Balancing Fantasy Storytelling and Relatability | Interview with Author A. G. Maglinte

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When our feeds are full of the latest YA or New Adult, it can be easy to forget the other group of readers.

We talked with A. G. Maglinte who focuses on middle-grade readers (8 to 12 years old). This is the stage where lifelong book lovers are made! So having diverse and fun content on the shelves is a must.

A. G. Maglinte works real life issues into fantasy worlds full of adventure. How does she do it? She takes the time to share some insights in her creative process with our latest interview!

Hi! Can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Hello! I'm Allison Maglinte or A.G. Maglinte. I'm a self published author who lives in Elk Grove, CA and specializes in Middle Grade (MG), Adventure, and especially Fantasy. My first novel, The Unexpected Boy and The Solus, a fantasy adventure MG that tackles the question: what's our purpose in life? My second novel, Araceli's Escape from the Dreamscape House on 9th Street, is another fantasy adventure middle grade novel.

We love genre-bending stories! So, how do you go about blending genres to make your unique worlds?

Like I mentioned, I write and love fantasy and adventure with a smidge of mystery thrown into the mix. I love to create new worlds based off of real things and/or my imagination. I remember when my second book came to mind, I first imagined a very tall and unusual house and I knew I wanted to write a story about this house, thus leading to the creation of my second book. Another example would be a book that I am currently in the process of writing where I based the world off of Christianity beliefs, the idea of the holy trinity, and what it means to be a Christian. 

Ooo, I can’t wait to see that hit the shelves! When you’re developing these worlds, do you start with the setting first (like the house), or do your characters lead the way?

It’s hard to say, as for me, it just depends on what comes to mind first. Sometimes its a character, sometimes its the setting, sometimes its the themes, sometimes it’s the message of the story. Whatever comes first comes it just grows from there like a plant and blooms into a wonderful story like a flower.

A core of your work involves mental health and other struggles younger folk deal with. What drew you to explore mental health themes for the middle-grade level?

As a kid who struggled with their mental health and didn’t resolve them until adulthood (still struggling to this day to be honest) I wished there were books that tackled mental health themes/issues when I was younger. As the world is becoming more self aware about mental health issues, I wanna be a part of that voice that can reach kids in today's world. I want to give these kids hope, the courage to be themselves, and to not be afraid to speak their mind, especially to adults. 

How do you strike the right balance between addressing serious topics while maintaining the adventure and fun of the fantasy genres?

Honestly I'm still trying to find that right balance. Each book that I write teaches me something new. I try to be subtle when writing serious topics by reflecting such topics through the fantasy elements of the world and how the characters interact with the world itself. I find it important to not be preachy and keep things light-hearted when it comes to serious topics.

When finding that balance, do you have to do edits to avoid going too deep into the serious themes for a younger audience?

I do often pull back because I want to say what I want to say but have to remember that being subtle and showing rather than telling is key to writing stories. I may try too much or use too much exposition rather than showing it, which is why I always need an extra pair of eyes (either a friend, family, or better— an editor) on my stories. It’s something that I’m constantly learning with each story that I work on

Do you have a certain author or artist that you draw inspiration from?

I love CS Lewis and VE Schwab. They have such great imaginations and are able to tell stories so well. I am just in awe and inspired by them. In fact, CS Lewis was the one who got me into wanting to create stories when I was a kid. I loved his Chronicle of Narnia series, even though I could never bring myself to actually physically finish the series (I think I listened to the audiobook version of it later on). VE Schwab or Victoria Schwab made me fall in love with the world and characters she created in her MG and YA novels. I absolutely love her prose, pacing, world building, just about everything to be honest. I aspire to be like her. 

And any tips you like to share for folks looking to explore personal topics within the world of adventure and fantasy?

When it comes to fantasy and adventure, or any story for that matter, you need to have an engaging plot, good pacing, interesting characters, and a lot of discipline and patience with yourself. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. I like what C.S. Lewis says about writing: “Write about what really interests you, whether it is real things or imaginary things, and nothing else.” Just be you essentially and have fun writing is my interpretation of the quote.

Thank you for sharing so much about your process! I hope we see more works address serious topics wrapped in a fantastical setting. To wrap up, what projects do you have coming up and what are you reading right now?

I’m reading (or trying to) Days at Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. I’m also listening to The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. So far love them all! Thank you for interviewing me!

The Teller of Small Fortunes is also in my TBR pile! It was great talking to you!

Shop A. G. Maglinte books: The Unexpected Boy and The Solus & Araceli's Escape from the Dreamscape House on 9th Street and follow her on Instagram and Threads for book updates.

About the Author: A California native from the Bay Area, A. G. Maglinte has dedicated her life to the art of storytelling. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree in English, specializing in Creative Writing from Sacramento State University, she now pursues a Master's degree at the same institution. Residing in Elk Grove with her two feline companions, Kokoro and Haruka, she draws inspiration from YouTube's vast content and immerses herself in the captivating world of K-pop and lo-fi music. With unwavering commitment to the craft of storytelling defines her journey, where she continually shapes worlds through her words in her quest for literary excellence.

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