[1] - Rouyer, Anne. “How did YA Become YA.” New York Public Library, 2015, www.nypl.org/blog/2015/04/20/how-did-ya-become-ya. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[2] - Milliot, Jim. “The PW Publishing Industry Salary Survey, 2019.” Publisher’s Weekly, 2019, www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/81718-the-pw-publishing-industry-salary-survey-2019.html. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[3] - SLJ Staff. “An Updated Look at Diversity in Children’s Books.” School Library Journal, 2019, www.slj.com/?detailStory=an-updated-look-at-diversity-in-childrens-books&utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=SLJTW&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=articles. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[4] - We Need Diverse Books. We Need Diverse Books, 2019, www.diversebooks.org/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[5] - Las Musas. Las Musas, 2019, www.lasmusasbooks.com/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[6] - Latinx Book Club. Latinx Book Club, 2019, www.latinxbkclub.wordpress.com/. Accessed 26 Nov. 2019.

[7] – “Moreno.” SurnameDB, 2019, www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Moreno. Accessed 28 Nov. 2019.

[8] – “Santos History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms.” House of Names, 2019, www.houseofnames.com/santos-family-crest. Accessed 28 Nov. 2019.

[9] – Crockett, Laura. “Deal Announcement: Nina Moreno, YA Contemporary.” Scribbles & Wanderlust, 2019, www.scribblesandwanderlust.com/2018/01/04/deal-announcement-nina-moreno-ya-contemporary/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2019.

[10] – Randolph, Samantha. “It’s Live!! Cover Reveal: LABYRINTH LOST by  Zoraida Córdova + Giveaway (US Only).” YA Books Central, 2019, www.yabookscentral.com/blog/it-s-live-cover-reveal-1-2. Accessed 5 Dec. 2019.

The full interview with Nina Moreno on Don’t Date Rosa Santos from December 3^rd, 2019.

What titles has Don't Date Rosa Santos had from the time of its writing to publication? I know when its deal was announced, it was called Saint Rosa of the Sea, I believe.

Just the two titles! It sold as Saint Rosa of the Sea which had been the title pretty much since the story came together.

What contributed to its changes in title? (i.e. what made Don't Date Rosa Santos favorable to Saint Rosa of the Sea--both for you and/or the publisher)

My publisher wanted to highlight the rom-com angle of the story and push that in marketing. It was important to them that readers knew this was a fun, romantic story starring Latinx characters. My editor had a running list of ideas with different keywords that would point to that feeling and she asked me and my agent for a lot of input on it. Since we couldn't do Saint Rosa, I wanted her whole name in the title, because it echoed that original title. Don't Date Rosa Santos was everyone's favorite from that list.

Don't Date Rosa Santos presents as very Latinx, solely based on the dust jacket. How do you hope teens will feel seeing this on the shelves in bookstores?

I love how Latinx it presents. Imagining a reader finding this sunshine cover with a name that maybe sounds like theirs gives me such a thrill. My greatest joy with this story has been hearing from readers who connected with the story elements and characters but also all the tiny details. The pieces of home, culture, and community are there for them. To find joy in, to share, to reclaim.

Also! Who contributed to Don't Date Rosa Santos' cover?

My editor asked me to share any pictures I'd used for inspiration while writing and she, along with the team, created different moodboards from those pictures along with ones they'd found. From those they created mockups that they shared with me before finally having the photoshoot. The photography of the model was by Michael Frost and Mary Claire Cruz designed the cover.