Spotlight: The Elites by Natasha Ngan

 Book Description:  

'There is a rumour that the Elites don't bleed.'

Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures - and racial tension. Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She'd never dream of leaving - but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel's president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly.
Packed full of adventure, romance, exoticism and the power of friendship, THE ELITES is a highly compelling and beautifully written novel from a supremely talented debut author.

            Goodreads  Twitter  Website  

           
                                                                       Natasha Ngan

 Interview:

1.Tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a half-Chinese, half-English girl who grew up living in two worlds (Malaysia and England, but reality and my imagination is also true!). I studied Geography at university as I'm fascinated by cultures, and so many of my story ideas have come from my course studies. I currently work as a freelance social media consultant in London, a blogger (I runfashion and lifestyle blog Girl in the Lens with my boyfriend), and of course a YA author! The last is obviously my favourite ;)

2. Describe your book in 2 sentences?

In a city in the future where no one ever enters, and no one leaves, Silver, a fifteen-year old girl who works as an Elite to guard the city's leaders, is about to discover just what is outside the city's walls. And as the dirty truths about her city begin to reveal themselves, she has to search deep within herself for the strength to fight against all she has ever known ... 

3. What inspired you to write it?

The first line of the book is what initially came to me (it's still the first line! 'There is a rumour that the Elites don't bleed'), and then the world and characters followed in a jumble of images, ideas and voices. My own cultural background and the things I was learning about for my Geography degree inspired a lot of the book - there's even a character called Cambridge, which is where I went to university! 

4. If your book will have a theme song, what would it be?

Tough! I do have playlists for some of the new books I'm working on, but as The Elites is set in the future, current music doesn't really fit it.  Something like Some Nights by Fun. would suit it - a song about feeling conflicted and learning to understand yourself. I also love the line - "You wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from some terrible nights". There's so much hardship in The Elites that the characters have to go through, but it's worth the fight.

5. Movies you look forward to watch this year?

 Despicable Me 2! I'm looking forward to Anchorman 2 and The Hobbit 2 as well.