🎙️ Welcome back to The Mythic Mic Podcast, where running away to join a magical carnival sounds like a great plan until your ex shows up. This week, hosts Sara and Bethany Amanda sit down with author Angela Montoya to discuss Carnaval Fantástico, a whimsical YA romantasy filled with magical performances, found family, childhood sweethearts, second-chance romance, runaway thieves, former spies, heartbreak, chaos, and one very memorable ostrich. Esmeralda is a runaway thief and ex-spy who has found safety hiding within Carnaval Fantástico, a magical traveling carnival she desperately doesn't want to leave. Her solution? Become the lead act in the big top show. The problem? Earning that coveted spot may require help from Ignacio, her childhood sweetheart and former love, who has suddenly reappeared in her life. What follows is a story Angela describes as equal parts whimsy, angst, darkness, and absolute chaos. 🎪 What happens when a runaway thief decides the safest place to hide is a magical carnival? 💔 What if becoming the star of the show means teaming up with the childhood sweetheart you left behind? ✨ And exactly how does an ostrich fit into all of this? If you love magical carnivals, runaway thieves, childhood sweethearts, second chances, found family, whimsical fantasy, romantic angst, chaotic magic, secret pasts, Caraval-style atmosphere, and stories that will break your heart before putting it back together, this episode is for you. 🔥 IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT: ✨ Angela's unexpected journey to writing after years of searching for the career that finally felt like the thing she was meant to do. ✨ How Pitch Wars transformed Angela's writing, introduced her to her mentor, and helped build the community that carried her through querying and publication. ✨ Why Angela loves revisions but considers getting through the first 50,000 words of a draft its own special form of torture. ✨ Her biggest advice for aspiring authors: find your writing community, surround yourself with people who keep you going, and never underestimate the motivational power of spite. ✨ Carnaval Fantástico, a magical traveling carnival hiding runaway thief and former spy Esmeralda from the life she left behind. ✨ Esmeralda's desperate attempt to become the carnival's lead act and the inconvenient return of Ignacio, her childhood sweetheart and former love. ✨ Found family, magical chaos, troublesome ostriches, accidental chickens, and the unpredictable characters lurking around every corner of the carnival. ✨ Balancing whimsy and romance with darker themes, traumatic pasts, heartbreak, and characters learning how to trust other people again. ✨ Why Angela continues centering Latine characters and culture in her fantasy worlds and writing the kinds of heroes she wanted her own daughter to see growing up. ✨ What's next with The Immortal Undoing, Angela's epic fantasy featuring feathered serpents, Mexica and Mesoamerican lore, and her biggest fantasy world yet. CONNECT WITH US 🎙️ The Mythic Mic Podcast – @MythicMic 👤 Bethany Amanda – @BethanyinFantasyland 👤 Sara Santillan – @the_magical_quill 📚 Angela Montoya – @AngelaMontoya_Author ✨ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review. It helps more fantasy readers and aspiring authors find their way to The Mythic Mic.
