Shawntelle Madison is the author of the new novel The Fallen Fruit. Her other novels include Coveted. She lives in Missouri.
Q: What inspired you to write The Fallen Fruit?
A: The idea for the book came from my family's history. I love genealogy and during my research I learned about my sixth great-grandmother, Amy Bowles-Farrow, who lived as a free Black woman in post-American Revolution Charlottesville, Virginia.
Bowles-Farrow bought land, a rarity for a woman of color during that time period. My imagination went wild as I considered what it would be like for her family to live right next to major plantations such as Dunlora and Monticello. That what-if question turned speculative and the time-travel aspect was born.
Q: What did you see as the right balance between history and fiction as you wrote the novel?
A: This question is hard to answer. When it comes to writing history and fiction, I tend to treat the writing process like cooking a dish like gumbo. I have to take my time and add a little bit of this, take away a little bit of that.
Now, I will be honest. There were moments where I wanted to go deeper with the history, especially during the American Revolution, but it's important to keep the flow of the story going and keep readers engaged.
Q: Can you say more about why you decided to include a time travel element in the book?
A: Great question! The story of my ancestors was quite exciting as is, but I’m primarily a speculative fiction author. The what-if question often pops up as I develop ideas and I couldn't resist following Alice in Wonderland's white rabbit down the hole to see what would happen if a family of free Blacks in Virginia had a time travel curse.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the novel said, “[I]t's hard not to be reminded of Octavia Butler's Kindred, as well as The Time Traveler's Wife and some of Ray Bradbury's time-displacement stories.” What do you think of those comparisons?
A: That review from Kirkus is amazing and I'm grateful they took the time to read it.
Also, I'm truly humbled by the comparison to such incredible authors as Octavia E. Butler, Audrey Niffenegger, and Ray Bradbury. Their works have been game-changers, and to be mentioned alongside them is an honor beyond measure.
I think it's a testament to the power of The Fallen Fruit that readers are able to see connections between my story and theirs. I hope it suggests I've tapped into something deeper and more universal, a resonance with themes and ideas that have captivated audiences over the years.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: My next project is another historical fantasy about an unusual haunted house. I've had a lot of fun working on that creepy book.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Thanks so much for interviewing me. I can't wait for everyone to read The Fallen Fruit.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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