We all have dreams, some grander than others. I wanted to be Jimmy Page but, alas, that job was taken.
For Pee Wee, one of the main characters in Tracy Cross’ historical fiction horror novella Rootwork, the dream is to be, as Cross puts it, “…the greatest conjure woman ever.”
It’s a dream Pee Wee continues to pursue in Cross’ new novella, A Gathering Of Weapons (paperback, Kindle).
In the following email interview, Cross discusses what inspired and influenced this second installment, as well as her plans to conclude Pee Wee’s quest.
For people who didn’t read the first book in this series, Rootwork, what happened in that novel, and when and where was it set?
The first book took place in 1889. It was supposed to take place in 1899, but there was a bit of a typo. Seems like it worked out in the end, though.
Anyway, we are introduced to three sisters running home in rural Louisiana to show their father their report card grades. I guess what I like about this book so much is that it begins so innocently and ends with a few deaths and a family divided-physically and mentally. It’s a great set up because you know that the sequels have to have the family fighting to get back together.
And then for people who have read Rootwork, and thus can ignore me writing SPOILER ALERT in all caps, what is A Gathering Of Weapons about, and when and where does it take place in relation to Rootwork?
A Gathering Of Weapons takes place a few years after Rootwork. It follows one of our Rootwork protagonists, and favorite character, Pee Wee, to fulfill her quest in becoming the greatest conjure woman ever. It shows some of the other characters from Rootwork, like her Aunt Teddy and her pretend cousin, Bump, dealing with daily life after the creek flooded. We also discover what life is like in Pee Wee’s little parish daily, and we get to see Pee Wee use some of her newly acquired skills.
You don’t have to read Rootwork to understand A Gathering Of Weapons. Each book can stand on its own. But if you do, it gives you a bit more background on some of the main characters so the reader can understand where Pee Wee and Teddy are coming from. Like a wink and a nod, if you will.
Is there a significance to A Gathering Of Weapons happening 4 years after Rootwork as opposed to right away or a year later or, conversely, 14 years later or 34?
Yes the four years gives our young protagonist time to grow and come into her own. If it was a year later, that would be too soon. 14 years later? Too late. She would be an adult and possibly with kids, but I think four years is enough time for her to have herself together and continue practicing the things she’s learned.
Pee Wee is still at an age where she doesn’t quite know everything but knows enough. This is the story of her journey and I wanted the reader to go on the journey with Pee Wee — to feel all the good and bad and the frustrations she faces as she us on her way. If she was older, it wouldn’t work as well because there’s a certain naivete with Pee Wee that makes her precious and precocious. I didn’t the book would be as fun if she was much older.
Rootwork was a historical fiction horror story. Is A Gathering Of Weapons one as well, or are there other genres at work in it?
Here’s the thing with labels: I’m not a big fan of them. I don’t write a book thinking that it’s going to be historical horror or African American horror, I write a book with all the things I want to see in a book. If someone wants to categorize me with A and B, that’s fine, but it’s not my jam. Right now, we have the opportunity to have so many different genres merging and creating newer genres, let’s focus on that, you know?
A Gathering Of Weapons is obviously not your first novel. Are there any writers, or specific stories, that had a big influence on A Gathering Of Weapons but not anything else you’ve written, and especially not Rootwork?
I’ve been reading a lot of Darcy Coates and Ronald Malfi as of late. I wouldn’t say they were strong influences, but I’m sure if you look, you can see it. My main influences are, and will always be, Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont. Love those guys. The way stories were told back then were so original because all they had was their imagination. We have so many things around us now that can easily influence us that I have a feeling I may need to go lock myself in a cabin somewhere to write the third book.
What about non-literary influences; was A Gathering Of Weapons influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games?
I like to listen to music when I write or use music as an influence. I make playlists like I’m inside the head of the characters and try to baptize myself in the music while I’m thinking of the book or the characters. Sometimes, a dream can be an influence, but I don’t actively look for something to influence me to write.
Er, wait, I can retract that a bit. I know for Rootwork I used family superstition and things I grew up with but normally, I’m not actively looking for something. My imagination has been on overdrive since my sister and I played “Barbie versus Cookie Monster” on the stairs at our old house.
