When I first arrived at The Newstand, I intended to get some work knocked out prior to interviewing novelist Isa Arsén. After opening the shop’s thick glass doors — and ducking under a large leafy plant — my first view was of Arsén herself.
Looks like we had the same idea.
Arsén was drinking a black drip, and wearing a chic denim outfit for our meeting. She didn’t notice me at first, as she was in the zone typing away at her computer. Looking up to match my hello, her focused facial expression relaxed and was replaced with her youthful, gentle gaze. We shook hands, got settled, and jumped right into the book.
Meet me at Nowhere
This wasn’t my first time meeting Isa. That honor belongs to January. An Instagram post about Nowhere Bookshop hosting an author event promoting Arsén’s latest book “The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf,” piqued my interest, and I spontaneously snatched my jacket and made the drive to Nowhere.
Nowhere Bookshop is the epitome of cozy book store vibes. Nestled in San Antonio’s Alamo Heights, the unassuming white building is home to a literary treasure trove.
The smell of new releases from the wall-high bookcases filled to the brim of all genres was the “Severance"-esque way for me to go to my mental happy place. Little employee notes jutted out over the shelf, signaling their own recommendations and why you should pick it up.
Making my way towards the back near the cafe, what I found was a room bustling with readers, each holding a copy — or two — of Isa’s sophomore book.
Arsén was electric with excitement about her latest release. After introducing herself to the audience, she grabbed a comfy seat in front and began to read a couple of passages.
Having gone in relatively blind, Isa’s narration was anything but dull or monotone. When each character spoke, it was as if the spirits had evaporated out of the page and into her, creating a mesmerizing scene for the audience.
Afterwards, she accepted questions, and me being the person that I am — I always have questions — waited for someone else to raise their hand and go first. After a couple of audience asks, my hand would go up two or three more times merely because I’m invested in these characters and how they interact with each other.
I was next in line to get my book signed, and before I can say anything, Arsén humors me by saying with a friendly chuckle, “I take it you’re a writer also?”
Both of us laughing, I respond: “What gave it away?”
From there, we spurred a quick five-minute conversation that I did not want to end. There was more to unpack about her book and I needed to add author commentary after I finished the novel.
Our coffee chat
Let’s bring us back to The Newstand. Grabbing two tables and planting ourselves on the teal benches, we immediately began chatting. Arsén’s company felt that of a childhood friend — exuding an aura of acceptance and candor.
Isa spoke as she did at Nowhere, a philosophical and curious tone — a byproduct of her Virginian education + upbringing. She spoke with her hands and occasionally went back to sip her black coffee. At this point, I had only read a third of the book, so that’s what we talked about.
“The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf” is a historical fiction piece set in the 1950s and follows our title character through their up-and-coming theater career in New York and New Mexico. It’s filled with fantastic spats of humor, LGBTQ+ themes and ambiguity, obsession, and at times — psychological horror elements.
Supporting characters like Eddie and Ezra stood out to me for their quippy well-intentioned-but-malicious dialogue. They were a scene stealer and left me wanting more every time they interacted with our main cast.
After about an hour of fan girling over the plot, Arsén gave me a warning of “It gets crazier.” She didn’t elaborate and once we finished our drinks, I was energized to get to the end.
Scheduling our second meeting — this time over Zoom — I had wrapped up the book. I’m pretty sure my partner was getting annoyed with my “ooos,” “whats?!” and “oh my goodness’s.” But they were very much warranted. The novel’s story unraveled to reveal a nail-biting and suspenseful plot that held me to the last page.
I won’t spoil anything here, but I had to share this answer from Isa about a question I asked about Wesley’s character progression, “Wesley is such a sweet soul and is so devoted to finding the goodness in others. He’s able to look past people’s ugly features and focus on things that matter. However, his shining characteristic also becomes the thing that gets him into trouble.”
Bringing out my copy (filled with book darts), I asked her about this line and its importance: “I stood dripping, returning to myself, and tucked away the mystery of my desire on the same shelf that held my ambition.”
“It’s a lot of extended metaphors of closets, cover-ups, gloves, coats and things that you can put on and take off...I think Margaret is somebody who benefits from this. She wants to be told what to do or who to be, but doesn’t understand how to invent herself.”
Heading to the book festival
Going through “The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf” with the sorcerer herself is a special privilege that I’m holding dear. However, locals and visitors have the opportunity to chat with Arsén herself after her panel discussion moderated by bookstore owner Calvin Crosby at the San Antonio Book Festival.
She’ll be discussing novels set on the stage with author Callie Collins at 2:30 p.m. in Central Library’s Festival Room. It’s the perfect excuse to fill up your tote bags with new books and meet the author in the signing tent to get your copy personalized. Make sure to tell Isa that SATXtoday sent ya.
You can pick up a copy of “The Unbecoming of Margaret Wolf” anywhere books are sold, but if you’d like your copy signed then it needs to be purchased at the festival.
To start planning your weekend, check out our guide to the San Antonio Book Festival.
