Happy Monday, Everyone! Today, I’m excited to have Isaac Fitzsimons here to celebrate the release of his middle grade, Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers. It sounds like a unique fantasy world, and I’m drawn to the beautiful cover.
Here’s
a blurb from Goodreads:
An
orphan with big dreams becomes entangled in the corrupt magic system of her
city in this gripping middle grade fantasy adventure from critically acclaimed
author Isaac Fitzsimons—perfect for fans of Chronicles of Whetherwhy and School
for Thieves.
Astra Fox longs to be a wonderworker, traveling
the world and casting fantastical illusions. But as a ward of the awful Sisters
of Sorrows’ Foundling Home for Friendless Children, her dreams seem impossible.
Then Astra’s fate takes an incredible turn when she’s granted an apprenticeship
with the Bellamys, a prominent family who made their fortune manufacturing
wonderwork into everyday products.
Surrounded by wealth and glamor, Astra is
captivated by her new world and feels closer to her ideal future than ever
before. But when rumors of a mysterious figure who sparks rebellions reach the
city, Mr. Bellamy places Astra in his gilding factory as a spy, promising
sponsorship and an opportunity to explore the world as a wonderworker in
exchange.
Now working in the same factory from which her
sister disappeared years earlier, Astra experiences firsthand the perils and
injustices suffered by the employees and discovers a larger plot that puts them
all in danger. With the help of her new friends and some unexpected allies, can
Astra put her dreams aside to save Empire City?
Hi
Isaac! Thanks so much for joining us.
1. Tell us about yourself and how you became a writer.
Thank you for having me!
I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember. In first grade, I wrote a book called The Vampire Rabbit which was essentially Bunnicula fan fiction. For a long time, writing was just a hobby. One year, I decided to try Camp NaNoWriMo, mostly to see if I could finish a full manuscript. I did! And while that first draft was terrible, it opened the door.
From there, I spent
several years researching the publishing industry, studying story structure,
and working to improve my craft. Then, in 2016, I entered Pitch Wars with the
manuscript that eventually became my debut novel.
2. Where did you get the idea for Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers?
I wish I could point to a single moment, but really it was a combination of several ideas that had been simmering in my brain separately for years. First, there was a Tumblr post about how humans don’t need to be taught to fear the dark. Then, a documentary examining Princess Diana’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth. Next, a sermon on how enslaved people used gospel music as a tool for survival and communication. And finally, two photo essays—one of a six-year-old girl who was the youngest student at a Chinese Kung Fu academy, and another of a thirteen-year-old eagle hunter in Mongolia.
3. You certainly drew from lots of different ideas. What was your worldbuilding process like? Did most of the process happen before you started your first draft or while you were writing?
I did a huge amount of heavy lifting pre-drafting. The basic premise I started out with was an underdog living in an unjust society, who is a member of the exploited class, but also complicit in the system in her own way. I knew that access to magic would be the dividing force between the wealthy and the poor. I chose illusion magic because it allowed me to explore how misinformation and disinformation can be weaponized by the elite, which is relevant in our day and age. Instead of making magic illegal, which is a trope found in many fantasies, I decided to industrialize it. A Gilded Age-inspired setting made sense, plus I’ve had a long-standing love for Newsies, and so was eager to explore that world.
Even though it’s a fantasy, so much of the plot is grounded in actual history. For instance, there’s a scene where Astra encounters a wealthy couple touring the poorest neighborhoods as if it’s a tourist attraction. That was based on an actual Gilded Age trend in cities like New York and London called “slumming.”
During revisions, my
editor, Alyson Heller, helped me clarify any worldbuilding details that
remained confusing, which often meant drawing out all the implicit subtext
about inequality that existed in my head and making it explicit on the page.
4. Were you a plotter or a panster? Why does this process work for you?
I am an unapologetic plotter. I use a progressive outlining technique, where I run my premise through several story structures, making each pass increasingly more detailed.
This takes the pressure off having to know every detail from day one. Each pass also acts as a stress test for the story. There have been plenty of times when I’ve hit a structural wall in the outline and realized there was an issue with the premise. Finding that out early on means I can fix the foundation after a few thousand words, rather than writing myself into a corner 60,000 words in. That said, I still leave room for discovery. My favorite moments in drafting are when previously unconnected plot points suddenly snap together with no advanced planning.
