In her second YA novel, The Cost of Knowing, Brittney Morris shares the story of a very special young man named Alex. After losing his parents in a car accident, Alex finds himself with the ability to see the future through whatever he touches. While you might think this sounds like an amazing superpower, it is a burden to Alex; and one fateful day brings a vision he wishes he never saw: the impending death of his younger brother, Isaiah. Shocked by this revelation, Alex is spurred to make the most of the time they still have together, whatever it takes … but how much time is left?
Morris recently took time out of her busy schedule (she just had a baby in November!) to answer a few questions for The Nerd Daily. Read on below for her thoughts on writing from the perspective of a young male as opposed to a young female, what she hopes readers will take away from this book, the superpower she would like to have for a day, and much more!
Hi Brittney and thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for The Nerd Daily! To start with, tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Brittney Morris, and I live in Philly. I’m the author of SLAY, THE COST OF KNOWING, MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES – WINGS OF FURY, and I’ve written for video games including The Lost Legends of Redwall and Subnautica: Below Zero. I have a degree in economics from Boston University, and in my spare time, I enjoy playing indie video games and traveling.
Your new novel, The Cost of Knowing, comes out on April 6, 2021. Formal synopsis aside, how have you been describing the book to others?
I’ve been describing it as DEAR MARTIN meets THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END. Both of those books had such an impact on me.
In the Acknowledgements you share that The Cost of Knowing “started off as a story all about Black boy joy”; however, as you got further into it, you felt that some key aspects of being a Black man weren’t being acknowledged. Could you talk a bit more about the story you started with and how this shift in your approach shaped the final product?
Sure! I started with a story about a happy-go-lucky Black teen named Alex who worked in an ice cream shop and was super colorful and joyful, but the more I wrote his story, the more I felt I was doing a disservice to Black men, painting this picture of the freedom that I wish for them without acknowledging the unique trials they face that make being joyful such a tall order.
You also note that your intention was to write a book that speaks “alongside” Black men, not “over” them — I love this statement! What were some of the differences you found in writing from the perspective of a young male as opposed to a young female, like in your first novel SLAY?
Yes! Writing from Kiera’s perspective was so close to my experience, while writing from Alex’s prospective required way more thought and investment and most importantly, listening. While Kiera faced sexism in people assuming the developer of her game was male, and she had access to strong women in her life who rallied around her and helped her reach her dreams, Alex faces sexism in a myriad of other ways — pressure to provide for his home, being labeled the ‘man of the house,’ even being expected to be hyper sexual and/or dangerous simply because of his gender. Finding camaraderie among other men is also a challenge for him, given the toxicity that’s present in his life in various ways.
Time — the past, the present, and the future — is a central concept in The Cost of Knowing. It occurred to me that readers are likely to call this novel very “timely,” based on the increased attention the Black Lives Matter movement has received in the U.S. over the past year. However, there are multiple points throughout the book where you remind readers how embedded racism, discrimination, and harm against Black people have been in our country for hundreds and hundreds of years. What do you hope young readers will take away from the book with regards to the past, the present, and the future?
I hope that readers who see themselves in this book will realize that they’re not alone. And I hope readers see all the ways racism is embedded, to the point where it’s a part of our daily lives that those with racial privilege often take for granted. Sometimes, even with the best of intentions.
Okay, it may be cheesy, but I have to ask … If you had the chance to take on Alex’s ability to see the future for just one day, would you do it? Why or why not? Is there a different superpower you would rather have for a day?
Absolutely not! I’m already a wildly anxious person with depression. I think being able to see the future would stress me out to the max. I’d love to be able to teleport though!
I understand you have a BA in Economics, and I always find it interesting when people have varied interests, careers, and hobbies! So, I’m curious … What led you to become a writer?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a kid. Then, somewhere down the line, someone told me to major in something that will pay the bills (read: feed the capitalist machine), so I chose economics with a focus in finance. While I still have a passion for financial education and empowerment at all income levels (especially when it comes to predatory lending), writing is what really make me feel like I’m making magic.
The past year has obviously been an unexpected and difficult one. How has your writing and creative process looked or been affected over this time?
Oh boy, yes it has. Well, I had a baby in November, so my writing process has been kind of ‘whenever I get a spare minute’ lately. I’ve also lost the ability to go to coffee shops, otherwise I’d bring the baby with me and hang out with him there all day, letting him nap while I write. So it’s mostly, sitting at home, getting outside in the fresh air when I can, and doing lots and lots of meditation.
Your first novel, SLAY, was a great success and I have no doubt The Cost of Knowing will be too! Do you have future plans to test the waters of adult fiction also, or do you think YA will remain your niche?
Aw, thank you! I think adult fiction would be fun one day, although lately I’ve had an idea for a middle grade bouncing around in my head.
Let’s Get Nerdy: Behind the Writer with 9 Quick Questions
- First book that made you fall in love with reading: Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine
- 3 books you would take on a desert island: Life of Pi, The Alchemist, and some kind of survival handbook because I’m a city soul!
- Movie that you know by heart: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
- Song that makes you want to get up and dance: Lately? Best Friend by Saweetie and Doja Cat
- Place that everyone should see in their lifetime: The Lake District in the UK
- Introvert or extrovert: Ambivert!
- Coffee, tea, or neither: Both! All the hot and cozy drinks, please.
- First job: KFC
- Person you admire most and why: Not to be predictable here, but Michelle Obama – the confidence, the poise, the elegance, the brilliance, I could go on forever. She’s beyond incredible.
