N.S. author returns with sequel to breakout first book

Nova Scotia author Natalie Zina Walschots talks about her new book “Villain,” a sequel to the novel, “Hench.”

The Nova Scotia author behind the 2020 book, “Hench,” a novel about undervalued henchman working for supervillains, is back with a sequel.

“Villain” continues the story of Anna, who takes down corrupt corporate superheroes with the power of data analysis and spreadsheets.

“I was always hopeful for a sequel,” says author Natalie Zina Walschots. She says “Hench” is self-contained and has a distinct ending but leaves the door open for more.

“I really, desperately wanted to spend more time in that universe, with those characters,” Walschots says.

The book did well and she says fans asked for a sequel that she was thrilled to write. “Hench” was a finalist for Canada Reads. It was nominated for a Best Science Fiction Goodreads Choice Award and a Best First Novel Locus Award.

“Aren’t we all mistreated employees of supervillains?” says Walschots.

Her sense of humour resonates through her work but she says there is a real message that’s penetrating too.

“I think it is an unfortunately, shockingly relatable experience,” Walschots says. “To find yourself as somebody who is maybe very smart, and maybe very talented and maybe incredibly good at what you do and… the only job that is sort of available is to work for literally the forces of evil.”

She says it’s a universal experience that arose from her fascination with those characters who show up, just to get punched through a wall and disappear into years of physiotherapy.

“In every superhero movie you see these people who are essentially being used as a punchline,” Walschots says. “Sometimes quite literally.”

She says she wonders what happened to those characters before they became henchmen.

“Like, how far behind on your child support do you have to be before you take a gig like that?”

In her spare time, Walschots writes and takes part in Live Action Role Playing (LARPing) games. She says dressing up in a “ridiculous costume” to play pretend in the woods is a lot of fun and a wonderful way to tap into her inner child.

“It’s a pure, joyous kind of wish fulfillment,” Walschots says. “As a creative person, I love that. I think it’s really beautiful.”

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