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WORK TITLE: Dark of the West
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.joannachathaway.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: Canadian
RESEARCHER NOTES:
Not found in LOC
PERSONAL
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Author.
AVOCATIONS:Horse riding, history, traveling, reading.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Joanna Hathaway is most well known as a writer. In the official biography on Hathaway’s website, she explains that her main inspiration to become a writer came from reading the memoirs published by her own great grandfather, who served during World War I.
Dark of the West is one of the results of Hathaway’s passion for writing. In an interview featured on the June Hur website, Hathaway explained that her inspiration to release the book came partly from her own interest in history, and partly from her realization that there was an audience out there that shared the same interest. Dark of the West serves as an alternate, more fantastical take on the events surrounding World War II. The book focuses on Aurelia, a young woman of mixed noble blood, as well as Athan, a member of the military whose alliances shift throughout the story.
At the start of the novel, Athan serves under his country’s military as a pilot. He is aligned with the North, and his father happens to be the country’s general and ruler. While Athan’s father continually plots to gain further power, Athan’s desires lie elsewhere. He simply enjoys flying, and would love nothing more than to keep doing that for the rest of his days. However, everything changes for Athan when he suddenly loses his mother; this event lights the fire of revenge inside of him, and he ends up sneaking to the South to spy for his country.
Yet everything shifts yet again for Athan once Aurelia enters his life. Aurelia is young and bright-eyed, having been raised as a member of her country’s royal family. The two begin to fall for each other, but it seems as if their love cannot be. Their countries are too much in conflict with one another for them to be loyal to each other and their countries at once. As the novel moves forward, signs point more and more severely toward the onset of battle between the two countries. In turn, Aurelia and Athan must decide who they are more devoted to. A Kirkus Reviews contributor remarked: “Those who stick around for this slow ride will be left eager to know how events play out.” A Publishers Weekly reviewer felt that the various elements of the book “offer rewards for readers.” Bridget Keown, a contributor to the RT Book Reviews website, commented: “The first thing readers are sure to notice about Hathaway’s fantasy debut is her impressive worldbuilding skills.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2018, review of Dark of the West.
Publishers Weekly, April 2, 2018, review of Dark of the West, p. 70.
ONLINE
Joanna Hathaway website, http://www.joannachathaway.com (July 5, 2018), author profile.
June Hur, https://junehur.wordpress.com/ (January 31, 2018), June H., “Interview with Joanna Hathaway, author of Dark of the West,” author interview.
Just Another Teen Reading Books, http://justanotherteenreading.blogspot.com/ (January 24, 2018), “Interview With Joanna Hathaway!,” author interview.
RT Book Reviews, https://www.rtbookreviews.com/ (July 5, 2018), Bridget Keown, review of Dark of the West.
ABOUT
JOANNA HATHAWAY was born in Montréal and is an avid storyteller who was inspired to write after reading her great-grandfather’s memoirs of the First World War. A lifelong history buff, she now has shelves filled with biographies and historical accounts, and perhaps one too many books about pilots. She can often be found reading, traveling, or riding horses.
Her debut novel, DARK OF THE WEST (Tor Teen, February 5th, 2019), is the first in a WWII-infused fantasy series of forbidden love and deadly revenge.
She is represented by Steven Salpeter of Curtis Brown Ltd.
Interview with Joanna Hathaway, author of DARK OF THE WEST
JANUARY 31, 2018 / JUNE H.
Today I’m interviewing Joanna Hathaway, author of DARK OF THE WEST (May 2018), a breathtaking YA Fantasy debut. When I first heard of Joanna’s book on Twitter, I quickly looked it up and swooned so hard when I read the blurb:
“Dark of the West is the first in a WWII-infused fantasy series about a princess and a fighter pilot on opposite sides of a labyrinthine conflict. Both must choose between national loyalty and each other as they try to stop their families from igniting world war…”
Not only did her book intrigue me, but I really came to appreciate Joanna herself. I consider her to be one of the most genuine, supportive and humble writers out there. That’s why I was incredibly honored when Joanna agreed to join me here on this blog!
dark of the west
* Your novel Dark of the West is a reimagining of Europe’s world wars. I’ve actually never read an “alternative history” novel but have always wanted to. Why are books that reimagine history important? What makes it so powerful?
