Interview with Neil V. Young, Author of Children of the Stars

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Children of the Stars?

Simply put: Fitting in. That’s what it’s all about when you’re young. I grew up separated from ‘normal’ kids by going to a uniform wearing private school. It doesn’t seem like that big a deal now, but when you’re young, anything that sets you apart from others is incredibly traumatic. I always felt like the outsider and it had an impact on my sense of self, so I guess I went with that, taking it to another level with Dayton. There is a lot of me in Dayton.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Children of the Stars, what would they be?

“In This Diary” by the Ataris rings in my head. The line ‘Being grown up isn’t half as fun as growing up. These are the best days of our lives’ because it kind of brings Dayton’s reverse experiences to light. He’s a grown up who’s becoming a teenager and finding the fun in it all. I’m also partial to Rush’s “Subdivisions”, an old song to be sure, but it centers on fitting in, just like my novel. “Sprawling on the fringes of the city in geometric order an insulated border in-between the bright lights and the far unlit unknown”, Dayton is literally coming in from the great unknown. Space is vast, dark and scary, as it truly is to most people on Earth. And it’s Dayton’s home. There’s also “Subdivisions in the high school halls, in the shopping malls, conform or be cast out” just as in the story, Dayton conforms and eventually gets some form of acceptance. Zara refuses, and is cast out.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Science Fiction (not sci fi) is always my go to. I do also like social and political humor, as I incorporate both in heavy doses into my writing. Because in the end, I believe science fiction changes the technology and social contracts, but human nature, desires and insecurities stay very much the same.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Lolth’s Warrior, Caliban’s War, Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash, Stormbreaker, Woken Furies, Red Seas Under Red Skies, The City of Lost Fortunes, and that’s just what’s piled on my nightstand. I think I have a problem!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Oh, wow, a good question, and one that’s not too easy to answer. I enjoyed writing so much of this book. If I had a fav, it would be when world’s collide, literally Dayton falls from orbit, crashes into a shopping mall, there’s chaos everywhere, and his mind keeps drifting back to Allyson. It kind of reminds me of those rare moments where you just see someone and think ‘that’s the one.’ I think we’ve all been there when we see someone who just intrigues us no matter what we’re going through. We might not admit it to our friends, but it happens.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I get out, I write more. For that, I like coffee houses (not Starbucks!). I think the most productivity I’ve ever had was at a stone bench in the central park in Galway, Ireland. Galway is known as the city of writers, and I picked up on that. The atmosphere does a lot for my creative juices. Long flights are great too.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

When you’re hot you’re hot, write. When you’re not, don’t write. Forcing yourself to write can only lead to frustration and doubt. Not good.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Life is full of ups and downs, changes and twists. Keeping your wits and attitude right can be hard under any of those circumstances.