Can you introduce Piper at the Gates of Dusk to us in your own words?
Piper at the Gates of Dusk is the first book in a new trilogy that is set about 20 years after the original Chaos Walking trilogy. It’s about the sons of our heroes from the first trilogy Todd and Viola, Ben and Max. Something approaches in the night sky, and it’s sending a signal that may be causing some real problems on New World… It turns out that there is an even bigger threat than they thought.
And if you had to do it in 5 words only?
A sequel to Chaos Walking!
What made you want to return to the world of Chaos Walking?
It was purely the idea. I had been very clear in my head that Chaos Walking was finished, although I always said ‘never say never’ when people asked if there would be more, while secretly thinking probably never. But then I got an idea centred around the Pied Piper, and I thought, oh, that feels really interesting and honestly, a little terrifying, because I didn’t want to go back to the trilogy and potentially screw it up. Being fruitfully nervous is the best way to write for me, because the worry that I’m going to mess it up means that I will really, really pay attention.
What do you feel has changed for YA readers now vs then? Do you feel you’re writing for a very different audience now vs the one who read Chaos Walking?
I would only say no, because I am not. The audience I’m writing for is, you know, 15 year old me. That’s the only time I’ve ever had any success. If I’ve tried to guess what a YA audience would love, then I feel like I’m always missing the mark. So I’m really just trying to write what would I have wanted to read. And it’s the only way I’ve ever connected with anybody.
Do you feel that a new reader, unfamiliar with the world of Chaos Walking, would read and enjoy Piper?
Yes, yes they would. I worked really hard to make sure that nobody felt lost. You’re not going to have a whole lot of background dumped in there, but you’re never – hopefully – going to be lost. That’s what I was really trying for.
If you could press Piper at the Gates of Dusk into the hands of one world figure, who would it be and why?
I don’t think anybody that I would press it in the hands to would give a shit about it, you know what I mean? It’s the kind of people whose mind you want to change, that are going to be suspicious of you from the start. I feel like my more effective purpose in life is to talk to the – for example – trans child and not to the person who denies they exist, because the former is worth every minute of your effort and the second is worth none of your time.
So that’s why I wouldn’t try to press it into anyone whose mind I would try to change. I would just want to get it into the hands of a gay kid or a queer kid or a trans kid or even, you know, even a straight cis kid who’s feeling low, who’s feeling different. The world figures can take care of themselves. I’m not interested in them. They’re fine. That’s not who I’m talking to.
Did you have a writing playlist for Piper? Is there a song you would say is the soundtrack to this book/ a new favourite song from it?
Yes, The Wolf by Manchester Orchestra. Not because of the words so much, it’s rarely a lyrical connection with music when I write a book
The Wolf has these very rat-a-tat-tat verses that are kind of a pile of words that are coming to you in a purposely flat style. And then it explodes in this absolutely massive chorus, and it’s just this overwhelming emotion. That’s what I like.
What’s next – can you give us a tiny hint as to the next instalment?
Let’s just say there are some surprises in store about where the missing young people might be and what might be hunting them and who might have stolen them…