We chat with author Máire Roche about Little Monsters, which is a modern supernatural middle grade retelling of the beloved classic Little Women, where the March sisters have a monstrous secret Meg will do anything to protect—especially with another beast lurking in the woods threatening to expose them.
Hi, Máire! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, and thanks for having me! I’m a former teacher who now dreams up imaginary worlds for a living, which means I’ve had both of my dream careers. I write fulltime, but I also teach martial arts on the side, so I still get to spend time teaching. I also enjoy long walks, swimming, and spending time in my overflowing native plant garden (and maybe talking to the bees, but that’s between me and the rusty patch bumblebees).
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I actually wrote my first “book” when I was six years old. I folded up construction paper to make it book-shaped, stapled it together, and wrote (and illustrated) a story. So this question is always a little hard for me, because I can’t ever remembering not writing. I spent my entire childhood writing books—and I do mean fully novel-length creations. When I was fourteen, I wrote a serious of three 70,000 word historical novels. They weren’t publishable (or good), but I’m proud of that kid for writing a whole trilogy!
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
- The one that made you want to become an author: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
Your latest novel, Little Monsters, is out August 18th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Ooh this is tricky—if I had to pick five words, I’d say monstrous, magical, sisterhood, spooky, and…twisty.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect lots of nods to the original source material (Little Women) but a story that stands on its own even if you’ve never read Little Women! Little Monsters is cozy, spooky, and a love letter to complicated sisterhood.
Little Monsters centers on Meg, the eldest daughter, who spends all her energy trying to hold her family together in foster care (while also hiding their monstrous abilities). Her own monstrous abilities are getting worse, and she keeps waking up in the woods. The closer they get to the full moon (on Halloween! In Salem!), the harder it becomes for Meg to control her monstrous side.
Readers can expect found family feels, kid-centered anxiety rep, self-acceptance, and, of course, lots of cozy spooky vibes!
Where did the inspiration for Little Monsters come from?
I wanted to write a middle grade, specifically a fantasy, and I was writing this book in the fall, so I was inspired to really lean into Halloween season! It’s one of my favorite holidays, and I really wanted to take a classic and reimagine it with spooky vibes during Halloween. From there, I knew I wanted Meg to get her turn in the spotlight.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing about Meg. The original story is very firmly Jo’s story, though each of the sisters does get their moments. I really enjoyed exploring Meg’s feelings about her place in her family, the pressure she’s under, and what her goals really are when she’s had some time to think about them. I hope readers can connect with Meg’s journey to having a more balanced role in her family!
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was pace—I set a goal to write this book in under a week, because I was newly unemployed and needed something to send to my agent ASAP! I ended up writing this book in four days, about 15,000 words a day. I lit a lot of candles, relied on my wife to make meals (she’s truly a wonder & the reason I was fed at all during drafting), and put in some long days. While I don’t recommend that pace for anyone, it was cool to stretch that and see what I was capable of!
Do you have a pitch to parents, caregivers, or educators to pick up a copy of Little Monsters for young readers?
Little Monsters is a monstrous, magical remix of Little Women for the modern reader. Meg March is a monster, and so are her sisters—but they can’t let anyone know. Especially their foster mom. Or the new, annoying boy next door who is way too curious about Meg. As Halloween approaches, and Meg’s monstrous form grows stronger, a new monster begins to stalk the woods near her home in Salem. Worse, Meg keeps waking up in the forest with no memory of how she got there.
With angry neighbors closing in, pesky (but cute) neighbor boys with impossible questions, and the weight of being the eldest daughter, will Meg make it to Halloween without turning permanently into her monstrous form?
What’s next for you?
I have more fantasy coming for all ages! Next spring, I’ll have a new comedic romantasy for grown-ups, as well as some fun books for younger readers that I’m hoping I can talk more about soon.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I loved Juliana Brandt’s The Replay Trap, a recent time-loop middle grade I really, really loved. It’s about cryptids, friendships, and learning to be brave. I’m also really looking forward to reading Tawa M. Witko and Deanna E. Milda’s Thirty Eight, a young adult novel about a Dakota teenager who rides in the yearly Dakota 38 + 2 Ride. I met them at a recent festival and have been really looking forward to that read!
