Sam Sedgman - The Clockwork Conspiracy - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Sam Sedgman's "The Clockwork Conspiracy" marks the start of a riveting new series, unveiled by Bloomsbury Children's Books in February 2024. The book's cover, masterfully illustrated by Tom Colohosy Cole, serves as a prelude to the enthralling narrative that awaits within. From the very first pages, readers are thrust into a captivating mystery teeming with rooftop pursuits, enigmatic codes, and scientific marvels. The resonance of Big Ben heralds the commencement of an adrenaline-fueled plot, brimming with danger and transformative potential, where time itself takes on new dimensions.

A perfect complement to Sedgman's collaborative series with MG Leonard, "Adventures on Trains," this tale follows young inventor Isaac Turner on a high-stakes mission to locate his vanished horologist father, unveiling a sinister governmental plot nestled within London's iconic landmarks, against the backdrop of the mesmerising Houses of Parliament.

Sedgman's seamless blend of mystery and breakneck adventure, interspersed with intriguing tidbits, ensures the book's triumph. With expert finesse, the author knits together suspense and innovation, ensnaring readers in a whirlwind of discovery with each twist and turn of the plot. The vivid tapestry of London that he paints breathes life into the city, endowing it with a character as vibrant as any protagonist.

"The Clockwork Conspiracy" beckons to young detectives hungry for pulse-pounding escapades and to thrill-seekers alike, offering a rich tapestry of history, enigma, politics, and exhilaration that will leave readers clamoring for the sequel. Thank you for such a great book! 

The Best Children's Book Picks FEB 2024 US Post - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Katherine Marsh - Medusa (The Myth of Monsters, 1) -  ‎Published by Clarion Books (February 20, 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063303744 - Hardback - Age: 8+ 

From National Book Award finalist Katherine Marsh: Percy Jackson meets Wednesday Addams in this fantastical adventure about Ava, who attends a boarding school for the descendants of Greek monsters and uncovers a terrible secret that could change the world forever. One of Kirkus's most anticipated books of 2024!

Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive.

Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice. There, Ava and her brother, Jax, discover that the Olympian gods founded the Accademia to teach the descendants of mythological monsters how to control their emotions and their powers and become functioning, well-adjusted members of society.

But not everything at the Accademia is as it seems. After her friend Fia is almost expelled for challenging a teacher, Ava realizes the school is hiding a dangerous secret. To uncover the truth, Ava and her new friends embark on an adventure that could change the way they view history, mythology—and themselves—forever…or end their lives. 

Nedda Lewers - Daughters of the Lamp -  Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (February 20, 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593619308 - Hardback - Age: 8+ 

Believe in fairy tales.

Sahara Rashad lives by logic. Loves science. And always has a plan. Except her dad just whisked her away to her uncle’s wedding in Egypt, upending every single plan she had for the summer.

In Cairo, Sahara’s days are filled with family—and mystery. First, Sahara’s cousins claim the pretentious bride-to-be is actually a witch. Then her late mother’s necklace starts glowing—and disappears.

Sahara’s attempts to recover the necklace lead her to the greatest mystery yet. Deep in an underground chamber lies Ali Baba’s magical treasure. Hidden from a line of sorcerers who threatened to use its powers for evil, the treasure was given to Sahara’s ancestor Morgana for safekeeping and passed down from mother to daughter for generations. Now only Sahara stands in the sorcerers’ way.

Can the girl who’s never believed in magic trust the unknown and claim her legacy as the treasure’s keeper?

Eireann Corrigan - I Will Follow - Published by Scholastic Press (February 6, 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1339002880 - Hardback - Age: 12+ 

It's every influencer's biggest nightmare when a follower decides to kidnap her TikTok hero in order to become her BFF and a big star herself. Like Stephen King's Misery... for the TikTok generation.

The first time Nora saw one of Shea's videos on TikTok, something just clicked. You know how you can see someone and know you're supposed to be in each other’s lives? Well, that's how Nora felt. She knows Shea is a big star, with nearly a million followers, and Nora isn't. But, really, all Nora needs is her own viral moment. And who better to help her with that than Shea

If life isn't going to give Nora entry into Shea's world, Nora's going to have to take matters into her own hands.

Meeting Shea.

Kidnapping her.

Holding her hostage until Shea finally understands...

