Author J. Elle Created A Heroine for the Black Girl She Used to Be

Author J. Elle’s experiences growing up in Houston’s Third Ward have deeply influenced her approach to fiction. Her 2020 debut novel, Wings of Ebony, introduced readers to Rue, her thoughtful and deeply compassionate teen heroine. Rue grew up hearing that sometimes you had to “make a way out of no way” — an idiom she takes to heart after a tragic loss. When Rue discovers that she is half-god and half-human, she realizes that she has to use those mystical powers to save her neighborhood and those she cares about the most.

Rue’s story concludes in Elle’s latest novel, Ashes of Gold, which was released on January 11. The FBomb had the chance to chat with J. Elle over email about Ashes of Gold, creating the stories you want to read, and the reason she finds Rue so inspiring.

You’ve talked in other interviews about your unconventional path to the world of young adult publishing. Can you tell us a little about what inspired you to start writing fiction?

I never imagined I’d be a storyteller. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have stories to tell — I just didn’t understand that such an art form could transform into a career for an inner-city Black kid like me. So in 2018, when a story came to me, I decided to write it to get it out of my head. And I fell in love with the art of expression; it was as if I’d just stepped into a pair of shoes custom-made for me. It felt … right. Once I met Rue, the main character in the Wings of Ebony duology, on the page and realized the story she wanted to show me, I couldn’t not write it. Her story needed to be told and then absorbed by so many in my community. So, at that point, my passion turned into a burning sense of activism.

What drew you to writing fantasy novels in particular?

I like exploring challenging themes in my work, social justice issues, moral dilemmas, et cetera. I find that wrapping these topics in the veneer of fantasy can make the content a bit more digestible for readers. In Wings of Ebony, I wanted to give teen readers in particular the ability to engage in discourse about racism, privilege, socioeconomic disparity, and colonialism without them having to sit with any personal trauma they have. Within this duology, they get to discuss the dynamic of privilege between Rue and Bri, for example, instead of rehashing similar experiences they may have had. I also love that fantasy gives me the ability to make the seemingly unbelievable feel believable! There’s a rare and precious sense of hope that must be protected in young people, and I think fantasy can give them the space to protect that optimism.

Rue is a teen girl who suddenly discovers that she has magical powers, but both of your books also describe the real-world traumas she experiences, including losing her mother to senseless violence. What was it like striking that balance between the magical and realistic portions of Rue’s story?

It was difficult. And yet incredibly inspiring. These grittier realities are often depicted as nails in the coffin on what a kid bred from such circumstances will do or can be. It was very cathartic to write magic into these spaces and explore seemingly impossible odds where that kid is the hero. I considered glossing over some abrasive realities when I wrote this in 2018 and edited it in 2019, but my editor and I decided to ensure the story reflected reality while keeping the overall trajectory of the story as one of triumphant victory. The Wings of Ebony duology is ultimately a series about hope.

Ashes of Gold is the sequel to last year’s bestselling book Wings of Ebony. What has it been like hearing from teens who have really connected to Rue on a very personal level?

It’s been unreal. I can’t believe actual teens are reading my book and seeing themselves. I mean, that’s always the hope! But to hear it, see it, be written letters, see fan art, see reader-made videos is just incredible. I sob every time. But I’m a Cancer, so I guess that’s just how it goes.

Throughout both books, Rue is on a very intense journey to trust in her true self to protect herself and her community. What would you like readers to ultimately take away from Rue’s story?

I’d like readers to fully grasp that they are powerful and not bound by circumstance. They should feel capable of tackling whatever is in front of them because they are worthy of greatness.