Such great questions! To be honest, Dark of the West doesn’t quite fall into “alternate history” the way, say, Ryan Graudin’s fantastic Wolf by Wolf series does. The West world is entirely made up—it doesn’t take place on the timeline of our history, or any variation of it. However, the flavour and feel and technology are meant to mimic the 1940s from our world. The fighter planes, for example, are all based on WWII-era models, with details like how fast and far they can fly, and their different armaments, pulled from the actual advancement of aircraft during the course of the war. The story also deals with a familiar inciting incident: an assassination which launches world conflict. As a teen, I loved films like Band of Brothers and Empire of the Sun, so part of this book is definitely a military adventure, following my fighter pilot as he learns that war is no game. But the other half is pure Downton Abbey, full of fancy parties and people with secrets making veiled insults around the dinner table, and I love both sides equally! I wrote everything that I enjoy into this story—family drama, forbidden romance, court intrigue, airplane dogfights, realpolitik maneuvers. My obsession with the Wars of the Roses also ensured there are plenty of squabbling royals and old feuds as well!
In sum, the West world is meant to be an impression of our world, but not a perfect reflection.
As for why I feel these kinds of books are important… Well, I know a lot of readers don’t consider historical fiction to be their jam, and I get it. You know who wins, who loses. You know the inevitable twists and turns. For some of us, that’s the intrigue of those books—we know the Titanic will sink, and Anne Boleyn will lose her head, but we want to experience how it all happens. But for others, the excitement of fantasy is that anything is possible! It’s all new and unexplored. This is partially why I wrote a book like Dark of the West. It’s fantasy, it’s not real, and yet it feels like it could be our world. I think the old adage is still very true, that those who don’t learn from the past are condemned to repeat it, and I hope that I can take some of those lessons and warnings, and weave them into a fantastical place that will feel fresh and new and intriguing to readers.
I also want to add that I think there are nowhere near enough historical stories told from beyond the European/white experience. Familiar historical events are oft-told in our media culture, and yet there are so many other corners of history to explore. We have an entire world of stories waiting to be shared, far beyond the realm of Europe, and it’s why I get so excited knowing that writers like you, June, are bringing those stories to readers. I think more Own Voices Historicals will spark such great and necessary conversations, and really be a powerful force. We can’t learn from the past if we’re only hearing one side over and over again. I love that you switched from a British Historical to a Korean Historical, and I’m wildly eager to read it!
* I got the goosebumps reading about the historical and fantastical aspects of your novel! And I appreciate your enthusiasm for non-Western history. This is such an encouragement, not only for me, but for all writers out there who are writing their own non-Western fiction!
One thing I’ve been wondering since I first heard of your book is, how long did it take you to write Dark of the West? What was the experience like?
The “seed” of Dark of the West began sprouting when I was about 19, so quite a while ago! It looked very different back then, and I set it on the backburner for a long time. I never imagined being published, and, truth be told, it wasn’t even a goal of mine. I wrote simply for myself—for my own pleasure. I think I’d have been mortified at the thought of anyone reading my work back then! But about four years ago, as I finished the first real draft of DotW, I began to wonder if maybe, just maybe, others would enjoy this story too… I shared a few chapters on an online writing community (Scribophile) to receive feedback, and wonder of wonders! Strangers—real people—read and enjoyed what I posted! They also had a ton of feedback for me—essentially, everything about craft I’d never considered before that point, writing as I was for my own pleasure, and spoiler alert, I wasn’t a very good critic for myself. But instead of being intimidated by the intense critique, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. I knew that other people genuinely wanted to read this story, and that helped me endure the slog of endless revisions and blunt criticisms that inevitably come along with writing a halfway decent book.
Many of those original CPs are still at my side, as we exchange work and push each other to be better with every draft. (Shout out to Radhika Sainath who just offered me incredible Book 2 feedback, and who has her own book that I truly hope the world will get to read soon!)
A year later, I entered the writing contest Pitch Wars and was picked by my wonderful and wise mentor, Katie Bucklein. Through that experience I got my brilliant agent, Steven Salpeter, and the rest is (I suppose) history!
* I’m so glad you took that first step of courage, sharing your work with the online audience. How much has DotW changed since draft one of the story?
