Title: Hidebound
Author: A. Oliver Noel
Publisher: Author Solutions Inc
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: February 2, 2021
ISBN: 9781665510646
Genre and/or keywords: YA, LGBTQIA+, Steampunk
Synopsis
Artem has always kept her head down and tried her best to stay out of trouble. Between juggling her younger brother and long hours as a burgeoning mechanic, she’s managed to get by under the radar. But when she loses her job after saving a mysterious young woman from arrest, she is launched into a world of danger and lies, aiding a group of rebels in a movement against the king. While navigating her complicated feelings for her new position and new allies, especially the beautiful spy Hiero, Artem is unwittingly drawn into deeper and deeper danger. There’s a volatile new faction and time is running out. How can you keep your family safe when you don’t even know who to trust?
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About the Author
A. Oliver Noel has always loved the art of storytelling, with a deep fascination with complex characters and realistic dialogue. A graduate with a degree in Creative Writing, he has written plays and been published for non-fiction pieces covering his journey as a transgender man finding his voice. He has a passion for fantasy and science fiction, but takes issue with the lack of LGBT adventures. A. Oliver Noel has set out on a personal mission to create tales about LGBT folks for LGBT folks by someone in the community. His interest has always been to lend a voice to those whose representation is often overlooked in fictional settings.
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Interview
What inspired you to write this story?
There were a few things I had in mind before I started this project. Artem was a sketch created in high school that I grew incredibly attached to, especially as I began constructing her personality and original backstory. She was unlike any other character I created, full of anxieties and insecurities that initially reflected my own. The more I wanted to build a world for this character, really mold her surroundings to match her personality, the more it occurred to me that very rarely do protagonists resemble Artem.
There’s a trope to most protagonists, right? Hero discovers unknown super power or strength, hero is fearless leader, hero is obviously the main character in their world, their life. But what about the characters who live in the background?
Artem felt realistic to me, and I wanted a story where the hero really wasn’t a hero, at least not in the traditional sense. She doesn’t want to be involved in any revolutions; she’s worrying about surviving her day-to-day life, and her reactions feel genuine. Artem is not without her faults, and her strengths are often understated. There’s a part of her that feels human, not superhuman, and it’s refreshing to have a story from this point of view.
I also knew right off the bat I wanted something with LGBT+ themes without that taking over the main story. As a trans man, I found myself frustrated at the lack of literature geared towards a fantasy or science fiction perspective that doesn’t punish the characters in some way for being queer? Why are there so many cases of “tragic lesbians”? Why is it every story about being trans is about perseverance or struggle and not about their accomplishments and passions?
I’ve noticed many other readers feel the same way. It’s about time we write about the non-binary knight battling dragons, or the aromantic superhero, or just a character going through a revolution who happens to be a lesbian.
Is there a character you feel especially connected to? Why?
I tend to put a bit of myself into each character I have. Not in a self-projecting way, but there’s always that one trait that helps me connect with a certain character. They all start out a broad hunk of clay, and I sculpt away and smooth out all the finer details.
I have personality traits and mental health struggles in common with Artem, I can see my charismatic side in Hiero, and even Esper has some tendencies I self reflected on or saw in my own siblings. Though I don’t show a lot of this particular character, I connect most with Arek, the brooding scarf-clad man who appears now and again throughout the book. There’s more I plan to do with him in future books, but he tends to keep to himself and observe his surroundings carefully before acting. Though reserved for the most part, he is very passionate about his beliefs and hides a tempest of a temper deep down.
As far as most connected, though, I have to say that of course, it’s Artem, the main character. I wrote from a first person perspective. so I had to really get inside her head, and figure out why she would make one choice over the other and what sorts of situations would push her far out of her comfort zone. I’ve had to put some space between me and Artem for my sanity’s sake, because whenever I do work on similar projects, I find myself incredibly anxious over things that normally wouldn’t stress me out as much.
Honestly, Artem is just an ordinary person, and that’s what makes her easy to connect to. I’ve been told by those close to me who have read the book that they really felt like they were traveling with Artem through the journey I’ve created for her. I’m glad other people can feel close to her like I do.
What was the hardest part of writing this?
Definitely writing some of the tougher emotional spots. That, and setting. Oh, my editor could go on for hours about how they kept sitting me down to add more descriptions in places or setting up the scene to be more than talking heads.
In all seriousness, I actually hate anything that’s too action-focused. I grew up with a lot of theatre, and my main focus and strength is character and dialogue. I pride myself on those two things, but no worries, my editor still keeps me humble. But writing the more gruesome scenes in the book, particularly chapters 6 and 10, were hard for me, along with how to end the first novel.
Grief is a tough subject. I don’t dwell much on it but I don’t like to make light of it either. I don’t want people to think that her story and background contain tragedy just because she’s LGBT+, because that certainly isn’t my intention. She’s a poor minority in a world that certainly isn’t kind to the downtrodden. I want her to grow as a character into something bigger and better that I know she can be. She’ll get her happy ending; it’ll just take some wear and tear to get her there.
Tell us a little about any upcoming projects.
After I finished Hidebound, and I mean completely finished, no more editing, take-a-moment-to-breathe type finished, I set about finishing workshopping a musical I recently finished and pitched to a theatre company in Chicago. That piece is also LGBT+, as all my future work will be in some regard.
I am planning another two books to follow Hidebound, as well as an eventual prequel following the start of the rebellion up to the turning point of the revolution. Aside from that, I’m currently workshopping some ideas for future novels, while balancing my MFA in Creative Writing. I will actually be starting from scratch and tackling the second book during this program while continuing to search for a literary agent.
Among ideas I’ve thrown around are a pirate adventure, and definitely something dark and superhero-esque, in the same vein as Watchmen.
Word Sprints!
Plotter or pantser?
Plotter, but I lose my notes every three months.
Cats or dogs?
How could you make me choose? Dog, I guess.
Musical theater or rock concert?
I just want to see an indie band play live right now.
What was the last thing you read?
The Rise of Kyoshi by F. C. Yee
What’s a charity/cause you support?
Trans Youth Equality Foundation
