When work experience student Sam picked up a copy of Out of This World by Sonya Spreen Bates, he was quickly drawn into a fast-paced middle grade story about family, fitting in, and finding your place in the world.

In a special blog post, Sam interviews Sonya about the book, her writing process, and her tips for budding young authors out there.

Read the interview in full below.

Why did you choose to write a book about space and aliens? Was there a message you hoped to get across in the story?

The setting of space came about through the development of the characters. I had an idea about writing about twins who were completely different, and one feeling like he/she didn’t fit into the family – and in so doing, came up with the idea of them being different species. I was excited by this idea, as I’ve always held a fascination for space and the idea of other inhabited planets, and the story developed from there. While there was no intended message for the story, I did want to explore the themes of isolation felt when no one seems to understand you.

Does Out of This World have any personal representations to you? Are any characters or events based on real life?

None of the characters or events are based on real life, (alas, I haven’t got an interstellar cruiser hidden in my garage), but as a teen, I definitely experienced that feeling of being alone, not having anyone who really ‘got’ me, the anxiety of pressure to be like others, or rather to be how others perceived me. It took me a long time to learn to just be myself.

Did you have any different ideas about how the plot would unfold? Would you consider a sequel?

I didn’t map out the plot ahead of time, it really unfolded of its own accord, following the characters’ natural inclinations, so it really took its own direction. However, I have had thoughts on a sequel and how that might unfold. Stay tuned …

What do you think makes Out of This World appealing to readers? Who would you recommend it to?

I think the adventure and imagination of space travel and adventure as well as the humour of Hali and Zeb make this book appealing to readers. And yet it’s not just a wild caper. Hali’s experiences allow her to explore her feelings and gain some insight not only into herself, but into her family as well and find out what family means to her. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s interested, but it would likely be most suited to 10 to 12 year olds. 

Why did you choose to write this book from the perspective of the extraterrestrials?

The quick answer is: it was fun! Developing the culture of a new planet and a new species was an amazing challenge. It was like a blank slate that I could write on – their history, their development as a society, their physical and intellectual characteristics, education, housing, transportation, etc. etc., not to mention the planet itself. Three moons! But also, it gave me a chance to look at Earth and humans (a future version that I envisioned) from an outsider’s perspective, and that was also appealing.

What was your writing process for this book? How long did it take to finish the draft?

As with most of my novels, the story started from the characters, then the setting, the opening scene, and then went on from there. I rarely outline a plot ahead of time. I have the initial scenes, as I said, and a vague idea of where it might go, and usually how it ends, and let the rest sort itself out as I write. I’m not a quick writer. I go through many, many drafts. So while the initial draft took about six months, once I had the basis of the story, I then had to work out all the details. And for Out of This World, there were many, many technical issues to work out (regarding space travel and the Wanderer itself). Luckily I have a very tech-savvy pilot and computer programmer for a brother and he was extremely helpful. I also had to make sure I had all the details of my alternate world correct and consistent, so it was several years before I was happy enough to approach publishers.

Did you have any problems such as writer’s block while writing Out of This World? How did you deal with them?

My writing of first drafts is always a bit slow, and once I’ve finished a section or chapter, I often have to go out for a walk or do something mundane like hanging out the wash to let myself think about what the characters would do next. It’s not always conscious thinking either. Often I just need to let my brain be quiet for a while and let my inner self mull it over before going back to the desk.

What is the best part about writing a book? Additionally, what has been your favourite moment since you started writing?

Personally, I love the drafting process – after the first draft is done. Rereading the work, honing it, rethinking it, even if it means deleting whole chapters and re-writing. Making the story the best it can be is what I love best. My favourite moment? I’m not sure there has been one. Writing, for me, goes in ebbs and flows, with emotional highs and lows, and every book is different. Seeing a book in print after years of hard work is certainly a high, as well as talking to audiences of enthusiastic readers. And also the excitement of starting a new project, knowing you have an idea that you can work with and spin into a great story. They are all moments that bring great joy within the writing process.

What made you decide to become an author?

It wasn’t a conscious decision. I’ve always loved to write and when I was home with my children when they were toddlers, I took the opportunity to do my first writing course – by correspondence back then, as there was no such thing as Zoom or websites. Even email was in its infancy! But in doing that course, I was encouraged to approach publishers to try to get my work in print and was successful in getting a couple of short stories published, That’s really what pushed me over the edge from writing for myself to trying to get published. I kept writing and kept submitting and although it was a long process, eventually it led to having a number of books out on the shelves.

What advice would you give to young people considering becoming authors?

If you love to write, then write. And write what you love. Don’t try to please anyone else with your writing. It is your story, and you know how it should unfold. Not that you shouldn’t ask other people’s opinions – critique is invaluable and can help you look at your writing in a different way, it’s how you improve it. But ultimately it is your decision. And know that writing is a life-long skill and you will always be learning and developing your skills. Be persistent. It’s worth it!