An Interview with Katrina Morrow
I have been writing since I was a teenager. I was born into an upper middle class African American family that had adopted me out into a working class family. My older adopted sister was an English teacher and encouraged me to write and she would give me Maya Angelou books to read. Later, when I found my African American family, I learned that they were English teachers as well. As a teenager, I also ran long distance in cross country, and my coach would submit my poetry in a running magazine. I believe that the running gave me focus and discipline to also write books. I then went on to study cinema, English, and journalism at the City College of San Francisco.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
A co-worker was talking about the Challenger one day and the memory of the spacecraft from my childhood inspired me to write this book. Also, my love for space and the universe as a whole inspired me to write this book. I’m also a lover of the moon and so I was inspired by Jupiter’s moons to write about meaning of this planet’s moons.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
I stumbled across this title rather quick. I knew I wanted to change the fate of this spacecraft in the narrative, so that’s how I came across the title. Sometimes I wish the title was different or more creative so that it catches readers attention.
Describe your dream book cover.
An oil painting of space, the night sky as seen from Mars, which is really pretty.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
I really like epic cinematic music, like Two Steps from Hell, that captures the epic fantasy of my book where the Challenger is being saved by alien angels.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I read books about writing, such as Aspects of the Novel by E.M. Forster, who claims that expanding your story by a set of creative standards is more important than just completing the story. He preaches in this book, about story, character development, plot, fantasy, prophecy, and both pattern and rhythm.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I went to culinary school as well and my grandfather preferred that I just be a chef, which was a practical profession for me, according to him. But I was never really able to adapt to the status of the typical worker because I am more on the creative side, which my grandfather refused to see.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
To repeat, my older adopted sister was an English teacher while I was growing up, and she would give me Maya Angelou books to read. And when I was sixteen years old, I saw Maya Angelou reciting her poetry on stage. I am also inspired by Sylvia Plath and other classical American authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald. I also like British American author Hermione Hoby and a more current American author, Emma Cline.
Where is your favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write is at home at my breakfast table, at the public library or a coffee shop.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Besides writing for your professors, write for yourself as well. I know writing a book seems almost impossible and scary, but a journey of 1,000 miles starts with the first step, so take that step forward! Think creatively, like the way you live your life creatively, when starting to write a book. Keep your eyes on the prize, which is having a finished manuscript.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
That they see the injustices that were done to me. That white people are stealing creative content from Africa Americans and that this situation should raise awareness of this problem. That they take away an inspiration to travel space in the future. That the elements space craft is made of is scientific and beautiful. That readers see how my Black mother was unjustly treated and how it curtailed her life. And that aliens are helpful to humanity in times of tragedy and crisis.
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