Brenda S. Miller was one of our Writers Mentorship Program’s very first mentees! In 2020, she joined the class under the mentorship of Christina Diaz Gonzalez, focusing on a picture book project, TOO MANY TORTILLAS. She shared with us that the “mentorship with the amazing Christina Diaz Gonzalez came at a pivotal time in my life and in my writing career.” Since the WMP, Brenda has continued to work on this evolving project and is now represented by Michelle Hauck of Storm Literary Agency. Read on to learn more about TOO MANY TORTILLAS and her life as a writer!
TOO MANY TORTILLAS: Marigold and her mother couldn’t be more different; Marigold likes pastels and quiet activities like reading and drawing and Mama likes bright colors and loud, loud, loud. And when Mama gets together with her extended family, she becomes a different person. That’s why Marigold dreads the upcoming Thanksgiving trip to visit the Figueroa clan for three whole days. Some many tías and tíos, not to mention primos, she can’t remember all their names or find a way to fit in. But when her school assignment is to interview three family members—and Mama won’t butt out—Marigold knows this will be the worst trip of her life.
What inspires you to write?
I think we all have something to offer the world. For me, I’ve always felt a little different, like I could never find my place. I aim to write books that I hope will help kids know they’re not alone if they think differently or don’t fit neatly into society’s boxes.
Do you have a writing ritual?
I generally write out first drafts in a notebook. I’m definitely a pantser, and writing by hand (with one of my favorite special pens) keeps my ideas flowing better. When I’m working on edits, I like to have some tea or coffee to sip. I often have a live concert or Zelda soundscapes playing on another screen to keep my energy up.
How or when did you realize you wanted to write middle grade and picture books?
I’ve been drawn to children’s books since I was a kid, naturally. But it was when I began having children of my own that I revisited old favorites and discovered new favorites. I love picture books because they can tell stories in such innovative and engaging ways. But my sweet spot is middle grade—maybe because I’ll forever be an awkward 12-year-old! Fun fact: My first middle grade novel, the one I worked on during my Latinx in Publishing mentorship, actually started out as a picture book, but the story kept whispering in my ear that it had more to say.
What are your favorite genres to read? Do you have any literary heroes?
I read so many things—from writing craft books to poetry to literary to non-fiction to novels. I especially love contemporary, sci-fi, adventure, books where kids have to work together to solve something or fight The Big Bad. Literary heroes? Ursula K. Le Guin, Margaret Atwood, Donna Barba Higuera (to name just a few), and my fellow #MGPies who are the best middle grade writing group around.
Brenda S. Miller writes middle grade and picture books. She grew up in New Mexico, a state that still has a strong pull on her considering she set her first middle grade novel there. In Iowa, she studied English and philosophy and in California, she honed her skills as a professional writer. She has written two full-length books of poetry—ABC* and At the Intersection of Scripture and Normal—and has had poems published in Mid-America Poetry Review and Phoebe, among others.
She is a 2023 Las Musas Hermana with Madrina Kim Baker and a previous mentee in the Latinx in Publishing program with mentor Christina Diaz Gonzalez. She is an active member of the #MGPies writing group and SCBWI and volunteers for WriteGirl. She currently works as a writer at the University of Southern California. One of her favorite things to do is to find typos in the wild. She lives in Los Angeles with her spouse, three book-loving kids, an adventurous cat, a huge dog, and two frogs.
