On this episode, debut author Elba Luz joins us to talk about her novel Build A Girlfriend, a queer rom-com inspired by a love of reading, K-pop, video games, and quiet resilience. We dive into her journey from working behind the scenes in publishing to launching her first book, the challenges of balancing a creative life with a full-time job in books, and what it means to keep going — even when the road to publication gets tough.

Follow Elba on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elballuz/ & check out her debut novel BUILD A GIRLFRIEND! https://bookshop.org/p/books/build-a-girlfriend-elba-luz/21523087?aid=113809&ean=9781665942515&listref=books-by-our-guests-characters-like-us

⏳ TIMESTAMPS ⌛️

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:00:28 - Guest Introduction: Elba Luz

00:01:14 - Opening Segment: Numbered Narratives

00:01:50 - The Hunger Games

00:05:00 - Elba's Writing Journey

00:09:21 - Influence of Video Games on Writing

00:11:19 - K-pop

00:13:15 - Inspiration Behind 'Build-A-Girlfriend'

00:15:34 - Incorporating Personal Experiences into Writing

00:17:12 - Influence of Family and Relationships in Writing

00:21:44 - Balancing Writing with a Full-Time Job in Publishing

00:27:03 - Advice for First-Time Authors

00:30:09 - Elba's Message to Readers

This video comes with captions and a transcript. Characters Like Us is a podcast dedicated to exploring the craft of diverse and inclusive writing in the books that we read and write.

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Music by Hafijur Rahman from Pixabay. Sound Effects from Pixabay.