Bound by a bloodline oath to defend the princess of Beldemar, a distracted teenage guardian scrambles to access her legendary spirit weapon to fight the creatures slipping from the Shadows.
T-8 days until A Chord of Silver Moons is out in the world. I am so excited to share this book with readers, friends, and family—especially those who love adventurous YA Fantasy stories with diverse, quirky casts and mythology & folklore from the West African diaspora. Here’s some Q&A:
What was your inspiration for this book?
A Chord of Silver Moons was largely inspired by my childhood love of 90’s and 00’s cartoons featuring crime-fighting girl groups like Sailor Moon and Totally Spies. It was also influenced by shows like Avatar the Last Airbender and Power Rangers. As much as I still love the shows I watched as a kid, I notice that many of them lacked melanin. So, at the great big age of 33, I’m writing myself into this nerdy space.
Is there a specific moment that led you to create Aryam?
Yes. I remember asking myself, “Are there any stories from the sidekick’s point of view?” So, initially, I wanted to write Sailor Moon—but from Sailor Venus or Sailor Jupiter’s point of view. That’s how Aryam came to be a guardian.
What’s the mythology behind the akbarrin and the ancient enemy in A Chord of Silver Moons?
I’m deeply fascinated by how stories evolve and travel around the world. I spent a lot of time exploring West African stories and tracing their journey across the Atlantic, finding both familiar stories and stories that are unique to time and place. The akbarrin, some of the creatures in the story, draw inspiration from folklore wherever the West African diaspora has taken root. I also wanted to highlight stories specifically from Black American folklore—stories I didn’t learn much about in school. One of the central myths in my book is a retelling of ‘The Beautiful Girl of the Moon Tower,’ which comes from Virginia Hamilton’s collection, The People Could Fly. It’s an incredible anthology, and I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t already.
How long did it take you to complete the book from concept to final draft?
Altogether, I’d say 7-8 months—even though that was spread over 2 years. It took me two months to write the first draft, and then I set it aside and went on with my busy life. It wasn’t until I let my mom read it and saw that she couldn’t put it down that I realized I was onto something (my mom does not sit still, y’all). So, I rewrote the book a few times, making each draft stronger than the last, and then I announced it to the world.
If you could spend one day in your book’s world, what would you do?
I would eat. A lot. I would get out of there by nightfall though.
What is your wildest dream for this book?
My wildest, most “out there” dream for ACoSM is that it becomes an animated series that families can watch and enjoy together. One of my fondest childhood memories was rushing back from school to watch Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z with my family.
Are there any sequels or spin-offs in the works? What can fans expect next?
Yes, I have two, possibly three, more books in mind for this series. There’s a lot left to explore in Beldemar and among the guardians—A Chord of Silver Moons really just scratches the surface. I’ve already started writing book 2, and I have a title for it, so be on the look out!
Did you know?
You can now preorder the ebook or order a signed copy directly from me. (Signed copies will go out at the end of the week after release day.)
What other questions do you have? Let me know in the comments.