Interview & Giveaway: Alex Scarrow author of TimeRiders

 

Today we have Alex Scarrow author of Timeriders and Ellie Quinn. Here is our interview with him.

1. How did you come up with the concept of this book?

    I've always liked time travel as a story telling device because it gives you an infinitely large canvas to work with. I was a big fan of the Terminator movies and the Back to the Future movies in the 80s, mainly because of the idea of alternate versions of the present day that could be the result of an altered past. Great stuff; at once familiar and at the same time so very different.

2. How did you come up with the names for the characters?

    There's no real technique or science to that...it's just a case of running names past you until a particular name 'feels' right.

3. How much are the characters in this book like you?

     I think the main three characters, Liam, Maddy and Sal represent different elements of my personality. Liam is the big-kid part of me that really ought to grow up, whereas Maddy is the reluctantly mature side of me. And Sal? Hmmm...she's the part of me that is quiet, reserved, always people-watching.

4. Do you read a lot and what are you reading now?

     I've ALWAYS read a lot. Reading is just about the most important things you can do with a pair of eyeballs and a brain. It exercises the mind like a gymnasium. However, unlike lifting weights in a gym, it's an exercise that's actually damned good fun. And I ask you...how often can you say that about something? That it's both fun and good for you at the same time?! So...what am I reading right now? I'm research-reading for the next TimeRiders book...which I've got to start writing this week in fact!

5. What made you go young adult?

     I've always wanted to write for teens simply because teenagers are much for open-minded about new ideas, new concepts, about merging genres or defying genre rules. When you write for adults, it can be quite stifling particularly if you write within a genre like crime, where things have to follow a set formula. With the YA marketplace...basically, as long as the idea's a good one, anything goes!
   

6. How did the cover come about?

    The cover designs were produced by my publisher in the UK, Puffin Books. I love these covers. They are so incredibly cool.

7. What is your next project and when is it due out?

     ELLIE QUIN is the big thing I'm working on right now (as well as the last two books for TimeRiders). Actually, if I may, I'd like to encourage TimeRiders fans to give my new series, ELLIE QUIN, a go. It's very similar to TimeRiders in terms of pace, big ideas, strong likeable characters. It's about a very ordinary girl who yearns to escape a boring rural existence on a remote agricultural planet. But soon becomes embroiled in a universe-spanning conspiracy. She finds herself on the run through this madcap, colorful, vibrant universe full of really fun ideas. For instance....pets you can grow from seeds, nail varnish that when it dries you can watch TV on your finger, genetically engineered laborers with four arms, weird fortune telling aliens, soda pops that change flavor all the time, plants with a cabby attitude!....lots of fun stuff in a big, big, universe. The series has just been launched on Amazon. You can download it as an ebook or order (soon) a printed version from Amazon. If you're interested in learning more about it go to www.elliequin.com

 8. Do you have a day job or are you a full time writer?

      I am a full time writer, which is real privilege and pleasure. I usually write about 1000-1500 words a day, and then there's the promotion side of things, visiting schools and such. So this writing-thing keeps me rather busy.

9. How did you get into writing and were you worried about the reaction to your book?

     I started writing short stories when I was about nine. But then when I turned twelve, I got into rock music and started the whole I-wanna-be-a-rock-star thing. I was about 27 when I realized it wasn't going to happen for me and then found myself a job in a computer games company. I was in that industry for just over ten years before I started getting bored of it and found myself writing again. So...basically I wrote an adult novel, sent it off...and got VERY VERY lucky. I won't lie...it's tough. Very tough to get published these days. I'd say the most important thing...the trump suit...is originality. Come up with a concept that's so different it will take an editor's breath away. If you want to write a book about vampires in high school, dystopian future teen based gladiator games or invasions of zombies...then you're gonna be one of the crowd.

10. One last thing. Do you collect anything personally?

      Nope. I'm not a possession type person. I've never been a collector of anything or 'completist'. I like to travel light and de-clutter often. As long as I have my wallet, my passport, my iphone and laptop...I've pretty much got everything I need! I love that - traveling light.. 'Stuff' just weighs you down.

If you would like to find out more about Alex or his books check out one of the links below:
Alex-Goodreads
Timeriders
Alex's Website

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