Interview: Angela Montoya

Interview with Angela Montoya

Interview by Tina

T: Carnival Fantástico is described as “whimsical, charming, and a little sinister.” What was the first spark of inspiration for creating a carnival that blends spectacle with darkness? Was there a specific image, emotion, or moment that started it all?

Angela: For me, carnivals have always held a curious magic. They are whimsical, charming, and a little sinister. Even at a young age, I was fascinated by the idea of an audience being wowed by this spectacular show where everything feels impossible and enchanted. Meanwhile, there is an entire world happening behind the scenes. A world that we, as the audience, aren’t meant to see. In Carnival Fantástico, I wanted to offer a glimpse into both worlds; the gilded and the tarnished.

The moment that solidified what sort of magic I wanted to use and where it would originate from, came from when I began to write about the Fun House. When my characters were surrounded by mirrors that distorted their reflections made to make them laugh, I began to wonder––what if something was watching them from behind the surface? That question led me down a rabbit hole of smoke and mirrors and a certain Aztec God who is known for his enchantments.

T: Esmeralda is a runaway posing as a fortune-teller — a role built on illusion. What drew you to crafting a heroine who survives through performance, wit, and strategic deception?

Angela: Esmeralda is the daughter of thieves, which makes her naturally strategic, but I wanted to dive in even deeper into her motivations. In her past, she was abandoned by her parents, and later, the boy she loved left her as well. Those wounds grew into a belief that she wasn’t worthy enough to love and that is why everyone eventually leaves her behind.

That belief shaped Esmeralda into someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to never feel abandoned again. It carries her throughout the entire story. She uses her wit as armor. If she is funny and charming, her friends won’t abandon her because she offers them laughter. If she becomes a showstopper, fans of the carnival will adore her forever, and she will have their adoration. If she proves her tenacity to the ringmaster, he will deem her worthy. All of these instincts can be traced back to her childhood heartbreaks.

T: Second-chance romance plays a big role here. When you brought Ignacio back into Esmeralda’s orbit, what emotional beat or scene did you know had to be in the book?

Angela: All I knew for certain was that there had to be a lot of banter between them. I love a snappy heroine paired with a heartsick hero. When you add Esmeralda’s normal brazen nature, with Ignacio’s stiff demeanor, sparks are bound to fly.

I also wanted these characters to mirror each other, in a sense. As I mentioned before, Esmeralda feels unworthy, and because of that, she moves through the world trying to prove everyone wrong. Ignacio feels unworthy as well. Not because he was left behind, but because he believes he can never live up to his father’s standards. Because of that, he has tried to be the perfect son. He changed who he was for his father’s approval.

When Ignacio and Esmeralda reunite and see how their past has shaped them, it is a mirror to their own actions in a way, and they help break that vicious cycle.

T: The carnival is practically a character itself, and it’s captivating. How did you go about building its magic system and atmosphere? And what was the most fun part about imagining a place where danger hides behind the sparkle?

Angela: Every part of building this world was so much fun. There’s something fascinating about a carnival. It definitely feels like a character in its own right. I wanted Carnival Fantástico to feel alive and in constant motion, because that restless energy, that sparkling chaos and sense of wonder, creates the perfect setting for devious villains to disappear into the spectacle. I had a blast adding in little glimpses of the magic everywhere I could. With tonics that turn a person into a chicken, bubble gum that shifts into the entrance ticket, and Big Top acts enchanted to be more death-defying than ever.

T: Your story weaves political intrigue with corruption, defection, and secrets, into a lush romantasy backdrop. How do you balance the intimate emotional threads with the larger world-shaping stakes?

Angela: I try to balance this by writing in waves. I take my time to build the outward tension. The rising wave might be knowing that Esmeralda’s childhood sweetheart has entered the carnival, the crest might be them spotting each other. The crash is what happens when they finally meet face to face. But then there is the aftermath––that quiet moment when the water recedes and prepares to come again. Those quieter moments are just as high stakes because within those spaces the characters can explore their feelings and confront their hurts, which is just as important, if not the most important part of their journey. 

T: The book has been compared to Caraval and The Night Circus, but with your own distinct style. What artistic influences shaped Carnival Fantástico like books, films, music, or even your love of show tunes?

Angela: I have so many influences for this book! Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith really sparked my love for the time period Carnival Fantástico is loosely based off of. Caraval and The Night Circus are obvious influences, but so are books like Hote Magnifique, Divine Rivals, These Violent Delights, and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute. Also, The Greatest Showman, Water for Elephants, and The Greatest Show on Earth. As far as a song, I played Would You Fall in Love with Me Again from the Epic over and over again to feel the angst I was hoping to bring to the page.

T: Esmeralda and Ignacio both carry ghosts of their pas, personal, familial, and romantic. What did writing their emotional wounds teach you as an author?

Angela: It taught me the power of emotional wounds––if we don’t heal them or learn how to live with them, they quietly affect every part of our lives. Understanding these characters’ wounds and digging into them, pushing on them, makes for great character growth. I grow as a human too. I get to put these characters in the worst sorts of situations and help them navigate their way through the ghosts and hopefully, come out better and stronger in the end. With every story I write, I learn how to be a better human through these characters.

T: Letters woven throughout the chapters add longing, mystery, and heartbreak. What inspired this storytelling choice, and how do you think it enhances the second-chance dynamic?

Angela: There are a few reasons why I chose to have letters woven throughout the story. Firstly, much of the main characters’ romance happens before the book even starts. So this was a good way to give readers a glimpse into their love story. This choice also highlighted the fact that they weren’t allowed to be friends when they were growing up. Ignacio was above her station in life, but he cared deeply for Esmeralda and found a way to speak to her. I also believe, for some of us, it is easier to share our true feelings and thoughts on the page instead of face to face. It offers a bit of a barrier, and that small separation gives us the freedom to be completely honest and show who we are at our core without fear of judgment.

T: Found family is a beloved element in fantasy romance. Which carnival character surprised you the most while writing? Was it someone who evolved in ways you didn’t expect?

Angela: I really love Esmeralda’s relationship with one of her best friends, Camila. For most of her life, Esmeralda believed she was only worthy if she was useful to someone. She thinks Camila only wants to be her friend because Esmeralda makes her laugh, so even when she’s hurting, Esmeralda hides behind clever remarks to keep Camila from seeing who she truly is. But Camila does see her for who she is—and she reminds Esmeralda that she doesn’t have to be anything other than herself. It’s Esmeralda that Camila loves, not what Esmeralda can offer.

T: You’ve said storytelling has always been magic to you. After writing Sinner’s Isle, A Cruel Thirst, and now Carnival Fantástico, how has your idea of “magic” in fiction or in life changed?

Angela: If anything, it’s expanded! I am even more obsessed with creating magical worlds now compared to when I started writing. I’m obsessed with the idea of pushing the envelope and flexing my world-building skills. Maybe I’m obsessed because I want magic to be real more than ever. Maybe I want to find a place where the heroine and her band of magical friends always beat the bad guys.

Until I find a hidden portal that will take me into an enchanted realm, I will have to settle for writing about magical places instead.