Tales Q&A With Bryony Pearce

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In a future world where fossil fuels have run out and democracy has collapsed, an outlawed pirate crew fight for survival on their ship, the Phoenix, kept afloat by whatever they can salvage or scavenge on the debris-filled seas.

Toby has never known anything other than life onboard the Phoenix and he’s desperate for adventure. But when trouble comes hunting the Phoenix down, Toby realizes that what you wish for isn’t always what you want.

He meets beautiful Ayla from the Banshee, a rival pirate ship and sworn enemy of the Phoenix, and his world is thrown into chaos.

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I am delighted to be finishing off the brilliant blog tour for Bryony Pearce’s new YA novel, Phoenix Rising, which was released on the 1st June 2015, published by Stripes Publishing this will be followed by the exciting sequel Phoenix Burning in 2016!

I recently kicked off the blog tour where Bryony told me about her favourite literary pirates – here !

But first who will you pledge your allegiance to?

 Are you #PhoenixCrew or #BansheeCrew?

I swear my allegiance to the #BansheeCrew !  We are feared and fearless!  We are merciless and amoral!  We believe in the ideals of strict hierarchy.  We are mercenary and we will not show weakness!  We will survive at all costs!

We are determined to get to the island before our sworn enemies, the #PhoenixCrew!

 Are you #PhoenixCrew or #BansheeCrew?  Do you think my allegiance has changed since reading the book or have I stuck with the #BansheeCrew?

Find my revew here

Today I have an awesome Q&A with Bryony all about Pheonix Rising, pirate names, inspiaration and more!

*Hands skull and cross bone flag over to Bryony*

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Hi Bryony!  Welcome to Tales Of Yesterday!

Firstly I would like to let you know that I am recruited to #BansheeCrew – we are feared and fearless, but please don’t let that affect your answers 😉

Can you tell us a little about your new book Phoenix Rising?

Phoenix Rising is a story of pirates, set in a dystopian future following some pretty massive geopolitical changes to the surface of the planet. It’s a rollicking adventure with a strong environmental message.

Find my review here

What inspired you to write the story of Toby and Ayla?

I enjoy world building and loved creating their world, and I felt that theirs’ was an important story to tell, a lot of fun and with a serious lesson at its core, about trust and relationships.

What made you set the book in a futuristic  world where fossil fuels have run out and democracy has collapsed?

Toby as a character fit best into a future world and the world I created was, to me, the logical next step to a culture as consumerist and wasteful as our own, a culture where the resources have been used up and which has been turned into a giant junk yard.

Do you see yourself in any of the characters in Phoenix Rising or have you used any of your own experiences in the story?

I imagine that all writers put parts of themselves into their characters, sometimes it’s the parts we don’t admit to ourselves, sometimes it’s the part of ourselves that would like to be an adventurous pirate, but cannot. Sometimes it is simply the parts of other people (or ourselves) that we admire, or dislike the most (depending on whether we’re writing a good guy or a bad guy). I see bits of myself in all of my characters. I just won’t tell you which bits!

What would your pirate name be?

According to this great pirate name generator, my name would be ‘Polly “Soft Heart” Peacock’. I’m not convinced frankly, I reckon I’d be way more bad ass!

http://pirate.namegeneratorfun.com/

Oh how fun!  My name is……

Mabel “Tall Story” Glynn!

“The Curse of Skull Sands!”
This pirate be sending off the navy quaking in their boots!

Arrrrrrrrrr!

One thing I loved about the book was all the piratey action and ways of living. Did you have to put much research into this or did this come naturally?

A little bit of both, I did a lot of research, I learned a lot about fighting, engineering, the environment, renewable energy sources and so on, plus I can play a mean game of Perudo. But I think a lot of what is in the book comes from my imagination and years of watching old films and reading pirate adventure stories.

You can find Bryony’s favourite literary pirates here

The big question is are you #BansheeCrew or # Phoenixcrew?

Although I love the characters on the Banshee, who are, let’s face it, way more kick ass than those on the Phoenix, the Phoenix would be a much nicer crew to live with. So I’m going to have to say #PhoenixCrew

I can’t believe you didn;t want to join me on the #BansheeCrew!!!    ATTACK!!

If you could cast your characters in a big Hollywood film adaptation who would you choose?

That’s a really hard one, especially as most of the actors I know are a bit old for the parts. Rooney Mara would be a fabulous Ayla, Josh Hutcherson would be a really great Toby because he has that blend of naïveté and heroic bravery that typifies him and Kento Yamazaki would play Hiko really well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think these choices are perfect!!

