“[The Writers’ League] has reminded me that everyone has a story to share, and their voice is the best voice to share it.”
-Mia Zozobrado
A member of the Writers’ League for one year and a current Writers’ League Board Member, Mia Zozobrado lives in Austin.
Scribe: In what genre(s) do you write?
Mia Zozobrado: I’d like to dabble in narrative nonfiction, YA fiction, op-eds . . . essentially, I’m keeping all the doors open! Except poetry. I’m a pretty terrible poet.
Scribe: What author would you most like to have a drink with, and what’s the first question you would ask them?
MZ: I’d have to go with Maggie Stiefvater, author of several YA series — including my personal favourite, The Raven Cycle saga. I think the first question I’d ask would be how she managed to write such a detailed teen romance story without it becoming a cliche “girl meets boy and falls in love” story. I am usually not a fan of romance-driven plots, and with The Raven Cycle, the romance is definitely a focus but it becomes so much more than that, and kept me turning pages until the end.
Scribe: If you were stranded on a deserted island, what book would you want to have with you to keep you sane?
MZ: I’m going to go with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. It’s the only Harry Potter book I’ve read differently every single time I’ve reread it.
Scribe: What have you learned from your association with the Writers’ League?
MZ: That there are a lot of people braver than me! Putting my writing out there has always given me a lot of anxiety — it’s so refreshing to be surrounded by a group of people who feel the same fears that I do and are running after their passions at full speed anyhow. It’s also reminded me that everyone has a story to share, and their voice is the best voice to share it. It truly is a phenomenally refreshing group of people to be surrounded by.
Scribe: Where do you see your writing taking you (or you taking it) in the future?
MZ: I’ve always been most enamored by fiction writing, specifically for young adults, but I think that sharing my story will take a more honest route. I wouldn’t be surprised to see myself gravitating more towards nonfiction.
Scribe: Here at the Writers’ League, we love sharing book recommendations. What’s one Texas-related book that has come out within the past year that you couldn’t put down?
MZ: I’m still reading it, but Chelsey Clammer’s Circadian is quite an interesting collection of essays — witty, personal, and consistently forcing a moment of pause and reflection at the end of each section.
Scribe: Is there anything else about you that you would like to share with the world?
MZ: I recently adopted a pup named Ronan, and he is absolutely wonderful!
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Thanks, Mia!
If you’re a Writers’ League member and you’d be interested in being interviewed for our Meet the Members feature, email us at member@writersleague.org for more information. It’s a great way for other members to get to know you and for you to share a bit about what you’re working on!
