Member Emily Whitten's graphic novel ‘The Underfoot’ brings intelligent hamsters to a post-apocalyptic Washington

The second graphic novel in "The Underfoot" series "shows the value of teamwork, understanding that there is always more to learn, overcoming fears, and caring about each other and the world,” author and National Press Club member Emily S. Whitten said April 13 at a Member Author Virtual Book Talk.

Compliments of Zoom technology, Whitten was joined from the West Coast by co-creator and co-author Ben Fisher and illustrator Michelle Nguyen to discuss "The Underfoot: Into the Sun." The second installment in a middle-grade graphic novel series stars intelligent hamsters with special gifts who live in a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C., where the “Giants-that-Were,” namely humans, have disappeared. 

The book went on sale Tuesday.

The first book, "The Underfoot: The Mighty Deep" introduces the “Hamster Aquatic Mercenaries” (H.A.M.), a burrow of hamsters with special aquatic abilities who rent themselves out to help other creatures survive in the new world they all live in. The new book  introduces the “Hamster Airborne Paratroopers” (H.A.P.) and their way of life as characters more comfortable in the air than on the water.  

"Into the Sun" features an ongoing storyline of mystery and adventure, according to Fisher, while developing characters much fuzzier than humans, but just as complicated. In response to questions, the collaborators shared teasers for "Into the Sun" while being careful not to give away spoilers. Fisher did say the second book contains a romantic element.

The hamsters aren’t just a random choice of characters. Whitten confessed to being a lifelong hamster addict, having them and other rodents as pets since childhood. Nguyen admitted that she strongly identifies with a hamster/character named Mac.

The collaborators discussed their process with Nguyen, who had previously worked with Fisher but not Whitten before starting the series, saying that she felt the trio had really “hit their stride” with the second book. A contract for the third book has already been inked.

"The Underfoot: Into the Sun" is available for purchase, including signed copies from Whitten’s website, https://www.theemilyesse.com/, which will also sell themed signed bookplates for both books in the series. Whitten & Co. and their publisher Oni-Lion Forge have also created a free Teacher’s Guide and an Activity Book to accompany their series. The Activity Book includes coloring pages, a writing exercise, and a science experiment .

The Virtual Member Book Talk was sponsored by the Member Author Book Group, and group member Naomi Weiss introduced Whitten, Fisher and Nguyen. The Member Author Book Group seeks to produce events for members to promote their recently published books. To inquire about the group, please contact Joe Motheral at [email protected]. The group meets (currently virtually) on the second Tuesday of the month at noon.