Eibhlís Carcione - Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay - Author Interview - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Today's post is a gothic mystery interview with author, poet and teacher Eibhlís Carcione. We wanted to highlight the wonderful publication of Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay published by Everything with Words last month (June 2023). This is a book for readers who love an illustrated supernatural ghost story with bags of imagination. What did we ask the author? Well, come and find out!

1. What kind of atmosphere did you want the reader to feel and how did you go about laying the foundations to deliver the tone of the plot?

I thought it would be exciting to write a story about a place where the living and the dead live side by side. I like dark, lyrical, atmospheric storytelling. I had to delve into my own imagination to create a gothic world of my own. This took time. Folklore and mythology were a huge inspiration. Grave’s Pass and Dead Town are inspired by the winding narrow hills of Cork City where I live. They’re also inspired by places in Sicily like Taormina, Erice and Randazzo where I’ve been on holidays. There is a town in England called Grave’s End. That gave me the idea for Grave’s Pass. I include some of my favourite characters from folklore: A white lady, a redcap, a werewolf, a bogeyman and pooka horses. I also include animals that I like: a Maine coon cat, a labradoodle, and a tortoiseshell cat. I also include a three-wheeled car as I like retro things and antiques.

2. How was the process of teasing ideas out from your memory and getting these down in word form? 

I’ve always liked ghost stories. I’ve always been interested in the supernatural. When I was eight my grandfather died. I stayed at my gran’s for a few weeks because she was lonely. She told me wonderful stories about ghosts, goblins and changelings that made my heart beat faster. These stories have stayed with me. 

In Celtic mythology, black butterflies symbolise the souls of the dead. I knew from early on that the black butterfly was important in my story. It fluttered continually in my subconscious as my story took shape. One of my favourite novels in the Irish language is Cré na Cille (Graveyard Clay) by Máirtín Ó Cadhain. It’s set in a graveyard where the newly dead arrive bringing all the local news to those already in their coffins. I love the dark humour and the roguish characters in this novel. This book probably influenced me unknown to myself. Raven McKay came to me in a dream. I saw her with her suitcase with the faded sticker of the black butterfly in a hilly town with twisty narrow streets. She stood there and looked at me. It was as if she was asking me to write her story. The first few pages came quickly. At that stage I went back to plotting. I let things grow and flourish. I thought about the other characters. When I could see the story unfold like a film in my head, I knew I was ready to write it. I soon found myself in the heart of Dead Town.

3. What do you think is special about the main character, Raven McKay? 

Raven is curious, individualistic, loyal and brave. She stands out in her long dark hair, her beautiful hat with the raven feather, her velvet coat, her blouse with the embroidered butterflies and her boot with the tassels. She is mysterious as she has in her possession an old suitcase with a faded sticker of a black butterfly. Lots of kids go through stages where they feel they don’t fit in, where they feel they should do what others do although a voice in their head is saying, “no, I’d prefer to do something different.” Sometimes they feel odd like Raven McKay. Sometimes they feel alone. 

4. What do you think she would change about the story? 

I think Raven would have liked to arrive in Grave’s Pass sooner so that she could have stopped the ghoul from causing the accident that left her friend Mack in a wheelchair

5.  I'm a very big fan of the publisher. What advice were you given by them that led to the finished book? 

Mikka from Everything With Words was enthusiastic about the book from the start. That really helped with the editing process. We worked very well together. Mikka is a very thorough and thoughtful editor. She recommended some name changes. We both came up with some suggestions and we chose the most suitable. I’m very grateful to Mikka for her passion about my book, her insight and for choosing Ewa as the artist. A perfect choice. 

6. What can you tell me about the illustrations inside the book? 

Ewa Beniak-Haremska, the artist, read the book and loved it. She said Raven reminded her of her younger self. I chatted with Mikka and Ewa over zoom a few times. What’s interesting is that Ewa said the cover of the book came to her in a dream also, which in itself is mysterious. Eva’s illustrations are sublime and wondrous. They’ve added another gothic layer to the book.

7. What do you love most about being a published author?

The past year has been amazing. Meeting kids, meeting other writers, calling into bookshops, chatting with booksellers and seeing my book. Kids have sent me drawings of Raven. They’ve told me they’re going to dress up as Raven McKay for Halloween. Others have told me that they’re going to dress up as the redcap, Bram and Callie. It’s all very exciting!

8. Do you believe in ghosts or the supernatural? 

I’m not sure. I would like to believe that there is another world. There are things in life we can’t explain. I think spooky stories help us deal with our own fears. It is the same for children. Supernatural tales bring us into an unknown realm where we often come face to face with our own fears. 

