Blog Tour: An Interview with Robin Benway (AKA: Spy Society)

Today I have the very lovely Robin Benway, author of AKA: Spy Society, is here today to answer a few questions as part of the UK blog tour for her latest book, published on July 18^th by S&S.

1. If you were to be part of the Collective, what would your job be? A safe cracker, a forger, or something else?

Well, I think the Collective would come crashing down if I was part of it, but that small fact aside, I would be the person manning the whole operative from a bunker somewhere. You know they type: wearing the headset, shouting directions, watching 20 different V monitors and yelling “GO! GO! GO!”

2. What would your code name be?

Well, since my name is Robin, probably something avian-like? Eagle-Eye? Sharp Beak maybe? Swooping Flyer? I should work on this.

3. Maggie’s new school and the girl politics reminded me a lot of Gossip Girl. Was the show any inspiration behind it?

I do love Gossip Girl, but it wasn’t a huge influence for Spy Society, mostly because I wanted to see New York through Maggie’s eyes. She’s an outsider and lives in an entirely different reality to Roux and Jesse.

Quick fire round!

1. An album/song you can’t stop listening to?

I just got hooked on a song this morning! Avicii’s “Wake Me Up”. I listen to the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw every morning, and I think he plays great pop songs that don’t get played here in the States. A lot of my current favourites are from his show.

2. Preferred writing snack?

Do Diet Coke and iced Americanos count as snacks?

3. Current read?

I’m about to start two new books: Colum McCann’s “Transatlantic” and a book called “People Who Eat Darkness” which sounds absolutely terrifying, but all my friends swear it’s amazing. We shall see!

Thank you so much, Robin! And to Kat for asking me to be part of the tour.

Make sure to check out my review of AKA: Spy Society and Robin’s previous books, Audrey, Wait! And The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June.

Sophie