BOTANICA by Fred Yager and Jeff Yager Interview

 

BOTANICA: A Novel

What would happen if we could communicate with the secret world of plants?

In this new ecological/environmental thriller BOTANICA (Hannacroix Books), the world is on the brink of another mass extinction event, and no one seems to be aware of it. That is, until Jason Woods, a Biogenetics engineer, discovers he can communicate with the plant world following a freak accident in a laboratory, where so-called super-plants are created by combining their DNA. 

Jason is now able to communicate with the world of plants -- and that world is angry. The world is about to experience an event that's even worse than what killed the dinosaurs because this time, every living creature that depends on being able to breathe to survive is at risk. So the world of plants, under the leadership of the earth’s oldest and wisest of life forms, the Sequoia redwood tree, has decided to do something about it and is asking Jason to help spread the word. 

What Jason isn’t aware of is that some of the plants have decided to deal with the threat by eliminating those it deems most responsible for putting the world in harm's way.

 After reading BOTANICA, you will never look at plants the same way again.   

About the Authors:

Father and son, Fred Yager and Jeff Yager, are well-regarded published authors with numerous novels to their credit. Fred Yager, who worked at the Associated Press, CBS News and Fox Television, following a stint as a Vietnam War Correspondent for the U.S. Navy, has published thrillers, sci-fi, and historical novels Jeff Yager is the author of the YA novel, ATOM & EVE, consequences, as well as I LIKE GOD, with Skye Bynes, SEVEN DAYS IN VIRTUAL REALITY, and the forthcoming STUNT DOUBLE and A GHOSTLY TWIST (YA)

Interview:

1.What literary pilgrimages have you gone on? 

The Hunter S Thompson catalog. My son Bradley and I visited Stephen King's home in Maine a few years ago.

2. What is the first book that made you cry? 

Rex by Fred Yager, my father. I was still in middle school.

3. Does writing energize or exhaust you? 

It energizes me.

4. What is your writing Kryptonite? 

Anything about aliens and UFOs, ghosts, and virtual reality.

5. Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? 

No.

6. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? 

Hanna Harp, she has inspired me to get on different writing platforms going into the new year, I will be launching a Substack and Threads page.

 7. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? 

I want each book to stand on its own. However, I may write a sequel to one, one day. You never know.

8. What authors did you dislike at first but grew into? George Orwell. I even went to see the play, "1984" on Broadway several years ago with my mother and really enjoyed it

9. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? 

Holes

10. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? 

Grey Alien

11. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? 

Around 6

12. What did you edit out of this book (Botanica)? 

Our publisher mostly tweaked a few things and moved some parts around. An earlier section got shifted but not taken out. There were several drafts, but we did not delete much.

13. If you didn’t write, what would you do for work? 

I also wrestle professionally and make music.

14. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? 

I’ve been told that reading my books helps readers to see characters and situations in new ways.

15. What is your favorite childhood book? 

The classic Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown