With the Writer Spotlight Series, we create a positive image for young girls to refer to by having conversations with different writers and illustrators. This month we have been doing Q&As with many writers, to get to know more about them and their work. Here, we are showcasing all the questions we have asked author Erica Gomez. We discuss her new book, School For Fireflies.
When I was around eight, I used to imagine monsters creeping out from the cracks in the walls of my house. There's something magical about finding wonder in the ordinary, and for me, that sense of enchantment has always been a source of comfort. It’s also my way of reconnecting with the parts of my childhood I missed.
Zadie felt like a natural creation, almost like she was a part of me. We’re alike in so many ways. I have this quirky habit of saying “question!” before asking something, and she’s got a similar trait. Watching her find her confidence is so rewarding, and her curiosity about elixirs comes from my own dream of becoming an apothecary. Honestly, if you left me alone in the woods with a sausage dog and a cozy cottage (with electricity, of course) to forage for ingredients, I’d be in my happy place.
Then there’s Siddy. I adore her, but capturing her essence was a bit more of a challenge. She’s a girl who masks her vulnerability with confidence, trying to cover up the feeling of being unloved—a reality so many people, both kids and adults, know too well. I’m one of the rare children of divorce who actually felt grateful for it. My story couldn’t be more different from Siddy’s, but I still remember that sense of loss, and I wanted to give her journey a happy-adjacent ending—the kind I wish I could have had if a few things had gone differently in my own life.
This question holds so much weight for me because it stems from a deeply personal place. For most of my life, my incredible mama dedicated herself to working with homeless individuals—some of the most vulnerable people who often slip through the cracks. I’ll never forget the moments when she would call schools to ensure homeless children were enrolled and would fight to secure nearby housing so their lives wouldn’t be torn apart by constant upheaval.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up in south-east London, a place where diversity is woven into the fabric of everyday life. From a young age, I’ve been surrounded by people of different skin tones, cultures, and perspectives—a constant reminder of the world’s beautiful variety. It’s a superpower, really.
It’s heartening to see representation becoming more widespread, and I’m hopeful that we’ll continue to make strides in representing disability too. Before my neurological disorder diagnosis in 2018, I had never even heard of it. There was no one I could relate to, and I often felt “defective” because of that.
That’s why it’s so important for children to see people like them in stories and media—it helps them grow up with limitless possibilities for their own future. I hope that anyone reading this can picture themselves thriving in the world of a story, and, in the process, discover all the things that make them uniquely special.
I am fortunate to have an overactive imagination and the entire, incredible Knight’s Of publish team + my fabulous agent guiding my way. Siddy’s and Zadie’s next adventure is running wild in my head competing against slightly spooky stories outside of the Firefly world. I am currently outlining multiple ideas.
Quick Fire Round
I use the smiley face with hugging arms all the time—it's my go-to! But my absolute favourite has to be the ‘nerd’ emoji with the glasses and buck teeth. It’s just too cute. In fact, I love it so much, I actually have it as a cushion! I named it Kevin, and it’s basically my little emoji buddy.
When I was four, I was determined to be a Tinkerbell-inspired fairy princess ballerina. But when Tinkerbell didn’t show up with the wings I’d asked for on my birthday, I quickly realized I’d need a backup plan. So, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. I went to university to study law… and here I am, still not a lawyer! Life really does have its own sense of humour.
What was something you have done that made you feel extreme happiness?
The first time I was able to walk independently, in 2019, after being paralysed for almost a year was one of the best days of my life.