Q&A: Cassandra Ramos-Gomez, Author of ‘Lost on Doll Island’

We chat with author Cassandra Ramos-Gomez about Lost on Doll Island, which is a fast-paced debut middle grade horror packed with adventure about a Mexican American boy who starts hearing the voice of a haunted doll while visiting family in Mexico City.

Hi, Cassandra! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hello! I’m a Mexican-American author focused on creating middle grade and young adult fiction that centers Latinx experiences. I especially enjoy writing within the genres of horror and speculative fiction. I have a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in art history. My hobbies include painting, collecting bones, and playing video-games with my kids. And my debut book, Lost On Doll Island is an Indies Introduce selection.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

As a child, I enjoyed crafting elaborate stories during play—whether with my Barbies or my friends. I enjoyed the drama of telenovelas, and I wanted my games to feel the same. So, not surprisingly, I fell in love with reading and story-telling pretty quickly.

My love for writing came a bit later when I started keeping journals because I wanted to be like Harriet the Spy. I think, in the long run, this helped me develop a narrative voice.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: I’m sure there were many before this one, but the first book I remember going back to multiple times was a copy of Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales in third grade. I was particularly drawn to the sad story of the Little Mermaid, since the version I had known up until then was Disney. As Anne of Greene Gables would say, I got swept up in the “tragical romance” of it all.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Richard Peck’s Ghosts I Have Been was hugely influential for me. It’s about a young girl with the gift of “second-sight.” I would re-read the book a lot as a kid, and every time it felt like visiting with an old friend. The main character, Blossom Culp, has a fiery and authentic voice. And now, as an author, I aim to write characters that feel just as real and voicey.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: This one is not a children’s book or even fiction. It’s All the Living and the Dead by Hayley Campbell, a book that explores the people who have made death their life’s work (like embalmers, crime scene cleaners, and grave diggers). It’s a great exploration of the subject; but, it also offered one of the best descriptions of parenthood I have ever read: “To get deliberately pregnant feels like the most hopeful, reckless thing you can do to your heart. Parenthood, from what I can see, must be a mess of love and terror,” (p.162). As a mother of two, I feel that is extremely accurate.

Your debut novel, Lost on Doll Island, is out August 26^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Spooky, Mexican lore, fun, adventure

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect dolls, and lots of them! This middle grades horror will take the readers on a spooky journey across the canals of Xochimilco to an island of dolls and mystery—where the protagonist, Diego, sets out to find The Wish Doll in order to fulfill his desire to return to Texas and to the way things were before his parents’ divorce. One can expect creepy chills and adventure, and also a story of friendship and emotional growth.

Where did the inspiration for Lost on Doll Island come from?

The location in the book,  La Isla de las Muñecas, is a real island along the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City. The island is covered in creepy dolls, and the story of how they got there is almost as unsettling as the dolls themselves. The former owner of the island is said to have found a dead girl in the canals (and in some versions of the story, he failed to save her from drowning). The next day he found a doll in the same location, and he hung it up to honor the girl—and as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. Distraught by the experience, he continued to obsessivley collect and display any doll he found, for years, until the island was covered. Whether this story is true or not, the doll-covered island remains a dark tourist destination and it is the inspiration for this book. I wanted the kids in this story to experience the culture and history of the canals, while also getting into spooky doll hijinks.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

There was a lot I enjoyed researching for this book—Xochimilco, composite dolls, and Edison dolls—but, Axolotls were my fave. As part of their field trip, the children in the book visit a museum holding an axolotl festival. I wanted to include the animal because it is native to the canals, and I learned so much about them in my research. I had no idea they had such cool regenerative properties.

I also greatly enjoyed, writing Itzel, Diego’s brainy talkative neighbor, because I got to share so many fun facts through her.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Yes! Early in the first few drafts, the disembodied doll voice Diego hears was actually a living doll that he carried around with him. Unfortunatley, this skewed more comedic than scary. I revised the story, and I think it works much better this way—because it makes the reader question Diego’s state of mind as the voice grows more persistent.

Can you tell us a bit about your approach in weaving mental health into this middle grade read?

Throughout this story, Diego deals with a lot of anger and anxiety that he tries to repress, because his father has made him feel that this is what he needs to do to be a man. However, Diego learns that expressing his emotions can actually help him in many ways. Foremost, it opens him up to building real connections and friendships. This newfound trust and vulnerability allows him to lean on his friends when he needs them most on Doll Island.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I started to write seriously around 2019, after the birth of my second baby. I wrote a middle grades story that was way to short and needed a lot of work. Eventually in 2021, that story landed me two mentorships, one of which connected me with my now-agent, Sandra Proudman. We have worked on a few different submission projects together, and I couldn’t be happier with the direction my career has taken under her guidance.

What’s next for you?

Book two in the Doll Island series, Don’t Wake Up, is slated to come out next Fall! Meanwhile, I have a few upcoming book events to celebrate my debut. And, I currently have a YA project on sub. Fingers crossed that will find a home soon too!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I am slowly working my way through the other Indies Introduce picks, and so far I have loved Pacheco and The Witch of the Mountain by Juan E. Zambrano, a magical graphic novel with wonderful illustrations. I also have greatly enjoyed the world-building in An Embroidery of Souls by Ruby Martinez. There are many more titles I am looking forward to, including: Last Chance, Live! by Helena Heywood Henry, and An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros and Magic by Sarah J.Mendoca.

Will you be picking up Lost on Doll Island? Tell us in the comments below!