Kenechi Udogu
About Author
Kenechi Udogu introduces her eco science-fiction adventure, Augmented, set in a near-future, climate-challenged London.
Kenechi was born in Nigerian but now works as an architect and writer in London. Her work centres on culturally diverse characters in sci-fi, fantasy and horror genres who stand strong in challenging conditions. She was awarded a Highly Commended Text win for FAB Prize 2022, and was a runner up for the Writers and Artists Year Book 2022 YA Profile Competition. Kenechi is a current mentee of the All Stories 2022-23 mentorship programme. She loves singing with choirs, and hopes to one day figure out how to hibernate in winter.
Interview
Kenechi Udogu introduces her eco science-fiction adventure, Augmented
ReadingZone spoke with YA author Kenechi Udogu to find out about the near-future world she explores in her debut novel, Augmented, and what inspired her themes of climate change, environmental issues, and social justice.
In a world where young people are 'augmented' to enable them to use their talents to help society survive, Akaego's special talent is her voice; she can help plants to grow. But her talent is unusual, and when she hears what is really planned for her voice, she decides to fight back.
Q&A with Kenechi Udogu
"I hope the story keeps young readers optimistic as they consider what they can do to give value to our world by
contributing their skills in their communities and by lobbying for change at higher levels."
1. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your career, and how you started as a writer? What kinds of books got you hooked on reading as a child, and who are your stand-out authors for young people now?
My name is Kenechi Udogu, and I'm a Nigerian-born, London-based young adult fiction writer and an architect. I read and wrote a lot as a child, creating comic books and short stories which I shared with my family and friends. I grew up on Nigerian folklore and Western fairy tales, also enjoying magical and adventurous stories by Enid Blyton at first and then graduating to darker novels by the likes of Stephen King and John Saul when I got to my teens (probably a bit too dark in hindsight). These heavily influenced what I chose to create back then and now.
I kept writing fiction on the side as I studied architecture, and carried on throughout my career. It's safe to say that this is my passion, and I'm glad I get to share my words with so many people. Some YA books I really enjoyed in the last couple of years have been Lie or Die by A J Clack, The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, These Stolen Lives by Sharada Keats, and The First Move by Jenny Ireland.
2. What kinds of stories do you enjoy writing and what draws you to these genres?
I've always loved stories with elements of the mystical, the unknown, and the inexplicably dark. I think it's the idea of making the seemingly impossible happen that appeals to me. I've also been intrigued by the sense that we can work out some solutions to our present day problems by exploring what the future could look like.
3. What happens in your new novel for young people, Augmented?
Augmented is a young adult novel set in a future where extreme weather has depleted plant life, and teenagers are enhanced to ensure the survival of society. Our protagonist, Akaego, fights to prevent her new power to grow plants from being weaponised by a corrupt regime. It's one for readers with an interest in social justice, science and environmental issues (and also people who aren't so interested in any of these…yet).
4. You've said you enjoy singing - is that what gave you the spark of the idea for growing plants with song, or did something else help inspire the story?
Absolutely! I'm passionate about music and a believer in its therapeutic impact. I'd come across research on plants being affected by sound waves - chillies getting stressed and growing hotter when exposed to heavy metal music, or plants growing faster when soothing classical or jazz music is played to them. Before I discovered any of this, I was already one of those people who sings to her plants to make them (and me) happy.
But these weren't the only things I drew from to create the story. My work as an architect got me invested in how things we build affect the climate, and how society could evolve to cope with dire changes.
5. How did your main character, Akaego, develop and why did you enjoy writing her? Is it important for you to have strong and diverse female leads in your stories?
We definitely need diverse female leads to show young readers that anyone can achieve anything they put their minds and skills towards. I made sure to feature multiple characters from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds that we need to see more of in sci-fi. Every child should be able to let their imagination run wild and immerse themselves in any kind of story. I loved writing Akaego because she's from a Nigerian Igbo heritage, like myself. She has a lot of insecurities, but her character grows from the friendships and sacrifices she has to make.
6. Can you tell us about the setting for this story, a near future London that has been changed dramatically by climate catastrophe?
The world in Augmented is meant to be a pseudo-utopia and pretty tech heavy with a lot of innovations to help civilisation survive in a climate-challenged world, such as fully-enclosed parks to safely grow food and pump out clean air (amongst other things), hydration suits to combat extreme temperatures, airlocks to buildings, and atmospheric water generators. I had to make a couple of future conditions worse because I kept reading about current recorded environmental conditions that were close to what I'd originally written. That scared me a little, but I'm hopeful we won't let things get to the level they reach in the story. And if they do, I hope we are well equipped to deal with them.
7. Science fiction is often used to explore questions in contemporary society - what kinds of questions about today's world do you explore in Augmented? What kinds of discussions do you hope the novel will encourage?
I like how science fiction integrates technological advancements in ways that have inspired scientists and engineers to develop what they've read about, sometimes from bleak possibilities of the future. For instance, H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds published in 1898 inspired the first liquid-fuelled rocket by Robert H. Goddard in 1926, and Hugo Gernsback's Ralph 124C 41+ from 1911, (serialised in Modern Electrics) predicted the practical use of solar power.
Augmented touches on a lot of things that could be exacerbated in an aggressively climate-challenged world such as social inequality, immigration, and freedom of speech, but it also weaves in practical ways we can navigate these things. I hope the story keeps young readers optimistic as they consider what they can do to give value to our world by contributing their skills in their communities and by lobbying for change at higher levels.
8. What's your favourite moment in Augmented?
I have a few favourite moments, but most of them contain spoilers. One I can hint at without revealing too much is a scene towards the end of the novel when Akaego faces her biggest challenge at a widely broadcast event. All I can say is, there's a flower wall involved, and you'll know it once you get to it.
9. Do you plan to revisit this world in another novel? What are you writing currently?
For now, the story I've created in Augmented ends with this novel, but maybe someday I'll be able to explore other ideas from that world. I'm working on something completely different at the moment, still YA sci-fi, but looking at some other social issues I've wondered about over the years.
10. What do you most enjoy doing to escape your notebook? What does a favourite day off look like?
I am a little bit of a TV addict, and I love a good binge-watch, so when I'm not staring at my computer screen, I'm staring at another screen for many hours. I was introduced to K-dramas by a friend a few years ago, and I haven't looked back! I also enjoy taking walks when the weather is warm. I've discovered so many interesting places by taking a detour from my usual paths.
School visits: Do you offer school events, and if so, can you tell us what you cover with students? How can schools get in touch to arrange a visit?
Yes, I do. In this, I'll talk about the inspiration for writing Augmented and discuss the possibility of a hopeful dystopia. There'll also be an interactive section exploring inventions written in sci-fi/fantasy fiction that have become reality, a discussion on vocal pitches and a debate on whether plants can really react to sound. There's a contact form available here.
Augmented: A thrilling YA sci-fi packed with romance and rebellion
