Interview with Isabel Ibañez for Woven In Moonlight

Woven in Moonlight

by Isabel Ibañez
Publisher: Page Street Books
Release Date: January 7th 2020

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Synopsis:

A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history.

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa.

Can you briefly describe WOVEN IN THE MOONLIGHT and its characters?

The story follows Ximena, a decoy for the last royal in Inkasisa. In order to protect the Condesa (Countess in Spanish), Ximena ventures into enemy territory in order to discover the whereabouts of a weapon capable of summoning a ghost army. Her ability to weave moonlight allows her to send secret messages hidden in her tapestries. But her mission puts her on the path with people who would challenge and confuse Ximena’s worldview and her understanding of the truth. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

While I have many, I think the character I most enjoyed writing was Ximena. She is my total opposite—daring and brave, loves the outdoors and exercise (I’d much prefer to read and lounge), and her quick temper can be truly frightening. I’ve never been a yeller and so writing someone who lets her passion and emotion run away with her was fun to explore. I never tried to tamper with her personality, and I let her be as fierce and feisty as she wanted to be. 

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

The story came slowly, and it began with the magic. A girl with the ability to weave moonlight, someone who can’t use her own name and volunteers for a dangerous mission. The messages within the tapestries came shortly after and suddenly I had the core of the story. The details and plot fit within the story I wanted to tell—Bolivia, my culture, and the current politics. 

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

This is a tough one as I wrote the whole book to a compilation of different movie soundtracks. All of them were epic songs that dropped me right into the middle of the action. If there was one song I played over and over again—especially when writing any of the romantic tension, it was a cover of Go Your Own Way by Lissie! 

If your book was going to be made into a movie, who would play your characters?

I love this question! 

Ximena: Natalia Castellar Calvani

Rumi: Vito Basso

Juan Carlos: Diego Boneta 

What drink and place do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

What a fun question! In Bolivia, we drink A LOT of fruit juices. So to me, I think it’d be fun to be with a tall glass of maracuya juice, at a lively restaurant. 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish WOVEN IN THE MOONLIGHT?

So, so many!

UPROOTED: Dark Fairytale, a favorite 

SKY IN THE DEEP: Viking Fantasy, enemies to lovers! 

ENCHANTMENT OF RAVENS: Romantic Fae Fantasy

ALL THE STARS AND TEETH: You’re going to want to preorder this bloody pirate book

SERPENT & DOVE: Witch + Witch Hunter in an arranged marriage 

WINTERWOOD: Delightfully creepy 

What’s next for you?

I’m hard at work on WRITTEN IN STARLIGHT, the companion to WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT! Aside from that I’m finishing up a secret project that I have very high hopes will sit on shelves one day. Fingers crossed!

Isabel Ibañez was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of two Bolivian

immigrants. A true word nerd, she received her degree in creative writing and has been a

Pitch Wars mentor for three years. Isabel is an avid movie goer and loves hosting family and

friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in Winter Park, Florida, with her

husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. Say hi on social media at

@IsabelWriter09.

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FFBC: Welcome to the club, Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1) by Isabel Bandeira

Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1)
by Isabel Bandeira
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Release Date: January 12th 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins’ life would be a book. Preferably a YA novel with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn’t even qualify for a quiet contemporary. But when Phoebe finds out that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her, she turns to her favorite books for advice. Phoebe overhauls her personality to become as awesome as her favorite heroines and win Dev’s heart. But if her plan fails, can she go back to her happy world of fictional boys after falling for the real thing?

Hello Isabel! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours.

Thank you! I’m excited to be here!

Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about Bookishly Ever After?

BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER is about a girl who decides to turn her favorite books into advice manuals in an attempt to turn herself into the perfect YA heroine and make her own happily ever after. I like to call it my ode to all things bookish.

I think everyone is dying to make this question. Can you tell us a bit about Phoebe and Dev and their relationship? What makes them the perfect YA couple?

I don’t know about “perfect” because the best part about people and relationships is that they are so wonderfully imperfect—and it’s wonderful when you find someone who loves you for both your perfections and imperfections. 

Phoebe and Dev were a lot of fun to write together. This relationship starts as a friendship that grows into something more, so they have a nice, comfortable banter right from the start. Things get a little awkward when Phoebe realizes that she might actually like Dev as more than just a friend, and I loved exploring how they learn about each other throughout the story. There’s a scene I really love late in the book where the two take a walk in the woods and Dev talks about his grandfather—it’s not a big moment, but it’s a moment that highlights how Phoebe and Dev constantly discover new facets in each other and their dynamic as they spend more time together.

Can you tell us who would be Phoebe’s favorite fictional boyfriend and what qualities must he have?

Phoebe has a lot of book boyfriends, but, if she has to pick, her favorite is Cyril from the Hidden House series. She said it best in a character interview a few months ago: “He’s just so sweet and swoonworthy and I really love the way he talks and how, even though he’s from the nineteen hundreds and they were pretty sexist back then, he loves Marissa specifically because she’s strong, sassy, and independent.”

How did you come up with the story? Did you find inspiration in any other story/movie/show and how has this affected your writing?

The first bit of inspiration for B.E.A. came while I was writing a short little scene for a blog hop. In that scene, a bookish girl tried to channel her favorite heroines in front of the guy she liked as she was crossing a two-rope bridge at camp. It was so much fun, and the characters kept bouncing around in my head, begging to tell their story, that I had to write it out. 

As for outside inspiration, when it came time to create Phoebe’s “books,” I drew upon a lot of common tropes that I loved in some of my favorite YA books—especially paranormal and contemporary fantasy, which Phoebe then used for inspiration in some of her plans for becoming the perfect YA heroine.

If you had to pick one song to be the Theme Song for Bookishly Ever After – Which one would you pick? 

“Dear Mister Darcy” by Marian Call. It’s nerdy and wonderful.

Is there any recommendations you could give your readers to be in the “perfect mood” to read Bookishly Ever After (specific music, snacks…)? 

Every reader has his or her own perfect set-up for reading, so I say go with what works for you! I’ve seen a few reviews where the reader is craving gingerbread lattes after reading BEA, so that would probably work. Also, if you’re really going for a BEA feel, I’d suggest a cozy knit blanket and a comfy chair.

What’s next for you? 

The next book in the Ever After series is a companion novel to BEA and I can’t wait to share the description and main character when I get the green light from my publisher. I’m currently writing book 3 in the series and writing some non-“Ever After” books on the side (I VERY appropriately refer to one as “procrastination book” on twitter).

Thank you so much for everything, Isabel!

Thank YOU for hosting me!

Follow the Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira Blog Tour and don't miss anything! Click on the banner to see the tour schedule.

Isabel Bandeira grew up surrounded by trees and lakes in Southern New Jersey, right on the edge of the Pine Barrens. Her summers were always spent in Portugal, where the cathedrals, castles, and ancient tombs only fed her fairy tale obsession. Between all those influences and her serious glitter addiction, it wasn’t a surprise when she started writing stories of her own.

In her free time between writing and her day job as a Mechanical Engineer who designs and develops medical devices, she reads, dances, figure skates, and knits.

Isabel lives in New Jersey with her little black cat, too many books, and a closetful of vintage hats. She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio & Olson. BOOKISHLY EVER AFTER is her debut novel.

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