Q&A :: Beau Kondos :: The Path of the Lost

Most of the book is set in a different place, but the story starts in Melbourne. Was it important to you that your story was anchored in Melbourne, and that this was recognisable for the reader?

You have created a really detailed new world for your story, including societal structure, religion, mythology, as well as the physical setting. As a reader your world felt really complete. How do you keep track of the world you’ve created, and what is possible in it?

One of my writing teachers first introduced me to the metaphor of an iceberg when it came to writing a novel. The finished book is just the tip, but the larger monstrosity made up of tens of thousands of words is hidden beneath the surface. This includes the backstory of the characters and the rules governing the fictional universe that the readers will never get to see. I spent a lot of time planning out the rules and ironing out any inconsistencies and contradictions that I could think of in a sibling document, a compendium of sorts. I never believed my teacher when she first told me about the iceberg, but it’s definitely true for my work.

Far out, that’s a tough one! I really respect and admire people who can master any craft of the hand, whether it’s painting or sculpture or playing an instrument. But for me, I think the dream would be learning how to sing. I mean, I sing all the time and I feel sorry for the people exposed to my horrible sound-vomit, but if I could do it professionally it’d be so awesome. Professional singers have a gift of expressing and sharing human emotion that conjures instantaneous goosebumps. I also think it’s the most effective and direct way to communicate and release the pain or bliss you’re building up inside, and this idea inspired the powerful hilltop scene in my first book.

Did you set out to tell this story for a young adult audience, and if so was there a reason you wanted to write for that age group?

I’ve always been drawn to YA novels, partly because of their pacing and nostalgia but also because of the genius behind how they capture timely issues using fantasy worlds as metaphors. Not in a preachy way, because younger readers can see that a mile away, but as an effective means to engage younger readers and get them thinking about bigger philosophical issues.