Q&A with Jessica Khoury

  

 

Photo by Katherine Escobar Photography

 

Jessica Khoury is the author of the new middle grade novel Monster and Apprentice. Her other books include The Mystwick School of Musicraft. She lives in Greenville, South Carolina. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Monster and Apprentice, and how did you create your character Rolan?

 

A: For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to write a book centered around the master-and-apprentice dynamic. I always loved these kinds of stories as a kid! And actually, the first thing I came up with was the title—Monster and Apprentice!

 

But it took me a while to find the right characters for this story, and for several years I let it bubble in the back of my mind. Maybe it was adult? Maybe it would be young adult?

 

But it all clicked for me after I read Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. In many ways, Rolan is inspired by Demon, even though they are two wildly different stories! But I immediately loved the idea of a smart-mouthed kid who acts tough and independent, when really what he needs is to open himself to trusting the adults who care about him.

 

Q: How did you create the world in which the novel is set?

 

A: Rolan’s world is built around the magic system of secrets and Cryptics. In the story, keeping a secret too long will cause it to “escape” your head, hide in the shadows, and grow into a monstrous, mindless creature called a Cryptic. Luc, Rolan’s master, is a warrior whose job it is to fight these Cryptics.

 

Every aspect of their world is crafted by asking how these creatures’ existence would shape society—from its religion and superstitions to practical day-to-day life.

 

For example, in the cities and towns, the people burn lamps all night long, because Cryptics need shadowy corners in which to grow bigger. So light is revered and sacred, while darkness is greatly feared.

 

Q: Did you know how the story would end before you started writing it, or did you make many changes along the way?

 

A: I am a major plotter, so I usually know how a story will end before it begins! But there are always times in which the characters will surprise me along the way.

 

To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that one of the characters in this story surprised me in such a way that it ended up inspiring the entire direction of the sequel—which will come out next year!

 

Q: How would you describe the dynamic between Rolan and Luc?

 

A: Rolan and Luc’s relationship is the real heart of this story, and goes through several stages. They start out really disliking one another and using each other for their own purposes. There is a lot of mistrust and miscommunication and arguing. Rolan in particular doesn’t trust any adults—with good reason, considering how he grew up!

 

But over time, through hardship and work, they come to respect and understand one another. Each has something to learn from the other, and both of them need to learn how to open themselves up to trust and love after suffering a lot of hurt and betrayal in their pasts.

 

The great question at the center of the story is will they be able to overcome that past pain in order to show up for one another when it really counts?

 

Q: What are you working on now?

 

A: Currently, I’m working on illustrations for the sequel for Monster and Apprentice! The second book is mostly finished, and will be out next year!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: In many ways, even though it’s my 17th published story, I feel that Monster and Apprentice is the best book I’ve written! Each of my stories is special to me for different reasons, but Monster is one of those rare “bolt-of-lightning” stories where the entire thing fell into my head all at once, and as a result, it was a very quick writing process.

 

In fact, the morning the story clicked in my mind, I was so excited and inspired, I immediately put my children in the car, dropped them off at their grandparents’ house, and said I’d be back in a few days. I could not NOT write the story at that very moment!

 

I ended up writing almost half the book over the course of that weekend. Such an experience is rare for me as a writer, and I think when that happens, the end result is always something special!

 

Thank you so much for inviting me into your space for this interview! I hope everyone who picks up Monster and Apprentice will walk away with a feeling of connection with the people in their own lives who have taken the time to nurture and guide them, as Luc does with Rolan in this story.

 

It’s been a pleasure to write it, and I hope readers will fall in love with these characters as much as I have!

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb