Patricio was 16 when he decided he wanted to be a writer. It was when he read The Leaf Storm by Gabriel Garcia Marquez that Patricio understood his calling.

But like many others, life took a scene route into the film before switching his major to fiction.

“What is a novel but a point of view?” - Joan Didion.

Maya’s first published novel, Reggaeton Cruise, was inspired by a man Patricio knew who was a short-lived, and unexpected, YouTube sensation, when a video he made went viral.

Patricio knew he wanted to use this story as the basis of a story but he didn’t know how. It wasn’t until, a number of years later, when he met someone else who was a war refugee who shared parts of his life story. 

It was at this point Reggaeton Cruise started to form.

It is almost a series of interconnected short stories, Patricio says. Each of the characters slowly but surely makes their way towards a cruise ship where their stories intersect.

One of the themes of the book is globalisation. To illustrate just how diverse we are, Maya wanted to incorporate a large cast of characters who all come from disparate home countries.

In cities, particularly, we have to set aside a little of our own culture and background in order to fit in with those around us. When we all speak different languages and come from different backgrounds, popular culture becomes the common currency.

As a dual Spanish and English speaker, Patricio shares how his work changes depending on what language he’s speaking in. He’s noticed his tone changes when he uses English because it’s not his first language.

He says he's naturally drawn to write poetry in Spanish, enjoying the language’s rhythms and cadences. He prefers English for long form fiction.

“The heart is a lonely hunter” - Carson McCullers

We talk about how Patrico balances his time between teaching and writing. But he says he doesn't have any clear division between the two. He's always thinking about his work. And his work is influenced by the teaching he does.

Instead, he says the division he makes is between his creative life and keeping physically fit is very important to him. It gives him the right mental balance so that he feels good when he sits down to write.

Creativity and physical health go hand in hand.

Currently, Patricio is working on a Spanish novella.

Contact with Patricio:

Reggaetón Cruise - https://amzn.to/3tFyviA

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elpatocuervo/

Website - Reggaetón Cruise by Patricio X. Maya (reggaetoncruise.net)

Joan Didion - https://amzn.to/2XpOwgN

Gabriel Garcia Marquez - https://amzn.to/3zjfELz

Carson McCullers - https://amzn.to/39cPfEM

Line Editing Made Simple
Kick-start your editing for free!

Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!
Start for FREE

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show