The Scorching: Just Press Play follows a sea cop whose job is to guard a deep-sea mining operation alongside his octopus unit who uncover a plot to seal radiation-rich minerals for the seabed. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The original concept came from wanting to write about a very possible near future in terms of the ‘The Scorching’ and the environmental situation we have been developing. Once I had the world in my head, I then needed to ensure there was an engaging story to be told. If everything is doom and gloom, who would want to read it? Therefore, I knew from the off I wanted a buddy cop style of partnership. One where humour plays a huge part in the development of reader engagement. I also liked the idea of benevolent aliens trying to help.

However, I always love a twist, so the story requires the first person POV to enable the gradual reveal of what’s happening rather than throwing everything at the reader at once. Therefore, the vehicle of a vlogger’s narration fits nicely and enables the breaking of the fourth wall as they provides insight and interlude (and humour).

With the humans and Drathken working together, there is bound to be a big learning curve between species. What was your approach to writing the interactions between characters?

I needed the Drathken to be distant and use human intermediaries. Their enigmatic role enables the paranoia of the human terrorists to breed in the vacuum of disinformation we humans like to construct. Therefore, focusing on the major relationship between Nkosi and his octopus Marc, as his partner, provides a humorous dialogue, while Nkosi’s difficult relationship with the Drathken Police intermediaries and the terrorists enables the thriller and mystery element to unravel. The reader has a role too, as the ‘viewer’ and goes through their own relationship with Nkosi and, to a degree, Marc as they flashback or provide interludes.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

Firstly, that Nkosi is a person in development – that we are all putting on a façade to some degree, some more than others. For many, they are coping strategies that get us through our days. His journey, especially his relationship with a modded Marc, is vital to show we are complex beings with many layers to our beliefs.

In addition, it was vital to explore degrees of intelligence. Though Marc is a genetically enhanced common octopus, her view of what is beautiful and lost is there for the reader to experience and is trying to emphasise that we are custodians of this planet with a duty towards all life.

Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?

I am aiming for three books that are based in the same world. The second is written and explores the human colonists mentioned in Book 1 and their journey to the stars. It is a mystery thriller at heart and has two plantships with one main character on each who discovers more about the Drathken, the plantships, and the actions of those aboard the ship in bringing about The Scorching. Both protagonists will have dilemmas, and only half the information. This means the reader will be the only one who knows the full story by the end of the book.

The third will be a return for Nkosi, though that’s all you’re getting!

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