This month’s Author Spotlight highlights Craig Kofi Farmer, author of Kwame Crashes the Underworld, a stunning middle grade fantasy novel about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity!
What was your inspiration behind this book?
Craig: I grew up reading the Percy Jackson books, and those stories did a great job of making literature accessible. The characters were relatable, sarcastic, and down-to-earth, which invited the reader to engage (authentically) with the adventure on the page. Those stories also did a great job of carrying good lessons within them, like the importance of friendship and the value of advocacy. I knew I wanted to do something similar with a book of my own, if I was ever given the chance. I wanted to create a story that was accessible, snappy, and bursting with personality—but I also wanted to use that same story as a spotlight that illuminated identities, stories, and mythologies that are underrepresented in publishing. I also wanted to use storytelling as a medium to honor my late grandmother, who was a Queen Mother in Saltpond, Ghana. Kwame Crashes the Underworld is meant to be a love letter to Queen Mothers, to grief, to Ghanaian mythology, to fantasy adventures, and to those who wish to see themselves as the hero.
We learn that Kwame is a child of the Earth. A piece of Asase Yaa (Mother Earth’s) spirit rests in him, ever since her death, which means that some of her power is in him. How did you come up with the magic system of what Kwame is capable of and what the limitations are?
Craig: One of the cornerstones of Ghanaian spirituality is a divine reverence for the earth, the skies, and the physical world. It seemed only natural to add an undercurrent of environmentalism into Kwame Crashes the Underworld, especially given the state of the Earth today. When it came to Kwame’s powers, I found myself inspired by properties such as Avatar: The Last Airbender and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. These properties centered on characters capable of great power, but their displays of power held a narrative weight within the story. The power wasn’t being shown just for the sake of cool (even though it was cool), but it was being shown as an insight into the character’s development, intentions, and emotions.
I knew that Kwame had great power inside of him, but how does Kwame access that? Why haven’t these powers manifested before? Are these powers just going to manifest when the story needs them to? As I built out the character of Kwame, I realized that Kwame has been bottling up his emotions all his life—just as his parents taught him—and so, he’s never had a chance to experience the power that his emotions can bring him. From there, the power system became much clearer. That’s where the power of Mother Earth has been all this time; it’s been hiding within the chaos and nebulousness that is Kwame’s emotions. When Kwame’s emotions flare up, so do his powers, and he must learn that the thing he sees as weakness might be the very thing that gives him strength.
Throughout the story, Kwame’s feats of power correspond to what he allows himself to feel. When he feels frustrated, the earth tries to eliminate the source of that frustration. When he feels rageful, the earth quakes and destroys anything in its path. When he feels low, the earth literally lifts him up. I’d like to think that there isn’t a hard limit on what Kwame can do—provided that he allows himself unbridled access to his emotions. I imagine that, with time, Kwame’s abilities would increase as he familiarizes himself with his emotions (and allows himself to feel new ones). However, Kwame’s power would never be fully controllable. After all, can anyone really control their emotions?
Do you have a favorite level of the underworld?
Craig: Since I love horror movies, my favorite level of the underworld would probably be the Eloko Forests. I really resonate with the idea of a frigid forest full of demonic creatures, dizzying geography, and harsh winds that whisper your insecurities to you. It was so fun to think about how the underworld would treat those who used their lives to hurt, marginalize, and disadvantage others. I like the nuances that the Eloko Forests hold as well; while most people are generally averse to pain and suffering, sometimes the worst torture for people can be coming face to face with something they think they’ve always wanted—only to realize that it’s a soulless mirage.
In your Author’s Note, you mention various communities you wrote this book for. Can you elaborate on who you envision connecting with this story, and seeing themselves in it?
Craig: I really see everyone connecting with this story in some kind of way. While the main characters are part of the Ghanaian, Black, Korean, and Hard-of-Hearing communities, I think the story is amenable to all readers. Anyone that has lost a grandparent too soon will probably feel represented in this story. Anyone who’s a big fan of fantasy, anime, and comic books will likely see themselves in Kwame and Autumn. Anyone who feels a little disconnected from the culture that their extended family holds, will probably relate to Kwame feeling out-of-the-loop whenever he’s around his Ghanaian relatives. Anyone who just wants to read a cool fantasy story, with slick weapons and terrifying monsters, will most likely feel fulfilled with this adventure. I hope that this story serves as a mirror to the reader, so that they can see just a little bit of themselves in some part of the book.
What part of the debut author experience surprised you the most?
Craig: It really surprised me to see all the intentionality and work that goes into creating just the right cover for a book. This is a perfect time to shout out Mateus Manhanini, who was the cover artist for Kwame Crashes the Underworld. He took all of my hopes, dreams, and visions for the cover and created a piece of art that could hang in an art museum. I feel very blessed to be able to work with Mateus and Macmillan on this cover, and I would like to take a moment to honor what they’ve done. Thank you to Mateus, Emilia, Emily, and Emily (yes, you read that right!).
Tell us about a librarian or educator who made an impact on you.
Craig: Even though my mother has been an educator her entire life, I think it would be kind of cheating to select her as the answer for this question. Instead, I’ll shout out Mrs. Koontz, my fourth grade teacher. I remember her being inquisitive, patient, and enthusiastic—and I remember her wielding this uncanny ability to know exactly what a student of hers might need or benefit from. I had a great time in her classroom, and I even joined the Science Bowl team under her leadership (even though I’m not great at science). Shout out to Mrs. Koontz, who has been a fantastic educator for decades. Also, shout out to all the educators who change students’ lives—you all should really be recognized, cherished, and paid more.
What was your favorite book when you were a young reader?
Craig: Honestly, as a young reader, my favorite book was Percy Jackson: Battle of the Labyrinth. It came out when I was twelve years old, and it came pretty close to being the perfect reading experience for me. I’d like to recognize Rick Riordan, for creating magic with those stories and inspiring so many people to pick up a pen for themselves.
What do you hope readers take away from Kwame Crashes the Underworld?
Craig: I hope that readers walk away from this story feeling more comfortable with who they are—whether that means being more comfortable with their emotions, their physical appearance, their family’s culture, or the identities that they hold. All these things create a sense of self, and I hope that readers can feel both empowered and allowed to love themselves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Craig Kofi Farmer is a Prince George’s County native, with two Bachelor of Science degrees from Towson University and one Master of Education degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. He works in higher education administration, helping students achieve work-life balance and self-actualization. When he’s not writing, he’s analyzing superhero movies, watching psychological thrillers, and deciding exactly what he’s going to eat that day.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Kwame Crashes the Underworld
by Craig Kofi Farmer
Ages 8-12
On Sale September 10th!
Discover a stunning middle grade fantasy about a boy hurled into the Ghanaian underworld to help his grandmother save humanity, perfect for fans of Tristan Strong and Amari and the Night Brothers.
Twelve-year-old Kwame Powell isn’t ready to deal with losing his grandmother, even as he and his family head to Ghana for her celebration of life.
He’s definitely not ready when he’s sucked into a magical whirlpool that leads straight to Asamando, the Ghanaian underworld. There, he comes face to face with his grandmother, who is very much alive, and somehow still . . . a kid? Together with his best friend, Autumn, and a talkative aboatia named Woo, Kwame must battle angry nature gods, and stop the underworld from destroying the land of the living.
But there’s an even bigger problem: Only living souls can leave Asamando. In order to save the mortal world and return home, Kwame will need to find the courage to do the bravest thing of all—learn how to say goodbye.
