Unrest by Michelle Harrison

Synopsis

Seventeen-year-old Elliott hasn’t slept properly for months. Not since the accident that nearly killed him. Sometimes he half-wakes, paralysed, while shadowy figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around while his body lies asleep on the bed. His doctors say sleep paralysis and out-of-body experiences are harmless - but to Elliott they’re terrifying.

Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out-of-body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something that wants to live again - and it wants Ophelia, too . . .

I don't think it's a secret that I'm a huge fan of Michelle Harrison's books. However, I'm also a terrible scaredy cat so I waited for a nice, bright summer's day (well, sort of summer) to sit down outside and open Unrest. The cover itself is enough to scare the hell out of me with it's browning edges and ghostly figure. However, Elliot has such a distinctive voice that I was hooked in the first few pages. The book starts with an account of his sleep paralysis, out of body experience and a haunting. We start to get to know post-accident Elliot and discover that he's nothing like the confident person he was before. All his previous interests have gone out of the window, he's not eating, sleeping or even washing. He certainly is a tragic figure but although all those around him are looking at him with pity I think the reader can tell that the fight is still inside him - just a hint of the person he once was.

Deciding that he doesn't want to return to college until the next year he gets a job, one that should bring him into contact with ghosts. His theory is that if he sees ghosts anywhere other than his flat then he can start to get a handle on what's going on with his life. He gets a job at a living museum and enters real life for the first time in months. However, it soon becomes apparent that his boss Hodge is seriously unpredictable and prone to fits of anger. His adopted daughter Ophelia is an enigma who draws Elliot's attention. He's not had any interest in girls for months but there's something about her that attracts him. Her previous boyfriend, Sean, ran out on her but she's being plagued by his friends and family wanting to know where he's gone. Ophelia and Elliot are thrown together by escalating events - I was a hundred percent loving their relationship. There are some seriously wonderful kissing scenes in this book. I think these two are my favourite couple of the year.

Unrest is non-stop action from beginning to end. Elliot can step out of his body but doing this means that his body is unguarded so when he returns to find his body gone he realises that he needs to find out more about his talent and quickly. The hauntings are incredibly atmospheric and creepy. I could feel his terror during his sleep paralysis. Little by little Elliot starts to gather his life back together again and part of this is accepting that he won't be the same person he was before. In terms of emotional arcs this one is particularly satisfying. Elliot's in such a low place at the opening of the book that it's almost impossible to see how he's going to get out of his slump. The secondary characters are all wonderful too - Hodge is deliciously awful but I also loved Elliot's dad and brother.

I'll stop now before I gush too much. Just to say that I did not see the twist at the end coming. Unrest is wonderful with a great main character - I urge you to read it!

On Books, Luck and Michelle Harrison

I'm a huge lover of books, obviously. Like most bloggers I get a bit overcome in bookshops and want nothing more than to take them home and look at them on my shelves. However, I also work in a library and on occasions I read a book that's so wonderful that I want everyone else to read it too. So, back in 2009, The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison came out which I read and loved. I went to work and was raving about it but when I checked our stock it was pretty low and the reservation list was long. I donated my copy to the library and often saw it passing through to new readers. I was happy that it was so popular but also felt a bit of a twinge as I sort of wanted it back at home, with me.

The thing is I firmly believe that books are made to be read and passed around, loved by new people so they can sometimes pass into book legend as a classic. So, the more dog-eared my copy became on each visit to my library I knew that it was on that journey. I did the same with the follow up, The Thirteen Curses, because I thought it should join its friend visiting homes. The last copy I kept because I had it signed and I only have so much willpower. Also, due to its success, more copies were ordered this time so I didn't feel too guilty.

But then the US copies came out and they were *gasp* hardback, beautiful and very shiny.

I saw a competition to win BOTH copies on Michelle's newsletter which I entered and then promptly forgot. But then I won!!! They arrived last week and are absolutely stunning, signed and dedicated to me. I don't think there's anything wonderfully deep about this piece of kismet but sometimes good things happen. I can stop staring woefully at my old copies which are still doing the rounds and clasp these new ones to me. These are staying with me, no discussion, the end.

