ISBN [Print] 9781910711002
ISBN [Epub] 9781910711026
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Interview with the author
Q. Why did you write this book?
A. It was strange. I was waiting
for copy back from an editor, not Susan, and I got
bored. I also felt the need to write a dystopian
novel, something in the Young Adult genre. I had
two provisos: strong female lead, and to address
modern day problems some, many teenagers face, 'tweenies'
also.
I wrote the first line, "Do you think about
sex all the time Daddy?" And I was
away.
Q. Do you offer advice to young
girls?
A. No, but I show this via the
characters. An early part of the book details the
rape and bullying of Claire (not a central character),
and Annaliese. Claire is fixated on social media,
begins cutting herself, snorting all sorts, and
becomes a mess. Eventually she commits suicide.
By contract, Annaliese does not have social media
or a phone, and is not bullied much, and never once
she learns Kung Fu. But, she does become a victim––to
her parents wrath. They blame her for being raped
by a gang of much older boys. Shona, faced similar,
but did and did run away. She ran to escape, to
create a new future, one she controlled. She became
April, and also a survivor.
So by focusing on these three girls: Suicide, victim,
survivor, I show how life can be, and leave the
reader to work it out themselves. One message is
clear, ditch all antisocial media.
Q. Whose your favourite character?
A. Whoa! That's a toughie. Satan.
Q. You mean the dog?
A. Yes, but joking. He was fun
to write, the toffee chocolate episode especially.
Rather than pick a single character, I would prefer
to focus on how those characters developed throughout
the story, due to the ways they interacted. Rosa,
Shona's new mother, Teves, her substitute father.
The transformation of Shona/April herself. Writing
it became a great thrill.
But it was also a means to send a clear message
through to our next generation, via what befell
the girls. Annaliese became a victim, her friend
committed suicide, but Shona stood up for herself.
Those three options remain open to any kid in the
modern world, all one has to do is choose.
Q. And your message is?
A. Stand up to bullies, and if
they upset you, get rid of social media, even your
cell phone. Don't cut yourself, cut your bullies.
If you don't know how to, learn how to.
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