Can you give us 5 random facts we don’t know about Bryony Pearce?

I am a vegetarian

I am scared of the dark

When I’m stressed I love to read Terry Pratchett books (or Urban Fantasy)

I had a total hip replacement in 2007 and still dream about running

I have a cat and two degus, but I’d really like a dog

Could you tell us a little about your other books?

Angel’s Fury is a supernatural thriller about a girl who realises that she has lived before and that all of her lives are being manipulated by a fallen angel who is trying to destroy mankind.

The Weight of Souls is another supernatural thriller, about a London teenager who sees dead people. If a ghost touches her she has to avenge its death and when the boy who has been tormenting her for years is murdered, she has to find his killers.

I have another book coming out in November called Runners of Mars (although the title may change). Set on a terra-formed Mars it is about a teenaged girl who wants to become a ‘Runner’ against all her people’s laws.

Oh wow!  This sounds awesome! 

Growing up who inspired you into writing? Are there any Authors or books that inspired you?

I was a huge Anne Macaffrey fan and I wanted to write character driven stories that would touch people as strongly as her work touched me.

What do you think makes a good story?

There are lots of different ingredients. I don’t like things to be too black and white, I love a good anti-hero – they always draw me in. I like a story to make me think, to deal with issues without being too obvious about it. For me a good story needs to grip me by the throat and not let go until the final word.

Are there any recent works or authors that you admire or books you wish you had written?

Tom Pollack City’s Son.

Are there any authors you would like to collaborate with? Who?

I’m pretty easy going (but don’t tell that to my kids), I’d be happy to collaborate with anyone who doesn’t mind working with someone as neurotic as I am!

When starting a new book or idea what does your writing process look like?

It doesn’t look like anything at first – seriously, I just let things percolate for as long as I can, I don’t even make many notes. Then, once the story has fallen into place I write a synopsis, then I do a chapter by chapter outline. I start writing, essentially filling it in and research the heck out of everything as I’m going along.

Do you have any strange writing habits?

I don’t think so, but then all of us writers are a bit strange and I don’t have anything to compare myself too (it’s not like working in an office). Is it strange to work in your slippers and track suit bottoms with innumerable cups of cold tea by one hand?

Recently I asked some lovely UKYA authors their thoughts about does music influence their books or their characters. Did music have any influence in Phoenix Rising?

I don’t listen to music while I write, I prefer silence. That way I can get inside the characters, see what they see, hear what they hear. I’m very immersive.

Can you tell us a little about the sequel to Phoenix Rising, Phoenix Burning and when is it due out?

Phoenix Burning is due out in March and I’m just editing it now. It’s more of a heist novel, as the main characters need to steal some key components to get their solar panels working and it explores a bit more of Toby’s world and the people who live in it. There are crosses and double crosses, lots more action and the return of a character they thought long vanished from their lives.

Thank you so much for appearing on Tales today Bryony!  I can’t wait for the sequel to Pheonix Rising next year!

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About Bryony Pearce

Bryony lives with her husband and two children in a village on the edge of the Peak District. She was a winner of the 2008 Undiscovered Voices competition and is the author of Angel’s Fury and The Weight of Souls.

You can find out more about Bryony on her website here

Or check out her other books or order Phoenix Rising here or why not order it in at your local bookshop

You can also follow Bryony on twitter – @BryonyPearce

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A huge thank you to Bryony for the answers to all my probing questions and to Jessie at Stripes for sending me a copy of the book and for having me on the tour!

Check out what Bryony’s reaction to her cover reveal was here

Dont’t forget to check out Bryony’s favourite literary pirates here

Also find out which Phoenix Burning Character You Are here

I also chatted to Bryony at the #UKYAExtravaganza in February 2015 – you can find the full post and goings on here

When I spoke to Bryony at an event in Birmingham she told me a little about Phoenix Rising in her own words….warning – I asked her to describe the book in five words!!  I am a very cruel Captain Chelley!

Don’t forget to catch up on the rest of the brilliant blog tour! 

Who are your favourite pirates in literature?  Are you looking forward to reading Phoenix Rising?  Have you read it already?  Which crew would you like to be or were you assigned to?   I would love to hear from you!  Why not leave a comment using the reply button at the top of this post or tweet me on twitter using @chelleytoy !

Happy pirating!