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By AJ Eversole
As someone who grew up in peak Twilight days, I’ve always been a major fan of the paranormal subgenre. When authors Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker published their first paranormal anthology, Vampires Never Get Old (Feiwel & Friends, 2020), something that I immediately noticed, and was touched by, was the fact they had a Native American author, Rebecca Roanhorse, in the lineup. With their follow up anthology, Mermaids Never Drown (Feiwel & Friends, 2023) they included Darcie Little Badger, which made me realize the choice was intentional and endeared me to their mission.
This is your YA debut, how does that feel?
My story is titled “The New Girl at Autumn Prep.” It follows Meadow Cloudbank—who is a spring faerie, and the first in her family to pursue a higher education—as she attends a prestigious school in
My story is one of the few in this collection that is set entirely in the faerie realm, and that was very intentional on my part; I didn’t want readers to conflate my fictional tale with real Coast Salish belief systems, so I steered clear of direct references to Native Nations, peoples, or real-world locations.
I did, however, draw inspiration from stories of Native resilience and activism. (The Seed Keeper, by Diane Wilson (Milkweed, 2021) was one particular reference here.)
I also thought about faerie bargains, the dangerous deals and tricky riddles that often occur in faerie stories. And I think that treaties and peace negotiations between colonizers and Native Nations can feel reminiscent of those “bargains.” So in my story, there are references to an obscure “Treaty of Everlasting Peace,” which may or may not ensure peace, justice, and fairness to faeries throughout the realm.
Additionally, I think first-generation college students represent another example of humans ensnared in real-world “bargains” with potentially severe consequences. Because in faerie bargains, the debts and exchanges often turn out to be uneven in value. Student loans can be similarly misleading, unfortunately.
What do you want Native readers to take away from your story?
I really just hope they’ll enjoy it! I tried to make this story enticing and fun, and rich with language and magic and symbolism.
I have! I love the collaborative nature of anthologies. Writing is often a solo activity, so group projects are fun and refreshing. I also think anthologies are wonderful in the classroom! Teachers are able to build lessons off of shorter excerpts of writing, and anthologies can feel more approachable and rewarding for reluctant readers.
What is next for you?
I’m currently working on my next middle grade novel. I can’t say much about it yet, except that I’m writing from the perspective of a Native boy for the first time. His voice has been one of the most challenging for me to conceive so far. It has taken many, many months for me to get to know him, to really understand his motives and feelings and perspectives. But I also adore him, and I hope my readers will love him, too.
Cynsational Notes
For a more in depth discussion make sure to check out the Untold Legends Podcast. Each episode provides an in depth discussion as Zoraida Cordova and Natalie C. Parker interview their contributing authors. Christine is featured in episode 5: The Power of Possibility.
Christine Day is a citizen of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. She is the award-winning author of I Can Make This Promise, The Sea in Winter, She Persisted: Maria Tallchief, and We Still Belong. Her shorter works have also appeared in the anthologies Ancestor Approved, Faeries Never Lie, and Our Stories, Our Voices. Christine lives with her family in the rainy and resplendent Pacific Northwest.
AJ Eversole covers children’s-YA writing, illustration, publishing, and other book news from Indigenous authors and illustrators for Cynsations. She grew up in rural Oklahoma, a place removed from city life and full of opportunities to nurture the imagination. She is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and writes primarily young adult fiction. AJ currently resides in Texas; with her family. Follow her on Instagram, TikTok &Threads @ajeversole.