S.I.G.M.A. 1 Web of Spies
by Tim Ayliffe
Published by Simon & Schuster
“ ‘It’s not always about winning, mate,’ Henry Speed had said. ‘It’s about doing your best. Being your best. You learnt something about yourself today. How to be brave.’ “ (Web of Spies)
Author Interview with Tim Ayliffe
Thank you for speaking about your spy thriller S.I.G.M.A. Web of Spies with Joy in Books at PaperbarkWords, Tim. It certainly deserves its reputation as Australia’s own Alex Rider.
How has your career and writing of books for adults led to S.I.G.M.A. Web of Spies for 10- to 14-year-olds?
My day job as a journalist was like research for my career as an author. I’ve got a good contact book and talk to cops and other law enforcement experts in Australia and around the world. I like to say that everything in my books either has happened, will happen or could happen. Kids are smart and they’re also surrounded by the news. Whether for adults or younger readers, I write real-world thrillers that explore some of the biggest issues and challenges facing societies.
Your protagonist Ollie Speed’s father, Henry, is missing. Henry’s bookshelf gives an insight into his history and interests. Which books on your bookshelf reveal your own writing and other interests?
I read a lot biographies about world leaders and also current affairs books about wars and extremism. I was a journalist for 25 years and have always been fascinated with other countries and cultures, along with Australia’s place in the world.
What is the hook into your book?
Ollie stumbles across a dead man while jogging in Centennial Park. He recognises the man but doesn’t know how or why. When Ollie gets home, he finds a photograph of the dead man with his father – a diplomat who has been missing in Germany for ten months. When the dead man is identified as an American who may have worked for the CIA, Ollie realises that his father’s boring job in government may be something else entirely. With the help of his best friends, Ella and George, Ollie thinks that if he can find out who murdered the man in Centennial Park, he might also find out what happened to his father.
Could you describe your protagonist 14-year-old Ollie Speed in three words?
Brave. Ordinary. Clever.
Why have you made him a runner and with asthma?
Ollie is determined to win the cross country at school, so he knows he needs to train. But life isn’t so simple and his asthma is just something he learns to live with. I’m a father and I love the determination I see in my kids and other kids when they want to achieve something – they are self-motivated, setting their own challenges. Ollie is one of those kids.
How do Ollie and his best friend, George, complement and extend each other?
George loves gadgets and he is always full of questions. Ollie on the other hand is more reserved and considered. They’re both very determined and are not shy around adults – especially if they believe those adults have done something wrong.
Which character surprised you? How or why?
Ella’s character surprised me most because I found myself identifying with her most as a person. She’s a student journalist who just kept growing on the page in a way that made me relate to her and her interests in life.
How does the setting in Sydney’s Centennial Park lend itself to or enhance your plot?
I love writing thriller novels set in Sydney. As my hometown, Sydney is always a character in my stories. Ollie lives along the edge of Centennial Park so it was always going to play a big role in the book – it’s vast and beautiful, there’s always something going on there, and it’s also a great place to get lost.
Spies often rely on technology or a gadget. What gadget have you used in this story and for what purpose?
The kids stumble across an old spy Kit that includes a tracking device that comes in handy. But they also ride electric bikes, which helps them get out of sticky situations at speed.
What response about the book have you received so far that has surprised you or warmed your heart?
I’ve had a lot of adults reach out and let me know how much they enjoyed the book. I’ve also loved hearing from kids about the characters they liked most, and which kid they saw themselves in out of Ollie, Ella and George.
Without spoilers, could you give us a glimpse into the sequel?
The second book begins in Sydney but Ollie, Ella and George will quickly find themselves in Washington DC where everything isn’t quite as it seems.
S.I.G.M.A. 1 Web of Spies at Simon & Schuster
I’ve also read and enjoyed Tim’s thriller for adults, Dark Desert Road Echo Publishing
