Lucas Maxwell Discusses A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once: Inspiration & Identity

What inspired you to write A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once?
I was inspired by my own childhood. Growing up in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada, my brother and I went through some unique experiences and challenges and I wanted to try and weave these events into a story that people would enjoy.  

Are any of the characters or events based on real people and their experiences?
Elias is essentially me at fourteen, a lot of the things he faces in the novel are based on my experiences growing up. I wanted the novel to be as authentic as possible and I really hope I've achieved that!

Why did you decide to set the story in the 90s? How might it have been different if it was set in the present day?
I set the story in 90s because I wanted it to be as true to my own experiences growing up - I was fourteen years old in the early 90s and I drew on that experience. If I'd set it during the present day I think mobile phones would have played a much larger part in how Elias copes and experiences things. My personal opinion is that it's much harder to be a teen now than when I was growing up, so I'd probably make the challenges he faces much more vicious. 

We were really struck by the depiction of the weather and the landscape. What role would you say they play in the story?
I wanted the weather to be its own character because it plays a huge role in the daily life of a Canadian. People plan their lives around the weather. We used to listen to the radio at five in the morning in the winter with our fingers crossed hoping they'd announce that our school was closed due to slippery roads. A snow day is the best thing a child can experience, especially if you get a few in a row. The weather is also dangerous in Canada, the cold, combined with the wind, can create situations that are deadly and I really wanted to make the weather constantly threatening the characters. 

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Elias and his family?
I'd love to say that his family would be a model one, that everything is wrapped up with a neat little bow, however, real life isn't like that. I wanted the story to be a realistic as possible so in my view, it's very possible that Elias has a lot more struggles, and serious ones. But that is what will help him survive, and he's got his family looking out for him, so it won't be all hardships. I'd like to think that he works hard at being a writer and dives headfirst into standup comedy. 

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?
I didn't have a particular age group in mind when I wrote this. I don't have any training as a writer, I wasn't guided by anyone other than my own gut instinct. I just wanted to write a story that I was proud of. I hope that adults enjoy it just as much as kids, I think writing with a particular age group in mind is setting a trap for yourself in many ways. 

Do you have a favourite place to write?
I don't know if they are called this anymore but I like to sit in a La-Z-boy chair with my feet up and my laptop propped up on a pillow. Writing this, it makes me sound like I'm 97 years old but that is the place I'm most comfortable writing. 

Which other real-world stories for young people would you recommend our subscribers read next?
Solo by Gráinne O'Brien is the best YA novel out there, it's already won several awards and I'm confident it will be winning many more. More importantly, it's loved by the teens in our school which is the true testament of a great book, when the toughest critics around stick with it. On the Edge by Nicola Garrard is also a stunning novel, and I loved Glasgow Boys by Margaret McDonald!