We chat with author Misa Sugiura about Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind, which is a thrilling fantasy series about a twelve year old girl who sets out to save her Shinto goddess mother—and the world—by facing down demons intent on bringing chaos.
Hi, Misa! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I am a second-generation Japanese American, which means that my parents were the ones who immigrated to the U.S. I was born in Chicago, lived in Japan for three years after college, and settled in the San Francisco Bay Area. When I’m not writing, I like to swim, play water polo, hike, and bake.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve loved writing and stories for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I preferred to spend my free time reading rather than writing, so I only ever wrote stories for school assignments—except for a chapter book that I co-wrote with my best friend when I was ten. It was about some dolls who come to life at night when their little girl is asleep. The next story that I wrote just for fun was my debut novel nearly 35 years later!
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
The first book I remember reading: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My friend had just finished reading it, so she lent it to me and I was hooked.
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart made me wish I could write a book for kids, and Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen showed me how to do it.
I can’t stop thinking about All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir and The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat. Both of them are achingly beautiful and will stay with you long after you finish reading.
Your debut middle grade novel, Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind, is out February 28th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Action-packed, funny, emotional, fantastical, thought-provoking
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect an adventure story whose hero has to battle monsters and save the world—but the hero is an awkward, anxious girl who doesn’t know how to fit in with her peers, and who must care for her loving but emotionally fragile mother. She meets a querelous talking fox, evil bird-men, a murderous storm god, a ghost emperor, giant centipedes, and more, all on the way to discovering the power of her anger, her ancestry, and her mother’s love.
Where did the inspiration for Momo Arashima Steals the Sword of the Wind come from?
Several years ago, I began researching legends of Japanese gods and monsters as a way to teach myself what makes a story resonate with people. Strangely, I never thought about turning those legends into a novel until I saw Roshni Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time at a book fair.
You’ve previously published three YA contemporaries. What was it like diving into a middle grade fantasy?
I have been having the time of my life. I’ve loved digging into the thoughts, feelings, and problems of a slightly younger age group, and—bonus!—my plot isn’t constricted by reality as we understand it, so I can let my imagination run wild.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing Susano’o, the god of the sea and storms. He’s over the top in every way: he’s dangerously violent, but he’s also quite a buffoon. Another favorite is Niko the fox, who my editor has compared to C-3PO from Star Wars—he’s usually whiny and selfish, but when the chips are down, he’s loyal and brave.
What’s next for you?
Book Two in the Momo Arashima series is in copyedits! Momo will make friends with new human characters, meet new gods, fight new monsters, travel to new places, and discover new magical objects.
Lastly, are there any 2023 book releases our readers should look out for?
Heroes of Havensong: Dragonboy by Megan Reyes: a boy who’s been turned into a dragon, a reluctant dragon rider, a young witch on the run, and a young soldier must join forces to save their world. And there’s a magic fox!
Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies by Stacey Lee: 12-year-old Winston inadvertently stops a robbery at Mr. Pang’s Whimsies shop and is gifted (kind of accidentally) a magic broom and dustpan in return. Magic and mayhem ensue.
Lei and the Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea When part-Hawaiian Anna Leilani Kama’ehu destroys Pele’s sacred lehua blossom, she must save her family and friend from the angry fire goddess.
Going Bicoastal by Dahlia Adler: Natalya has to choose whether to spend the summer with her dad in New York City, or her mom in Los Angeles. You get two stories in one: one with a cute girl in NYC and the other with a cute boy in LA! Every page made me smile.
