Alice M. Ross - The Nowhere Thief - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Hello readers and welcome to our fourth interview. This week we are meeting the fantastic author, Alice M. Ross, who has recently had her debut children's book published (March 2023) by Nosy Crow. The book is called The Nowhere Thief but watch out as there really is a thief about. This book is surely going to steal your heart! We loved this story and wanted to find out more so check OUT the review. We hope you are loving this series of interviews - thank you all for contributing and reading. 

• How would you describe your multi-verse adventure The Nowhere Thief?

The Nowhere Thief is a mind-bending multiverse adventure aimed at 9-12-year-olds that is also about finding your family. 12-year-old Elsbeth is stealing things from other worlds to sell in her family's antique shop but as a strange boy starts to follow her and the weather turns weird whenever she travels she starts to ask herself: does her gift come with a price?

• Elsbeth and Idris have a special power where they can steal from other worlds. What would you like them to steal for you and why?

Well it's actually only Elsbeth that can steal things: Idris tries to but every time he does it the objects just disappear! His grandmother makes him feel bad about this. Obviously I wouldn't feel comfortable about possessing stolen goods myself, but if they did come across an interesting object by legal means I think it would be pretty cool to have a chamcha, which is a flying sort of cat that lives in Idris's world.

• Which other world would you like to visit in the book and why?

I'd like to visit Victoria's world, where the sea is rising and children are sent on wilderness survival trips: maybe we could get some tips for our own world. I'd like to meet Victoria, who seems like she would be really cool!  

• Do you have any plans for the characters after this book?

We'll have to wait and see! I definitely have ideas in my head of things that will happen to them, but whether that will end up in book form remains to be seen.

 

• You have spent most of your time being a journalist. Can you share a favourite story you wrote or reported on? How do you think a good journalist can make a difference in the real world?

I've reported on lots of things in my career at the Financial Times but recently I've been writing more about climate change, and how investors can get involved - in fact I wrote a non-fiction book on this topic called Investing to Save the Planet in 2020. Journalists can definitely make a difference by highlighting people's voices when they're not heard that often. 

• How do you juggle real-life with fantasy and do they both play important roles in your life?

Well, I guess it would be a bit weird if real-life didn't play an important role in my life! I have kids and cats and a house and all that grown-up jazz to tend to: I find they complement each other quite well right now but I do have to carve out certain times of the day to write or I'd never get it done! 

• Which book or literary work made you think about the impact we have on the planet?

I did write a book myself about the impact we have on the planet, so I certainly thought about it then. I'm not sure I've ever read a fiction work specifically about climate change but I think it's interesting that this is becoming more of a trend in both adult and children's literature.  

• What would you do differently if you were to write another book?

I'd like to say I would plan it better, but I'm not a huge planner of books - I do think that if you just write you come up with ideas as you go. That said I think it's a good idea to have your themes in your mind/some vague idea of what you're trying to do, so that's what I'm trying to do in the next book I'm writing: I know how it ends but not how it will get there!  

• Finally three quick questions: favourite meal, place, and one wish for the future? 

My favourite meal has to be twice-baked potato - it is definitely my comfort food that my Mum used to make for me when I was a kid! These days I have it to cheer myself up or when it's a particularly cold day.

My favourite place is Berlin - it's such a cool city, and my kids are half-German so we spend quite a lot of time there.

My wish for the future is obviously to publish more books! I have lots of ideas and I just need to find the time to turn them all into novels!  

https://nosycrow.com/product/the-nowhere-thief/

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

 

Polly Holyoke - Skyriders - Published by Viking Books for Young Readers (March 7, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593464410 - Hardback - Age: 7+ 

Wings of Fire meets Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in this epic fantasy adventure set in a world where human and skysteed share a deep bond of friendship and love.

When monsters emerge to attack the empire, it's up to Kiesandra and her beloved winged horse N'Rah to prove to herself and the imperial army that she has what it takes to lead them to victory . . . and survival.

Thirteen-year-old Kiesandra's best friend isn't human, but that doesn't stop her from sharing jokes and secrets with her winged horse, N'Rah. She, like every other person with a skysteed, can communicate with N'Rah through her mind. Their bond is critical when one day, monsters from long ago reemerge to ravage a nearby village. No one knows how to fight the fearsome chimerae except Kie's uncle . . . and now Kie.

