Many memorable adventure stories begin the same way: You meet a young person whose life is pretty crummy, until they meet someone weird who tells them they need to start a journey to do something really important (usually fighting evil), and they're like, "What? No way!"
People who study literature and mythology know that as The Call, and the "No way!" part is referred to as "Refusing the call." Can you think of other stories that start like this?
The first book of the new series "The Magnificent 12" (HarperCollins) is now one of them (it helps that this book is actually subtitled "The Call"). Written by "Gone" author Michael Grant, "The Magnificent 12" introduces us to twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy, who's average in every way except for the many phobias he suffers from. One day, a three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys' bathroom to inform Mack that he is one of the Magnificent Twelve. An evil force is on its way, and it's up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it.
IML enjoyed this book and thinks you will too. The story of Mack, Grimluk, and the people and creatures they meet on their adventures is hilarious and imaginative. While the publisher is setting this series up to be a huge "brand" with online games and a virtual community, the book itself stands on its own as a well-written, engaging, and fun read. We were lucky enough to get a chance to ask Michael Grant some questions about "The Magnificent 12," and get "the story behind the story."
IML: How did you come up with the idea for "The Magnificent 12"?
Michael: I wanted to write something funny. I had been writing all these dark, gloomy, creepy books -- the "Gone" series -- and I wanted to write something that was none of those things. I liked the idea of an absolutely impossible hero: Mack has all sorts of phobias, which are irrational fears. So he would be the last guy you'd expect to step up and save the world.
IML: How do you feel it's different from other books out there?
Michael: I think "The Magnificent 12" differs in its hero, Mack -- who is so normal he suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Mack isn't the biggest or strongest kid, he isn't secretly a wizard or the son of an ancient god. He just happens to have a bit of something called the enlightened puissance, a sort of ability that allows him to use the ancient Vargran language to fight evil forces. "The Magnificent 12" also differs in its villains, especially the beautiful, witty, and utterly evil Ereskigal. Whose friends (she has no friends) call her "Risky."
IML: The book seems to draw from the myths and legends of many different cultures. Were there any that had particular influence on you as you were developing the story?
Michael: I suppose the biggest influence came not so much from myth as from movies. Especially "The Magnificent Seven," which was an American version of a Japanese classic called "The Seven Samurai." In both movies, one hero has to assemble a team to fight a powerful evil. That's what Mack has to do: travel the world assembling The Magnificent 12 -- twelve twelve-year-olds.
IML: "The Magnificent 12" is funny. Very funny! Yet it doesn't take away from the suspense or action. Do you think some fantasy books for young people take themselves too seriously?
Michael: I'm really glad people are finding it funny. I wanted to combine crazy, dangerous action with humor. Some people think those two don't go together but I think they absolutely do. After all, doesn't Spiderman make witty remarks and dumb jokes while he's fighting Doc Ock or Green Goblin?
IML: Mack has a lot of phobias. Do you have any yourself? Do you ever get scared or creeped out by your own writing?
Michael: I have one big phobia: needles. I hate getting shots -- I have to look away. I hate when someone drop a needle or a pin on the floor. I have to find it right away. Actually, even writing about it makes me squirmy. I don't scare myself with my writing -- actually when I think I'm scaring the reader it makes me giggle. I kind of cackle away as I'm writing, thinking about making some kid nervous or maybe even giving him or her a nightmare.
IML: Ooh, that is a little scary in and of itself! Other than being scared, what would you like readers to take away from reading this first book in the series, and from the series as a whole?
Michael: There is no deep moral in "The Magnificent 12." I'm not out to teach or make you think. What I want is to make kids laugh and blow milk out of their noses when they're reading. That is my absolute highest goal. In a perfect world, I would scare the reader a little, give the reader some mild chuckles, some laughs, and the occasional big snork.
IML: When you were younger, you moved around a lot. What did you learn about life and general survival from always being The New Kid?
Michael: I was lucky in that I was never really picked on. For one thing, I was always pretty tall. For another thing, the bullies couldn't quite figure out what I was. Was I a nerd? A brain? A weirdo? A crazy loner? Bullies want to understand who you are before they beat you up. That's an idea I wrote into "The Magnificent 12," where the bullies at Mack's school are highly organized, with each bully having the responsibility for bullying a particular clique. The bully of nerds, for example, would not beat up Emo kids. That's the Emo bully's job.
IML: You've written a ton of books. Many of our readers are also writers, and I'm sure they'd like to know: What's your writing process like? Do you work on more than one book at a time, switching back and forth? Do you outline your stories before you start writing? How do you stay motivated to finish something?
Michael: I like to write outside whenever I can. I often write with loud music on my headphones -- usually something punk or ska-punk or hard rock. Not much pop music. No Bieber. But Lady Gaga is on my iPhone playlist. I work for about 4 hours a day. Sticking with it is the hardest thing for me, or probably for most writers. Once you get started you start being tempted to work on some different project. Don't do that! Finish your work, don't get tempted away by something that seems easier. With regard to outlines: I do not outline. I like writing scared, not knowing what I'm doing next. Just like life: what fun would it be if you knew what was coming?
IML: Not much fun at all! Good point! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and insights on the book.
