Photo by Ethan Duff
Lenore Borja is the author of the new young adult novel The Lost Portal, the second in her Mirror Realm series. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Q: The Lost Portal is the second in your Mirror Realm series--do you think your characters have changed from one book to the next?
A: Great question. Book one—The Last Huntress—was Alice’s story, told from her perspective.
Book two is Hadley’s story, so we learn more about her background and personality by simply being in her head. There’s no change in her character at the beginning of book two, but by the end, we see progress in her ability to forgive, let go, and move forward.
We also see changes in Alice’s relationship with her soulmate, David, as she navigates the challenges of fated love.
Q: How did you create the world in which the novels are set?
A: I envisioned a fantastical story set in the modern world, featuring a realm that exists behind mirrors. The idea came to me after discovering a closet hidden behind a mirror in my old apartment. This sparked the concept of mirrors as portals to another dimension, and thus, the Realm was born.
I wanted the Realm to be both magical and practical. It connects every mirror in the world, and that’s a lot of mirrors! So I created infinite hallways of mirrors that connected like subway tunnels or hamster tubes. It’s dreamlike and intense, yet still fun for my characters to navigate, despite the danger lurking within.
However, the Realm is a character in its own right, and therefore able to grow and change—and that’s all I can say for now!
Q: The writer Molly E. Lee said of the book, “The Lost Portal packs a mythological punch that will keep you turning pages late into the night, and the found-family themes will pull on your heartstrings!” What do you think of that description?
A: I love it! It’s a dream to have a talented storyteller like Molly provide me with such a fantastic blurb.
The story blends aspects of Greek and Egyptian mythology, so a “mythological punch” is exactly the kind of impact I was hoping for! Also, found family and sisterhood are recurring themes in the series, so it’s nice to know when they’re recognized and appreciated.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the story?
A: I just hope they have fun uncovering the mystery of the portal and maybe even feel inspired to learn more about the Pyramids of Giza and ancient Egypt. If they enjoy Hadley’s journey and are eager for the next book in the series, I’ll have done my job!
Q: What are you working on now? Will there be another installment in the series?
A: I’m working on book three of the series (Olivia’s installment). There will be four books, each told from a different huntress’s point of view. It’s wonderful diving into a new character’s head and telling the story from her perspective. I’m determined that each girl gets the attention—and book—she deserves!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I recently introduced the Mirror Realm gang on socials and included brief bios for each girl. I thought it might be fun to share those with you here!
HADLEY: (The muscle) A walking magazine cover, but her drop-dead gorgeous looks are the least interesting thing about her. Raised in a family of car thieves, she learned how to pick a lock and hot-wire a car when other kids her age were still playing with dolls. She loves junk food, driving with the top down, and most of all, her friends.
SOXIE: (The money) Hot-tempered, brutally honest, and chock full of snarky quips. Always looks like a million bucks and has the trust fund to match, but generous with what she has and fiercely loyal when it comes to her friends. She’s a lioness in high heels & couture clothing.
OLIVIA: (The mind reader) Favors dark, heavy makeup and all-black, a la Lydia Deetz & Wednesday Addams. (But don’t tell her that—or even think it!) Almost always the smartest person in the room and prefers the company of animals to people, but would be lost without her friends.
ALICE: (The magic) Old soul. Really old soul. Strong, confident, and independent, but also stubborn to a fault. Think semi-reluctant—and sometimes reckless—hero, in a petite, 5-foot, 3-inch frame. Her friends are her family and when she loves, she loves with abandon.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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