We chat with author Yxavel Magno Diño about The Serpent Rider, which is a middle grade debut inspired by Filipino folklore that follows a spunky, determined warrior must claim her destiny in order to save her sister, perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Owl House.
Hi, Yxavel! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I was born in the Philippines, then I spent the early years of my life ricocheting between my birth city and Australia before my family finally settled down in Australia when I was in the middle of elementary school. Because I moved around so much throughout my early childhood, I didn’t have many close friends growing up so I found solace in books instead! And I think my experiences growing up in two countries with such vast cultural differences has definitely given me a lot of inspiration for my stories.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
As a kid, I actually wasn’t that big on reading until I came to Australia and my parents started taking me to the local public libraries. It was so amazing to me that there were dedicated spaces filled with books where people could just sit and read—for free! I devoured every book I could get my hands on and read whenever I could: at home, on the bus, and during class when we were meant to be revising for exams (do not recommend). Fantasy novels were my absolute favorite as I loved being whisked away into imaginary worlds filled with magic and adventure. I desperately wanted to become an author so I could write books of my own!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne! I can’t remember which of the books I read first but I was enamored with those stories as a kid.
- The one that made you want to become an author: The Wildkin’s Curse by Australian author, Kate Forsyth! It’s the second book of a series but I read it anyway and absolutely loved it. It has everything a fantasy lover could possibly ask for: epic quests, prophecies, and kids saving the world from destruction, and it definitely inspired me to write my own fantasy tales.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead! I read this several years ago in elementary school and I still think about it every now and again. That book blew my mind and some of those scenes are etched into my memory forever.
Your debut novel, The Serpent Rider, is out September 10th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Adventure, magic, friendship, Filipino folklore!
What can readers expect?
The Serpent Rider is about a young warrior-in-training named Tani, who is destined to become a Serpent Rider to defeat Great Bakunawa, the legendary sea serpent who devoured six of the world’s seven moons. But Tani’s serpent egg still hasn’t hatched, making her dream impossible, so she makes a desperate decision that leads to her younger sister getting kidnapped by a mysterious sorcerer. Tani must embark on a treacherous journey and fight dangerous monsters to rescue her sister before it’s too late, all while Great Bakunawa threatens to rise from the ocean and devour the final moon.
The story incorporates several precolonial Philippine myths, so while a lot of the creatures in the book will be familiar to Filipino readers, I really hope that this story will encourage kids of all backgrounds to find out more about Filipino culture!
Where did the inspiration for The Serpent Rider come from?
The setting of the book was mainly inspired by my family’s home in the Philippines! I remember my siblings, cousins, and I exploring the mountain near our village during the daytime, and when night fell, we’d tell stories to each other about the strange and frightening creatures that lurked among the rocks and trees. I always thought Filipino legends were so unique and terrifying (in the best way possible), but didn’t see them featured in the books I read growing up, so I set out to write my own.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
It’s so hard to choose because I loved every aspect of writing this story inspired by my heritage! That being said, I enjoyed writing Tani and Ligaya’s sibling relationship—they’re both super sweet and would do anything for each other, so that was a dynamic that was really interesting and fun to explore.
What a stunning cover! Did you have a vision in mind whilst writing? What did you think when you saw the final artwork?
I absolutely adore the cover—the illustrator Alexis Young and designer Yelena Safronova did a stunning job that perfectly captures the book’s magical Filipino spirit! I don’t really visualize characters or scenes in my head while writing, so I honestly had no idea what any of the characters looked like until we started brainstorming cover ideas! I knew this cover would be in good hands with the team and was absolutely blown away when my editor sent over the final piece. Just like when I first saw it, I’m still incredibly amazed whenever I see the cover and I’m so grateful to the team that put together this brilliant work of art.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
Becoming an author was always my biggest dream, so I still can’t believe I get to call myself one! I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember—first because my teachers told me to and then because I wanted to. I have a pretty short attention span, and for years my laptops were full of half-started novel ideas that I gave up on after the first few chapters. I wrote The Serpent Rider while at university and it was the first manuscript I ever properly finished, so while I was really proud of it, I wasn’t really certain it would ever be published. I was very shocked and so thankful when it finally found its perfect publishing home.
What’s next for you?
More writing! I’m currently working on another middle grade project that I can’t wait to share.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
A recent favorite read was Lia Park and the Missing Jewel by Jenna Yoon, about a girl who must follow clues across South Korea to find a magic jewel and rescue her kidnapped parents. I loved it so much that I read it in a day, which is super fast for me considering my usual reading speed!
I can’t wait to read The Boy, the Mountain, and the Serpent Who Ate the Moon by Caris Avendaño Cruz! It’s a magical adventure full of Filipino folklore and mythical creatures that I know I will devour as soon as it releases next year.
