Aaron Blabey is best known for his series The Bad Guys. The first book in his new series, Game of Pets, came out on September 29. TFK Kid Reporter Shaiyar Dhillon spoke with the author.
1. What are the book’s themes?
The book is about a kid who gets a pet axolotl. The axolotl can talk. The kid doesn’t much like what the axolotl has to say. It tells him that pets are not what they seem. They’re actually part of an intergalactic intergalactic relating to outer space; between galaxies (adjective) game show. They’re talking to all of us without our knowing and getting us to make terrible ecological ecological relating to the environment or ecosystems (adjective) choices to destroy our planet. So there’s an environmental message in the middle of a chaotic action-adventure story.
2. What made you want to write about pets?
I had a series called Pig the Pug for little kids. I like that he looks cute but is diabolical. We all love our pets, obviously. I thought it would be fun to give them something sneaky that they’ve been up to the whole time.
3. How did you think up the idea of pets that spy?
I’m not sure. My brain does things I don’t fully understand. It’s like Lego pieces that don’t belong together, but if you click them together in a certain way, they make sense. Ideas are like that for me. I was thinking about pets. I was thinking about the environment. Somewhere from my brain came “intergalactic TV game show.”
4. You use humor. Why does it work for kids?
I have a sign in my studio that says “Don’t be boring.” That’s important when you’re writing for kids. Keep it as entertaining as possible, even if it has a big message about something serious, like saving the planet. That makes it fun to read.
5. Is there a character based on your cat, Maude?
Maude inspired her own series, Cat on the Run. We also have a little puppy now, Dorothy. She’s a ball of fluff with tiny legs. She hasn’t appeared [in a book] yet. She might at some point in the future.
6. Will there be more Bad Guys books?
No, all done. I knew how it was going to finish, years ago. So I was just leading my way there.
7. Did you voice someone in the Bad Guys movies?
No, no. I was happy for good actors to do that.
8. What will you be working on next?
There will be more Game of Pets. And I have another middle-grade series that I’m looking forward to, called the Awfuls. It’s really gross.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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