What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Son of Osivirius?
It was one of those serendipity moments. I was struggling to come up with an idea for a scene-writing exercise where the prompt was “three characters, all with different goals.” I was getting super frustrated, beginning and discarding idea after idea. Imagine a “rip the paper out of the typewriter, scrunch it into a ball, then toss it into the pile littering the floor” scenario.
I’d actually given up for the day and was cooking dinner when I suddenly remembered a short story idea I’d jotted down months before: “A helicopter pilot in a WWIII scenario crash-lands near a valley belonging to some people who are a bit like the Amish and refuse to be a part of the war effort, but the government is trying to force them into it. They look after him, and when the government eventually comes to their valley, he has to decide what to do.”
Suddenly, neurons were firing in all directions. I combined that premise with the vibes of Avatar, and boom—I had my scene mapped out. Not only my scene, but almost the entire book. I wanted to use it to explore fear responses and the scarcity mindset, and what an abundance mindset might look like in practice.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
Fantasy and science fiction, followed closely by historical fiction (which I could never write).
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
Song of the Mysteries by Janny Wurts; Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson; The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin; The Last Wayfinder by Ellen McGinty; Eventide by A.M. Daylin—plus many, many more.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
Hard to pick, but maybe the philosophical battle at the end, or perhaps the final scene.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Not really, but I must work in silence.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
I’m trying to live by: “Just take the next step.”
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
Nature is an amazing teacher. We mustn’t lose our connection with it. We have removed ourselves so far from the source of our life, and we’re worse off for it. If we are to dig ourselves out of this mess we’ve made for ourselves and consented to, we must connect with what it means to be truly human.
Cathryn deVries is the author of the new book Son of Osivirius
Connect with Cathryn deVries
Author Site
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