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Michelle Harrison for running the giveaway. Seriously, the last thing I won was a robot on Blue Peter which was great and everything but I was nine so … enough said.

Five Fabulous Books for Girls by The Bookette

When we decided to host another Under 14's Only Month, I sent the "call" out to some of our blogging mates for guest blogs as I know the majority of my blogging chums are ace and enthusiastic readers of books for all ages.  But, not only are they readers, a lot of them are teachers and librarians too, (as well as parents) and I trust them implicitly as I think their brilliance is sort of underscored by being "professionals" - and yes, I count being a parent as being a professional!  I am very pleased and flattered that Becky, The Bookette, said yes to a blogpost and she decided she'd put together a list of five titles for younger girl readers. And because I love her blog and I knew she'd come from a completely different direction, I knew that we'd be offered a host of great and unique titles that many readers, including myself, may have overlooked.

Over to:

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Liz, thanks so much for inviting me to be a part of fiction for the under 14s. Young Adult fiction seems to have a momentum all of its own in the book industry right now. So younger children’s fiction isn’t getting the attention it deserves. As a school librarian who works with children aged 3 – 13, I am always interested in finding titles that will appeal to my students. Here are some of my favourite novels for girls under 14.

1) I Was Jane Austen’s Best Friend by Cora Harrison – recommended for readers 10+

This book is a charming historical novel which will appeal to girls who are looking to read an innocent romance. It takes the character of Jenny and explores her friendship with the well-known literary figure Jane Austen. Cora Harrison somehow manages to give this historical book a contemporary feel and yet also charms the reader with her characterisation of Jane Austen. It is a truly adorable ‘Will they, won’t they?’ romance. Beautiful gowns, dazzling balls, witty dialogue and handsome chaps... this book will appeal to girls who love fashion and dancing and Disney endings.

2) The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison – recommended for readers 9+


This story is full of the dark side of magic and those fey creatures who like to meddle in the lives of humans. The heroine is Tanya who is gifted with the second sight. She is sent to stay with her Grandmother for the summer after causing yet more trouble at home. Except that it isn’t Tanya who is causing the trouble, it is the faeries who are meddling in her life. My students had been raving about this book long before I had read it. The dialogue is great, every character an individual and when you add that to the sinister woods, tight plot and genuine character journey you get an absolutely satisfying read. The Thirteen Treasures is a real page-turner.

3) Knife by R J Anderson – recommended for readers 10+

This novel is incredibly well-written. It is fairytale unlike any other. Knife is not your magic wand or sparkly dust fairy. She is a warrior and a rather savage character and determined to protect the faeries’ colony against the mysterious disease that is killing their kind. R J Anderson wonderfully conveys the faery viewpoint and so the reader can see the human world in an entirely new perspective. Girls will love Knife’s rebellious and disobedient nature. But there is also depth in this novel as the author explores the themes of duty, creativity and self-esteem.

4) Ingo by Helen Dunmore – recommended for readers 10+

I absolutely adore this series and so will girls who love holidaying on the English coast and imagining the mysterious Mer who live in the ocean. Sapphire lives in Cornwall. Her life is turned upside down one night when her father takes his boat out on to the sea and never returns. Sapphire can’t move on from the loss of her dad because his body is never discovered. Her mum is starting a new relationship and Sadie finds this difficult to come to terms with. Her solace is the Cornish cove where she and her brother Connor while away the days. But there is a voice calling Sapphire to the sea and she can’t stop listening. Ingo is the perfect summer holiday read. Girls will enjoy the fantastical elements of the story as well as the emotional challenges which Sapphire faces. Oh and let us not forget her adorable dog!

5) Paradise Barn by Victor Watson – recommended for readers 9+


This is a wartime murder mystery which will appeal to both girls and boys. Mysteries are a genre that my students are increasingly keen on and this book was a complete hit with our Year 6 book group. There are two girls in this story – Molly and Abigail. Both have incredibly distinctive and believable voices; they really could have been my students. The story is set in the rural town of Great Deeping; the lives of the girls are shook up by the arrival of an evacuee, Adam. The year is 1940, war is raging and Adam is forced to leave his family and London behind. Together the trio set out to solve the murder of mysterious man who might have been a spy. It is twisting tale, full of clues, red-herrings and is vividly evocative of the historical setting.

