LUPITA’S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS

Today I welcome my amiga, fellow Musa, and big supporter of the writing community Steena Hernandez to the blog to talk about her upcoming picture book Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers. Illustrated by Melissa Castillo and published by Beaming Books, this lovely book will hit the shelves on October 22, 2024.

As someone who used to dance ballet and loved it, reading this book was very special and I felt very connected, so I’m really excited to be able to have this conversation with Steena.

A bit about Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers (from the publisher):

Lupita’s big ballet recital is approaching. The music is perfect. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don’t match her skin tone. Lupita searches for the right pair only to discover it will take hard work–and messy measures–in order for her shoes to dance with her. Inspired by the author’s own experiences as a Latina dancer, Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers is a charming story filled with determination. The final few spreads teach readers about the history of ballet slippers as well as the crucial changes the industry has seen for dancers of all races and ethnicities.

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Now, on to our interview:

M. Steena, I’m so glad to have this chance to chat about your beautiful book! Can you share what inspired you to write this story and how does it connect to your own experience as a dancer?

S. I started dancing tap, jazz, and ballet at the young age of three. I performed in many dance recitals and as I got older, I attended dance conventions and competitions. Dance was a huge part of my childhood, and I also went on to study it in college, where I majored in music, theatre, and dance with a BFA. Unfortunately, I didn’t grow up in a diverse area, and I was the only Latina dancer in my company at my dance studio. It wasn’t necessarily a negative thing for me, and if anything, I embraced being different and felt like I stood out on stage (in a good way). It wasn’t until I was at a dance convention and I saw a small group of dancers of color “pancaking” their ballet slippers, that I realized my shoes didn’t match me either. While writing this story, I wanted to capture some of those moments and experiences.

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M. How lovely that you are able to share your experience through this story. I think that being able to tap into our own experiences as writers really makes our stories more authentic and that shows on the pages. Can you describe Lupita and why was it important for you to create her that way?

S. Lupita is passionate and loves ballet with all her heart. As Lupita prepares for her recital, she demonstrates her determination and dedication to dance while practicing and working hard each day. Lupita shows responsibility when she works to earn enough money to buy her own pair of ballet slippers. I hoped that creating her this way would bring an emotional connection to the story as she searches for her perfect pair of ballet slippers. I feel that all of Lupita’s characteristics reinforce positive thinking and are important for young readers.

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M. I really loved Lupita’s determination and drive to solve her problem by herself! How did you come up with the solution and the way to get there?

S. Thanks! I love this question, because it brings up the best part of the process, which was working with my amazing editor! She suggested that Lupita have more agency in the story, and we talked through a few ways to get there. In one of my rounds of edits, I experimented with a few ideas of how Lupita was going to save up the money for her slippers, but I wanted them to be realistic, as in how a kid would actually be able to do this. I imagined my own kids in the same situation and the kinds of things they could do to earn money. It was rewarding to see that Lupita had solved her own problem.

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M. I think that many kids will be able to relate to Lupita’s determination and hard work to achieve her dreams. Can you share what was your favorite scene to write in this story and which one was the most challenging?

S. My favorite scene in the story was one that I wrote early on in the drafting process. Lupita dreams of dancing freely in her slippers and prancing like a lioness—“shiny, bronze, and graceful.” When she wakes up, she feels proud of her own brown skin. I’ve always been fascinated with my dreams, and it was fun to incorporate the sequence in a picture book. It was also a moment that felt freeing to write, because perhaps somewhere deep inside, it’s the way I imagined being on stage as a child.

I would say the most challenging part was deciding how the story would end. There were a few ideas which I also discussed with my editor, and it took some brainstorming and revisions to get that section tight. I hope that readers will enjoy the outcome and that Lupita’s story will resonate with them.

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M. I love how creating a book is really a team’s effort, and how editors really bring a lot of inspiration to the table as well. How was it for you to meet Lupita for the first time, when you saw the illustrations by Melissa Castillo?

S. Oh, I know I say every part of the experience is my favorite, but this is really the most fun of all! I’ll never forget seeing Melissa Castillo’s beautiful illustrations of Lupita for the first time. There were happy tears and I felt like dancing and doing a grand jeté too. I loved how Lupita’s expressions and her dance moves were on pointe—pun intended! Watching Lupita come to life was so exciting and I absolutely adore the cover! I can’t wait to hold a final copy in my hands.

Thank you so much, Mariana, for having me on your blog!

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Steena, I’m so happy for you! And I agree, meeting your characters is definitely a special milestone in our author’s journeys. One that is never forgotten.

Amiga, your book is really beautiful and its message is so inspiring. I truly wish you the best with this project and I can’t wait to see what else comes for you in the future.

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STEENA’S BIO

Steena Hernandez is a homeschool mother of two children and lives in San Antonio, TX. She’s inspired by her Mexican American culture and she hopes that readers will see themselves in her stories. Her debut picture book, Lupita’s Brown Ballet Slippers, releases October 22, 2024 with Beaming Books.

Twitter: @HernandezSteena 

IG: @steenahernandez   

Thanks for reading!

M

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📸 Cover photo by Kuya Yus.