Video Transcript (computer generated - may contain errors)

Sara Gentry: Hey, writers, I am just delighted today to welcome DaVaun Sanders. Welcome.

DaVaun: I’m glad to be here.

Sara Gentry: Yes, it's very serendipitous that I got connected with DaVaun here, and I would love to introduce our writers here to the work that you're doing so. DaVaun is an author and editor from Phoenix, Arizona. He currently serves as publisher and executive editor for the award-winning FIYAH literary magazine of black speculative fiction. He is the author of Keynan Masters & The Peerless Magic Crew. The 1st novel in his debut, middle grade fantasy series. His novel, Minecraft: The Tournament released this summer. His short fiction has appeared in the New York Times, bestselling anthology, Black Boy Joy, and elsewhere he continues to expand his work in children's science fiction and fantasy for kids everywhere who deserve to enjoy inclusive stories, and when deadlines are scarce. He enjoys exploring the world with his wife and twins, Turing himself for the 49ers, and any DIY project that requires outrageous new power tools. Do you have a collection?

DaVaun: I'm slowly but surely building one, much to my wife's dismay.

Sara Gentry: Yeah. I know whenever there's a chainsaw involved, it always makes me nervous.

DaVaun: My small I need. I need a bigger chain. 

Sara Gentry: Well, I was so happy to connect here with DaVaun because, this Minecraft novel is such an interesting concept for me in that it is a novel, but it is also tightly connected to a franchise that is just humongous. And so I was hoping we might talk a bit about how you came to write this novel. Is this something that you had expressed interest in doing, or did, I don't know, like the franchise reach out and say we would love him to be a part of this? How did that all happen?

DaVaun: Sure. I think the main thing with that is that, yes, the franchise did reach out, but the big part that I want to stress, that made it extra exciting, was my agent early on, you know, in the relationship with working on Keynan being my debut last year. But you know, as that was going on, one of her points of emphasis for her authors is to like, you know, I'm not just with you for a book. I'm with you, for, you know, career and to build things. And that's always been something that I've been so happy with. You know, as our relationship has unfolded. So part of that, you know, our initial months was like, hey? If there was ever a chance for IP like what would be like some of your dream projects? And through that list was able to just kind of give her an idea of my taste, like what I was into, what I was excited about, what I'd love to nerd out about. Ironically. Minecraft wasn't on that list, which is hilarious. But I think just having somebody who kind of like knows what you're into, and it's just like, hey, you know, and just like is kind of working, you know, on your behalf behind your back. That's kind of exactly how this all came to place. So then, when you know the opportunity was there, and she was able to bring it back to me, I was like, Oh, my God! My son loves Minecraft! Like this would be a dream to jump on it. So that was the main thing, I think just being available. Number one having somebody who knows your taste knows what you like to write in terms of mood. And you know, genre and all that fun stuff so all those things connected together kind of but put me in connection with Minecraft, and just didn't look back.

Sara Gentry: Yeah.

DaVaun: We got this fine.

Sara Gentry: I love that story because it's a beautiful picture of this relationship that you've established with your agent and kudos to your agent for just always looking out for opportunities that would be available to you. And yeah, I just think that's very cool. So because it's part of this franchise, then. It's part of a series, right? I mean, there's other authors who are writing books within the Minecraft umbrella. And were there certain requirements for writing this novel like, were you restricted to a word count or an age range? Or, you know, what kind of restrictions did they maybe place on you or expectations? Maybe that's a better word.

DaVaun: Sure. Sure, I think like, initially, you know, it was understood that it was gonna be middle grade, like we kind of knew all that. A lot of what's cool about, I think, the Minecraft collection of novels is that they're all they're all together, but they're not necessarily related outside of just being about the game, right? So some of them are in game, whereas characters inside the game some of them are people who are playing the game like how mine off works. And there's, you know, all kinds of different permutations in between. That's what makes it so fun. Because it's like there's literally, I think they're up to like 22 now. And it's just that there's so many options to choose from. So I think, with how it initially worked out like after me and the editor connected, we got the chance to just kind of like throw around some ideas. I had a few ideas that were, they were trying to think how to say this without being…

Sara Gentry: Less than enthusiastic?

