How Felix got here

 ‘Felix Unbound’ stemmed from a joke about a handsome tabby kitten I’d brought to London from rural Derbyshire, long ago, and who grew up with real ‘attitude’. When a friend said what a vexing human being he would be, I wondered what might happen if that personality were cat-apulted into the midst of a group of 21st century bright young professionals, and their elders – and decided to find out.  

When I drafted my first ideas, my characters were actually still late 20^th century bright young things  but the busy, and sometimes dramatic, demands of real life, career, family, kept moving forwards – as did the book’s cast, benefitting from bouts of feedback, and rewriting…and then came the pandemic.  

Realising I’d be furious if Covid carried me off now, leaving Felix still ‘bound’ in the laptop, I spent the first lockdowns revising the novel one more time – and then uncaged Felix,  launching him on the indie publishing route.

Humans have long enjoyed myths and stories about animal-to-human transformation and vice-versa, each with its own twists.  Many other stories explore the catalysing effect on a particular set of people when a charismatic stranger turns up unexpectedly in their midst.  My ‘take’ on these two themes, blends throughout ‘Felix Unbound’, with art, alcohol, and ambition each playing their part too. It’s meant as a fun read, something for the beach or the fireside, with a gin (or similar) in your hand…. but with something else lurking in the mix. So, maybe a martini.   

How I approached the story

I needed as credible a way as possible to turn my cat into a man. When it comes to cats, and a dose of magic, ancient Egypt has millennia of form and still fascinates modern story tellers, be they writers or film-makers.

I had been there and seen its wonders. Now I visited artefacts in London museums and (when there anyway) in Europe,  and re-read many of Egypt’s myths, and chunks of The Book of the Dead.  I turned to Mau: the ancient Egyptian divine cat, present – according to the myths – at the dawn of creation.  Older than most of Ancient Egypt’s gods, he has the potential to help, hinder, and even pull rank over some of them at times. Plenty of room there for a bit of creative tension, and trouble afoot.

Felix’s human owner, Tiffany, must therefore be an Egyptian archaeologist’s descendant, inheritor of some of his statuettes and other unearthed finds. She must be a bit unreliable, temperamental – capable of throwing a tantrum that might irritate these ancient gods into (unwisely) actually turning her cat into a human being to make a point  – and mischievous enough to throw caution to the winds then, embracing the wild idea.

She could also begin to take note of family history, discover she has a degree of ‘agency’, develop a slightly greater sense of responsibility and even discover a conscience – of sorts.  No point in going too far.  I wanted to keep it light: a comedy of manners, with some shady moments.

Ancient Egyptian art and tomb paintings are famous too; perhaps my Felix could channel some remarkable artistic skills in our 21^st century that could provide him with a modern career.

There should be other threads and twists within the story’s weave, of course. As Felix unsettles those around him, Tiffany’s friends and family will experience – or choose – change.  Not all need become nicer people.  Some can gain a sinister edge. Time can leak at the edges. Felix, moving too fast, can trip up.

Like many myths and legends, and today’s superhero movies, the story explores the careless unleashing of a bringer of disruption and its warping effects – and the challenge, for those who realise that things are escalating, of how and whether this can be mediated…and by whom.

Felix has his own ideas, of course. As I said, just a fun read.  Have another martini; and enjoy.