Warrior Bataar, the protagonist of “The Gryphon King.” (Illustration by Ender Coskun)
Practically 10 years within the making, The Gryphon King marks a serious debut for Georgia creator Sara Omer. Out this month from Titan Books, the novel proves that some tales are well worth the time it takes to search out their voice. In a latest dialog with ArtsATL, Omer opened up about her writing course of, the Atlanta literary scene and what it means to jot down darkish fantasy novels rooted in actual life views.
The Gryphon King introduces readers to Bataar of the Crimson Steppe, a younger warrior whose life is irrevocably modified after a harrowing encounter with a gryphon, depicted as a legendary, monster-like creature. As Bataar rises to energy, main conquests throughout the continent, the story delves into themes of management, loyalty, the burden of relationships and the complexities of conflict.
The narrative is enriched by Omer’s SWANA-American (Southwest Asia and North Africa) heritage and presents a recent perspective throughout the fantasy style. It additionally marks her arrival as a brand new voice in speculative fiction. Although the novel is ready in an imagined world, Omer did vital analysis to floor the story in realism. “My household is Iraqi Turkmen and Kurdish, so there’s quite a lot of actually attention-grabbing Turkic myths and tradition that I may draw from,” she stated.
Nonetheless, she admitted, taking some artistic liberties was essential. “There have been issues that I didn’t wish to be taken from sure cultures or time durations as a result of I used to be mixing them and making an attempt to create one thing new. However for plot-related causes, I actually wished blood transfusions to be a risk,” she defined. Her fictional tackle the process consists of animal components and pure supplies. “It sounds so unhygienic, however I’m certain it in all probability wouldn’t kill you,” she joked.
Omer’s mixture of logical and playful storytelling types the novel’s core narrative. The non secular methods and naming conventions replicate her deep reverence for SWANA tradition and her purpose to convey broader cultural nuances to the style. “I like the thought of fantasy being a option to lead into real-world understanding,” she stated. “There are quite a lot of completely different fantasy tales on the market, and so they’re deserving of your consideration.” Character idea artwork by Turkish illustrator Ender Coşkun and map designs by the creator’s brother, artist Allen Omer, additionally assist convey the novel’s world into sharper focus. By working with artists who share a connection to her heritage and her characters, Omer provides one other layer of depth to the story.
Though Omer’s writing feels international in affect, her literary roots are undeniably native. As a present graduate scholar and educating assistant at Kennesaw State College and former editor for a number of native publications, Omer is crafting a robust presence within the Atlanta literary scene. Her early work at Peachtree Publishing Firm and Artwork Papers formed her understanding.
“Peachtree was my first expertise with something associated to publishing,” she stated. “To have the ability to sit in on these acquisition conferences and discuss to editors, it was so informative. At the moment, I assumed I used to be simply going to be an editor. I didn’t notice I wished to be a author fairly as strongly.” Although she’s primarily centered on fiction writing now, that basis, mixed with the help of Atlanta’s unbiased guide scene, gave Omer the boldness to lastly pursue authorship. With about 30 unbiased bookstores working in metro Atlanta, it’s potential to construct a literary following from grassroots occasions like excerpt readings, guide signings and panel discussions with different native authors. “The indie bookstores within the Atlanta space are actually welcoming to new authors,” she shared.
Extra on ArtsATL: Creator Katie Mitchell chronicles Black unbiased bookstores in Atlanta.
The neighborhood help and insights in regards to the publishing world empowered Omer to jot down freely, shifting past standard tropes to inform a narrative that’s emotionally sincere and culturally various. In The Gryphon King, she consists of acquainted fantasy parts like royalty, legendary beasts and magic. Nonetheless, these motifs are used as entry factors into a lot deeper explorations of grief, violence, political unrest and ethical ambiguity.
Writing characters that really feel emotionally lived-in and grounded encourages readers to contemplate what fantasy can supply other than diversion. “Can you discover escapism in actually darkish content material?” Omer requested. “I don’t know. However I feel it’s value asking.”
Past storytelling, Omer hopes The Gryphon King encourages readers to discover unfamiliar histories and helps usher in a brand new wave of culturally various fantasy novels that entertain in addition to educate. When requested about her writing influences, Omer made certain to champion rising authors. “Firstborn of the Solar [by Marvellous Michael Anson] is a Yoruba-inspired fantasy I’m actually enthusiastic about,” she stated. “And The Weavers of Alamaxa [by Hadeer Elsbai] is an Egyptian-inspired collection, and it feels so well timed.”
With a rising creator neighborhood and indie guide scene and extra literary occasions popping up every year, Omer is optimistic a few future the place Atlanta turns into a publishing hub of its personal. “I don’t know if I’m simply biased as a result of I stay right here, however there’s quite a lot of alternatives on this metropolis.” As a debut creator constructing her literary future within the South, she’s serving to make it occur.
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Tyra Douyon is an Atlanta-based journalist, content material author and editor with a grasp’s in skilled writing and a bachelor’s in English training from Kennesaw State College. Along with freelance writing, she is a printed poet and a workers editor for an unbiased literary arts journal.