![\"Neil](\"https:\/\/stoomio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/gettingtoknowntaylorheader-min.png\")
<\/div>\nNeil Taylor<\/strong> has burst onto the YA scene with Anticipation<\/strong><\/em>, a pulse-pounding thriller that\u2019s equal parts thought-provoking and terrifyingly relevant. Through the lens of Riya\u2019s heart-stopping journey, Neil explores the implications of AI, data privacy, and the blurry line between human choice and algorithmic control. <\/p>\n I was really chuffed to get Neil on here after reviewing his debut book Anticipation<\/a>. Neil shares his fascinating and in-depth insights into the inspirations behind the book, the process of creating its compelling world, and what he hopes readers will take away from Riya\u2019s story.<\/p>\n So lets dive in!!!<\/p>\n Anticipation dives deep into the power of AI and how our online behaviour can be used to predict, and even manipulate, us. What was the spark behind this idea?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n It was more of a slow smoulder than a spark and a coming together of several ideas over time. I was working on a story idea around \u2018sliding doors moments, where seemingly inconsequential decisions change the course of a person\u2019s future. <\/em><\/p>\n Separately, I was intrigued in the way human brains resemble a computer running software; we all run our own slightly modified set of algorithms, but still, our decision making follows rules, and if someone can Finally, I read a piece of research that used artificial intelligence to predict key personality traits better than your close family, and all it used for input was your Facebook likes. This brought everything together, and I wondered what if artificial intelligence had access to your \u2018entire\u2019 digital footprint? How much Riya is such an interesting choice for the protagonist\u2014especially with all the complexities of AI, power struggles, and personal loss she faces. What made you decide to center the story around a teenager dealing with such massive responsibilities?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Late teens is an interesting transition period when you start to decide your own future; whether to continue in full-time education or transition to the wider world with more responsibilities. The concept of predicting behaviour based on social media data feels eerily plausible. In your research or while writing, did anything about the real-world applications of AI surprise you? Do you think we\u2019re closer to Anticipation\u2019s reality than we realise?<\/strong><\/p>\n It is based on more reality that you might think. The Facebook \u2018likes\u2019 research I mentioned above was done by Michal Kosinski & David Stillwell back in 2013. That was 11 years ago and only using Facebook Likes! <\/em><\/p>\n Things have moved on significantly since then, in terms of AI, computer processing speed, and For instance, facial recognition can tell your political views and sexual orientation from one picture of your face, and your browsing history says an awful lot more about you. Essentially that is what the likes of Google are doing \u2013 they are gathering data and using that to predict your behaviour, then selling that ability to predict to advertising companies. Scary eh? If you want to know more I would recommend searching for Kosinski\u2019s more recent work, such as his \u2018The End of Privacy\u2019 lecture.<\/p>\n Pacing can be tricky, especially in a thriller with complex themes. Anticipation has been described as fast-paced, yet it doesn\u2019t skimp on depth or character development. How did you find the balance between keeping readers hooked and making sure the emotional core, particularly Riya\u2019s journey, stayed front and center?<\/strong><\/p>\n Interesting you should say that, but I did try hard to vary the pace and provide periods of introspection. I don\u2019t like reading books where the action is constant. Not only is it exhausting for the reader, but it ends up feeling quite shallow because you never pause long enough to get to know the characters.<\/em><\/p>\n Without spoiling too much, the book raises some big ethical questions about the use of AI. Where do you personally land on the issue of tech responsibility\u2014do you think the people creating AI are as aware of the potential consequences as they should be?<\/em><\/p>\n I think people creating AI are well aware of the ethical and safety questions but have very little ability to influence such issues. The industry is made up of thousands of individual organisations, all trying to survive and thrive. The people working for those organisations are doing their best to do a good job I don\u2019t think this makes businesses \u2018wrong\u2019 or \u2018evil\u2019, it is just the way business works. But I do I think this makes it unrealistic to expect the AI industry to regulate itself. I think the only way any kind of control or ethical consideration can be imposed is through an external regulatory body. <\/p>\n Ideally, I think governments should step up but I don\u2019t think that will happen because governments cannot move quick enough to keep up with the developing AI landscape, and the people in government don\u2019t come from a background that understands technology. I think we are doomed to make some wrong turns then try to rectify them \u2013 just as we did with the internet. However, I am ultimately optimistic; the future is rarely as bad as the doomsayer\u2019s forecast, and I think the human race has a track history of eventually figuring out the right way forwards.