Netflix spent millions bringing Brenda Navarro's story to screen—now the bestselling author behind Ceniza en la Boca (Ashes) joins host Alex on The Naughty Librarian to reveal the human truths that made the A-List line up and Hollywood pay attention.

Netflix spent millions bringing Brenda Navarro's story to the screen—now the bestselling author behind Ceniza en la Boca (Ashes) joins The Naughty Librarian to reveal the human truths that made Hollywood pay attention and A-List stars vie for the movie roles. In this episode internationally acclaimed author and celebrity Brenda Navarro discusses the extraordinary journey from page to screen, the creative process, the realities of seeing your work adapted by Hollywood, and why stories about identity, displacement, family, and survival resonate with audiences around the world. It is a powerful conversation about storytelling, migration, identity, literature, feminism, culture & society, government oppression, the beauty of Mexico & Spain, latinx culture, & the journey from acclaimed novel to major motion picture.Navarro, author of the internationally celebrated novels Empty Houses and Eating Ashes (Ceniza en la boca), discusses the adaptation of her work into the new film Ashes, directed by Diego Luna and premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a warm reception and standing ovation from audiences. The conversation explores the creative process behind transforming a deeply personal literary work into a cinematic experience, while examining themes of migration, belonging, family, grief, displacement, race, gender, social justice and more.TRIGGER WARNING: Conversation includes topic of suicide, childhood trauma/abuse/neglect.Brenda also shares insights into her life as a writer, sociologist, economist, and advocate for women's voices in literature. From Mexico City to Madrid, her work has earned international recognition for its unflinching exploration of contemporary social realities and the emotional complexities of modern life.In This EpisodeBrenda Navarro's journey from novelist to internationally recognized literary voiceThe inspiration behind Eating AshesHow Ashes made the leap from page to screenWorking with director Diego LunaThe Cannes Film Festival experienceWriting about migration, identity, & belongingFeminism and the role of women in contemporary literatureThe realities of life in Mexico and SpainThe emotional power of fictionLiterature as a vehicle for social changeThe Naughty Librarian is a global sensation with listeners and downloads in over 182 cities, 34 countries and growing. Hosted by Alexander Loudon, it has grown into a massive hit, boasting over a million listeners and consistently ranking in the top 5% of podcasts globally. New episodes are released every Wednesday on all major platforms.Here is what makes the show stand out:In-Depth Interviews: The show features intimate, unfiltered conversations with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, international bestsellers, Hollywood figures & local heroes.Book & Literary Culture: It is highly popular among the "BookTok" and romance reading communities, diving deep into trending novels, audiobooks, and writing processes.#AshesMovie #CannesFilmFestival #DiegoLuna #AuthorInterview #LiteraryPodcast #BookToFilm #LatinAmericanLiterature #MexicanAuthors #FeministLiterature #CreativeWriting #Storytelling #BooksAndCulture #WritingLife Enjoyed this conversation? Follow The Naughty Librarian on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. Leave a 5-star rating/review, Share this episode with fellow readers & writers & subscribe so you never miss a conversation with today's most fascinating famous& up-coming authors, artists, filmmakers, and cultural voices.(c) 2026-present A. Loudon. All Rights Reserved.