Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Alexandra Villasante!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Alexandra Villasante
Alexandra Villasante’s Young Adult novel, The Grief Keeper, won the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Children’s Literature/Young Adult Fiction and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection. Alex is a contributor to several Young Adult short story anthologies and is a co-founder of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival and the Latinx Storytellers Conference. When she’s not writing or painting, Alex works for the Highlights Foundation. You can visit Alex at www.alexandravillasante.com
About the Book: FIREBLOOMS
An absorbing speculative Queer romance, set in a town that uses technology to prevent hate speech and bullying. From the LAMBDA Award-winning author of The Grief Keeper.
When seventeen-year-old Sebastian agrees to come to New Gault to care for his absent and abusive mother after her cancer diagnosis, he is not prepared for the strange new community that awaits him or the distressing state he finds his mother in. He tries to help, but despite being ill, her tongue is as sharp as ever, finding all Sebas’s tender places. But he promised his Abuela he’d try to make this work.
Unfortunately trying also means attending TECH, New Gault’s high school. His first day, he’s assigned to enthusiastic TECH student ambassador, Lu, who introduces him to all TECH can offer—a safe space, free from bullying. But all this safety and technology comes with a catch—not only do you have to watch what you say, but you have to stay within a strict word limit. Sebas declines. To him New Gault feels more like the Stepford Wives than freedom.
For Lu, who suffers from anxiety and has a history of being bullied, TECH is a lifeline somewhere they can be safe. They can’t understand why Sebas would refuse. When Sebas rejects TECH, it feels as if he’s rejecting Lu.
But when Sebas learns if he doesn’t accept the TECH phone and abide by the rules, his mother will be denied cancer treatment, he changes his tune. Slowly, Lu and Sebas form a friendship that morphs into something more, but the closer they get, the more Sebas challenges Lu’s beliefs about TECH and what it means to be safe. Meanwhile, Sebas contemplates how to forgive his dying mother for being no mother at all.
This thought-provoking, tender love story examines what we’re willing to give up to feel safe as two broken teens navigate emotional trauma and discover what blooms may come from the ashes.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
As usual, it was several things at once! I had been thinking a lot about technology and the good and not so good things that technology brings. I am no luddite – technology is a tool, like anything else. But knowing what we do about human tendencies, I’m always a little suspicious about technology being a solution for society’s ills. I also remembered an old quote from Chris Rock about, basically, if you want to control gun violence, make the bullets really expensive – make each bullet cost, like five thousand dollars. I know it was a joke, but it stuck with me and from that I thought, what if someone wanted to control hate speech, control bullying and came to the conclusion that the best way to do that was to make words really expensive? What would that look like, and how would it work – and how would it fail? That’s where the idea for Fireblooms started.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
The scene where Lu and Sebas first kiss, which, if you’ve seen the cover, is not really a spoiler! I wanted to get it so right, the longing, the trust, the wonder of it. And I don’t think of myself as a very romantic person so I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. After I’d written it, I sent it to a friend, NoNieqa Ramos, who texted me back almost immediately – a crown emoji and the title, ‘reina of the kissing scene’. Quite proud of that!
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
To trust myself with big, difficult things. Every time I’ve worried the subject matter or the form would be beyond me – from writing about immigration in The Grief Keeper, about anxiety and abusive family in Fireblooms, to challenging myself with short stories, like Other Fish from We Mostly Come Out at Night—I’ve been able to accomplish something that I wasn’t sure I could. I guess that’s part of my process; doubt followed by ‘say yes anyway’ followed by, hopefully, good things!
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
EVERYTHING. We were so lucky to get the same artist, Kaethe Butcher, who illustrated the cover of The Grief Keeper. Her work is absolutely magical, the way you can feel the moment between Sebas and Lu is like a promise. I am absolutely enchanted with the illustration and the design!
YABC: What are your favorite themes or tropes?
I love a slow burn romance – the angstier the better. Not so much ‘enemies to lovers’ but I do want there to be some resistance – I want that love story to be hard-won! I also really love found family – strong friendships and sibling stories!
YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
I listen to music *constantly* when I’m drafting – but I have to have silence when I’m revising! And I listen to mostly alternative music (this emo child never grew up!) but I’m really interested in Latin American alternative rock in Spanish – which is not something I had access to when I was growing up.
I do know that Lu’s favorite band is Perfume Genius – they just love the poetry and longing of those song lyrics. Sebas likes a lot of different music, but mostly post-punk bands like La Plebe and Fea.
YABC: Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing routine?
Does an endless supply of coffee count as an office supply???
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Curiosity is my superpower. I’m curious about everything, everyone -to a ridiculous degree! I want to know how things work, why things fall apart, how people find and leave love – I want to know it all! And being curious leads me to ask, What if? Which is the start of every good story.
YABC: How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public?
I trust my editors to want the same thing I want; the best book or short story possible. I’m not saying that makes getting their criticism any easier; it still feels terrible. But at least I know I’ll grow through thinking about their feedback. Criticism from the public is a different animal; I don’t know what fuels criticism from reviewers, it could be honest feeling or it could be homophobia, hatred of brown people or something else. So, I try to remind myself; Goodreads, customer reviews, those are not for *me*
Also, I will eat a whole jar of dulce de leche if you come after me and my books, so go ahead, it’s a win-win.
Title: FIREBLOOMS
Author: Alexandra Villasante
Release Date: September 30, 2025
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Age Range: 12 and up
~ Giveaway Details ~
Three (3) winners will receive a copy of FIREBLOOMS (Alexandra Villasante) ~US Only!
I love this cover and this book sounds great.
I’m excited for this one!