Meet Jessica Parra | Attorney and Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Parra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
You know that saying “Seeing is Believing”? I think “Believing is Seeing” is as—if not more—powerful. Only by seeing other Latina young adult writers’ books on shelves did my mindset shift from “writing” to “writing for publication.”

Growing up I didn’t see many people that looked like me reflected in media. The Cuban or Cuban-American representation I had was mostly in movies or TV, and even then, we had actors like Desi Arnaz and Cameron Diaz—neither having my dark skin or textured hair.

Now, I’ve helped put one more Latina character with brown skin and curly hair on a bright, beautiful cover. If a young adult (or someone simply young at heart) walks into a bookstore or library and sees themselves reflected on the cover of RUBI RAMOS’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, and more importantly, comes away from the book feeling worthy of being the main character in their own story, then I’ve done my job.

I hope readers will enjoy the ride of my characters finding love, expressing and sharing parts of themselves and their history through food, and of sifting through dreams in order to learn not just to survive but to thrive; I hope this story makes readers laugh, reach for an extra slice of cake; but mostly, I hope Rubi reminds readers that they can always tamper with the recipes in their lives—and that there is never an expiration date for creating new ones.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have always loved story-telling but never thought the possibility of engaging in it professionally could be a reality for me. Ten years and two mentorship programs after graduating law school, I’m proud to say that RUBI RAMOS’S RECIPE FOR SUCCESS, my Young Adult debut novel that’s A CUBAN GIRL’S GUIDE TO TEA AND TOMORROW meets a SoCal Great British Bake Off, is on shelves!

Similar to the titular character Rubi—and so many other people in Socal—I lived the between-the-hyphens-first-gen life by honoring the sacrifices my parents made for me. Unlike Rubi, it took me a lot longer to differentiate between the dreams I inherited from my parents and the ones I held for myself. So when the “soufflés” in my life (not getting into my dream college, getting waitlisted to law school to name a few) collapsed, I rolled up my sleeves and baked another one. I never stopped to ask myself if I wanted to make a different dessert, let alone if I even liked soufflé in the first place.

I created Rubi when I needed a reminder that I could change the recipe of my life. No matter how hard it had been for my parents to obtain some of the ingredients for me, no matter how much time I’d invested in baking them, it was okay for me to adjust it. Or even start from scratch.

That’s the heart of my novel. And the biggest lesson I learned along the way: life is what you bake it.

I’m so excited to continue writing stories that center joy and Happily Ever Afters with Latine leads and casts that reflect the diversity abundant in Southern California. Writing love letters to the places and people I grew up with, showcasing how we are thriving—not just simply surviving—is something I want to keep showcasing in both my personal and professional life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A week in Socal is NOT enough! Since LA is known for its beaches though, I would def take them to visit Manhattan Beach. Because it is so close to LAX, you often see people on long layovers walking up the strand, their luggage crunching on the sandy pier, not even realizing that Olympic medalists are practicing volleyball few feet away! The food there is fantastic too. On a tiny beachfront, you have your pick of old-school dives, a 24-hour restaurant right in the heart of downtown (boasting an endless menu on those amazing maple syrup coated plastic pages), and very upscale dining. Arthur J has my favorite fries in LA, and Love and Salt my favorite pasta. I’ve also never left the beach without dolphin or seal sightings!

I’m also a proud Disney adult, so a visit to Disneyland and DCA is a must! Because I’m also a huge Star Wars nerd, my favorite place in the park is Batuu, Galaxy’s Edge. It’s great to people watch and eat. All the food is Star Wars themed. Lots of food coloring and experimental takes on tastes and textures. My favorite treat is the Black Caf—the galaxy far, far away’s version of a cold brew, topped with a thick layer of sweet cream cheese and cocoa puffs!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Publishing is a field with so much rejection, and Las Musas and Pitch Wars mentorship programs were among the first “Yeses” I received early in my publication journey. My mentors Nina Moreno and Hoda Agharazi not only helped me level up my story-telling skills, but they introduced me to an amazing community of writers. Getting a book on shelves takes a village—so community is a key ingredient to success in the industry. Gracias Nina and Hoda, I will forever be shouting you out! 

Website: https://www.jessicaparra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicatparra/

Other: You can email me at jessparrawrites@gmail.com and tell me about your favorite novels or update me on your Disney adventures, and Star Wars larping!

Image Credits
Sara at @bookishbegining Gabriel Torres Nola Fontanez Photography ArtbyToniii