Book-Novel: The First Sandcastle by M. E. Delgado
The Author
M. E. Delgado is a native San Franciscan, growing up in the inner city and, as a child, possessing a talent and vision that would later flourish as a teenager. He began writing his first novel at age fourteen and has continued his hard work on various works of poetry and fiction. A graduate of St. Mary's College of California and graduate studies at Golden Gate University and San Francisco State University, M. E. Delgado is an accomplished high school and college instructor.
What inspired you to write The First Sandcastle?
It was the summer before my senior year in high school. I was sixteen and had already written a 90 page science-fiction manuscript entitled, Salvation of the Apocalypse. I was not very happy with that piece and felt I could do much more with my writing talent. I wanted so much at that point to write a serious work of fiction, something meaningful. A vision of a boy began popping into my mind, a boy sitting alone at the beach working diligently on a magical sandcastle. Alone with his thoughts, this boy, as I imagined, was down about life, sad about something—something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Instead of watching his remarkable sandcastle fall from the rolling tides beyond, I saw him slowly raise himself from the sand and abandon his creation as dusk soon swallowed the once promising blue skies above. I knew not what had transpired in his life, or why he was so sad. But the dream of sandcastles which never fell was thus born, an important metaphor throughout the novel.
Is The First Sandcastle autobiographical or in any way related to your own life experiences?
Well, I can say I did not grow up in Miami; nor have I spent my days on the beach with dreams of castles that never fall. However, I will say that much of what is in the story reflects much of what I've liked, loved, disliked, and hated while growing up. Like the

M. E. Delgado

main character, Marlo, I too grew up in a dysfunctional family. I had no idea I was tapping into my own subconscious as I delved deeper into the story. As I neared the end of the novel, I began to really identify and understand Marlo more so than I ever thought possible.

What was your relationship like with your father & mother as a kid?
My parents were divorced when I was three. I was never close to my father even though he was present for most of my life. Like Marlo, I too was not listened to very much and my accomplishments and dreams dismissed, minimized, or misunderstood. My mother has been ill most of her life, so she was not there for me as I would have liked or needed while growing up. The rest of my family is not very united, and turmoil and unrest within the family is prevalent even to this day. It's very sad because it's no kid's fault to be born within a certain family dynamic. My father has yet to read the book, and my mother unable due to illness and because she reads very little English.

Many would consider The First Sandcastle a young-adult book. Was it your intension for the novel to appeal to a younger audience?
I really aimed at being read by all audiences. However, most of the book was written at a young age, written with themes that had touched my life at a very young age. So many who come across the book immediately feel it is a young adult book. But this is far from the truth. I am happy to say that The First Sandcastle has appealed to people from all walks of life.

The book depicts no specific time period. When does The First Sandcastle take place?
I grew up in the 1980s, and believe it or not, the very first drafts of the book depict this time period. However, as I became more serious about publishing, I really wanted the book to stand the test of time. I did not want readers to become trapped reading a book that takes place in a time period that they may not be able to relate to. This is one reason I took all time element out of The First Sandcastle. There is very little mention of dates or time. Music is mentioned; however, most are generic genres and bands with made up names. Although I was criticized for this at writing conferences as I shared passages with other avid writers, I really felt I had to keep the story timeless, hoping that it would appeal to a wider spectrum of readers—regardless of age, race, gender, culture, religion, or politics.

How long did it take you to write The First Sandcastle?
The beginning drafts were penned at age sixteen and finally finished at twenty-one. I let the entire project sit for another ten years before finally deciding to get serious about publishing. I spent an additional three years editing and rewriting before the book was finally published.

Do you have plans for any more books?
Well, I never wanted to make writing my living, never wanted to go out and publish books for the simple sake of publishing. The First Sandcastle was indeed a story I had wanted to tell my entire life, a story worth telling and one worth reading. Never thought I'd pick up a pen again. But now that some time has gone by, I've had thoughts of writing a sequel. It's in the works, though I can't promise that it will be released any time soon. Like Marlo, I too seem to dwell in tideless dreams.
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Copyright © M. E. Delgado All rights reserved.















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BUY IT HERE
Paperback

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BUY IT HERE
Hardcover