A #TTBF Q&A with Author Brittney Morris
You were inspired to begin writing SLAY after watching the AH-mazing Black Panther movie. Describe the moment you realized what you wanted to do.
As soon as I left the theater, I knew I had to find a way back to Wakanda. I wanted a video game company to create a “Wakanda simulator” video game. When I realized I could write a book about one, the response was physical. My heart was pounding. My hands were clammy. I couldn’t wait to get home and start writing. I didn’t want to sleep or eat nearly as much as I wanted to get this story out. I’ve never had such an intense response to a book idea before!
If you were to be cast as a new character in the next Black Panther film, who would you be? What’s their bio?
Can I be M’baku’s queen? (Kidding, kinda). I’d love to be some unsuspecting character who ends up playing a major role, like a distant friend of Nakia’s, or queen of a neighboring nation who rolls in with a pride of lions and saves the day.
If you could ask Shuri to design one really cool piece of tech for you, what would it be?
You’re asking me to think of something cooler than a full body suit that repels kinetic energy? Hmm…maybe a forcefield generator? Or something that lets me run super fast or teleport.
What indie video games are you currently obsessed with?
Kindergarten 2 is pretty entertaining (and disturbingly dark). I’m also working through Baba is You, which is an indie puzzle game that’ll put your brain through the ringer. I’m kinda stuck, not gonna lie. Dead Cells is probably next on my list!
What is one food you wish to never encounter again?
The list of foods I dislike is short, but okra sits at the very top. Hands down. Hated the texture, taste, and smell. I just can’t do it again.
If you could choose three books to include on our official “Read Everything” book list for 2019, what would they be? A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Rosie Brown (out June 2020) – I was lucky enough to get to read an early copy of this book, and the number of unexpected yet satisfying twists, the Black girl magic, the intrigue, the romance, I don’t even know where to start in sharing just how excited I am for this book to be out in the world next year. I wasn’t ready, and neither are y’all, but go read it anyway. The Merciful Crow by Margaret Owen – Bird castes, teeth magic, powerful girls, soft boys, sexual freedom, requests for consent, and a kingdom-wide cat and mouse game? What’s not to adore?? The Fever King by Victoria Lee – This book was so dark, and so fun. It tackles such huge issues, like being a second-generation immigrant in a country that sees immigrants as a literal (in this case deadly fever magic) epidemic, the complexities of fatherhood and sonhood, and mentorship in the LGBTQ community, all packed into a fun and wild techy magical ride. I loved this book so much, and I’m so psyched to read its sequel, The Electric Heir.