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3 ?s about Momotaro Xander and the Lost Island of Monsters<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n What three words would you use to describe your book?<\/p>\n Imagination, friendship, adventure<\/p>\n What made you decide to change gears and write middle grade books?<\/p>\n I guess it wasn\u2019t so much as I decided to write middle grade books as it was that I had a specific idea, and the best way to execute that idea was through writing a middle grade book. It was a pretty big learning curve for me, with many drafts over several years, but a lot of fun! I worked on it in between other projects.<\/p>\n How did you get the ideas for Momotaro? \u00a0I know you visited Japan for your research, but how did you arrive at the Japanese fantasy genre?<\/p>\n I\u2019m half Japanese and I had a Japanese board book about Momotaro that my mom would read (translate) to me. I thought the story could be compelling for Western audiences and I wanted to find a way to present it to them.<\/p>\n Xander\u2019s biracial because I am, and I didn\u2019t read about any biracial characters while I was growing up. \u00a0I also thought it\u2019d be a way for a Western audience to relate to the Japanese cultural stuff– Xander\u2019s a bit of an outsider and raised in the West, as well. I was also raised in San Diego, with only my mother as the link to the entire Japanese culture.<\/p>\n Additionally, I wanted to explore some ideas about being mixed race, and also what that would mean for a mythological hero that was always the same race. Will his powers be weaker? Stronger? Different? How does his mother\u2019s heritage affect him? \u00a0It parallels ideas and fears people have in the real world about races and cultures intermingling. And, I wanted to leave open the possibility that Xander\u2019s mother\u2019s myths would cross-pollinate with the Japanese myths.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3 ?s about You<\/strong><\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t a writer, what would you want to be and why?<\/p>\n A detective, because I observe things and make connections other people commonly do not, and I am extremely nosy!<\/p>\n What is one book that has stuck with you since you\u2019ve read it?<\/p>\n That is like the #1 Impossible Question for writers! I will say THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN by Sherman Alexie because after I read it, I had a breakthrough about Momotaro.<\/p>\n What is one item in your fridge that tells us about you?<\/p>\n The big ol\u2019 jar of coffee.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Follow Margaret Dilloway on Twitter @mdilloway<\/a> or on Instagram @margaretdilloway<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can learn more about her and her other books by visiting www.margaretdilloway.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n