We’re excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Andrew Fukuda, author of THE HUNT and THE PREY. Afterwards, enter to win a copy of THE PREY from St. Martin’s Press!
Born in Manhattan and raised in Hong Kong, Andrew Fukuda is half-Chinese, half-Japanese. After earning a bachelor’s degree in history from Cornell University, Fukuda worked in Manhattan’s Chinatown with the immigrant teen community. That experience led to the writing of Crossing, his debut novel that was selected by ALA Booklist as an Editor’s Choice, Top Ten First Novel, and Top Ten Crime Novel in 2010. His second novel, The Hunt, the first in a new series, was bought at auction by St. Martin’s Press and was published in May 2012. Before becoming a full time writer, Fukuda was a criminal prosecutor for seven years. He currently resides on Long Island, New York, with his family.
About THE PREY
With death only a heartbeat away, Gene and the remaining humans must find a way to survive long enough to escape the hungry predators chasing them through the night. But they’re not the only things following Gene. He’s haunted by Ashley June who he left behind, and his burgeoning feelings for Sissy, the human girl at his side.
Their escape takes them to a refuge of humans living high in the mountains. Gene and his friends think they’re finally safe, but not everything here is as it seems. And before long, Gene must ask himself if the new world they’ve entered is just as evil as the one they left behind. As their enemies close in on them and push Gene and Sissy closer, one thing becomes painfully clear: all they have is each other…if they can stay alive.
Chilling, inventive, and electrifying, The Prey is the second book in Andrew Fukuda’s The Hunt series.
Our interview with Andrew:
Your world is haunting and horrific. How did you come up with the premise behind The Hunt?
I think it all began with a single image – of a boy sitting in a classroom, terribly lonely despite his many classmates. What if the boy had a secret, I wondered, a horrible one which would cause his classmates to kill him within seconds if it were ever discovered? That initial image eventually morphed into the main idea of the book, of a sole human in a world filled with vampire-like creatures. No existence could be lonelier or scarier than that.
What kind of research did you do on gene mutation?
Very little, in fact. I’ve always enjoyed the sci-fi/horror genre (I still have nightmares from Cronenberg’s The Fly), and I think I retained a lot of information from all the books and movies I’ve consumed over the years. I also had a magnificent Biology teacher back in high school, so maybe some of what she taught somehow stuck.
Your story definitely has bite. With so many vampire stories out there right now, what made you decide to have vampires in your dystopian novel?
They just seemed right for the novel. None of the other classic creatures seemed to quite fit – zombies, werewolves, Smurfs – they were all ill-suited. But vampires – they had the kind of bite the book needed. Having said that, I do want to add that it’s up for grabs if these creatures are “vampires” in the classic sense. They’ve got certain characteristics which make them hard to categorize, and, well … enough said. I don’t want to give anything away!
Lots of people are comparing your novel to The Hunger Games. What are your own thoughts on that?
Well, to have my work compared to a novel written by the incomparable Suzanne Collins is high praise, indeed! I feel very honored! But I think the similarities are actually quite superficial, as most readers have discovered.
Do you have a writing schedule? If so, can you share what it’s like?
I used to have one! But ever since I had kids – two energetic, rambunctious boys – I’ve learned to write on the fly. At night, early in the morning, whenever! I now know how to maximize the smallest pockets of time – five minutes when the boys are miraculously focused on their homework, or that glorious fifteen minutes in the parked car when the boys have fallen asleep in their car seats. I’ve written the most romantic scenes with the boys yelling and hooting all around me. I’ve written graceful, delicate dialogue while being pelted by Nerf balls.
I think those last two lines might be two of my favorite lines out of all the interviews we’ve ever done on YABC. Truly!
Do you have a music playlist for The Prey? Can you share? If not, what would be on it?
