Author Mitra De Souza - The Writer Story

Meet Mitra, author of The Fragile, her YA SciFi debut, filled with humorous banter and slow burn romance, along with found family and exploring self-acceptance.

Hello and Welcome to the Writer Story!

Today we have a wonderful author interview. But before that, I wanted to thank everyone who has subscribed to The Writer Story. I am absolutely awed and humbled by the amount of supportive messages I have received. It’s incredible! Thank you.

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I am excited about the Writer story interview with debut author, Mitra De Souza as we talk about her writing journey and her Young Adult Science Fiction book, The Fragile.

Before we start, here’s Mitra’s official bio.

Mitra has loved to write for as long as she can remember. In elementary school, she used to tape her short stories to the back of her chair for her classmates to read. She is drawn to stories that encourage people to view the world from a new perspective. When she lived in Trinidad and Tobago, she authored a series of children’s books published by a local NGO to foster empathy and promote animal welfare. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband, two kids and two big rescue dogs who think they’re still puppies. Her debut YA novel, The Fragile, was released in July 2024 with Wild Ink Publishing.

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1. Welcome to the Writer Story, Mitra. Congratulations on your debut Young Adult SciFi novel, The Fragile. It’s so exciting. Could you tell our readers a bit about your book.

Thank you. I’m excited for this opportunity to discuss my work. The Fragile is set in an alternate history where highly sensitive and empathic children (aka “Fragiles”) are sent to rehabilitation centers. Seventeen-year-old Maya has spent the past decade at the Academy for the Rehabilitation of Children and wants nothing more to be cured of her debilitating empathy so that she can return home. Desperate to escape the pain and emotions of others, she learns she has the power to transfer feelings into people with her hands when she accidentally does it to her best friend Jacob. When Maya uncovers a plot to destroy the empathy centers in children’s brains, she must choose between fighting a man bent on destroying everyone like her, and finally being free from the burden of empathy.

2. That an amazing premise. What inspired you to write the story? Once you got the idea, how did you know it could be a book?

I woke up on Mother’s Day 2021 with the idea for the book and knew I had to write it. It became a bit of an obsession for me. I worked on it every night after work and on weekends. I would even write on my phone while making dinner or when a Zoom meeting got too boring (hopefully no one from my job will read this). I wrote the first draft over the course of three months without really knowing how to write a book. The story just poured out of me. Once I finished, I realized how much I didn’t know about writing and spent the next year revising. The premise really spoke to me as a highly sensitive person who is also very empathic. I wanted to tell a story that reframed sensitivity as a strength and demonstrated the value of empathy.

3. There is so much to love in the book. But as the author what aspects of the story do you think would appeal to YA readers? And what would you like the readers to take away from it?

I think YA readers will enjoy the aspects of found family and self-acceptance themes. There’s also a healthy dose of humorous banter and a slow burn romance. I hope that readers connect with the characters, feel seen, and recognize the world doesn’t have to be the way it is. I’d love to spark a conversation about how being more community oriented and less profit driven can impact positive change in the world. Of course, I also hope readers have as much fun reading it as I did writing it!

4. Tell us about your writing and publishing journey so far. Your writer origin story, so to say?

I’ve always loved to write. When my kids were little, I wrote a screenplay just to keep my sanity. It’s a pretty cheesy romance that will probably never see the light of day, but it was fun to write. In late 2019, I came up with an idea for a story involving a pandemic (yes, really!) that I was super excited about, but then Covid happened so I shelved it. So it was not until May 2021 that I started writing my debut novel, The Fragile. When I finished, I had no idea how to get published but knew that one way or another I would hold a copy of my book in my hands. I did tons of research on the publishing process including how to get an agent and how to create a strong submission package. I started querying agents and small publishers in August 2022. After numerous rejections, I got an offer of publication from Wild Ink Publishing in May 2023. Wild Ink is a small, relatively new publisher, but it's been an awesome experience working with them. And I absolutely love the cover they designed for me.

5. What is your writing and editing process? Do you have a particular process that works for you? Any writing quirks you could share?

I’m a panster. I get inspired by an idea and start to write in my head—like when I wake up at 2am and can’t go back to sleep—until the idea is solidified enough to put on paper. After writing the first draft of The Fragile, I read books like Save the Cat Writes a Novel and the Emotional Craft of Fiction which have wonderful guidance for plotting a story. However, when I tried to write a series of scene outlines, it killed the process for me. I have since learned to give myself permission to write where the story takes me, trusting that anything can be fixed in the editing process. That said, I do have a general idea of the beginning, middle and end before I start, as well as the character arc, but most everything else is figured out along the way. That’s what makes it fun for me. With respect to quirks, I sometimes ask my characters questions. For example, at one point in the revision stage of The Fragile, I asked Maya, the main character, if there was anything she wanted. Turns out she wanted to kiss her crush. I may or may not have granted her wish- you’ll have to read it to find out.

6. What would be your advice to writers who are starting out on this journey to publication?

Write what makes you happy. Find a story you feel passionate about and tell that one. The path to publication can be a long process, so you really have to love what you are doing. Also, the querying process can be brutal, so try not to take rejection personally. I queried for nine months and amassed close to eighty rejections before I got my publishing deal. Finally, spend as much time as you can honing your craft and make sure your query letter is strong and your manuscript is as polished as it can be before you start submitting.

7. What is next for you? Are you working on something else?

I am currently working on the sequel to The Fragile as well as a near future YA sci-fi where all communication is filtered through an AI “civil speech” translator.

8. Finally, where can readers find you online?

I am not a huge social media person, but readers can find my Facebook author page here: Mitra De Souza, Author: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094224633370

My website can be found here: www.mitradesouza.com and my Twitter handle is @mitra_souza

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A big thanks to Mitra for spending the time with us for The Writer Story interview. Make sure to order THE FRAGILE from Amazon or B&N and support her writing adventures.

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Until next week,

~Toodle-oo~