Injured in the battle, Uncle Dug makes her promise to bring his attack plan and weapons to the capital. Kie reluctantly agrees. At the palace, she and N'Rah attempt to gain the trust of the royals and train the army in Dug's lessons. But how can a young girl and her skysteed convince anyone that only they know how to defeat the deadly monsters?

Buzzing with action, heart, and friendship, this first book in the Skyriders series show that kids can achieve the impossible—especially with flying horses on their side.

Rebecca Mahoney - The Memory Eater - Published by Razorbill (March 14, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593524602 - Hardback - Age: 11+ 

“An eerie tale offering equal measures of fright, angst, and emotional catharsis.” —Kirkus, starred review

A teenage girl must save her town from a memory-devouring monster in this piercing exploration of grief, trauma, and memory, from the author of The Valley and the Flood.

For generations, a monster called the Memory Eater has lived in the caves of Whistler Beach, Maine, surviving off the unhappy memories of those who want to forget. And for generations, the Harlows have been in charge of keeping her locked up—and keeping her fed.

After her grandmother dies, seventeen-year-old Alana Harlow inherits the family business. But there’s something Alana doesn’t know: the strange gaps in her memory aren’t from an accident. Her memories have been taken—eaten. And with them, she’s lost the knowledge of how to keep the monster contained.

Now the Memory Eater is loose. Alana’s mistake could cost Whistler Beach everything—unless she can figure out how to retrieve her memories and recapture the monster. But as Alana delves deeper into her family’s magic and the history of her town, she discovers a shocking secret at the center of the Harlow family business and learns that tampering with memories always comes at a price.

Cayla Fay - Ravensong - Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 14, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1665905299 - Hardback - Age: 12+

A demi-god who refuses to cohabitate with humans accidentally falls in love with one in the first book of a pulse-pounding teen duology that’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Celtic mythology.

Neve has spent lifetimes defending the mortal world against the legions of hell with her two sisters. 

Unfortunately for Neve, in this lifetime, she is the only one of the Morrigan—a triad of Irish war gods—still stuck in high school and still without her full power. She’s been counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday, when she finally gets to shed the pretenses of humanity and grow into her divine power.

But then she meets Alexandria. And Alexandria is as determined to force Neve into some semblance of teenage normalcy as she is haunted by her own demons—both figurative and literal.

As they grow closer, Neve decides that humanity—and, perhaps, love—isn’t so detestable after all. This makes it all the more dangerous when she realizes that something in Hell wants Alexandria, and it’s up to Neve and her sisters to save her before Alexandria’s past catches up to all of them.

Chica Umino - March Comes in Like a Lion (Volume 1) - Published by ‎DENPA BOOKS (March 28, 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1634428125 - Paperback - Age: 12+ 
Rei Kiriyama is a child prodigy. Rei Kiriyama is also an orphan who lives alone in an empty apartment. Rei Kiriyama is a teen working in an adult's world. Life is complicated for Rei. He's an up-and-coming shogi (Japanese chess) player on the verge of turning pro but he has no homelife or much of a life period outside his board game but thankfully with the help of some life-long friends he has an opportunity start all over again.

Anna Brooke - Monster Bogey - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Thank you for joining us once again. It's time to get messy and have a little sing-song with another one of our debut authors, Anna Brooke. Anna is the author of MONSTER BOGEY published by Chicken House this Jan 2023. The book is fantastically illustrated by Owen Lindsay and, as it states on the cover, just pick it up and come and have a laugh. To find out more, you just need to read on my little MONSTERS. 

How much slime should we expect to encounter in this book? Do we need to be wearing a hazmat suit before encountering this story?

Gooliemaloolie! There is so much slime in this book – almost on every page. Yes, I highly recommend wearing a hazmat suit. Or a diving suit. Or a rain suit. Or even just a few plastic bags. Anything you can to protect your clothes.

Can you tell us what the willy-willy-woo-woos are? 