They are meant to be best, best friends.

Soyoung Park (Author), Joungmin Lee Comfort (Translator)- Snowglobe (The Snowglobe Duology) - Published by Delacorte Press (February 27, 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593484975 - Hardback - Age: 11+

The gorgeous first edition hardcover of Snowglobe will feature two covers in one (a beautifully illustrated hardcover underneath the stunning jacket) and foil-stamped interior papers at the beginning and end of the book!

In a world of constant winter, only the citizens of the climate-controlled city of Snowglobe can escape the bitter cold—but this perfect society is hiding dark and dangerous secrets within its frozen heart. A groundbreaking Korean novel translated into English for the first time!

Enclosed under a vast dome, Snowglobe is the last place on Earth that’s warm. Outside Snowglobe is a frozen wasteland, and every day, citizens face the icy world to get to their jobs at the power plant, where they produce the energy Snowglobe needs. Their only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour television programming streamed directly from the domed city.

The residents of Snowglobe have everything: fame, fortune, and above all, safety from the desolation outside their walls. In exchange, their lives are broadcast to the less fortunate outside, who watch eagerly, hoping for the chance to one day become actors themselves.

Chobahm lives for the time she spends watching the shows produced inside Snowglobe. Her favorite? Goh Around, starring Goh Haeri, Snowglobe’s biggest star—and, it turns out, the key to getting Chobahm her dream life.

Because Haeri is dead, and Chobahm has been chosen to take her place. Only, life inside Snowglobe is nothing like what you see on television. Reality is a lie, and truth seems to be forever out of reach.

Translated for the first time into English from the original Korean, Snowglobe is a groundbreaking exploration of personal identity, and the future of the world as we know it.

Roslyn Muir - The Chimera's Apprentice - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #37

Hello Everybody. Thank you for popping by Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books. We have a brilliant interview with Scottish-born author Roslyn Mui today. The Chimera's Apprentice is the first book in an immersive magical fantasy series that follows Kyra, the main character, who unfortunately has lost her family. Her mother has been snatched by the rat people, and her estranged dad is too busy fighting them to help. The author has planned a three-book series to get your fantasy teeth stuck into. All books have been independently published so they might have slipped you by. We hope you get a better insight into the series and the author's background.

If you want to find out more please check out the author's website page HERE

1. The Chimera's Apprentice is the first book in the series. How would you best describe what we can expect to encounter in this story? 

The Chimera’s Apprentice is told in the first-person point of view. We’re in Kyra’s thoughts from when she first lives on Earth and is then whisked away to another dimension. It’s a fantasy adventure story of new worlds and incredible creatures. But it’s also a story of a fractured family. Kyra’s dad has been missing for years and then she suddenly meets him again and discovers he’s the ruler of a distant land—which makes her a princess. But Kyra’s not satisfied with that and sets out to rescue her mom who’s been kidnapped by the Raturro—a group of rebels out to bring down the ruler.

2. How do you go about making a series of books have a distinctive edge? Do you think other writers have influenced your books and your writing? 

I think that books in a series should be connected but also have the ability to stand alone. I tried to achieve that in both books, as well as the upcoming third and last book in the series, The Last Murch. I was influenced by Hunger Games and Harry Potter which are both extremely popular series. I think the huge, distinct worlds were what influenced me the most, but also the idea that you can continue to add new characters to each book. I’m aiming to go deeper with the characters, to discover more about them and the history of the Raturro. 

3. I'm a very big fan of both book covers in the series, who produced the fantastic illustrations for these, and do you think they get the message about the story across to potential new readers? 

I also love the covers! I belong to many writers’ groups on Facebook and saw a cover with an interesting dragon on it. I asked the author about the artist and got her name: Elena Dudina, who lives in Spain. (https://www.elenadudina.com)

I wanted the covers to really pull in the reader and entice them—that’s the cover’s job, of course, but I also wanted it to be one of those covers that you just stare at and notice new things over time. We’re working on the cover for book three right now. I’m so excited about it I’ll probably release it early!

4. The main character is called Kyra a reluctant princess of Antiica, do you think she would change any of the outcomes in the story? 

