Our author Q&As continue today with John Peel! Doctor Who fans will know Peel for his novelizations and many works in both spin-offs and charities, but he has no shortage of original works, too!
Altrix Books: What about the Unearthed concept made you want to pitch a story?
John Peel: When I was a teenager, I read about Howard Carter and the fabulous discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. I grew up in Nottingham, England, where Lord Carnarvan (who funded the dig) lived, so I felt a connection. I've loved archaeology ever since, so when "Unearthed" was announced, I simply couldn't resist.
Altrix: Tell us a little about your story.
Peel: Well, Resurrectionists were a tangible problem in the 18th and 19th Centuries. There was a medical need for cadavers for interns to study, and that created a market for fresh bodies - no questions asked. I wanted to examine how someone might justify to themselves providing the corpses - and, naturally, one possible consequence...
Altrix: What books, shows, or real life events inspired your work?
Peel: The stories of people like Burke and Hare - probably the most notorious grave-robbers ever.
Altrix: What was the most challenging part of creating your story?
Peel: Well, it's always the same challenge in any story, really - creating characters who believe in what they are doing, especially when they are doing what most of us would consider to be wrong or even evil. Very few people in this world do evil things for the sake of doing evil - most people have a way of justifying (at least to themselves) what they are doing. It's really about finding the correct motivation for your villains.
Altrix: Where else can our readers find your work?
Peel: Right now, I'm having a lot of fun with the steampunk-influenced adventures of Doctor Omega. And book 2 is all about a tomb and a buried body, so it's right in line with "Unearthed"!
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