DaVaun: Right, but some that were less enthusiastic for sure. But then I think one of the ideas that I originally pitched they were like. Oh, this is great! But it might be too close to this other thing that we can't talk about.

Sara Gentry: Sure.

DaVaun: It may not be happening. So that was a you know, a restriction, I guess. What was exciting about it was that I kept going through the lens with me and my son of just being able to like, you know. What would it look like with a, you know, a connection of, you know, just, kinda you know, just the old old guy, you know, trying to get back in and show he still got it with this kid, and like having that kind of dynamic, because that is literally like me and my son, like most of the time playing this game. It's like, Dad, you're not doing this right. That's not the way to go. You're in the nether. You can't find that material there, like all these different things, right where I'm constantly getting schooled and and like having this humbling moment when it comes to gaming and still trying to prove that I got it so definitely. That was something that went into my successful pitch, because one of the editors had pointed out, you know, it's really cool, you know, with Minecraft being around as long as it has been, is that it's finally in a space where it's like a multi generation game where where parents and kids can can have that kind of dynamic where, you know, old timers can be can say that, you know, back in my day, you know, we didn't have, you know, armadillos on the then, and have all those you know, fun conversations about how it's transition. So yeah, that was kind of the thing that took off. And then just it just so happened that just like with the personal dynamics at home, that that was the strongest patient. But when we all felt really good about, we just took it from there.

Sara Gentry: Yeah, that actually leads me to my next question, because I thought that you did just a tremendous job with, like, the family dynamics. I mean, obviously the father and the son play probably the most crucial role throughout the course of the novel. But you've got this lovely brother-sister relationship, because sometimes they're fighting, but for the most part they have each other's back. And then you've got, you know, the mom who's not really on screen per se, but she's still like heavily involved with the family, of course. And then you've got this granny who's living with them for a while, and I just loved the family dynamic because you could tell, like the family was dealing with issues and problems. But they weren't about the family unit. The family unit was strong and they were dealing with life. And so, anyway, I just thought that that was beautiful. So it sounds like the family dynamic was always part of the plot idea for this book. If the father, son, was kind of central for you.

DaVaun: Yeah, absolutely. And I really appreciate you pointing that out, too. I think a lot of times like in my writing. I try to strive for, you know, families being families, but not necessarily having all their conflict, because we know we know we gotta have forms of conflict and some element to make for story. But I think I don't necessarily always want that. That that conflict or that tension rooted in trauma or rooted in, you know. Some of the painful experiences. I'm not saying that there's a no place for that. It's important that we delve like a lot of the things that kids are going through, you know, because we're going. Kids, unfortunately, are going through like very real adult stuff. You know, in their lives. And I wanted to make a space, and I think I try to do this with all my work. If I'm just like being honest about it where it's like. Yes, you can have drama. You can be messy, but you know, kind of reinforcing and establishing, you know, that bedrock and and like a initial trust in each other, even if that trust is shaken, or even if you're just having a bad day, or you know all those nuances, just life, you know, like it like you said, that those kinds of dynamics are important to me, because I think that being able to show those a lot of times, you know. And I say this as a father who's always, you know, looking for nuggets and little you know, Dad, wisdom to show up with the kids, you know, so they can roll their eyes at me. But I think sometimes, like with myself, knowing that I'm like an observational learner like I've kind of just picked that up over time. It's like this is how I really like to absorb information. I think a lot of times, you know, seeing how that can play out in the book that can be like a useful tool, for kids, and even for parents, where it's just like gosh, I don't know how to get through to this kid but they're really focused on, you know, this thing or this part of this game going back to my my son. You know, we've had some of our deepest conversations because we're just gaming. We're doing something else. It's not something where I'm like, son, we're gonna sit down and talk about this deep thing because I need you to know all of my wisdom. It just pops out where he's like man. This thing happened in, you know, in a summer camp today, dad, and then we're just talking right? So I think getting a chance to kind of recreate some of the successful dynamics that I've got to experience. The book is cathartic and hopefully instructive to readers. And just, you know, helps make for a realistic family experience as people are going through the story itself.