Kyra becomes a hero when she rescues her mom in book one, but not all is perfect at the end of the story. A war is looming in the land. Kyra is only 13 and while she has some powers at her disposal, the war is another thing entirely. She carries the guilt that her family is responsible for all the bad things on Antiica. Yes, she would like the problems solved, but she needs to earn that victory first! 

5. You also write for television and screen, how does this help (or hinder) your writing process as a children's author? Do you have any tips you could share with us? 

I think my screenwriting career has given me the confidence to tackle a novel. Screenplays are leaner than books, less adjectives and descriptions are very plot oriented. So, I’ve learned to be a plotter and to make sure my protagonist is active and surprising. I think I’m also good at squeezing everything out of a scene and creating exciting cliffhangers at the end of chapters. If I had any advice for writers, it would be to plot, plot, plot! 

I outline my story and know what my characters’ goals are, but I don’t have a chapter-by-chapter synopsis. I just keep building to the plot points. There’s a saying in screenwriting: You have to kill your darlings! That means that you’ll write a lot of great stuff, but often a brilliant idea will paint you into a corner. Sometimes you have to let them go and stay on the path you planned out. 

6. You were born in Scotland and grew up in Vancouver, Canada; both places have wonderful landscapes. Have these inspired any part of the story or the series?

Yes, I’ve spent a lot of time in the woods and mountains, so it is my go-to location. I also have a giant monkey-puzzle tree in my yard, and I’ve made it an important memory for Kyra. 

7. What can we expect from your next book The Stone Traveller? 

Kyra’s adventure continues to a far nestling as she tries to protect her Raturro friend Mercy from the evil rebel leader, Majellan. Kyra encounters serpents and interferes in the customs of the local Raturro. She’s still learning how to control the chimera that she’s connected to, and the results are disastrous. There are some exciting revelations about Mercy, but I won’t spoil it here;)

https://www.instagram.com/rosmuir/

https://twitter.com/rosmuir

New Children's Book Picks October 2022 - UK Post - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Natasha Hastings (Author), Alex T. Smith (Illustrator) - The Miraculous Sweetmakers: Frost Fair - Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books (27 Oct. 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008496050 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 

 An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship.

It’s a cold winter during the Great Frost of 1683. Thomasina and Anne are the best of friends, one running her father’s sweet shop and the other the apprentice at the family apothecary – together they sell their goods on the frozen River Thames. When a family tragedy turns Thomasina’s world upside down, she is drawn to a mysterious conjuror and the enchanted frost fair.

But soon the world of Father Winter threatens to claim everything she holds dear. Will they be able to solve the magical mysteries that surround them . . . ?

Lucy Hope - Wren - Published by Nosy Crow (6 Oct. 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1839947230 - Paperback - Age; 8+ 

A dark, gothic adventure set on the island of Anglesey in North Wales and featuring a very fantastical beast…

Wren lives in an ancient castle in the mountains near the sea. The wind whistles through it and the walls sing to her. Wren is busy inventing things, and her father is busy disapproving.

But the castle contains a mystery and as Wren is drawn further into it, she realises the answer lies in the very foundations of her home, foundations that are being shaken to their core…

The next fantastic novel from Lucy Hope, author of Fledgling!

M. G Leonard & Sam Sedgman - The Arctic Railway Assassin (Adventure on Trains 6) Published by Macmillan Children's Books (13 Oct. 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529072761 - Paperback - Age: 7+ - Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli 

The bestselling, prize-winning Adventures on Trains series embarks on a thrilling sixth adventure as Harrison Beck and Uncle Nat climb aboard the night train to Narvik, travelling to the Arctic Circle to see the northern lights for Christmas.

But as their train leaves Stockholm, Hal and Uncle Nat realize they’re being followed by a sinister figure, and Hal’s powers of observation are tested when Uncle Nat’s past comes back to haunt him. Journeying into the never-ending night of the arctic winter, our railway detectives must outsmart an assassin in their most chilling adventure yet, in which nothing is as it seems.

The Arctic Railway Assassin can be read as a stand-alone novel, or enjoyed as part of the award-winning Adventures on Trains series written by M. G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Join Hal and Uncle Nat on more stops in this thrilling series with: Murder on the Safari Star, Danger at Dead Man's Pass and Sabotage on the Solar Express.

SF Said (Author), Dave McKean (Illustrator) - Published by David Fickling Books (6 Oct. 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788452830 - Hardback - Age: 8+ 

There are three doors that I may show you. You will find a different kind of power behind each one ...' 

