India, Aug. 8 -- 1Your latest novel, A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation, is built around the relationship between a man and his grandson on a road trip in the US. What led to this idea? One day, while looking back at my work, I realised that I have grandmothers in all my books, who are all versions of my own abuela. But I hadn't done a grandfather book until then, and I wanted to change that. That's how Alberto William Garcia, the grandfather in my book A Hero's Guide to Summer Vacation, was born. Alberto is an author who writes fantasy for children, so I thought it would be fun to send him on a book tour with his 13-year-old grandson Gonzalo Alberto Sanchez Garcia, and explore their relationship. He comes across as grumpy at first. But once you get past that facade, you see that he is a gentle, sweet man. Their cross-country road trip starts in Mendocino and ends in Miami. I thought a lot about my own abuelo, my father's father, and my Cuban heritage, while working on this book. It was not easy to write, but each draft gave me clarity and confidence. 2Tell me more about your abuela, and the characters she inspired you to write. She died when I was just eight years old, so she is in all my books. Writing her into them is my way of keeping her alive. Whether it is the restaurant owner in The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamura, the farmer in The Last Beekeeper, or the businesswoman in Curveball, there is a bit of her in all of them. When I visit schools, I encourage children to interview their grandparents. There is so much to learn from their memories and their struggles. 3How do you see your role in the current political environment, with bans on certain kinds of children's books and young-adult literature becoming increasingly common in the US? This issue is close to me, and it really breaks my heart. I am very fortunate that I get to speak all over the country and interact with young people, especially LGBTQ+ kids. They like to come and talk with me because I guess they feel safe. Some want me to sign a book. But most of them just want to hang out and take pictures. And I say this not to pat my own back. As a father, I feel very emotional when I meet kids who feel afraid to be themselves and then find one adult who feels somewhat safe. It hurts to witness that. But it is also a privilege to be that person. Looking at the current political climate in the US, I worry about LGBTQ+ kids, but I cannot help being an optimist either. I don't like bullies. And I believe in love more than hate. There are days when I feel terrible about how things are. And then I allow myself to cry freely....