Read all of the above?

Other titles that are popular with girls in my library right now are:

Dork Diaries by Renee Russell

Spy Girl by Carol Hedges

Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls series by Meg Cabot

Silk Sisters series by Fiona Dunbar

Dead Man’s Cove by Lauren St John 

Castle of Shadows by Ellen Renner

Thanks for having me spot by MFB and do share if you have other recommendations for books that will appeal to ‘Under 14’ girls.

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Thanks so much for these fantastic reccommendations.  My Amazon Wishlist just exploded with a handful more titles.  Thank you, Becky, for being an enabler.

Thirteen Secrets by Michelle Harrison

Synopsis

Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and trying to put her past behind her. But staying on the straight and narrow isn't as easy as she had hoped… Hounded by fairy messengers who are trying to convince her to participate once more in the changeling trade, Rowan is haunted by dreams of the Hedgewitch's cottage and the chained-up Eldritch, who threatens revenge against her. Her past is about to catch up with her - can Tanya and Fabian prevent it consuming her altogether?

Both Liz and myself adore the previous books in this series: The Thirteen Treasures (reviewed by Liz) and The Thirteen Curses (reviewed by me). Therefore, The Thirteen Secrets was one of my most keenly awaited releases of this year. It was with some trepidation that I sat down to read. I mean, I couldn't wait to read it but once it's done that's it. My sadness at the series potentially ending was completely diminished though by this brilliant book. I like my fairies to be wicked, nasty characters full of self-interest and mystery and Michelle Harrison certainly doesn't hold back.

Red has always been a secretive figure. We learnt more about her in The Thirteen Curses but there's much more to discover in 13 Secrets. For example, we know she slept rough for a long while but we find out what she was doing during that time and what exactly was involved in her mission to sort out changelings. One of the strengths of this series for me is that it blends an almost old-fashioned sort of story which aching realism. So although we never see a character look at a t.v. or use a mobile phone we do see what happens when families break down or real cruelty by parents. Red, or Rowan as we know her now is clearly worried. Although she's found a home at Elvesden Manor she spends her time checking her line of salt protection once she's in her bedroom. She has found a level of peace though which is quickly interrupted by an unwelcome voice from the past.

Tanya and Fabian are on hand to provide support and both of them have grown up. In fact, The Thirteen Secrets is a very mature book. The series as a whole has never shied away from the dark side of fairies but the final book is the hardest hitting. As events unfold I felt a real sense of dread at what was going to happen next. I worried whether my much-loved characters would actually make it through to the end. All of my favourite fairies return and I particularly loved the exploration of guardians and how they come to be. As I was reading I was reminded of real fairy stories, the ones by Grimm and Anderson that haven't had their edges softened to make them acceptable to today's audience. There are no filmy dresses and pretty wings in The Thirteen Secrets but there's plenty of heart, grit and fabulous story telling. Rowan has to face up to her past actions one of the themes of the book is that there's no getting away from what you've done - it's always waiting to catch up with you. As sad as I am that the series has finished I couldn't have wished for a more gripping ending.

Dark, gorgeous and quite frankly glorious. If you're on the fence, do dip in and give this a go - I don't think you'll be disappointed.

The Thirteen Curses by Michelle Harrison

Synopsis

Trapped in the fairy realm, Red must beg an audience with the fairy court. There, she strikes a bargain. Her brother will be returned – but only if she can find the charms of Tanya’s bracelet, scattered in the human world.

Returning to Elvesden Manor, Red is assisted by Tanya and Fabian, and a desperate hunt begins. Soon they make a shocking discovery. The charms are now cursed with the twisted qualities of the thirteen treasures they represent ... and the longer they are missing, the worse the consequences will be.

Can Red, Tanya and Fabian find all the charms? And even if they do, will the fairies keep their promise?

