Maryam Master has adapted three of David Walliams’ books for the stage – Mr Stink, Billionaire Boy and The Midnight Gang – as well as Oliver Jeffers’ The Incredible Book Eating Boy, all of which premiered at the Sydney Opera House and toured across Australia. She also collaborated with Australian Children’s Laureate Leigh Hobbs on Horrible Harriet: Live on Stage. She began her career in TV, writing for shows like Home and Away, Blinky Bill and the Jim Henson Company’s Bambaloo. In 2011 she was selected by Sesame Workshop as the writer for Elmo’s tour of Australia. Exit Through the Gift Shop is her first novel.
Today, Maryam Master is on the blog to answer a few of our questions about Exit Through the Gift Shop and Book Week (which starts next week!). Read on …
Maryam Master
Please tell us about your book, Exit Through the Gift Shop!
MM: It’s the story of a 12 year old girl, Ana, who has been diagnosed with cancer and is facing her mortality with strength, courage and humour. While she’s on the bumpy ride of the last year of her life, she navigates her way through what truly matters and the kind of legacy she wants to leave behind. Will she get revenge on the relentless bully Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson who has made her life hell for so many years? Or will she come full circle to forgiveness and reconciliation? And how much (or how little) does any of this mean in the bigger picture?
Where did the inspiration for this story come from?
MM: I’ve always been fascinated by the afterlife. Ever since I was a child. Not in a morbid, emo kind of way but with a deep sense of curiosity. What’s on the other side? Why are we even here? And why are most people afraid of death? It’s a subject that isn’t considered pleasant dinner conversation and certainly not one that children are encouraged to think about. But I believe that most kids, especially before they become cynical teens, have that curiosity also.
I wanted to open a window into the life of a child who is forced to contemplate life’s big questions. And balancing that with the humour and absurdity of some of the more ordinary aspects of life.
Your protagonist is Ana, a young girl with cancer and a big list of things she wants to do with her life. What is your absolute favourite thing about her?
MM: Her unflinching, sunny outlook on life.
How did you balance the heavier elements of the story with humour?
MM: I knew that the only way to approach such a big subject was through humour. Nobody wants to read a story that is all doom and gloom. Joy and laughter, in my view, is an absolutely necessary part of processing hardships.
‘I’ve always been fascinated by the afterlife. Ever since I was a child. Not in a morbid, emo kind of way but with a deep sense of curiosity. What’s on the other side? Why are we even here? And why are most people afraid of death?’
This year’s theme for Book Week is Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds. How does Ana’s journey in Exit Through the Gift Shop relate to this theme?
MM: Oh, it fits beautifully into that theme actually.
Old World – Life, as Ana used to know it, before the diagnosis.
New World – Ana adjusting to the enormity of living her remaining days with cancer.
Other Worlds – What’s on the other side? Of this ‘game we call life’?
What do you love about writing for younger readers?
MM: I love their willingness to go on any journey with you. They’re curious and open-hearted.
If you could dress up for Book Week, who would you be?
MM: Mr Stink!
What is the last book you read and loved?
MM: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. I love the protagonists (Elena and Lila) and the intensity and complicated nature of their friendship.
What do you hope readers will discover in Exit Through the Gift Shop?
MM: That no matter how dark things seem and what challenges we face in life, there’s always room for hope and laughter. I like to think of it as a life-affirming book about death.
And finally, what’s up next for you?
MM: Another middle-grade novel and a stage adaptation for another kids’ play. Hopefully theatres will reopen soon!
Thanks Maryam!
—Exit Through the Gift Shop by Maryam Master (Pan Macmillan Australia) is out now.
Exit Through the Gift Shop
Anahita Rosalind Ghorban-Galaszczuk (yes, that really is her name but you can call her Ana) is discovering that life is absurd. As if dying of cancer at the age of 12.5 isn't bad enough, she still has to endure daily insults from her nemesis, Alyssa (Queen Mean) Anderson.
Ana's on a wild roller-coaster of life and death, kindness and cruelty, ordinary and extraordinary.
And she's got a few things to do before she exits . . .
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Comments
March 1, 2023 at 8:57 am
this is such a great book i would love to see it turn into a TV show