It’s changed a ton! The story is built around the premise of two feuding families marching towards inevitable war, with the star-crossed lovers in the middle of it, and between the two mc POVS you get to see the same conflict from opposite sides—and wonder who is right and who is wrong. But originally, it was only one POV—that of my princess, Aurelia. After the first draft of her story, I decided to experiment and write a chapter from the POV of my fighter pilot, Athan, and discovered he had an entire story (and family!) demanding to be shared as well. His world came to me quickly, in a flurry of typing sessions, and soon I had a book for her and a book for him, on a parallel timeline. I originally imagined they would be two separate books—hers first, and then his. But then I realized: a-ha! If I weave these two stories together, perhaps they’ll work in tandem… So, that’s what I did. The two sides had to be condensed and merged, which was its own wild chore since I always have too many words pouring out of my pages, but they illuminated one another wonderfully. It felt meant to be. Those were the largest changes, but I also bounced around between first person and third person, past and present, multiple prologues and beginnings and endings and middles. I like to say that I “grew up” as a writer with this one book. Instead of trying multiple stories, testing my wings, I stuck with this one story and kept working through the sweat and tears until something a bit readable (and apparently publishable) finally appeared.
* I absolutely adore dual-POVs! They add so many layers of complexity to a story. How are we going to wait till May 2018 to read DotW? For now, maybe you could share one of your favorite quotes from your book?
You know, this is a question I’ve never considered before. I’m going to share a line from Athan’s mother in the earlier part of the book. For background, Athan’s father is a violent and ambitious general who has led a revolt and seized control of a new nation, and Athan has two older brothers, one in the army and one in the navy (while Athan is in the air force). They’re a bit of a tragic trio, the three brothers. When I was writing this scene, I heard Athan’s mother speak these words, out of nowhere, and they were absolutely perfect for her character, for her futile desire to keep her children safe, even from her own husband. Here’s the little passage:
“I know you’re confused,” she says softly, but firmly. She’s been made tiny from years in his shadow, light worn away, but somehow she’s still outside of it. A distant star. “A mother knows the depth of her saddest child. She feels the pain of her most broken one. You were mine, but I gave you up long ago. Please don’t leave your brothers alone in this. Don’t choose me. I fear for what he will ask of them.” She peers up into my face, her grief holding the weight of an entire family.
I look at her helplessly. “But I’m not like them.”
“No, you’re not. They are earth and sea. They can only go so far until they run up against one another.” She touches my cheek. “But you are the sky, my love. You are limitless.”
* Honestly, that was such a gorgeous, heart-wrenching passage. I’ll probably need a box of tissues while reading your book…! While working on this project, what scenes were hardest to write?
I find the hardest scenes to write are the “connecting” scenes. I’ll have a really exciting scene over here, and then another exciting scene over there, but something has to come in between and bring them together… and that is often my writing hell. I have to sit with that scene for a long time and find the one true thing in it. The heartbeat. The thing that jazzes me and makes it come alive. These are often the scenes that get tossed or rearranged once the draft is complete and I’m into edits/revisions. If they’re not pulling their weight, I recycle them into something better until they’re finally what they need to be.
* Writing definitely isn’t easy and it can be scary, especially for those working on their very first novel. If you could give one piece of advice to unpublished writers what would it be?
I think it would be to seek out feedback and don’t be afraid if it hurts. Don’t be afraid of work. Do whatever you must to make your gem shine and gleam, even if it means killing some darlings along the way. But right alongside this advice, of equal importance, is to also make sure that this feedback is coming from someone who gets the heart of your story. If the feedback isn’t pushing you closer to that heart—the theme, the essence, the reason you wrote your book—then quietly disregard it and find another CP who truly understands your vision. Critique can pull your book apart at the seams, for better or for worse. You need to treasure your own voice and learn to distinguish between the things that will make it stronger and perhaps more marketable—and the things that will erode away at the unique flavour you have to offer the world.
* Great points! I hope this will encourage more writers to share their work, and at the same time, to fiercely guard the heart of their novel. Also, what advice would you give to writers tackling writer’s block, imposter syndrome and self doubt?
The best cure for writer’s block (I find) is to read!!! Pick up a book by an author you love and let the words fill you. Also, it’s important to take breaks. Never underestimate the power of stepping away and enjoying life for a week or two. I guarantee there will come a moment when things suddenly clear and you’re ready to sit down at the computer again, words on fire.
And imposter syndrome is a real thing! I honestly don’t have an answer to that. I’m a bumbling debut with not much to show, so I definitely feel that most days. But I think it’s best to not focus on those things. I focus on my writing, my life beyond my books, and if I’m lucky then maybe I’ll get to keep doing this a while longer yet.
* I really hope to see more of your books out in the world! One last writing-related question: How do you personally relate to the main character in your book?