I loved The Thirteen Treasures so was interested to see how the follow-up had moved the characters on. The first change is that Red is now the main protagonist. Tanya had her host of problems but in comparison to Red they were fairly minor. The cover and title reflect this and I’m impressed by the author’s and Simon & Schuster’s attention to detail. The world that Harrison created springs back to life, picking up where the last book left off. Because Red is the main character the book seems a little more adult too. That’s not to say that Tanya, Fabian and Florence don’t get a look in. Happily, they all play a part in this story which eased me into the change of protagonist.

We find Red in the land of fairy searching for her abducted brother. She soon falls foul of the forest’s twisted wise woman and becomes her prisoner. Warwick, the manor groundskeeper, is trapped there too and they help each other escape and search for James. The resulting visit with the fairy court leaves Warwick in prison and Red searching for the thirteen charms from the bracelet which appeared in the first book. Red’s meeting with Warwick gives her a chance to share her sad back story with the reader and, in my opinion, this gives the book a real depth. Red isn’t as instantly likeable as Tanya but I understood why and was prepared to stand by her when she snapped at people and put her quest first. In fact, it’s quite refreshing to have a main character who has outbursts of temper, isn’t always selfless and can be thoughtless!

It’s the tiny details in this book that make it stand out; the parallel world of fairy and how it relates to ours, the folk law or the bitter-sweet (or bitter-bitter much of the time) nature of fairies and how they can ruin lives. I found myself swept up in the story and often felt sorry for poor Fabian who doesn’t have the gift to see fairies but tags along throughout.

The search for the thirteen charms is thrilling and dark. Without giving too much away it gets spooky and dangerous. There are tunnels, graveyards and abandoned churches! The way that the charms have been twisted to curse the finder with their literal meaning is such a great twist! As time goes on the way that the curse reacts is more extreme. The best twist of all is kept for the end, it’s beautifully done and rounded the book off perfectly. A word about the illustrations; they’re cute and are also by Michelle Harrison. I think they help give this book a slightly old-fashioned feel. Both of these novels will stand the test of time, I think. They have a timeless air that leads me to imagine them being read twenty years from now.

Check out the author’s website at http://www.michelleharrisonbooks.com/ and watch out for the third book due out January 2011.

*reviewed by Esssjay (Sarah Bryars who is on her way to a holiday and didn't have a chance to sign in to post this!)*

MFB Best of 2009 - Liz's Choices

It's been an incredible year, stuffed full of reading goodness and it's been utter hell deciding what to choose for my Best of 09.

But it's been done and I'm listing them in no particular order. Twelve books were chosen, one from each month of my reviews.

