Fusing traditional Chickasaw stories into a modern fantasy and highlighting familiar tales, author G. M. DiDesidero beautifully blends old and new in her YA fantasy novel, Undrowned. Undrowned honors DiDesidero’s Chickasaw roots while carving out its own epic adventure and inviting readers to seek out source tales and discover the echoes throughout the novel. Author G. M. DiDesidero talks to Book Glow about the novel.

Undrowned fuses Chickasaw storytelling with modern YA fantasy. What first inspired you to bring these two traditions together?

Several traditional Chickasaw stories inspired Undrowned, but one stands apart—the story of the King of the Tie Snakes. While delivering a message to a neighboring village, the chief’s son impulsively tosses his father’s ceremonial vessel into a stream and instantly regrets it. He dives after it, only to be dragged into an underwater cavern where the floors and walls writhe with snakes. There, he meets the King of the Tie Snakes. Undrowned imagines why the King befriends the boy, and YA fantasy is the only story vehicle capable of carrying both tradition and imagination.

The novel opens with the legend of the Patrons and the cannys. How did you develop the mythology of Terra, and what role did Chickasaw and Choctaw stories play in shaping it?

I imagined Terra operating independently of the rest of the world and populated entirely by diverse Chickasaw clans and powerful beings, but I knew my characters needed objectives and limitations. For example, I decided to feature both the Horned Serpent and Thunderbird as Patrons because they’re seen as enemies, so I borrowed one of the Thunderbirds from Choctaw tradition, and she became the Patron of the Bird clan. I used similar story logic to retrofit balances and bridge story gaps with rules, beings, and clans of my own imagination. The legend of the Patrons is the unifying keystone I created that ties all the patrons, clans, and cannys together.

Jasper and Harissa come from rival clans yet are forced to work together. Why did you choose an “enemies-to-allies” dynamic at the heart of your story?

It was the story arc Jasper and Harissa needed. Once I knew their goals and weaknesses, the conflict was clear. Mistrustful and independent Harissa is most desperate for a friendship where she doesn’t have to lie to be accepted, and Jasper needs someone to challenge him to be the best version of himself. Really, it’s the story we all need.

Jasper struggles with ADHD, while Harissa battles manipulation and control. Why was it important for you to explore real-world challenges within a fantasy framework?

Because difficult truths are easier to digest when dipped in fantasy. I see my son’s challenges in Jasper, how never trying feels so much safer than trying and still failing. I also see the invisible power struggles my daughters face with adults and peers alike. This need for control is especially true of at-risk teens, who are operating without a safety net but must prove themselves to be mature and adaptable to keep from slipping over the edge.

Undrowned is being compared to Percy Jackson in its ability to blend adventure with mythology. What do you hope readers take away that makes your story distinct?

I hope Undrowned inspires teens to give others the benefit of the doubt. We each have inherited biases. Like the characters in my story, we have different objectives and strengths. A willingness to see the world from a different point of view is now more important than ever.

For readers who are new to Chickasaw or Choctaw mythology, what stories or themes do you most hope they’ll be curious to explore after finishing your novel?

I hope they’ll discover The King of the Tie Snakes and stories of Sint Holo—the Horned Serpent—as well as the Chickasaw clan stories, especially the Wildcat, Red Fox, and Bird clans. In Choctaw tradition, I hope readers will discover stories of Nalusa Chito—the Soul Eater—and the shilombish—outside shadow—which can separate and wander from the shilup—inside shadow.

In blending heritage-based storytelling with YA fantasy, how do you balance honoring tradition while also creating something entirely new?

I was intentional, always conscious of the conversion point where tradition ended, and my imagination began. Having fellow tribal members at Chickasaw Press challenge my story was vital to the editorial process. Without that testing, I don’t think I’d have the same confidence to share Undrowned with the world.

This is your debut novel, but you have a background in science writing and education. How did those experiences influence your approach to fiction?

I appreciate science’s impartiality. I love that regardless of your political affiliations, oppositely charged particles will attract. There’s comfort in that consistency and whimsy in imagining that the rules can be broken.

Working with students has also given me a window into the mind of readers. If you want to engage students, you need to create a dialogue where they see themselves as the main character in the story of algebra. Or history. Otherwise, learning is irrelevant.

You’re vice president of the Brevard Authors Society. How has building community with other writers helped you on your publishing journey?

Writing is isolating, and writing inside a bubble is a fast way to drain the inspiration well. Sharing grievances and resources, inspiration and accomplishments with other writers gives me a much-needed sounding board. Plus, it’s exquisitely gratifying to have a space to geek out over a plot twist.

What was the most surprising or rewarding part of writing Undrowned?

The scene where Jasper finally meets the Horned Serpent and his bravado fails him is foreshadowed from the beginning. It’s my favorite scene. I had Jasper’s quirks down by the time I wrote it and knew his reaction to the snakes would be atypical since goofball humor is his shield. I love seeing a main character finally step into their arc.

How do you hope Undrowned resonates with both Chickasaw readers and YA fantasy fans at large?

Undrowned is not the be-all and end-all of Chickasaw storytelling. I hope Chickasaw readers find themselves in the story, but I also hope they will recognize that my version is one interpretation among many.

It’s also my hope that YA fantasy fans see how vibrant and diverse the clans of Chickasaw Nation are. Indigenous peoples are not one-dimensional museum relics. We’re thriving, dynamic movers within our communities. Our stories are still being told, and Undrowned is my contribution to that tradition.

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