Rebel With Claws: Zoraida Córdova on the Pleasures of Nonconformity

The Reading Culture

“Why am I fighting this? Like, why am I fighting the thing that I want to write? For who? For like a teacher that I haven't seen in five years or ten years? For a critic who I don't know?” - Zoraida Córdova

Zoraida Córdova doesn’t care about what a book should be. When she writes, she’s interested in.. well… what she’s interested in. That means Zoraida doesn't prioritize following rules or meeting pre-set expectations. If she wants to write about sappy zombies, she will. If she wants to create a deep, profound novel, she will. Above all, she values creative freedom.

She has always made a way for herself and her spirit to shine through her work. Whether it’s writing for Star Wars or Disney’s Meant to Be collection, short stories for one of her anthologies about creatures like vampires, mermaids and faeries, or her epic novel “The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina," Zoraida keeps it fresh and original. And her readers love it! By following her own passions instead of trying to satisfy what she “should do,” Zoraida delivers something readers crave—authenticity.

Zoraida Córdova is an award-winning author celebrated for her genre-blending, magical tales like “Labyrinth Lost,” the first book in her Brooklyn Brujas series, which earned her an International Latino Book Award. Her versatility spans adult literary fiction, romance, young adult fiction, editing anthologies, and even adding a touch of romance to the Star Wars universe.

In this episode, Zoraida reflects on the importance of writing for yourself, shares the “about the author” blurb that changed her life, and details her tween years as a green-haired Wiccan screamo-punk (you can’t make this stuff up). Let’s just say that Zoraida’s commitment to rejecting the expectations placed on her began at an early age. (And she has the journals to prove it!)

***

For her reading challenge, Screw the Comfort Zone, Zoraida leans into her love of breaking the rules. To break free from her comfort zone. For her reading challenge, she selected a list of books she has read over the past few years that she adored but seemed "hard to pitch" to publishers because of how they defy convention. Difficult to pitch but still infinitely loveable. 🤩Learn more and download Zoraida’s recommended reading list at thereadingculturepod.com/zoraida-córdova.

***

Once again, this episode's Beanstack Featured Librarian is Lexi Whitehorn, literacy specialist for the North Dakota State Library. This time, she tells us about some of the fun ways she piqued kids’ interest in new books when she served as a school librarian.

Show Chapters

Chapter 1 - Missing Magic

Chapter 2 - I’m Wiccan Now, Mom.

Chapter 3 - In the Forests of the Night

Chapter 4 - There’s Nothing Wrong with Love

Chapter 5 - Step Outside

Chapter 6 - Screw the Comfort Zone

Chapter 7 - Beanstack Featured Librarian

Links

• The Reading Culture
• The Reading Culture Newsletter Signup
• Zoraida Córdova
• In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes | Goodreads
• North Dakota State Library
• Follow The Reading Culture on Instagram (for giveaways and bonus content)
• Beanstack resources to build your community’s reading culture
• Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Host: Jordan Lloyd Bookey

Producers: Jackie Lamport and Lower Street Media

Script Editors: Josia Lamberto-Egan, Jackie Lamport, Jordan Lloyd Bookey