What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?
I was watching a documentary about polar bears, not that there are any in the book; sorry if you love the cute brutes. Suddenly, the idea sprang into my head about ice. What better than very cold ice, and what would be even better was if the ice wasn’t on Earth, but just hanging around Jupiter. Of course, I then had to imagine all sorts of things happening on this extremely cold moon. It just so happens that after the nature programme, I saw the local news about an unexploded WW2 bomb on a beach in the UK, near where I live. Naturally, the bomb led me to a gun, and the rest is history, or rather the future.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be?
Reggie and Wilson would probably appreciate “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. Marie is more classical in private, but would be best summed up by “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas. As for Matt, he would love anything as his theme tune, but he would really enjoy “Hey Ya!” by Outkast.
What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I read anything and everything, but my go-to is science fiction, and for non-fiction it is about myths, legends, and history. I write the same as I read, mainly sci-fi or speculative fiction, but I am a multi-genre author; I write what I’m interested in. I’m in the process of publishing a new book of Silly Rhymes and Verse. After that, I’m writing another sci-fi, but maybe in poetic form. I’m undecided, but I do like the idea, which means it is likely to happen in the near future.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
There are a lot of essays from ancient Greeks and Romans; I seem to add one whenever I buy a fiction book. I’m about to start reading a series from A.G. Riddle. You see, when I like an author, I end up buying everything they have written and then engrossing myself in their worlds for a few months—that is what I am about to do reading-wise.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
It’s not so much a scene; I enjoy writing the banter between characters and how they interact. I love writing dialogue; it can get a little spicy. But people in real life swear when things get tough, or when they experience highly unexpected things. I like my characters to be real, salt-of-the-earth types.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
I can’t write in my dressing gown; it seems to sap my imagination, and I’m more likely to have a nap after lunch.
Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?
I have several mottos: my first is “Go for it,” the second is “Be kind to all life,” and the third is “laugh as often as possible.” I could go on, but you can see they are about being in the moment.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
That they giggled, or, even better, they guffawed while on the train or a bus to work, and other passengers looked at them and wondered what was so funny.