I’ve always loved ghost stories but I was easily scared as a child. I didn’t like going up the stairs to bed. I thought there could be a ghost lurking in the shadows. Dark winter evenings often left me on edge. Maybe this was because I secretly believed that there was something out there. Still I was brave enough to sit in a dark loft and tell ghost stories with my friends. But it shows that even if you’re scared of things it’s still fun to be scared too. There is a great thrill to be had from a spooky tale.

9. What would your favourite day look like? 

Coffee. A walk with our dogs, Maddie and Bella. Music in the background while I write. I never write without music. (I write in the mornings when I’m on holidays and in the evenings when I’m teaching.) After lunch I read, usually a novel and some poetry. Sometimes I listen to podcasts. Another walk with the dogs. Dinner with my husband Jay and our daughter Rosa (16). We usually watch a film or series. We’re enjoying Black Mirror at the moment. 

10. Has anything spooky happened to you?

When I was a student I stayed in a hostel on an island off the west coast of Ireland. There was an old portrait in the room. I swear it was staring at me all night. It gave me chills down my spine. The same chills I got from the hostel owner. The sound of crashing waves and the wind added to my unease.

Delighted to see Welcome to Dead Town Raven McKay out in the world
Order here: https://t.co/F8fcgpoflE @EveryWithWords #RavenMcKay
🎬👻🖤👻🖤Book Trailer 👻🖤👻🖤 pic.twitter.com/4xcj4zJCit

— Eibhlís Carcione (@eibhliscarcione) June 1, 2023

The Best Children's Book Picks JULY 2023 - US Post - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Rob Renzetti - The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things - Published by Penguin Workshop (July 18, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593519523 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

From the creator of My Life As a Teenage Robot comes a middle-grade horror story about a horrible bag, the spine-chilling world hidden within it, and a terrifying adventure into the world of GrahBhag.

When Zenith finds a strange, unsettling bag at his front door, he's not sure where it came from or who sent it to him. He knows better than to expect his overprotective older sister Apogee to help him figure it out, because ever since she became a teenager, she's been acting more like a parent to him than a sibling. But he certainly did not expect for a horrifying spiderlike creature to emerge from the bag, kidnap Apogee, and drag her inside to the equally horrifying and unsettling world of GrahBhag. 

Zenith sets off into the bag to bring her back but soon finds a bizarre realm where malicious forests, a trio of blood-drinking mouths, and a sentient sawdust-stuffed giant are lurking within the seams. And from every corner of the world come whispers of the Great Wurm, an eldritch horror with a godlike hold over the creatures of GrahBhag, who seems to have a dark, insidious purpose for Apogee. With the help of a greedy, earwax-nibbling gargoyle, Zenith will have to save Apogee from the Great Wurm and help them both escape the horrible bag before it's too late. 

With a combination of dry, absurdist humor and no-holds-barred horror, Rob Renzetti has crafted a delightfully imaginative fantasy world that will hook readers as surely as it will send chills down their spines.

M. R. Fournet - Brick Dust and Bones - Published by Feiwel & Friends (July 18, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250876027 - Hardback - Age: 8+

A twelve-year-old cemetery boy and monster hunter–along with his flesh-eating mermaid friend–has to race against the clock to save the ghost of his dead mother in Brick Dust and Bones, M.R. Fournet's magical middle-grade debut. 

Marius Grey hunts Monsters. He's not supposed to. He's only twelve and his job as a Cemetery Boy is to look after the ghosts in his family's graveyard. He should be tending these ghosts and–of course–going to school to learn how to live between worlds without getting into trouble. 

But, Marius has an expensive goal. He wants to bring his mother back from the dead, and that takes a LOT of mystic coins, which means a LOT of Monster Hunting, and his mother’s window to return is closing.

If he wants her back, Marius is going to have to go after bigger and meaner monsters, decide if a certain flesh-eating mermaid is a friend or foe, and avoid meddling Demons and teachers along the way. Can Marius navigate New Orleans’s gritty monster bounty-hunting market, or will he have to say goodbye to his mother forever?

Jacqueline Davies - The International House of Dereliction - Published by Clarion Books (July 18, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063258075 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

In this not-so-scary ghost story from Jacqueline Davies, bestselling author of the Lemonade War series, quirky, tool-wielding Alice Cannoli-Potchnik begins to repair the dilapidated mansion next door—only to discover the old house is home to ghosts, and they need mending, too!

Home is where the heart is. But can a house have a heart of its own? 

Ten-year-old Alice is moving for the eleventh time.

She’s lived in so many houses, each more broken than the last, that home to Alice is nothing more than a place you fix and then a place you leave. After all, who needs a permanent home when you’re a whiz at fixing things?

But when Alice arrives at her new home, she can’t take her eyes off the house next door, the stately dark house that hulked in the dimming light. The once-grand mansion, now dilapidated and condemned, beckons Alice; it's the perfect new repair job!

