1. What inspired you to write Fantasy and this novel specifically?
I was always enthralled by big stories. Fantasy and science fiction stories (whether in video games, anime, movies, etc.) always feel fresh and unique. So, they’ve always been an influence. As far as this book goes, I remember feeling that there were ways that I could make the genre better. While I love the genre, there are a lot of straight white men running the show who shoot from the hip and deliver a lot of corny one-liners. I felt I could avoid certain tropes, introduce new types of characters you don’t usually see, and really hit you in the emotional gut. I know I did that for some, and I hope it’s a story even more can connect with. 2. In comparison, there are far fewer black authors in Fantasy and Sci Fi. Why is this and how can it be rectified? I believe there are many more black authors in these genres than we realize, but that is the perception because of the way the traditional publishing industry works. While well-meaning, agents and publishers who say they’re looking for diverse stories may think your book is too “niche” to make any money, so they pass. You could make the argument that self-publishing helps bypass this, but it’s still very new. It doesn’t yet have the same level of prestige that traditional publishing has, so some authors chase the prestige. Those who do self-publish will find that it’s very expensive to hire an editor, cover designer, etc., and if they can’t afford it, they either put out sloppy work or avoid the process altogether. Then, there’s marketing your book which is a whole different set of dilemmas. I believe self-publishing is the way to go, but you have to do it right, which means educating yourself about what it takes to put out traditional publishing-level work and how to market it best to your audience. I think if more black authors do that, we will see a lot more fantasy and sci-fi from them. 3. What are your thoughts on how LGBTQ+ characters are portrayed in major novels and film? Things are getting better, but we’re still mostly at a point where LGBTQ+ characters are either a stereotype or just not seen at all. Mainstream audiences are getting used to “the gay best friend” or the “token gay guy”. And in most instances, these are white cisgender male characters. I love some of the characters, but that hardly covers the broad spectrum of people who have yet to been seen at different intersections. What about the Black trans woman, the Asian bi man, or the Latinx lesbian? And why can’t they be important enough to have a full storyline other than coming out? As I said, things are getting better, but part of my goal in writing Pangaea was addressing this issue. Two of main characters are males who are Black and just happen to be gay - that’s not the sole focus of their character. I wanted to show that you can definitely create an epic tale with characters like these and get so into the story that sometimes you forget that’s what they are. 4. Characters in your story are non-black and non-LGBTQ+. What do you do to get into the mindset of these character, so much so that you can write their voice? As a black man, I’ve been inundated with white culture with everything from classic Disney animated movies to the books and movies I read and watch today. I also grew up in neighborhoods and schools that had a white majority. The same can be said for me as a gay man with straight culture. So, I didn’t have to dig too deep to get the essence of my White characters. I just treated them as human beings with their own specific ways of being and had them react the way they would given the circumstances on the page. The same goes for my other characters of color. While I may not be well-educated in different cultures, these are still human beings who, based on their personalities, will react a certain way in any given scenario. It really wasn’t hard. It also helped that this was a fantasy world, so I didn’t have to research cultures so much - I just made up my own. 5. When reading a book, does the gender, preference or ethnicity of the author impact the voice you assign to the novel in your head? The author doesn’t impact the voice I hear in my head. I pay most attention to the main character and get a feel for their voice based on things like dialogue, setting, and time period. 6. What are you currently reading and why did you pick it up? Right now, I’m reading Make Every Man Want You by Marie Forleo. It’s non-fiction, I’m a fan of hers, and while it’s addressed to female readers, Forleo said it’s great book for guys too. So I gave it try and I have to say, it really is. It’s not about dating, it’s about being your best self and using that as a natural attractor to better partners and opportunities. I’m big on self-improvement, so I’ve read a lot of books like this over the past couple of years and put what I’ve learned into practice. Aside from that, the last fiction book I read was N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms . I wanted to see what another successful black fantasy author was doing and what I could learn. I enjoyed it very much! 7. How can an author cope with feeling their s tory deserves to be heard but fearing criticism? I would first say to just complete that first draft. Nobody has to see anything, just get it done and get the story out of your system. Then, I would say, the best defense against criticism is making sure the book is edited to the best of your ability. Safeguard yourself against comments about grammar, story structure, cultural sensitivity, triggers, and more by getting beta readers to take a look and by hiring a professional editor. If you can survive your editor’s countless red marks and get a better version of your story, you’re on your way. (I couldn’t look at my editor’s notes for a month.) Lastly, take a good look at why you want to tell the story and be real sure about your conviction to share this story with the world. You’ve got a grow a thick skin, because even after all of that, you can’t please everybody. 8. What else do you do outside of writing, and how do you juggle life and writing? Right now I work for a company doing search engine optimization, and I also host a live YouTube show that I recently renamed as LGBTr, which stands for Lots of Good Books To Read. In this show, I interview other Black LGBTQ authors. I juggle life and writing by making myself write every day after work or at least do something for the YouTube show or promotion. It’s tough, but I want to eventually work for myself, so I’m doing all that I can to make that happen. 9. What’s next for you on your writing journey? I’m currently drafting a science fiction novel that I already know is going to be something special. I’m also looking ahead to continuing the Pangaea series with a collection of short stories as a prequel to the first book, and a continuation of the story with a direct sequel. I’m also doing my best to make my YouTube show more of a regular thing. I’ve got more that I want to do and I’m pretty optimistic about what the future holds. |
THOUGHTWARDS
Thoughtwards is a blog celebrating forward thought and the diverse thinkers who think them.
M. Lachi is an award winning recording/performing artist and composer, a published author, and a proponent of forward thinking. Having studied Management at UNC and Music at NYU, M. Lachi employs both savvies in her creative endeavors. For more on M. Lachi's music click here. 
|
RSS Feed