The willy-willy-woo-woos are those uncomfortable feelings you get when you’re scared - like the ‘creeps’ or the ‘jitters’ or (the word most closely related to them) the ‘willies’.

How would you describe your debut book as a quick song?

Ooh. Good question. Either as a ballad (a very cheesy one) about adventure, friendship and accepting people as they are. Or it could be a proper upbeat number about nose-picking called Snot Ball Disco - which is precisely one of the two songs I wrote for it (with French composer Xavier Bussy)! 

The other song, called A-Chooooo! (also co-composed with pianist Sebastien Joly), is a silly Strauss-inspired aria about sneezing. 

I’m a huge fan of musicals, and for a while I sang in an electropop group, so right from the start I knew I wanted Monster Bogey to have a musical element. You can listen to the songs via QR codes and links in the book, or via all the usual streaming platforms.

Or here:

Snot Ball Disco, performed by Lucy Longlegs the cabaret-singing spider (featuring Honkerty Village’s Weird hedgehog): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulYFcLlq_S8 

A-Chooooo!, sung by Mum, an opera singer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk3yeGJvE-w 

Here are some of the lyrics:

Snot ball disco

Step in to the light

Greenie greenie

Forget all your strife

Snot ball disco

When you pick your friends

Greenie greenie

Love never ends

When you’re feeling down at the end of the day

Just Pick It

Just Pick It

Just Pick It

Yeah!

If you’re feeling shy and can’t think what to say

Just Pick It

Just Pick It

Just Pick It

Yeah!

And A-chooooo!:

Have you ever had a tickle in your nose? 

It gets you from your head down to your toes

Then there’s nothing left to do

But let out a sneezy, snotty, sloppy, sticky 

A-CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Don’t try to hold it in

It’ll make you feel so grim

Your eyes will pop with nasal slop!

If you keep it all inside

It’ll come out your behind

And who wants snot around their bot?

Just let rip – go for the goo

It’s the only thing to do.

Just let rip – it’s a breeze

It’s the only way to sneeze.

From Yorkshire to Paris, has this journey influenced any part of the book? 

Yes, definitely. The obvious part is baddy Willamina’s French ancestry. She’s the descendent of French king William the ‘Conkerer’! And she spews French-sounding insults without knowing what they mean – like, ‘ferry pour Calais’ (Ferry to Calais) and ‘saucisson sec’ (cured sausage). 

The other part is the book’s humour, which I think is very much linked to my years growing up in Yorkshire and Birmingham (where I lived until I was ten). People in both regions love a good play on words and have a great sense of humour. I like to think I absorbed some of that and put it into the book. 

Would you recommend tea drinking, Yorkshire pudding flinging, or baguette jousting as a way of limbering up to read Monster Bogey?

Like most Parisians, I always begin a good reading session with un petit peu of baguette jousting. And occasionally croissant chucking. And on special occasions discus throwing with camembert along the Champs Elysées. But I’d recommend any of the above. Or you could just pick your nozzle!

This book sounds wonderful, do you think laughter plays an important role in children's books? 

They say laughter is the best medicine and I think it’s especially true when it comes to reading.  Laughter releases endorphins in your brain, which makes you feel good, which makes reading a positive experience. And what could be better for keeping kids hooked on books than that? 

That’s not to say that children shouldn’t be exposed to all sorts of books. They should. But I think laughter can be a precious tool for attracting kids of any age to reading – especially reluctant readers. If they’ve had a good experience with one book, they’re more likely to want to replicate it by trying another story, and then another, and so on. 

How would you like readers to feel once they have finished reading the story? 

I’d love them to feel as though they’ve been on a wild, funny and mischievous adventure.

My dream comment would be, ‘This made me happy and laugh a lot’. 

I’d also hope that by the end—through Bogey’s character and what happens to him—readers will feel more empathy towards people who are different.

And maybe, just maybe, some people will feel that my book is a refreshing antidote to Covid. During the pandemic, millions of kids must have been told off (more than usual) for picking their noses. And for good reason. But perhaps reading Monster Bogey will—on some level—offer a naughty sense of release, after all that pent-up stress and unchannelled picking energy!

What type of books do you like to read? 