 Adam has found something incredible in a rubbish dump in London. A mysterious, mythical, magical animal. A TYGER.

 And the tyger is in danger.

 Adam and his friend Zadie are determined to help, but it isn't just the tyger's life at stake. Their whole world is on the verge of destruction. Can they learn to use their powers before it's too late?

The Best Children's US Book Picks August 2022 - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

B. B Alston - Amari and the Great Game (BK2) - Published by ‎Balzer + Bray (August 30, 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062975195 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

After finding her brother and saving the entire supernatural world, Amari Peters is convinced her first full summer as a Junior Agent will be a breeze.

But between the fearsome new Head Minister’s strict anti-magician agenda, fierce Junior Agent rivalries, and her brother Quinton’s curse steadily worsening, Amari’s plate is full. So when the secretive League of Magicians offers her a chance to stand up for magiciankind as its new leader, she declines. She’s got enough to worry about!

But her refusal allows someone else to step forward, a magician with dangerous plans for the League. This challenge sparks the start of the Great Game, a competition to decide who will become the Night Brothers’ successor and determine the future of magiciankind.

The Great Game is both mysterious and deadly, but among the winner’s magical rewards is Quinton’s last hope—so how can Amari refuse?

Dan Gemeinhart - The Midnight Children - Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (August 30, 2022) -ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250196729 - Hardback - Age: 7+

In the dead of night, a truck arrives in Slaughterville, a small town curiously named after its windowless slaughterhouse. Seven mysterious kids with suitcases step out of the vehicle and into an abandoned home on a dead-end street, looking over their shoulders to make sure they aren't noticed.

But Ravani Foster covertly witnesses their arrival from his bedroom window. Timid and lonely, Ravani is eager to learn everything he can about his new neighbors: What secrets are they hiding? And most mysterious of all...where are the adults?

Yet amid this shadowy group of children, Ravani finds an unexpected friend in the warm and gutsy Virginia. But with this friendship comes secrets revealed―and danger. When Ravani learns of a threat to his new friends, he must fight to keep them safe, or lose the only person who has ever understood him. 

Full of wonder, friendship, and mystery, The Midnight Children explores the meaning of "home," what makes a family, and what it takes to find the courage to believe in yourself.

J. A White - Gravebooks (Nightbooks Sequel) - Published by Katherine Tegen Books (August 16, 2022) -  ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0063082014 -  Hardback - Age: 8+ 

Return to the world of Nightbooks . . . if you dare. Dead stories—and dead witches—are back to haunt Alex and Yasmin. To find a happy ending, Alex will have to write it, in this sequel to Nightbooks from acclaimed author J. A. White. 

Alex thought he was done with witches. But when Natacha, the witch who held him captive for scary stories, appears again one night, Alex realizes he’s trapped in a nightmare—literally. She’s found a way to enter his dreams with a new, terrifying familiar named Simeon. And they once again want Alex to write. Transported to a story graveyard with best friend Yasmin, Alex will have to complete an original scary story each night.

But what does Natacha plan to do with his finished stories? And what makes a story good enough? While Natacha might have control of the beginnings, only Alex has the power to write the ending.

Readers can delight in a spooky story while also exploring the craft of writing alongside Alex. As he writes his own scary tales, he learns about plot twists, active characters, identifying originality, and accepting feedback, as well as dealing with writer’s block—making this an ideal book to read for fun or use in classrooms.

Fleur Bradley - Daybreak on Raven Island - Published by Viking Books for Young Readers (August 23, 2022) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593404638 - Hardback - Age: 7+

From the critically acclaimed author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel comes a thrilling new middle-grade mystery novel inspired by Alcatraz Prison.

Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh-grade class field trip to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn't looking forward to having to make small talk with his classmates at this new school.
 
But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghost-hunting crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.

Allan Boroughs - The After School Detective Club Series (Q&A Interview) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #32

Today we have another cracking interview with our good friend Allan Boroughs. One of his recent projects is co-writing a new detective series with fellow author Mark Dawson. The first two books have been published this year with Welbeck Flame whilst another book is due to be published in Jan 2023 entitled The Mystery in the Marshes. All the books are illustrated by the talented illustrator Ben Mantle. So, it's time to be transported back to your eight-year-old self where you'll have the power of seeing the world in a fresh and unique way whilst playing the drums. Have a great day and weekend! You can buy it HERE. 

