My next author interview is with P.J. Sky, the author of A Girl Called Ari and Ari Goes to War!
Tell us about yourself! What would you like readers to know about you?
P.J. Sky: I’m P. J. Sky, author of A Girl Called Ari and Ari Goes To War. I’m currently working on Ari’s third adventure.
I’m from the UK, and I’ve written from a young age. I’ve always been a fan of science fiction, but I’m also completely in love with the written word. I feel like a novel is a specific thing - it’s not just a story, it’s the exploration of an idea.
What book or books have most influenced you as a writer?
P.J. Sky: I’m hugely influenced by the classics - Crime & Punishment, The Catcher in the Rye, Jane Eyre, Breakfast At Tiffanies, and science fiction works like Brave New World and Dune. I love the dystopian fiction of J. G. Ballard, particularly his apocalypse works. And I’m a big fan of The Hunger Games. But it was reading Blood Red Road by Moira Young that really got me writing post-apocalypse fiction.
Alexis: Awesome! I actually love reading classics as well. I think it’s always a benefit to a writer to read great literature. I’ve never read Blood Red Road, but it sounds interesting.
What are some tropes of fiction in your genre that you love/hate? Why?
P.J. Sky: That’s a hard one to answer, because I think most of the main tropes, like government control, environmental disaster, survival, revolution, these all remain just as relevant today as they did fifty years ago and there are almost infinite ways they can still be explored. I think though, if you’re an author who wants to explore these themes, then you should have a reason to explore them and not just use them as a backdrop.
Cover of A Girl Called Ari by P.J. Sky
Who is your favorite character in your book? What do you like about them? (or, which character do you hate most and why)
P.J. Sky: With A Girl Called Ari, it’s Ari. As I was developing the book I had the setup, the theme, and I’d stranded my main character out in the wasteland and I thought, “Who’s she going to meet?” and it was like Ari just walked out of the wasteland and into my head and she just took over the narrative. She was hard to work with and wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want to do, but I couldn’t have written the book without her. In the end, I had to name the book after her.
With Ari Goes To War, I’ve a real soft spot for Keshia. She’s a new character to the series and I hope readers like her. Again, this time it was sort of the other way around. As war waged across the wasteland, I had Ari taking refuge in the town of Bo - a sort of wasteland Casablanca, and I thought, “Who’s she going to meet?” and it was Keshia.
What are you doing to de-stress during the pandemic? Is there any coping mechanism you’d recommend (or NOT recommend)?
P.J. Sky: I feel like I’ve coped pretty well during the pandemic. Basically, I’ve written, and writing has been a wonderful way to escape into my head. I’ve also taken up yoga and long walks.
What do you like to do other than read or write? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
P.J. Sky: I play piano slightly better than I play guitar, which I play slightly better than I play bass, and a lot better than I play the drums, but I do have a drum kit I can hop onto whenever I need to make a lot of noise. I’m sure the neighbors understand - I’m usually very quiet.
Alexis: I’m a musician, too. I mostly play violin and viola, but I’ve also recently learned ukulele and a little guitar. I do think that music’s a great way to relax and it’s so fun.
Cover of Ari Goes to War by P.J. Sky!
What TV shows/Movies do you like to watch or stream?
P.J. Sky: I think I’m a lifetime Buffy fan. But recently I’ve been enjoying Stranger Things, The Boys, The Chilling Tales of Sabrina, and the new season of Star Trek Discovery. I also loved The Mandalorian.
Alexis: Haha, I love all those shows too! Right now, I’ve been enjoying WandaVision as well.
What advice do you have for other writers or people just getting started in writing?
P.J. Sky: Do it because you love writing and let the writing be its own reward. Never stop learning. And learn to love editing, don’t assume you can leave it to someone else. But also, don’t assume you can do it all yourself. And remember, a first draft is only ever the stepping stone to the second.
How do you choose what books you want to read?
P.J. Sky: I tend to read a wide variety of genres. I think it’s important for a writer to read beyond their genre - a good book is a good book whatever the genre. My bookcase is literally all over the place.
What technology or innovations or scientific discoveries have inspired your work?
P.J. Sky: When I developed A Girl Called Ari I had this idea - that science fiction stories are full of technology and innovations, but what if I treated the human experience in the same way? So in my novels there are no technological innovations, or at least not many, but instead there’s a real focus on the human experience. Maybe this means the book isn’t really science fiction? But I feel like I’ve approached it in a science fiction way.
More About P.J. Sky:
Books: A Girl Called Ari and Ari Goes to War