October 6, 2015
Do you spend a lot of time with certain people or animals --- maybe your best friend, your younger brother or your pet rats? Well, if you’re anything like Devon Hughes, those companions might affect your future novel --- Devon spent so much time with her dog and Tabby cat that she started to think like them, and before she knew it, she was writing a book about a team of mutant animals!
Below, Devon tells us all about the protagonists of her new series Unnaturals, which begins when a stray dog, Castor, is kidnapped, injected with a serum that makes him grow wings and is forced to fight other “Unnaturals” in a ring --- as well as the most fun scene to write, some hints about the next book in the series and her own favorite creatures. Read the full interview, below, and be sure to crack open the first book, today!
Kidsreads.com: What inspired you to create UNNATURALS?
Devon Hughes: I like to know what’s happening in the world, but the news can be overwhelming --- so many disasters, so many people struggling. I’ve always been attracted to superhero stories for their idealistic insistence that there’s someone out there who can fix things. However, the one thing I always found unrealistic (nope, not the mind reading, or the ability to fly or the spandex) is that they do it alone. You need your friends! I always loved The X-Men for its focus on collaboration, and the fact that my animals are mutants is definitely a tribute. Beyond that, I wanted to write something weird and fun and different from anything I’d done before.
KRC: The protagonist of UNNATURALS is a dog, and there are many different types of animals throughout the book. Why did you decide to write a book with animal characters rather than human ones?
DH:As a writer, I spend a lot of time at home on my computer, which means I spend a lot of time with my pets. When you’re only interacting with a hyper puppy and a cranky old Tabby cat for hours on end, you start to think like them. I already knew what Castor and Enza sounded like before I sat down to write the first page, and it was exciting to see what adventures those voices could lead me to.
KRC: Your characters have some interesting names, like Castor, Samken and Enza. How did you come up with them?
DH:I have no idea! Sometimes when I write for long periods, the inside of my head feels like word soup, with vowels and consonants all mixed together. Once I had some cool-sounding names, it was easier to imagine the personalities that might go along with them.
KRC: What is your favorite scene from UNNATURALS?
DH:That’s a tough call. As a writer, Pookie’s scenes were my favorites. He’s a big personality in a small body, and I loved spending time with him as he jumps and flips and banters with Castor. But as a reader, I’m drawn to the thrill of the fight scenes --- especially Castor’s first match in the Dome, when he has no idea what to expect and we really fear for him.
KRC: You highlight violence and pain in certain scenes in UNNATURALS. Why did you feel it was important to emphasize the bloodier aspects of the story?
DH:Animal abuse is an issue that I care deeply about, and while this book is meant to be an exciting ride, I didn’t want to completely ignore the darkness at the heart of a story about mistreating animals.
KRC: In UNNATURALS, you write from a number of different characters’ perspectives. Do you often write from multiple perspectives? What unique challenges and freedoms does it present?
DH:This is the first time I’ve written from so many different perspectives and I loved it. It was definitely a challenge to make each voice distinct, but it also helped me to get inside the characters’ heads and understand their different motivations.
KRC: UNNATURALS imagines a future in which animals are genetically combined and modified. Were you inspired by any real life science news or developments?
DH:Actually, I found out that scientists are currently trying to bring back extinct animals, either by working with ancient DNA from frozen species --- like the wooly mammoth --- or by using a living animal to help sequence the genome of a closely related extinct one --- such as the passenger pigeon. This is wonderful and exciting research that could help us reintroduce great species that we’ve lost. But when you’re bringing something to life, I think you have to be cautious about its impact; UNNATURALS was an exercise in imagining a scenario without any caution whatsoever, where things can go very wrong.
KRC: One of the fundamental themes in UNNATURALS is Remember who you are, and you take away their power. Is this one of your personal mantras, too?
DH:Sure. I think it can be hard at times to ignore all of the static in the world telling you to change yourself or go along with what everyone else is doing. I’ve found I’m at my happiest when I’m blocking that stuff out and staying true to who I am.
KRC: If it didn’t harm them at all, what animals would you mix together to create a pet?
DH:I was a big fan of “Meerkat Manor” (Flower forever!) so I’ll say a meerkat and a sloth. The ultimate adorable snuggler pet.
KRC: Without giving too much away, what do you have planned for the future of the series?
DH:I am already working on a second book, and I can tell you that we’ll see the animals in some interesting new settings. We say goodbye to some familiar characters --- I won’t say too much about that --- and there’s a new heroine in the mix. She’s a little sheltered, but she’s really got bite, and I can’t wait for you to meet her.
