D.S. FISICHELLA
author of the amazon bestselling
young adult Christian novel
"dreamer"
.jpg)
Born Sonya Daniela Gonzalez, D.S. Fisichella is a Costa Rican author based out of the United States of America. She discovered her love for reading and poetry at a young age and went on to be published first in high school and later, college. D.S. got the idea for her first book, Dreamer, as a newlywed, expecting mother, going on to write for four years until it’s publication in the summer of 2021. Her work with youth of all ages has inspired the many (sometimes difficult) topics in her novel, her aim being to open up a conversation about the many challenges in adolescence, but all with a bit of hope for the reader. It is her belief that even a fictional book doesn’t have to be fake.
Storytelling drew me in from the time I was a child. Growing up in Costa Rica, I was constantly surrounded by mountains which served to remind me of my humble place in the world. I was privileged to grow up surrounded by beauty that millions flew thousands of miles to behold. It filled me with wonder, and while I had very little to my name, I was surrounded by a loving family and felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
When my mom and dad brought me to the United States, I became quite the introverted child. Truth be told, I would have loved nothing more than to create tight bonds with anyone I would meet, but I had one problem: I didn't speak English. As I was still struggling to learn the language, I gained a deep appreciation for written words.
The first time I discovered my writing superpower, I found a place of sweet rest, a place that didn't feel so lonely anymore. I could speak the truth about how I felt, I could speak about all of my dreams and my fears, and my words set me apart as people around me really started to listen to what I had to say. For a little girl with no control over any other part of her life, that was a really big deal.
Poetry was my first escape, then it was short stories, but when the opportunity came for me to write a big story, a whole book, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I wouldn't take any of it back.
Not one single thing. Because writing "Dreamer" was a gift God gave me before I ever decided to share it with the world. It is my prayer and my hope that everything I do will be for His Glory, and with a heart of love for every young boy and girl that has ever felt out of place in a really big world.
God sees you, dear dreamer. He loves you.
And for the record, so do I.
goodreads questions answered!
What’s the best thing about being a writer?
The best thing about being a writer, for me, anyway, is creating something you can share with the world. Something with the potential to make a difference in someone’s life. As a Christian writer I must be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, there may be lessons, after-all, the He wishes to include in my book for certain readers. Finding out, even years down the line, the purpose for my wording in a passage, is so humbling. A sentence I may have forgotten all about may speak a message to a reader that will bring them closer to God.
What are you currently working on?
I have three works in progress. I can’t say much except, if you’ve read DREAMER, you’ll be pleased :)
How do you deal with writer’s block?
I step away. Go out to the world, live a little longer, get inspired, read, listen to music. When the ideas come, they will flow.
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Write what you know. You may have heard this before but truly, this advice was a game changer for me! My first draft was so saturated with me that you’d think I plagiarized my own life, but as I started to tell myself the story, different aspects shone forth. I started stripping away my “self” to reveal the core of a brand new story and characters that were taking on their very own beautiful and unique personalities. Lastly, for my Christian writers, take your cues from the Author of Life! When you read scripture, take note of how perfectly he weaves history together with even the smallest things, conversations, or decisions that go on to make all the difference! Weaving a story is a lot like weaving together a life. The person only sees the thread ahead, but you see the great tapestry!