Marc J. Gregson is the author of the new young adult novel Downfall, the third in his Above the Black trilogy. He is also a middle school English teacher.
Q: Downfall is the third in your Above the Black series--what inspired the plot of this new novel?
A: Ultimately, the conflict between Uncle and Conrad was always going to lead in this direction because of all the wrong Uncle has done to him. I knew I had to take readers into the Below, but I also knew a lot of this story needed to be set in the sky. So, that was a challenge being able to weave both parts in.
It was difficult, but I'm very proud of the end result.
Q: How did you create the world in which the series is set?
A: I've always wanted to write a story set on floating islands in the sky, and one with duels, and one with giant monsters. And what better way to explore all these things than to mash these ideas together?
Another thing that interested me is hierarchies, and creating a society that was ruled by a wicked Meritocracy where mercy and collaboration are seen as weak.
Q: Did you know how this novel would end before you started writing the first book in the series, or did you make many changes along the way?
A: I am a discovery writer, so I'm making up my stories as I go along. I originally envisioned book one, Sky’s End, being one exploring the conflict between Conrad and his uncle, and it was going to be a standalone adventure.
But when I got about a hundred pages into the book, I knew that it absolutely needed more. The world just kept building and building. I learned more about the giant monsters, who created them, the people who kept the secret from the Skylands.
On top of that, my side characters grew into their own, and I just had to learn about them.
Worldbuilding this series fascinated me, and I just wanted to explore it. I couldn't reasonably do everything in one book.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: I hope readers find messages of hope in the face of overwhelming odds and that people are stronger together than alone.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: Next up, after Downfall, I have another book called Behind the Glass that is planned for release on November 10, 2026 from Blackstone Publishing.
After that, I have a new YA fantasy trilogy that I'm very excited about and hope to talk about in the near future.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: The development for the Sky’s End movie is going well, and I've read the screenplay!
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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