We chat with debut author Cheryl Isaacs about The Unfinished, which follows a small-town athlete Avery who is haunted by the black water and Unfinished beings of Kanyen’kehá:ka stories and must turn to the culture she hasn’t felt connected to in order to save her town.
Hi, Cheryl! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a writer and educator from southern Ontario. I spend a lot of time outdoors, believe that coffee is a food group, and the book is always better than the movie.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
My childhood was full of books, so I think that introduced the idea of creating stories and other realities very early. I remember playing in the back yard and creating characters and plots even before I knew how to write.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: I don’t know the title but it was a picture book about bugs who were friends.
- The one that made you want to become an author: I’d have to say The Unfinished, because I’ve been a lifelong reader/writer but publishing was never really on my radar until I wrote this story.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Usually whatever I’ve read most recently. I tend to think about and process books for quite a while after I finish reading them. Most recently was Cold by Drew Hayden Taylor.
Your debut novel, The Unfinished, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Unsettling, atmospheric, compelling, funny and sweet.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect to be creeped out but also drawn in by the warmth of the relationships. It’s a sometimes very scary story about being honest about who you are, what you want, and being brave enough to do something about it.
Where did the inspiration for The Unfinished come from?
This book came from a single image, of a pond that isn’t a pond in the middle of the forest. I wondered what might emerge from such a pond. It just popped into my head during a run and everything followed from that.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing the main character’s besties, Stella and Key. Although they’re secondary characters, they’re central to the story and are both adorable in their own ways.
The Unfinished is another addition to the Native-focused imprint Heartdrum. What’s it like being part of an imprint that not only highlights Native American authors, but more importantly provides an avenue for stories to be read by Native American children and teens?
Being part of Heartdrum has been an amazing, very supportive experience that I don’t think I could have replicated elsewhere. It’s gratifying to know that young people who grew up outside the culture through no fault of their own can see their experiences represented.
This is your debut published novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I wrote for a long time with no aim to be published, which I think served me well in the end. Once I decided to try I was lucky that my book sold pretty quickly. Still, the length of time that the average book takes to get from selling to publication has been both eye-opening and frustrating at times.
What’s next for you?
The one thing I think I can talk about is a sequel to The Unfinished is due out next year!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I really loved A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson. Very real and engaging as always.
