Q&A With Armando Lucas Correa

My fifth Q&A in the New Year is with International Bestselling author Armando Lucas Correa. Armando is the author of The German Girl, The Daughters Tale, & The Night Travelers. According to his bio on his website, Armando is an award winning journalist as well as an author and the recipient of several awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications, and The Society of Professional Journalism. 

Q: Armando when did you realize that your calling was to be an author and a journalist?

A: I am a reader who writes, even since I was a child. I first studied theater, became a theater and dance critic, studied journalism and published my first play in Cuba in 1985. When I arrived in the United States I worked as a reporter, then as an editor until I managed to publish my first book in 2009. I have had a lot of patience.

Q: I love it when authors can multi task whether it’s being a journalist having a podcast etc. I find it very impressive. How do you juggle being a journalist and an author?

A: The books I have written have always been under a lot of pressure. Not only at work, but at the family level. I have three children, and when I was writing The German Girl they were still small. I’m used to it. It’s about discipline, dedication.

Now that I’m a full-time writer we’ll see how I do.

 Q: What made you want to write historical fiction specifically? What advice do you give anyone wanting to write historical fiction?

A: My advice to anyone who wants to write is to read. Reading is the best school, no matter what genre you’re into. In the case of historical fiction, I don’t start writing until I’ve mastered the historical era to which I’m dedicating myself. It’s prep work that continues as you write.

Q: What advice do you give anyone struggling with writers block?

 A: I don’t believe in the writers block. To write, in my case, is to find the time and sit down to write. Now, I can’t have things to accomplish or be in a bad mood or be under a lot of worries. That would be the writers block for me. To sit down to write, I just need to have my mind dedicated to what I’m writing. If there is any kind of block for me, it’s simple: I unblock myself by reading.

Q: What advice do you give anyone wanting to go into the journalism field?

A: Journalism is writing. For journalism, as well as for the writer, it is important to read. Read everything, both fiction and non-fiction. A journalist has to be aware of what is going on around him and in the world.

Q: What advice do you give to new authors on how to deal with negative feedback whether that could be family and friends who aren’t supportive, trolls on social media and negative reviews?

A: I am open to all feedbacks, I even read all reviews, positive and negative. I learn from everyone and I don’t take them personally.

Q: Are you writing a new novel now? If so can you reveal any details?

A: I am writing a novel that for now will be called What We Once Were. It is inspired by the life of my grandmother, the daughter of Spanish immigrants who came to Cuba at the end of the 19th century. The novel is set in Guatanamo, Havana and New York, and will cover the entire 20th century.

Q: Does Hollywood have the rights to any of your novels?

A: Hollywood Gang Productions acquired the rights to The German Girl. It is supposed to go into production in late 2023.

Q: What was it like receiving awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications, and The Society of Professional Journalism? It must have been an honor.

A: Awards are an honor and an encouragement, even if one does not seek them.

Q: If you were to collaborate with another author, who would it be and why?

A: So far it has not occurred to me. Writing is a very solitary act. I can’t imagine writing with four hands

Q: What advice do you give anyone wanting to juggle being a journalist and an author?

A: Read. That is the best school.

Q: If you were to write a different genre which one would it be and why?

A: I don’t think in genres when I’m writing. The genre is always defined by the publisher and the marketing department of the publishing house.