Big Interview | Noel Fitzpatrick

What can you tell us about your new book?
It’s a brilliant adventure story about a superhero called Vetman and his crew of incredible bionic animals. In the book, you’ll encounter a tortoise with a wheelbarrow shell who can fly, a platypus with a metal cheese grater on her belly and a rabbit on a turbo-powered hoverboard made from an old hairdryer.

Sounds amazing! What made you want to write a children’s book?
I’ve always loved comic books and wanted to write about my own superhero. I’m eternally ten years old inside! Vetman has always been there for me, since I dreamed him up when I was ten years old, and I’d like him to be there for other people and for all the
animals too.

Is Vetman the kind of superhero you would like to be?
Yes, he’s my hero and has been all my life. He inspires me to be the best I can be, with compassion and creativity.

If you could have a superhero power now, what would it be?
I’d have the ability to heal both physical and emotional problems just by touch, because then I could instantly help any person or animal in trouble.

If you were putting together a super animal gang like Vetman’s bionic animal crew, what animals would be in it?
It would be the animals in the book. When I first started writing I had ferrets, a wily fox and a goat in the squad – all kinds! But the animals that made it into the book are the ones that would absolutely be in my real-life crew.

Vetman does amazing bionic surgeries; is there a super surgery you’re most proud of?
I think it would be the wolverine surgery I created. Last time I was doing that surgery, I went to the big dog skeleton in my office to check some details, only to find that my cat Excalibur had stolen ALL the toes
off the skeleton! When I got into bed that night, I found two skeleton toes! I even had a cardboard cut-out of Wolverine [from X-Men] protecting the skeleton…

Will readers learn any cool veterinary facts from the book?
Yes, I hope they will. I have based many things in the book on real science that either have been achieved or could be achieved, and they will certainly learn about the challenges with ethics and decision making.

You’re a busy working vet, so how did you find the time to write a book?
As with any goal in life, you cannot achieve greatness without great effort. So, it was very late nights on a Friday and Saturday for me!

Like in all good stories, there’s a baddie in this book. Do you think it’s true that animals are a good judge of character?
Yes, I do. Animals are a great judge of character and can teach us so much about ourselves.

As a vet you love all animals, but is there one species/breed that you have a particular soft spot for?
If I were to say anything, some secret organisation would apprehend me immediately. So no, I do not have a preference – at all!

This year has seen a lot of families get pets for the first time, so what’s the most important thing to think about when looking for a pet?
Moral responsibility, which is something Imogen faces in the book when she wants to adopt Pirate. Her mum is very concerned that she will want to watch TV when she needs to take Pirate for a walk and pick up poo. You need to be prepared to pick up poo!

What advice would you give to any of our readers who want to become a vet?
Work hard if it’s your dream and remember that it’s not a coincidence that Spider-Man said: “With great  power comes great responsibility.”

Vetman And His Bionic Animal Clan by Noel Fitzpatrick is out now!