1. You have just written a new series of books with Mark Dawson, how did that come about and what can we expect in the series? 

I knew of Mark from his adult thrillers and his work in the independent publishing space.  A friend of mine called me one day and said he’d seen a post from Mark saying he was looking for a children’s writer to collaborate on a new series.  I got in touch and we got talking, I followed him home a few times, leapt out of dark alleyways, super-glued myself to his car etc and eventually he agreed to work with me.  It was a natural fit really. 

The After-School Detective Club involves a group of friends (Max, Charlie, Joe and Lucy and their faithful dog, Sherlock) as they solve crimes and mysteries in and around their home town of Southwold. 

Mark and I both agreed early on that we wanted the series to evoke the stories we loved as kids such as the Famous Five and Just William stories.  However, the world has moved on quite a bit since Enid Blyton’s days so we also wanted stories that were based in the modern world where the gang have to deal with modern criminals as well as tackling real-world problems like difficult parents, bullies and schoolwork.   

Mostly, the stories are about the value of true friendship and how everyone has something to offer, however much of an outsider they feel.    

2. What makes the After-School Detective Club so special for the characters and how did they all get involved? 

We thought a lot about the characters at the outset and deliberately made them as different as possible in terms of personality, interests and backgrounds.  They are all thrown together by chance, one evening in Southwold and, at first, they don’t get on particularly well.  However they become firm friends when they are placed in a dangerous situation and have to rely on each other to save themselves.  

Creating very different personalities gave us a lot of opportunity for humour, disagreements and for each member of the gang to bring unique skills to each adventure.  Like all the best gangs, they also have their own hideout – no spoilers but they think it’s ‘the best place in the world’.

3. What is the process like when you co-write a series and do you both agree on everything that happens in the plot and book?

As with all the best collaborations there is some tension in the process – some things we agreed on straight away, others we went backwards and forwards on until we found something we both liked.  We spent the most time thinking about the location, the characters and how they would work together before we really thought about the story.  Once we’d got the chemistry right between the main characters, the stories really took care of themselves.

Having someone else to work with on a story is great.  When you think about it, most modern films and TV shows are written by teams of people.  By comparison, the idea of a lone author, sitting at home and writing entirely by themselves is a little strange.

4. The second book entitled The Secret of Ragnar's Gold will be published at the end of June (2022); will this book work well as a standalone read or do you think there is a need to read it in a sequence for it to be fully understood and enjoyed? 

The stories are all standalone adventures so you can read them in any order you like.  At the same time, there are some characters that turn up in different stories and the relationships between the gang develop over time so I think readers will get more out of them if they read them in order.  

5. Ben Mantle has illustrated both book covers in the series, do you think a good cover can help readers to select and identify a book they would like to read purely on its aesthetics?

Ben is my hero.  He not only did the covers but all the interior illustrations as well and his artwork really brought the books to life.  The first time I saw his sketches I laughed myself silly – he captured the characters perfectly and drew them with such humour that it was like seeing the story for the first time.  

A good cover is an essential part of the package in any book and this is particularly true for children’s books.  A great cover can really help a young reader to start to visualise the story before they have read the first page.  When it is so critically important to encourage children to read at an early page – a great illustrator and a classic cover are indispensable.

6. What project are you working on at the moment?

The After-School Detective Club is progressing rapidly and I am currently working on Book 5 in the series.  No spoilers but my story research included a trip to Ireland as well as googling the question “can you put a dog through an airport scanner”.  

Apart from that I am also finding a bit of spare time to finish Book 3 in my own kids’ sci-fi detective series, Starless and Black, and I’m learning how to play the drums.  The books are going well – the drums, not so much.

7. Which books do you read for pleasure? 

I love reading and devour as many books as my spare time will allow although my reading choices can be a little eclectic.  Favourite reads include the Laidlaw detective series by William Mackilvanney; classic sci-fi/speculative fiction by William Gibson, Ursula Le Guin and Margaret Atwood, spy novels by Le Carre and anything and everything by Neil Gaiman.  

