“I by no means had an concept that got here like a bolt of lightning earlier than,” mentioned Chantel Acevedo, a College of Miami English professor and double inventive writing alumna.
In the summertime of 2017, Acevedo obtained the concept for her first middle-grade e book, for ages 8-12. She went on a household trip to England and visited the Victoria and Albert Museum. She mentioned the concept got here when she noticed a statue of a muse.
“I noticed it and requested myself, ‘how would the muses encourage folks otherwise in the event that they have been children?’” mentioned Acevedo, referring to the muses in Greek mythology. “I obtained my cellphone out and began writing plot factors.”
That query impressed Acevedo to write down her two-book collection, “Muse Squad.” Earlier than their journey, her daughter Penelope, who was 11, had requested her when she’d write for youths. At the moment, Acevedo had already printed 4 grownup novels. Penelope, now 19 and a freshman on the College of Miami, mentioned she was ecstatic when her mother wrote the duology.
“As a child, I bragged that my mother was an writer,” mentioned Penelope Acevedo, a music business main. “It was laborious to learn her grownup novels once I was in center college. I used to be excited when she wrote ‘Muse Squad’ as a result of my mates and I might learn it.”
Acevedo printed “Muse Squad: The Cassandra Curse” in July 2020. She described that 12 months as “not a good time to launch a brand new factor.”
“The writer, HarperCollins, created an incredible advertising plan,” mentioned Acevedo. “However then the COVID-19 pandemic began and that every one fell aside. Youngsters stopped going to libraries and bookstores, and they also couldn’t uncover new books.”
Acevedo mentioned gross sales have been “nonexistent” for the primary six months. However she by no means stopped writing the sequel.
“I used to be modifying the sequel when the primary e book was printed,” mentioned Acevedo.
Acevedo printed the sequel in 2021. She mentioned the duology ultimately gained readers and was thought-about for movie adaptation by The Walt Disney Firm.
“There have been talks about turning ‘Muse Squad’ right into a TV present,” mentioned Acevedo, a Cuban American. “However we didn’t make a deal as a result of they couldn’t assure utilizing the identical title and having a Latina essential character.”
In 2023, her e book “The Curse on Spectacle Key” was nominated for the Sunshine State Younger Readers Award, recognizing its energy to encourage literacy amongst younger college students.
As an writer in Florida, Acevedo has been affected by the state’s current e book bans. She visited Florida colleges to speak about her e book in 2023. On the similar time, Florida skilled an unprecedented variety of e book bans.
Although none of Acevedo’s books have been banned, the laws affected her college visits.
“Right here in Miami, they dried up,” mentioned Acevedo. “Principals mentioned they didn’t need writer visits as a result of a dad or mum may not like what an writer says and sue the college.”
Some colleges that allowed writer visits made excessive requests. A faculty in Immokalee, an unincorporated group close to Naples, requested she have one million greenback insurance coverage coverage, in case a dad or mum have been to sue.
“Lots of my college visits are unpaid, so I’ve to pay for my bills myself,” Acevedo mentioned. “I couldn’t afford that and couldn’t go to the college, which was heartbreaking.”
Acevedo mentioned books bans have turn into a a lot bigger situation than when she was a highschool English instructor, a decade in the past. Acevedo mentioned she does what she will be able to to handle the bans and promote kids’s readership.
“I just lately talked with a College of Training school member about how they might promote writing and studying for youths,” mentioned Acevedo. “Having these conversations and voting on these points are vital.”
Acevedo mentioned she received’t cease writing, regardless of challenges.
“Storytelling is one thing I’ve at all times carried out,” mentioned Acevedo, “It’s one thing I’m at all times going to do.”
Uncover the worlds in Acevedo’s books by buying them wherever books are offered. Acevedo’s fifth children e book, “No Means, By no means Sisters,” which she wrote with UM alumna Natalia Sylvester, is projected to publish in 2026. Acevedo’s grownup novel “Cages” can also be set for 2026.