Book Divas

Frank Cottrell Boyce's book Cosmic introduces us to Liam, a small kid in a big body. Liam's 12 but looks like he's somewhere around 30. The difference between his actual age and his physical appearance leads Liam to get into a few tricky situations, one of which lands him and his classmates stranded in outer space. If you ever felt stuck between two worlds, like Liam is (in more ways than one) in Cosmic, check out the book and our interview with the author.

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1. Liam, the main character in Cosmic, is put in a lot of unique situations because of he looks a lot older than he is. A 12 year old who looks 30 years old is certainly exceptional. How did you decide to focus on the relationship between natural age and physical appearance in your book?

It was based on a true incident. We went to live abroad for a year and just before we left my 12 year old son said goodbye to his best friend. The day we got back there was a giant, mutant version of the best friend standing in the doorway. He had one of those massive growing spurts. Not only did they not look the same age, they didn't even look the same species!

2. Cosmic draws on the theme of a kid being trapped in an adult world. Was this something you ever experienced growing up? How much of your own experiences do you integrate into your work, in general?

I was always small and very young looking for my age. I was still getting cross-examined at the doors of night clubs when I was in my late twenties. I remember very clearly that thing of wanting to grow up faster, of feeling that you knew everything now, it was your turn to run the World. I do think that nowadays market forces seem to be playing on that feeling a lot, especially for girls, who are encouraged to dress and think like teens earlier and earlier. Like it says in the book - grown-ups want to be younger, children want to be older.

3. Our background research revealed that you are the father of seven children. How have your children acted as inspirations for the characters in your book?

I don't ever write about my children directly but I do spend a lot of time with them and find it easy to see the World through their eyes. For instance it makes me laugh the way wherever we go, they seem mostly to remember what the food was like.

4. What were some books you read growing up that really impacted you? What was it about these books that had this effect?

I was no great shakes at primary school. Then I got ill and had to stay in bed for a few days and that's when I read Ursula le Guinrsqus A Wizard of Earthsea - and the way she writes about magic and knowledge in that book made me see for the first time that knowing stuff and learning things was really important and exciting. That book made me clever! In a single afternoon. I've never forgotten just how much I owe and what a massive impact that book had on me.

5. Often times an author has their heart set on a title for a book, but is it changed during editing. What was your experience like with titling Cosmic?

Ohhh the title of Cosmic. I find titles really really hard. I spend ages throwing ideas for titles at my editor - there are probably more words in my title suggestion emails than in the whole book. We were living in a flat in France when I was writing it. And from my window I could see a fairground where they had that amazing ride which I describe in the book - the cage that is shot up into the air on the end of piece of elastic. I was absolutely hypnotized by it. I thought it had to be in the book and maybe the name of it could be the name of the book. I think it was called The Galaxy - which is the name of a chocolate bar in England - so that was no good but telling my editor about that somehow prompted her to think of Cosmic. So ... it's always good to share your mistakes. Sometimes your miss can show someone else the way to the target.

6. Your book Millions was made into a movie and you've been praised for your screenwriting skills. Is this what is in store for Cosmic?

I hope so! I'm working on the screenplay of Cosmic right now.

7. Finally, do you think school field trips to outer space are in our future?

School field trips to space - yes let's have them right now! I hereby offer myself as the responsible adult volunteer.