Our guest on this podcast is Maan Gabriel (After Perfect, She Writes Press, October 2021). What if your protagonist is the hardest character to write because she's like your shadow self, working through events that might have happened to you if your life had taken a different path? That's what Maan experienced when she began journaling the thoughts that became this novel. Hear her take on how her Filipino-American heritage affected her publishing journey, how she signed with the first publisher she queried, and how Barnes & Noble has turned out to be her best sales avenue.

Maan Gabriel is a mom, wife, dreamer, writer, and advocate for women's stories in literature. She earned her BA in Communications from St. Scholastica's College in Manila and MPS in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. She has lived in Manila, Brussels, Dakar, and Mexico City. During the day, she works in strategic communications. Gabriel, along with her husband and son, currently calls suburban Washington DC home.

"I dream of a world filled with hope, where believing is as important as life itself, and where love can move mountains. This is in the very core of my stories, and I wish in more ways than one that I can inspire you to see the world as I see it … a fairy tale."