What is the title of your latest release?
CARNIVAL FANTASTICO
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
CARNIVAL FANTASTICO follows a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that the carnival is more sinister than it appears.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
When I think of the heyday of traveling carnivals, I think of the 1920s and 1930s. Everything seemed so rambunctious and gilded during that time period. Of course, this is a secondary world, so things aren’t exactly true to the roaring twenties. We have kings and royal commanders in the world of CARNIVAL FANTASTICO, and we have gods who meddle with people's lives.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely! I love Esmeralda’s sharp wit and adventurous spirit. I am super introverted and need an extrovert to force me out of my comfort zone. Esmeralda would happily give me the push I need.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Ignacio: Brave. Loyal. Pure-hearted.
Esmeralda: Bold. Clever. Chaotic.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Carnivals have a very interesting and not so spectacular history. Some of the acts and side shows weren’t great, to say the least.
I could never perform on an aerial hoop. I’ve watched enough YouTube videos to understand my body was not meant for such things.
I can do hard things (excluding swinging on hoops). What’s something you learned while writing this book?
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I like to get a rough draft out before I even think about editing. I call this my “zero” draft. I won't let a soul look at it because it is SO rough. This draft is basically me telling myself the story. Sometimes, I only write chunks of dialogue. When that draft is finished, I go back to the beginning and fix the major changes that I know need tweaking right away. THEN, I go back in again and start digging into the smaller details. I'll do this a few more times. I work in layers. Lots and lots of layers.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
Chips. That might sound so basic, but I love a good chip. The spicier, the more it stains my fingers, the better.
Describe your writing space/office!
When I’m feeling lazy, I sit at the dining room table, hunched over like a squirrel. When I want to feel magical, I go into my office. I live in the country, so I have to walk down a little path to get there, but I’m always so happy when I do. I have all of my trinkets in my office. Books I love, gifts from friends, artwork that makes me smile, memorabilia from book conventions I’ve gone to. It is my favorite space to be in when I write…when I’m not feeling lazy.
Who is an author you admire?
I could list about a hundred authors off the top of my head. I co-host a podcast called Of the Publishing Persuasion, and every week my friend Melanie Schubert (whom I deeply admire) and I interview authors. Without fail, the moment we stop recording, Melanie and I end up gushing about how incredible the author we just spoke with was. Authors are special humans. Honestly, I admire just about every author I know.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I have a few and for different reasons.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein. I read that collection of poetry so many times when I was a little girl. Something about the words and the small pictures stole my heart.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. This was the first book where I so clearly remember having my heart squeezed.
The Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This was my first taste of romantasy (before that was what it was called). It changed something in my brain. I became ravenous for stories like this.
The Infernal Devises Series by Cassandra Clare. My little sister and I bonded over these books, and it solidified my love for all things YA.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. I remember sitting on the living room floor when my agent called. My daughter—one of the biggest reasons I wanted to write YA novels with Latina heroines—saw the shock on my face and immediately came to sit beside me. She held my hand as the news sank in, then ran to get her dad and brother. It was a whirlwind experience for sure.
What made it even more surreal was that the first publisher to make an offer—eventually leading to an auction with several editors—was Joy Revolution. The imprint was founded by Nicola and David Yoon, two of my daughter’s favorite authors.
I really was winning that day.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Anything with romance in it. I also love a good thriller. My goal for 2026 is to read more horrors as well.
What’s your favorite movie?
Footloose. Mostly because it reminds me of my grandpa. My brothers and I watched it whenever we visited his house, and I cherish those memories.
What is your favorite season?
Fall. I am a spooky season girlie.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
My birthday is on Halloween so I’m usually busy running my kids around. Now that they are older and don’t need me, I like keeping it chill on my birthday. I don’t need a party. Just bring me snacks and wine.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m currently watching a K-drama called True Beauty and I’m LOVING it. It is so funny and so sweet. Some shows that wrecked me were Bon Appetit, Your Majesty and Alchemy of Souls. I also really enjoyed Predator: Badlands and the last season of Stranger Things.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Anything with cheese!
What do you do when you have free time?
My dream day is to grab some crunchy tacos from a local place called Taco Tree then head to the movies. If I’m feeling wild, I might grab a coffee afterwards and head to a bookstore. Most days, you can find me curled up on the couch watching K-dramas.
What can readers expect from you next?
I plan to celebrate the release of CARNIVAL FANTASTICO for as long as I can. But then, I need to get back to writing because I have a top-secret new project in the works!
An unputdownable romantasy following a young woman posing as fortune-teller at a magical traveling carnival, where the handsome boy who once broke her heart resurfaces and warns her that carnival is more sinister than it appears.
Welcome to the Carnival Fantástico, a spectacle of magic and mischief, and the perfect haven for a runaway. Using her tricks and razor-sharp wit, Esmeralda becomes the carnival's resident fortune-teller, aiming for the lead role in the Big Top Show. Success would mean freedom from her former employer, the commander of the King’s army.
Ignacio has defected from the army and is on the hunt for evidence of his father’s corruption. But the last thing he expects to find on his father’s trail of lies is the only girl he's ever loved, spinning false fortunes at a traveling carnival.
Perhaps fortune has thrown them together for a reason. They strike a deal: she’ll help him expose his father if he helps her secure the main act. But old feelings don’t die easily, and the commander’s secret isn’t the only thing they'll need to confront.
Fantasy | Young Adult [ Random House Childrens Books, On Sale: February 3, 2026, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9798217024469 / eISBN: 9798217024483 ]
Angela Montoya has been obsessed with the magic of storytelling since she was a little girl. She hasn’t seen a day without a book in her hand, a show tune in her mind, or a movie quote on her lips. Her debut novel, Sinner’s Isle, received multiple starred reviews. When she isn’t lost in the world of words, Angela can be found hiding away on her small farm in Northern California, where she’s busy bossing around her partner and their two children, as well as a host of animals.
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