Oh gosh! All sorts. I don’t really have a ‘type’ but here’s a list of some of my favourites books, from childhood through to adulthood:

• Alanna by Tamora Pierce
• The Silver Chair by C.S Lewis
• The Lockwood & Co series by Johnathan Stroud
• The Third Policeman by Flann O’Brian
• Anything by Oscar Wilde, but particularly The Canterville Ghost
• The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly 
• The Monk by Matthew Lewis. In fact, this is probably my all-time favourite.

The illustrations in the book look amazing. At which point of the publication process did you get to see these and how do you think they support the story process? 

By the time I saw Owen Lindsay’s brilliant cover and illustrations, the book was approaching final copy-edit stage. But I was so overwhelmed with some of his pictures, that I actually tweaked a few lines of the text to make it match his drawings. For instance, in the revolving fireplace scene, Owen put a bowler hat on a werewolf carving, and it looked so good I had to write it into the story.

In terms of story process, the illustrations didn’t really support the writing of Monster Bogey per se (aside from the above), because they came at the end. But for the sequel, Monster Stink (due out on August 3^rd 2023), Owen’s style has been very much at the forefront of my mind. I now see Frank, Tiffany and Bogey (the main characters) as the people he has drawn. And I wrote certain scenes thinking about how Owen might portray them. There are some seriously sticky bits in Monster Stink, I’m telling you! And Owen has come up trumps!

What three things would your characters get up to if you let them loose in Paris?

I think Frank and Bogey would head straight to the top of the Eiffel Tower, where Bogey would do an aerial choreography with Paris’ pigeons.

Tiffany would take the slugs to Parc de la Villette, a modern park in the north-east of the city where there are regular circus shows.

Mum would hit the Garnier Opera House and reminisce about when she sang there. And Dad would go straight to the Cinémathèque film museum.

What was the scariest book you read as a child?

I’d have to say, the B.F.G. by Roald Dahl. I was genuinely terrified by the non-friendly giants and what they’d do to Sophie if she got caught.

Anna Brooke

Anna’s writing career started in journalism as a film critic for Time Out Paris and the author of seven travel guidebooks for Frommer’s. She has written for multiple publications, including the Financial Times, The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, where she was the long-standing Paris expert. Her debut novel, Frank ‘n’ Bogey, was a SCBWI Undiscovered Voices winner and longlisted for the Bath Children’s Novel Award. When not writing, she has been an actress, a cabaret singer and an electro-pop artist, performing on stage and composing songs for films and commercials. Raised in Birmingham and Yorkshire, she now lives in Paris with her French-Canadian husband and son. Author Website: https://www.annabrookewriter.com

Yvonne Banham - The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores Mackenzie - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Hello Everybody. It's time to walk this way to read our second interview. This week we are delighted to introduce Yvonne Banham who is showcasing her debut children's book. The dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores Mackenzie is a gothic escapade that will be published by Firefly Press in April 2023. The book looks and sounds fabulous - I already have it on my purchase list. If you need any more encouragement then read our little interview to find out more about the book and the author. In the meantime, if you have any questions please leave them in the comments section below. You can pre-order copies of this book at Firefly Press using this link Order Book HERE. 

• The book cover is brilliant as it says so much about the story. What can you tell us about the plot that might entice new readers to give it a go? 

I LOVE the cover. Nathan Collins’ vision of Delores is spot on. The story opens as Delores is being chased home by a restless spirit These spirits crave Delores’ energy to help them return from the dead. They’re not like ordinary ghosts (simply memories stuck on repeat), these spirits know they’re dead and they’re not happy about it! So, Delores is sent to the mysterious Uncles in Edinburgh Old Town to learn to control her paranormal gifts, but a sinister apparition appears and threatens the lives of her strange new housemates. Can Delores Mackenzie really push back the dead? Read on to find out! If you like Jonathan Stroud, Phil Hicks or Frances Hardinge, you might enjoy this too!

• How much of your personality is featured in the different characters? 

Delores and Prudence have a lot of traits stolen from my daughters (though I’ll never say which is which!)  Delores’ love of gothic fiction, her hatred of coriander and the word lobule are all me, as well as a fair bit of Prudence’s sarcasm sorry to say! 

