Hi it is me again Ruby. I have just had a chat with the very talented Zozo and Jools and here is what they had to say.
What is your blog about?
Usual Muttwits follows the misadventures of a diverse community of dogs inhabiting the fictitious Thameside town of Westley Piddle. The blog features stories on the various muttwit characters and is experienced through their own particular dogs’-eye point of view.
How are the stories told
Each story (which is serialized weekly) focuses on one particular muttwit from the pack, forced off his furry butt to do something extraordinary to help out his best mates. What should be a simple enough ask mostly ends up in pure doggerel, lots of ear-flapping, and a quick bite or two of both friend and foe.
The blog is presented in the style of a graphic diary with the manga-inspired illustrations drawn or doodled beside the text which [‘”wot’] is written in a colloquial London voice.
So where do the Muttwits live?
We have created a universe for the muttwits to live and breath.
Accompanying the stories the site also features a detailed map of Westley Piddle, an A-Z of illustrated muttwit characters, and a snifz colour chart on how they use their snouts to understand the world around them, and the emotions of humans (called hindlegs throughout). We even have a pub-chat corner (Quick Pint down the Pig&Ferret) where the human companions can vent their frustrations over a pint or two of best bitter.
So who are Zozo and Jools
A brief word about Zozo&Jools:
Zeynep Arpaözü (Zozo) is a blogger cartoonist from Istanbul in her early twenties who currently attends university studying languages; Julian Boyce (Jools) is a copywriter from South London in his early sixties. Collectively, we call ourselves Zozo&Jools. We are two people from different generations, cultures, religions and political ideologies who agree on almost nothing, except for one thing: creating ridiculous doggy stories stuffed with insane characters. It helps that we have both grown up surrounded by a motley crew of dogs and cats. We speak their language – they speak ours!
Jools
Zozo
Why a blog and not a book?
In fact, we had just started submitting to literary agents when Covid-19 hit. It seemed pointless to continue (as unknown writers) in present circumstances, so we converted the first three completed books into serialised stories online.
Thems Usual Muttwits’ is our singular take on the 4x leg vs. 2x leg modern world, as experienced through the sights, sounds and sniffs of a right tight pack of muttwits.
Thank you so much for joining me today Zozo & Jools it’s been so much fun having you here. willow and I (guide dog retired) are looking forward to you visiting soon.
Meanwhile you could all pop across to Usual Muttwits and visit them.
willowdot21 