5. It sounds like a smart approach. Share a bit about Astra Fox, the main character. Was her development as a character easy for you?
Astra is a wonderworker,
meaning she can weave illusions. She was raised in an orphanage alongside her
older sister, Pippa, but when the story opens, Pippa has aged out, moved to
Empire City, and gone completely silent.
When developing Astra’s personality, I kept thinking about that photo essay of the young girl at the Kung Fu academy. In one image she’s executing a flawless kick, and in the next she’s peeking over her classmate’s shoulder during a test. I knew Astra needed that exact combination of mischievous spark and practical focus when stakes are high. Then, a workshop I taught on writing through trauma deeply informed her emotional core. Hearing participants share their survival stories served as my guiding light for Astra. I wanted her to be undeniably brave, but to hold on to her vulnerability at the same time.
6. This is your second published book. Your debut book, Passing Playbook, is a contemporary romance about a 15-year-old trans athlete. Congrats on the book being named a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection and being awarded other accolades. What made you decide to write a middle grade fantasy, which is such a different genre, and for a younger age group?
It came down to what the story called for. It sounds counterintuitive, but I found I could go much darker in middle grade fantasy than in young adult contemporary. The book deals with heavy thematic elements like child exploitation, systemic corruption, loss, and the threat of violence. Middle grade fantasy gave me the perfect arena to explore those big, daunting real-world issues through magic, resilience, and hope.
There’s a saying in children’s literature that has always stuck with me: you can lead young readers into very dark places, with the promise that you’ll guide them back into the light on the other end.
7. Your agent is Jordan Hamessley. How did she become your agent?
Through good old-fashioned querying! My manuscript was selected for Pitch Wars, where I worked through revisions with my mentor, Natalka Burian. The book emerged much stronger, but the agent showcase itself didn’t result in an offer.
So, I hit the query trenches. After collecting my share of rejections, I revised the manuscript again. In the next round of querying, I sent my work to Jordan, and the rest is history.
8. How are you planning to promote Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers? How is your approach different than for your debut book?
My debut was a pandemic book baby. While I missed out on in-person events, the flip side was that going virtual meant I could hop on panels and connect with readers from across the world right from my living room.
For Astra Fox, I’m thrilled to be blending both worlds. I have several in-person events lined up, and I’m looking forward to meeting readers face-to-face this time around.
9. What are you working on now?
The hardest part about publishing is that you spend years working in total secrecy because you can’t talk about projects until deals are announced! I hate giving vague teasers, so I’ll just share that I have stories across multiple age categories and genres sitting in various stages.
Specifically, I’m bouncing between an adult sports romance, a young adult historical folk horror, and a middle grade historical gothic horror/fantasy.
Thanks for sharing all your advice, Isaac. You can find Isaac at https://linktr.ee/isaacfitzbooks.
Giveaway Details
Isaac’s publisher is generously offering a hardback of
Astra Fox and the Rise of the Wonderworkers for a giveaway. To enter,
all you need to do is be a follower of my blog (via the follower gadget,
email, or bloglovin’ on the right sidebar) and leave a comment by September
5th. If I do not have your email (I can no longer get it from your Google
Profile), you must leave it in the comments to enter the contest. Please be
sure I have your email address.
If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or
other social media sites and/or follow me on Twitter or Bluesky or follow Isaac
on his social media sites, mention this in the comments, and I'll give you an
extra entry for each. You must be 13 years old or older to enter. This book giveaway
is US-only.
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Greg Pattridge. You can
find the participating blogs on his blog.
Upcoming Interviews, Guest Posts, and Blog Hops
Thursday, October 1st, I’m participating in the Scaredy Cat Giveaway Hop
Wednesday, October 7th, I have an interview with Ryan Douglass and a giveaway of his YA Night of Madness and my IWSG Post
Monday, October 12th, I have a guest post by Shifa Saltagi and a giveaway of her MG Sisters Alone
Wednesday, October 14th, I have an agent spotlight interview with Jenny Lewis and a query critique giveaway
Friday, October 16th, I’m participating in the Silly Pumpkins Giveaway Hop
Monday, October 19th, I have an interview with Kate O’Shaughnessy and a giveaway of her MG Brittle Magic
I hope to see you on Thursday!
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