AUTHORS INTERVIEWING CHARACTERS: Annette Chavez Macias

September 1, 2022 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

About Big Chicas Don’t Cry

Four cousins navigate love, loss, and the meaning of family over the course of one memorable year in this heartfelt family drama.

Cousins Mari, Erica, Selena, and Gracie are inseparable. They aren’t just family but best friends―sharing secrets, traditions, and a fierce love for their abuelita. But their idyllic childhood ends when Mari’s parents divorce, forcing her to move away. With Mari gone, the girls’ tight-knit bond unravels.

Fifteen years later, Mari’s got the big house and handsome husband, but her life is in shambles. Erica’s boyfriend just dumped her, and her new boss hates her. Selena can’t seem to find her place in the world―not Mexican enough for her family, not white enough for her colleagues. And Gracie is a Catholic school teacher with an all-consuming crush, but she can’t trust herself when it comes to romance.

As rocky as the cousins’ lives have become, nothing can prepare them for the heartbreaking loss of a loved one. When tragedy reunites them, will they remember their abuelita’s lessons about family and forgiveness―or are fifteen years of separation too much to overcome?

Annette Chavez Macias interviews the cousins from Big Chicas Don’t Cry: Erica, Mari, Selena and Gracie

Annette Chavez Macias (ACM): Thank you ladies for agreeing to be interviewed. Especially since I know you are all so busy.

Erica: You’re welcome! I have to say though it’s a little bit weird being on this side, you know, because I’m a reporter. Speaking of which, is everything we say on the record?

ACM: Um, yes? But just let me know if you don’t want me to use something and I won’t.

Selena: (sighs) Don’t mind her. Ever since her article about that sketchy nonprofit went viral, Erica thinks she’s, um, who’s that famous reporter who does all the big interviews?

Gracie: Oprah?

Selena: No, not Oprah. God, Gracie, I know who Oprah is.

Gracie: There’s no need to bring God into this.

Selena: Mari, help me out here. She’s the blonde lady with the tiny eyes. Oh, and she made Britney Spears cry.

Mari: Diane Sawyer?

Selena: Yes! That’s who I meant. Erica thinks she’s the next Diane Sawyer.

Erica: I do not! Anyway, ya cállense. We’re supposed to be answering questions about ourselves. Sorry about that, Annette. Please continue.

ACM: (laughs) No worries. Alright, so the four of you have had some big life changes recently. What is the one life lesson you’ve learned because of those changes? Let’s start with Gracie.

Gracie: Me? Okay. Well, I guess I’d have to say my lesson was learning how to be more accepting of the unexpected. It took me a long time to get used to the idea of being a mother and that caused me to have more stress than I needed. Now I’m trying to be more open and flexible when things don’t go the way I expected. Oh, and I’ve also learned that no matter how many diapers you think you’ll need, it will never be enough.

ACM: That’s so true! How about you, Mari? What have you learned over the past year and a half?

Mari: How much time do you have? (everyone laughs) I honestly can say that my life today is almost completely different from what it was back then. I learned a lot about myself and the people I love. But the biggest lesson for me was realizing that I had the power all along to make my life what I wanted it to be. I used to place the blame on others for my unhappiness. When in reality, I could’ve done a lot of things differently too. I know now that I can’t control what others do, but what I can control is how I respond.

Erica: Aww, that’s amazing, Mari.

Selena: It is. And I think we probably all learned that in some way, right?

(everyone agrees)

ACM: How wonderful. Okay, Selena, you’re next. What would you say is the number one thing you’ve learned recently?

Selena: This is easy. I learned not to worry about labels. Whether it’s my heritage or my relationship, I don’t owe anyone an explanation about my life and I don’t need to justify my choices to others. As long as I’m not hurting anyone then it’s nobody’s business. I think people like to use labels because they like putting things and others in boxes. But that’s just to make themselves feel more comfortable. And most of the time, I have no say in how other people label me. So why should I worry about it?

ACM: That’s a great outlook to have. Good for you!

Gracie: I think you’ve always thought like that. Even when we were little girls, you never really cared about what others thought about you or what you did. Like the time you begged Mom to let you take singing lessons even though Sister Margaret insisted you couldn’t carry a tune to save your life.

Selena: I still think Sister Margaret is the reason why I never became a Broadway star. That nun had it out for me and my dreams of winning a Tony award.

Erica: Yeah, it was the nun’s fault.

Selena: Anyway. What I was trying to say is that maybe I was more, um, independent when I was younger, but that all changed once I got to college and even more so when I started my career. I was desperate to fit in and cared way too much about other people’s opinions. But not anymore. So, from now on, I’m going to think like little Selena did.

Mari: Aww, little Selena. I’m going to call you that now.

Erica: Me too! Or how about Chiquita Selena? I think I like that better!

Selena: All right, all right. That’s enough. I think it’s time to put Erica on the hot seat.

ACM: She’s right, Erica. It’s your turn to answer the question.

Erica: Well, I’ve been thinking about it and it’s hard to pick just one lesson. In a way, I kind of learned the same things everyone else did. But I guess I’d have to say that the most important thing isn’t really something new. It’s more like I re-learned it. And that’s to always put my family first. But not because that’s just what you do when you’re Mexican. But it’s more about honoring those who came before us and keeping their memories and traditions alive. Because once the family starts to break apart, then what?

I know I’m lucky that I have the family I have. And I know that’s because of our parents, our grandparents, our great-grandparents and beyond. The lives they led and the choices they made have all played a role in turning me into the woman I am today. And I’m not going to throw that all away just because someone didn’t do something I wanted or because I disagree with a decision they made. At the end of the day, none of that matters if you have a family that loves and respects you – even at your worst.

Gracie: (sniffles)

Selena: Good job, Erica. You made Gracie cry. (voice cracks)

Mari: I learned that lesson too, Erica. And after everything we’ve been through, I know I’ll never forget it.

Erica: Same, Mari.

ACM: On that beautiful note, we’ll end the interview. Thank you, ladies, for sharing such beautiful and inspirational thoughts with the readers.

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Annette Chavez Macias writes stories about love, family and following your dreams. She is proud of her Mexican-American heritage, culture and traditions. All of which can be found within the pages of her books. For those readers wanting even more love stories and guaranteed happily ever afters, Annette also writes romance under the pen name Sabrina Sol. A Southern California native, Annette lives just outside Los Angeles with her husband, three children and four dogs.