We chat with author Kosoko Jackson about The Forest Demands Its Due, which is a YA horror/fantasy set in dark academia about a queer Black teen who discovers the sinister history of his boarding school and the corrupt powers behind it all—think A Lesson in Vengeance meets The Taking of Jake Livingston!
Hi, Kosoko! Welcome back! How have the past 12 months been since we last spoke?
Time has flown! It feels like just yesterday we were talking. Thanks so much for having me back, I’m super excited to be here!
Your latest novel, The Forest Demands Its Due, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Oooh. Good question. Horrific. Action-packed. Romantic. Thrilling. Dangerous.
What can readers expect?
The Forest Demands Its Due is a story about Douglas, who stumbles upon an age old curse in his boarding school that causes anyone who dies in town to be forgotten by everyone except the descendants of the 5 founding families, and himself for some reason. He must go toe to toe with an ancient god in order to break the curse, and discover some secrets along the way. Forest is an action packed horror novel, yes, but it’s also about generational trauma, who gets to decide what is history, academic abuse, and much much more. I think it’s my best novel, honestly, weaving together heart, magic, and terror of all kinds.
Where did the inspiration for The Forest Demands Its Due come from?
I’m from the DC area and when Georgetown mentioned that they were giving tuition to those who could prove they were the descendants of slaves who helped build the campus, it got me thinking about who has the power to shape, fix, and edit history. I also loved the idea of a boarding school, and a shifting shaping forest. The rest kind of just came together.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I’m a BIG fan of Everett, the love interest and groundskeeper’s son. I love characters who are “ride or die” for the main character, and he represents that. There is another character I love but that would be a spoiler. As for themes, diving into body horror was so much fun. I’ve always wanted to push my limits and write something terrifying that would keep me up at night, but also give me hope. I think this novel does that.
What led you to wanting to shift to “the dark side” with this novel?
Horror, to me, is a vehicle to understand big scary real world problems, and turn them into tangible villains. It was important for me to accomplish something like that in my writing at least once. The world is messed up, but horror can help arm kids with defense mechanisms to face their big bads in real life. As a YA author, I always think about the role I play in helping to shape young minds, and horror, to me, is one of the best genres to show kids how strong they are and how far they sometimes have to go.
This is your fifth published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?
Oh my god how is that even possible? 5 novels in 3 years and that doesn’t include my short stories. I need a nap. But as for advice? My biggest piece is that writing isn’t lineal. It isn’t writing every day on the same project. Sometimes it’s going backwards, jumping around, and finding out what works for you. On Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok there are so many people giving advice. Even me. Take it with a grain of salt. You’ll find what works for you in time and no one can or should rush that. Everyone’s process is different and valid.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on my next YA! More on that soon!
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes! I’m LOVING ROAD TO RUIN by Hana Lee. Obsessed with BEHOLDER by Ryan La Sala and it’s an old one, but THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR is a masterclass book.
