Category | Arts & Living

Alumna introduces new novel

Published on October 20, 2009 by Matt Nix

Fantasy author and KSU alumna Wendy Raven McNair celebrated the release of her novel, “Asleep,” on Oct. 17.

Much in the same vein as “Twilight” and “Harry Potter,” McNair’s book highlights the lives of ordinary youths faced with unforeseen circumstances-in this case, a young girl coming into contact with humans known as “super-beings” who possess extraordinary and unusual powers.

“The release has been going great so far,” said McNair, as she stood behind the table featuring a large display of her novel’s cover art. “I’ve already had one person buy a book before I even started,” she said with a laugh.

McNair spent the day greeting Borders customers, selling and signing copies of her book and talking with patrons about her craft. McNair was eager to talk with those coming into the store, ecstatic to finally share her book with the public.

Set in Atlanta, her novel chronicles the story of a young girl who learns that her boyfriend is capable of flight, one of many humans referred to as a “super-being.”

“I know I would’ve loved to have my boyfriend fly to my rescue as a kid,” McNair said. “That would’ve been a major bonus.”

Throughout the story, the heroine slowly becomes emerged into what McNair refers to as the “secret world” of humans with superpowers, learning their secrets.

The comparisons to other fantasy novels are not that far-fetched. The genre of fantasy fiction has been on a steady rise within America and worldwide, and McNair is quick to recognize this trend: “My inspiration was my teenage daughter, who loves books like ‘Twilight.’”

Yet, McNair said she and her daughter both struggled to find fantasy novels that incorporated African-American characters, and ultimately found that the genre lacked African-American characters. “We couldn’t find anything, so I decided to write one instead,” she said.

“I believe fantasy novels aid in the imagination. We need imagination in this day and age with all the problems we face,” McNair said. “We have to inspire kids that they can do anything. My belief is that, to do that, it’s important to show diversity with characters in a genre.”

As far as what inspired McNair as an author, she cites a classic: “I remember when I read ‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker as a teen. It absolutely blew my mind.”

To hopeful authors, McNair says it’s all about networking and never giving up on your passion. “Connect with people, share your work,” she was quick to note. “Don’t ever believe you aren’t capable of doing something. You always are. Keep reaching.”

With the second book in the series, “Awake,” expected later in the year, McNair’s series seems poised to encourage young readers to fly, regardless of superpowers. For more information, visit wendyravenmcnair.com.