Author Mona Alvarado Frazier joins us this week to discuss her young adult novel, The Garden of Second Chances

Author Name: Mona Alvarado Frazier

Book Title The Garden of Second Chances

Book Genre: Young Adult

Release Date: June 6, 2023

Publisher: SparkPress

Welcome Mona! How would you describe The Garden of Second Chances? 

In a fight for survival within the confines of a youth prison, Juana must navigate gang politics, the juvenile justice system and uncover the truth behind her abusive partner’s mysterious death, all while fighting for custody of her baby and striving to reclaim her freedom and reunite with her family.

What sparked the idea for this book?

People who are considered disadvantaged or unlikely to succeed, who face and overcome great odds to accomplish their goals, have always resonated with me. I drew on twenty-eight years of working inside a youth correctional facility to tell one girl’s story, reflecting themes many women face: trauma, abuse, mental health issues, and lack of resources. 

What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

Juana’s journey toward reclaiming her freedom highlights the human capacity for growth, change, and the opportunity for second chances. The story emphasizes her resilience and the importance of never giving up, even when faced with daunting challenges. It offers a message of hope and the possibility of rebuilding one’s life. I also wanted the novel to challenge preconceived notions and encourage empathy for people who’ve experienced domestic violence.

Any words of wisdom you give your pre-published writer self (or to a new writer)?

If you don’t have an MFA, you must take the time to learn to write in your genre. This means reading books in your genre, studying books on writing, finishing first drafts, finding an online or in-person critique group, rewriting, revising, and taking as many free or low-cost webinars as possible. There are several excellent free blog posts on plot, structure, and characterization written by accomplished writers. Try to write regularly, whatever that means to you. If you want to write and publish, it takes time and persistence.

Are you working on a new project? Please tell us about it.

I’m under contract for a historical novel, also a YA, tentatively titled A Bridge Home, and scheduled for December 2024.

The Vietnam War neared its end in 1972 but only began for seventeen-year-old Jacqui Bravo. After her father’s death, she fights for a better future while balancing the weight of her responsibilities. As she works as a night janitor to pay for her Catholic H.S. education, her dreams of a college scholarship are threatened when she discovers her tuition is in arrears. Her desperate attempts to earn extra money lead her to a job at a café, where she becomes entangled in suspicious errands orchestrated by an enigmatic waitress. With danger lurking in the shadows, Jacqui must navigate a treacherous path, risking everything she holds dear to protect her family, education, and her life.

Where can readers find you?

My website is www.alvaradofrazier.com, where readers can sign up for a monthly newsletter and receive the prequel to The Garden of Second Chances. Book news and a blog are also listed on the site. You can also find me on Instagram @m.alvaradofrazier.

Thank you, Mona! The Garden of Second Chances is out now.

The Garden of Second Chances

Juana, a seventeen-year-old mother, is sentenced to prison for murdering her husband. She claims she’s innocent—but no one believes her, including the prison staff and a gang leader in her block who torments her.

Undocumented and far from home and the people who love her, Juana has never felt more alone—or frightened. The threats she faces within prison are bad enough, but they pale in comparison to the threat coming from without: her husband’s family, bereaved and outraged at her alleged crime, is determined to take her baby from her forever.

Hemmed in on all sides, Juana is desperate to stay out of trouble and somehow find her way back to her daughter. Searching for answers, she lands in an unlikely place: a patch of ground in the prison yard that she decides to turn into a garden. Digging in the soil and nurturing plants gives her respite from the harassment she suffers in her block—and surfaces memories of her long-deceased mother. Courageous and iron-willed, Juana’s mamá would never, ever have given in or given up if she’d ended up in similar circumstances. Bolstered by this realization, Juana becomes determined to honor her mother’s legacy by proving her innocence and getting her daughter back. She can do it—she knows it. She just has to figure out how.