Discusses Her Novels and Creative Process
Lindsey-Anne DeSousa (Pontes) shares her journey from overcoming reading challenges to writing novels, discussing her inspirations, creative process, and balancing a full-time job with her passion for storytelling.
Lindsey-Anne, a talented author hailing from Cambridge, Ontario, has captivated readers with her unique storytelling and compelling characters. Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Lindsey-Anne balances her full-time career as a Dental Assistant with her passion for writing. Her debut novel, “Let Me Save You,” introduces readers to a world inspired by the emotionally charged storytelling of Japanese manga, while her upcoming release, “Walking With Nothing,” promises to delve even deeper into themes of identity and resilience. Lindsey-Anne’s ability to weave intricate narratives that resonate with readers is a testament to her skill and dedication as a writer. Her works not only entertain but also offer profound insights into the human experience, making her a remarkable voice in contemporary literature.
In this exclusive interview with Reader’s House Magazine, Lindsey-Anne shares her journey from overcoming reading challenges in her youth to becoming a published author. She discusses the influence of manga and anime on her writing, the importance of a conducive creative environment, and the delicate balance of managing a full-time job alongside her literary pursuits. Join us as we explore the inspirations and aspirations of this rising author, whose stories continue to touch the hearts of readers worldwide.
Let Me Save You introduces readers to the emotionally charged storytelling often found in Japanese manga. What inspired you to bring elements of manga into your debut novel, and how did your love for manga and anime shape the characters and themes in the book?
I grew up with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) in elementary school for reading and writing, so found reading extremely difficult. I eventually overcame the IEP in grade 7/8, but only after the librarian at my school started bringing in manga for us to read. Manga was easier for me to understand because there were pictures, alongside words, to describe scenes/ characters. I ended up reading all the manga in my school library, moving onto and devouring the manga selection at the public library.
Every time I thought up stories/ characters in my head, I always pictured them in Japan with manga/ anime vibes. To me, someone who only read manga for most of her childhood/ teenage years (and even now to this day), I enjoyed the way the stories in them were told and wanted to recreate a book with the same feeling. I cannot draw, so I chose to write my story as a novel.
Your second novel, Walking With Nothing, is set to release soon. How does this story differ from Let Me Save You, and what can readers expect in terms of character development and emotional depth?
My second novel, Walking With Nothing, will be released on September 1st, 2024. This story is told from a male POV, different from my first book which was a female POV.
This YA/ New Adult, Romance Fiction story follows a young adult, Riku Nakajima, who has been dealt a crappy hand in life. He has had to endure child abuse/ neglect, foster care and adoption type scenarios, all as he tries to navigate life somewhat alone. Riku relies on his best friend to help him navigate life by keeping him on the right path, until one day Riku betrays his best friend in an unredeemable way. As Riku tries to deal with his regretful mistake, he meets a girl, Hinata Tachibana, who enters his life at full storm and asks nothing of him, while also asking for everything.
You’ve mentioned that you love spending time at Café O, a small café in Kitchener, Ontario, while writing, editing, and reading. How important is the environment for your creative process, and what role does it play in your ability to craft stories?
Café O was a miracle I happened to stumble upon one day and couldn’t imagine life now without it. The environment is welcoming and the people I have met there are now like family, both staff and customers. Though I wrote Let Me Save You at home, I could absolutely not write Walking With Nothing there. My home environment changed and it cramped my writing capability, so I bought a laptop and took my writing elsewhere. That was probably the best decision I ever made for my writing career. It allowed me designated time to focus solely on writing without getting distracted by people/ tasks at home.
As someone who balances a full-time job as a Dental Assistant with writing, how do you manage your time between these two demanding roles? What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are also juggling full-time jobs?
Juggling a full-time job while writing is hard – I won’t lie. I found it easier to designated a specific day of the week/ timeframe (for me it was Fridays from 2-5pm) where I would go to Café O, alone, and just write whatever wanted to be written that day. Sometimes I would write a whole chapter, sometimes it would just be a page or a simple paragraph. Writing anything down is a success in my book, no matter how insignificant you think it may be.
Your characters often deal with complex emotions and difficult circumstances. How do your own experiences and passions, such as playing Pokémon, watching Disney, and riding motorcycles, influence the way you build and develop your characters?
This question is funny because my answer is – they don’t. The characters and/or hard topics I write about have never actually happened to me personally, or to anyone in my close family/ friend circle. I like reading books that are very different from my life circumstances, therefore, I also like writing them.
I will say there are definitely traces of my personality throughout both books, but only in ways where people closest to me may notice. I’m a bit hot-headed and quick to judge, just like Nila Izawa’s brother, Kenji, is in Let Me Save You. I also love to ride my motorcycle, making sure I added that trait/ hobby to Riku Nakajima, the main character in Walking With Nothing.
Let Me Save You and Walking With Nothing both touch on themes of adolescence, identity, and overcoming adversity. What message or impact do you hope your readers take away from your stories, particularly those who may be facing similar challenges?
This is a question I’ve never given much thought to before. I have always written my stories because I wanted to, not because I was thinking of other people or hoping they got something out of it except for “Wow, that was a good book!”
Because Walking With Nothing touches upon more sensitive topics, I think I would like readers to take this away from it – it’s okay to ask for help! I personally find it very hard to ask for help, and know I should ask for it more often, but it’s hard to do. Riku, the main character, is faced with one challenge after another, challenges he feels like he should be able to handle by himself because he’s been “alone” for majority of his life. So, by reading Riku’s story, I’m hoping by the end readers can see that no one is ever truly “alone,” and that asking for help is beyond okay, especially when you need it.
