Phoenix

Product Information

If you want to know more about where the idea for Phoenix came from, here's something I wrote about it:

A fantastical novel written from the perspective of a Muslim boy, Tyger is set in a London where the British Empire still rules, and engages directly with SF's Middle Eastern heritage. My name is Cody and I'm an eleven year old. I loved your book phoenix and got really into it but when I found out there was no second book I was in tears, literally. I have some good ideas on how to re-open the story in the second book and it would be amazing if you used one of them.urn:lcp:phoenix0000said:epub:e43ef22d-ba79-4da4-9699-c86dca62563a Foldoutcount 0 Identifier phoenix0000said Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t76v1vg1p Invoice 1652 Isbn 9780763688509 We understand you are very busy, however we would like to ask you some questions about Phoenix (if you have the time to respond).

What an amazing thing for an author to hear - thank you so much! I cried a lot while writing Phoenix too, so I'm glad you had the same reaction while reading it! You might remember coming to our school before (in January 2016 when we were in Year 1) and we’d love it if you could come again. All in all, your books have been a huge inspiration to me (even leading to me doing a small amount of my own story writing when I have the time). I guess there isn't really anything else I can say, other than thank you so much andEvery writer is different, and every book is different. But for me, it's been 5 years (Varjak), 3 years (Outlaw), 7 years (Phoenix), and 9 years (TYGER!) To Barry - thank you so much for that amazing comment, and please thank Mili for me too! Phoenix took 7 years to write, but things like that make all the hard work worthwhile!

The truth about Phoenix is that I was just trying to write a story I wanted to read myself. I've always loved space stories, from Star Wars onwards, and wanted to write a really great one for young readers. Phoenix is an epic story about a human boy who has the power of a star, and an alien girl who is the most brilliant warrior in the galaxy. Together, they have to find a way to save the galaxy from the war that's destroying it: the war between humans and aliens. An exciting and involved space adventure which engages with big themes . . . Atmospheric illustrations are a bonus. Peters BooksPhoenix had many sources of inspiration, from science fiction films, to the science of space, to the most ancient mythology. I wrote about some of these inspirations here: To answer your question - has she read "Varjak Paw and The Outlaw Varjak Paw yet? They might sound very different to Phoenix - cats and dogs, rather than humans and aliens - but they come from the same place! And have you read my Varjak Paw books yet? They might look quite different to Phoenix, being about cats rather than aliens, but deep down, I think they have a lot in common with Phoenix. If you liked Bixa, I think you'll like Holly too! Phoenix is so much about love and about connections and about fitting into the great space of the world(s), that I am a little bereft at finishing it. It is - it is something. I love the fact that you want to read more - thank you! I don't have any plans to write a sequel to Phoenix myself, but I would be totally honoured if YOU were to write your own sequels! Some of the first stories I ever wrote were inspired by other people's stories. If you'd like to do that, here's something you might find interesting - a blog I made about the writing process, with lots of tips, and an early draft of the opening of Phoenix:

A powerful story of great scope and ambition, from an expert storyteller" – The Independent On Sunday Like the brightest light from the furthest star, this book is a creation to behold . . . It is a breathtaking epic space adventure that will have you gripped Vincent Ripley, Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books A brief diversion before I begin this review. Once, a long time ago, I went to see Persepolis in the cinema. For those of you who don't know it, it was an animated adaptation of a wonderful graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi: - The Complete Persepolis. The film is glorious in many, many ways but there was one particular scene which tore me open and stands with me now. Marjane is on her way to study in Austria. Her parents wish her well at the airport. Farewells are said. Smiles. Hugs.So my message to your students is to think about what story they would most like to have, if they could have any story at all - and then to write those stories themselves! Here's a blog I made to help young people with the process - it covers everything from having ideas, to writing first drafts, to editing them. I hope they find it useful!