Latinx Heritage in Horror Month 2024: An Interview with Jessica L. Sparrow

What inspired you to start writing?

I’ve dreamed of being a writer since I could form sentences but what really ignited me was a Halloween short story I did back in the 5th grade. As I advanced through middle school, high school, and college, my passion for writing increased into an obsession almost. I truly felt that I would cease to breathe if I could not put pen to paper and bleed out my imagination all over the page. Writing is my sanctuary; it always has been a way for me to deal with my living nightmares.

Tell us about your work in 25 words or less.

I craft Puerto Rican Gothic tales, eerie thrillers, and soulful poetry that blends my Afro-Boriquena roots with cultural magic and folk tales.

What was it about the horror genre that drew you to it?

I come from a big family that loves watching horror movies and sharing our own supernatural experiences afterward, often scarier than the films themselves. These tales, while terrifying, always carried a moral or a hopeful message, which instilled in me faith in humanity and our ability to do what is right. That faint glimmer of hope in a cataclysmic situation is what drew me to the horror genre.

Do you make a conscious effort to include LatinX characters and/or themes in your writing and if so, what do you want to portray?

Initially, my writing was more about reflecting myself than about cultural representation. I created main characters as stand-ins for myself because I wanted to be the hero. But as a more experienced writer, I now consciously strive to depict LatinX characters of all shades, backgrounds, and sizes. My goal is to create fiction that reflects not just the physical attributes of Puerto Rican characters, but our entire culture. I want my LatinX characters to engage with the cuisines, rituals, customs, and all aspects of their culture, making their experiences authentically rich and representative of the diverse Latinx community.

What has writing horror taught you about the world and yourself?

Ah, would it be wrong for me to say that it has taught me that sometimes you must be the monster to be the hero? This of course in no way contradicts my feelings about it restoring my faith in humanity and the ability to do what’s right. Writing horror has shown me that when fighting the “villain” the hero delves deep into the darkest depths of their souls and does what needs to be done to win. That’s how I feel about the world and myself-sometimes we need to become just as villainous to fight the good fight.

How have you seen the horror genre change over the years? And how do you think it will continue to evolve?

I’m thrilled by how the horror genre has evolved. Growing up in the 80s, it was often undervalued and lacked diversity, with few voices from varied backgrounds. However, independent and self-publishing have transformed the landscape, prompting even major publishers to start taking notice although they still have a long way to go. Today, horror writers from around the world, spanning different cultures, LGBTQIA+ identities, and diverse experiences, enrich the genre. The change is positive, and as long as we support and celebrate diversity, horror will continue to grow and improve.

Time to daydream: what are some aspects of LatinX history or culture – stories from your childhood, historical events, etc — that you really want our genre to tackle? (Whether or not you’re the one to tackle them!)

This is probably where I start to depress a few folks here, but LatinX history is filled with so many tragic events that would be important to tackle in our genre. At least in my perspective when it comes to why I lean into horror anyway, the hopeful ending. I’d say let’s write about the hard-hitting truths of colonialism in Puerto Rico and how it has burrowed its way so deep into the roots of our island creating a blight of poverty that no local could recover from since 1492 to the “great migration” of the 1950s all the way to present day. I would like to see stories about people and/or families who are simultaneously fighting the evils of humanity and evil spirits.

Who are some of your favorite LatinX characters in horror?

I would have to say some of my favorites are Beatriz from La Hacienda by Isabel Cañas, Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Casiopea Tun and Hun-Kamé in Gods of Jade and Shadow, Paloma in Cina Pelayo’s The Shoemaker’s Magician, and Mario from Gabino Iglesia’s The Devil Takes You Home.

Who are some LatinX horror authors you recommend our audience check out?

I’d recommend Cina Pelayo, Gabino Iglesias, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Isabel Cañas, Pedro Iniguez, Augustina Bazterrica, Ana Castillo, Lilliam Rivera, and Carmen Maria Machado.

What is one piece of advice you would give horror authors today?

I get that horror is specific to each author and reader, but I think the best way to really get under your reader’s skin is to write about relatable experiences that both horrify and emotionally engage your audience. This is why diversity in horror matters in the horror genre so that everyone can have a story to relate to.

What is one piece of craft advice you’ve gotten that has really worked for you? Alternatively, what’s one that you’ve happily rejected?

The craft advice that has worked for me was to “show, don’t tell”. It really helped me to hone in on my character’s traits and present them through their dialogue and their actions as opposed to just telling the readers what the character’s reactions were to a situation. For instance, one of my characters has a nervous tick-she cracks her knuckles. It may be a simple everyday act for most, but it gives my readers an indication of her take on certain situations. Advice that I’ve happily rejected must be the good ‘ol “write what you know”. I rejected that advice for the longest because it essentially is telling me to stay in my own lane. No, a thousand times no. If I stayed in my own lane the one carved out for me by systemic limitations and the hard urban environment I grew up in, I would have never attempted to write Gothic fiction or explored worlds beyond my immediate experience. Stepping outside of my comfort zone allowed me to push boundaries in my craft.

And to the LatinX writers out there who are just getting started, what advice would you give them?

Remember, it was once illegal for our ancestors to read and write, and now we are telling their stories and ours. Let them hear and see you, loud and proud because you are their literary legacy. Pa’ Lante!

Jessica L. Sparrow is an author specializing in Puerto Rican Gothic fiction, supernatural thrillers, and poetry, drawing inspiration from her Afro-Borinquena heritage. Her cultural pride shines through in her short story Burning Slumber, a tribute to the Tainos. Debuting in the cosmic horror anthology by Raw Dog Screaming Press, Beyond the Bounds of Infinity, which launched in July 2024

This year, she released her collection of poems, Visions & Nightmares of a GothicRican, which is now available for purchase on Amazon. She will also be releasing the first book of her Sangre Mia series, The Amber Within, a 19th-century gothic thriller infused with Puerto Rican witchcraft, love, and matriarchal strength.

Among her collegiate community, Sparrow is recognized as a Puerto Rican Speaker, Educator, Author, and Bomba dancer. She enjoys sharing her Puerto Rican heritage with those eager to learn. In addition to her cultural endeavors, Sparrow also enjoys fostering the writing community. When she is not writing, speaking, or performing, she organizes and hosts Author Events in the DMV area.