1. What draws you to the fantasy genre?
As an autistic person, the real world never held much interest for me. I didn't understand it, and probably wanted to create richer worlds where I would have preferred to live. I have always connected more to otherworldly beings and creatures, I suppose, rather than to real humans, who I had difficulty understanding.
I also love the magical wonder aspects of fantasy fiction, the Heroes Journey, and the manipulation of the real world through magic.
2. What inspires you to write for young people?
I had a difficult time growing up, connecting with the world and finding a place for myself to fit in. Those "coming of age" memories are the most vivid for me. Developing a persona, deciding who you want to be in the world, figuring out what matters in creating a happy and successful life, are all things that the books I read helped me to do. By reading about characters facing those same challenges, I internalized a set of parameters that allowed me to function as a real person. The books I read provided a framework for real life.
I want to not only share the worlds and characters which I create, as they have exciting adventures and face challenges to their survival, but also to plant the subconscious seeds of fairness and equality, to counteract whatever "evil seeds" readers are already encountering in their real lives. I strongly believe that reading stories of diverse characters overcoming challenges, so that readers see the humanity in all sorts of people, will help those readers to look at the people around them with compassion and understanding. When we are surrounded by racism, injustice, bigotry, bullying, and lack of acceptance, the way to overcome that prejudice and bigotry is to read positive images of diverse people in books. This is especially true for kids who are growing up in families or communities where they don't see themselves reflected positively. Books counteract prejudice in many ways.
3. Any message for young creators?
Write your stories! And don't let anyone tell you that the stories you create are silly or meaningless or badly written. Every writer starts with a very basic set of tools. As you write - the more you write - your toolbox will fill up with better skills and your writing will get better. The more you write, the better you will get at the technical side of telling your stories.
The most important thing is to have confidence in your stories themselves. Those stories are your world, your thoughts, shared with others. And everyone has something they need to say to the world. Your job is to make it the best it can be, so that others can read about the world you create in your own mind.
Not just for young creators, but for everyone who writes, I want to share my own "secret formula" for becoming a better writer. I call it my Rule of Thirds: the time I devote to my writing consists of three things: 1/3 Writing, 1/3 Reading, 1/3 Reading about writing (or watching videos, etc.). The more one reads, the more one internalizes the structure of good storytelling. So read voraciously! And never stop learning about the techniques of writing well, by reading craft books, discussing writing with other writers, watching talks about writing or listening to lectures on craft. And keep putting pen to paper, or hands to keyboard. If you don't write, you won't become a better writer. Write every day!
And finally, stay humble, stay open to critique. Listen to what people say about your writing, but don't take it personally. Granted, there are jealous, petty people who just want to cut you down. Ignore them, but listen to good, insightful critique. Suggestions won't always work or be valid, but as the writer, you make the call whether to listen to what someone says about your writing or to move past it. Only you can decide what is right for your work. Try new things, but stay true to your vision.
4. What message/s do you want to share through your work?
So much! And it's actually very easy to share messages when writing fantasy. In a recent series of stories I wrote based on dragons in the modern world, I had themes of anti-racism, anti-sexism, gender equality, female self-determination, inner strength, acceptance of the Other, and other themes. Sometimes the themes are very subtle, hardly noticeable in the grander story, but still hidden in there, beneath the surface. I think it all comes out in the way that the protagonist or narrator "speaks" and the words I choose as the author to express situations and events happening in my stories. Every word has power and weight, so I choose my words very carefully. Words can wound - deeply - but words can also heal. I want my words to help lift readers up and give them the strength to be better people. I hope that my stories can do that, even if it's just for one person, especially a young person just stepping into the world.
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