Spotlight on Australian Authors Chris Morphew

Australian YA author Chris Morphew was kind enough let me interview the main characters from his books The Phoenix Files. So please welcome Jordan, Peter and Luke.

What is it like to live in Phoenix?

 “Well, the first six months were good. Phoenix is actually a pretty sweet town, apart from all the death and destruction. But, yeah, the whole impending doom thing is a bit of a party killer.” – Peter

“You know... It’s actually kind of hard to remember life being any other way. It’s only been a few weeks, but everything here is so constant. It’s like there’s not even time to remember what normal life is supposed to be like.” – Jordan

You seem to have stumbled onto a pretty bad situation. How has it affected you guys?

“I think it’s messed with all of us pretty badly. We’re not sleeping. I’m scared all the time. And, you know, I guess it’s probably character-building or whatever, but that’s not exactly at the top of my priority list right now.” – Luke

If you were in a different situation, do you think you would still be friends?

“Dunno about Luke, but obviously my animal magnetism would be pretty irresistible to Jordan in any context. We’re like Romeo and Juliet. I mean, minus all the suicide and stuff.” – Peter

“Jordan, for sure.  Peter... I don’t know. I guess I’d hope that, in a different situation, Peter would be a different kind of person. I don’t think Phoenix brings out the best in him.” – Luke

Luke, how does it feel to know your dad's outside Phoenix? I guess you miss him quite a bit?

“Yeah, it’s – I mean, it was hard enough when I knew he was still out there. When I knew he was alive. Now I just – I don’t know. I don’t know what to think. And I guess that’s the worst part. The not knowing.” – Luke

Is it easy to concentrate while you're in school, with everything you've learned?

“It’s not easy to concentrate on anything. But it’s not like we have a choice. If we’re not at least seen to be keeping up appearances at school, then – Let’s just say Calvin doesn’t need much of a reason to come after us.” – Jordan

“I am concentrating at school exactly as much as I was concentrating before all this started.” – Peter.

Jordan, how does your mum being pregnant make you feel with everything going on?

“At first, it was okay. Well, not okay, but I could deal with it. It was something normal to deal with for a change, at least. But nothing in Phoenix ever stays normal. Not for long. I just hope we can all keep alive long enough for that to even be an issue.” – Jordan

Peter, you seem to be quite good with electronics. How'd that come about?

“I dunno. I mean, I was born in the last twenty years. And I have a brain. But also, back before Phoenix, Dad used to be a mechanical engineer, and he pretty much lived on the computer, so I guess that’s probably part of it too.” – Peter

What's up next for the three of you?

“If the last couple of months are anything to go by, I reckon we’re in for a bit more terrified running through the bush, probably followed soon after by our sudden and untimely deaths.” – Peter

“We’ll do what we've been doing all along. Keep fighting. Keep looking for a way out. Yeah, there’s every chance Peter’s right and we’ll all end up dead, but until that happens – What else can we do?” – Jordan

Thanks guys for taking the time to answer my questions. I really hope everything works out for you.

For a chance to win a signed copy of the first book in the series 'The Phoenix Files: Arrival,

please answer this question.

'What would you do if you knew world was going to end?'

Giveaway ends Saturday  21st August.

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Chris Morphew

The Phoenix Files