• Tolbooth Book Store is full of curious surprises, what surprises did you find when writing this book?

 I’m not a planner so there were LOTS of surprises. When I started, I didn’t know about the Uncles, or the little demon gargoyle Bartleby, or how unintentionally funny Prudence would be, I didn’t even know the ending. The biggest surprise was Prudence’s secret and I loved going back and weaving that through the plot.

• What do you think makes a really effective dark mystery and do you think you have achieved this in your debut book? 

Maintaining the tension is crucial, but also having resting spots so the reader isn’t overwhelmed by the dark; include lighter characters such as Katy Starr (great fun to write!), grumpy Bartleby, or Sweet-Shop Esme. Mix the clues amongst lots of twists and turns and tap into things that genuinely scare you. Use those feelings to keep the story dark. I hope I’ve achieved that tricky balance, but really that’s for the readers to decide.

• How much has your story changed since the first draft? 

I’m always going back over sections as I write, so I don’t have as many full drafts as most writers. The biggest changes came when I started to thread new ideas through the existing plot to give a more satisfying ending. I also got to add a scene at the end which in hindsight was crucial to the shape of the story. Delores’ world is also much now more richly curated, and I love doing that part. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say 80% of it is from the really proper, fully worked first draft. 

• If you could have a dangerous gift what would it be and why?

 I LOVE that question. I think I’d choose shapeshifting but as shapeshifters are basically outlaws, I’d need to make sure not to get caught. As I’m sometimes late, being able to fly everywhere would be amazing – and just image what you’d see from the sky! Or I’d be a cat next to a log fire when I wanted to just lie there and create spooky plots in my head.

• What has inspired you the most to write a book for children? 

I read lots of books for children and young adults. I love the plots, the characters and the worlds. When I write, that’s where my head’s at and that’s how my own stories come out. My biggest inspiration is Frances Hardinge. Her books show how far you can push the boundaries in children’s fiction and that subject fascinates me. She never patronises her readers in terms of plot, character, dialogue or levels of creepiness.

• What would you like people to know about you?

 I write dark stuff and adore dark stories, but I also love an uncontrollable, unstoppable belly-laugh. You feel amazing after! 

• What are some of the common traps for new writers as they pursue their dreams of getting their book published?

 Trying to guess the trends or following what’s popular. By the time you’ve written yours, the publishing world will have moved on. And sending stuff out too soon; join a writing community, get some feedback, let your story rest a while and come back to it. That story gets one chance to make an impression so make it count. 

• What and where is the spookiest place you've ever been to? 

The Blair Street Vaults under Edinburgh Old Town. SUPER creepy. There’s supposedly the ghost of a young boy down there. I didn’t see him, but other people say they have. It has a peculiar atmosphere and one of the rooms had a very odd kind of dark. It features in the book; go there, I dare you! I want to visit the Covenanter’s Jail in Greyfriars Kirkyard but so far, I’m too scared to go in! It supposedly has the most active poltergeist in all of Edinburgh and that’s up against some pretty steep competition!

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Children's Book Picks UK - March 2023

J. J. Arcanjo - Crookhaven: The School for Thieves - Published by Hodder Children's Books (2 Mar. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1444965735 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

"So this is really a school for criminals." It was meant as a question, though it came out more as an accusation.

"We are so much more than that," Caspian said, sitting in a plush leather chair and gesturing for Gabriel to sit in a similar one across the table. "We are a home for the forgotten, a sanctuary for the lost and ... yes, a training ground for the greatest crooks of the future."

13-year-old Gabriel is a brilliant pickpocket, a skill which he uses to keep his often empty belly not quite so empty. And then one day, he's caught.

But instead of being arrested, he is invited by the mysterious Caspian Crook to attend Crookhaven - a school for thieves. At Crookhaven, students are trained in lock-picking, forgery and 'crim-nastics', all with the intention of doing good out in the world, by conning the bad and giving back to the innocent.

But ... can you ever really trust a thief?

With a school-wide competition to be crowned Top Crook and many mysteries to uncover, Gabriel's first year at Crookhaven will be one to remember... 

