Science-fiction novelist Ernest Cline is quite the household name in the world of sci-fi literature. Best known for his popular dystopian novel, Ready Player One, which was adapted as a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg, his success later led to the follow-up book, Ready Player Two. His second novel, Armada was just as much fun and well-received by readers as his debut hit.
Beyond being an author, Cline’s talents include being a slam poet and screenwriter, with past stints as a poet in Austin, Texas. The experience eventually led to him penning The Importance of Being Earnest, a collection of his spoken word writing.
Now, readers have something else of Cline’s to enjoy — a middle-grade novel, Bridge to Bat City. The touching story follows a young girl who befriends a colony of bats and takes readers on a journey of music, belonging and an unusual true story that inspired it all.
We had a chance to speak to Ernest about writing his first children’s book, his love for Austin, Texas, and what readers can look forward to from him in the future.
Bridge to Bat City is your first book for children. What inspired you to write a story for a younger audience?
I was inspired by the true story of the bat colony that lives under the Congress Avenue Bridge here in my home of Austin, Texas. It’s the largest urban bat colony in the world, and it’s also one of our biggest local tourist attractions. But when the bats first arrived, a lot of people were terrified of them, thanks to watching a lifetime of horror movies. They considered the bats to be an invasive species, and there was talk of exterminating the entire colony. But Austin is a town that prides itself on being weird, and what could be weirder than a million bats living under a bridge right in the middle of downtown?
Ultimately, the bats were allowed to stay, and they quickly became part of Austin’s identity. The bats under the bridge went from being considered an invasive species to being the town mascots in just a few years. The moment I learned this, I remember thinking it would be the perfect premise for a children’s story. But I never considered writing it myself until I had kids of my own and took them to see the bats under the bridge. The joy of sharing the story of the bats with them made me want to share it with everyone.
Bridge to Bat City introduces us to Opal B Flats, an orphan who finds herself getting close to a colony of bats that love music. It has been called a “mostly true” tall tale. How did you come up with Opal B Flats and her characteristics, and what makes the story “mostly true”?
Opal’s character is an amalgamation of my own two precocious kids, and a lot of my own memories of childhood and feeling like a weirdo and a misfit. And Opal’s lifelong love affair and obsession with music mirrors my own. The “mostly true” part of the story is the stuff I just mentioned – a giant colony of Mexican free-tailed bats really did move into a bridge in downtown Austin, and the city really did consider eradicating them. But Austin decided to let the bats stay, and they really did become the town mascots, and an integral part of the city’s identity. And even though it’s a “tall tale,” it’s full of real people, real places, and real events. I just condensed about a decade of Austin’s history into one “wild and weird summer.”
Opal B’s goal is to help the bats she has befriended find a safe place to live. Why did you choose to focus on themes of home and emphasize the importance of feeling secure and safe?
Those themes felt inherent to the bats’ true story, which is what drew me to it. The bats were a band of outsiders and misfits in search of a new home for their family, and they ended up finding their place in the world. In the very same town where I did!
Historic music and lessons on the artists are incorporated into the book. How has music played a role in your own life?
That’s kind of like asking me how oxygen has played a role in my life! The transportive power of music has sustained me since my youth. Whenever I needed some cheering up or some calming down, I would use music to do it. And my love of music is all intertwined with my love of cinema, because some of my favorite music is from film scores, or by an artist or band first introduced to me by a film’s soundtrack. I also live in Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World, where music is a way of life. And this story is my love letter to Austin, as a thank you to the city for taking me in, wrapping its arms around me, and making all my dreams come true.
The book is set in the 1980s, and mixes themes of activism, speaking up for what matters, and protecting others and the environment. What do you want young readers to take away from this story?
That being a weirdo or a misfit can also be your superpower. And that sometimes people fear outsiders when they should welcome them, and find out what they might have to contribute. But most of all I just want them to enjoy the story.
Are there any other creative projects you’re working on next?
Yes, I’m working on a new science fiction novel, and I’m also developing a television series and several film projects. All top secret!
About Ernest Cline:
Ernest Cline is a #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, father, and full-time geek. He is the author of the novels Ready Player One, Ready Player Two and Armada, and co-screenwriter of the film adaptation of Ready Player One, directed by Steven Spielberg. His books have been published in over 50 countries and have spent more than 100 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his family, a time-traveling DeLorean, and a large collection of classic video games.
(Photo Credit: Dan Winters)
