Nick Green 2009 on Cat Kin and The Cat's Paw

I thoroughly enjoyed Nick Green's two books Cat Kin and The Cat's Paw   and wanted to know the background to his writing the stories - here are his answers.

VW: What was your inspiration for Cat Kin?

NG: I read somewhere that cats rarely lose their natural agility, even when kept indoors, because (so the theory goes) all the stretching they do keeps them in shape. That sounded a bit like yoga - which my wife is very into. So it wasn't long before I started putting the two ideas together.

VW: How much did Egyptian mythology influence you?

NG: I wondered who might have invented a martial art like pashki. I settled on the Egyptians as they revered the cat. I occasionally refer to Egyptian mythology throughout... the gods Anubis and Set are occasionally used when the pashki teachers feel moved to swear and curse!

VW: What does 'Pashki' mean?

NG: ‘Pashki' comes from ‘Pasht' (an alternate name for Bast, the cat goddess) and ‘ki', a word used in many cultures to mean spirit, life-force etc. So ‘pashki' means something like ‘cat spirit' or maybe ‘cat power' (not to be confused with the pop singer of the same name!).

VW: You have several cats how much did you observe them before writing your books?

NG: When I started writing The Cat Kin, I actually had no cat, though I had owned cats as a child. While writing the first book I got my cat Red from Battersea, because he reminded me of Rufus from the story. So you might say it worked the other way round. (Nick is holding Red in the above author picture)

VW: Did you research yoga and the martial arts for some of your Pashki moves?

NG: Books on yoga and various martial arts certainly gave me some ideas. Also I learn fencing, and that helped in terms of capturing the general atmosphere of that kind of class.

VW: Were any of the characters based on yourself?

NG: The answer to this question is always, I think, ‘All of them and none of them!' You work your own experiences into the story, but you let them develop and grow in new directions.

VW: Did you base Felicity Powell and Geoff White on people you knew or in thepublic eye?

NG: Again, not really. I suppose there is something of the archetypal teacher about both of them - they are two different kinds of teacher. Mrs Powell is more strict and prescriptive, while Geoff is the pally kind of teacher who would probably let you mess around a bit more.

VW: Will there be a third sequel because nothing is ever quite as it seems inyour books?

NG: I do have some ideas sketched out, but it all depends on whether a publisher commissions it. I know readers are keen to have it but I've found that publishers take a lot of convincing. Still, both were conceived as whole stories, so there isn't an annoying ‘To Be Continued' to worry about.

VW: Who have been you favourite authors to relax with?

NG: I'm currently finishing off the ‘Troll Fell' trilogy by Katherine Langrish, but I wouldn't necessarily say it's relaxing. It's far too exciting for that! And the descriptions of the landscapes and fictional places are some of the best I've ever read.

VW - I guess that would put The Lord of the Rings Trilogy in there as well.

NG: Yes, that is one of my all-time favourites.

VW: Who have been your influences in writing?

NG: Every book I've ever enjoyed, really. I try to learn something from them all.

VW: Will you take the Cat Kin into adulthood with new adventures?

NG: It did occur to me that Tiffany, as an adult, might end up teaching a new class of children, like Mrs Powell, but it's nothing more than a thought at the moment. An idea for a TV spin-off, perhaps?!

VW - Do you have any idea as to who could play the role of Tiffany - I hope you'll have Ben lurking in there somewhere!

NG: A leap too far for my imagination, I think. Though if The Cat Kin were ever filmed, I had idly wondered about Helen Mirren for Mrs Powell. As one does!

VW: Some authors write to music - do you and if so what kind?

NG: I don't write as I listen, but quite often music will suggest a mood for an episode in the story. A song actually features in ‘Cat's Paw', playing briefly on Mrs Powell's radio: ‘I'll Find My Way Home' by Jon and Vangelis. It suited the theme of the story, and is lovely!

VW - what kind of music and do you play a musical instrument?

NG: I used to play the oboe quite well, but have grown lazy. I listen to all sorts, from classical and baroque to some really heavy stuff.

VW: Writing can be a very visual thing to do have any films influenced youhere?

NG: There's probably a bit of The Matrix in there somewhere, isn't there?! I live in hope that the Wachowski brothers may call at any moment.

VW -Did the Lord of the Rings trilogy influence you as well?

NG: Legolas does that whole cat-like agility thing, doesn't he? That was definitely the sort of thing I was aiming for.

VW: What is your favourite way to relax?

NG: Horse riding; which sadly I only get to do once every few years (which explains why I'm so tense).

VW - Not too many falls then!!

NG: Well, I always fall on my feet!

VW: How do you get out of a writers block?

NG: A ‘block' for me usually means that something in the story isn't ringing true emotionally. When plot starts to take over too much. A trick that sometimes works is buying a new music album, to see if that gets the emotions flowing again. I'm very into music.

VW: Being dropped by your publisher especially when you were shortlisted fora prize must have been a shock - how did you cope and how long did it takeyou to find a new publisher.

NG: I dealt with that by starting a new book unrelated to the Cat Kin. It was hard, but I've finished that book now and I think it may be even better, so in some ways being dropped at that time was a good thing. As for finding a new publisher, I'm currently submitting the new book ‘The Storm Bottle' to various editors, so I hope I'll get some good news soon.

VW:What of the future - are you writing any books at the moment?

NG: See above! ‘The Storm Bottle', which is about dolphins, is effectively finished and looking for a good home. And I have another idea in development which looks promising. It touches on the idea of ley lines and may turn out to be another action adventure.

VW - I like the idea of ley lines as well that could take you back to ancient England and the Druids?! Will it be for adults or children?

NG: It's too early to tell, really. I can't really say too much as I don't know much more myself! But it will be for the same age group as my other books.