A Q&A with Daniel Aleman | From Karis

Daniel Aleman is the award-winning author of Indivisible, a story about a family facing down deportation and the teen boy who has to work to try to hold everything together. Aleman’s upcoming novel, Brighter Than The Sun, takes a look at both immigration and what it’s like to be a teen who has to work to keep their family afloat.

In Brighter Than The Sun, main character Sol starts out living in Tijuana and going to school across the border in America — when life in both countries gets too complicated, she ends up moving in with her best friend in the States…away from her family.

I was honored to have a chance to interview Aleman via email, and asked him questions about the inspiration for the story, what brought him joy in writing it, and advice he has for aspiring authors. I think there’s a lot of great info in this interview!

KR: What drives you, aside from career obligations, to tell stories through words?

DA: Telling stories is something I have done for as long as I can remember. I don’t have clear memories of what prompted me to start writing, or why I chose to do it—it’s simply always been an important part of my identity. For me, writing is a way to understand myself and the world better. It’s what allows me to say the things that I’m not always able to say out loud, and reflect on the things that make me who I am.

KR: What was the inspiration behind Brighter Than The Sun?

DA: The idea for Brighter Than The Sun originated while I was still working on my debut, Indivisible. Writing my first novel was a process that involved a lot of research, and part of that meant speaking with people who had a multitude of different experiences surrounding immigration. I learned about kids who cross the US/Mexico border every day to go to school, and the thought of these children stuck with me. In some ways, this felt like a reflection of things that are deeply meaningful to me: The sacrifices we might make in order to have a good education, the concept of existing at the intersection of two different cultures and countries, the idea that some of these kids might feel immense pressure to succeed for their families. It’s also true that I have personal ties to Northern Mexico, since my mom’s entire family is from that region, which is what prompted me to travel to Tijuana and spend time near the border.

On a deeper level, I wanted to tell a story about loneliness—the main character is someone who feels inexplicably lonely at times, which is an experience I think many of us can relate to. Throughout the book, she discovers comfort and love in the people that surround her, finds power in her own voice, and learns that it’s okay to lean on others for support. All of these are things I needed to remind myself of, and things that I hope will inspire readers.

KR: What was the most challenging part of writing this book?

DA: I’d say it was overcoming what many authors refer to as “Second Book Syndrome.” Writing a second novel can be a challenging process for various reasons—including the pressure of working on deadline, and the anxiety of meeting the expectations of readers who loved our first books. What I found helpful was reminding myself of the reasons why I love writing in the first place. Once I started prioritizing my own passion for my craft, it all went a lot more smoothly.

KR: Was there an aspect of writing this book that brought you joy — can you share a little about it?

DA: Definitely! I wrote the first draft of this book right in the middle of the pandemic, during a time when the world felt devoid of hope, and getting lost in the story provided much-needed comfort. There are specific relationships in the book that I absolutely loved working on: The tender bond that Sol shares with her little brother; the kindness and affection shown to her by Nancy and Ari, the mother-daughter duo who take Sol in and accept her as part of their family; and the burgeoning romance that grows out of a friendship with Nick, one of Sol’s coworkers. There is so much sweetness in these interactions, and spending time with these characters was such a joyful experience during what was otherwise a difficult time.

KR: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

DA: The main thing I would say is: keep going! The path to becoming a published author can be filled with rejection and heartbreak, but trust me when I say that it is all part of the process. Every obstacle in your way will make you stronger and provide you with the tools and experience you’ll need to succeed further down the line. Also: create a writing routine that works for you, and read a lot—especially the kinds of books that you hope to publish one day.

As I read through the responses Daniel provided to my question, I found myself getting inspired to dive back into my own writing — I loved what he said about needing to remind himself of why he loves writing in the first place in order to defeat second-book syndrome. Listen, I’m so far from working on a second published book, but I have written seven novels and tried to query five of them and sometimes I just want to throw in the towel and give up because I feel so hopeless. In those moments, I need to remind myself that I’m doing this because I love writing, telling stories, and sharing them with others.

It sucks to be behind the starting line of my writing career and alreaady feel, sometimes, creatively burnt-out and devoid of hope and inspiration. Because I know it’s only going to get harder if I do find an agent and get book deals. So this reminder, to dive back into my why — and for me, similar to how it is for Daniel, writing is a way of understanding the world — is perfectly timed and so brilliant. What part of this interview resonated with you?

Thank you so much to Daniel for chatting with me! If you’re interested in Brighter Than The Sun, it’s out Tuesday, Mar. 21, 2023, and you can pre-order it now — that’s an affiliate link to Bookshop which will net me a small commission if you use it.