This ongoing author series highlights Black and Brown authors within the speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. I’ve always wanted to use this platform to uplift the voices of writers, artists, and creatives from marginalized communities who don’t typically get the support they need from the publishing industry. If this conversation sparks your interest in their work, please request their works from your local library, buy a copy from a bookseller, and speak about their work to others!
In this conversation with Jessica Lewis, I talk to her about her process as a multi-genre writer, her books Monstrous (2023) and Bad Witch Burning (2021), her love of dogs, and the phenomenal social commentary in her works of literature.
I LOVED these books so much, and I hope you read them if you haven’t already. Jessica’s work is brilliant, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store!!
J. Lewis Bio:
Jessica Lewis is a Black author of many genres. She has a degree in English Literature and Animal Science (the veterinarian plan did not work out). She began her publishing career in horror (Bad Witch Burning, a Bram Stoker Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, and Monstrous) and also writes middle grade contemporaries under the pseudonym Jazz Taylor (Meow or Never and Starting From Scratch). She has a forthcoming middle grade in September 2024 (Cool Cat) and a rom-com in 2025 (Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love). Jessica is from Alabama, where she writes full time and lives with her way-funnier-than-her grandmother.
- What is the cannon event that made you decide to become a writer?
I’ve always loved writing and reading, but it was firmly in the “hobby” category as a kid. I wrote self insert fanfic for friends and toyed around with my own ideas in high school, but never finished anything. I packed writing up when I went to school for veterinary medicine. I love animals and biology, but I’m terrible at math, so I was not having a good time. I remember the moment distinctly: I was a junior, quietly miserable, and I had to study for a biochem exam. I was desperate to do anything else. So, instead of studying, I put my pen to paper for the first time in years and wrote my first novel. It was messy and imperfect, but it was the first piece of original fiction I had ever finished, and I was so, so much happier writing than I was looking at math masquerading as science. The rest is history; I started taking writing seriously and never looked back! And yes, I did fail that Biochem exam lol.
- The covers of Bad Witch Burning and Monstrous are stunning! What was the design process like for these two books?
I wish I could take credit for these, but I can’t! My publisher did all the design work. I basically gave a thumbs up or a thumbs down. But I agree they are stunning!!
- What inspired you to write Monstrous? The premise of the story is so fascinating!!!
Bad Witch Burning was really tough on me; it’s partially autobiographical (not the necromancer part), and thus it was very tough to edit. I was emotionally drained, so I vowed that my next book would be fun. Monstrous combines all of my favorite things: Kaijus, monster parental figures, sapphics, dogs, mysteries, buddy cop shows without the cops, and on and on. I poured all my interests into that book and had a blast! Of course, as I edited, the book became deeper and focused on issues that matter to me, but the initial draft was born out of a need to enjoy writing again. And it succeeded!
- The snake and its lore was so unique! I found myself excited every time he appeared. What inspired his lore and why doesn’t he have a name?
I have always been interested in kaijus, aka giant animals like Godzilla or, yes, Clifford the Big Red Dog, and I just had to write a book about one. But I also knew I wanted him to be able to speak to the MC and be as intelligent as a human. But he is not human, so I didn’t give him human characteristics like a name. In his culture/world, all monsters are part of a collective, and when they die, they simply go “home” and live again in the new generation. So all monsters are the same, in a way, and thus don’t need names to differentiate themselves! But between you and me, when I talk about him with friends, I call him “Snako” (which I’m sure he would despise lol).
- Typically in YA stories I find myself yelling “Where are your parents!! Why haven’t you told anyone yet!!” because usually there’s at least one adult that can be trusted. But you are a master at creating captivating yet unlikeable adults in your stories and making your characters actions completely believable. I’m not sure where the question is in that, I just wanted to give you your flowers.
Thank you so much!! I always like to include not only bad adults, but adults who mean well but are still just out of reach. That mirrors my experience as a child, so I think kids today can relate. Hopefully none have a problem as big as “my snake dad might want to kill me” lol but it can seem like an insurmountable challenge to talk to the adults around you when your problems feel that huge!
- I was asked to ask you this question, jokingly of course: What’s your relationship with dogs? They seem to deal with a lot in Bad Witch Burning and Monstrous. I read Bad Witch Burning first and was SCARED for Peach and Sheriff Kine’s dog in Monstrous.
