Thrice Interview Series: DARWEN ARKWRIGHT & THE PEREGRINE PACT
Hooray! Today I’m celebrating the release of fellow Apocalypsie A.J. Hartley’s middle-grade fantasy, DARWEN ARKWRIGHT AND THE PEREGRINE PACT.
Eleven-year-old Darwen Arkwright has spent his whole life in a tiny town in England. So when he is forced to move to Atlanta, Georgia, to live with his aunt, he knows things will be different – but what he finds there is beyond even his wildest imaginings!
Darwen discovers an enchanting world through the old mirror hanging in his closet – a world that holds as many dangers as it does wonders. Scrobblers on motorbikes with nets big enough to fit a human boy. Gnashers with no eyes, but monstrous mouths full of teeth. Flittercrakes with bat-like bodies and the faces of men. Along with his new friends Rich and Alexandra, Darwen becomes entangled in an adventure and a mystery that involves the safety of his entire school. They soon realize that the creatures are after something in our world – something that only human children possess.
“Fantastic, surprising fun!” – R. L. Stine
About the Thrice Interview Series: The original title for BORN WICKED was THRICE BLESSED. I have a tattoo with the word thrice, which is partly to remind me how joyful writing the first book was, back when it was just mine, and partly because I like threes. Cate Cahill is one of three sisters, as am I. My birthday is May 3; my anniversary is Sept 30; my book deal happened when I was 30. So…you may notice a common theme to my interview questions.
1. Describe your main character in 3 adjectives + a noun.
Darwen is a shy, brave and principled outsider.
2. Describe your book in 3 adjectives + a noun.
DARWEN ARKWRIGHT AND THE PEREGRINE PACT is a rich, fantastical but grounded adventure.
3. Describe yourself in 3 adjectives + a noun.
I am a tall, snarky, British Shakespeare Professor 🙂
4. If you could travel to any 3 countries, what would they be?
(I travel a lot so I’m going to assume that the “if I could” applies to places I’d love to go to but probably can’t.) Rwanda, Iran, Borneo.
5. If you could take any 3 non-writing-related classes, what would they be?
Astronomy, French cooking, some kind of martial art or stage combat.
6. If you could have 3 alternate careers, what would they be?
Kind of already do: College Professor, stage director, writer.
Alternatives that I like but have no real expertise in: cabinet maker, soccer player, rock guitarist.
7. What are 3 of your favorite flowers?
(Can I go plants rather than flowers?) Gardenia, Japanese maple, Hinoki Cypress
8. What are 3 of your favorite foods?
Chicken Madras, Weetabix, well-smoked ribs.
9. What are 3 of your favorite books?
These change constantly. Right now? Shakespeare’s WINTER’S TALE, Joyce’s DUBLINERS, Le Guin’s WIZARD OF EARTHSEA.
Thanks so much, A.J., for being my inaugural guest! And happy book birthday!
