Written by Hannah Bujold
Young adult science fiction and fantasy author, Lani Forbes, introduces readers to a world ripe with political and cultural intrigue in The Seventh Sun. Released by Blackstone Publishing, Lani Forbes’ compelling debut for 2020 is most definitely a standout, creating a lot of promise for its upcoming publication.
Having the privilege of receiving an ARC, I was excited to ask some questions and learn more about Lani Forbes and her novel!
You can find Lani on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and also at her website.
Hi Lani! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a nerdy science teacher from the beaches of California trying to survive in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. I miss the beach every single day, but at least the snow forces me to stay inside and write. I’m also a certified scuba diver and an avid Harry Potter fan.
Your debut novel, The Seventh Sun, releases on February 18th! If you could only describe your novel in five words, what would they be?
Vivid, tense, romantic, magical, and surprising!
The Seventh Sun is a novel highly influenced by Aztec and Maya mythological heritage, not only in culture but in geography and architecture as well. What inspired your use of these ancient civilizations in your novel?
My stepfather lived in Mexico for many years, and while I was growing up, he would always share stories with us. I’ve always been fascinated with history and ancient civilizations, so when my parents moved back to Mexico, I knew I wanted to write a fantasy based on the diverse ancient populations of Mesoamerica. I’m a total research nerd (my mom is a research librarian and has trained me well), so I started researching original sources, watching any documentary I could find, reading textbooks from classes on Mesoamerican history. For book two, I even traveled to central American to tour ruins and hike into a cave that the Maya believed was the entrance to the underworld. The more I researched, the more the idea for the story started to come together.
Readers learn shortly into the novel that those who possess the blood of deceased gods can only procure their powers through drawing forth their own blood — an attribute that is scarce in this genre. How come you decided to limit the use of magic in such a way?
Complex magic systems are my favorite part of fantasy! I get bored when magic becomes a deus ex machina that can solve any problem at any time. If there are no limits to magic, it takes tension and conflict away from the story. A story without tension is dead. I love when the limits of a magic system work with the plot to create as many problems as it fixes. For The Seventh Sun, I drew on the cultural significance of blood to the ancient Maya and Aztecs. Blood contained immense power—they believed the sun depended on it to rise! It made sense for blood to be the source of magic as well. And for the Aztecs or Maya to offer it, it had to be spilled. Hence the limitation that naturally arose from that. I wanted to be careful too though, because I do not want to encourage self-mutilation, but I also want to honor the historical and cultural significance of the daily bloodletting rituals. That’s also why I put a historical note at the end of the novel to explain that particular choice.
The Chicome Empire presents readers with a particularly intriguing backstory of the six previous apocalypses (products of water, storm, fire, famine, sickness and beasts) that transpired at the downfall of the sun. Why was the sun chosen to represent the coming of an apocalypse?
This is another example of where I drew from the original mythology for inspiration. The Aztec myth of “The Five Suns” explains how the sun had been created and destroyed by different cataclysmic events. Each time, the sun was destroyed, and a god had to sacrifice themselves to create a new sun. Mythology states that we are living in the age of the fifth sun and that this current sun will eventually be destroyed by earthquakes. This myth is key to why the civilizations felt so indebted to the gods, and also why they feared another coming apocalypse. Each of these ages is referred to as a “sun”, so my story takes place during the age of the “seventh” sun.
In the abundance of characters that readers become acquainted with, there are still some that remain enigmas. Can readers expect to learn more about side characters personalities and backstories in future novels, such as Yoli?
The hardest part of the editing process was cutting out chapters from the perspectives of the other princesses. But fear not! One of the other princesses gets her own POV in book two, and we will definitely see MUCH more of the other princesses in later books. I have detailed backstories for each of them and I can’t wait for everyone, including Mayana, to get to know them better!
Throughout the duration of The Seventh Sun, ritual sacrifice is prominent as a way for mortals to atone for the sacrifice of their gods to prevent the individual apocalypses. In writing about this, you have addressed the strong moral dilemma that still plagues contemporary society in regards to sacrificial offerings. Was this your intended purpose?
Absolutely. I myself am a spiritual person and wrestle daily with moral and theological questions. I don’t think religion is ever as cut and dry as we sometimes want it to be. I think there can be a lot of grey, a lot of unknowns that can cause serious divisions. I really wanted my characters to wrestle with difficult questions and face the pressure that asking those questions can cause. I think many teens can relate to that as much as I can.
With such a selection of characters, which one would be your favourite, especially in the writing phase?
My favorite character to write was Yoli, hands down. Her voice was so clear in my head. I loved the dark, almost gothic aspect of her personality coupled with her dry humor and utter fierceness. I promise she will be back!
As one of your greatest loves is the ocean, was this the reason for electing Mayana’s elemental ability to be water?
YES. Coming from a family of surfers, we believe in the soul-healing power of water. I’ve always felt a connection to the element that is cunning enough to change its path when trapped but also powerful and persistent enough to break through rock. I would legitimately be a mermaid if I could.
The novel follows the third-person narration of Prince Ahkin of Chicome and Mayana of Atl, where did your inspiration come from for these characters? How were you inspired to develop their relationship?
The concept of “duality” is huge in Mesoamerican thought, the idea of opposites coming together to find balance. I wanted Ahkin and Mayana to be dualities if each other, a balance of head and heart. Mayana’s character very much draws on my own. I wanted a character whose strength came from the strength of her heart and her courage to follow it no matter what it cost her. Sensitivity and empathy can be just as powerful as a sword. But always following your heart and ignoring what you know can also have dire consequences. Ahkin, on the other hand, tries to silence his heart to follow what his head tells him. He wants to trust in rituals and things he can control and predict, but he can’t ignore his heart for long, no matter how hard he tries. I think that’s what initially attracts him to Mayana. She allows him to get in touch with this part of himself he always tries to deny. He wants to seem sullen and intellectual, but his heart is crying out and Mayana is there to answer.
When writing The Seventh Sun, what was your writing process like?
Chaotic. Seriously, I don’t know how I got this book finished sometimes. I suffered from SEVERE postpartum depression when my daughter was born, so when I had my son, I knew I had to do something different. I decided to use writing as a way to fight the depression. I was always writing stories, but they had always been for myself, never for anyone else. My husband practically kicked me out the door to my first writing conference when my son was two months old (I had to keep running to the bathroom to pump haha!). I met other authors, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I threw myself into writing and researching whenever I had a spare moment. I was working full-time as a science teacher, so I actually wrote most of the book on my phone in the middle of the night with a newborn asleep on my chest. I was too afraid to move and wake him up, so I’d pull out my phone and write. I joined a writing group I met at that first conference and they helped me learn even more as I wrote. The Seventh Sun wouldn’t exist without the help of those other writers teaching and encouraging me. I signed with my agent right after my son’s first birthday, and the rest is (ancient) history!
What’s next for you?
I’ve already finished book two in the Age of the Seventh Sun series and I am working on book three right now. After, I have several other historical fantasies I’m dying to work on. I would love to create worlds inspired by other ancient cultures, such as Greece and Egypt. I even have a fantasy western I’m drafting roughly based on Mission-era California.
Last question, do you have any advice for aspiring authors both in writing and in publishing?
Find a tribe. Writing sometimes seems like such a solitary endeavor, but is doesn’t have to be. Find a writing group or a professional organization to get involved with. It is so inspiring to meet other like-minded authors that don’t laugh at you for hearing other people’s voices in your head. I also HIGHLY recommend reading. Read the books you want to write. Read advice and articles written by other authors. Read craft books that teach you how to sharpen your skills. Read! Read! Read!
