Ashton, Greyson, Maxine, Yazmine, Hadley, Camden, Ginny and Calem are all on the Pelican Cableway that suddenly seems to crash. They wake up and no one is on the cable cars except for them - where is everybody else?

 

We spoke with Anum about the YA fiction that fostered their love of books, how crafting a mystery is just as difficult as solving one, and words of advice for other struggling authors.

 

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Octastro and the Pelican Cableway is a young adult sci-fi tale following eight distinct and exciting characters. Our question to you: as a young adult yourself, what books take your interest? What inspired your writing?

 

I mainly enjoy reading fantasy or mystery books. Initially, when I began writing, I wasn’t much of a reader. However, over time I’ve developed a deep love for reading. Whenever I read something that is immersive and has unexpected plot twists it makes me so eager to write.

 

I admire the talent of the authors of books such “The Inheritance Games”, “One of Us Is Lying”, those part of the Grishaverse, and so much more. Although, it was Holly Jackon’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” that introduced me to the world of YA fiction; it was a gateway to a world that I’ll always be grateful for.

 

 

Your story unravels the mystery of disappearing passengers, two extra-terrestrial aliens and the unknown importance of your lead characters. Was your mystery solved before you began writing, or did the mystery unravel for you as you wrote?

 

Creative writing has been appealing to me from a young age, whether I would make stories up in my head or lessons in school. Over the years I went through phases of beginning to write many stories simultaneously that seemed fascinating to me, but I would never finish them. This was the same situation that occurred when I began writing Octastro, but I decided to follow through with this certain tale, not initially intending to publish it.

 

As it was simply a hobby, nothing was planned, but the more I wrote, the more invested I became, and the more I considered putting the story out into the world, a plan formulated; even so, the scenario at the book’s end was an event that I had anticipated would come much later in the series – plans change.

 

 

In a world of social media and constant exposure to the good and bad of the 21st century, teenagers can often feel secluded, despite all the noise. Why do you think it is important to draw people together, into a community, and how does your book showcase this?

 

When I first became a reading fanatic I burned through several books in the period of one week and I had never felt so enlivened in so long. I enjoy fantasy literature as it immerses the reader and welcomes them to a new world. Furthermore, the community of readers a book produces forms a closeness between people as it gives them something to bond over – whether they’re happy, crushed, or maybe theorising.

 

In Octastro and the Pelican Cableway, the eight main characters are strangers that have been forced together into an unknown world. Not only do they grow closer with one another, but they also become part of the greater community of the Onopheian Galaxy, or perhaps something more realistic like being students at their new school in space, Paideia.

 

The mixing of the world as we know it and a highly fictional land create an experience which make the reader feel as though the fantastical events could happen to them, but also provides enough escape that they can forget about their worries for a few chapters; I hope that one day I am able to achieve this as an author.

 

 

At a young age, you have completed an enthralling YA fantasy tale, with a sequel coming soon. For those writers who struggle to pick up their pen, struggle to bring their ideas to the page, what words of advice would you share with them?

 

The story doesn’t have to be planned in its entirety to begin with, sometimes trying to force a story creates a block. Things don’t need to be perfect, or meet certain criteria, everybody is on their own journey and if you think that you would like to write a story, then write it.

Progress happens along the way. Be courteous to yourself and make sure that the story is enjoyable to you.

 

 

Returning to the world of Octastro in Octrastro and the Cabal of the Liberi is an exciting prospect for readers. What can you share with us about this new adventure and who we may meet along the way?

 

The sequel will include an ancient secret society and an unravelling mystery about those haunting the Onopheian Galaxy. For those who enjoy the superhero aspect of the book, this will also be built upon in Octastro and the Cabal of the Liberi – and every superhero needs a teacher.

 

 

Octastro and the Pelican Cableway is available now in paperback.