We caught up with author LESLEY PARR to discuss her latest novel, Fallout, a moving story about questioning your loyalties and breaking free.
What can you tell us about your new book Fallout?
It’s the summer of 1980 and perceived bad kid 13-year-old Marcus lives with his notorious family in a small Welsh town. Everyone, including his parents, expect him to follow in their criminal footsteps but Marcus wants a different life. When a terrible event happens at the local carnival, almost the entire community decide he’s to blame. So Marcus sets out, along with new friend Emma, to prove his innocence.
Who is Marcus and what sets him apart from his family?
Marcus has dreams and aspirations beyond the ‘family business’, he wants to be a guitarist like his musical idol, Paul Weller. He’s kind and he’s clever and he’s far more vulnerable than he’d like others to know. I’m very attached to him as a character. It’s the first time I’ve written a protagonist who hasn’t grown up with unconditional love.
How important is setting and place in your stories?
Very important. I write books set in fictionalised versions of where I grew up, which is a South Wales valley. I like to show the good and bad consequences of living in a place where everyone knows everyone. For Marcus, at first at least, this means a reputation that’s hard to shake. And I love to use food as a setting; it’s a way to play out relationship dramas and conversations and show an insight into how my characters tick. A lot can be said with a simple line and a Garibaldi biscuit.
Did you draw from real people or places for this story?
For people, not directly, but I’ve known kids like Marcus, both when I was growing up and, later, as a teacher. The kind of kids who, given better family circumstances, could have very different lives. The setting of Fallout – Pentre Mawr – is based on the village near Port Talbot where I’m from. I was picturing our carnival when I was writing about the one in Fallout.
What are some of the biggest challenges Marcus will face in this story?
There are the obvious challenges of standing up to his horrible brother, Gavin, and to his parents but the biggest challenge for him is to trust and be trusted. He’s wary and defensive until Emma and Mick show him they can see his true nature. He’s a good kid at heart.
What was your favourite part of writing this book?
Hmm … it’s hard to say without giving too much away, but there are scenes involving badges which I really enjoyed writing because they show the development of Marcus and Emma’s friendship. Badges are so important in this story that they even feature on the book’s back cover. Similarly, there’s a scene where Mick shows Marcus how to fix a radio. Relationships are about the small gestures, not the big ones, and I like to give those experiences to my characters.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lesley Parr is the author of three novels for children. Her debut, The Valley of Lost Secrets, was published in 2021 and was both a Waterstones Book of the Month and longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. It won the Tir na n-Og Award, the King’s School Chester Book Award and the North Somerset Teachers’ Book Award, as well as being shortlisted for many others. Lesley grew up in South Wales and now lives in England with her husband. She shares her time between writing stories, teaching at a primary school and tutoring adults. Apart from books, rugby union is her favourite thing in the world, especially if Wales is winning.
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