Today, we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Perez Marquez.
Hi Barbara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Queer Latine fiction writer, mostly known for my work in Middle Grade graphic novels and comics. I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and have wanted to be a writer since the 7th grade. In pursuit of that, I moved to New York in 2009 to seek a degree in Creative Writing, which culminated in an MFA in Creative Writing. After that, I moved to Baltimore, MD, and have been writing professionally since 2015.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been uncertain at times. Being a full-time writer, jobs can ebb and flow. While not easily predictable, I think being able to roll with those punches is part of the job. For a long time, I figured I’d need to have a full-time job to sustain a career as a writer. Luckily, with the help from my support systems, I was able to go fully into my writing career in 2019 and supplement it with part-time work as projects shift around. I think ultimately those supplemental jobs help me become a better writer, since I get to bring those experiences to what I write. On top of all that, the publishing market can be a maze to navigate, but again building that community of peers around me has guaranteed that I can find my way through it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in fiction and comics. I’ve always loved telling diverse stories, particularly with LGBTQIA+ themes. I’m most known for my work on The Cardboard Kingdom, a graphic novel series about a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary block, into the cardboard kingdom. We’ve gotten to present a full series throughout the three volumes, the last of which just came out in November 2023. Beyond that, I’ve had the opportunity to tell stories within some pre-existing franchises and even published a non-fiction chapbook, all of which people can find on my website. I’m most excited for the new books I’ve been working on, the next of which will be The Library of Memories, out in 2025.
What does success mean to you?
For me, it’s a moving target, not because it’s not attainable, but because we must always be aiming for more. I think we live in a day and age where doing what we WANT to do (particularly in creative fields) is the most attainable it’s ever been. There’s ample resources and ways to get to do those things, if only we seek out the ways to connect to others doing the same thing. As a writer, success can be as simple as being published, which is very doable. That’s why we always need new goals to work towards, not only to stay informed about what we do but also find new ways to be involved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mustachebabs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mustachebabs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mustachebabs
