Sunday June 10

A Q&A with Michael Grant, Author of the Trilogy BZRK

By Kate Sullivan

You know a book with the title BZRK (pronounced "berserk") is going to be a bit different. I generally like realistic, angst-filled young adult fiction, but my literary tastes must be expanding because I loved Michael Grant's BZRK. I describe it as "The Bourne Identity meets Hunger Games … with science." Impossible to put down and filled with plot twists to keep you reading late into the night, I can hardly wait to read BZRK 2.

Here's Michael Grant to give you his perspective on BZRK, writing, and his books in the GONE series.

Everyday eBook: What books made the strongest impression on you as a child?

Michael Grant: A weird mix of The Hardy Boys and Charles Dickens. Maybe Oliver Twist. There were times in my life when I wished I was an urchin.

EE: What was your favorite genre to read as a teenager?

MG: Science fiction. No question. Clarke and Heinlein and Asimov.

EE: What is one thing about you that would surprise your readers?

MG: I’ve had a very strange past but now have a very boring, middle-class-daddy life.

EE: BZRK is the first of a trilogy. Without spoilers, can you share a bit of what's next for your characters?

MG: The themes of BZRK involve the nature of reality and free will. Somewhat to my surprise BZRK 2 is a lot about love. Plus the usual intense action, tension, fear and general creepiness, of course.

EE: You are best known for your GONE series. What are the similarities and differences between that series and BZRK?

MG: I don't pull my punches in either book. I go where the story needs to go, and I let my characters be what they need to be. My characters are never all good or all bad, but I do still believe there is evil in the world and decent people -- even difficult, dangerous, unreliable decent people -- have an obligation to resist evil.

EE: Which character speaks the loudest to you? Do any of them clamor to be heard over the others?

MG: It's probably strange but I often end up identifying most closely with the female characters and with the villains. In GONE, I love writing Diana, and in BZRK it's Sadie, who takes the name Plath. In GONE, I love my bad guys -- Caine and especially psychopathic Drake. In BZRK, I'm enjoying the Armstrong Twins.

EE: What was your favorite part [of BZRK] to write and why?

MG: Actually the two opening scenes. The first is creepy and atmospheric, and that's where I kind of thought, "Oh, okay, this is how I'm writing this book." Then the second scene, which I won't describe, but which is unexpected, out-of-control action. I have a promise: You have never read anything like BZRK.

Curious to know more about BZRK and Michael Grant? You can follow Michael on Twitter @thefayz and follow the books @gobzrk

This post originally ran on Random Acts of Reading.