Miguel Lopez de Leon
Creates Enchanting Adventures for Young Readers
by Melissa Fales
Each of the 10 books award-winning author Miguel Lopez de Leon has written is very different, but the common themes that echo throughout his work include equality, inclusivity, and self-confidence. “At first, the main characters in my books weren’t sure of themselves and their abilities,” says de Leon. “But after overcoming obstacles, each finds out what they were truly capable of. If that helps my readers—especially children—believe in themselves more, that would be a mission accomplished for me.”
De Leon traces his love of fantasy back to the comic books his older brother collected and he devoured. “It was so much fun to imagine having all kinds of superpowers,” he says. “At the time, I was just having fun, but those comic books opened up the normalization for me of imagining things at that capacity. After loving comic books so much, it was not so far-fetched to imagine enchanted weapons and quests and adventures.” As an author, de Leon has chosen to write in the fantasy genre he loved so much as a boy. “It’s a great genre to be able to convey whatever your message is,” he says. “It’s easier for the reader to digest and accept because it’s fantasy. It doesn’t come off as heavy or as preaching because it’s presented in a world removed from ours.”
As a teen, de Leon was the editor-in-chief of his high school magazine. He went on to graduate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts where he sharpened his short story and screenwriting skills. Many of his short stories have been published in anthologies and magazines, and one—A Working Professional—earned first place in a writing contest sponsored by Writer’s Digest magazine.
De Leon’s debut novel, Galadria: Peter Huddleston & the Rites of Passage, was named a Best Book of 2014 by Kirkus Reviews. The action-packed story follows a boy who discovers he’s the rightful heir to a realm. But before he can claim what’s his, he’ll need to prove himself by completing four challenging quests established in ancient times. Other books in the Galadria trilogy include Galadria: Peter Huddleston & The Mists of the Three Lakes and Galadria: Peter Huddleston & The Knights of the Leaf. De Leon’s books The Unicorn and Carry the Knight, were also both released in 2014.
The Covens of Elmeeria, released in 2017, won a silver medal at the 2017-2018 Nautilus Book Awards in the Middle Grade Fiction category and took second place at the 2017-2018 Reader Views Literary Awards in the Young Adult Fiction category. It follows the tale of a princess who must enlist the help of a group of witches, who have been her sworn enemies, to help her defend against a mighty army on the move.
De Leon’s The Light Dweller was also released in 2017. The book is about a magical underground city and the boy who must try to save it from destruction, even as he tries to save himself. The Light Dweller earned a silver medal at the 2017-2018 Nautilus Book Awards in the Middle Grade Fiction category and took second place at the 2017-2018 Reader Views Literary Awards in the Fantasy category. The book was also a finalist at the 2018 National Indie Excellence Awards in the Fantasy category.
In 2018, De Leon released Babble Magic, a magical tale about a wizard who tries to teach a squirrel how to speak. The book earned a First Runner-Up finish at the 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards in Science Fiction & Fantasy and won an Honorable Mention at the 2018-2019 Reader Views Literary Awards in the Teen category.
De Leon’s 2018 book, It Took Billy is a deviation from his usual works. Told in the form of journal entries written by a boy who’s been abducted by a demon, it’s a dark fantasy novel. “It’s not suitable for children,” says de Leon. The book took second place in Horror at the 2018-2019 Reader Views Literary Awards and was a Finalist at the 2019 Eric Hoffer Book Awards.
De Leon’s most recent work, Blue Cloak Warrior, was released in 2020. The book is about a leader named Caspian Wells and his efforts to join his domain’s ruling council. It will require strength, bravery, and the completion of a series of quests within four different realms. “All of my books incorporate the concepts of inclusivity and equality,” says de Leon, “But I hit a little harder with Blue Cloak Warrior.” The book includes a diverse cast that challenges traditional leadership roles. “I wrote it so kids or adults reading Blue Cloak Warrior, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender, can see themselves in top positions of power,” says de Leon. “Even if it just plants a seed in a child’s mind that they don’t need to be a supporting player, they can go for the lead.” Blue Cloak Warrior was named a finalist for the 2020 IAN Book of the Year Award in the Fantasy category.
Having so many promotional events scrapped during the pandemic was disappointing for de Leon, but he tried to take advantage of the downtime and make the most of the opportunity. “I did join some online book festivals,” he says. “It wasn’t the same, but it was better than nothing.” His big push during lockdown was making book trailers on his YouTube channel. “I decided to tackle those basic topics that new writers often ask me about, like outlines or marketing or my writing process,” he says. “With my trailers, I reached a new demographic. It turned out to be a great way to reach new readers who were also stuck at home. I also allowed people to download my book for free in order to provide them with some measure of escape, no matter how small. I just wanted to do something to help.”
De Leon is always looking for a chance to help others, as demonstrated by his charitable work. Since his passion for writing is only matched by his passion to help foster childhood literacy, de Leon is an active supporter of Kids Need to Read, a non-profit organization that distributes books to children who might not have any books at home otherwise. “When I was a child, books gave me the chance to learn and the chance to escape into exciting new worlds,” he says. “I believe very strongly in getting kids to read.”
This past April, De Leon was thrilled to have a chance to participate in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. “It felt so good to see and speak to readers in person, especially after so many literary events being canceled the past couple of years due to Covid,” he says. “Everyone was so happy to finally be out and about. Meeting my readers and learning more about them is always a joy for me.”
De Leon says that he writes his books with those readers in mind and tries to include positive messages in stories that they’ll want to read. “I want my readers to know that a lot of times in life, things won’t go perfectly,” he says. “Success doesn’t always look or feel like what you imagined it would. I hope that as my readers observe the characters in my books go through challenges that they feel empowered to meet their own challenges in life. At the very least I want my readers to escape and have fun and enjoy the ride and a unique adventure.”
For more information about Miguel de Leon, his books, and his YouTube channel, visit miguellopezdeleon.com.