I LOVE dogs!!! I’ve had three, and they were the light of my life (even my murderous weenie dog, but that’s a story for another day). I currently live in an apartment with my Grandma and we can’t have dogs, so I write them into my books. And now I can have an excuse to look at dogs all day and call it research haha! But also, I was always fascinated by dogs, who are capable of so much destruction, but choose to instead be our friends. For Katrell’s book, that parallel is in stark view: Conrad turns from a sweet puppy who wouldn’t hurt a fly into something truly dangerous. Which mirrors Katrell’s story as she had to grow up far too fast and far too young, and poverty and her mother has twisted her into something she doesn’t want to be, but has to embrace to survive. In Monstrous, I liked to explore the idea of manipulation of dogs on both ends of the spectrum–how Peach is a sweet lap dog until Latavia convinces her otherwise. But also how Charlie is a weapon of war from an oppressive force, but becomes sweet and loving with Latavia’s guidance.
TL,DR: I love dogs and I love using them in books for metaphors. And I like staring at dog pictures!!
- There is a lot of social commentary in BWB and Monstrous, ranging from racialized harm, parental neglect, abuse, etc. What are the most important messages you wish for readers to take from your books?
In all my books, but especially in horror, I want there to be hope. Things can be really, really bad, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. I also want kids to know that there’s someone you can lean on, even if that is a dog or a guidance counselor or a giant, talking, man-eating snake :)
- Your books mostly, if not all, center queer youth of color. This representation is so important in the publishing industry, especially traditional publishing. What steps should the publishing industry take to increase this representation?
BUY MORE OF MY BOOKS!! Lol but seriously, I think the industry needs to take more chances. We don’t need the same story told over and over; give us unique perspectives from unique voices! And most importantly, market and pay authors with these unique voices so they can keep speaking to us! Authors can’t eat goodwill from readers, even if it’s the most important part of the job.
- You write multiple genres and for various audiences. I’ve read and loved Bad Witch Burning and Monstrous but you have a YA rom-com book coming out in April and you have several kid lit stories. Is your writing process different for each genre and audience?
Yes and no. It’s true that my rom-com (Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love) is very different from Bad Witch Burning and Monstrous. There are no man-eating dogs or giant snakes and there’s not even a single murder! But if you look closely, you can tell Nav’s Guide is still very much my book. There’s a dog in it who’s crucial to the story (Jordan, the corgi!). There are complicated parental relationships. There is a queer teen MC who is searching for something she’s lacking, but this time it’s love and not, like, the blood of enemies haha. I love to write in different genres because I love so many different ideas and people and things, but the heart of my stories are always the same.
As for how I switch between genres, I have a few tricks! I have a dedicated playlist for each project, so when it’s time to swap from haunted houses to dating at summer camp, I put on the corresponding playlist to get me in the right headspace. I also try to read in the genre I’m swapping to as a palate cleanser. You can tell what I’m working on by what I’m reading. In October and November, I read horror, in December I read mysteries, and now (January) I’m on my romance grind!
- I’ve noticed how you speak so lovingly about your grandmother online and BWB and Monstrous are dedicated to your grandmother. How does she feel about your success and growth as a writer?
Grandma is so funny. She doesn’t like horror or romance or fantasy (she’s a historical fiction girlie), but she valiantly listens to me ramble about plot holes and character arcs. She’s quick to tell me when something sounds awful, but also honest when something sounds good. Still, she has never read a book of mine and I don’t think she ever will lol! But I know she’s very proud of me. She always brags to her friends that I’m an author and brings my books to church to show them. I love her to pieces, and everything I write will be eternally dedicated to her. I wouldn’t be here without her.
- Who or what influenced your writing the most?
Anime! I used to be a huge anime fan as a kid (I still am, but I’m more casual now), and I can pinpoint several stories that just stuck with me and were formative texts. Soul Eater, Princess Tutu, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Spice and Wolf, Shin Sekai Yori…the list goes on and on. I loved how horror elements were played out in different ways, but also the unique style of each show. And if you want to learn how to do romance, anime is the medium that does it best. Later on, I was also inspired by horror games such as The Last of Us or SOMA, but anime will always have a special place in my heart. It’s the best place to refill my well too!
- What are you currently reading or watching?
Currently, I’m reading The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee and Love at 350 Degrees by Lisa Peers! I just finished watching Blue Lock Season 2 and I’m in mourning for how hyped I was at the end (the only show to ever make me care about sports lol).
- What is your definition of rest and do you practice it?
It’s hard because I have ADHD–I feel like my mind is never truly resting! It’s always thinking about something, or planning a new book, or simply trying to get a song unstuck haha. But I try to schedule my breaks and have time at the end of each day, typically after dinner, to just veg and watch youtube. I also have a mindless game on my phone where you merge different items, and that helps me relax! Rest to me is anything you can do to truly unwind and not think about work, which is hard in a creative field; even watching TV or playing a game can feel like work if you’re getting inspiration!
If you wish to see earlier interviews, check out The Blerd Library YouTube channel! There, I interviewed Tatiana Obey, LP Kindred, Midnight Comics, and many more!
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