Michael: Thanks for inviting me!
"The Magnificent 12: The Call" is available now and has a great "trailer" you can watch:
People who study literature and mythology know that as The Call, and the "No way!" part is referred to as "Refusing the call." Can you think of other stories that start like this?
The first book of the new series "The Magnificent 12" (HarperCollins) is now one of them (it helps that this book is actually subtitled "The Call"). Written by "Gone" author Michael Grant, "The Magnificent 12" introduces us to twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy, who's average in every way except for the many phobias he suffers from. One day, a three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys' bathroom to inform Mack that he is one of the Magnificent Twelve. An evil force is on its way, and it's up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. IML enjoyed this book and thinks you will too. The story of Mack, Grimluk, and the people and creatures they meet on their adventures is hilarious and imaginative. While the publisher is setting this series up to be a huge "brand" with online games and a virtual community, the book itself stands on its own as a well-written, engaging, and fun read. We were lucky enough to get a chance to ask Michael Grant some questions about "The Magnificent 12," and get "the story behind the story."
IML: How did you come up with the idea for "The Magnificent 12"?
Michael: I wanted to write something funny. I had been writing all these dark, gloomy, creepy books -- the "Gone" series -- and I wanted to write something that was none of those things. I liked the idea of an absolutely impossible hero: Mack has all sorts of phobias, which are irrational fears. So he would be the last guy you'd expect to step up and save the world.
IML: How do you feel it's different from other books out there?
Michael: I think "The Magnificent 12" differs in its hero, Mack -- who is so normal he suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Mack isn't the biggest or strongest kid, he isn't secretly a wizard or the son of an ancient god. He just happens to have a bit of something called the enlightened puissance, a sort of ability that allows him to use the ancient Vargran language to fight evil forces. "The Magnificent 12" also differs in its villains, especially the beautiful, witty, and utterly evil Ereskigal. Whose friends (she has no friends) call her "Risky."
IML: The book seems to draw from the myths and legends of many different cultures. Were there any that had particular influence on you as you were developing the story?
Michael: I suppose the biggest influence came not so much from myth as from movies. Especially "The Magnificent Seven," which was an American version of a Japanese classic called "The Seven Samurai." In both movies, one hero has to assemble a team to fight a powerful evil. That's what Mack has to do: travel the world assembling The Magnificent 12 -- twelve twelve-year-olds.
IML: "The Magnificent 12" is funny. Very funny! Yet it doesn't take away from the suspense or action. Do you think some fantasy books for young people take themselves too seriously?
Michael: I'm really glad people are finding it funny. I wanted to combine crazy, dangerous action with humor. Some people think those two don't go together but I think they absolutely do. After all, doesn't Spiderman make witty remarks and dumb jokes while he's fighting Doc Ock or Green Goblin?
IML: Mack has a lot of phobias. Do you have any yourself? Do you ever get scared or creeped out by your own writing?
Michael: I have one big phobia: needles. I hate getting shots -- I have to look away. I hate when someone drop a needle or a pin on the floor. I have to find it right away. Actually, even writing about it makes me squirmy. I don't scare myself with my writing -- actually when I think I'm scaring the reader it makes me giggle. I kind of cackle away as I'm writing, thinking about making some kid nervous or maybe even giving him or her a nightmare. IML: Ooh, that is a little scary in and of itself! Other than being scared, what would you like readers to take away from reading this first book in the series, and from the series as a whole?
Michael: There is no deep moral in "The Magnificent 12." I'm not out to teach or make you think. What I want is to make kids laugh and blow milk out of their noses when they're reading. That is my absolute highest goal. In a perfect world, I would scare the reader a little, give the reader some mild chuckles, some laughs, and the occasional big snork.
IML: When you were younger, you moved around a lot. What did you learn about life and general survival from always being The New Kid?
Michael: I was lucky in that I was never really picked on. For one thing, I was always pretty tall. For another thing, the bullies couldn't quite figure out what I was. Was I a nerd? A brain? A weirdo? A crazy loner? Bullies want to understand who you are before they beat you up. That's an idea I wrote into "The Magnificent 12," where the bullies at Mack's school are highly organized, with each bully having the responsibility for bullying a particular clique. The bully of nerds, for example, would not beat up Emo kids. That's the Emo bully's job.
IML: You've written a ton of books. Many of our readers are also writers, and I'm sure they'd like to know: What's your writing process like? Do you work on more than one book at a time, switching back and forth? Do you outline your stories before you start writing? How do you stay motivated to finish something?
Michael: I like to write outside whenever I can. I often write with loud music on my headphones -- usually something punk or ska-punk or hard rock. Not much pop music. No Bieber. But Lady Gaga is on my iPhone playlist. I work for about 4 hours a day. Sticking with it is the hardest thing for me, or probably for most writers. Once you get started you start being tempted to work on some different project. Don't do that! Finish your work, don't get tempted away by something that seems easier. With regard to outlines: I do not outline. I like writing scared, not knowing what I'm doing next. Just like life: what fun would it be if you knew what was coming?
IML: Not much fun at all! Good point! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and insights on the book.
Michael: Thanks for inviting me!
"The Magnificent 12: The Call" is available now and has a great "trailer" you can watch:
