An interview with Kody Boye

What inspired you to write this book?

The idea for When They Came was born out of a short story called Animals I wrote as a late teenager (which can be read for free in its entirety here: http://ablogofmaterialthings.blogspot.com/2013/04/animals.html.) It tells the story of a young couple who face creatures not unlike the ones that feature in the novel (When They Came) that I would write years later. The central plotline for the book was inspired by a single line I wrote the night before moving to the Fort Worth/Dallas area in 2015.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I recently released a young-adult science-fiction novel titled The Beautiful Ones, which depicts a world in which young women are lifted from poverty based on their beauty but at the cost of their free will. You will see those next two books published over the course of 2018 and 2019. I am also working on a young-adult fantasy novel that I plan to pitch to an agent.

Beyond that, you will see my urban fantasy series The Scarlet Jane Files continue and my dark fantasy tales The Adventures of Carmen Delarosa conclude.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

I wrote a ‘first hour’ story called That First Hour, which tells the story of one of the main    characters on the night alien beings invade the planet Earth. You can download that for free on all the major eBook markets and read it on my short fiction blog at http://ablogofmaterialthings.blogspot.com/2017/03/that-first-hour.html

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in When They Came?

When They Came features three primary characters. The first is Ana Mia Sophia Berrios, our protagonist. She is a headstrong, bisexual Latina whose father’s harvesting in the initial invasion compels her to join the Midnight Guard. The next, Asha Dawson, is a young black woman who longs to protect her family. Jason Parks, the third, is a young man who lost both of his parents to Harvestings during the initial invasion, and whose purpose in the world has been governed by revenge the entire

time.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed When They Came’s scope. The trilogy starts out with one young woman trying to find herself and then ends with her completely coming into her own.

What is your favorite part of this book and why?

My favorite part of book 1 of When They Came is undoubtedly the cabin on the hill scene. You’ll know it when you get there!

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story? Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

My characters tell my stories for me. I feel that’s what makes them so compelling.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

I have written several novels that have not been published. Some will be rewritten, others not. I’ve been writing since I was seven years old, so I’ve had nearly twenty years to get to this point.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

The scene of wildflowers and pine trees.