Interview with Rajani LaRocca, celebrated author of SONA and the GOLDEN BEASTS

Rajani pours her heart and incredible talent into each new story for children she writes: it’s no wonder she has garnered so many well-deserved awards! Sona and the Golden Beasts, her latest MG novel, grabbed me by the magical, musical, animal-filled, Indian-inspired cover alone. Once I started reading, I was instantly transported into the fictional land of Devia and began fearing for the main character’s life as she embarks on a treacherous journey. The ending is so uplifting, thought-provoking, and memorable, I felt the need to read Sona and the Golden Beasts again. Whether you’re a writer or reader of middle grade (or both), I heartily recommend this incredible novel as a mentor text or for pure enjoyment.

#1: Rajani, it’s my great honor to welcome you back to Writers’ Rumpus! Please share a summary of Sona and the Golden Beasts and tell us what inspired you to write such a magical, musical, heartfelt yet treacherous adventure story set in the fictional land of Devia — so different from your other stories but equally amazing. 

Thank you so much for your kind words, Laura! Here’s a summary of the story:

Sona hears music everywhere, even though it’s outlawed in the land of Devia. Sona is a Malech, a member of the ruling class that conquered Devia centuries ago. Malechs forbade music to prevent the native Devans from using their magic, and Sona hides her abilities lest they put her in danger.

Then Sona discovers an orphaned wolf pup. She believes the pup, with its golden ears, might be related to one of the five sacred beasts of Devia, and she vows to keep it safe. That means bringing the pup in tow when Sona embarks on a perilous quest, along with a Devan boy, to secure the nectar of life for a loved one who has fallen gravely ill. On the journey, as Sona uncovers secrets about the Malechian empire and her own identity, she realizes that the fate of the sacred beasts, and the future of Devia, just might come down to her.

The idea from this story came from a combination of things: my love of the fantasy stores from my childhood, especially The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, and my grappling with the history of the British colonization of India. I wanted to write a story with all the fantasy elements I loved so much—magic, fabulous beasts, and a quest to save the world—but also dealt with the notion of colonialism and all its consequences.

# 2: Thank you for that beautiful summary. Please share your writing process for this spellbinding fantasy for tweens. 

It took me a while to come up with the whole story, but it started with the idea of one character who turns out to be completely different from what everyone thought they were (I’m not going to share who that is, because that would be a spoiler!). One of the themes of this book is that people (and animals) are more than they seem on the surface.

I started by crafting my main character, Sona, and her foil and companion on her quest, Raag. They’re each very earnest and courageous, but they’re also keeping dangerous secrets.

Then I thought about the world I was setting the book in — the beautiful country of Devia, where people cast magic through music, and the different regions of the country are guarded by golden beasts. I wrote a comprehensive history of the country, including legends and songs that were passed down through time. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to include “historical documents” — pieces from the Devan and the Malechian POV that demonstrated how differently people could see the same event. 

# 3: Your detailed approach to world building is an inspiration for all kidlit writers. Now let’s focus on your amazingly vivid characters, from sweet, caring, courageous Sona to the deadly, powerful, determined Hunter. The Hunter was so life like, I kept fearing he might burst through the pages and attack my non-magical goldendoodle! What tips can you share about creating such well-drawn, distinct, and memorable characters? 

I like to think about characters in terms of what they love, what they want, what they need, and what they fear. I sketched this out for all the characters, primary and secondary, in this book. And I love writing villains/antagonists — in this case, the Hunter — and try to remember that they are heroes in their own stories. The Hunter feels perfectly justified doing horrible things.

# 4: What do you hope readers will gain from reading Sona and the Golden Beasts? I don’t want to spoil the ending for people who haven’t read this novel yet, but it was remarkable and truly thought provoking. 

Oh, thank you, Laura! Through this story, I hope that readers understand:

• Surface qualities don’t reveal what is in someone’s heart
• People aren’t good or bad; it’s our actions that are good or bad
• History doesn’t have to define us, but it should inform us — and that’s why it’s important to truly understand our own history
• What I would choose as my “superpower” if I could (I won’t say what it is here . . . spoiler alert!)

#5: You are so prolific and always exploring new ideas and directions. What advice can give you give to struggling writers? 

Follow the dopamine! Write what interests you and what you love, no matter what anyone says about the market or what others are looking for. Writing stories from your heart will give you joy and will resonate with others.

#6: I always ask you this question, as I know you always have something exciting in the pipeline! What can readers look forward to next from you? Lastly, how can fans reach you? 

I have two picture books coming this year!

Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States is a nonfiction picture book about immigration and naturalization coming from Christy Ottaviano Books on May 27. It celebrates the people who move to the US from other parts of the world and enrich our country with their talents, hard work, and participation in our democracy. Every person who contributed to this book (illustrator, editor, art director, and me) is an immigrant and naturalized citizen. I feel that this book is needed more than ever right now. 

Fall Is For Beginnings is coming from Abrams Books on August 5. A follow up to my book Summer Is For Cousins, this story follows a boy named Ravi as he starts a new school year, with plenty of back-to-school fun and a celebration of the (sometimes complicated) joy of making new friends. Click on the arrow to see the cover reveal!

Next year comes my first YA novel (eep!) and four more picture books.

Readers can reach me at www.RajaniLaRocca.com (and sign up for my newsletter!) and on Instagram and Bluesky @rajanilarocca.

Thank you again, Laura!

It was my pleasure to interview you, Rajani! I continue to be awed by your incredible creative powers and dedication to writing the highest quality books for young readers. You are a true gift to the kidlit community!!