Heroes Hit the Road in Rainbow Rowell's 'Wayward Son'

Goodreads: How does it feel to return to the world of Simon Snow? Or did you ever really leave?

Rainbow Rowell: I did leave—for six months or so after Carry On came out. I'd had one book release after another, and I was exhausted.

So I did other things. I rested. I worked on my graphic novel, Pumpkinheads, and my Marvel comic, Runaways. And then, when my head felt more clear, there were Simon and Baz, like they'd been there all along, waiting for me.

I'm delighted to be with them again! I'm not sure what it is about these characters, but I never get tired of them. I never get tired of their voices.

GR: Carry On was such a unique take on stories with a Chosen One. What compelled you to explore or expand on this popular trope?

RR: Thank you! I've always loved a good Chosen One story. I was obsessed with Star Wars as a kid—even during the lean years between trilogies. And then Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter… I'm a sucker for an orphan who needs to save the world.

At first I didn't trust myself to write fantasy. Maybe because I was a journalist? Writing fantasy feels more like lying than writing contemporary. Anyway, I got over that. I realized that I'd spent so much time with these Chosen One stories and they'd been so formative for me. I had a lot to say on the subject.

GR: On that note, what's your personal definition of a Chosen One?

RR: Hmm… Usually it's someone who comes from nothing and is responsible for everything. They're usually orphans. They have a gift that makes them uniquely powerful. They probably have a special weapon and a grizzled mentor.

The Chosen One has clarity—that's what I love about them. They wake up one day and discover they have a path. A purpose. A mission. Imagine feeling that much clarity in your own life!

GR: What interpretations of Chosen Ones would you like to see more of in YA?

RR: Gosh, I don't know. The beauty of this type of story is that you can retell it again and again and it's still compelling. You can put your own spin on it and it'd still feel classic.

GR: In Wayward Son, we see Simon struggling to redefine his identity. (Side note: Just how long has he been lying on that couch?) What are his biggest fears?

RR: Poor Simon! I mean, he tells us right away in Carry On that he doesn't like to think about his life. He has one purpose: to be powerful. He doesn't even have to think about what to do with his power—the Mage decides for him!

Well, now the Mage is gone and Simon's magic is gone. And what good is he without them? His closest relationships are entrenched in the world of magic. How long will his best friend and his boyfriend want to hang around with a depowered has-been? How will he fill his days? How does he follow up being the savior? What's his next act?

GR: What can you tell us about the personal challenges that Baz and Penny are facing? What are their biggest fears (or worries) now that they all technically saved the day?

RR: I think they're both very caught up in Simon's worries at the moment. To an unsustainable degree. Penelope has been managing Simon since she was really young. In Carry On, she tells us that her purpose is to support Simon in battle and see him live through it all. Well, she accomplished that. Sort of. They won the war. What's her role now?

And what's Baz's role? He spent most of his teen years rooting against Simon, even though he was half in love with him. They got together in a very dramatic way, on the eve of destruction. Now what? Is that any way to start a relationship? Who are they to each other now that they're not enemies or roommates?

GR: What do you love most about Baz and Simon's relationship?

RR: Oh, that's a good question. I love that they love each other even though it makes their lives more complicated. Like, they can't help it. I love how much they love each other. I love that they both feel so unsure of themselves, but so sure of each other.

GR: What do Baz and Simon admire the most about each other?

RR: They both admire the way the other has risen above incredible adversity.

Baz loves that Simon is brave. That he doesn't turn away from a challenge. Simon has a more black-and-white view of the world. Things are clearly right and clearly wrong. I think Baz—like me—envies that clarity. For Baz, the world is muddy and hopeless.

And Simon is in awe of Baz's confidence and poise. Watching Baz move through the world is like watching a dancer or an athlete. Baz is beautiful and not just in appearance. He's fundamentally graceful.

They're both fierce people. They're fighters. And I think they love that about each other. It feels good to be fierce together.

I could go on and on like this…

GR: Carry On has such a passionate fan base. Are there any fan encounters that stand out to you?

RR: This last year, since I announced Wayward Son, has been such a delight. I've never written a sequel before, so I've never had the experience of being excited about my next book with other people.

Like, we're all counting down together. We all care about these characters. And nobody is mad at me or disappointed—it's this honeymoon period where we're all just excited that this story isn't over.

GR: What's the most fun about writing about a road trip? Did you actually map out their journey?

RR: I certainly did. I've made most of this trip myself. (I'm actually writing these answers a few hours before leaving on a road trip with my family.) The best part of a road trip is the way you're isolated, together. Like, you're on a really specific adventure with just a few people you care about.

And, unless you're on your phone the whole time, you're experiencing new things together. There's also a sense of danger—or, at least, unpredictability. You've left your home base. You're unstable. There are more variables.

Also, I love singing in cars and trying regional varieties of beef jerky.

GR: If you had to create a playlist that described the general vibe of your characters' road trip, what songs would you include?

RR: I have done this exact thing. There's a Wayward Son playlist on my Spotify page. The vibe of this book is very American compared to Carry On. So, like, songs by Kansas and America and Journey. "A Horse with No Name," "Don’t Stop Believing."

GR: Can you share one item that Simon, Baz, and Penny each packed with them?

RR: I can! Penny made a playlist. Simon brought his Watford Lacrosse hoodie. And Baz brought all of his toiletries. No hotel shampoo for Baz.

GR: Were there any spells from Carry On that you wanted to include but had to leave on the cutting-room floor?

RR: Ha, no! There are no extra spells. The spells are really hard for me to come up with, so I only figure out the spells I really need. Sometimes I have to leave placeholder spells—"spell that makes rain" or "spell to find someone"—and figure them out much later. They're a pain in the neck!

GR: Which books would you recommend to our YA readers?

RR: Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi. Great writing, great characters.

Also—Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O'Connell. This is a gorgeous graphic novel with heartbreakingly real teen characters.

GR: Which books are currently up next on your Want to Read shelf?

RR: I absolutely love Jo Walton, so I'm excited to have her new book, Lent. And Becky Chambers has a novella coming out in September—To Be Taught, If Fortunate. Her Wayfarers series is so good. So good!