• 13 Treasures by Michelle Harrison: I had the chance to read this before a lot of other people and I fell in love with Michelle's writing. I remember nagging S&S for an interview with this debut author whom I have subsequently met. As we speak, her second novel: 13 Curses is lying next to me to finish. She also won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.
• Stormcaller by Tom Lloyd: I love this book so much. I've not read much epic fantasy this year which I'm very sad about but I can say - hand on heart - that Stormcaller blew me away with its plotting, character development and world-building. Tom Lloyd is an unsung genius and I'd urge you to pick up a copy and fall in love with his writing.
• Thicker than Water by Mike Carey: Wow. As a big fan of Mike Carey and his Felix Castor novels I expected big things from him in Thicker than Water but holy smokes, I did not expect this. Mike took us to places dark and awful and he left us gasping on the precipice as we realised what Fix has to do in the follow-up novels. This was when I realised for reals what a master Mike is when it comes to plotting. And driving his readers nuts.
• If I Stay by Gayle Forman: I think I went through about 2 boxes of Cleanex reading this elegantly written novel about a girl who has the decision before her as she lies broken and torn in a coma: does she stay here with her friends and her grandparents or does she go, move on, to be with her parents and brother in the afterlife? Beautifully written, with style and grace, I felt flattened and uplifted at the same time reading this one. I'd recommend it heartily.
• The Tiger Warrior by David Gibbins: I am a big fan of Mr. G - he writes cracking adventure thrillers and I've been honoured to be included in some email correspondence with him. I've read all his other books, even before I started blogging - yes, I know, back in the dark ages - but this one represents a turning point in his writing and my reading, I think. The novel is a lot more personal, focussing heavily on relationships, friendships and familial responsibility. Not a lot of action thrillers can pull off good character development but The Tiger Warrior did that in spades. If you've not read this genre before, you can do worse than start here.
• Black & White by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge: These two very talented authors got to do something most of us only dream about: write a superhero novel AND pull it off successfully. This copy refers to the copy published over in the States but wait! the UK copy will soon be published here so you get to support them directly. Well written, with interesting main characters, you get drawn into the two MC's quest for the truth and realise that there never is just black or white.
• The Fire King by Marjorie M Liu: ha! Tiny book that blew my socks off. Who knew I could fall so heavily for an author through her writing? Intense and sexy does not begin to describe The Fire King. Set in farflung places the author takes us on a journey so unthinkable it leaves you reeling. I loved it. In fact, it's probably going to turn into one of those books you pick up to read and re-read because it's just so damn good.
• Girl from Mars by Julie Cohen: this was my first ever Little Black Dress book and I have to say, I had reservations! I am not really a girly girl book reader but this pocket-sized book with the cute alien on the front swept me off my feet, showing me that I should for once and all shove my preconceptions in my pocket and just get reading already! Wonderfully quirky, set in the world of graphic novels and other creative types, GFM taught me about friendships and how no matter what, you should always stay true to your dreams. Definitely a big favourite!
• Troubadour by Mary Hoffman: Ms. Hoffman has this remarkable talent as a writer. She writes beautifully, with strong imagery and subtlety. I loved Troubadour so much I gave my hardback copy away to share with the world. Dealing with the Cathars in medieval times, their persecution and the atrocities committed against them, other French citizens and Jews, this slender novel packs a huge punch and had me sniffling into a hanky several times, because of its poignancy.
• Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney: who said that a) children's books can't be scary and b) written in a very mature way? Mr. Delaney blew my socks off with Spook's Apprentice. What struck me most - and this I told his publicity person - is how adult the book seemed to me. There was no molly coddling the main character - the horror of his new position as the Spook's Apprentice was this slow dawning realisation which was handled very well. I loved it so much I got all the other books too and I'm looking forward to working my way through them.
• Hattori Hachi by Jane Prowse: here is the female role model all girls need. Hachi kicks butt and takes no prisoners. I loved her development as a character and the practically insurmountable odds that she overcomes to save the day - but there is always a price. This is Karate Kid for a new generation but so much cooler than Daniel-san could ever have hoped to be.
• The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh - I feel a bit sneaky adding this one in as it's not been released yet but hey, this is my list, okay? Fantastically atmospheric and creepy, The Crowfield Curse asks the question: what would you do if you knew where an angel was buried? Mixing religion, fairies and superstition, this novel has to be read in winter time. In fact, it just has to be read as it is that bloody good!

These are my twelve topmost favourite books of 2009 as reviewed on MFB - I've not looked at reviews I've done elsewhere but as an aside, I'd like to mention another title I thoroughly enjoyed called Age of Ra by James Lovegrove - a grand book, military sci fi for people (like me) who don't usually do military sci-fi.

I think I have been quite lucky this year in that the majority of books I've read have been good / I've been able to see where the author was going and "get" what they were doing. There were some books I let slide after a while because they didn't hold my interest but these are still on my shelves. I'll give these another go to see if I can get into them, if not, off they go to charity shops!

Something I've thought about before but what I've confirmed and discovered in 2009 is that I'm very much a seasonal reader. Darker books for the darker months and lighter books for spring and summer. Is that odd? Do other people do this too?

What does 2010 hold for MFB?

I have no idea. No, I'm kidding. Of course I've got an inkling. I'd like to run more competitions, hopefully more international comps too. I want to concentrate on various genres this year, specifically fantasy as I feel I'm far behind with what's come out this year and looking at catalogues for 2010 we are due a bumper crop of some really good new titles. I'm also going to challenge myself to read sci-fi. I know, I know - please don't laugh at me openly - but I'm going to try. I also want to tackle more non-fiction, some straight contemporary (and maybe literary) fiction. Of course I'll still be championing kids books - all ages, all genres. I love them and can in all honesty say I can probably set up an entire blog dedicated to kids books on their own. Another big thing for me in 2010 will be: graphic novels. I think both Mark and I are keen to get stuck into more of them. We have quite a few but I suspect there is always space for more. There will be interviews and guest blogs too. Oh and "author of the month" events too, watch this space!

