Underneath It All

Everyone has their role. My mother is the martyr, my father the distant unapproachable figure, and Noel, with a few brief stints in jail, is considered misunderstood, not a handsome loser. Yolie is just outspoken, not a miserable bitter shrew, which would be her clinical diagnosis in the "real" world. And the rest of my brothers and sisters have problems that my parents consider normal, like bad marriages, unruly children, and too many bills. So is it a surprise that I'm considered the troublemaker of the family?

Not happy at home? Move away for college. Hate your job? Find another one. Fallen out of lust, er, love with your husband? Divorce him. I, so far, am the anomaly--or flake--in the family because I'm vocal about how unnecessary it is to be unhappy, and how important it is to do something about it to change your circumstances (thank you, Zoloft ) If I had it my way, my whole family would be comparing dosages at the dinner table the way some families talk about sports or politics. . .

Since graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in magazine writing, Margo Candela has been enjoying getting her feet wet in the world of writing. She has written for "Estylo Magazine, ComputerLife Magazine, BayInsider.com, Beyond.com, " and "ZuluSports.com." She has also written two screenplays, as well as mainstream fiction, a young adult series, and literary fiction which feature strong, complex Latina characters. "Underneath It All" is her first novel. She is currently finishing her second. Prolific, savvy, and speaking to the heart of modern day Latinas, Margo Candela is an author to watch.