Becky Walker Books

Author’s name: Paola Santos

Illustrator’s name: Olivia Sua

Other book titles: How to Eat a Mango / Cómo se come un mango. Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo. Holiday House, 2024

What is your upcoming book title? A House in My Barrio

Date of release: September 1st, 2026

Preorder or Order link: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250327086/ahouseinmybarrio/#:~:text=Author:%20Paola%20Santos;%20illustrated%20by,A%20House%20in%20My%20Barrio

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) Macmillan

Agent: Jennifer Rofé

Agency: Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Hometown: Maracaibo, Venezuela

Social links:

Website: www.paolasantos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pgsantosb/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paola.santos110 

1. What is the premise/pitch for your book?

Mamá Elena always knows how to help others, and because of her warmth, her home is young Manuel’s favorite place to be. But after a fall leaves her bedridden, Manuel rallies the barrio to lift her spirits so they can give back all the love and support Mamá Elena has shown them.

2. What are 5 things you want people to know about your book?

• The seeds that gave life to this story came from different experiences, but it’s loosely based on a house near my school that I loved to visit as a child.
• I love how Olivia Sua represents the vastness of Mamá Elena’s house in the first spread! A jungle-like house where you can feel loved and a sense of belonging.
• Mamá Elena’s sewing machine is based on the one my grandmother had.
• There are no toucans in my city, but I love how beautiful they look in the book.
• In the spread where “Love Food” is shown, I was asked to add a Venezuelan dish that was not mentioned in the book. I chose “mandocas” (in the left corner): a deep-fried, ring-shaped food made with ripe plantains, cornmeal, and white cheese. Delicious!

3. What helpful hints or tips can you offer fellow writers about writing, publishing, and promoting a book?

• Be kind to yourself; offer some self-love when things don’t go as planned. Trust me, many things will not go as planned, but you don’t have control over them.
• Make sure the beginning and end of your story are cohesive. Does the ending resolve the initial problem or theme satisfactorily?
• Don’t be afraid of breaking the rules! Wonderful things can happen when you do.
• Step out of your comfort zone as many times as you can. I promise it will get easier. As an introvert, I know it’s nerve-wracking, but it’s worth trying.
• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We are like kids learning to walk and falling many times before figuring out how to run.

4. What are 5 fun/quirky facts about yourself as an adult or child?

• I learned English in my late twenties. And I’m still learning!
• People say that Latin Americans know how to dance, but I have no idea how to do it.
• I never learned how to ride a bike, swim, skate, or drive a car. But who knows… It’s never too late.
• I’m an artist as well, but not an illustrator, not yet, at least.
• Even though I’m from Venezuela, my favorite music is Celtic.

5. What did you learn about yourself while on the journey to publishing this book?

One thing I’m still learning is not to be attached to outcomes. Sometimes you expect everything to run smoothly or expect things will repeat in the same manner, but every book, every author visit, or experience is different, like a child. Some will be praised; some won’t. Sometimes you may feel forgotten, and when you least expect it, you may rise again. The one thing we can do is do our best, as I say to my daughter each time she gets upset.