As we’ve been discussing, A Gathering Of Weapons is the sequel to Rootwork. But do they form a duology, are they the first two books in a trilogy…what?
Its going to be a trilogy. There will be different stages of Pee Wee and her sisters. When you have siblings, your relationships are always changing and growing, right? We will experience that with Pee Wee and her sisters. One of her sisters has to escape her mother and ends up in a worse situation than before and Pee Wee and her sister have to go rescue her. I’ve used Pee Wee in a few short stories I’ve written and I think there will be one more book with Pee Wee in it, but I’ve really gotta let her go.
So, do you know yet what the third book will be called and when it will be out?
I don’t have a title. That may be the last thing I come up with. Right now, I’m wrapping up a book on drowned Black towns, so it may be a year or two. I also like to see what the feedback on Weapons is like.
Fingers crossed for it to be sooner than later.
Upon hearing that Rootwork and A Gathering Of Weapons are the first two books of a trilogy, some people will consider not reading them until the last book comes out. But is there any reason why people shouldn’t wait?
Inspiration. The books are novellas; at best and they do tend to inspire. Maybe someone wants to go back and read more about Conjure Women. I think Cyrus Chestnutt wrote that one. Also, we could start another Zora Neale Hurston resurgence. For me, these books inspire my imagination and show what we, as black people, have done and have the potential to do or be.
The thing is stuff like this is never, ever taught in school. You can teach excerpts or parts, but it’s important that we all learn about our history so we don’t repeat it. So, no, don’t wait for the trilogy to be finished — that’s why I wrote them all as stand-alone books. And with this horrible climate changing, my allergies may not give me another break to write the third book. Enjoy what we’ve done and consider the third one a bonus.
Earlier I asked if A Gathering Of Weapons was influenced by any movies, TV shows, or games. But to flip things around, do you think Weapons — and, by extension, Rootwork — could work as some movies, a show, or a game?
When I write, I see my books as movies playing in my head, and I try to record everything that I can. In my mind, the characters are generic but right now, I think Pa could be played by Dennis Haysbert or Idris Elba. They played father and son in The Dark Tower, and I thought that was delicious.
It’s funny because everyone kind of gasses your head up and says that your book would work well as a movie or a miniseries. I’d love to see these books take the place of the slave dramas shown during Black History Month. Hell, they’d work in the summer as well. I mean, as a people, we’ve got to do better and to continually see (white) executives playing slave movies during Black History month is like, “Come on!! Come on!!” It’s not until the end of February that everyone gets into the swing of it and starts showing great Black programming. I mean, I can always hope, right?
You mentioned Dennis Haysbert or Idris Elba being part of your fantasy cast. Any other casting suggestions you’d like to make?
Well, as the sheriff, I’d really want Matthew McConaughey [Interstellar]. He seems like he’d be good for that.
What I’d really want is some brown skinned women to play the sisters. I love Amandla Steinberg [Star Wars: The Acolyte], but I’m thinking more along the lines of Calah Lane [Charlie And The Chocolate Factory] for Pee Wee. [The Equalizer‘s] Queen Latifah as Mom, Quvenzhané Wallis [Annie‘s] as one of the sisters and [Nope‘s] Keke Palmer as another sister and David Jonsson as Bump. I saw him in the new Alien movie [Alien: Romulus], and he stole my entire heart. If I could get Benjamin Bratt [Law & Order] for Lone Wolf, I’d be on that set everyday asking if he needed help running his lines, and [supermodels] Beverly Johnson or Naomi Sims for Aunt Teddy.
Finally, if someone enjoys A Gathering Of Weapons, and they’ve already read Rootwork, what historical fantasy novel or novella of someone else’s would you suggest they check out next?
It’s bittersweet because there’s nothing really out like either of my books that merges cultures and foods together. It’s a really good question and I’d hate to be that guy, but delve into some poetry. These books could almost be companion pieces to my work-my sister, Teri Cross Davis has written Haint, which gives you stories about family.
I’d like to say maybe a Rivers Solomon book, but whatever you do, read black. We have so many different stories out there that I’m sure one of them will touch you in a way you didn’t think.