Ha, interesting question! I have two MCs, and I think I relate to them in different ways. I share a love of horses with Aurelia, the princess, but she’s definitely more bold and fearless than me. She was based, in part, on my younger sister who is a talented artist and equestrian, fiercely independent, and also adorably stubborn at times. Aurelia isn’t afraid of conflict. The pilot Athan, on the other hand, is much more non-confrontational and will do whatever he can to keep the peace, even if that means avoiding reality. I suppose I can relate to that more. But mostly, I relate to their humanity. They have weaknesses and flaws, struggling with their own cognitive dissonance, as we all do, but they truly want to do the right thing—even as the unjust world around them grows darker and more deceptive with the fog of war.
* Your characters—and you, yourself!—sound absolutely fascinating. Before we end the interview, what is one interesting/quirky fact about yourself?
I have a very fluffy cat and I call him all sorts of weird things, not limited to: Puffkins, Puffster, Fluffles McGee, Babyboo, Kittykins, Squeakers, and so on. I don’t know what half of them mean. Sometimes I just look at him rolling around on his belly and get inspired!
May I conclude this by saying how absolutely honoured I am that you invited me to do this, June! I so appreciate your enthusiasm for Dark of the West, and your thoughtful questions, and I’m really excited to see all the good things 2018 holds for you. ☺
* Thank you so much Joanna for your enthusiasm and support for writers like myself, and for joining me here on this blog! Getting to know more about your book and yourself was an absolute pleasure!
HathawayBorn in Montréal, Canada, Joanna Hathaway is an avid storyteller who was inspired to write after reading her great-grandfather’s memoirs of the First World War. A lifelong history buff, she now has shelves filled with biographies and historical accounts, and perhaps one too many books about pilots. She can often be found reading, traveling, or riding horses. Follow her on Twitter @hathawayjojo and on Instagram @spitfirewriter
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Interview With Joanna Hathaway!
Today on the blog I'm pleased to present an interview with Joanna Hathaway! Ms. Hathaway is the author of the YA book, Dark of the West, which releases May 8th!
Here's the interview!
The bold font are the questions I asked, the regular font are her answers, and the bold italic font are my comments about her answers.
1. Would you please describe your debut book, Dark of the West, in seven words?
WW2-inspired fantasy of love, politics, and revenge.
2. There are two narrators in Dark of the West, Aurelia and Athan. Was one harder to write than the other?
I’ve been writing these two characters, in some variation, for so many years now that they basically feel like my good friends! Their voices are both quite distinct in my head. But I think Ali (Aurelia) has always been a bit harder to write because she’s less like me. We both love horses and princess gowns, but she’s much bolder and more direct, and isn’t afraid of uncomfortable confrontations. I definitely relate to Athan more and his unfortunate instinct to run as far from conflict as possible. (That strategy doesn’t work so well in life, as it turns out!) I’ve also been reading pilot memoirs since I was a teen, mostly from the Second World War, so writing Athan’s flying scenes in battle were a chance to really put that research to great use. That’s a ton of fun for me!
3. Random question! If you could time travel to any place in history for a day, where and when would you go?
Ah, the worst and best question for a history lover! How do I choose? This is going to sound very nerdy, but I’d love to go back to August 22nd, 1485 and save Richard III from his gruesome death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. I read The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman years ago, and I’ve been convinced ever since that Richard deserved a better fate. He’s a controversial figure, but I’d like to believe that he was mostly misunderstood thanks to Tudor propaganda. At the battle, I’d somehow foil the Stanley brothers’ betrayal and their role in his death, and then I’d have everyone sit down and talk out their royal succession issues over mugs of ale. (And keep a close eye on that Henry Tudor!)
The more noble choice is to say that I’d go back to June 28th, 1914 and stop Gavrilo Princip from assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand, thereby (hopefully) sparing the world from some of the 20th century’s horrors.
Great answers! :)
4. What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Follow your heart, always. No one can tell your story except for you. Also, find yourself honest CPs (Critique Partners) who truly understand the heart of your work, and who will both build you up and push you hard—to the point it might even hurt sometimes. Don’t be afraid of it. Embrace the journey and learn to fall in love with revising!
Awesome advice! :)
5. What are some books you're looking forward to reading in 2018? And if you've already read some '18 books, which books have you loved?
There are so many to look forward to! I’ll focus on fellow debuts in particular. I can’t wait to get my hands on A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena, Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young, Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry, The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw, and A Court of Miracles by Kester Grant.
There are definitely a lot of books to look forward to! :)
Thank you so much to Ms. Hathaway for participating in this event! :)
Author bio: Joanna owes her love of books to her great-grandfather. His memoirs about life as a teenage soldier in the First World War inspired her, at a young age, to enter the complex and provocative realms of history—and she hasn’t left since. Born in Montréal, Canada, she grew up on the doorstep of New York City, then spent her teen years riding horses through the forests of Southwestern Ontario.
