S.A. Gales on iNSiDE and sci-fi thrillers for early teens

Welcome to our exclusive Q&A with S.A. Gales, the author behind iNSiDE, a gripping new dystopian thriller perfect for early teen readers. Set within the mysterious confines of an ever-shifting indoor city, iNSiDE follows Naya as she battles for acceptance, confronts dangerous secrets, and discovers that the world outside her walls is far more complex - and beautiful - than she ever imagined. Here S.A. Gales shares the inspiration behind this unmissable adventure that challenges perceptions and celebrates the courage it takes to truly see the world around us, and shares some brilliant recommendations for more sci-fi thrillers for early teen readers.

What inspired you to write iNSiDE?

I wrote iNSiDE when I was studying for my doctorate. I entered Glasgow Uni with a background in architecture and a passion for ruins, but I was struggling to find an idea. One day I went on a hike with my best friend (we decided to do a portion of the West Highland Way – from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy). Near the end of the walk, we came across an abandoned caravan. Something about this caravan, lying open, discarded, and forgotten in the midst of the beautiful Scottish landscape made me pause. I took pictures and moved on but that caravan burrowed into my mind. I kept thinking about how it lay there forgotten and then I started noticing ruins in my own neighbourhood. I’d somehow ‘unseen’ them up until that point, and that was the first kernel of the novel. If we can ‘unsee’ ruined buildings, what happens if we decide to ‘unsee’ something larger – like the Outdoors?

What do you think is the most important thing Naya learns from the Outsiders?

Naya grows up ‘learning’ so much from the Academy and her mother. She’s taught to fear the unknown; empathy is weakness; and family is earned. I think being with the Outsiders is not so much about ‘learning,’ but unlearning the toxic mind frame that had been drilled into her. She learns to see her own worth, not as the General’s daughter or an Academy cadet, but as herself.

What would you say it means to be monstrous? Which characters, if any, would you say exhibit those qualities?

In addition to ruins and forgotten spaces, the concept of ‘uncanniness’ fascinates me. It is the idea that something is strange or different but there’s still a familiarity there, and that juxtaposition creates this sense of discomfort or eeriness. Monsters are often portrayed as being unhuman – vampires, orcs, minotaurs – but for me monsters aren’t defined by appearance. It is the creature that chooses, sometimes unwillingly, to shed its humanity that is monstrous.

LOL – I think we can probably all agree that the General is the monster of this story. Her lack of empathy and her relationship with Naya all hint at this humanity that’s been stripped away. She’s been one of the most interesting characters to discover and I will just say, she wasn’t always this way.

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story and the version of the world it is set in?

The idea of ‘unseeing’ happens every day. We unsee spaces, places, and even people. We blind ourselves to things that make us uncomfortable and it’s a completely normal reaction. But we need to be aware of it. I hope that readers will start to look at their environment, their lives, and their world and really see everything: the good and sometimes the bad. It might be uncomfortable but my sister once told me that I need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. She was right. Discomfort is where growth happens.

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Naya and her community?

Naya’s story is just beginning. She's outside-outside for the first time. She is driven to reunite Zayn, Anice and Ris with their families and to break the Insiders out of the city - to show them another way of life. But her Mum is still very much in charge of Emas. The two of them are on a collision path with Kaven caught in the middle.  

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

Honestly, I’ve always loved YA books. There is this sense of possibility – of beginnings where anything is possible – that I’m drawn towards. At this age, the realities of adulthood are starting to set in but the magic of childhood is still holding on. YA books are my happy place.

Do you have a favourite place to write?

I write according to my mood. Sometimes, I enjoy the background noise and atmosphere of a café but then there will be times where I just want to write curled up under blankets on the couch. I’m super fortunate that I just recently got a house where I can have my own office. I painted it pink (despite my husband’s hesitance – he’s come around now) and now that’s my favourite room to write, read, and just be in.

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

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my Imagined Future’s sisters. Kenechi Udogu, Augmented, is an amazing novel where humans are enhanced to ensure humanity’s survival, but the protagonist discovers the government is using those powers and fights to prevent her powers from being weaponized.

Kathryn Clark’s Things I Learned While I was Dead is a beautiful novel about an older sister desperate to save her younger sister’s life. No cost is too great for her. Until it is.

And two other books that influenced me were Scott Westerfield's Uglies and Lois Lowry's The Giver.

Copies of our iNSiDE 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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