<\/p>\n Riya\u2019s relationship with her father is a huge emotional driver in the story, even after his death. How did you approach writing that father-daughter dynamic? Was it influenced by any personal experiences or was it purely crafted for the narrative?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s more a general comment on the complicated relationship most of us have with our parents. We want to please our parents and make them proud (even after they are gone), but we also sometimes resent the feeling we need their approval, especially when our values and our goals are different. Like many of Riya faces a conflict between wanting to live a normal life and being thrust into a world of danger and responsibility. Do you think today\u2019s teens\u2014constantly online and under pressure\u2014will relate to her struggle in a unique way compared to previous generations?<\/strong><\/p>\n I guess each generation has its own struggles, but I think finding your own \u2018identity\u2019 and sense of self is far more difficult than in the past. We are all bombarded with so much media telling us who we should be, what we should like and dislike, and how we should live our lives, it is sometimes difficult to Whether that is comparing ourselves to the carefully curated social media profile of friends and celebrity influencers, or falling prey to the cleverly constructed ad\u2019s that promise you a dream lifestyle However, on the plus side, it is far easier to \u2018find your tribe\u2019 than it ever has been; finding out about the music you like, hobbies you are interested in, and like-minded people to connect with, is only a Google search away. So I don\u2019t think it is all bad or all good. But I do think the amount of media teens are constantly bombarded with makes it difficult to understand who you are, and it is too easy to be distracted and end up leading a shallow and unhappy life constantly chasing the next shiny new lifestyle you see on-line.<\/p>\n Every writer\u2019s journey is different. What was your path to getting Anticipation published? Did you face any major hurdles, or was it smooth sailing? (Well, as smooth as publishing can be!)<\/strong><\/p>\n It certainly wasn\u2019t smooth sailing, but then I didn\u2019t expect it to be. I did a lot of reading about becoming a writer before I embarked on the journey myself, so I set out knowing it would be a long, hard, journey, with a small chance of success. I also knew the chance of having my first novel published was slim. <\/em><\/p>\n If you are a celebrity and already have a brand, then your first novel may well get published because publishers know there is a ready-made audience of fans who will buy the book, but for the rest of us, it often takes several books before you land your first publishing deal, and most likely you will have accumulated several half written novels in your bottom drawer.<\/p>\n In terms of hurdles, I think the biggest was getting through your first book. I mean the act of actually completing an entire book \u2013 whether it ends up being published or not. It is easy to come up with an idea then write a few chapters, but the middle 50% of the book is the hardest graft. It is very easy to give up during this point thinking \u2018this story is not working\u2019 and \u2018who would ever want to read this rubbish?\u2019. You have to push through that and realize these are the same doubts every writer has. After you have gone through the process once, you know what it takes, and you know you can do it again. That is a big My own break came when I started working with someone from the publishing industry who mentored me and provided valuable feedback on story elements to make the book more commercially appealing. Even then, once we had a finished manuscript it took a long time to find a publisher.<\/em><\/p>\n Writers are often asked about their influences, but what\u2019s a book or author that people might not expect to have inspired you, whether for Anticipation or just your love of writing?<\/strong><\/p>\n For me personally, I find there is little correlation between books I have enjoyed reading and authors and books I feel inspired by. For instance, the Elmore Leonard\u2019s books are not really my kind of stories, but his advice on writing struck a deep chord with me and is exactly what I strive to achieve in my own writing. Another influence is Derek Landy \u2013 although he writes dark fantasy, a very different genre, I love his dark humour and economic writing style, which again, has influenced the style of writing I try for.<\/em><\/p>\n Many readers have commented on how relatable and fleshed out Riya is. How did Without giving too much away, there is a turning point early on when she ignores someone\u2019s advice to \u2018stay out of it\u2019 and goes ahead anyway. I think this is her essence \u2013 stubborn, head strong, appetite for risk \u2013 it is her strength and her weakness. These characteristics means she carves her own path through Writing thrillers with tech elements can be a delicate dance between keeping the tension high and making the tech believable. How did you approach weaving these tech details into the narrative without bogging readers down?<\/strong><\/p>\n I was determined from the start this this was not going to be a technical manual. Good stories are about people not technology; technology provides the backdrop, but ultimately the story needs to be about a person\u2019s journey \u2013 in this case Riya\u2019s journey to find her place in the world and resolve the emotional conflict she feels towards her dead father.