Sara Gentry: Yeah, I love that so much, because especially over the last decade, it's just seemed to me like some middle grade has gotten very dark, and while I do think that stories are needed to help children who might be in difficult situations, it it does seem like a lot of it's just become, I don't know. More heavy is maybe the… Of course. Yeah. And so I love that. Because, yeah, we need the hopeful stuff, too. And the more uplifting viewpoint on things like you said I didn't even think about the modeling aspect of it. But yeah, of course, we would want to be like, that's how I want my family to be with each other, and I can see how this kid is talking to his dad. Maybe I can try that, too. I just, I love that spin on it. So with that in mind, I guess. It can be hard to find that balance between the conflicts and yet wanting to show healthy relationships. Do you have any tips for our writers on maybe how to at least start with creating a family dynamic that way?

DaVaun: Oh, wow! I I think I get to cheat a lot of you know, and being a parent and just try trying to be an act trying to do the best that I can. I think, you know, you made a great point, I think, with just like how sometimes. when we just kind of look at the overall landscape that things can like kind of teeter in a direction where it can get more grim can get more dark. I tend to. I might get, you know, laughed at by, you know, having my stuff be a little bit more on the raw side, and a little bit lighter, but having an idea that there is like a continuum right of stories and finding a finding a place like where a particular kind of story can fit versus like. Oh, this is everything that's selling right now, and this is everything we should do. So it's like I'm gonna do more that I sometimes I think it's important to just like, see trends. You know, you're never supposed to write to trend, but see trends. See what's happening, and then find your space. You know, either if you're making a point that's across from it. Or if you're finding some place in the middle, I think that's an important thing to say. I'm sorry, segue myself to not answer your question. So I was thinking about that in the background.

Sara Gentry: So all good.

DaVaun: I think, like, yeah, conflict is one of those things. I just feel like lived experience. And this is just me personally, because you know it, it's so important to be an active reader. So for listeners like, I was one of the, and I'll, you know, be transparent about this, when I was early, early on in my writing career, I was one of those writers that was just like, oh, no, I don't wanna read, you know, widely, because that's, gonna you know, influence my voice. And all this stuff where it's just like, no, that's, you know, that may work for that approach may work for somebody else, but for me having just a huge toolkit, a huge reservoir of different ways to approach connections, family relationships. Tension, like all that different stuff. So, reading widely, I guess, is the 1st point that I'm gonna make. And then, just like you lived experience, too. If you know you're not in a place where you're parenting. Not all of us are parents as writers, just being around being around kids like seeing their their outlook on the world, seeing how literal they can be like when I when I think about some of the conversations with my son, it's like me and my wife are like we swear to God this kid is going to be a standup comedian because he will say just the most off the wall stuff, because his brain is is literally wired like different than than any of the rest of us. So he's always got this different perspective. And having somebody like that in your house is so rewarding and frustrating if you're possibly having to rethink how you think and how you present information. Right? So that's something that you know, while I'm actively navigating that relationship like in real time, it also goes back in the, in the, you know, in the, in the tool chest, for how I you know how I approach character, and how I think about characters that can be like radically different from each other can find that common ground so like as an exercise, like, you know, for whatever tools, when writers are creating characters. And they're, you know, looking for those points of like where they're at their bedrock, like different from each other. But they're still connected, like having, you know, it kinda interrogating those connections and how they work, and where they where they have to use different resources to, to make sure that they're, you know, communicating and then finding places where their communication breaks. Now, like all those different things, it's like there's a million different permutations. Of how you can take that. And I think, just knowing your characters like deeply on that level, like the way that I know my kids. That's like the best thing you can do for yourself. So it's like, I think, one of the… I hate... I'm sorry I can't stand when I'm like oh, here's the thing that I do, and I can't remember where I originally sourced it, because, you know, we all do our research, and we find and think like, oh, this is a great tool. So I'm gonna say this, and my apologies to whoever may have come up with this originally, but some often repeated advice. That, I repeat again, is having that interview with your characters right? There's plenty of resources you can find out there that's like 50 questions to ask your character and 100 questions to ask your character and like committing to that. You know where it's something where it's like, what would your character eat for breakfast? Why would they not eat that? And like really having discussions with your character is where your equilibrium kind of shifts, like. The more you commit to those kinds of process changes to where you're not putting into your character. As much is where your characters are starting to tell you. Wouldn't do that, you know. Actually, this is the way that I would say that. Or this is how I would interact with this person. This is how I would solve this problem. So yeah, I hope there's something in there. I'm gonna wrap that up because I just keep going.