Her debut novel, DARK OF THE WEST (Tor Teen, 2018), is the first in a WWII-infused fantasy series of forbidden love and deadly revenge.
She is represented by Steven Salpeter of Curtis Brown Ltd.
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Print Marked Items
Hathaway, Joanna: DARK OF THE
WEST
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 15, 2018):
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Hathaway, Joanna DARK OF THE WEST Tor Teen (Young Adult Fiction) $18.99 5, 8 ISBN: 978-0-7653-
9641-9
Fantasy without magic, historical fiction without facts: Hathaway's debut defies classification.
In a fantasy world featuring early-20th century technology, royals descended from one common ancestor
rule the North--except for a new nation under the dictatorship of Gen. Dakar--while the South descends into
chaos. This world includes military women and brown-skinned royals, although both remain exceptions.
White Athan, the general's youngest son, is a reluctant military pilot; he just wants to run away and fly his
beloved planes in peace. Biracial, brown-skinned Aurelia is a Northern princess with a Southern mother
who loves horses, dreams of a university education, and believes she is superior for being royal. When the
two finally meet as part of a fact-finding mission, sparks fly, although the prologue warns that their Romeo
and Juliet-style romance is probably doomed. The politics are subtle and complex, even if the characters
sometimes are not, and everyone lies, leaving readers confused. This is a novel about ambition and war,
occasionally drowning in details, and much of this series opener sets up the world, with the bulk of the
action crammed into the final chapters. Grief and the horrors of war loom larger than the romance, although
the love letters are swoon-y.
Those who stick around for this slow ride will be left eager to know how events play out. (map) (Fantasy.
13-adult)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Hathaway, Joanna: DARK OF THE WEST." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Mar. 2018. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A530650638/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=aea8670c.
Accessed 23 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A530650638
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Dark of the West
Publishers Weekly.
265.14 (Apr. 2, 2018): p70.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Dark of the West
Joanna Hathaway.TorTeen, $18.99 (480p) ISBN 978-0-7653-9641-9
In this slow-burning debut historical fantasy, an illicit romance between a princess and a pilot blooms
against the backdrop of a world at war. Athan, the youngest son of the cunning General Dakar of Savient,
wants nothing to do with his father's military and political ambitions, but when his mother is murdered, he's
forced to play a role as pilot and undercover operative. Then he meets the innocent Princess Aurelia of
Etania, whose indomitable mother stands between the general and his ultimate goals of conquest, and he
dares not reveal his true parentage, even after a relationship unexpectedly develops. Meanwhile, a
complicated web of alliances, deceptions, betrayals, and intrigues threatens to drag previously unaffected
lands into the escalating conflict, and Athan and Aurelia must find a way to prevent matters from growing
worse. The leisurely pace and some overwrought prose slow the novel's momentum. However, once the plot
gets underway, the charismatic characters, lush descriptions, a setting inspired by World War II-era Europe,
and a charming if subtle romance offer rewards for readers. Ages 12-up. Agent: Steven Sa/peter, Curtis
Brown. (May)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Dark of the West." Publishers Weekly, 2 Apr. 2018, p. 70. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A533555692/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=cd786c80.
Accessed 23 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A533555692
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Published:
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DARK OF THE WEST
Author(s): Joanna Hathaway
The first thing readers are sure to notice about Hathaway’s fantasy debut is her impressive worldbuilding skills. This is an epic novel rich in scenic and historic detail, and the two protagonists who come of age here are just as nuanced and complex. There are some pacing issues in this book, particularly as the story shifts from the intimate character interactions to the larger political issues at play; however, the love story that develops between these star-crossed lovers is compelling from beginning to end, and keeps the stakes of the larger plot very high indeed. Though very much a fantasy novel, the history of this world is inspired by real-world events, so hopeless romantics and history buffs alike will find plenty to enjoy.
Fighter pilot Athan Dakar may be the youngest son of a famous (and infamous) military general, but his dreams lie far away from the front lines. Nevertheless, when his mother dies in what appears to be a political assassination, Athan is sent undercover to assist in overthrowing the Queen of Etania. His mission is compromised as soon as he meets Aurelia, the queen’s daughter, who feels the same attraction to Athan that he does to her. But war is coming, and Athan and Aurelia are torn between their family loyalties and their growing love for each other. (TOR TEEN, May, 480 pp., $19.99, 14 & Up)
Reviewed by:
Bridget Keown