Sean Williams writes prolifically across the field of science fiction and fantasy, for adults, young adults and children, and enjoys the odd franchise, too, such as Star Wars and Doctor Who. His latest series is The Fixers, for 8-10 year-olds. His work has won awards, debuted at #1 on the New York Times hardback bestseller list, and been translated into numerous languages. He even writes the odd poem. Born in the dry, flat lands of South Australia, he still lives there with his wife and family, and DJs in his spare time.

Q. 1 You have a new children’s series, Troubletwisters, coming out soon, co-written with Garth Nix. I’ve seen the intriguing trailer on YouTube. Can you tell us more about it, and about the process of co-authoring this series? When we caught up with Garth, he said it was a lot of fun talking the story through over a Guinness or two with you!

The feeling is mutual!

Troubletwisters is about two young kids, Jack and Jaide, who are forced to move out into the country when their house explodes. They stay with their father’s mother, a woman they’ve never met, in a big old house and discover that their family has a secret history, a history that they’re about to become part of. There’s an evil force trying to take over the world–a force so evil it’s just called The Evil–and the only thing standing between it and ordinary people is a group called the Wardens. The twins might become Wardens one day, but first they have to survive The Evil and the unpredictable nature of their own powers. Young Wardens are called troubletwisters for a reason: you can never tell what will happen next.

So that’s the premise. Working out where the story goes from there has been an absolute blast. As well as the odd Guinness or Sea Breeze, Garth and I have whiled away many an hour on planes, in hotel rooms, in each other’s homes and offices, and over the phone, coming up with ideas and new adventures for our young heroes. We both grew up reading classic fantasy novels–Alan Garner, Susan Cooper, Le Guin, etc–so we’re trying to capture the same sense of fun and wonder those books generated in us. If we’re enjoying it, hopefully readers will, too.

As far as practicalities go: we develop a detailed outline together, then Garth writes the opening chapter. I write the first draft. He writes the second. From there, we bounce it back and forth until it’s looking pretty well-rounded. Then it goes in to our publishers and another round of editing. There are surprises at every stage, which is one of the great joys of collaborating.

Q. 2 You’ve done a lot of work based on Star Wars. When did you initially become interested in Star Wars and what makes it a phenomenon so worth continuing to contribute to? Which are your favourite Star Wars characters?

I was ten years old when the Star Wars movie came out, so I’ve been a fan since then. Not an uncritical fan; there are some stories I have enjoyed more than others. But that’s okay. The shared universe is so huge now that there’s always something going on somewhere that will interest me. And that, I think, is to a large degree why I like working there. There’s a lot to explore, lots to discover. There are plenty of talented minds adding to it every day. It’s awesome to be among them.

Then there are the interesting challenges. My last three Star Wars novels were based on computer games, and adapting them to the page has been utterly fascinating. I mean, I love writing my own books, and the books with Garth and other writers, but working this way demands an approach that’s totally different. I figure we’ve always got to try new things as artists to keep us fresh, even though it can be nerve-wracking at times. If it wasn’t scary, it wouldn’t be pushing us to new heights.

Favorite character? Obi-wan Kenobi, probably. He’s the only character I’ve never written any lines for. That’s a box I plan to tick, one day.

Q. 3 What are the best elements of being a writer, for you, and what are the most challenging?

To my mind, it’s the best job in the world. A lot of what people call negatives–like being alone a lot of the time–are things I actually enjoy. I love the hours I keep, the quiet life indoors, the language, and the daydreaming I get to do as part of my job. I’m not quite so fond of the waiting, the crappy pay (sometimes), the RSI, or the travel, but I can live with all that as long as I get to do the fun part.

Q. 4 Which of all your fictional characters Burns Brightest in your mind and why?

I have a character called Render in my Astropolis series who speaks solely in Gary Numan lyrics. He’s well over a million years old and quite mad, but despite that (or because of it) he’ll always burn brightly for me.

It’d be hard to single out just one person from Troubletwisters, as they’re all so much fun. One of the cats, maybe. Or The Evil itself: bad guys get all the best lines . . . .

Click here for Sean’s website!

MUSIC: Gary Numan – Cars

Imagine a world of strict borders, raids by regulators, strictly imposed curfews, and evaluations, in which a good marriage match is based on your ‘score’, and a huge gap exists between rich and poor. Now, imagine all that with no love. No romance novels or love songs, no touching, and segregation of the uncured sexes; and, if you dare catch the Deliria, you might just find yourself looked in an institution for the rest of your life.

Welcome to Lena’s world. It’s been 43 years since scientists perfected a cure for love—(Amor Deliria Nervosa)—the deadliest disease of them all. Lena is counting down the days to her 18th, when she can at last have the procedure and be safe from pain. But, with only 95 days left to go, Lena does the unthinkable…

“There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it. Then, at last, they found a cure”.

Delirium is the second novel from Oliver, and this, along with debut offering, Before I Fall, has already been optioned for film rights. Lena’s story is poignant and the characters’ inner turmoil and struggle against what they have always believed to be the truth is handled with such delicacy and respect it has a resoundingly truthful ring. Delirium will make you think and be frightened of the absolute power that governing bodies can hold over their citizens. I found myself constantly looking at my dearest and wanting to cry.

Just the thought of no love or the absence of any feelings whatsoever between partners, parents, children, friends, and family leaves a chilling aftershock. Delirium will trap you in the story as you root for Lena to escape and find a path of love and, undoubtedly, pain; but at least she will feel unlike so many around her. The plot does feel a little sluggish in the beginning, and the information a tad overloaded, but it is well worth hanging in there. The story that unfolds will resound in your heart and linger with you afterwards.

