Reality and fiction blend together more than one would believe. On April 2 at 6 p.m., author David A. Romero proved this to be true during his interview with Professor Obed Silva, who asked about Romero’s process of writing “The Enemy Sleeps.” At the Cerritos Library Skyline, Romero revealed how the book’s characters, settings, and themes reflected his own life experiences.

“The Enemy Sleeps” is a supernatural noir thriller following the murder of Eliza Vazquez. A Mexican-Family moves from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, into the serene town of Harper only to be met with suspicion. Between Michael Martinez, a construction supervisor with an anti-immigrant bias, Robert Parsons, a known racist with secrets kept deep within, and Kenton Weaver, a disgraced former teacher literally haunted by his student, who really did kill Eliza and why?

Romero is a Mexican American poet, novelist, and editor-in-chief of El Martillo Press. Hailing from Diamond Bar, a suburban city in Los Angeles with a diverse population, the inspiration for his work happens to start at home.

Growing up in the 90s, Romero fell in love with melodramas and suburban settings seen in the works of Tim Burton and David Lynch. In his own work, he used the historic communities of Los Angeles to tackle subjects of racism and gentrification commonly seen in its many towns. One example is the juxtaposition between Michael Martinez, a positive and white-washed Mexican, and his sister, who is passionate about her Mexican heritage. As the political climate reflects the effects of ICE and fear of latinos, his book also aimed to tackle current-day problems.

“The Enemy Sleeps” is not only inspired by Romero’s childhood heroes, but also the people in his own life. Most of the characters are based off of his family members, using their fears and flaws to simulate the characters in the story. “I know all the characters, since they’re my family and friends,” said Romero, “they’re just sort of nightmare versions of them.” With his own experiences, he also knew exactly how to force the book’s families into a fish-out-of-water situation.

Another factor of inspiration was a nightmare Romero had when he was a kid, following an old man with a butcher knife. Visited by an angel, he was told to murder his neighbor. Later on, Romero believed it to be a great concept for a story, asking himself “what exactly did that neighbor do?”

Romero also did not intend to write a murder mystery. Wanting to make the story as thrilling as possible, he found he needed red herrings, suspects, and clues– all ingredients for a great murder mystery.

Art must stem from somewhere– something Romero shows flawlessly. “The Enemy Sleeps” is a great example of both the environment’s and an author’s effects on a book.