Ali Sparkes author interview

TL;DR

Author Ali Sparkes discusses her Night Speaker series inspired by insomnia and her fascination with animals and nature, sharing research anecdotes and tips for young writers.

Transcript

welcome back to the Oxford Reading Hive headquarters. I'm delighted to welcome the author of the engrossing Night Speaker series, which you can see in front of you, the creator of the COLA Club and the SWITCH series is of course the magnificent Ali Sparkes. Thank you so much for coming in. We've got some questions so I'm gonna dive straight in. Oki... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Ali Sparkes draws inspiration from personal experiences, such as insomnia, to create unique and compelling storylines.
• 🖐️ Animals and nature play a significant role in Sparkes' writing, adding depth and an otherworldly element to her stories.
• ✍️ Extensive research is an essential aspect of Sparkes' writing process, enabling her to incorporate fascinating facts into her narratives.

Questions & Answers

Q: What inspired the concept of children waking up at the same time every night in the Night Speaker series?

The idea stemmed from Ali Sparkes' personal experience with insomnia and the fascinating alternate reality that accompanies being awake while everyone else is asleep.

Q: How has Sparkes been influenced by animals and nature in her writing?

Sparkes has a deep fascination with the animal world and incorporates elements of animal communication, such as pheromones, body language, and instinct, into her books.

Q: Can you share any intriguing research anecdotes from your writing process?

Sparkes shares interesting facts about ants farming aphids for a sugary drink and how the size of scorpions' claws determines their venomousness. She also mentions the possibility of human cryogenic preservation based on freezing scorpions.

Q: Are any characters in Sparkes' books based on real people, and how do they react when they discover they are in her books?

Sparkes admits that some characters are based on friends, family, and teachers. While she sometimes informs them, others may not know unless they recognize themselves in the stories.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ali Sparkes was inspired to write the Night Speaker series by the eerie experience of insomnia and the magical atmosphere of the late hours.

• Animals and nature have been a significant inspiration for Sparkes, who wishes for better communication with the animal world and incorporates animal communication elements in her books.

• Sparkes conducts extensive research for her books, including fascinating facts about ants farming aphids for a sugary drink and the different capabilities and behaviors of scorpions.

• Sparkes often bases characters on real people, with names changed, including friends, family, and even enemies. Her own experiences and those of her parents informed the characters of Freddie and Polly in Frozen in Time.