<\/em><\/p>\n When I do talk about the technology itself, it is more about \u2018what if?\u2019 rather than \u2018how\u2019. People are interested in ideas, not the technical nuts and bolts of how it works. Also, the area of AI is moving so fast, and publishing moves so slowly, that technical details would quickly become out of date, so it is best to minimise their references. Yes, I did a lot of research to work out the technical \u2018logic\u2019 so I had a consistent set of rules to apply when writing, but I tried hard not to bludgeon the readers with all the technical detail.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s talk about fun writing quirks! Do you have any weird habits when writing? Whether it\u2019s specific music, snacks, or rituals you follow, what\u2019s your secret to staying focused and creative?<\/strong><\/p>\n Coffee shops. My day job is home based where I work out of my attic office. Spending so much time in there for my job means that when it comes to writing in my spare time, the thought of spending even more time in there feels depressingly like a prison sentence. So I head for somewhere that feels more enjoyable, and somewhere that serves coffee and cake hits the spot. Coffee shops also have a unique hustle-and-bustle ambience that almost seems to enhance concentration rather than be a distraction.<\/em><\/p>\n The tech world and AI are such expansive settings for storytelling. Do you think you\u2019ll explore these themes further in future works, or is there something entirely different lying in wait?<\/strong><\/p>\n I am currently writing the sequel to Anticipation and I plan to explore some more of the ethical questions surrounding AI and perhaps some of it\u2019s more sinister uses. More than that, I cannot say at present.<\/em><\/p>\n Finally, for those who haven\u2019t yet picked up Anticipation, what can they expect in three words?<\/strong><\/p>\n Gritty. Twisty. Thought-provoking (can I cheat with a hyphen?).<\/em><\/p>\n And most importantly, what\u2019s your favourite biscuit?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m pretty old school \u2013 McVities Digestives dunked in coffee. Oh my! I can go through an entire packet in one sitting. I try and stay away from the cupboard unless I know there are only a few left, because once I start, I can\u2019t stop.<\/em><\/p>\n Thanks so much to Neil for taking time to do this q&a! I think you\u2019ll agree that Neil is a bold new voice in YA fiction, blending gripping storytelling with thought-provoking themes that stay with you. Even when picking up your after phone after reading it! So whether you\u2019re drawn to edge-of-your-seat thrillers or stories that delve into the complex interplay of technology and humanity, go read Anticipation and you\u2019ll see what I mean. Buy a copy<\/a><\/p>\n Read my full review of Anticipation by Neil Talyor<\/a><\/p>\n To keep up with Neil\u2019s work and future projects, visit his website at neiltaylorauthor.com<\/a> or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) at @NeilTaylorBooks<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n
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understand your algorithms they can predict \u2013 and manipulate \u2013 your behaviour. We are not as \u2018individual\u2019 and \u2018unpredictable\u2019 as we like to think!<\/p>\n
could it predict about you?<\/p>\n
<\/em>
While in full time education you are in a protective bubble where everything is geared towards helping you achieve your goals. When you leave full time education you realize the world is a far more brutal and unforgiving place where everyone has their own agenda, often not aligned with your own. Riya starts to realize this during the book and is conflicted; does she go back to the familiar and comfortable world of college and friends, or does she choose the path laid out by her father, which is unfamiliar and dangerous with massive responsibility, but is potentially more exciting and rewarding.<\/em><\/p>\n
behavioural science, so I think if someone really wanted to build a prediction engine today, using your entire digital footprint, I think it would not be that far removed from the book. <\/p>\n
for their employers. I think that ethical considerations like \u2018should we\u2019 rather than \u2018could we\u2019 get lost in the fight for survival as a business.<\/p>\n
us, Riya is struggling to do the right thing by her parents (her father in this case), while also holding true to her own values and goals.<\/em><\/p>\n
figure out who we really are. <\/em><\/p>\n
if only you purchase this perfume or that dress. This is difficult enough for adults to negotiate, who already have a sense of who they are, but as a teenager struggling to form your identity, being
constantly bombarded with images of other people\u2019s \u2018perfect lives\u2019 may have damaging consequences.<\/p>\n
psychological barrier to break through.<\/p>\n
you go about developing her character, and do you have a favourite moment with her
that really made you think, \u201cYes, this is who Riya is\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n
life, but also means she makes a lot of mistakes. Part of growing up is learning to value other people\u2019s opinions and advice and judging when to take advice and when to ignore it. Part of Riya\u2019s journey is that she begins to value other people\u2019s ideas and realises that her view of the world is not necessarily the
only view.<\/em><\/p>\n
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