BY GREGORY HEDGEPETH
Through her Chi The Woke Ratchet platform, which has almost 15,000 followers on Facebook, I’ve been a big fan of Chi’s for a couple years now. When I found out she was working on a book—a science fiction book at that—I couldn’t wait to hear the details.
Luckily, we were able to connect through a friend of mine (another huge fan of hers) who mentioned Vital Narrative Press when Chi mentioned that she was looking for a Black publishing company to release her first book. When we first discussed the premise over the phone, I was completely blown away and couldn’t wait to put my eyes on it—and once I finally got the chance, it was even better than she initially let on. Within a few months, we were blessed (no pun intended) with the opportunity to publish Journey To Ghana and Other Stories and I am truly honored that she trusted me to help bring it to fruition. As far as the book itself, Chi included so many fascinating characters and captivating elements in these stories with six thought-provoking protagonists who each bring a different component to the overall narrative in a reimagined, post-apocalyptic world.
I got the opportunity to ask her a few questions that dig a little deeper into the book itself as well as some of the thought processes behind each story.
Tell me a little about your book and the world you've created.
Journey To Ghana and Other Stories focuses on the end of the world from a Black experience. To add to this, there are meta humans and monsters who are also trying to survive the end of the world.
What books, films and TV shows most inform the aesthetic of this book?
I would have to say Octavia E. Butler’s Wild Seed and her Xenogenesis trilogy—but really all of her works.
First edition cover with cover art by John Cayea
How was the narrative conceptualized? Did it start with an image, a voice, a dilemma or something else?
I was taking an evening walk and passed a white woman who was dressed in all black. My first thought was “what if she was a witch?” That’s how my first story “The Healer” began. “Journey to Ghana” had been swirling around in my head for awhile, I just hadn’t started the actual writing process yet.
How did you develop the settings for this story?
I more or so had themes, and chose settings off those themes. Most of the actual settings were places that meant something to me... like my hometown of Sacramento, CA.
What was the strangest thing you had to do to create this story?
This is an interesting question, because I have to explain how “odd” my thought process is. For example, you might see someone with a bump on their head and think it’s just a bump. I see the same bump and think “This is the beginning of their transition. Soon their body will be covered in spikes.”
Who are your main characters and give us a few details about what makes them tick.
Each story has a Black woman or girl as the lead. “Journey to Ghana” is told by a 12-year-old girl named Mawusi. She is not like other 12-year-olds, because she has never gotten the opportunity to be a kid. Her entire life has been spent fighting and surviving.
Cover design by MALICIOUZ
Which character was the most challenging to create and why?
Most of the characters had an element of my personality, but the two who were furthest from my personality were Mawusi and Compton. Mawusi was difficult, because I was writing from the perspective of a 12-year-old. Compton was difficult, because I was writing from the perspective of someone who had experienced 100 years of depression. It was intense.
Which scene or chapter in the book is your favorite and why?
This is a tough question, because there were so many. If I had to choose one, it would be “LaKiera Jones” and her character reconciling with her transition. She went through so many emotions and still figured things out.
Which scene was most difficult to write and why?
”Belly,” by far, was the most difficult story as a whole. It gave me so much anxiety that I had to leave it alone for over a month and come back to it. It could not be rushed and it forced me to pull from my imagination in ways I did not know I could.
Which scene, character or plotline changed the most from the first draft to the published book?
I’m not sure if “changed” is the most accurate word, but a lot of the characters evolved for sure.
What do you hope readers will take away from this story?
That science fiction is a genre Black people belong in. Our ancestors wrote conceptually about science and religion, and had stories passed down that would align with our views on science fiction. The amount of creativity inside of us is astounding—we just need to write it down.
Which character are you least likely to get along with?
I’m good with the main characters, but characters like Jakoob would annoy the hell out of me for sure!
What would the main character in your book have to say about you?
This is a funny question, because I have a few main characters. I think in “Journey to Ghana,” I would definitely be seen as an elder or a storyteller.
Chi Chavanu Àse is a science-fiction/fantasy author who was first introduced to sci-fi by her mother at an early age. Often sent to her room for misbehaving, she would curl up in a blanket with one of her mother’s books which subsequently ignited the spark that would fuel her love for literature. She initially began writing and performing poetry at the age of twelve. Over time, she began to notice how difficult it was to find books that she could associate or identify with the characters, given the lack of representation. Thus, it became her greatest desire that little Black children would see themselves represented in every genre, especially sci-fi. Her first book, Journey to Ghana and Other Stories, focuses entirely on the Black experience. Likewise, it is her desire to continue writing stories and producing literary work that Black people can see themselves represented in. Chi currently resides in California with her fine-ass husband and amazing children.
