I was subjected to a sexual assault by a colleague. That was hard to write about and remember.

Yvonne Martinez – 16 September 2025

The Back Flap

As soon as courses at Harvard begin, Ana, a White female, finds herself being stalked by Aaron, a Black male classmate. Word quickly gets out to the rest of the cohort—but not wanting to get anyone kicked out, Ana refuses to name names. With their program director insisting there’s nothing she can do to intervene if no one will name the perpetrator, the class becomes engulfed in a campaign to protect Ana that splits the group into two camps. Some of the men join the women to fight the harassment; some of the women join the harassers. In short order, the conflict becomes a fight for power that divides along race, sex, LGBTQ, and class lines—mirroring the heartbreaking history of the labor movement, and serving as a precursor to our current political landscape.

A galvanizing behind-the-scenes look at the labor movement of the 1990s, Scabmuggers is ultimately a triumphant tale of women’s empowerment. Ana and her friends may be outnumbered—but they won’t go down without a fight.

About the book

What is the book about?

At Harvard we fought a Trumpian Bully and Won. It’s about a campaign I led.

When did you start writing the book?

The book started out as a screenplay for my Master’s Project in 1995. It became a play. In 2024 it became an autobiographical novel.

How long did it take you to write it?

The screenplay took a matter of weeks to write I wrote when I got back from Harvard. I wrote it because I thought no one would believe me. The play took longer. The autobiographical novel took several months.

Where did you get the idea from?

My actual lived experience in a campaign fight against an abusive bully at an Executive Program of Trade Unionists at Harvard University.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

Yes. I was subjected to a sexual assault by a colleague. That was hard to write about and remember.

What came easily?

The political dialogue.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

They are based on very real people.

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?

Harper Lee; Garcia Marquez; Toni Morrison; Alice Walker.

Do you have a target reader?

Any person or persons who find themselves in a situation where they are outgunned/outnumbered and looking for a way out of no way.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I try to block out a couple/three hours most days of the week to write or to do the work of writing; research, book promotion…

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

My first book Someday Mija, You’ll Learn the Difference Between A Whore and A Working Woman was a collection of autobiographical essays. I wrote one essay at a time over 20 years. The second book Scabmuggers was a novel adapted from a screenplay.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I edit as I go along.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Yes, I hired a professional editor. I was fortunate to be able to work with the same editor for both books.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

No, I like silence.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No.

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

The accessibility to getting my book professionally produced, reviewed and out in the world. It was an easy decision to bypass the traditional publishing behemoth to get my book to my audience. It was a gamble that paid off. I didn’t know at first how far I would get.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was done professionally.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I have a publicist. My most successful marketing effort is Facebook ads.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Don’t give up.

About You

Where did you grow up?

Salt Lake City/South Central and Boyle Heights LA

Where do you live now?

Berkeley CA.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I have a sitting practice that allows me refresh, renew and restart.

What are you working on now?

The story of my great grandfather, Cirilo Rico, the so called “Millard Bandit” who was killed by a posse of 90 men in Delta, Utah a little over 100 years ago in 1922.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of Scabmuggers from Amazon US.