The newspapers are an endless source of ideas, so when I first read about artificial intelligence (AI). I thought, surely I can write a book about this. I wrote the first edition of Train to Nowhere in 2011. Since then, AI has changed a lot but when I wrote the book I had to guess where it might be going.

The other thing to think of was how to get four children away from their parents safely. Most young people can’t simply go out and have adventures. Their parents would certainly have something to say about that. There has to be a reason for children to be alone and free from adult supervision while also making sure they are not in any danger. This is why in many books children are sent away from home, or a parent becomes ill or, as is the case with The Train to Nowhere, they are chosen to enter a prestigious competition. Their parents are delighted about the opportunity and happy to be temporarily separated. Especially, as the children will be supervised by impressive tutors.