David Barker Author Interview

PAX and the Secret Swarm

Today I have a very special post. As part of the blog tour for the third book in the Pax trilogy, I have a Q&A with David Barker himself! Read on for a bit about the book, and David's fascinating answers. Also check out my posts on the previous 2 books of the series: 

PAX and the Missing Head

PAX and the Forgotten Pincher

Book Summary

As New London edges closer to war, Pax must decide what he is prepared to sacrifice to achieve the impossible – a united kingdom.

Pax and his friends head back to Scholastic Parliament for their third and final year, their focus shifting to their plans for the future. Meanwhile, the mayor’s renewed plans in his fight against the Countryside Alliance demand even greater sacrifices from the citizens of New London.

Stumbling upon secrets that could change the fate of New London forever, Pax finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens him, his friends, and everyone in the city. Can he bear to risk everything he holds dear for the thing he’s always wanted?

A high-stakes sci-fi thriller set in a fractured, futuristic London.

Interview

Where did you get your original inspiration for the character of Pax?

I think I came up with the idea for an isolated London and British civil war back when the Brexit vote was recent news and when Trump was threatening to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Then followed the idea of turning the Houses of Parliament (one of my all-time favourite buildings!) into a school. And that’s when the image of a young boy sneaking around at night with a tiny robot companion sprang to mind. Pax.

Did you have the plot for the whole trilogy set out from the start or did your characters surprise you by doing something you weren't expecting?

I had a very firm grasp of the plot to book one from the off and I knew the broad outlines of the plot for the other two books in the series. But there have certainly been some surprises along the way – including the mayor’s daughter, Megan’s role in the books and many of the sub-plots such as the Graphene Hawks. I’m being a bit vague on purpose to avoid spoilers.

It seems the environment and sustainability is a strong theme, with the vertical farms etc. Are you hoping readers will come away with a sense of wanting to help avoid this kind of future coming true?

For sure there are elements of climate change hinted at throughout the books, and even more so in my Gaia trilogy of thrillers setting during a world war for water. Of course, the whole idea of recycling old bits of tech equipment is an important part of Pax’s back story. I find it hard to write stories set in the future without incorporating these elements in them. I hope it helps readers to think about these issues without getting in the way of the story. If it manages to persuade a few people to change their habits for the better, that would be marvellous.

Please tell us about your next book or books.

I’ve just signed a two-book deal with Tiny Tree for a couple of standalone adventures. The first is a sci-fi story, based loosely on a retelling of Oliver Twist, set in a city on the Moon. It has the same dystopian feel as Pax, but with a very different setting and a very different set of problems for the hero to overcome. There will be heists and jet-pack races! The second story is a fantasy set on a planet where one half is permanently in daylight and the other is night. A young girl has to flee into darkness when her village is attacked. Guided by a strange glowing boy she has to find a mythical artefact that holds the key to rescuing her family. Think Noughts and Crosses with dragons.

And finally, what is your favourite cocktail?

I don’t drink cocktails often (sorry!) but one we’ve enjoyed recently is a Limoncello Spritz: 2 parts Limoncello, 3 parts Prosecco, 1 part soda water poured over ice. Delicious!

That Limoncello Spritz does sound delicious. And I love that Megan's character took on a life of it's own! My thanks for David for his great answers and I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading his new books when they are released. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Gargoyles series by Tamsin Mori

I devoured these two books back to back. I loved the first and was very happy to have the second ready and waiting! Callen's journey is no easy one and he faces many set backs in his attempts to be a guardian, but he's so determined to prove himself. I loved the friendships he built up with the other kids and was intrigued by all the secrets his father had kept from him. 

Read on for a bit more about the books, plus a Gargoyle cocktail.

Guardians of the Source

A crumbling mansion 

A magical source 

A living gargoyle 

Callen's Dad has always been secretive of his past but when the family have to move into his childhood home, the last thing Callen expects is a boarded-up mansion covered in gargoyles. It's enormous, the doors are nailed shut, the gardens are overgrown... and long-forgotten magic is returning. When a disgruntled gargoyle wakes up in his presence, Callen must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before it's too late. A dark threat is growing in the shadows and only a Gargoyle Guardian can stop it. 

"Magic is neither good, nor bad - it simply multiplies the dreams you feed it. Be careful what you wish for..."

The Watcher

An inexperienced Guardian. A missing kelpie. A growing threat. Callen may have befriended a gargoyle, but he's yet to complete his training. When Oculus discover that Callen has been made a Guardian, they send a Watcher to assess his skills. Callen knows that if he fails, he risks losing both his gargoyle and his new home. But satisfying the Watcher is the least of his worries. With ghasts on the prowl, a missing kelpie to find, and blighted magic spreading beyond Gargoyles Rest, Callen's friendships, his courage, and his ingenuity will all be put to the test.

