Find Ricky Martin's first kids' book 'Among the Stars'

Lindsay Deutsch, USA TODAY 9:28 p.m. EST November 11, 2013

The Latin superstar says his 5-year-old twins, Matteo and Valentino, are his inspiration, for the first of five planned children's books.



(Photo: Omar Cruz)

Story Highlights
'Santiago the Dreamer in "Land Among the Stars"' is the first in a five-book series
"It's not just the book," Martin says %u2014 the project also includes cartoons and music
Besides writing, the singer will be singing the World Cup single and is working on a new album

Ricky Martin is a Grammy-winning singer — and the father of 5-year-old twin boys, Matteo and Valentino. Martin, who wrote the best-selling memoir Me, makes his children's book debut with Santiago the Dreamer in 'Land Among the Stars' (Celebra, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, for ages 5-9). It's about a young performer who learns to overcome rejection and follow his dreams. Martin, 41, spoke with USA TODAY's Lindsay Deutsch about his inspiration, the writing process and how fatherhood is a whole new vida loca.

Q: How are you like the book's star, Santiago?

A: To be quite honest, when I was 12 years old, I did my first audition to become a member of this music band, and I was not accepted. I had my father next to me the entire time saying, "If this is what you really want, you just have to believe it in your heart and start getting ready." He helped me a lot emotionally and spiritually, and I eventually got the part. So this is a little bit inspired by my personal life, with fantasy added to it. Now that I have my kids, I want to be constantly feeding them love and security so they can be themselves.

Q: Have you read the book to your sons?

A: They tend to be very jealous. I keep talking about Santiago, and it's funny because today, my son asked me, "So where does Santiago live? What city?" And I said Santiago lives in our hearts and he's always with us. So yes, I've read it to them, and they love it, and now I'm doing the music for Santiago, so he's really becoming a celebrity in our house. They are a very big part of his whole project, obviously.

Q: Music? What do you have planned for Santiago?

A: First, let me tell you that this is the first of a five-book series. This is the first story, and it's the introduction. Hopefully we'll be releasing one book every year for the next five years.




'Santiago the Dreamer in Land Among The Stars' by Ricky Martin, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, is for kids ages 5-9. Martin's twins are 5.(Photo: Celebra)


Q: It sounds like the books will be growing up with your kids.

A: Yes, that's the point. Santiago's best friends are going to be very important in the next couple of stories, and obviously Santiago's father — I'm creating a whole little world of Santiago. It's fascinating. And I am doing cartoons, I'm doing really interesting things — it's just not the book.

Q: What's it like to jump into the children's book genre after being so established singing and performing?

A: Music will always be my priority. I love being onstage, I love performing, I love walking into a studio and creating and surrounding myself with amazing producers and musicians. I don't see myself away from the stage at all. But when I come back home and disconnect from the madness of celebrity, I have my family (he lives with his partner, Carlos González Abella).My priority right now is to nurture make the foundation of my family very solid. (That) is the most important thing for this chapter of my life. They are everything.

Q: The book is coming out simultaneously in both Spanish and English. Can you talk about that?

A: The first book that I wrote, Me, which I'm very proud of, was translated into nine languages. I'm from Puerto Rico and we live in the U.S., so there's that duality, and we speak Spanish in the house, so my kids are bilingual — well, trilingual because they go to a French school — so the way I see it is that the message needs to be out there in the world. It's a message of self-esteem and security, and thank God for music, because I've been able to travel literally around the world, and this book will also hopefully translated into many other languages.

Q: What was it like when you saw the finished book come together?

A: You know, it's the same feeling as when you hold the CD cover in front of you, the same thing when you see a video. It's the same thing when you sit down and open the book and see the whole year's work go by. How can I explain it? I feel empowered. It's like it's a new beginning. The children's world is very powerful.

Q: Were there any books you read to your kids or other places where you got inspiration?

A: A lot of cartoons, because obviously, for the first five years of your kids' lives, you don't get to watch TV anymore because they own the television.

Q: As for your other projects, you're singing the official World Cup song and recording another album. What are you excited about?

A: Right now, Sony is creating a compilation of songs for the World Cup, and I'll be singing the single, which we have a competition out to be written by my fans. The writer could be from anywhere — the U.S. or maybe Japan or Indonesia. I will produce it and will co-write the song, and we're giving a great opportunity for a star to be born! Then I am taking the songwriter to Brazil for the World Cup. I'm also in the studio working on the album, and I'm working on some acting stuff, too, but that's another conversation for another day.

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