Q&A with S. Jae-Jones, author of "Guardians of Dawn: Zhara"

Reflections on writing, fantasy as a genre, and being (or not) a visual writer

Welcome to the interview 🗣️

I’m delighted to present to you this emailed Q&A I did with author S. Jae-Jones (also known as JJ) in celebration of the release of her new fantasy series opener, Guardians of Dawn: Zhara. Read on!

Karis Rogerson: How did you get into storytelling through writing?

S. Jae-Jones: I think it’s the other way around for me: I got into writing through storytelling. I was an only child for the first ten years of my life and I didn’t have any playmates at home, so I got into the habit of playing pretend by myself. I really only started writing because I needed some way to remember and keep track of the increasingly Baroque storylines I told myself in my elaborate tableaus of make-believe.

KR: What compels you to write?

JJ: Short answer? Boredom. Long answer? I’m still trying to figure that out. I feel as though there are two different questions and two different answers. The first is what compels me to write? That’s the short answer. But second question, the one that requires a long answer, is a little bit more complicated.

That question is What compels me to write…and publish? That I don’t know. I do think many of us start writing stories with the intent to share and I do think that’s true for me too, but as for why I want to share? I’m not sure of that either. Maybe I want to be validated. Or witnessed. Or maybe I just want to make people laugh and smile and cry and feel things, so I can see my own humanity reflected in their emotions.

KR: What inspired Guardians of Dawn: Zhara?

JJ: There is always a part of me that writes out of joyful spite, and Zhara was no exception. In this case, the spite was against myself and my previous duology. I’m really proud of Wintersong and Shadowsong, but they were so HEAVY and ANGSTY in ways that I did not want to be in for the next however many years I was going to spend writing my next series.

I pitched Guardians of Dawn to my editor as a magical girl story set in a fantasy version of East Asia, and it really was cobbled together from all the things bringing me joy at the time—magical girl anime and manga, Korean rom-com dramas, the Dragon Age video games, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and BTS. I wanted fun and I didn’t want to take myself too seriously. I hope that comes across in the writing!

KR: Was there a certain element of writing this story that brought you particular joy?

JJ: Everything was carefully designed to bring me joy in Zhara, but perhaps the thing that brought me the most joy was the freedom to be silly and childlike in a way I hadn’t been before. Also, Han. Writing a himbo was one of the most joyful things I’ve ever done, probably because I am a himbo myself.

KR: What was the most challenging part of the writing process for this book?

JJ: I wrote the vast majority of Zhara during the pandemic, which was possibly the worst time to try and write a joyful book. But from a craft standpoint, I’ve never written such a plot-driven book before, and trying to keep all the pieces moving was incredibly difficult—I ended up with over a million words over fourteen drafts trying to get this book right.

KR: What is it about the fantasy genre that draws you to it?

JJ: Someone once described ADHD to me as a sort of time blindness, and I have to admit that I have a difficult time staying present. I’m always daydreaming and imagining and in my own little world because I find whatever moment I’m in incredibly boring (even though I know I shouldn’t). Fantasy allows me to indulge in that not-present feeling, but without guilt!

KR: Do you still draw comics, and if so, how do you find the practice of visual art influences the practice of writing, and vice versa?

JJ: I’ve always drawn comics in much the same way I think a lot of other writers journal, which is to say it’s mostly just little visual snippets or anecdotes about my life, interspersed with some humorous observations. And while I am a visual thinker, I am about as far from a visual writer as you can possibly be. I always envy those who say their books play out like movies in their heads; for me, all my books might as well be titled Bodiless Voices in Featureless Rooms.

When I write, the first thing that comes is a character’s voice. The next is their surroundings, but only the way the set of a play might come into focus—a spotlight from the character’s eyes. I often don’t know what the world is like beyond what the character knows, and any time I need to know more, I have to almost physically wrench myself out of their head. In that instance, I start drawing and journaling and sketching to try and physically envision what a world and the characters themselves look like.

KR: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

JJ: I think we writers all should interrogate why we want to be published and have a ready answer for ourselves. It doesn’t have to be a “good” or “moral” reason—I frequently say spite is as good a motivator as other, more positive motivators—but there must be a reason greater than simply because you’ve always wanted to be an author.

What does being an author mean to you? Validation? Validation of what? Does it mean community? A service you are performing for others? There are a lot of reasons for wanting to become an author, and I think having a firm grasp on why will help you weather the highs and lows of this incredibly tumultuous career.

KR: Can you recommend 1-3 books you’ve read and loved recently (or not-so-recently)?

JJ: I recently re-read for the Worst Bestsellers podcast Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison and was reminded just how much of a delight the Georgia Nicolson books are. CONTENT WARNING: These books were published in the late 90s and early 2000s, so some of it hasn’t aged well, so beware of the casual homophobia, fat phobia, and mild racism played for laughs. And yet…and yet. The messiness is so very real and I don’t think books for this age group (14 year olds) are published much anymore. I also loved Behind the Story, the BTS biography, because I am, of course, ARMY.

KR: Is there anything else I should have asked that you’d like to share?

JJ: If you are a fourteen-year-old girl, or have a strong attachment to the messy teenager you actually were and not the suave teenagers of CW dramas, then I think you’ll probably enjoy Guardians of Dawn: Zhara!

KR: Thank you so much to JJ for answering my questions with such heart & humor! I hope you’ll all check out Guardians of Dawn: Zhara when it releases tomorrow!

Quick reflections on residency ⛰️

This newsletter is a day late, because I was traveling yesterday and also recovering from an emotionally fraught 9-day residency. I will share so much more in my newsletter next week, including reflections on how we as a community can be better allies, but for today, I just want to say: thank you. To everyone who held me while I hurt (and I hurt a lot this past week), to everyone who love(s) me when I cannot love myself, to everyone who thanked me for my presence and made me feel my existence brought you joy: thank you.

Adieu 👋

That’s all for today, beloveds! I hope you enjoyed this interview, and I hope you’ll stick around for next week’s return to form with the usual sections! I can’t wait to share my heart, yell about books, and reflect on craft with y’all.