Ask the Author: M.K. Aleja
Answered Questions (7)
M.K. Aleja
I'm currently continuing work on The Darkness Has Names, a collection of interconnected short fiction rooted in CHamoru legends, history, and spirituality. The first three stories—The Siren's Daughter, Sisters of the Reef, and Fall of the House of Taga—are now available, and I have five more planned.
I'm also continuing The Yo'åmte Trilogy, which began with The Makåna's Legacy. Both projects are part of a larger story world I've been building around CHamoru history, folklore, spirituality, and cultural memory.
I'm also continuing The Yo'åmte Trilogy, which began with The Makåna's Legacy. Both projects are part of a larger story world I've been building around CHamoru history, folklore, spirituality, and cultural memory.
M.K. Aleja
I work on another part of the storyline or I take a break from story to do other things.
M.K. Aleja
One of the most rewarding things is hearing from CHamoru readers who recognize something of themselves, their families, or the stories they grew up with in my work. I also love introducing readers who know very little about the Mariana Islands to CHamoru people and culture through fiction. If a story entertains someone first and then makes them curious enough to learn more, I've accomplished something important to me.
M.K. Aleja
Wrapping up a story is tough. If you happen to find a perfect ending, you're lucky. Don't expect your writing to be perfect before editing. Just get it done... then get a good editor to help with filling any gaps, improving flow, and wrapping up the ending nicely. Much like building your own house, you may know how to do everything. But it's always best to have professionals check your work and recommend improvements before you decide to close off the walls and paint.
M.K. Aleja
I grew up on Guam hearing CHamoru legends, and as I've gotten older I've become fascinated by the gaps between the versions that survived. Fall of the House of Taga began when I started looking at several stories surrounding Chief Taga and wondering: What if these aren't separate stories? What if we're looking at fragments of something larger?
I don't pretend that my answer is the lost or “true” version of the legend. That's where the fiction begins. I took those surviving pieces and imagined connections between them, building a dark fantasy about Taga's family, leadership, pride, and a spiritual threat that exploits the divisions growing within his household.
That process—looking at legends, history, and cultural memory and asking how the pieces might connect—has become one of my favorite parts of writing.
I don't pretend that my answer is the lost or “true” version of the legend. That's where the fiction begins. I took those surviving pieces and imagined connections between them, building a dark fantasy about Taga's family, leadership, pride, and a spiritual threat that exploits the divisions growing within his household.
That process—looking at legends, history, and cultural memory and asking how the pieces might connect—has become one of my favorite parts of writing.
M.K. Aleja
I'd like to spend some time in the Shire in Middle Earth.
M.K. Aleja
This is a tough one. Now that my wife has started fishing with me, it looks like our next summer might be spent out on the river. She's just as hooked as I am. LOL!
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