Please welcome three of the authors of the newly released "CORVIDAE" anthology! Mike Allen, Michael M. Rader, and Megan Engelhardt are answering a few questions to celebrate their new release.
Author
Name: Michael M. Rader
Website
Address: www.michaelmrader.com
Social
Media Links:
Twitter: @michaelmrader
What
is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?
I
read a lot about animal behavior, and I’m particularly interested in animals
that use tools and exhibit higher intelligence like mirror self-recognition.
Naturally, most of these animals are great apes, but there are two fascinating
outliers: cephalopods and corvidae. Cephalopods have giant brains, so that’s
maybe less surprising. However, the phrase “bird brain” exists for a reason.
Birds have physically small brains, and anyone who has spent a lot of time with
your average bird is not going to be terribly impressed with their
intelligence. Except for corvidae. Ravens can use tools, Eurasian Magpies can
recognize themselves in mirrors (the only non-mammal capable of doing that),
and crows can recognize faces and communicate descriptions. No other family of
bird can do that. They’re not just weirdos in the animal kingdom, they’re
weirdos in their own class. I guess I just have a soft spot for that.
Was
there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?
Definitely
the concept of the corvidae family’s higher intelligence, and also how some
members of their family (blue jays) aren’t quite as impressive.
I set out to tell a story about intelligence, how it differs from sense, and how just being in the right bird family (or academic setting) doesn’t make you intelligent, practical, sensical or sane. I believe the characters in my story, and the corvidae they study, really highlight that characteristic.
If
you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?
Memory
foam for comfort, pages from Discworld novels for entertainment and strips of
political manifestos just to be edgy.
What’s
your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?
Love?
No, that’s far too sappy. I’ll go with bits of broken glass instead.
Author
Name:
Mike Allen
Social
Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mythicdelirium
Facebook: https://twitter.com/mythicdelirium
Other: http://time-shark.livejournal.com/
Facebook: https://twitter.com/mythicdelirium
Other: http://time-shark.livejournal.com/
What is it about corvids that
inspired you to write about them?
In this case a little bird
approached me, heh, heh, and asked me to consider creating a corvid story that
didn't involve crows, ravens or magpies. I was intrigued with the idea of
writing about a bluejay, because I have a thing for blue, and the more I read
about these birds, the more inspiration I found. I had already written two
short stories ("The Hiker's Tale," "Follow the Wounded
One," published) and a whole novel (unpublished) that take place in a
world where certain special people have spirit animal forms possessed of
immense power. I didn't start out intending to set "The Cruelest Team Will
Win" in that universe, but the elements just snapped into place unbidden.
Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?
Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?
In the case of the bluejay, the
ability the bird has to smash open acorns with a single peck of its beak.
If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?
The scalps of my enemies.
What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?
What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?
For me, there's nothing shinier
than a wickedly good story.
Author Name: Megan
Engelhardt
Social Media Links:
Twitter:
@MadMerryMeg
What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?
They're so smart -- almost
creepily so.
Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than
others?
That intelligence, and their
adaptability, as well. Corvids are birds that get the job done, whatever the
job happens to be.
If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?
Judging from my kitchen junk
drawer, my nest would be built of bits of ribbon, slips of paper inscribed with
things that I'm supposed to remember, Sharpie pens and small toys I've taken
away from my children.
Happy Reading!
~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~
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