As I was cleaning up my Gmail, to reduce space. I have come across a file back from 2019 with a lot of interviews that I received for the blog. I will be sharing them with you over the coming weeks. I think at the time I was floored by how busy and popular the blog had gotten. Plus I had started Love Books Tours. So sincere apologies for the very long delay.
Star Of Hope by Moira McPartlin
Back of the Book
The third and final exciting volume of The Sun Song Trilogy finds Sorlie and Ishbel working together in one last attempt to save Esperaneo. As The Prince’s health deteriorates he hands over leadership of the Star of Hope’s mission to Sorlie and Ishbel. But what is the Star of Hope? All they know is that it will free the native race from slavery. On mainland Esperaneo Major, Ishbel travels north through a hostile artic forest while Sorlie, Reinya and Dawdle head for the southern dry lands. On the way both parties battle extreme weather and betrayal, but it is only when the two missions meet that the frightening truth of their world is revealed. And one final betrayal decides the fate of the mission and their fight for freedom. The Sun Song trilogy explores life in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic Britain where society’s norms have broken down and life has to be lived differently.
Interview from the Archives with Moira McPartlin
January 2019
Q. What is your novel about?
My latest novel, Star of Hope is the finale of the Sun Song Trilogy. The trilogy is set in 2089 in a world where the population is separated into two classes, the Privileged and their slaves, the natives. The story follows the exploits of a young Privileged boy, Sorlie and his native Ishbel. The world they live in is pretty bleak but as the name of the finale suggests, Hope is at hand. Both Sorlie and Ishbel travel on two separate missions as commanders in a revolutionary army to find The Star of Hope and at last free the natives from slavery.
Q. Where did the inspiration come from?
The initial story was a dream; a fully formed, technicoloured dream that I wrote down the minute I woke up and turned into a short story. It soon became clear to me that the world in the short story was different and as I began to build that world I realised that this was a novel but then once the first draft of the novel was complete I knew that there was more to tell and the short story became a trilogy. I still can’t believe that I have written a trilogy.
Q. Did you have a favourite character to write about?
Of course, the main characters of Sorlie and Ishbel have the greatest share of my affection because I have spent so many of my days with them but there is one character who has been with the series since book one and he is Scud. Scud is a native prisoner who cares for Sorlie when he is first imprisoned on Black Rock Island. He began as a minor character but he is interesting and lovely to write so I developed him a bit more. My readers agree, nearly all love Scud.
Q. What was your publishing journey highlight?
My proudest bookish moment was my first appearance as a published author. My debut novel The Incomers was published in 2012 and I was invited to take part in the Glasgow Aye Write Book Festival. One of the popular features of the book is The Pairty Line, a single page telephone conversation between two gossips that appears at the end of each chapter. For this event (and my book launches) I had two actresses act out the Pairty Line. All three of us were very nervous that day at the Mitchell Library but it was a great success. Some of the dialogue is a bit close to the bone but it reflects the attitude of the 1960s. You can find video clips of these events on YouTube.
Q. What is your favourite read of your whole life and why?
I get asked this question a lot at schools and events. I have loads of favourite books but the one I always tell folks about is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck and that is because I know the reason I love it so much. The book is about normal folk struggling to get by during the 1930s depression and it covers a unique ecological event that happened in the mid-west of America (the Dust Bowl years). These are all similar themes that appear in my own writing. But the thing I love about it the most is the ending; The Grapes of Wrath has the best ending I have ever read. It is tender and yet harrowing and shows mankind at its best in the hour of need. Hollywood made a movie of the book but changed the ending which is a terrible thing.
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