Peter Bunzl (Author), Lia Visirin (Illustrator) - Dragonracers - Published by Barrington Stoke (2 Mar. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800901780 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

Twins Kitty and Harris Hawk have grown up at the airfield where their father works as an engineer. Kitty in particular is obsessed with the idea of becoming an aeronaut but her father thinks children should stay firmly on the ground. When the twins discover a strange and unusually large egg from which a dragon hatches, little do they imagine that this is the first step on a journey that will see them taking to the skies and competing in the first long-distance air race. Can they win the huge prize that’s at stake and will their daring adventure lead their father to change his mind about Kitty’s future?

Samuel Sattin (Adapted), Tomm Moore (Creator) - Song of the Sea: The Graphic Novel - Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (7 Mar. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316438810 - Hardback/Paperback - Age:7+ 

A lush graphic novel about a family adrift and the magical adventure that brings them together. Based on the award-winning film, this gorgeous adaptation includes a bonus story from the film's creator.

Many years after the disappearance of their mother, siblings Ben and Saoirse are still drowning in grief, as is their lighthouse-keeper father. Ben blames his little sister for the loss of their mother, and despite being six years old, Saoirse has yet to speak. When the kids discover that Saoirse is a selkie and the magical world that their mother told stories about is real, they dive into an adventure to keep the spirit world from disappearing forever. Based on the award-winning film Song of the Sea, this graphic novel is a wonder of magical storytelling and visual splendor that is destined to become a classic. 

Includes an 18-page bonus story written and illustrated by film creator Tomm Moore and a Gaelic glossary. 

Song of the Sea (along with Wolfwalkers and The Secret of Kells) is part of Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy which celebrates magic, fantasy, and Celtic mythology. 

Anna Goodall - Maggie Blue and the White Crow - Published by Guppy Books (2 Mar. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913101817 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 

Maggie Blue is adjusting to a quieter life, back living with her aunt Esme and hanging out with friends Ida and Will as well as her beloved Hoagy the cat. She tries to forget about the events of the previous year - but she's being watched, and one day a small white bird appears. Where has the white crow come from, and why won't it leave Maggie alone? Little does she know that the Dark World is waiting for her to return... and when Cynthia her mum is kidnapped and taken there, Maggie only has no choice but to go back. With the help of Hoagy and some new friends by her side, Maggie must go back to the place that she never wished to see again, if she's ever to see her mum - or gain control of her own life - again.

Lucy Ann Unwin - The Octopus, Dadu and Me - Author Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Hello and welcome everybody. This week it's time to get acquainted with the debut book written by Lucy Ann Unwin called The Octopus, Dadu and Me. Firstly, what a great book title! The book was published in Jan 2023 by UCLan Publishing. This is the first in a series of interviews introducing a number of new fantastic children's authors and their debut books. Look out for the other interviews in this series and give the authors your support. In the meantime, let's get stuck into another fantastic read of the year. You can purchase a copy of the book HERE! 

1. As a bookseller, how would you describe your debut book to potential new readers?

Well, I have a lot to learn in the ways of bookselling as I’m only just starting out, but it’s about a girl who forms a special bond with an octopus. She becomes convinced she has to set him free from the aquarium so she enlists her lovely friends’ help in a heist mission to rescue him. In the background she’s dealing with a lot of confusion and grief as her beloved dadu — her grandparent — has dementia, and has stopped recognising her. I hope the fun and friendship of the octopus heist balances out her emotional journey with her dadu, which is inevitably a bit sad.

So, if I knew a kid who craved big emotions from their reading…maybe a little cry… I would definitely lead them to The Octopus Dadu and Me. Anyone who enjoyed The Night Animals, Sadé and Her Shadow Beasts, or The Storm Swimmer for example, or a Jaqueline Wilson fan maybe.

I also tried to make the writing quite simple and accessible, and Lucy Mulligan’s wonderful comic strips add space in the narrative. I think there are plenty of kids who are emotionally mature and want to engage with big feelings, but also want a pacy, accessible read.

2. Are octopuses really psychic? If so, what is the most exciting prediction they have made?

Ah, if only! I guess there’s still a lot we don’t know about octopuses, so I still hold out hope they have abilities that are, as yet, unproven — even if there’s no evidence at the moment that they're psychic.

