed, I’m also funny. I horde articles and features on my Kindle Voyage (which I pronounce in French even though I don’t speak French), which is signed by former Kings goalie Jonathan Quick.

He signed it at an event for season ticket holders a few years ago. When he signed it, he mentioned he also had a Kindle, and that’s the only thing he and I have in common. Quick and his Kindle were traded to the Vegas Knights a few weeks ago and I’ll keep my opinions about it to myself, but I do have them.

Journalist Anna Louie Sussman recently wrote about the same subject with different perspectives for two different outlets. For The Cut’s “A World Without Men,” she wrote about South Korean women who’ve decided not to pursue romantic or intimate relationships with men, and how they’re questioning and rebelling against entrenched notions of what it means to be a woman in South Korea. In her piece for The Atlantic, “The Real Reason South Koreans Aren’t Having Children,” she delves a little deeper into the entrenched sexism and misogyny that’s contributed to South Korea’s negative birth rate.

Both articles are well worth reading, and reading them reminded me of The Unit: A Novel by Ninni Holmqvist (translated from the original Swedish by Marlaine Delargy). In this book "...women over the age of fifty and men over sixty—single, childless, and without jobs in progressive industries—are sequestered for their final few years...[and]...are expected to contribute themselves for drug and psychological testing, and ultimately donate their organs, little by little, until the final donation."

When I first read it shortly after it was published, I was more than a little unnerved by the premise of the book, but with how things are nowadays, honestly, something like The Unit could happen. While it sounds bleak, Dorrit, an understated but likable main character, draws you in with her pragmatic yet engaging perspective on not only her life, but those of the friends she makes while she’s a resident of the unit.

I'll be sharing my writing progress with updates on my Facebook , Instagram and Twitter accounts throughout the month and will share a more in-depth account in my next newsletter.

Want to read more? Subscribe to my newsletter . And if you’ve read The Neapolitan Sisters (or any of my other four novels), please consider leaving a review. Taking the time to write and post a review is a great way to show your support, and help improve the visibility of books you like (and, yes, don’t like). I truly appreciate each and every one.

Springing Forward While Staying Put

Welcome to March! Named after Mars, the Roman god of war, March not only has the return of daylight savings time on the 12th and the vernal equinox on the 20th, it also marks a year since I moved from L.A. to San Francisco.

Lots happened during these past twelve months, including moving three times, my son graduating from college, and, oh, yeah, the publication of The Neapolitan Sisters. Now that I’m finally settled into my own place, I’m looking forward to new opportunities, fun adventures, and yes, writing.

After much procrastination, I put myself on a drop-dead deadline to finish the outline for book six and I did. Yay, me! Now that I have the storyline down of how my character will go from Nicoletta Valencia, overworked production assistant who’s struggling to pay her rent, to Nicolette Meyers, an actress who’s paid her dues and making her red carpet debut, it's just a matter of, yes, doing the actual writing. (For a sneak peek, read the first chapter of Good-Bye to All That.)

Knowing the beginning, the middle and the end of the book is essential, but so is the right playlist, which I’ll share once it's published. This playlist has 19 songs, all by women, and clocks in just a little over an hour. It's what I'll listen to while writing to help set the right vibe, but also to bring structure to my writing time so I'll get the most out of it.

I'll be posting progress updates on my Facebook , Instagram and Twitter accounts throughout the month and will share a more in-depth account in my next newsletter.

If you’ve read The Neapolitan Sisters (or any of my other four novels), please consider leaving a review. Taking the time to write and post a review is a great way to show your support, and help improve the visibility of books you like (and, yes, don’t like). I truly appreciate each and every one.

Relax Like a Writer

There are people, places and things I like, and then there’s how much I really like a good Korean spa known as jjimjilbang in, uh, Korea, because that’s where they originated. I experienced my first jjimjilbang in L.A.'s Korea Town after my son left for college. With him safely and happily on the opposite coast, I could spend hours (and hours) luxuriating in obscene amounts of water without having to worry about him calling to ask what was for dinner, as he had a meal plan.

Some Korean spas are open 24 hours a day and have limited menu restaurants, but you have to put the spa provided robe on while in the eating area. Hey, it’s a small inconvenience and also just plain old polite. Naked eating should only happen at home and at resorts where naked everything is on the menu. Korean spas also encourage napping and have special areas set up for snoozing. Yay, napping!

After way too many months of prepublication stress for The Neapolitan Sisters, I treated myself to a very naked afternoon at Pearl Spa (1654 Post Street) in San Francisco. Women only and just the right size, there’s a cold plunge pool (and, yeah, it’s frickin’ cold!), as well as the usual amenities like a steam room, sauna, clay room and more.

They don’t have an in-house restaurant, but you can help yourself to complimentary hot tea, granola bars, and (oh, yes!) Aveda hair and skin care products. While a day pass allows you to plunge and steam to your heart’s content, Pearl also offers a wide variety of services from massages to facials.

I stuck with the standard full body scrub (be prepared to leave most of your modesty and the top layer of your skin behind), followed by an equally no-nonsense massage, and a super lathery hair washing. My masseuse Min said my shoulders were much too tense and asked if it was my first time getting a massage. Uh, no, but it had been a while and a lot has happened between visits.

Min tried her best to unknot my work-life imbalance, but suggested I come back as soon as possible and often. I’ve already booked my next naked day at Pearl, and someday, I may even budget in extra time for an actual nap. I’ll be wearing a robe, of course.

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Tried, True and The Next Novel

I’m currently working on my sixth novel, which means my days (and most nights) are made up of blocks of time devoted to meeting set goals. Each writer has their own process to get to "the end" of a draft—some authors just sit down and start typing, letting inspiration dictate where the story takes them. Not me! Not ever! No, thank you! I've used the same method for all five of my books based on my journalism training—writing to a word count. (The inspiration part happens separately and well before I sit down to write. I'll share details about this in a future newsletter.)
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For book six, I’ve projected the first draft to clock in at 90,000 words, which is then divided into 12 chapters and then subdivided into three sections. (90K/12 equals 7,500 words per chapter. 7500/3 equals 2,500 words per section.) If I write at least one section a day, I’ll have a draft completed in 36 days…36 nonconsecutive days. (Hey, man, I’m keeping it extra real in 2023.) This is just the first draft and things will change. However, the core of the story and its characters are familiar enough for me to start to think and talk about them as if they're real people, and as if it really happened.

My apologies in advance to everyone who I'll be interacting with over the next few months. I'm going be extra spacey until I turn book six into my editor, and even then, I'll still be distracted. This is why all my bills are set on auto-pay.

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Kindle Limited Time Deal for The Neapolitan Sisters

Fellow kindle havers! I'm happy to share that Amazon will be featuring the kindle edition of The Neapolitan Sisters all this month for $1.99 (regularly 16.99, special price valid until 1/31).

Also, please consider leaving a review. They really do make a difference!