As Alice begins to restore the House to its former splendor, she senses strange presences. Is there a heartbeat coming from the House’s walls? Is someone looking at her? Soon she realizes she’s not alone. Three ghosts have been watching, and they need Alice’s help to solve their unfinished business.

Will Alice be able to unravel the mysteries of the House and find her forever home . . . before it’s too late?

Summer Rachel Short - The Legend of Greyhallow - Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (July 18, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665918879 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 

Disney’s Enchanted gets a Lord of the Rings twist in this fantastical middle-grade adventure about two siblings who must close the portal to a magical realm that inspired a popular movie franchise before their own world is conquered by emerging foes.

Twelve-year-old Ainsley Galloway and her ten-year-old brother, Tobin, have just moved to the small, picturesque mountain town of Lowry. The town is famously the setting for the blockbuster Legend of Greyhallow trilogy and there are traces of the films wherever they go. Ainsley’s parents even bought the film director’s former home, which they dream of turning into an inn that caters to fans eager to check out the local Greyhallow Movie Festival. 

But when Ainsley and Tobin are fooling around in the attic of their new home, Ainsley unleashes something. Something she doesn’t quite understand. And suddenly, purple mist is flooding the town, she’s receiving cryptic messages from strangers in medieval garb. Oddest of all, the enigmatic director of the Greyhallow movies, who’s been missing for years, has a message for them.

Ainsley and Tobin have opened a passage between the very real magical world of the movies and their own. In a swirl of shifting loyalties, capricious creatures, and movie trivia, Ainsley and Tobin have to figure out what to do—and who to trust—in order to save them all.

Waka T. Brown - The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura -  Published by Quill Tree Books (July 18, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063230767- Hardback - Age: 8+

In this magical and chilling Coraline-esque retelling of the Japanese folktale “The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku," one girl must save herself—and her loved ones—from a deceitful demon she befriended.

Melony Yoshimura’s parents have always been overprotective. They say it’s because a demonic spirit called the Amanjaku once preyed upon kids back in Japan, but Melony suspects it’s just a cautionary tale to keep her in line. So on her twelfth birthday, Melony takes a chance and wishes for the freedom and adventure her parents seem determined to keep her from.

As if conjured by her wish, the Amanjaku appears. At first, Melony is wary. If this creature is real, are the stories about its destructive ways also real? In no time, however, the Amanjaku woos Melony with its ability to shape-shift, grant wishes, and understand her desire for independence. But what Melony doesn’t realize is that the Amanjaku’s friendship has sinister consequences, and she quickly finds every aspect of her life controlled by the demon’s trickery—including herself.

Melony is determined to set things right, but will she be able to before the Amanjaku turns her life, her family, and her community upside down?

Claire Fayers - Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

We are so super excited to tell you about this book. I was hooked and reeled in by the title never mind the book cover illustration (above) which looks absolutely amazing. My expectations were high and I was really looking forward to starting the journey. I had read many of the author's previous books which I enjoyed but this book is absolutely earth-shatteringly brilliant. I loved every page of this fishy-bonkers, zany out-of-this universe adventure. It has to be one of the best books I've read this year. It has the most imaginative plot that fitted me like a fantasy glove. 

The more you read the bigger your smile. The characters are written with real depth as they move straight to your heart. They are an eclectic bunch of the weird and wonderful as they uniquely pull you through the narrative. You'll weave in and out of disaster and danger with high-octane, octopod action. The main characters are Fern Shakespeare and her talking plant, Morse. There's also Tapper Watson, an Erisean boy, who loves adventure stories and has 67 cousins. 

The adventure begins when the two galaxies (Fern and Tapper's) collide on an unscheduled visit to Earth. All aboard the submarine and the River Lethe where you'll catch up with a pair of trigger-happy lobster monsters carrying laser guns that turn everyone to stone. You'll then be introduced to a pair of smugglers that just can't help finding themselves in the thick of it. Finally, all the characters search for the mysterious Nemo Machine with the inventor (Fern's dad) whose favourite food is curry!

This book is fantastic - it is really refreshing with some excellent plot ideas that will keep you engrossed and captivated. The story is packed full of unique worlds and some clever, well-worked-out ideas. It's humourous in parts but also warm and tender in others. It delivers an ecological and social message that does not come at the expense of the story.  I was really sad to turn to the final page, however, these characters will stay with me (in my fantasy head and heart) for some time. I'm really hoping and wanting more books in this series soon. PLEASE! 

