I’m lucky to be offered all kinds of books from all kinds of authors and sadly I simply cannot accept them all for the blog, much as I’d like to. However, when Alejandro Mañon got in touch I realised I had a star in the making and although I wasn’t able to review, I was able to invite Ale onto Linda’s Book Bag to stay in with me.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Alejandro Mañon

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Alejandro and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Thank you for having me. It’s such an honour to be with you this evening.

It’s a pleasure to host you. Tell me, which of your books have you brought and why have you chosen it?

I have chosen to share the book I self-published last year titled Black Star because it’s the novel with which I identify the most so far.

This is because I have gone through some of the same struggles as my characters, especially James.

That sounds interesting. Tell me more.

In Black Star, you get introduced to the Quinns, who just recently moved from New York to Vermont. James soon goes through a thrilling adventure to uncover the secrets of his family while keeping his own to himself… Or at least tries to. Avoiding to face the truth and unmasking his deeper self is more complicated than he ever thought, especially when he’s living with the enemy.

I think looking inside ourselves is always challenging Ale.

I came up with the idea for this book because of the heartbreaking story of some of my loved ones who are severely addicted to drugs. I’ve always been curious as to why drug addicts behave the way they do. Still, I have always chickened out when drugs are in the same room, so thankfully, I’ve never been able to experience this for myself. Some of the events are based on my personal life and experiences when dating as a gay man who struggles with homophobia and stigmas in a developing country such as Mexico.

I know it’s often said that authors should write what they know but you seem to have had quite a few challenges yourself. I think staying away from the drugs is absolutely right. Far too easy to become addicted I think, and I’m sure being gay in a country like Mexico must be hard enough without further challenges.

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I love to read while listening to music, so I decided to bring a playlist with which you can enjoy the book better this evening.

I think that’s where youth is on your side Ale! I can’t do that listen to music and read. I like quiet to read. What sort of songs have you selected?

The songs I chose are pretty unsettling, and most are instrumental. Thus building up the tension in the series of events throughout the book. It immerses you in the book and can make you feel as if you were experiencing the story in person. You can find the playlist on Spotify with this link. Or if you’re an Apple Music user, you can use this one.

You’re making me feel old Ale! I didn’t know any of those pieces before we stayed in together!

Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about Black Star. I think it sounds fascinating. Now, you turn up the music and I’ll give Linda’s Book Bag readers a few more details about Black Star.

Black Star

Every family has their own set of rules, their own ways of communicating and some of them have an obscure secret that they desperately try to hide from others as if it came to light, all hope would be lost.

Meet the Quinns. They have the darkest secret of them all, and if they wanted their secret to remain as what it is, they would have to follow a list of simple rules:

Number one: You must not trust anyone (Not even your own family).

Number two: You must not speak out loud as someone could be listening to you.

Number three: You must get rid of all the evidence.

Number four: You must keep your friends close but your enemies even closer.

Number five: You must not rest until your darkest secret is buried six-feet below the ground.

Black Star is available for purchase here.

About Alejandro Mañon

Alejandro Mañon lives in Mexico City and is studying International Business at Anáhuac University. He works at his father’s company and does social service in college. Ale lives with his two siblings and his father because his parents got divorced when he was three.

Ale has been writing poems, short stories, and novels since he was thirteen. Writing has been a passion ever since. However, Ale faces difficulties since he’s dyslexic, and must triple-check his spelling every time. Many people have encouraged him to give up his dream, but he refuses to stop pursuing his dream of becoming a well-known author.

For further information, find Ale on Instagram.