This is an interview about The Three Stones of Ebon, presented in partnership* with David and Keiko Mello and The Children’s Book Review.
In this captivating interview, David Mello delves into the enchanting world of the novel co-written with Keiko Mello, The Three Stones of Ebon.
Drawing inspiration from their own childhood experiences and the power of storytelling, they share insights into the creation of their characters, the symbolism behind the mythical creatures, and the importance of friendship and diversity within the story. David also discusses the role of Keiko’s illustrations in enhancing the reading experience and offers advice for readers facing challenges and responsibilities.
This interview is a must-read for fans of the book and those who appreciate the magic of adventure and imagination. It offers a sneak peek into the upcoming sequel, The Adversary of Ebon, and a heartfelt message about the lessons readers can take away from the series.
Tell us a little about the inspiration for The Three Stones of Ebon. Who are the real Jack and Lucky based on?
David Mello (DM): Jack is based on our godson. When he was younger, his mom would say it was a challenge sometimes to get him to take more interest in reading, which is a passion of hers. We decided to draft a story with Jack in it and include Lucky, the cat his family recently adopted. It was meant to be a short story –maybe thirty pages max— but the story kept growing, and then poof, it became a book!
As for inspiration to write at all, it started in fifth grade for me. My teacher read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Harriet the Spy to her class. Her name was Miss Tell. At one point in the school year, the teacher went round the class and asked all the students what they wanted to be when they grew up. When it was my turn, I said I wanted to be a writer.
With Keiko, she got into reading and writing in 3rd or 4th grade. She was spending half the school day at a special program that focused on creative things, and she was crazy into horses. Reading about them, drawing them, the whole bit. The story that sealed the deal for her was The Black Stallion, which is about a shipwrecked boy and horse and the friendship they build.
These stories profoundly shaped our sense of wonder and imagination, and that’s why The Three Stones of Ebon is important to us. We’d like to pass on that same feeling the way C.S. Lewis, Louise Fitzhugh, and Walter Farley did for us.
Cats are clearly very important in the story – what do Lucky and the Land of Cats in Sturgus represent?
DM: The simple answer is the cats represent all of the cats we’ve known, and our godson knew most of them too. Logan, Bootsy, Alexis, Akira… so it was easy to build on each cat’s character for the story. The cats of Sahaland as a group are outcasts. Cats are very maligned in Sturgus. That part is an extension of our world which used to –and still do—find cats to be taboo, “evil,” if you will. We did not consciously think of this when authoring the story, but –thinking back on it—it was probably there.
An urn kicks off the whole adventure – why an urn?
DM: Why not? I’m just kidding! We chose it because it might be a vessel that could have pictures on it and later realized it could be corked. Other than that, there is no particular reason.
Jack and Abigail are from different worlds and cultures, but they also have much in common. What message about acceptance and diversity would you like readers to take from reading the book?
DM: In Sturgus, there would be more divide between species than between peoples. With Jack and Abigail, we wanted them to fall into being above all, and Abigail’s indomitable personality helps temper Jack’s selfishness and helps him learn to be more mindful and Part of what influenced their friendship is our own intimate friendship, being together for as long as we have. We are in love, but we became friends first.
The series features many mythical creatures—what research did you have to do to create fantasy characters that were familiar but still felt fresh and interesting?
DM: Honestly, some of the creatures are 100% made up, like the Hecti lizard creatures from Pale’s world that ride the giant bugs into battle. Cyclopes were a more universally known choice for familiarity (who doesn’t find that one giant eye just a little bit scary?). Then we wanted to dive into some lesser-known folklore of the world too, to keep things fresh, so —with this story anyway—we used the Stronsay Beast. If you look up the word Stronsay, it is the name of a town in Orkney, Scotland, where a few centuries ago, some townspeople found a gargantuan creature that had washed up on the rocks and it was drawn as having a serpentine body, a massive head, tiny limbs, and a long tail. Many years later, it would be debunked as a large, partially decomposed whale. But the legend stuck, as has the island’s mystique!
The beautiful artwork really adds to the atmosphere of the story and feels really old-school and cozy – what made you decide to include illustrations, and were you tempted to include more?