That said… I was always utterly intrigued by Paul, potentially the world’s most famous octopus? At the time of the 2010 World Cup Paul was said to be able to predict the outcome of matches. His owners would give him boxes with food in, each labelled with the flag of a team in an upcoming match, and Paul would have to choose which box to eat from. He got 8 out of 8 match predictions right — so you can draw your own conclusions!!! Paul gets a namecheck in The Octopus, Dadu and Me, of course.

3. Apparently, octopuses have three hearts. What three important pieces of advice/support have you had that helped you to write this book?

Writing wise, I take most of my advice from the internet…Twitter can be a great teacher! (As well as the opposite, of course.) I had a couple of quotes from authors on Post-It notes attached to my monitor to see me through.

One is a classic Kurt Vonnegut: “Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.”

The other is a quote from The Minaturist author Jessie Burton about first drafts: “If the layering and nuance isn’t there, why would it be? You’ve only written it once.”

The first really helped me bring every character to life, and the second kept me going through each edit.

And then another piece of advice that I continue to find incredibly helpful came from the brilliant children’s author Sally Nicholls. She was talking on Twitter about getting in the habit of “Filling Your Cup” creatively, suggesting that you have to go out and experience life and art as part of your creative process. This was so helpful, not just because it's a great idea, but also because it gave me permission to step away from the laptop and know it was helping my writing. I still find that hard, but I’m working on it.

4. How did you visualise your fantasy aquarium in the story?

The aquarium in the book is actually pretty closely modelled on my local Sea Life centre in Brighton, which is the world’s oldest aquarium! It has the most beautiful Victorian Arcade when you first walk in, with soaring arches all lit up in rainbow colours and the tanks set in the side of the walls. The opening scene of the book pretty much describes the moment in real life when the book was conceived. I was sat at the same little table my main character Sashi is sat at in Chapter 1, looking at the same octopus, when the idea for the story started to take hold. So, I didn’t have to draw very deeply on my visualisation skills!

A lot of details beyond that are different though. For one thing, the characters have to try and work out how to break in to the aquarium, as well as how to access the tanks, and I wasn’t particularly keen on giving ideas about how to break into a real building! So, the rest is all made up to fit what was needed for the plot.

5. One of the characters in the book has dementia, at what point did you decide to include this illness in the story and why?

I’ve thought a lot about this since The Octopus, Dadu and Me was published, and I genuinely don’t know the answer. Dadu had dementia all along, it wasn’t something I introduced. Although in the first draft his relationship with Sashi was much less developed. It was only when I started to edit during the Covid lockdown — when children being separated from their grandparents was on my mind — that I started adding in the flashbacks and really trying to deepen and share their bond a bit more. But as to why he had dementia, I don’t have a good answer. My own Nan, who I was very devoted to as a child, developed Alzheimers when I was in my teens, so I’m sure that must have subconsciously filtered into it somewhere along the line.

6. Having been a music journalist, does this book have a music playlist? If so, what would it feature?

I find it so hard to listen to music while I write! Certainly nothing with words. I have a Spotify playlist of lots of non-vocal tracks that powered me through the writing and editing process… some Bicep and The Comet is Coming and lots of old trip-hop and dubstep.

But when we had the book launch my family tried to put together a little playlist that represented the book. My daughter chose Head Up by The Score to represent Sashi’s emotional struggle, my husband went with the classic link and picked The Beatles' Octopus's Garden, I personally think Radiohead’s Weird Fishes is perfect. The lyrics really connect with Sashi and Ian’s relationship and eye-to-eye connection. (I’ll skip over the getting “picked over by the worms” bit!!)

Here are some of the lyrics:
In the deepest ocean
The bottom of the sea
Your eyes
They turn me
Why should I stay here?
Why should I stay?

I'd be crazy not to follow
Follow where you lead.
…
Everybody leaves
If they get the chance
And this is my chance

So if I had to sum up the book in a song, it would be that one. Also, it’s my favourite song so any excuse!

On a side note, I picked Harry Styles Music for a Sushi Restaurant for an “unboxing video” I made when my author copies arrived in the post — because it’s an EPIC song — but it only occurred to me writing this how dark that is!!! Eek.