“Delirium”—Lauren Oliver

February 1, 2011, by Hodder UK

Paperback, 448 Pages

ISBN: 978-0-340-98092-7

There really is just one word to describe Ann’s novel about post-apocalyptic New York: Wow!
 
Under the Streets of New York, survivors have created their own civilizations and enclaves. Girl 15 is about to go through the naming day ritual to become a Huntress. She must endure a process of scarring, during which her blood falls on an item from above ground; this gives her the name Deuce. Deuce is put with a partner, Fade, and together they are sent out into the tunnels to keep the enclave safe from Freaks, mutants who live in the same tunnel systems as the other survivors, and to gather meat so the community doesn’t starve.
 
She is a firm believer in the laws and the way the enclave is run by the elders, right up until she and Fade find a blind child, the last surviving member of the closest enclave, and the elders kill him after letting him pass on the message that the Freaks are getting smarter, and to beware.
 
Fade and Deuce are sent to investigate, and, indeed, discover that the Freaks are getting smarter; but the elders will not heed the warnings, instead manufacturing a situation which leads them to be exiled from the tunnels.
 
Deuce is forced from everything she has ever known and Fade is thrust back into a life he thought he would never have to live again. They have to survive above ground.
 
Reading the author’s notes, I was given insight into the thought processes Ann went through to create such a nightmarish, yet plausible, New York. I even had the chance to view one of the documentaries she mentions in the notes, and it let me slip a little further into her headspace. It spooked me, but only at how possible it is that man would wipe himself out by his own greed and stupidity.
 
I could quite easily put myself into the shoes of Fade and Deuce– their fear, their desperation, their fight for survival and their desire to belong.  I found the expected lifespan of the tunnel dwelling enclave members rather confronting. The thought of a 26-year-old as an elder blew my mind.
 
The Darwin theory lives large in this grungy, meaty, ballsy tale of survival. 
 
If you like Resident Evil, I am Legend, and 28 Days Later, this is a lighter take on the same sorts of themes. 
 

Enclave – Ann Aguirre

Published 12 April, 2011, by Feiwel and Friends

Paperback, 262 Pages

ISBN 10: 0312650086 ISBN 13: 978-0312650087

Check out the incredible Enclave trailer here!

Marianne’s been talking to some excellent bloggers. You can read her interviews at:

Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic

Alpha Reader Blogspot

And there’s currently a Burn Bright giveaway going on at King Rolen’s Kin

Marianne was interviewed by The Courier Mail newspaper.

To add to these are some fab reviews:

“Burn Bright is a decidedly dark and decadent story of a utopian paradise layered over a richly delicate and dangerous world of secrets, pirates and dark creatures. A provocative and intoxicating story of a girl breaking through the naivety of childhood and entering the seductive world of adulthood, a world filled with ***, drugs, music and of cause night creatures. An Enthralling read that questions societies morals and individuals actions wrapped in a beguiling cover.” Larissa Book Girl

“Burn Bright is an epic and mystifying new novel from Australian writer, Marianne de Pierres. The novel is a cross between ‘Logan’s Run’, ‘Lord of the Flies’ and ‘The Beach’ with a healthy dose of sci-fi steampunk thrown in for good measure. It is incredible, and should most certainly be appearing on everyone’s ‘Must Read’ list for 2011!” Read the rest of ALPHA Reader’s review here.

‘Burn Bright introduces one of the most exciting worlds I’ve encountered since Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies series, or Isobelle Carmody’s Obernewtyn, and it will surely appeal to fans of both. Ixion is such an easy place to get lost in, helped along by strange, wonderful characters and Marianne de Pierres’s lush writing, which at times feels like you’re floating through a dark dream. This is the first YA book from the Australian author, who has previously written crime under the name Marianne Delacourt, and I for one feel so lucky she’s ventured into this genre because Burn Bright really is a book that takes your breath away.’ Holly Harper – Readings Books.

‘This is a truly stunning book. Burn Bright treats the Young Adult reader with respect, does not over-explain trivial matters and moves at break-neck pace. It is provocative and dangerous, and de Pierres does not shy from difficult subjects such as drugs and sex. The writing style is clear, concise and beautiful.’ Book Lovers Club.

‘Easily one of the best YA books that I’ve read this year. I loved it! … this kind of dystopian setting blew me away. Marianne de Pierres is one creative author!’ The Small Town Blog.

And we’re pleased to say we’ve added the new bookmark images to the Extras page. But here they are anyway.

What’s a girl to do when asked by the owner of an international internet radio station, to do a program on his network?

What did this girl do first? I laughed. Sorry G! Seriously though, the first thought after my laughing fit settled down, was what the heck am I going to talk about for an entire HOUR?!?

The other presenters and other show hosts on PQRN are SO professional and have guests to interview and all this experience! What do I have; An Aussie accent. Dude! Or should I say; OI!

G aka Gregg Cable, persisted. He has belief in me, if somewhat misguided, and I figure if he thinks I can do this, maybe I can. So I moved forwards, set myself up and I am now ready to let my freak flag fly to the whole damn world… LIVE!

What scares me the most?  When I hit connect, what I say matters. I’ll be out there without the buffer of an editor, and let’s face it I can rabbit on a bit.  Friday Ketchup will hopefully be a great way to ease into the weekend with a laugh, and maybe a bit of a ponderous thought or two.

Come hear me make a complete fool of myself 6am EST/ 7am EDST Saturday the 12^th March (Australian) and 3pm EST Friday the 11^th March (USA) on the Paraquest Radio Network.

http://www.paraquestradionetwork.com