Sara Gentry: Yeah, no, that I think there were a lot of good nuggets in that. And I had to laugh when you talked about the literal brain. I, my son, is literal in a different way. I get corrected all the time, like what time is it? It's 9 57. And I'm like. It's 10 o'clock, you know. It's like he does not like to round.

DaVaun: I mean. Yes, it looks like that. Why would you say that? Like we had to. We had to prep our we had to prep teachers for like how he for just how he communicates like, you can't use some forms of speech. I'm trying to think of an example.

Sara Gentry: Oh! Like where the idioms, or whatever, get taken very literally.

DaVaun: Exactly. Where it's like, no, dad, you can't do that. Like if something comes to me, I'll think of it later. But yeah, idioms like, it's just like having to explain them. But then, when he has that light bulb go off to like, that's very satisfying. So it's like just getting to teach him like these different nuances of language, you know, selfishly, as a writer, you know, I'm just like in my totally in my zone when that comes up.

Sara Gentry: Yeah, absolutely. It's like, Oh, let me grab a notebook.

DaVaun: Right, right.

Sara Gentry: Well, this has been an awesome conversation. And I do wanna make sure our writers can find you on the Internet and in all the places and things like that. So you have a website, and you're on some socials. Can you tell us how we can connect with you?

DaVaun: For sure. And and just thank you again. This has been such a gift just oh, my gosh, Sara, I just appreciate getting to talk about it. Thanks for your platform. For me, davaunsanders.com is where folks can connect. That is, I probably need to go update it right now. But yeah.

Sara Gentry: Isn't that always the case, though?

DaVaun: It's always yeah, the all the churn behind the actual writing. That oh, yeah, I need to go do that? And my agent will send me a polite email about getting it done. But yeah, davaunsanders.com that is probably what I would ask people to go to the most just because there's a newsletter sign up there. I think we've all seen in these past several years. How turbulent social media can be. And who's on what platform? And then, if people wanna take a break from platforms right? That's a great way to stay connected, because I know sometimes I get exhausted with my feed, and I'm just not there. For people who are on socials. I would say that Instagram is probably my top. So there's gonna be book news. And then just like random family stuff, and whatever I'm obsessing about in the moment I'd say my next is probably on TikTok, for however long it lasts, I'm trying to trying to grow there. It's been fun like making videos and stuff and getting into it and then, lastly, I'm probably connected on Twitter 3rd most I still call it Twitter. 

Sara Gentry: I do, too. It's fine. We all call it Twitter, like our rebellion.

DaVaun: Exactly. But yeah, for those, I think those 3 are my top. So if anybody follow me on there, say, Hi, and always love to, just, you know, talk shop and talk about books.

Sara Gentry: Awesome, awesome, and writers will have links to those places that you can find them easily. And I did also wanna mention that DaVaun's books are featured in the Kidlit Summer Camp Book fair so you can find them all there as well. And will there be any books coming up that you're allowed to talk about.

DaVaun: Yeah, I am delighted to say that I am just buried in edits for the follow up to Keynan Masters & the Peerless Magic Crew. So that second book will be next year. I don't wanna put out a release date in case it takes a left hand turn. But we're looking at winter of 2025. So if all things go well and I stay on task, then we should have a follow up for that. That's been a fun story to write. I will warn anybody who dives into it. It has a massive cliffhanger. So without spoiling. But I'll just be prepared for that, because I've had some readers just like, Hey, that wasn't right. You shouldn't do that. So that's any kind of a hook for anybody who's into a different twist on a on a magic school on that trope like feel free to dive in. I think it'll be a lot of fun.

Sara Gentry: Yeah, that does sound fun. Awesome. Well, I just wanna thank you again for your time and for sharing your expertise and your experience with us.

DaVaun: Delighted to. Thank you again for having me.

Sara Gentry: Yes, we'll see you again another time, writers. Bye.