I do have one! The Prey is set in a cold and foreboding world where the menace broods less front-and-center and more veiled and unseen. I wanted a playlist that captured this mood. And this is what I ended up with:
Linkin Park – SKIN TO BONE
Skillet – Awake and Alive – The Quickening
Trent Reznor – Immigrant Song
William Fitzsimmons – I Don’t Feel It Anymore – (George Raquet Remix)
Anya Marina – Speakeasy
Silversun Pickups – Dots And Dashes (Enough Already)
Marc Streitenfeld – Dazed
Hans Zimmer – Nothing Out There
Ian McIntosh – Awakened
Dwntwn – Pioneer Square (Lo-Fi)
Switchfoot – Your Love Is A Song
Great mix!
The ending of The Prey had me gasping and wanting more. When is the next book coming out?
It’ll be coming out in the autumn of 2013. I can’t wait to share it with all the readers!
We can’t wait either!
What is your favorite book?
Tell me you did not just ask me the dreaded one-favorite-novel question! Alright, since you’re twisting my arm, it would have to be this obscure novel titled Never Let Me Go on The Road to Watership Down on Cold Mountain. The author’s name eludes me at the moment, but I think it’s something long like Mr. Kazuo Adams Charles McIshiguro Cormac Frazier. Or something like that.
Ha! Nice sidestep there, Mr. Fukuda!
What is your publishing process like? How long does it take from the first draft to the final product?
Probably about a year. It sounds like a long time, but with all the revisions, editing, and publishing-related matters, that time really does fly by. It’s all worth it: nothing beats that feeling of walking into a bookstore and seeing your book sitting there on the shelf.
And finally: Do you have anything else in the works?
I do! Right now, I’m really focused on editing the final book of the Hunt trilogy, and once I’m done with that, I have a number of things lined up. Can’t share it with you just yet, unfortunately!
Well we look forward to it. Thank you so much for talking with us today!
Giveaway Details
2 lucky winners will receive a copy of THE PREY from the publisher.
To enter, fill out the form below.
I think this was a really thought out interview and I learned a lot about the author!
Great interview! I’m really eager to read Prey 🙂
It was a great interview!!
I liked it! It covered my basic questions! Im always curious what are authors fav books. 🙂
Awesome interview cant wait to read the book 🙂
Great interview – I like knowing what sort of things inspires authors to write. Thanks for sharing it and for the giveaway. I am looking forward to read it.
I really enjoyed Mr. Fukuda’s author interview. It offers a glimpse inside the man behind the book. It also shows that he has humor, he is dedicated (can write even under attack by nerf balls), and has great choice in songs. His interview makes me what to read his books even more!
I love when authors share their playlists for when they write, it helps to inspire me to write
I thought it was really good!
i thought that the interview was really interesting. it’s funny how so many author’s say that the idea came to them with one image.
Intresting
The interview was terrific! I loved it!
Really well done, I learned a lot about the authors and his books.
It was very nice
Great interview! I like when there is a music playlist revealed about the book – gives more insight into what’s expected!
Thanks,
Leanne
Great interview! learned a lot about the author. Can’t wait to read.
My students will love this…
A really great interview. Makes me panting to read the book.
This interview was informative and interesting!
I always love hearing what authors have to say about their work
now i really want to read this
This interview just made me want to read the book even more!
Also, I accidentally pressed enter before entering my address.
Sounds like a must read.
I love how he puts his time in to write. lol That’s basically how I am with reading, a few minutes here and there when the kids are momentarily occupied.
Great interview! Very interesting!
I liked hearing what the author had to say about his work
I like the forethought given in the interview and the music was not too shabby. Its cool listening to what an author has to say.
Wonderful interview! I enjoyed reading it!
The cover is amazing! I like the interview becacuse when we get a little more insite from how the book came to be!
wish it was longer … though … it did answer some questions
Interview was awesome! read a interview
Very informative…piqued my interest.
AWESOME! I’m listening to The Hunt now. I’m loving this audio book so much! It’s nice to read about the author behind the novel.
Interesting