John Moore, author of YA graphic novel Ditching Saskia, recently visited The Children’s Bookshop in Muswell Hill, London. There, he answered a series of brilliant questions posed by readers from the Children’s Bookshop Book Club. Thank you to the bookshop team for allowing us to share the Q&A on our blog. Read on for John’s answers…
Did you have any inspiration from real life when writing the book? (William)
Thanks for your question, William. The idea for this story came from real life family, and trying to remember them for who they were (warts and all), because I think we’d all prefer to be remembered for what we were really like, rather than a nicer but less real version of ourselves. I actually wrote a bit more about this in a blog post for Flying Eye Books.
What is your favourite graphic novel? (William)
I couldn’t possibly pick one, but I remember that the book I read just before starting this one was Thieves by Lucie Bryon and that definitely inspired me to include characters that are likeable but also real and flawed. No person is all good or all bad, and we’re just struggling somewhere in the middle.
Why did you end it THERE? (Audrey)
Haha. Good question, Audrey! The truth is that the book actually continued further in the first draft, but there was already so much going on, and I also felt the story was primarily about Damian and Saskia so didn’t want the ending to focus so much on a new, different relationship. (I’m trying to avoid spoilers!)
Is Saskia meant to be neurodivergent? (Zoe)
That’s a really interesting observation, Zoe. All the characters, including Saskia, are based on a big mix of people I’ve known in life, and many of those identify as neurodivergent. I hope this means that the characters feel more real and are easier for the reader to identify with.
Will there be a sequel? (Bryn — “pronounced Brin like bin”)
It certainly feels like there could be more story to tell, doesn’t there, Bryn?
Why was the whole story about death? (Amelia)
Ooooh this is a tough but important question. Thanks, Amelia! I wanted to tell a story about grief that is packaged in a fun story that allows two complete opposite characters to bond and deal with very real issues. Death and grief are often very tough subjects, but someone like Saskia shows none of the social sensitivity or manners when discussing it because of her age, personality and circumstances. Sometimes we need a Saskia to broach a difficult subject, which is an author’s dream.
Is there more to Saskia’s backstory than meets the eye? (Chloe)
Thank you for your questions, Chloe. Saskia is intentionally the most mysterious character in the book, and while we manage to get some information out of her by the end, there’s still lots left unsaid. I think it’s fair to say she’s not a reliable source of information, but it’s up to you to decide what the truth is. You’re in Damian’s position of deciding what is real and what isn’t!
How did Damien’s mum die?! (Flora)
I’m afraid I’m going to give you an ambiguous answer, Flora! While I have all my character information and notes written down somewhere, it’s up to the author how much to share in the story and how much to leave up to interpretation. I decided early on that I wouldn’t go into detail about how she died. The primary reason is I knew when writing a book about grief or the loss of a loved one, the more specific I got, the higher the risk there was that the reader would not be able to relate. As it is, the reader can now decide for themselves what happened in a way that is most impactful for them. I also didn’t want to ruin the book for someone who might have been impacted recently by a specific illness. The point of the book is to feel better by the end of it and heal in a safe outlet.
When and where is the story based? (general book club question)
Neetols and I really enjoyed creating a location that could never be specifically pointed to on a map. We took inspiration from certain locations, but part of creating an other worldly atmosphere is showing you what you’re used to, but with something just slightly off. Neetols creates these great locations where it looks like nature is trying to take over.
Some of the places we were inspired by: Washington state and Vancouver for their Twin Peaks and X Files spookiness, plus the woods I used to spend all my days in as a kid in Hertfordshire.
Thank you very much, John!
Ditching Saskia
By John Moore and Neetols
A heart-warming, supernatural slice-of-life graphic novel that gently weaves together tough, everyday themes of identity, grief, and accepting flaws in those we love the most.
Out now! Get your copy HERE