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Believable Dark Fantasy
The Siren’s Daughter follows a young, spirited girl, drawn irresistibly to the sea, who finds a mysterious conch shell that lures her away from her family. What inspired you to retell this story in this manner?
I was working on another project, making cultural heritage cards. When researching CHamoru legends, I found that the Marianas had their own sea siren lore. Because of my Latino heritage, I know that “sirena” is Spanish for “siren.” While “Sirena” is a beautiful name, I started wondering if maybe the legend wasn’t actually about a girl named Sirena, but was a warning based on what happened to a girl claimed by a siren. A Spanish word for a warning instantly placed the story in Spanish colonial times, and I imagined that it was a priest who wrote the warning and did not care to keep the girl’s name. The details of the rest of the story just fell into place as I imagined it more. I really liked the whole premise of a siren claiming the girl as her own, and the details being lost to time because of colonial control. I liked it more and more as I kept developing the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The legend of Sirena is a Guam legend, but I wanted to make it more of a general CHamoru legend by integrating it with siren lore in the other Mariana Islands.
As with my other works, I want to share CHamoru heritage with readers everywhere. In The Siren’s Daughter, I saw an opportunity to share with audiences another part of CHamoru history – Spanish colonization. I wanted to mention the wars against the Spanish. I also wanted to mention the loss of spiritual and traditional knowledge because the Spanish killed off traditional healers.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
My main goal was to create a believable dark fantasy that shares CHamoru heritage with readers. I wanted to give a glimpse of life under Spanish rule. But to be honest, I really liked the story that I had imagined, and I was excited to write it.
What story are you currently in the middle of writing?
I am currently working on Books 2 and 3 of what I am calling The Yo’Åmte Trilogy. The Makana’s Legacy is Book 1. I like the outlines that I have, and I wish I had the time to devote to these stories. These next two books will actually bring up topics that even many CHamorus might not have thought about. Because these stories delve deeper into the role of Yo’Åmte (traditional healers) in CHamoru society, I will be consulting with an expert on the topic of Yo’Åmte to help me stay accurate and respectful in my portrayal of Yo’Åmte.
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After the wars, Hagåtña fell hushed. Tasi – restless and bright – slipped to the reef where a siren waited with a black opal conch. At home, her mother’s patience frayed; her grandmother warned that spirits were listening. One bitter outburst became a curse, and the sea answered.
Sailors spoke of a girl in the foam. Priests spread a warning about la sirena – the siren. The word traveled farther than the truth – until it swallowed the girl’s name.
The Siren’s Daughter is a haunting CHamoru retelling set just after the Spanish-Chamorro wars: a tale of mothers and daughters, desire and duty, and what the ocean keeps while history erases.
Includes a traditional telling of the Sirena legend and an Author’s Note.
Oppression and Colonization
The Makana’s Legacy follows a family and their struggles with personal grief, a fractured family bond, and the looming presence of ancient spirits tied to their island’s tumultuous past. I thought this story had a unique setup and an interesting premise. What were some sources that informed this novel’s development?
This story is completely from my imagination with some elements of my life mixed in. I based the story on CHamoru lore of the taotaomo’na and the makana. The lore was something I grew up with, so there wasn’t much for me to research there. Some of the characters are somewhat based on real people in my life and some of the events, even supernatural, are based on personal accounts from myself and my family. I have never heard stories told like this one, though, that bring the actual legends to life. In the past, I have only heard the legends and scattered personal accounts. I thought it would be great to actually put all of this into a formal novel that showcases my culture, the taotaomo’na lore, and recognizes the suruhanos who continue to serve our communities. Like my first novel “Guardians of the Latte Stones”, I wanted to use the story to share my culture and get readers interested in learning more about the CHamoru people. As far as sources of information go, my father (who is a native CHamoru) helped with the translations and I scoured the Internet for what little information there was on the makana and on the practices of the suruhanos.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Having grown up on Guam, I have personal experience with the topics in the story. The only thing that I found I didn’t know about was who the makana were. This story originally had “Suruhanu” in the title. But learning about the makana helped to reshape the story. I think that many CHamorus might be learning of the makana through my story and I would feel a great deal of pride if that’s what happens. After centuries of oppression and colonization, the CHamoru people are still striving to restore what we can of our language and history. I hope that my stories can help with that even if just a little bit.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
This is the second book that I have self-published. It’s expensive and developing the stories takes some time. I may not be able to afford to publish my next book for another year or two. I already have drafts for follow-ups to this novel and had planned for them to be part of a “Suruhanu” trilogy. I will be working on them anyway. It’s important to me that I represent my culture well, so I don’t want to rush the stories just to get something published faster.
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Chosen by his ancestors, a young man becomes caught in a relentless struggle against a dark malevolence.
The CHamoru makåna were powerful healers from a time long forgotten. For centuries, their spirits waited for one destined to carry their sacred light.
When Mateo is born, he inherits the gifts of the makåna. But the light of his ancestors does not go unnoticed by dark, ancient forces.
As Mateo’s extraordinary abilities grow, so does the threat from sinister spirits intent on exploiting his gifts. Shadows stalk his every step, haunting him and tormenting those he holds dear.
In time, it becomes painfully clear that the path to Mateo’s destiny will take him into a darkness beyond the veil of death. Can faith and the light of his ancestors sustain him, or will the forces that seek to consume his soul ultimately prevail?
Guardians of the Latte Stones
Set against the backdrop of Sasebo’s economic struggles, Guardians of the Latte Stones, by M.K. Aleja, is a compelling historical fiction narrative interwoven with elements of folklore and the harsh realities of World War II. The story follows Yuki and Takeshi, siblings grappling with the loss of their parents and the cruelty of their guardians. Takeshi, seeking an escape, enlists in Japan’s Imperial Army, believing he’s secured a favorable position on a seemingly tranquil tropical island. However, the island harbors a dark secret, challenging Takeshi’s perceptions of warfare and morality.
Aleja masterfully merges fantasy and historical elements, weaving a narrative rich in suspense and tinged with a sense of foreboding. This novel skillfully intertwines authentic historical details with creative storytelling, immersing readers in the era’s cultural, social, and emotional contexts. Structured like a classic fairytale, it features a young protagonist navigating a world of sinister relatives and pivotal decisions. The story centers on Takeshi, whose initial dreams of glorified military service clash with the harsh realities of war, forming the story’s core. The characters are thoughtfully crafted, bringing their challenges and victories to life in a way that resonates with readers.
Aleja’s meticulous approach to narrative construction and his knack for intricate storytelling are noteworthy, offering an engaging and enlightening read. This book poignantly addresses the human toll of war, presenting a seldom-seen perspective on WWII. As the plot progresses, Takeshi and the readers encounter the ancestral spirits of Guam. These spirits, seeking retribution for past injustices, introduce a supernatural layer to the story. Their actions and subsequent developments prompted Takeshi to reevaluate the Japanese army’s role on the island, providing an insightful look at the effects of wartime occupation.
Guardians of the Latte Stones is a story that transcends its historical setting, weaving together elements of a ghost story and a poignant commentary on the futility of war. Aleja’s approach is both ambitious and nuanced, imbuing the novel with a rich emotional depth. This book is not just a historical account but a multifaceted exploration of war, cultural conflict, and moral ambiguity.
Pages: 377 | ASIN : B0CTS9KYR9
LITERARY TITAN 