DM: Glad to know it feels a bit “old-school” because, in some ways, that vibe is a byproduct of our own childhoods. were both raised on “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “Wizard of Oz,” and “Grimm’s Fairytales.” All of them had ink sketches, which helped the story feel inviting and real to us. For that reason, it just made sense to add these elements to our story too. Plus, Keiko has some background in drawing people and horses since she was a kid. She also has a lot of fun drawing monsters with freaky-looking teeth.
Jack is given an enormous responsibility, and he rises to the challenge. What advice do you have for readers who feel anxious or overwhelmed by their responsibilities?
Firstly, people, young and old, can struggle with feeling anxious. Break it into smaller pieces and focus on one thing at a time. Bit by bit, you will get there! Another thing is that it’s okay to accept help from others and work together too. It’s also okay to not have all the answers all the time.
What other favorite adventure stories would you recommend to readers who have enjoyed The Three Stones of Ebon?
DM: The Warrior Cats come to mind (because, well, CATS). Readers who like an adventure story that’s more along the lines of mystery or detective work, we’d recommend The Kat Dylan Mysteries from fellow indie author Chris Wieland. We read and reviewed The Crabtree Monsters and The Body on the Beach. Both are excellent reads. If they’ve never read the Chronicles of Narnia, honestly … there’s classic material. And our favorite modern author is, far and away, Neil Gaiman. Readers can’t go wrong with Coraline or The Graveyard Book.
Are there more adventures planned for the world of Sturgus? What can we look forward to in the future?
DM: Funny you should ask! We’d like to introduce the new protagonist in our sequel, Mariah Carey Winston. Mariah moved into the same neighborhood as Jack with only her dad and she wears all black. She is very independent and a bit sassy. She goes to Jack’s school and finds him to be a very strange boy but is curious enough about what makes him tick when she starts spying on him. In the process, she ends up getting caught in the very spell that swept Jack into the land of Sturgus… except when she arrives, he is nowhere to be found. She makes some unlikely allies along the way as she decides to look for him, figuring it’s the only way she can get home. Little does she know the adventure that awaits her or that she’s being watched.
Readers will meet some of the same characters from the first book but will find that Sturgus has changed. The working title is The Adversary of Ebon, and the storyline focuses more on Pale than Ebon. Right now, we’re about 29,000 words in, and Mariah is currently riding one of those giant bugs that the Hecti usually ride, trying to evade a centaur that is chasing them down.
If you would like readers to learn one thing from reading this series, what would it be?
DM: Wow, that’s a tough one. There’s always opportunity around the corner, it may not be what you were looking for at the time… but if you keep an open mind to what lessons it may have to teach, it could be the very thing you needed in your life all along.
About the Book
Written by David and Keiko Mello
Illustrated by Keiko Mello
Ages 8-12 | 264 Pages
Publisher: Strive Publishing (2023) | ISBN-13: 9781948529228
Publisher’s Book Summary: Eleven-year-old Jack knew the old lady down the street was kinda weird. But things get even stranger when she sends him a gift that transports Jack and his cat, Lucky, into the wondrous world of Sturgus, a land of prophecies, pirates, magical creatures, and talking cats. Aided by Abigail, a student of magic, Jack and Lucky must evade a cursed assassin and find the three stones that will wake Ebon, king of the flying horses and rightful protector of Sturgus, before the evil wizard Pale corrupts the land forever.
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About the Creators
David Mello may have left Stuttgart, Germany, in 1980 for the Pacific Northwest in his teens, but he is still an Army brat, divided between cultures of the U.S. and Germany. When not writing stories, he tends to have a camera in his hand. David’s long-standing love of comic books, standup comedy, and rooting for the underdogs of the world helped shape both his early and current writings, from children’s books, mini ‘zines, and various adventures in revolution.
Keiko Mello (Welch) hails from an interracial family and grew up in Minneapolis’ Northside in the 1970s. An introvert, she grounded herself in drawing, dancing, and a love of horses. By her teens, she pivoted to drumming in rock bands, and became a devout and lifelong “metalhead”. Restlessness drew her to the Seattle area in 1997, where she met David and the two have been inseparable ever since.
For more information, visit https://www.staymellocreative.com/.
This interview—An Interview with David and Keiko Mello, Creators of ‘The Three Stones of Ebon’—was conducted between David Mello and Jen Harrison.
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