I'm not sure about other bloggers/reviewers but 2010 has already started for me. I've already started reading and reviewing books for the new year and it's an odd thing because it completely screws up your perception of Time. I feel a bit Dr. Who but hopefully with better hair. And yes, as for anyone who has actually been to my house, can testify: we do live in the Tardis. Mark should get a job working for the Jenga factory as NO ONE I've met can pack and stack books like he can.

In Jan/Feb Mark and I will be heading off to South Africa for a bit of a holiday. I'll be meeting up with Dave Brendon from Galaxy Reads to talk books and I'm looking forward to meeting my online buddy. It's going to be grand. And yes, there will be incriminating pictures.

To everyone reading this, to my old mates on here, thank you so much for your continued support. You guys have been amazing. To my new friends I've made this year via the blog and Twitter, I'm so pleased that I've had the chance to do so. Stick around for more stuff from us in 2010.

And if there is one wish I can make (get your hankies out!) for 2010 it is for everyone who reads this blog to put a hand in their pocket and to buy at least one book a month from an independent bookseller - if it's online or on your high street. These guys really need our help. Help them thrive so that they don't lose their income and we have somewhere else to hang out and talk books with people who love books as much as we do.

Farewell to 2009 and hello 2010, you beautiful thing!

**Michelle Harrison wins the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize**

Allow me a moment to gloat here....okay, I'm done!

What a fantastic brilliant achievement by the amazingly talented and very sweet Michelle Harrison.

A huge congratulations to her and her team at Simon & Schuster - you guys did a sterling job finding a gold nugget and I'm so proud to have had the chance to not just review the book but also interview Michelle.

Thirteen Treasures Winner!

Congratulations David C of Nottingham on winning a copy of this lovely book - I am sure you will love reading it. Your details are being sent to the publishers so that they can dispatch a copy to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Better luck next time.

Michelle Harrison Interview

Author photograhed by Charlie Hopkinson

Michelle Harrison is a young Simon & Schuster debut novelist who wrote the fantastic The Thirteen Treasures. Michelle works as an editorial assistant at a publisher, she is 28 years old and currently lives in Oxfordshire with her partner (Darren) and a badly behaved cat, Pepper.

1. You are clearly very fond of what you do, both as writer and illustrator. Do you have any favourite writers and artists that influenced you in your own career?

Artists such as Arthur Rackham, Alan Lee and Brian Froud have all influenced my artwork style, particularly where fairies are involved. With writers it’s harder to pin down specific influences, as I read so much. I think to an extent you can take something away from everything you enjoy, but writers I’m especially fond of are Roald Dahl, Julie Hearn and Eva Ibbotson.

2. What was the very first thing you did when you heard back from S&S that they have decided to publish The Thirteen Treasures?

I was taken to the pub by my agent and treated to a glass of wine! I then spent the rest of the day telephoning relatives and friends to share the good news, and staring at the Simon & Schuster catalogue, wondering what my book cover would look like.

3. Tell us more about The Thirteen Treasures and can you hint about its upcoming sequel (if you’re allowed!)?

The Thirteen Treasures has been described as ‘dark faerie fiction with a classic feel’, and I feel this sums the book up well. It’s quite a dark story as it deals with secrecy, betrayal and revenge, and at the centre of it all is 13-year-old Tanya, a girl who has the extraordinary ability to see fairies. Most strands of the story are tied up at the end of the book, but there is one plot element (with one character in particular) that’s left unresolved. The sequel is going to lead on from this strand, and will be from this character’s point of view, though all the characters from book one will be part of this story.

4. Tanya and Fabian are two very different character types, with Fabian being the more dark and strange of the two. They represent different points of view – the believer and the unbeliever – how difficult was it to maintain the two views, to let the characters ring this true in your novel?