My current read is ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ (honestly) which I am re-reading for probably about the twentieth time.  It is funny, sad, endearing and a perfect example of how a well-crafted children’s book can tell us fundamental truths about the way the world works.

8. What question would your younger self ask your older self and what would be your answer to this?

Eight-year-old me would probably want to know how much I earn – which as any children’s writer will tell you is one of the questions they get asked most often on school visits.

Much-older me would probably say something like – don’t even think about how much money you’re going to make from writing – if you want to make money, start a business or go and work in a bank or something.  But if you want to be a writer, then do it because if there is just the tiniest chance that someone will read something you’ve written and it makes them laugh or cry or think about the world in a different way then, that is worth more than any amount of money.

Oh, and by the way, eight-year-old me – don’t ever stop thinking like an eight-year-old because it’s the one time when you have the most amazing original thoughts about the world that are entirely yours.  As you get older, other people’s ideas will crowd in on your own until you’ve forgotten which ideas are yours and which are just something you read somewhere.  

I think eight-year-old people are the ones most likely to see the world in a fresh and original way – we should put them in charge.

Justyn Edwards - The Great Fox Illusion - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #31

 

The greatest illusion of all is the art of telling a good story; the trick is there is no trick. It's time to dream and let your imagination take hold in this brilliant fantasy adventure with the author, Justyn Edwards. The Great Fox Illusion was published by Walker Books (April 2022). Check this book out as I believe it just might be the READ you are looking for this summer. We hope you enjoy it and see you again soon! 

1. The Great Fox Illusion is your debut book and was published in April 2022. What illusion do you put the readers under and do you think they will enjoy the fantasy experience? 

Stories have a very similar flow, rhythm and structure to a good magic performance. A trick often starts with an everyday object and then surprises you with a vanish or a transformation. Finally, it ends with a crescendo or by returning everything to normal. A good story follows a very similar pattern. Thinking about that made me want to write a story about tricks that was itself a kind of trick. I really hope that others will enjoy the fun in that process. 

2. What do the characters make possible in the plot that would have otherwise been impossible?

I loved writing about Flick and Charlie. When they first meet,Flick isn’t too keen on Charlie – they’re both very different. But the way they combine and learn to work together in this book is something I really enjoyed bringing to life. The personalities those characters have, how contrasting they are, how flawed they are, and yet how they help each other makes the book possible.

3. How did you go about plotting this book and did you have any idea it would become a series? 

Right from the start, I planned this book as the first in a series, and I had the rough shape of what follows from the off. The plot of this book is only an opening skirmish.

4. What do you think you learned when writing this book and will it help you with your next book?

I've learnt a lot. Working with my agent to send this book off to publishers and now working with my editor has been an invaluable experience. They’ve been brilliant at probing the story, getting me to check and cover the details and think through all the angles. Hopefully, I've put these lessons into practice while writing the second book in the series (just finishing this off now), and then it’s time to have another go with the third book, which I need to start writing any day now.

5. You state you are not very good at nuclear physics or DIY (the same applies to me). What would you suggest that you are good at? 

Hmmmmm. Maybe not much! I think my one skill in life is to keep trying. Hopefully, the second book will be better than the first…

6. Does your degree in archaeology help in any way with the next book in the series? Can you share any glimpses of information about it? 

Ha! There’s no archaeology in the second book. What can I tell you about it without giving too much away? The Great Fox Illusion ends with Flick and Charlie thrown into the world of magicians and illusionists, and they’ve made some enemies along the way. Let’s just say, in the second book that the sheer magnitude of what they’re up against becomes apparent – they’ve got the attention of some scary and ruthless people. They have stepped through a door into a new and dangerous world where they discover the true power of the Bell System.

7. Can you share a magical moment that you have had in real life that might inspire us to write or read more books?

I think our imagination is such an important thing. I can’t think of any particular moment that crystalises that, but the process of creative writing and exercising our minds when reading is vital for us all. It makes us more rounded, more empathetic, and more outward-looking people.

8. What one question do you wish you had been asked as part of this Q&A and why? How would one of your characters have responded to this question?

An important question about this book is who designed the stunning cover. Charlie would give you a very long answer to this (as all of his answers tend to go on a bit), but I’ll keep it short. Flavia Sorrentino. She did it, and it looks amazing. I’ve also seen some roughs for her cover for the next book and… Well, you’ll have to wait!