7. Who and what are the key influences of this story?

I think, like all writers, I’m influenced by everything! The weather, an article in the paper, a snatch of overheard conversation, a million subconscious currents…. I mentioned earlier that the Covid lockdown was a big influence, and it really was. It was heartbreaking to see close, tactile grandparent relationships being moved online or worse. There’s a lot of my mum in there. And, writing-wise, I think I’m influenced by every book I’ve ever read, but also by movies. I went through a phase of re-watching a lot of the films of my childhood, so there’s more than a little Free Willy in there!

8. What do you think the different illustrations bring to the book and story? 

Ah, I love the illustrations so much! The last one makes me cry every time I see it. Lucy Mulligan really did an excellent job. And they’re so crucial to the story! I was very nervous before I saw them, because they don’t just illustrate what is described in the narrative, the comic strips contain key plot points. Without the illustrations, the story wouldn’t make any sense.

The comic panels were always in the book from the first draft. Sashi is a comic artist, and she processes all her emotions through drawing, so when she’s convinced she’s communicating with the octopus Ian, it’s through her drawing that the communications happen.

I also really hope they provide a light touch. There are some big emotions in The Octopus Dadu and Me and I think the graphic sections give the reader a chance to slow down a bit as they take in all the visual information. Hopefully that change of pace allows them a little breather to process their own emotions too.

9. What would Ian say about you (as the writer) and did he predict any part of the story?

Well, Ian always knew the ending, but that’s his own little secret and to share that would be a bit of a spoiler! I love Lucy Mulligan’s first comic strip in the book where Sashi tries to imagine what’s going on in Ian’s head and the final panel says “You have NO IDEA what I’m thinking!” So I’m just going to project, and say Ian would be very happy that we’ve shared so many fascinating facts about this amazing species!

10. What is your favourite place you have visited recently?

I don’t leave my dark little writing room very frequently, but we went camping for a few days in Norfolk last summer and spent some time stomping along the tidal flats… the landscape was so fascinating. They’d apparently had a very high tide recently and the footpaths were encrusted with thousands of tiny crabs. There were swallows darting everywhere and you could see for miles. I absolutely loved it, it felt like the perfect setting for a story… and then I recently read Wilder by Penny Chrimes set on marshland and it brought it all to life perfectly!

Alice M. Ross - The Nowhere Thief - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

This is the debut book by journalist Alice M. Ross. The Nowhere Thief is due to be published by Nosy Crow books on 2nd March 2023. However, if you are lucky it has actually been spotted for sale in some good bookshops earlier than the publication date so get searching and hunting for an early copy! 

My first feeling after reading this book was: what next? The story is a multiverse adventure full of secrets and a little theft here and there! Twelve-year old Elsbeth takes trinkets from one place in the verse to bring back home to sell in the family's strangely quaint but failing antique store. She has discovered an extraordinary power where she can travel to parallel worlds by opening a rift. Hearing a familiar hum in the air, as the opening materialises, she can step into NOWHERE. 

The story feels like a cinematic cult movie. The feel of the story has a timeless science-fiction edge as you travel between the parallel worlds. If Doctor Who was a thief then he would sit right at home in this story. However, you don't need a tardis to travel just a rare talent! The story is a fantastic concoction of elements that fit together like a fantasy glove; hurtling along in a kaleidoscope of adventure, mystery, and a fantastic backdrop of different worlds. 

The two main characters (Elsbeth and Idris) start an unlikely friendship as they explore the dangers and their hearts by travelling together as part of this bizarre adventure. The story is very well-written - it is creatively compelling with a futuristic vision that is well-explored with enough detail to keep you on your fantasy Sci-Fi toes. I think a lot of readers will connect with the characters and be swept away into their own private fantasy world. 

Everybody needs to step inside a portal to NOWHERE and unlock their imagination. This is a great book to do that in my opinion. It is full of many possibilities, an unpredictable story, strange flying creatures, and worlds that are full of colour and life that you might want to linger in one place longer than another. In the meantime, you'll find me hiding in the dusty antique shop looking for treasure and a further story. This is an excellent debut book which is part of an exciting series to look forward to.