We chat with author Tara Sim about We Shall Be Monsters, which is Frankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the real horrors are not the monsters you face, but the ones you create.
PLUS we have an excerpt from the audiobook to share with you at the end of the interview.
Hi, Tara! Welcome back! How have the past two years been since we last spoke for The City of Dusk?
Thank you for having me again! These past couple years I’ve been working hard on books, of course, but also traveling and meeting up with friends. Oh, and squeezing in video games whenever possible.
Your latest novel, We Shall Be Monsters, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Gothic horror Indian fantasy shenanigans.
What can readers expect?
Basically what’s on the tin. But beyond gothic horror Indian fantasy shenanigans, they can expect a main character who’s scientific and prickly and morally gray, a world inspired by Indian mythology and folklore, and a very good undead dog.
Where did the inspiration for We Shall Be Monsters come from?
I’ve always loved Frankenstein, so when author Dhonielle Clayton told me I should write an Indian take on it, I was immediately onboard. It took several years to develop an actual idea for the story, which involved doing a deep dive into Indian mythology. I discovered that a lot of the stories and themes married perfectly with the Frankenstein vibes I was going for, and now here we are!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really loved writing Kajal, my main character. She’s a girl in STEM, but in a fantasy world, which was an interesting challenge. She’s wracked with grief over her sister but also fiercely determined to bring her back to life, and writing her arc was quite rewarding, especially since she starts as an outcast and the characters around her slowly drag her out of her shell. All the scenes she has with Tav were fun to write due to their dynamic together (grump4grump, anyone?).
What was your process when it came to starting We Shall Be Monsters?
I feel like it took a long time to actually start it! I remember sitting down with a notebook and just writing down potential names for the characters, and mapping out what I thought the world looked like. I already had a vague idea for what the vibes and plot would be, so it was a gradual process of fitting pieces together and building out the world before I actually dove into the first chapter. Since I discover things while I draft, it was good to have the foundations of what I was writing toward.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced whilst writing and how you were able to overcome them?
The plot structure for this book is a little different than what some readers are used to, especially in YA, so finding the best way to balance plot and pacing was tricky at first. While the sequel will be more straightforward, book one had a lot of places and worldbuilding to set up, which is always a challenge for an author starting a new series! Thankfully my wonderful editor Caitlin Tutterow had a great eye for how to best incorporate these plot points without compromising the pacing.
What’s next for you?
I’ll be drafting the sequel to We Shall Be Monsters, and as of writing this I’m finishing a draft of the third book in The Dark Gods trilogy, which should hopefully be out next year!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
Recently I read The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo and had a blast with it. Other books that have come out this year that I loved are Kindling by Traci Chee and So Let Them Burn by Kamilah Cole. I am on my hands and knees waiting for Alecto the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir.
