Welcome to the world of Everwild
Step into a future where the wild and the scientific intertwine, where humanity's evolution is a choice, and where profound questions stir beneath breathtaking beauty. Discover Everwild, a universe where every turn reveals a new mystery and every character invites you to question what it means to be human.
Where wonder takes root
In Everwild, the near future unfolds with breathtaking natural landscapes existing alongside extraordinary scientific innovation. This isn't just another fictional world; it's a future that feels possible, brimming with mystery, hope, and stunning discoveries. Here, the very definition of humanity is explored as we rewrite our own biology, asking if science and nature can truly evolve together.
The intersection of innovation and instinct
The Everwild universe is defined by the fascinating intersection of nature and human innovation. It envisions a near future where wilderness, advanced biotechnology, and hidden societies coexist, creating a world that is both familiar and extraordinary. Evolution here has become a conscious choice, with genetic blending allowing individuals to heal, adapt, and acquire remarkable abilities inspired by the natural world. This forces society to confront difficult questions about identity, ethics, freedom, and the true meaning of being human.
Beyond the book: Join the journey
Leave feeling inspired, intrigued, and eager to explore more of this wildly beautiful and mysterious world. Your journey begins with Collarbound, the first book in the BlendBorn Trilogy. But the adventure doesn't end there. We invite you to become part of the Everwild community, a place where curiosity, imagination, and thoughtful conversations about science, nature, and humanity are encouraged. Discover more than a book series; find a world you'll want to return to again and again.
View the inspiration
When people ask where I got the idea for Collarbound, I can actually recollect exactly when the idea for this world originated. The first inspiration triggered when I came across an article in Time Magazine in 2016 discussing the new CRISPR technology and how it could potentially wipe out malaria. The idea of being able to re-thread the DNA of something so small and make such a difference was fascinating.
I went digging to find the inspirational white fox/wolf image that I had come across around 10 years ago that was the impetus for me writing Collarbound with a white fox /wolf as my lead character, and here she is! (art credit: SoraChan on DeviantArt) To me, she looks like an arctic fox and wolf blended together. When I saw that collar and chain, I was saddened for her and angry at her captors and wondered what might be her story and what could be done to set her free.
Around this same time I started reading The Codebreaker, highlighting the incredible work of Jennifer Doudna, the ideas started to take form. The possibilities of us becoming more than mere humans, something where we infused ourselves with the DNA of the creatures of this planet so that we didn't have to dominate everything - a possibility of new 'Promoted Survival Evolution' where we could thrive harmoniously on the evolving planet. It just began to unfold and I started to jot down notes and potential storylines and over time the characters just started to come to life.
Other inspiration has come from every possible source: my family, my upbringing with my mother, who has been an environmental advocate and naturalist forever (I call her the Oregon Snow White because she has so many animal friends, and the non-friends never, ever get terminated, only 're-homed' away from her place). My beloved sister Gina, who is an avid birder and a passionate ecologist as well as my fiercest critic and awesome editor, but mostly from reading the science of planetary change over the past couple of decades, understanding that our delicate human selves may not be designed to survive what's coming.
Instead of grieving or hand-wringing, I decided to create the world I would love to inhabit, and I hope anyone who reads Collarbound and the forthcoming Everwild adventures feels the hope, the dreams, and the possibilities of it all.
