Welcome back to Author’s Bookshelf, our exclusive interview series where we dive into the literary worlds of today’s most interesting writers. In this edition, we sit down with talented debut novelist Anamely Salgado Reyes. Get ready to explore the inspirations that fuel her creativity and discover what treasured gems can be found on her shelves. We discussed everything from how Anamely organizes her books to keeping track of her TBR pile. Read on for an intimate conversation that promises to be as insightful as her writing.
Who is Anamely Salgado Reyes?
Anamely Salgado Reyes grew up straddling the Mexico-Texas border. Her writing is a literary fiesta that celebrates the richness of Mexican American culture and the universal themes of identity and belonging. Salgado Reyes infuses her storytelling with a deep appreciation for family, friendship, and the everyday magic that binds us all. She uses haunting narratives and a touch of magical realism, reminiscent of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and The House of the Spirits, to cast a spell on her readers.
Her debut novel, My Mother Cursed My Name, was released in July 2024. It is a bewitching tale that follows the lives of three generations of Mexican American women — Olvido, Angustias, and Felicitas — as they navigate the labyrinth of grief, generational trauma, and the quest for home. The Olivares women grapple with their tangled relationships and the legacies left by their ancestors, offering readers a heartwarming exploration of love, forgiveness, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.
There’s just one catch: Grandma Olvido is dead. And she believes the only way her spirit will cross over is if she resolves her unfinished business — ensuring Angustias is in a better place in life — but Felicitas is the only person who can see or hear her. My Mother Cursed My Name is like Gilmore Girls with a touch of magical realism.
The Interview Questions
Now, let’s get to the heart of it: our exclusive interview with Anamely Salgado Reyes! Enjoy this delightful peek into the mind and treasures of a truly enchanting author.
Do you organize your books a certain way?
I organize my books by genre. In the top right bookcase, I have short story collections, poetry collections, and books I consider classics. In the top left, I have books I bought in recent years, which are mostly adult literary fiction. The shelf beneath that has popular classic literature in English and Spanish, and the two bottom left shelves contain my young adult books, with the top holding mostly realistic fiction and the bottom holding mostly fantasy. Both bottom shelves have my oldest books: an encyclopedia and two art history book sets I inherited from my dad.
Do you have any special editions of your books on your shelves?
I have some first-edition Fear Street books I thrifted! I was a bit obsessed with this series in middle school, but financial constraints kept me from buying them (thank you public and school libraries). Finding any copies of these books feels like winning the lottery, and rereading them feels pretty great too.
What is your favorite book on your shelves?
My favorite book on my shelves is a Spanish edition of The Little Prince that my dad used to read to my sister and me before bedtime. My dad and that book are responsible for my love of storytelling.
Do you let your friends borrow your books?
I do let my friends borrow my books, which I would do more often if they lived closer, but usually, when I want a friend to read a book I loved, I send them a separate copy so they can build their own book collections.
How do you keep track of your TBR pile?
I only buy books if I’m going to read them right away, so my TBR pile never exceeds three books, and I don’t have to keep track of it.
Are you particular about the format of the book you purchase, hardcover or paperback, or whether they’re new or used?
I am not particular about the format of the books I purchase or whether they are new or used. Most of my adult fiction books are new (because they were published in the last five years), while my classics and YA books are thrifted (because some were out of print and/or were easily found in used bookstores). Some of my thrifted books are from public libraries and still have spine labels and checkout cards. I could take them off, but I like how it makes me feel connected to places I’ve never been and people I’ll never meet. I also like finding annotations and dedications in used books (I love gossip), though I never like to write on books myself.
Do you break your spines when you read paperbacks?
Not on purpose, but I don’t mind a broken spine. I think it gives a book character.
Are you someone who worries about sunlight exposure, how the books are aligned (vertical or horizontal), or if the pages are yellowed with age?
Some of my books are from the ’60s and ’70s, so I should care for them more, but I don’t do much other than not moving them around often.
If you have keepsakes, knickknacks, and trinkets on your shelves, which is your favorite?
My favorite trinket I keep on my shelf is a small, framed black-and-white photograph of my maternal grandfather that I keep on my “Classics” shelf. Neither he nor my grandmother went to school, so it reminds me of how lucky I am to have read books in school, in libraries, and at home, to have read in my free time and when I was supposed to be doing something else, to be able to read whatever I want whenever I want, and to write my own stories for others to read now.
What do you do when you run out of shelf space?
I haven’t run out of shelf space yet. I put books in front of, on top of, and in between each other so no space is wasted.
Adios, for now!
As we close the cover on this heartwarming interview, it’s clear that Anamely Salgado Reyes’s literary world is as magical and captivating as her writing. Her bookshelves contain a treasure trove of stories, each one a testament to her love for books and the power of storytelling. Thanks for the tour, Anamely!
Stay in touch with Anamely! Follow her on Instagram @anamelysalgado.
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