I didn’t find it at all difficult to maintain the different viewpoints of Tanya and Fabian, as both of their characters felt so different and so clear to me in my mind. I was aware that there would come a point when Fabian would be faced with a choice whether to believe what was happening to Tanya, and so I knew it would have to be something major that presented him with this choice. Fabian is a very scientific person, but a small part of him – perhaps the capacity to ‘believe’ that adults tend to lack – still remains. Tanya can see this because of Fabian’s feelings towards the gypsy woman, Mad Morag, who is rumoured to have powers.

5. What came first – the characters or the storyline?

It was a bit of both. The character of Tanya was my true starting point - I named her after my niece. I knew the main theme of the story was to be Tanya’s persecution by malicious fairies, and that the setting would be the creepy, shabby manor house, but many aspects of the story developed as I was writing it. The fairies were the second lot of characters that I developed, while Fabian, Warwick and Amos arrived with me only as Tanya arrived at the manor for the first time. Red’s character was the last to make it into the book – I had initially been saving her for my second book, but decided to introduce her in The Thirteen Treasures as I felt the story was in need of a stronger subplot.

Art by Brian Froud

6. Did you do a lot of research into the world of fairy and its associated myths and legends?

Yes, I did a fair amount of research. I have an ever-increasing collection of books on fairy folklore and legends. A number of things I discovered made it into the book, such as the methods Tanya uses to deter the fairies from bothering her. I also came across the legend of the Thirteen Treasures, which is closely linked to Avalon, the fairy realm, although I’ve adapted the legend to fit with my story.

7. Have you ever been anywhere as odd and mysterious as the manor house you describe in The Thirteen Treasures?

Elvesden Manor is a mixture of several odd places I’ve been to. When I was young I visited an old farmhouse that belonged to a friend of the family – it had a really creepy cellar, and was full of dressers crammed with stuffed game. Another place that sticks in my mind is a pub in Essex where a staircase next to a fireplace is blocked off halfway up – this was the inspiration for the servants’ staircase at the manor. The forest that surrounds the manor – Hangman’s Wood – is based on an area of woodland of the same name very close to where I grew up. It’s much smaller than the forest in the story, but it has the deneholes that inspired the ‘catacombs’ in The Thirteen Treasures.

8. Did you do drawings of Fabian and Tanya whilst you were writing, as an aide memoire, to yourself?

I didn’t do any sketches as reference, but I drew several pictures of Tanya when I thinking about what kind of illustrations to put in the book. After following my agent’s advice I decided not to include any of the human characters on my illustrated letters, in order to allow the reader to imagine them fully.

9. What is your writing day like?

I work a full-time job, so all my writing is done in the evenings and at weekends – and frequently in the library at lunch times, these days. And whenever I write it’s usually supplemented by endless cups of tea.

10. Do you write to music / do you do soundtracks for your characters?

I’ve never thought of having character soundtracks, but I like the idea of it! On occasion I listen to instrumental music like the Edward Scissorhands or The Lord of the Rings soundtracks, or Loreena McKennitt’s music before I write or between breaks, but generally I find anything with words too distracting while writing.

11. What do you do to relax and unwind?

Reading or watching a film always helps me to unwind, but as I’ve got older I tend to like being busy most of the time.

12. What does it feel like, being on the other side of the spectrum now, as an author yourself? Do you feel famous?

I’m over the moon to be a published author now – it’s been my dream since I was a teenager, and I know I won’t ever forget what a challenge it was. Many writers find it difficult to break into publishing and I was no exception.

I don’t really feel famous - my work in publishing has involved meeting and working with other authors and illustrators who have been published for many years and are seasoned professionals. I still feel very new to it all!

13. Will you be touring to promote The Thirteen Treasures?

I have several events with schools lined up, and a launch party at the Stafford branch of Waterstone’s where I used to work as a children’s bookseller.

14. When did you find out that The Thirteen Treasures has been shortlisted as one of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize and what was your reaction?

I knew about the shortlisting back in October but had to keep it confidential until the press release in January – which was difficult as my instinct was to tell anyone who would listen! It means a lot to be considered for this prize as I remember reading the shortlists when I still worked for Waterstone’s. To now be on the shortlist feels amazing.

