Blog Tour: Moon Flight
I remember first hearing Gill Lewis speak at Hay Festival in June 2011. Her passion for wildlife and nature was infectious and when she signed my book, she noticed my ‘Monkey World’ fleece and we chatted about sponsoring animals- a chimpanzee for me and an osprey for her. Since then, I have seen her many times and have enjoyed reading- and recommending- all of her books so I am particularly delighted to be taking part in the Blog Tour for her latest, ‘Moonflight’, a captivating adventure story about a timid rat called Tilbury and his sister, Nimble-Quick. It is the quest of a lifetime, full of peril and challenges, and one which allows Tilbury to discover what really matters in life.
I asked Gill some questions…
1) You are well known for writing superb books which reflect your passion for wildlife, the importance of our relationship with nature and empathy for others. ‘Moonflight’ is a fantastic story- but a very different style. If it’s not too much of a cliched question, can you tell me what inspired you to write this heart-warming quest?
Many of my other stories are directly about conservation of species and show human protagonists where the animal is not anthropomorphized at all. For Moonflight I wanted to use rats to portray humans and explore aspects of our humanity; those of greed, jealousy and quest for power. Essentially the rats are so anthropomorphised that they are humans thinly veiled as rats.
We humans are a strange species, putting value on rocks and minerals from the ground, eg gold, diamonds etc. We tell stories about these precious metals and gemstones that give us status and power to have them in our possession. I think Moonflight was sparked by one story in particular, one of the cursed Koh-i-Noor diamond, a gemstone with many legends and a history of bloodshed, lies and deceit. This diamond was ‘acquired’ by Queen Victoria from a eleven-year-old maharaja, Duleep Singh. It is said it was gained by deception, though I wonder if Queen Victoria convinced herself with her own story that it was legally gained. It has a curse such that no male heir to the throne will ever wear it. I wonder if surely the curse is just another story, but one where the true narrative of bloodshed cannot be hidden but is a warning for all those who seek the diamond’s power. In Moonflight I wanted Tilbury to go in search of the truth that runs beneath so many stories, and he must find the true owners of the legendary Cursed Night, a black diamond that holds the fate of all the Dockland Rats.
2) Tilbury and his little sister, Nimble-Quick, are very different personalities. Which would you say you are most like- and why?
They are indeed very different. Tilbury is timid, risk averse and anxious. Nimble-Quick is fierce, loyal and determined. She knows her own mind and is not afraid to speak out. Tilbury fears the unknown, whereas Nimble-Quick yearns for adventure.
I would like to think I am more like Nimble-Quick. I am not afraid to speak out about issues that concern me. But perhaps in reality I’m a little more like Tilbury, a little anxious and a planner for all disaster eventualities. And as I get older, I’m finding myself quite content in my own company, happy to spend my time walking with my dogs and swimming in the cold Atlantic Sea and turning my mind inwards to the infinite adventures and journeys of the realms of the imagination.
3) Although I always prefer a book, there is no denying that ‘Moonflight’ would make an incredible film. Would you be happy if this were to happen – and would you prefer an animated version or one with actors?
I would LOVE for Moonflight to be made into an animated film. The rat-based films Ratatouille and Flushed Away both come to mind. If I could go back in time, I think I would have loved to have studied animation. I think the story would work well to be made into a film for Virtual Reality to place the viewer directly into the world of Tilbury.
4) Are you planning to write more adventures set in this world? (Please say yes!)
Not yet, but writing the story freed me up to write in a much more organic way. Usually, I have some idea of the plot for a story, based on months of research, but for Moonflight I just started writing and let Tilbury lead the way. I also love world-building a different reality and hope to explore this in coming writing adventures.
5) When reading for pleasure yourself do you prefer poetry, prose or non-fiction?
I read a lot of non-fiction and narrative non-fiction, often for research, or because they cover topics that I’m interested in. I have enjoyed Wyl Menmuir’s Draw of the Sea. I do read poetry but find some poetry difficult to access. My favourite recent poets are Rebecca Elson with her anthology Responsibility to Awe and AF Harrold’s poems and lyrical writing. I love Harrold’s book A Song from Somewhere Else illustrated by Levi Pinfold. I find fiction hard to read when I am writing the first draft of a story because another person’s protagonist starts filling my head. I also find I have so little time to read, and really enjoy audiobooks so that I can listen to a story while driving, cleaning the house or dog walking. Anne Booth’s Small Miracles is a fabulous story.
6) If you could only recommend ONE book to young readers, which book would it be -and why?
Shaun Tan’s Tales from the Inner City. The book has glorious surreal art and wonderful fable-like stories that we can all relate to. The art is so rich that a reader could become lost in their own stories about the artwork too. The stories are varied, short enough for a quick read to dip into, or long enough to curl up with a hot drink and cake, to savour the richness of the tales. One of my favourite stories is a bittersweet one about an Orca in the sky. To me it’s a reflection of the disconnect we have from the natural world, and the cruelty of keeping captive marine mammals.
7) And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?
A most important question. My safe bet is always a coffee and walnut cake - I love the intense coffee flavour and the earthy walnuts. However, I do like a good carrot cake with juicy raisins and plenty of cream cheese frosting. But if I push the boat out, I always go for a hummingbird cake with the tropical flavours of pineapple and banana.
Thank you so much to Gill for joining me today and to David Fickling Books for inviting me to take part in this Blog Tour. I must investigate hummingbird cake!
‘Moonflight’ could make an excellent class read- or Guided Reading text- perfect for capturing imagination and offering plenty to discuss and enjoy.
Moonflight Gill Lewis
David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788452571
You can read my review of Gorilla Dawn here, A Wisp of Wisdom here, A Story Like the Wind here, Willow Wildthing here and Swan Song here.
