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Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Shelby Van Pelt lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her family. Remarkably Bright Creatures is her first novel.
Shelby Van Pelt's website
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Tell me about writing from the perspective of an octopus. Easy aspects? Challenges? Takeaways?
Writing Marcellus was so much fun. His voice came naturally to me. I'm not sure what that says about me, but it was as if I had this cranky little fellow living on my shoulder, and I loved it!
Consistency and logistics were a challenge, though. Marcellus is obviously fictional, but I wanted him to feel real. The things he was doing needed to be within the realm of possibility, even if a stretch. I think that's one of the things that makes Marcellus so entertaining. Like, an octopus could never do that…or could they?
What was your inspiration behind your various characters' personalities and their relationships?
Well, I steal character quirks from real life and real people, like most authors. And it's boring to read about perfect people, so my characters are always a bit messy. From the scratch-and-dent section. Solid frame, but in need of repairs.
Tova, my primary human character, is loosely based on my late grandmother. Like Tova, she was this tiny little Swedish lady who was tough but also incredibly kind and loving, and she had this stoic shell around her. Always stayed busy. Rarely let her emotions peek through, even after my ...
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