Show Notes

LIFESTYLES OF GODS AND MONSTERS

Emily Roberson’s Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters is a Kardashian-inspired retelling of the Minotaur and the Labyrinth. Set in a modern-day version of Crete, this story follows Ariadne, a reluctant royal with a life-or-death role in her family.
When a foreign prince arrives to compete in the yearly Labyrinth Competition, her world is turned upside down. He challenges everything she’s held to be true and forces her to choose between the fate she thought was sealed and a freedom that will only come with a heartbreaking sacrifice.

TALKING WITH EMILY ROBERSON

During this episode, Emily joins me to share the genesis of her story, as well as the intricacies of fleshing out a character who has been around for thousands of years. From her fascination with those celebrities who are “famous for being famous” and her love of pop culture to her process of choosing what to include from the original myth, our conversation covers it all.

ISSUES IN LIFESTYLES OF GODS AND MONSTERS

Here are some of the issues that come up in the book that are great to talk about with your teen:

Social Media:

What is the difference between choosing what you put out there vs. others choosing it for you? What is exploitation?

Parent-Teen Relationships

How do parents’ (and other adults’) decisions affect teens? When is a parent’s request manipulative? When is it not? How are “roles” assigned in families?

Sibling Relationships

How do parents’ expectations affect sibling relationships? What roles do you see different siblings playing in their families? What happens when siblings step outside those roles?

Betrayal

What does betrayal look like? Why does it hurt so much? How do you overcome betrayal?

Dating Relationships

When is it okay to choose a significant other over your family? What does it look like when someone really sees you?

Choices

What do you base your choices on? Does “fate” or “luck” take away your decisions or do you have control over what you choose?

Freedom

What does it mean to be free? When have you seen a “cage with bars made of gold?; When have you experienced one?