Neil Taylor on Anticipation and thrillers for tweens and teens

What inspired you to write Anticipation?

Oo, that’s quite a complicated one. It certainly did not pop into my head fully formed. It was a mixture of ideas that gradually came together. I was working on a story idea around ‘sliding doors moments’ where seemingly small inconsequential decisions at the time change the course of a person’s future. Separately, I had been interested in the fact that human brains are in many ways like a computer running a set of algorithms. This means if someone can understand your algorithms, they can predict and manipulate your behaviour – we are all much more predictable than we like to think! Also, being in the software industry, I was intrigued by the way employees, focused on doing their job and being good corporate citizens, can sometimes create ethically questionable outcomes but rarely stop to question the morality or consequences of what they are doing. Finally, I read a piece of research (which is quite old now) about how using just Facebook ‘likes’, artificial intelligence can predict aspects of your personality better than your close family! This brought everything together, and I wondered if artificial intelligence had access to your entire digital footprint (and those around you), how much could it predict about you?

How do you think you would have coped in Riya’s situation?

There is definitely a little bit of me in Riya in the way she is a little impulsive and tends to ignore good advice thinking she knows better. However, she’s probably braver than me, and cleverer, so in her situation I might not have got away with some of the decisions she makes!

How did researching and writing the book impact how you feel about social media?

I probably feel that greater regulation and oversight are needed than I did before writing the book. Social media can be fun and useful, but it can also be a black hole that sucks you into a downward spiral. In the book, I have created an evil maniacal villain running a social media company. In real life, I don’t think these people are actively ‘evil’, and I don’t think social media is inherently ‘bad’. The problem is the incentives of business often send good people stumbling into creating morally questionable outcomes.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and how it unfolds?

Awareness. The biggest message I have is ‘know your own weaknesses’. On the other side of your smartphone are literally thousands of very smart developers all trying to figure out ways of keeping you in their apps for longer and giving up more data about yourself. We all have the potential to be addicted to our smartphones, and thinking ‘that doesn’t apply to me’ means you are probably at the most risk because you are unlikely to recognize this behaviour in yourself.

There is a lot going on behind the scenes of the apps that we use and the information we give away for free. AI is trying to figure us all out, to ‘hack’ our behaviour. Some of that can be good, some bad, but I think we need to be aware of it, and question ourselves. The problem is humans tend to have a far greater reaction to negative stimuli than positive. AI figured this out years ago, and now it preys on this and can lead you to very dark places if you are not careful. I think we could all benefit from standing back occasionally and questioning our use of phone apps.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Riya?

It is still a work in progress, but here goes... We join Riya as her team strives to use their prediction technology to gently steer society towards a better future. However, there is a shadow looming on the global horizon that is not so gentle and threatens to have a far greater negative effect on the world’s future than Riya’s quiet little positive interventions. But is this foe too big for Riya’s team to take on by themselves? Some of the same characters may sneak back into the story to help (and hinder) Riya on her journey.

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

It started when I began researching books for my boys to read and found I really enjoyed reading books for the YA age group myself! There is something about YA stories that makes for a compelling and satisfying read; the stories are pretty much adult stories, but with a bit more urgency, less waffle, and more action than equivalent adult books. I just hope I managed to hit the right note with Anticipation.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

Coffee shops. In my day job, I work from home in my little attic office, and sometimes it begins to feel a bit like a prison. So, when it comes to writing in my spare time, I can’t face spending even more time tucked away in ‘that room’. So, I head out to somewhere that feels more enjoyable (and who doesn’t enjoy Coffee and cake?).  Writing Anticipation has made a small fortune for Starbucks! Coffee shops have a unique hustle-and-bustle ambience but in a way that is not distracting. Therefore, I tend to write amongst the Uni students in the coffee shops of Durham.

Which other thrillers for early teens would you recommend our subscribers read next?

For a fast-moving sci-fi thriller try The Loop by Ben Oliver about a group of teenagers locked up in a futuristic high-security prison.

The Island by CL Taylor follows a group of friends stranded on an island where someone starts to make each of their worst fears come true.

Happy Head by Josh Silver is an excellently written book about Seb, who is selected to take part in a program to end an epidemic of teenage unhappiness.

For a gritty urban thriller try Orangeboy by Patrice Lawrence.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder has some very well-drawn characters and witty fresh dialogue. If you like that, then try Running Girl by Simon Mason, about Garvie Smith, a genius, but a total waster, who investigates the murder of his ex-girlfriend.

Copies of our Anticipation pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

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