Tapper Watson and the Quest for the Nemo Machine will be published with suckers and tentacles on the 7th September 2023 by Firefly Press. Book Cover illustration by Becka Moor. Make sure you put it on your pre-order list order now. You will not be disappointed. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Children's Book Picks July 2023

 

Chris Wormell - The Lucky Bottle - Published by David Fickling Books (6 July 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788451895 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Ten-year-old Jack is stranded on a desert island. He's been very lucky: he's survived a terrible storm and the mysterious island he has found himself on has a kindly if unusual inhabitant, fresh water and plenty of food. But Jack needs to find his way home, and as he uncovers incredible hidden treasures on the little island, he starts to formulate a plan.

A plan that will involve witchcraft, terrifying sea monsters and pirates! But if Jack's going to succeed he will need to be very very lucky.

Jon Klassen - THE SKULL - Published by Walker Books (11 July 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529509571 - Hardback - Age: 6

In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both? Steeped in shadows and threaded with subtle wit – with rich, monochromatic artwork and an illuminating author’s note – The Skull is as empowering as it is mysterious and foreboding.

Matthew Fox - The Lovely Dark - Published by Hodder Children's Books (6 July 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1444964745 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Beautifully moving and breathtakingly original, this is a story of bravery and second chances, for readers aged 9+.

When 12-year-old Eleanor Newton dies in an accident, she finds herself journeying down a mysterious river that takes her to The Underworld. She apprehensively embarks on her "afterlife" at Eventide House, a boarding school of sorts for children who have died.

The Underworld is captivating: always sunny and warm but also fractured. Strange things have been happening to Ellie since she arrived: she knows something isn't right, and she doesn't want to be there. She desperately wants to get back to the world of The Living to meet her new baby brother, even if it means being a ghost.

Can Ellie find a way out of the Underworld? And who - or what - will she be if she does? 

The Lovely Dark is another breathtakingly original story from Matthew Fox, author of The Sky Over Rebecca. Set in the modern world, it features themes of life after a pandemic, mental health and grief, all handled with real lightness of touch.

Hiba Noor Khan - Safiyyah's War - Published by Andersen Press (6 July 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1839133138 - Paperback - Age: 8+

War comes to the streets of Paris and Safiyyah’s life changes forever. 

Her best friend’s family has fled, and the bombing makes her afraid to leave the mosque where she lives. But when her father is arrested by the Nazis for his secret Resistance work, it falls to Safiyyah to run the dangerous errands around the city. 
It’s not long before hundreds of persecuted Jews seek sanctuary at the mosque. Can Safiyyah find the courage to enter the treacherous catacombs under Paris and lead the Jews to safety?

Ann Sei Lin - Rebel Fire (Rebel Skies Trilogy) - Published by  Walker Book (6 July 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1406399608 - Paperback - Age: 13+ 

The second in a pacy and lyrical fantasy adventure trilogy set in a world of flying ships, sky cities and rebel uprisings. 

Kurara and her shipmates have escaped the grasp of the princess, whose wish to control and command them as her own human shikigami would be a fate worse than death. Travelling through the forests and across the seas of Mikoshima, they finally the Grand Stream, where their old airship – and old enemies – await.

Both parties seek the greatest shikigami of all: Suzaku, a paper phoenix. But will it be saved – or destroyed?

Helen Peters - Friends and Traitors - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

This is one of our summer reading picks for 2023. It’s by Helen Peters and is entitled Friends and Traitors and is due to be published on the 6th July 2023 by Nosy Crow Books. The best way to describe this book is that it’s a vintage cozy crime detective book that has an historical edge. The book cover has been illustrated by David Dean and really pulls you into the story before you’ve even turned the very first page!

The plot of this book was so intriguing that I really looked forward to finding out more. I have really struggled recently to enjoy and finish some of the books I've started to read. This is very unusual for me and I’m not sure why this is happening. Afterall, we are having a golden moment featuring some amazing children's books. However some of the plots just appear to be too drawn out and uninteresting. Reading this book was a breath of fresh air - it came just at the right time for me to really enjoy.

Are you ready to solve the secrets and mystery of Stanbrook Hall? What will you discover and can the characters in the book change the course of history? The story is set in the summer of 1940 as Britain prepares for a German invasion. In the middle of this, Sidney Dashworth and her classmates start a new term at the newly relocated boarding school - an enormous mansion in the picturesque countryside. Unsurprisingly the new term starts off in chaos. The unlikely villains of this story have a sinister plan. It takes an unlikely friendship and some improvisation to lead the readers into a memorable journey that will have you engrossed from the very first page.

I loved the plot as it brought a great amount of suspense and tension including classmate rivalry and some midnight creepiness. The house staff and other residents each give another dimension delivering some quirkiness and plot richness. The book is easygoing and gripping with a very strong narrative - there’s just the right amount of detail and dialogue to suck you into the mystery. I'm not sure if this is the start of a series as all the loose ends appeared to be tied with a very climactic finish. 

This is a great family adventure that has some low moments as well as marvellously high moments to leave all readers satisfied and wanting more. A great holiday read for everyone.