Interview with Lila Guzman

Today we’re talking with Lila Guzmán, an award-winning author of historical fiction for young adults. Her Lorenzo series is set during the American Revolution and tells the story of Spain’s role in the war. Lorenzo and the Pirate (Blooming Tree Press, March 2009) is the fourth book in the series. Her latest middle-grade novel is Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy, a historical fantasy about a blue Chihuahua and a sacred temple dog lost in the Mayan jungle. Lila lives in Round Rock, Texas, with her husband and co-author, Rick Guzman.

Lila, please tell us a bit about your background, including when you began to write—and why.

I grew up in Kentucky (mumble mumble) years ago when we only had three television stations. We had to make our own entertainment. I played baseball and cards with my cousins, went for long hikes in the woods, and read scads of books. I often sat under the apple tree and dreamed up stories, but at that time I didn’t know I’d become a writer.

Fast forward a couple of decades. My husband knew about my interest in writing. One day, while reading the newspaper, he learned of the Austin Writers League and suggested I join it. It was one of the best moves in my life. I started going to a Novel in Progress class that met twice a month. At that point, I had a Ph.D. in Spanish, but had never had any formal training in fiction writing. After a couple of years, I wrote an adult-level short story (“Star Apples”) set during the First Carlist War in Spain. It won 3rd place in a contest (and $35). The fact that someone had paid me for my writing convinced me that I had a modicum of talent.

At that time, I had three children, so writing became the perfect job for me. I could do it from home or while waiting for my children to finish horseback classes, karate, gymnastics, etc. Now that they are grown and gone from home, I need grandchildren to inspire my writing and to keep me up-to-date with the world of children.

Please tell us about your books and what new releases you have coming up.

Lorenzo and the Pirate debuts in March 2009 and is available for pre-order on amazon.com and from Blooming Tree Press. It is the 4th book in the Lorenzo series and continues the saga of the American Revolution in the Gulf States. It ends in 1779 Mobile. In the next book, Lorenzo’s Buried Treasure, Lorenzo will be imprisoned on the Jersey prison ship.

The books in the Lorenzo series are:

Lorenzo’s Secret Mission (Book 1)
Finalist, Book of the Year (Young Adult Category), Foreward Magazine, 2001.
Finalist, Golden Spur Award (Texas State Reading Association), 2005

Lorenzo’s Revolutionary Quest (Book 2)
National TCARA Book Award, 2006

Lorenzo and the Turncoat (Book 3)
Arizona Authors 2006 Literary Award

Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy (Blooming Tree Press)
Finalist, Oklahoma Writers Federation Book Award


I write children’s/young adult biographies in addition to historical novels. George Lopez: Latino King of Comedy was released by Enslow in 2008 and tells the inspirational story of this famous comedian’s life. It is for ages 8-12.

Famous Latinos Series for ages 4-8 (Enslow Publishing, 2006)
César Chávez
Roberto Clemente
Frida Kahlo
Diego Rivera
Ellen Ochoa
George Lopez

What attracts you the most to writing for young adults and children?

I got into this type of writing by accident. At first I thought I would write adult-level historical novels. Then my husband found the subject for the Lorenzo series, and we decided that this unknown aspect of the American Revolution needed to be told to young adults. When Rick and I studied American history in school, we learned that there were 13 original colonies. Not a word was said about West Florida and East Florida, British colonies #14 and #15.

So we decided that we would write for the young adult crowd. In Texas, students get their first true dose of American history in the 5th grade and then again in the 8th grade.

From time to time, I write for adults, but usually in the form of short stories or non-fiction pieces on writing. If I come up with a plot that is not appropriate for young people or will not interest them, they become short stories.

One thing I’d like to mention is that children’s/young adult writing isn’t as easy as it looks. For one thing, you still have to navigate through a sea of adults (librarians, book reviewers, parents, teachers) before the book reaches your intended audience. So you aren’t just writing for kids.

When writing for young adults, a book’s message must be subtle. Nothing turns kids off quicker than preaching to them. Every book I write has a moral. In Kichi in Jungle Jeopardy, the message is to respect the environment and take only what you need. In the Lorenzo series, the underlying idea is “Do the right thing. Be an honorable person.”

I am a former teacher. As I write, I think about how teachers can use the book in the classroom. Lorenzo and the Pirate will have a Teacher’s Guide because the book is ideal for 8th grade American History classes.

I totally agree with you about how challenging it is to write for children and young adults. It takes a special person to do it well, and after reading Lorenzo and the Pirate, I’d say you have what it takes. You’ll notice I write for adults. LOL! The Lorenzo series is set primarily aboard ship. How did you gain your expertise in sailing?

I was an officer in the United States Navy, eligible for command at sea. I didn’t come from a nautical family, but the sea has always fascinated me. So with Ph.D. in hand, I joined the Navy and learned all kinds of things that would prove useful in writing Lorenzo and the Pirate. The Navy’s special vocabulary, along with its rules and regulations, gave me the foundation I needed to write the book. I learned celestial navigation, a skill that would pop up in the book, and a host of other things. The Navy gave me lots of unforgettable adventures to write about.

In the first few pages of the book, I have Blackie explain the word “alacrity.” That scene came from an incident with our British Navy liaison. She told someone to do something “with alacrity” and then added, “That means fast.” Everyone within earshot died laughing. The scene with the two slacker sailors is based upon people who shall remain nameless. Many incidents in the book are based on real-life naval experiences that I tweaked to fit a 1779 ship.

You have an impressive background, and your experiences definitely contribute to the authentic feel of the story. But why do you write historical fiction, and what periods of history are you the most attracted to?

When I was a child in Kentucky, I went to my school library and checked out a biography of Joan of Arc. It was an eye opener! A teenager—a girl—in medieval times led the French Army to victory against the English! This was an astounding story. A few years later, I joined the Navy, influenced no doubt by this book that encouraged me to take on impossible-looking tasks.

Years later, my husband stumbled upon the subject for the Lorenzo series. We learned that the Spanish had a significant role in the American Revolution—a fact never covered in our formal education. We decided that we should write about this as our first collaboration.

All periods of history interest me. I have written short stories about anthrax in ancient Roman time, a Confederate soldier and his drum, a girl in Nazi Germany, and others requiring historical research. One of my middle-grade novels is set among the Mayans a thousand years ago. The Lorenzo series focuses on the American Revolution.

That’s a pretty wide variety of historical periods. How much research do you do, and how historically accurate do you strive to be?

Be sure to join us again tomorrow for the rest of our interview with Lila Guzman. To learn more about Lila and her books, go to http://www.lilaguzman.com/. And don’t forget to add a comment to be entered in the drawing for a free copy of Lorenzo and the Turncoat.!