The queer indigenous arctic YA novel of your dreams
I recently interviewed Moa Backe Åstot, the author of Fire From the Sky, which Eva Apelqvist recently translated into English. It’s the story of an indigenous reindeer herder who falls in love with his best friend - and, spoiler alert, it has a happy ending!
In addition to being an absolutely gorgeous read, the book introduced me to the Sámi, an indigenous group of reindeer herders from Scandavia. Like indigenous people in the US, they’ve been resisting settler colonialism for centuries, while also fighting to preserve their traditions. I just adored this book! Buy a copy - I promise you won’t regret it!
Um, how hot is this book cover?!
Want to write about a place that you love? Sign up for Moon Rabbit’s Building Worlds class and get your place-based story, essay, or book started!
Speaking of colonization…
There are a lot of writers who say they don’t believe in writer’s block.
I am not one of them.
I spent years struggling to write, and the whole time, I blamed myself.
Writer’s block is not my fault or your fault. It’s society’s fault.
We live in a white supremacist, patriarchal, capitalist culture that makes it almost impossible to create. Ultimately, I got over writer’s block by recognizing how cultural values negatively affect my work, and learning how to care for myself when my socialization trumped my creativity. This was SO much more effective than all the exercises and self-help books and websites I read to try to get me out of my funky.
Want to know how white supremacist patriarchal capitalism is ruining your creative life? Take this quiz and find out!
QUIZ: What’s yucking your creative yum?
You have ten minutes of free time. You could do something creative, but you don’t. Why not?
What’s the point? Ten minutes isn’t long enough to do anything!
I felt like I should use that time to cook dinner or run an errand or cross something else off my to do list. Anything else felt selfish and wasteful.
I was supposed to set an hour aside, and I ended up with ten minutes! I screwed up and I don’t deserve creative time.
When you get discouraged about your work in progress, what goes through your head?
My art is so cliche. The themes I’m working with have already been done. There’s no room for my take.
I could’ve used this time more productively - like, doing a freelance job that actually pays money!
My work is just so flawed. It’ll never get to the level I want, so why bother?
What is keeping you from improving / creating a space in your house for creativity?
Where would I even make space? My house is so tiny!
It’s all so expensive. I can’t justify a space that doesn’t contribute to the household income.
I keep trying to set up a space, but then when I go to look at a desk or chair or artwork, I’m afraid it isn’t right.
What’s your greatest fear about putting your work out there?
It’s going to get lost in the mix. No one will see it, and if they do see it, they won’t care.
It’s totally unmarketable.
It’s going to have a ton of mistakes and get me cancelled.
If you do put your work out there, how do you measure your success?
I’m only going to be happy if a ton of people read it and share it. Anything less feels like a failure.
I need to make some money off it. It’s only real if I get paid.
I need to win a huge award. Getting shortlisted or longlisted doesn’t count.
Tally your answers and see your results below!
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