We chat with author Amber McBride about Onyx & Beyond, which is a middle-grade novel about a boy dealing with his mother’s descent into early-onset dementia, set amid the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, and explores being young and Black in America.
Hi, Amber! Welcome back! How have the past almost two years been since we last spoke?
Hi, I hope you have been well! I’ve been busy writing, teaching and keeping bees!
Your latest novel, Onyx & Beyond, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Love to infinity & beyond.
What can readers expect?
A story with a lot of heart that emphasises the importance of family. Onyx & Beyond is a novel in verse about a boy named Onyx (X for short) whose mother has early onset dementia. The story is told from the perspective of Onyx who is a dreamer and loves space. I think readers can expect to both live in the imagination of Onyx and in his reality which is at times very difficult.
Where did the inspiration for Onyx & Beyond come from?
My Grandmother has dementia and during the pandemic my dad said to me, I call my mom three times a day, every day, but she won’t remember if I call her or not. I call her because I love her. I really thought about how difficult it must be for him and his siblings, navigating this new reality and the spark for Onyx & Beyond started. Originally my dad was supposed to co-write it with me, but we quickly discovered her enjoyed storytelling more.
What was it like working with your dad on this story?
Priceless and a privilege. My dad is a storyteller so spending hours listening to him and hearing new stories that I had not heard before was a highlight. It was like getting the childhood folklore of Mario McBride!
Also, it was fun trying to get the voice of Onyx just right with his help. I love that telling this story took me outside my comfort zone, gave my dad an outlet for his pain and raises awareness about the almost 10 million people diagnosed each year worldwide with dementia.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing the more direct adaptations of my dad’s real life experiences. I don’t want to give too much away, but I loved the independence my dad had as a middle schooler in the 1970’s. It was a very different world.
With Onyx & Beyond exploring early on-set dementia can you tell us a bit about how you approached this within your writing?
I just tried to write what was true. The early warning signs—the tiny things my dad and his siblings noticed before my grandmothers diagnoses. Things like mixing up day and night, forgetting directions or mealtimes.
Everyone’s experience with dementia is different and unique, so I wanted to try to stay true to Onyx’s experience.
What’s next for you?
I have another YA coming out in 2025 and a picture book in 2026! And some other things…
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 enjoyed the book Jaden Powers and the Inheritance Magic by Jamar J. Perry and Something Like Right by H.D Hunter!
