I wrote this book because I wanted to explore how my upbringing and the political and historical context had contributed to my excesses.
Isidra Mencos – 13 October 2022
The Back Flap
María Isidra is a proper Catholic girl raised in 1960s Spain by a strong matriarch during a repressive dictatorship. Early sexual trauma and a hefty dose of fear keep her in line for much of her childhood, but also lead her to live a double life. In her home, there is no discussing the needs of her growing body. In the street, kissing in public is forbidden.
Upon the dictator’s death in 1975, Spain bursts wide open, giving way to democracy and a cultural revolution. Barcelona’s vibrant downtown and its new freedoms seduce María Isidra. She dives into a world of activism, communal living, literature, counterculture, open sexuality, and alcohol.
And yet she knows something is missing. Longing to reconnect with her body—from which she has felt estranged since childhood—she finds a surprising home in a rundown salsa club, where the lush rhythm sparks a deep wave of healing. Transformed, she sets off on a series of sexual and romantic misadventures, in search for what she has always found painfully elusive: true intimacy.
Promenade of Desire is a rich journey into the life of a woman once contained, who finds a way to set herself free.
About the book
What is the book about?
The book narrates my journey from repression to liberation in tandem with Spain’s transition from dictatorship to democracy. As I experiment with the new freedoms afforded by the death of the dictator, my passion for books and salsa dancing sustain me as I seek to find out what it means to feel lustful and loved and reclaim my whole self. It’s a coming of age story of sexual awakening paired with Spain’s sexual and political awakening.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing some scattered scenes in 2015 and I focused in earnest in 2016, after I quit my corporate job.
How long did it take you to write it?
Six and a half years, on and off.
Where did you get the idea from?
I lived through a period of enormous and quick change in Spain. We went from not being able to kiss in public to extreme liberalism in a matter of months. Drunk on freedom, some of the youth couldn’t cope. There was an epidemic of heroin, AIDS, and even suicides that affected many of my friends and acquaintances. I didn’t go that far, but I spent a good stretch of my 20s self-destructing via alcohol and unsatisfactory promiscuity. I wrote this book because I wanted to explore how my upbringing and the political and historical context had contributed to my excesses.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Absolutely! I enjoyed writing about my childhood, but I got stuck once I started on my twenties. Perhaps there was some remnant of shame that I needed to overcome to write with the honesty and rawness I desired. At that point, I hired a coach because I knew if I paid her some money, I would force myself to write.
What came easily?
Some of the childhood scenes came easy to me, almost in a trance. Of course, later I refined them but there are pages that didn’t change much at all.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The characters are real since it’s a memoir.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I love authors who tell “small” stories in great detail, like Anne Tyler or Elizabeth Strout. You don’t need to have huge dramas and conflict to write a good book. The everyday drama of family life is enough if you are able to describe it vividly and delve deep into the hidden conflicts. I think that type of writing is my biggest influence. In memoir, I love two very distinct styles. On the one hand, smooth and engaging, “classic” storytelling, like Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes, or Mary Karr’s The Liar’s Club. Then, I love to read experimental work, like Gina Frangello’s Blow the House Down or Carmen Maria Machado’s In the Dream House. My biggest literary crush right now is Melissa Febos. Everything she writes enthralls me. But my style tends more toward classic storytelling, with lots of historical context.
Do you have a target reader?
I think this particular work has several target readers: Boomer women who went through a similar experience of growing up repressed and finding liberation in the 60s (although my memoir is from later years); and millennial women who just went or are going through a very similar experience to the one I had: confusion in love, sex, and career. Also those who are still fighting the chains of religious, sexual, or familial repression!
I also think that people who love history, and people who love Spain and Barcelona will enjoy this book, because the city is another character in the novel, and the historical context is very strong.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I try to sit daily in the morning for a minimum of two hours. I don’t have a word number daily goal. It’s about putting in the time, however many words happen in that time.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I have outlined essays. For this memoir I did some rough outlining of the plot, because I wanted to make sure I would keep the historical parallel alive throughout. So it was more of a spreadsheet listing plot points and historical references side by side. I did lots of outlines later on when I decided to move from a chronological to an asynchronous narrative. That was a difficult process!
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I tend to edit quite a lot as I go, and I usually start the day by editing what I wrote the day before. I want to experiment more with not editing at all, but so far, this method has worked for me. It gets my juices going in the morning.
Did you hire a professional editor?
I did. I actually hired two. One for a first developmental commentary, and then a different one after I changed the structure of the memoir to asynchronous. I wanted fresh eyes who would tell me if the new structure worked.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
I don’t because I wouldn’t even hear it. My concentration powers are pretty strong
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did two small rounds of submissions, and I got some interest, but it ultimately didn’t work out. At that point, knowing the memoir market was quite saturated and it would be extremely hard to sell it, I decided to go indie.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
As I mentioned, I decided it fairly early into the submission process. I didn’t want to waste one year submitting, and then another year trying to get the book sold through the agent. I consulted an author who had published with She Writes Press, and she told me she had a great experience with them, so I applied, and they accepted my book in Track 1 (ready for publication). She Writes Press has a great reputation and has won many awards, so I knew I was in good hands.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
My publisher got it done professionally.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I hired a publicist and I’ve taken many marketing courses and webinars. I also worked with a social media consultant for a couple of months, so I do have a certain amount of planning and lots of thought into the marketing process.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Whether you publish yourself, or publish through a hybrid or a small indie, make sure your book design is top notch. People buy the book often for its cover, title and summary (aside from reviews on Amazon or Goodreads), so all those elements need to be engaging and impeccable. Also, consider a marketing budget for ads, and a branding consultant, so you know how to present yourself and your book in the best possible light.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Barcelona, Spain. I moved to the US to study a PhD at UC Berkeley, then I got married to an American, and I stayed here.
Where do you live now?
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
What would you like readers to know about you?
Becoming a writer had been a lifelong dream. I wrote on and off through the years, until I finally had the courage to commit seriously to the craft. It’s never too late to pursue your dreams.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m focused on the launch of my memoir, but I have another book half baked. It’s a book of personal essays entitled Mandala Way, about the many selves we live behind as we grow and evolve.
End of Interview:
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