Q&A with author Ashley Thorpe
When did you first start writing the book that became The Boy to Beat the Gods? How did the idea come about?
The seed came in 2017. I’m a mythology buff and the idea was essentially just one kid vs several malevolent gods – because what stakes could be higher than going up against deities? As I developed the idea, I realised what a great opportunity it’d be to introduce readers to lesser-explored mythology that excited me, rather than making up all my own lore.
The first version of what would become Chapter One was written in that same year, and got an enthusiastic response when I read it aloud at an Oxford Writing Circle meetup (I lived in the city at the time). But I was in the middle of editing another manuscript at that point, so I let the idea ferment some more while I focussed on that.
I came back to the manuscript and wrote a handful of chapters during the pandemic, but what I was writing felt a little too dark overall. (I suppose lockdown will do that to a person!) I came back to it again at the tail end of 2021 feeling like I’d nailed the outline this time, and then it just flowed so easily.
It’s an original story but draws on Orisha stories and legends. How did you go about that and what things did you bear in mind when writing?
I’d read a lot about the Orisha pantheon, just for personal interest, some years before the idea for the story came. The most fun part was deciding which of the thousands of orishas would feature in my story, and then came the enjoyable challenge of working out what the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of these gods could be, based on the mythology. For example, Obatala (reimagined as Obatunde in my story) got drunk on palm wine and didn’t finish the job of creating the Earth in the genesis mythology, so I used his gluttony as a weakness for Kayode and the gang to exploit in the first battle.
Unlike in some religions, the Orishas aren’t divine beings – they have flaws too, which made it easier, and more fun, to bring them to life as antagonistic characters.
What do you enjoy most about the editing process and working with Sarah?
I’m very, very lucky to work with an editor who understands my writing and my vision, and who always asks for more of what I’m doing be it battle sequences or emotional moments. That buoys me and makes the editing process a lot of fun. It’s one thing to be excited about your own work but another entirely when the first person who’s seen it besides you is excited as well.
It may sound basic, but even just having a responsive editor and a clear, consistent communication style is something I’m extremely grateful for.
The Boy to Beat the Gods is a quest story. Did that give it a built-in structure and how did you work within it, or change it?
I’m a gamer, as are many young people today. I’d say I probably unconsciously borrowed from some gaming conventions for this story and combined it with quest story beats. For example, the idea of there being sub-bosses of increasing difficulty before the big boss is straight out of an RPG. As is the idea of having to work out the weakness of an enemy to beat them. But the growth of the core group of characters with each battle they go through, and the secrets that threaten their alliance, that is more in line with what you’d expect from a classic quest I suppose.
You work at Storymix as an editor. How has that helped your own writing?
It’s actually quite funny because I started at Storymix and got an offer of representation from my agent for The Boy to Beat the Gods within a week. That was a good few days!
In the past three years I’d say it’s really helped having such a creative day job because I’m always in ideas mode, and keeping sharp with my writing inside and outside of work. I work with the best people, and brainstorms on Storymix projects are one of my favourite things.
I’m also extremely fortunate to have a boss who understands and completely supports my writing career, so I’m afforded the flexibility to do events and school visits during a working week that I almost certainly wouldn’t have within a more corporate structure. That level of trust and the mental space afforded me helps massively as a creative.
What’s the most important advice you would give would-be authors?
- Read a lot of whatever age group you’re writing for, and read widely. Read what’s current or come out in the last few years rather than what you enjoyed as a child/young person. This will help you understand what publishers are buying and what the current publishing landscape is like.
- Writing can be a lonely journey, so find a support network of writers at the same stage as you – either in real life or online. Try and get beta-readers or critiques of your work from the right people. Again this could be a writers group or it could be from entering competitions or writing schemes.
- Be disciplined. The key to getting things done is being consistent and finding a rhythm. Find out what time of day you write best as well and schedule it.
Q&A with editor Sarah Stewart
What made Ashley’s book stand out for you and what do you admire most about his writing?
So many things, but the setting, the pace and the humour really grabbed me straight away. The opening scene immersed me in a world I had never visited before and I was fascinated by the details of daily life in Kayode’s village. And for that world to then be rocked by the brutality of huge gods who actually walk the land was so shocking and cinematic that I was gripped! I’ve always loved a story of kids against impossible odds, and pitting one boy against a whole group of these incredibly powerful beings felt like the ultimate version of that. And then to lighten that very serious plight with humour could have been tricky to pull off, but Ashley did it brilliantly – I never knew I needed a shape-shifting goat god in my life, but Eko is my favourite character and made me laugh out loud!
What were the main things you asked him to work on in the editing of The Boy to Beat the Gods?
I loved the way Kayode has to battle one god at a time, finding ways to use their weaknesses against them, and moving towards the ultimate challenge of having to defeat the powerful mother of the gods. But I found myself wanting more detail in the moment of each god’s defeat to make those scenes even more action-packed and satisfying – which Ashley tackled brilliantly! Also, as there are seven Orishas, we discussed how to make them each more distinct by really bedding in their individual characteristics, power, domain, and so on, and seeding their back story into the opening chapters without detracting from the pace, so they were completely clear in the reader’s mind.
What is your favourite scene in the book and why?
Ah, this is tricky as there are so many brilliant moments, both action-packed and heartfelt. But one of my favourites has to be the scene where Kayode, with help from Eko the trickster god and warrior princess Tiwa, manages to defeat the first Orisha, the horrifying and gluttonous Obatunde. It’s when we first see just how clever Kayode can be and how all our heroes can use their skills to work together and achieve the impossible. It’s a real moment of triumph, hope and optimism that seeps through the whole adventure.
What do you think marks out the best adventure writing for young people?
I think it’s a question of balancing many different elements. A great adventure isn’t just about the setting, the action or the pace, although those are all crucial and probably (for me at least) primary considerations. It’s also about the emotional journey the characters go on – the friends they make, what they learn and how they grow – and how that touches the reader. An adventure can’t be truly satisfying without that depth.
What advice would you give debut authors thinking about writing stories that draw on ancient tales or religions?
These are stories that have been passed down the ages because they have power and resonate with so many people, so it makes sense for authors to draw on them. Feel free to give them your own spin and create something fresh and new but also be respectful. Ashley was amazingly mindful of this – the gods in his book are much more vengeful and antagonistic than the Orishas who inspired them are usually described, and as the Orishas are still worshipped today, he changed the names of his gods to set them clearly apart and we added an author note on the subject for clarity.
What do you enjoy most about being an editor?
Books let us travel to worlds and meet characters that we might never otherwise experience, so it’s incredibly special to be able to help facilitate that by finding amazing stories and getting them into readers’ hands. And it’s such a privilege to get an insight into the imagination and talent of authors like Ashley and know that books like his will have a profound impact on the children who discover them and could foster a love of reading that will hopefully last a lifetime!
The Boy to Beat the Gods is published by Usborne, 978-1805075639, £7.99 pbk
Thank you to Ashley Thorpe and Sarah Stewart for answering our questions.
