Ninja Squirrels
We’ve probably all seen those wonderful YouTube videos crafted by engineer Mark Rober where he mercilessly puts a host of squirrels through an obstacle course. If you haven’t seen it, check it out below. Don’t worry. Go watch. We’ll wait.
Hilarious, isn’t?
And frankly impressive. Having lived with squirrels in the Sierra Nevada mountains, I was well acquainted with their antics, but this video really shines a light on their dexterity, smarts, and resilience.
I often find animals, our fellow earthlings, inspirational–including critters from the Rodentia family. Who hasn’t been moved to tears by Watership Down‘s rabbits? Richard Adams adventure novel explores the struggles of four rabbits and their warren when they must seek a new home. It is a heart breaking story, but triumphant as well. I can honestly say it is one of my favorite reads of all times.
My own stories often involve people others might interpret as animals, so I’m naturally drawn to stories that feature anthropomorphize animal characters. So, when I discovered a fantasy novel series that combined cute and capable squirrels with a similar story-telling depth of Watership Down?
Well, I gobbled up the stories and had to find out more from the author, PC Nottingham.
Welcome to another edition of…
Fantasy Author Confessions
But first, here’s a taste of the first in his latest series, Gnaverworld: Ghost and Iron—The Ghost in the Trees.
Risu is Ghost-trained in the art of stealth and sabotage. After her village is attacked, Risu sneaks away to the big city to deliver a message to their allies. But when she comes home, she finds her village aflame and her family disappeared. Her adopted brother and sword-wielding rival agree to help her find her family at the evil emperor’s citadel in the capital. The fastest route is through the dark Sea of Trees, where they have to navigate wild animals and roaming bandits.
The Ghost in the Trees is a heart-felt epic journey across a small island that feels as big as the world. PC Nottingham immerses the reader in his Gnaverworld completely. The well-drawn characters will tug at your heart and make you laugh.
The main character, Risu, is a ninja-trained squirrel who takes up the family torch to keep her village safe from the island’s oppressors, but that’s really the last thing she wants. She’s on the hook because her twin brother died in the line of duty. As challenge after debacle assails the young squirrel, she must navigate her own short-comings to make unexpected alliances.
While this is a novel series aimed directly to middle grade readers, this fifty-five year old really enjoyed the stories. I highly recommend them for your kids and yourself!
I reached out to PC to find out more about Risu and her rodent entourage. Without further ado, here’s a snippet of our conversation:
Q. Many of your books feature spunky, opinionated gals. That’s definitely the case with Risu, one of your main characters in The Ghost in the Trees. Who (or what) inspired her?
Definitely the squirrel who broke into my basement! When I’m making a main character after I’ve figured out the general plot, my first thought is usually “who is the worst-equipped person to solve this problem?” My follow up thought was that a kid who hated the role and was pressured into it by her family would make for a relatable character. I also liked the idea of inverting the “Chosen One” trope by having her be the surviving twin of a failed Chosen One. All that equaled a kid whose experiences made her sarcastic with a chip on her shoulder.
Q. You books often delve into political, religious, and moral issues. Do you ever worry that will put off readers?
If it does, then they’re not my target audience. Books and the practice of reading are political. Fiction is a safe place to explore solutions to real world problems.
Q. Can you tell us a little bit more about your world-building? I understand the inspiration for the use of the squirrel as the main character, but just about all your other characters are some sort of rodent. Do you find yourself drawn to specific rodents or are they all inspiration for your stories?
For this first series in the Gnaverworld universe, I started with Risu and built out from her. I wanted to make her stand out more, so she and her family are some of the only flying squirrels we see. Her rival, Itansha, is a ground squirrel, to give him both one degree of separation from her and a clear similarity. I then went to the evil emperor, who is the only beaver (you’ll discover why in the story!). From there, I wanted as many different types of rodents on the island as possible to make the island’s society feel deeper. When it came time to develop the other islands’ cultures, I gave them all a theme to fit together better. The rodents from Llygoden all live in Wales, and the rodents of Mausfjord could all be found in a pet store. I’ve got at least two more series in the Gnaverworld universe in the works, and the rodent species will stick to geographic themes.
Q. Very cool! So, what are you working on now? What’s next?
The next series to come out in my Gnaverworld universe will be called Grove Guardians, in which two brothers are caught in the middle as two religions collide in a holy war.
(And if adult space opera is your jam, check out the Earthquake War series!)
Great! I can’t wait for the next series that I’m sure will be just as rich as Ghost and Iron. Don’t miss it–The Ghost in the Trees is available for the low price of $4.99 (current). It’s an adventurous tale of intrigue you can share with the entire family. Enjoy!
Until next time, happy (indie) reading.
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