A Q&A Interview with Alex English
Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond is the first in a new series written by Alex English, and is a proper, honest-to-goodness children’s adventure story, much liked by Books for Keeps. Alex answered our questions about her new book.
Could you sum up Sky Pirates for us and tell us about the inspiration for the story.
Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond is the story of 11-year-old Echo, who has grown up as an orphan in the secretive city of Lockfort and runs away in an airship in search of her mother.
The original idea for the walled city with closed gates came from Brexit, but I was also very much influenced by the many fantasy adventure stories I read as a child. I tried to write the book I wanted to read, with crazy contraptions, strange creatures, pirates, pickles and lashings of adventure.
Prior to this, you’ve been best known for picture books – did you always want to write longer stories, and what was it prompted you to write Sky Pirates now?
Yes, I did always want to write novels too, but it’s taken me a bit longer to get them published! I like writing the two forms – they’re very different and I find when I get stuck on one sort I can switch to the other and refresh myself, so I plan to keep writing both.
There are lots of things driving Echo’s decision to set off on the adventure. Which would you say is the most important of these, and how much of an influence was it on the structure of the story?
Although Echo does want to help Professor Daggerwing, it’s really the search for her mother that is the key motivator for everything she does, and it’s that search that drives the plot and causes Echo to take risks.
Do you have a favourite scene in the book? If so, can you describe it and tell us why you like it?
I had great fun writing all the action scenes and chases, but my favourite scene is when they witness the butterfly migration in the Violet Isles. It’s where Echo really starts to understand Horace and it’s a real turning point in their relationship.
You studied on the Bath Spa University MA Writing for Young People. What would you say is the most important thing you learned, and how much of a help was the course in writing Sky Pirates?
The course was an incredible experience. The workshops really helped me raise my game because the standard of everybody’s work was so high (my workshop group of seven are now all published). And of course all the tutors are working writers bursting with knowledge. I made some great writing friends and I generally polished and leveled up my writing. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Are you working on a new adventure for Echo and her friends?
Yes, I’m currently working on the second book in the Sky Pirates series where we learn more about the other pirate clans and go in search of dragon gold!
Sky Pirates is published by Simon and Schuster, 978-1471190773, £6.99 pbk.
