Every Tuesday, get to know a bit about the stories behind the books you love, and discover your next favourite novel.

Zilla: Something about the world today just feels right for reading dystopias…and here’s April McCloud with a great one! April, can you introduce us to your novel, Switch? 

April: A hundred years in the future, Complete Life Management is selling perfection in the form of the latest technologically enhanced bionic body, the Apogee. As an elite runner and inadvertent spokesperson for humanism, NYPD Detective Naomi Gate has eschewed vanity upgrades. However, if she hopes to survive in New York City’s fierce criminal Underground and find her wayward brother, she has no choice but to undergo an illegal body transfer. 

Plunging into the Underground’s den of black-market body modifications and bionic hit squads, it turns out to be the first of several body transfers. And as the stakes rise, Naomi fears the price for saving her brother may be the thing she values most—her own humanity.

Zilla: What inspired you to write this book?

April: The Switch is a work that focuses on embodiment, and what it can mean for a variety of marginalities (with special focus on trans people and disabled humans). Two ways in which I have personally learned to be more inside of my own body is through martial arts and zen meditation. The focus on our inner world coupled with tying that to our physical body, was a concrete way to explore the theme of what it means to be human in a world of advancing technologies.

Zilla: Do you have a playlist for your book?

April: I find music inspirational and for The Switch, I have different songs for the various energies of the novel. There’s Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels by Todrick Hall for the glorious gender-bending and chaotic pansexual vibe. On My Way by Alan Walker, Sabrina Carpenter, and Farruko, leans into the emotional heart of how hard it is to be a warrior. And Light ‘Em Up by Fall Out Boy for the sheer explosive fun of kicking butt and blowing stuff up.

Zilla: If you could meet your characters, what would the conversation look like?

April: I think if I explained to them that I was their author, they might just arrest me for violating the Geneva Convention’s rules against cruel and unusual punishment. Otherwise, though, I’d try to distract them with talk of running and weapons, as well as introduce them to my cat. If I could have any one thing though, I would want my character Inari to meet my cat who inspired her, also of the same name. It’s possible if they teamed up that they would take over the world, but there are some things that just can’t be helped.

Zilla: How much research did you need to do for your book?

April: I had a lot of fun researching the current state of bionics. There’s incredible work being done with jaw-dropping results. My favorite spokesperson for bionics and physical disabilities is Tilly Lockey, who can often be seen showcasing her Hero Arms from Open Bionics. Odes to Tilly’s personal journey can be seen in my work, especially how unfair the health care system can be.

Zilla: What’s your next writing project?

April:I’m working on an adult romantasy, lovers-to-enemies novel that looks at the thin line between good and evil, and what drives us to both.

Zilla: Thanks for sharing your story and your process. We’re looking forward to reading! Where can the Night Beats community find you and your book?
April: The print book and ebook are available from Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/msz7pn62. You can find me at my website (www.aprilmccloud.com) on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/50156312.April_McCloud) or on Twitter/Instagram (@mccloudwrites).