When Escapism Becomes Realism
There is a lot in this world to be angry about.
That’s why I’ve always found the most solace in fantasy—in escaping this world and its problems that make me feel helpless in order to dive into a wholly new world and itsproblems. Because those problems are fixable, to some extent, whether through magic or tenacious characters. It may be fiction, but it’s still hopeful in the way I’d like to remain hopeful in this world.
When I wrote Scavenge the Stars, I knew off the bat that my main character, Amaya, was a girl who was angry at the world she was in. She was taken from her home, from her parents, by a system that penalizes the poor and rewards the rich. She was a victim who lost everything by those seeking to profit off of that loss. She is also the main character in a story inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo, so naturally, all of this hurt and hatred condensed into one motivation: revenge.