Tag: magic

Could you tell us a little about your debut middle grade novel, Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer?

Of course! Our story starts in the swampy, grubby town of Bogsmarsh on the ‘day of Deciding’. The ‘Deciding’ is the event every child must face. When you finish school at twelve years old, you have a meeting with the Decider, the leader and law-maker of the town. They will look through your school reports, and aptitude, and determine which of twelve professions you are best suited for.

Amongst the twelve is everything from Guardian (where you learn to be a battle-hardened warrior), Creaturologist (where you learn to study, train and befriend the impossible creatures of the world), Alchemist (where you learn to brew potions) and Creator (crafting and designing everything the town needs).

There’s only one profession you don’t want: Dearth. Dearth means you have no obvious skills and have to watch the pigs all day. There’s only ever been one dearth in 500 years: Steve… and Steve’s a scarecrow.

Our story follows Youngest Faircrest on the day of his Deciding, and what follows after his profession is chosen for him…

This is such a fantastical adventure and readers are already falling in love with Youngest’s story. How does it feel to be a debut author, and have there been any surprises along the way?

It’s been the most joyous experience since Youngest was first published. I have been blown away by the response; it’s far beyond what I could have ever hoped for.

As most authors do, I wrote this story because I loved these characters and wanted to explore this world. And you’re so focused on the road to publication, (the endless edits, the submission process, the story taking shape, etc.) that it’s easy to forget this will sit on someone’s bookshelf one day! So what has struck me most (and it’s the most wonderful surprise) is how much readers have taken Youngest to their hearts.

Over the Summer I have been lucky to receive lots of letters, from children from all over, who have read the story and enjoyed it. I have met children who have been so inspired by the world that they have made their own costumes based on how they would want their Deciding to go! But most of all I have had the incredible honour of having a class named after me!

A school got in touch with my publishers saying that one of the teachers had been so struck by the novel’s propensity to inspire younger readers towards a life-long love of books, they asked if they could name their class after me. So, ‘Clark Class’ starts back at school this September. It’s the sort of news you couldn’t ever dream of happening, and I can’t tell you how much joy it brings me!

Youngest is very much an underdog who readers are bound to relate to. How did you come up with Youngest’s best friend, Agnes, and his trusty sidekick Satchel the piglet?

Oh, that’s such a good question because I have long said that Agnes is the story’s secret weapon. While Youngest Faircrest is our hero, the entire story is told from the perspective of Agnes, his best friend. Not only that, but she’s remembering the adventure from adulthood!

What this means is that I write each story as Agnes Witterer, and I am talking directly to YOU the reader! Agnes was there and she wants to tell you everything that happened in as much detail as her patchy memory can remember. Hopefully it builds a bond with the reader and allows the book to feel very conversational. All of which is done to make the book feel as readable and accessible as possible!

It means I can be funny, rude, cheeky and surprising – all talking as Agnes!

And Satchel is my favourite character to write. Based on Gromit (and only speaking in ‘oinks’), he is the most expressive piglet you would ever meet; endlessly rolling his eyes or rubbing his forehead with his trotter. Not to mention he has more than a few tricks up his sleeve! I hope as readers spend time in this world, just like Agnes and Youngest, you will be able to understand Satchel’s ‘oinks’ too!

...what I’ve always loved is making people laugh… that was the seed for my love of writing and telling stories.

How did you go about writing this novel? Did you have a specific process that worked for you and can you share anything about it?

Yes, absolutely! I write to a very specific routine. As I mentioned earlier, I really want the book to feel as accessible as possible and one of the ways I’ve done that is to have short chapters. Bar only a few, all chapters are under 1,000 words – and that’s my schedule!

I would write Monday-Sunday, 1,000 words (or less) a day, which meant I was writing a chapter a day. This really helped with the momentum of the story (because every chapter leads directly onto the next without any time jumps) and kept me wanting to write on. Even if I felt I wanted to write more than 1,000 words, I would always stop!

What were your favourite fantasy books to read growing up, and do you have any favourites now?

I remember the wonder of the Narnia books from school. The expanse beyond the wardrobe felt never-ending. I also vividly remember The Hobbit. The sense of history and grounding that Tolkien gave to Middle Earth is a very big inspiration to Bogsmarsh. Using small details and hints of names/ places which speak to caverns of past stories and characters.

It’s not quite fantasy, but I have very fond memories of A Series of Unfortunate Events. There’s a strong cross over in the narratorial style too. That idea of being told a story is very much at the heart of Youngest Faircrest series too.

Most authors we speak to have always loved books. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I’m not sure I did! I always struggled with my reading. It was something which came very naturally to those around me, but I found it a continual hurdle. I was fortunate to have such supportive parents and dedicated teachers that were able to help me persevere, and develop a love of books as I got a bit older, but a love of writing was not something I necessarily had when I was young.

In truth, what I’ve always loved is making people laugh. That’s always my route into every story or character or world. That was the seed for my love of writing and telling stories.  

What was your favourite thing about writing Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer?

I think my favourite thing is writing the characters of Youngest, Agnes and Satchel. As someone who also writes TV, I follow that old writing adage that your hero should always be in the worst position possible. So, I delight in the scenes, traps and situations I can write around the three and seeing how they will break out of it.

I love writing their humour and courage, but most of all it’s the heart at the centre of the stories which I really love to write about. These stories are fundamentally about family and friendship which persevere through everything, and writing those bonds brings me such joy.

Can you tell us about anything else you’re working on right now, and what readers can expect from you next?

Yes, I have just finished writing the sequel to Youngest Faircrest and the Search for a Sorcerer, which will be coming out in 2027! I feel so, so lucky that I get to spend more time with Youngest in Bogsmarsh. And the real joy of this world is that each book will have its own genre! So, while the first book in the series is a quest, the second is a—

Actually, I’d better not tell you just yet! As Agnes says at the end of the first book: ‘Look out for my next chronicle, I’ll tell you everything then!’

Ollie George Clark