15. What advice do you have for other budding authors out there?

Definitely to read as much as possible – it’s the best way to know what’s being published and to see how successful stories are constructed. Practise writing, even something simple like keeping a blog or diary is a good way to start, and always go back to see how you can improve your work. Getting someone you trust to give some feedback on your work can be really helpful. Finally, keep at it, don’t give up!

Michelle's website and more information on The Thirteen Treasures can be found here.

Competition News!

Michelle's lovely publishers have agreed to let me offer a copy of The Thirteen Treasures to give away to celebrate, not just its release, but being put on the shortlist for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. Now that is, as they say, made out of "awesome".

So, the rules are as before: UK residents only, one entry only per person/household, duplicates will be disqualified. Use the email address to the right to enter - send me an email, subject line titled The Thirteen Treasures with your name and address. I'll let the competition run for a week, from today, with the closing date being Saturday, 31st January. I'll announce the winner - randomly chosen by our dog Sparrow (he is a genius) - on Sunday morning. If you are the winner, I'll send you an email to let you know.

The Thirteen Treasures by Michelle Harrison

Synopsis

While visiting her grandmother's house, an old photograph leads Tanya to an unsolved mystery. Fifty years ago a girl vanished in the woods nearby - a girl Tanya's grandmother will not speak of. Fabian, the caretaker's son, is tormented by the girl's disappearance. His grandfather was the last person to see her alive, and has lived under suspicion ever since. Together, Tanya and Fabian decide to find the truth. But Tanya has her own secret: the ability to see fairies. And, after disturbing an intruder in the night, it emerges that someone else shares her ability...The manor's sinister history is about to repeat itself...

Firstly, I loved the cover, illustrated by Christopher Gibbs. The picture of the charm bracelet really hit the right spot. I love charms and talismans and really believe in their secret powers. (Yes, even expensive Links of London charms are imbued with that magical something).

Also, the line at the top of the front cover – A family secret, a fateful inheritance...

You just cannot go wrong with the look and feel of this, at all.

The novel introduces us to Tanya who has some issues, apart from being harassed by fairies, her mother believes that she is being particularly difficult (mostly because of the pranks the fairies play), therefore sending her off to live with a grandmother she’s never warmed to in a manor house that can be described as gloomy, at the best of times.

I found the novel a bit self-conscious to start with, there was a hesitancy there for the first few pages, but once the author gets into the swing of things, Tanya’s adventure is full blown and it is a hairy one!

Her life at the manor house is stilted – there is no warmth from her grandmother, her days are spent avoiding the forest outside the door and trying not to draw the attention of Fabian, the grounds keeper’s son. Fabian is an interesting creation and I found him very well drawn, with insecurities a mile long, a stubbornness and a weirdness, that was both endearing and a bit alarming.

Together Fabian and Tanya unravel the story of the girl that went missing in the forest, all those years ago. Fabian feels harassed by its memory – it’s directly affected his family, turning his grandfather, Amos, into an unpleasant old man, locked away on the second floor of the manor house.

Throw in Fabian’s dad who watches them with an eagle’s eye, warning them to stay out of the forest, toss in the rumours of the hidden tunnels that run from the manor house into the small adjacent town, add into the mix mysterious disappearances of very young children in the area, pinch in a Tanya’s own second sight ability which is both a curse and blessing, stir in the mystery surrounding the original owners of the manor house, fold in the weird gypsy lady who lives in the forest whose presence is a constant reminder that all is not well in the area, place in the oven and bake to perfection until you get a book with several ingredients, pulling together to make a hearty satisfying read.

I enjoyed it – I thought it was satisfyingly dark with the author reworking the Victorian image we have about fairies, shining a new light on them, their courts, making them a bit more sinister, turning them into proper adversaries to go up against Tanya and Fabian.

So much goes on in this novel that I can’t even begin to put it all together into this review as it will spoil the fun you will have reading it.

I hate doing “if you like” recommendations BUT am happy to say that if you liked Holly Black’s Tithe, Valiant and Ironside you will enjoy The Thirteen Treasures. Similarly, if you read Emma Bull’s Finder or Midori Snyder’s Hannah’s Garden you will thrill to The Thirteen Treasures.

The Thirteen Treasures were published by Simon & Schuster earlier this month. Find the author’s site here.