Debut novelist Micki Janae on fan fiction & diversity in fantasy
by Julia Diorio, Associate Editor, Three Rooms Press
Micki Janae is no stranger to multitasking, whether that be juggling schoolwork at the University of Alabama, Birmingham or working as a barista. It comes as no surprise that she started writing Of Blood and Lightning, her debut YA fantasy novel, in middle school. Ophelia, the fiery main character who descends from Zeus, has taken on many forms since then, but one thing has always stayed the same: Janae’s commitment to having a group of Black teenagers save the world. I spoke to her about her time as a writer, and what her plans are for Ophelia’s future.
Julia Diorio: When did you realize that you wanted to write your own books rather than just consume them?
Micki Janae: Like all the greats, I started writing fanfiction in middle school. I’d always loved reading, and found that putting my own words together felt just as fulfilling. It was in my 7th grade year, when I applied to the Alabama School of Fine Arts’s Creative Writing Department, that I truly fell in love with creating my own stories. Stories have a kind of infinite magic—anything is possible so long as you can imagine it. I’d been drawn in by that magic very early.
JD: How do you hope young Black fantasy authors will feel when reading your book?
MJ: While literature has always been a powerful tool throughout our collective history, it has also been used as a dangerous weapon, particularly in regard to people who look like me. Our stories have been co-opted by those who refuse to see us as we are, so the message I want to communicate with Ophelia’s story is very simple: we are the heroes of our own stories. We are the Champions and Chosen Ones.
JD: What were some of the hardships you experienced while writing and editing?
MJ: Drafting and revising Of Blood and Lightning has been a very long journey. I began Ophelia’s story in my junior year of high school. She has stuck with me through many milestones and changes in my personal life—graduations, move-in days, new jobs, and old ones. We’ve both lost old parts of ourselves and discovered new paths. I like to think that we’ve done a lot of growing up together.
JD: How did you balance your schoolwork at University of Alabama, Birmingham while also writing the manuscript? Was it difficult to dedicate time to both equally?
MJ: I’m the kind of person who doesn’t think there could ever be enough time. Drafting and school work—being a full time-student, writer, and part-time barista—was a delicate balance that made for a very interesting freshman year experience. I like to think of each day as its own hurdle. If you tackle them one at a time, you can never lose your rhythm.
JD: Your dedication is so wonderfully unique. Was this something you always had planned out, or a spur-of-the-moment decision?
MJ: I’ve always been in love with writing and storytelling, so I decided early on that I wanted to write novels. I like to say that Ophelia’s story struck me like a “bolt of lightning,” but I think Of Blood and Lightning had always been with me. I fell in love with fantasy very early on, across all mediums. It’s a genre I deeply treasure and spend lots of time with. So in that case, I’d definitely say both.
JD: Which character out of the main friend group would you say you identify with the most, and why?
MJ: What makes Ophelia so interesting to me is how different we are. She’s fierce in ways I’m not, and never shies away from speaking her mind. Of course, she can call lightning and thunder from the heavens; I’m still trying to figure that one out. However, I identify most deeply with her anger. At the heart of this story is a young Black girl who’s angry at the whole world. I’ve been that girl too. I’ve been in worlds that are too different from the one I knew before, with no idea how to find my way back. With this story, I hope that other Black girls in similar circumstances, with similar feelings, can see themselves as champions and heroes too.
JD: How did you decide which character descended from which god?
MJ: It was no question for me that Ophelia would inherit Zeus’s power. The others changed hands quite a bit in the earlier drafts, so the process really came down to spending more time with the characters and letting them decide for themselves, so to speak. Some characters definitely came easier than others—Olivia struck me early on as a calm, dignified Hunter, and Alessia’s explosive personality seemed perfect for the War god.
JD: The book ends on such a cliffhanger. What are your plans for the future now?
MJ: Of Blood and Lightning is the first installation in an epic saga of warring gods. Ophelia’s story begins as a quest to save the Fates, after she inherits the power of Zeus overnight. As she unravels the mystery of an ancient text, the quiet war between Scions and Demigods explodes into a clash between gods. For Ophelia and her friends, saving the Fates is just the beginning.
Of Blood and Lightning is releasing on October 8th, 2024 and is available for preorder now.
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