Happy Monday Everyone! Today I’m beyond
thrilled to have Rajani LaRocca here to share about her new MG fantasy Sona and the Golden Beasts giveaway. I’m super excited
to read it because it’s a fantasy that deals with a lot of contemporary issues.
And I’m a huge fan of Rajani’s, so I already know it’ll be good. You can learn
more about Rajani by reading her guest post with
her agent Brent Taylor when she was a debut author in 2019.
Here’s a blurb of Sona and the Golden
Beasts from Goodreads:
Sona hears
music everywhere, even though it has been outlawed in the land of Devia. Sona
is a descendant of the Malechs—foreigners who took over the governing of Devia
hundreds of years ago. Malechs put Devans to work mining gems and forbade music
so Devans couldn’t cast their magic.
But Sona’s world shifts after discovering an
orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related
to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia which a Malechian Hunter has been
killing, one by one. And when someone Sona loves falls ill, she is drawn into a
quest with a Devan boy to retrieve the nectar of life.
On the perilous journey, Sona must try to avoid
the deadly Hunter while keeping her companions safe. As she uncovers secrets
about the Malechian empire and her own identity, Sona realizes that the fate of
the sacred beasts and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.
Before I get to Rajani’s interview post, I have my IWSG post.
Posting: The first Wednesday is officially Insecure Writer's Support Group Day.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns
without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire
can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of
all kinds!
The awesome co-hosts this month
are: Kristina Kelly, Miffie
Seideman, Jean Davis, and Liza @ Middle Passages!
Optional
Question: Have you “played” with Al to write those nasty synopsis, or do you
refuse to go that route? How do you feel about Al’s impact on creative writing?
I haven't used
Al to write a synopsis because I haven’t had to write one since I started using
Al. But I see Al as a tool to use to write synopsis, blurbs, outlines, and
other things related to writing that don’t involve writing a manuscript. As I’ve
discussed in other posts, I already use Al to write articles for attorney
websites for my job, and then add to them and edit the articles heavily.
I don’t
think Al has a place in writing stories. In my opinion, those should all be
written by an author. As a reader, I’m not interested in reading Al-generated
books.
Interview
With Rajani LaRocca on How to Grow Your Career as an Author
Hi Rajani!
Thanks so much for joining us.
Hi Natalie!
I’m excited to be doing this interview with you.
1. Tell us about
yourself and how you became a writer.
I have loved books for my
entire life and did a lot of creative writing in elementary through high
school. I also loved math and science and decided at a young age that I wanted
to go into medicine someday.
In my high school creative
writing class, I told my teacher, “I love writing, but I know this isn’t going
to be my career. One day, I hope I can become a doctor.”
He said, “Who says you have
to choose?” And the next day, he brought in a bunch of books by authors who
happened to be doctors.
That moment planted a seed
in my head—one that didn’t sprout until decades later, when I’d finished
college, medical school, and residency, was established in my medical practice,
and my own children were in school.
I started taking writing
classes to reignite my creativity. At first, I didn’t intend to try to be
published. But I quickly realized I wanted to write for kids, because the books
I read as a child had the biggest influence on me. And so if I wanted anyone
other than my own children to read my stories, I needed to try to get
published. I made wonderful writing friends and critique partners who were all
on the same path. I rolled up my sleeves and worked hard to make my writing as
good as it could possibly be.
After several years and many
rejections, I signed with my wonderful agent. And six years later, I have
published fifteen books for young readers, with three more coming this year,
and even more on the way. It’s truly been an incredible journey, and I’m very
grateful.
2. Where did you get the idea for Sona and
the Golden Beasts?
I’ve always been a huge fan
of fantasy. I grew up reading The Chronicles of Narnia, The Book of
Three, On a Pale Horse, and The Lord of the Rings. I absolutely
loved those books and read them over and over.
But as I got older, I
reflected on the fact that despite my love for these stories, they tended to
portray characters from other (non-European, darker-skinned) cultures as “bad.”
I’m a big fan of British
literature and have visited Britain many times and enjoyed myself every time.
But thinking with the British colonization of India and its aftermath has been
difficult for me. I recognize that my parents speaking English and immigrating
to the U.S. is a result of that colonial history, and I wouldn’t be the person
I am without it. But that doesn’t make the centuries-long British exploitation
of India—and other places all over the world—okay.
So that’s how I came up with
the idea for Sona and the Golden Beasts. I wanted to write a fantasy
adventure like the ones I’ve always loved, but to center a society that’s more
like my own, and to tackle the issues of colonialism and who gets to tell
history.
Your Writing Process and Growing Your Career as an Author
3. I’ve loved those books since I was a
kid too. And there weren’t any books with Chinese-American girls for my
daughter, who was adopted from China when she was a kid either. Your story
deals with a lot of contemporary issues in a fantasy setting. Share a bit about
why you decided to include these themes in Sona and the Golden Beasts and how
this affected your world-building.
I knew I wanted to write
about two different sets of people—the Devans, the native residents of Devia, and
the Malech—the colonizing people, some of whom have lived in Devia for several
generations. I knew that the Devans were pacifists and would not kill, not even
to rid themselves of the colonizing force, and the Malechs felt their own willingness
to use force made them superior. I created myths and legends for both the
Devans and the Malechs. The main distinguishing physical characteristic between
the two peoples is that Devans have golden ears, and the Malechs do not. So the
unfair laws that the Malechs have imposed upon the Devans include forcing them
to keep their ears visible at all times, and outlawing music, which is how
Devans cast magic.
It's clear that the
situation in Devia is unjust. But in terms of the characters, I wanted to make
it much less clear who is “good” and who is “bad.” Early on, someone Sona loves
tells Sona that “people are not good or bad. It is our actions that are good or
bad.” Sona is a Malech, but because she loves a Devan woman who helped raise
her, she goes on a quest to find the Nectar of Life to help save that person’s
life. And Sona hears music everywhere and has a special affinity for
animals—both of which are Devan characteristics. When she finds an orphaned
wolf pup with golden ears, Sona thinks the pup must be related to one of the
five Golden Beasts of Devia, which legends say are vital to the country.
Traveling across the country with the wolf pup, a broken-down pony, and a Devan
boy named Raag, Sona discovers secrets about the Malechian Empire and her own background
and ends up on a mission to save all of Devia . . . all while trying to evade a
vicious Malechian hunter.
4. This is your sixth published novel, and
Rohan Murthy Has a Plan will be released in in May 2024. You’ve also had nine
picture books published with another being published in 2024—all since you
debuted in 2019. Plus, you’re a doctor, wife, and mother. How do you squeeze in
the time to write and stay so productive?
When you love something, you
make time for it. Writing started off as something I did only for myself, and
so I found time to do it. And like most working moms, I wasn’t precious about
when or when I wrote. I would write early in the morning, or late at night. I
would write while parked waiting for my kids to get out of school, or in the
lobby while they were at their piano lessons. I wrote in planes and trains and
cars (although not while driving!)
We can’t control many things
in publishing or in life, but we can control our own actions. So I try to be
smart about planning on my time and try to always meet my deadlines.
When I first came back to
writing, I was afraid I’d run out of ideas. Now I know that I have too many
ideas, and I have to choose carefully what I work on next!
5. That’s great advice to squeeze in the
time to write when you can. How did you plot out Sona and the Golden Beasts?
How has the process of plotting out your novels changed since you wrote Midsummer’s
Mayhem, your debut novel?
Midsummer’s Mayhem was
the book that taught me, through trial and error, how to write a book . . . and
it took me 4+ years to write. Since then, I have streamlined my process a bit
more and figure out the main plot points before I start writing. But I don’t
figure everything out, and still leave a lot of the story to play out
while I’m drafting.
6. It sounds like we have similar plotting
systems. How long does it take for you to draft and revise a manuscript before
submitting it to your publisher? Share some tips on how writers can write
faster and be more productive like you.
Some books still take longer
than others, but in general it takes me 9-12 months to draft and revise a novel
so it’s in the right shape to send to my editor. I do a decent amount of prep
work before drafting. Some things I’ve found helpful are:
1.
Character work: For my main characters, I figure out some
characteristics and quirks and big personality traits (what they love, what
they fear, what they want, etc).