The Gargoyle No2 cocktail is an appropriate choice (though I have no idea what happened to the No1 version-maybe the watcher didn't approve!) Scrape the fruit of a passionfruit into a shaker and add 30ml gin and 30ml vodka. Add a dash of sugar syrup and ice. Shake and strain into a glass.

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett & Ziggy Hanaor

Book Summary

Sometimes everything feels heavy and uncomfortable. My body, my family, my life… And the only thing that releases that weight is music…

Nel is 15 years old and life is a grind. GCSEs are exhausting, social pressures are relentless and parents and teachers are oblivious. Somehow Ludo, Nel’s handsome twin brother, seems untouched by it all, gliding effortlessly through life’s complications with a confidence and arrogance that only illuminates Nel’s insecurities. Her best friend, Kit and her playlist are pretty much the only things she’s got going for her right now.

When Ludo joins a band and Kit starts going out with the guitarist, it feels like even the tiny space Nel has carved out for herself is in peril.

But nothing is forever, and teenage life can turn on a dime. When Nel finds herself taking Ludo’s place in the band, she has to work out whether life outside the shadows is all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes you need to follow the music to find your way back to yourself.

At the start, I found it quite heartbreaking to see how Nelly's family and the other schoolkids treat her. Thank goodness for the kindred spirit in her aunt, it was great to see their relationship giving her a bit of a lifeline.

I couldn't really see why they all gave her so much of a hard time just because she tried to do something with her life and though it was ultimately positive and hopeful, Nelly let her brother off far too easily!

I liked the simple style of the illustrations, with just a couple of colours so it wasn't too extreme. The characters expressions were spot on, particularly Nelly's frustration!

I found this adaptation of an Aperol Spritz and liked it even more than the original. To make an Aperol Spritz Amplified, take a large wine glass and fill with ice. Add 2 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part blood orange soda. Personally I prefer slightly lower portion of Aperol so you can try with 1.5 parts and add a little extra prosecco.

Undercover Angel: Crash Landing by Lisa J. Allen

Phoebe is a great protagonist 💖💖💖 she's so funny though she has no idea! She's at the top of her class and so sure that her assignment will be a breeze but it's not as easy as she thought. Training isn't quite the same as real life and even with all the clues sent her way, she's still pretty oblivious to everything going on around her. Chloe is just adorable (whatever she is) and determined to be Phoebe's best friend. This book was fast-paced and lots of fun. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.

Book Summary

Trainee angel Phoebe Speedwell is determined to ace her first top-secret mission. But searching for a demon in a class full of annoying (and smelly) humans proves more challenging than she expected. When people start disappearing and she’s no closer to succeeding, Phoebe faces total failure.

With only her eccentric, cat-loving aunty and an emotional BFF for backup, Phoebe has to navigate the challenges of tween life, protect her secret identity, and ask herself – should she complete her assignment or will she make the ultimate sacrifice to save a friend?

Apologies to most people who might not have access to this lovely Greek liqueur.  But I'm writing this in Greece and had to try creating something with Mastiha. I call it a Greek Angel. Cut 4 wedges of lemon and muddle in a glass with a bunch of basil. Add 40ml Mastiha, give it a stir then fill the glass with ice. Top with tonic water.

The Invisibles by Susie Bower

Grace has no idea who she is or where she came from. All she knows is that she was found at the steps of the Skycorp building with no memory, and take to Mr smith's house where he just calls her 'Help'. Her two invisible friends do seem to know something but they are not telling! 

Similar to Grace, as the reader we are dropped into the story without knowing what is going on. I like how as the story progresses we discover what has happened just as Grace does. And what a magical world she is from, nothing like the Wasteland we find her in. The children all have different magical talents and no one ever has to grow up. I must admit I really like that idea! This is quite a fast-paced adventure which keeps you gripped, wanting to find out how it will all be resolved.

Book Summary

A magical kingdom. Four friends. One terrible mistake...

In the Land of Magic, four friends live a life filled with wonder. But there's one rule they must not never set foot on the Island of Darkness. So, when one child does the unthinkable, they must all pay a terrible price - exile to Wasteland, the bleak world where only grown-ups live.

For Grace, this fate is particularly cruel. She wakes up with no memory of her magical home, or how she ended up here - and the only clue to her past is guarded by two hostile and mysteriously invisible children.

As Grace uncovers the Invisibles' secrets, she must work out a way to return home, before Wasteland traps her forever...

I've made an Invisible Man cocktail to go with the book. Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 60ml gin, 15ml brandy, 15m triple sec and a dash of orange juice. Give it a good stir then top with ginger ale.