2.
Plot: I figure out big plot points and brainstorm a list of
possible scenes, then whittle those down.
3.
Using my time strategically. Drafting a novel is the hardest
thing to do (for me), so I set aside time when I’m at my best—first thing in
the morning, before anyone is asking me for anything.
Your Journey to Publication and How It's Grown
7. You’re giving me hope that I can learn
to write faster like you. Brent Taylor is your agent. How did he become your
agent, and what was your road to publication like?
In 2017, I was lucky enough
to have Midsummer’s Mayhem selected for Pitch Wars. My mentor was
amazing author Joy McCullough, and she gave me fantastic editing advice and
held my hand (virtually) all the way through as I revised the novel I’d been
working on for 4 years in just a few weeks! At the end of Pitch Wars, Brent was
the first agent to request the manuscript, and when I sent it, he read it right
away and responded the same night, asking to talk the next day. Although I
received other offers of representation, I knew that Brent was the right agent
for me. In 2018, we sold Midsummer’s Mayhem and four picture books, and
the rest is history.
That said, I’ve had, and
continue to have, plenty of rejection. It’s a part of publishing that never
goes away.
8. Many authors only have a few books
published. You’ve had an amazing number of picture books and middle grade books
published since 2019. How have you been so successful in continuing to sell so
many books? What advice do you have for the debut authors hoping to sell more
books?
My biggest piece of advice
is to write the best book(s) you can.
I’m interested in lots of
different things, and so I write about lots of different things. And I believe
that “diversifying”—writing novels and picture books, fiction and nonfiction,
serious and funny, in poetry and prose—has helped me publish a lot of books.
Promoting Your Books
9. Share about how you developed your
social media platform and marketed Midsummer’s Mayhem. How have you changed
your marketing of your books and growing your social media platforms since you
were a debut author?
For me, social media and marketing
need to be rooted in fun and joy, so that’s what I focus on. When it gets too
stressful, I take a step back. I’m part of a book promotion group, the Soaring
20s, and it’s always more fun to market with other people.
10. That would be really helpful to work
with a group of authors on marketing each other’s books. What advice do you
have for aspiring writers and debut authors about building their social media
platforms and marketing their first book?
Do what you enjoy, and don’t
feel obligated to do anything you don’t like. Team up with friends. Be genuine and
stay positive.
11. What are you working on now?
I have my first YA novel (!)
coming next year. I’m also working on some picture books and a graphic novel
idea as well as my next MG novel!
Thanks for sharing all your advice,
Rajani. You can find Rajani at
Thanks so much for having
me!
Website: https://www.rajanilarocca.com/
Instagram: @rajanilarocca
X: @rajanilarocca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rajanilaroccawriter
Giveaway Details
Rajani’s publisher is generously
offering a hardback of Sona
and the Golden Beasts for a giveaway. To enter, all you need to do is be a
follower of my blog (via the follower gadget, email, or bloglovin’ on the
right sidebar) and leave a comment by March 16th. If your email is not
on your Google Profile, you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest.
Please be sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on
Twitter, Facebook, or your blog and/or follow me on Twitter or Rajani on her social
media sites, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry for
each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway is U.S.
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can find the participating blogs on his blog.
Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Monday,
March 11th I have an agent spotlight interview with Rebecca Lawrence and a
query critique giveaway
Saturday,
March 16th I’m participating in the Chasing Rainbows Giveaway Hop
Monday,
March 18th I have an interview with debut author Anne Rellihan and a
giveaway of her MG contemporary/mystery Not the Worst Friend in the World
Wednesday,
March 20th I have an agent spotlight interview with Stuti Telidevara and a query critique giveaway
Monday,
March 27th I have an agent/author guest post by agent Rachel Orr and debut author Cathy Carr and a
giveaway of Cathy’s MG contemporary Lost Kites and Other Treasures
Friday,
April 1st I’m participating in the Honey Bunny Giveaway Hop
Wednesday,
April 3rd I have an interview with debut author Trish Lundy and a giveaway of
her YA thriller The One That Got Away
With Murder
I hope to see you on
Monday!
