The book launch for the CAN/US paperback of 'What the Raven Brings' will be held at Ben McNally's in Toronto, on August 10th, 6pm-8pm. Come one, come all!
Early mock-up of These Dark Wings cover art, by Sarah Carter
#WhyIWrite - The inspiration behind the Ravenmaster Trilogy
I set out to write the origin story of a supernatural legend, and went on to write about something very real but no less amazing: the courage and strength of women in wartime.
When I first heard the legend, ‘if the ravens leave the Tower of London, Britain will fall,’ I wanted to know where it came from. It turns out no one knows. Although the legend has been credited to everyone from Charles II to the Victorians, the first record of it isn’t until the 1950s.
So I wanted to write the origin story of this unexplained legend.
The Tower is a place of many superstitions, but this one – ‘Britain will fall’ – seemed to have its roots in war. The Blitz was Britain’s darkest hour, so I imagined this was the best time for a legend like this to take hold. It is easy to envision the people living in the Tower clinging to this belief, especially as the Blitz intensified and the ravens died, one by one, from starvation or bombing.
In These Dark Wings, the legend originates as a protective charm, as a sick old man, the first Ravenmaster, tells his terrified niece not to fear the Blitz: all she has to do is look after the ravens. They will keep Britain safe. So my character, Anna Cooper, a 12 year-old orphaned by the Blitz and sent to live at the Tower, ensures the survival of the legend.
In Book 2, What the Raven Brings, the war rages on and Anna (now 15) yearns to escape the Tower and join the war effort. She bluffs her way into the glamorous – and hazardous – world of the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce.
The ‘Attagirls,’ as they were called, piloted all kinds of aircraft, collecting Lancaster bombers from factories and delivering them to aerodromes, bringing Spitfires to airfields to be tested and armed, and taxiing pilots to Fighter Command in transport planes.
On top of the rigorous training involved, Anna has an additional problem. Fighting to earn her wings and prove herself, obstacles emerge from an unexpected source: men of the RAF who believe women have no place in the skies.
Because women were deemed unsuitable to be trained on the instrument panel (life-saving in bad weather), or the radio transmitter (life-saving when needing to check in with an RAF station), and since they were banned from flying planes fitted with weapons (life-saving during a run-in with a Luftwaffe raid), female pilots had the dangerously absurd job of flying the aircraft blind, deaf, and without weapons. And in Anna’s case, direct sabotage seems a chilling possibility.
The legend of the Tower ravens protects Anna in These Dark Wings, but in What the Raven Brings she has to learn to protect herself and those around her.
Anna was originally inspired by my grandmother, who lived in London throughout the war. I grew up listening to her stories about it all – the fear and sadness, but also the excitement and the mischief. For Book 2, I took inspiration from my other grandmother, who was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and one of the toughest people I ever knew. The stories of my grandmothers convinced me to try and pass on their fighting spirits with these novels, which have become a celebration of all kinds of strong women in wartime.
Book 3 on the way....
Book 3 of the Ravenmaster is on the way! Until then, here's #WhyIWrite
Book 2 out in paperback
'What the Raven Brings' is now available in paperback (UK)!
Easy there, Amazon
This one is still very much in progress....
Ophelia's End at LIFF 2017
'Ophelia's End' is an Official Selection of the London Independent Film Festival 2017.
Frailty thy name is Hamlet. 'Ophelia's End' recasts Ophelia is the lead role, and she fakes her madness to escape Elsinore and the world of Hamlet.
Written by John Owen Theobald, directed by Jacqueline Pepall, produced by Rebecca Gaines. Great Lake Films, 2016.
Our screening time is Friday, 14 April at 19:30. Get tickets here:
Blog Tour
The 'What the Raven Brings' Blog Tour is in full swing - find interviews, extracts, reviews, and giveaways here.
World Book Day
Had a great visit with Rockliffe Manor Primary School and met some really talented young writers #WorldBookDay #TheseDarkWings
Telegraph-Journal Interview
Telegraph-Journal Interview, 25 February 2017
Tower book signings
Had a great three days singing books at the Raven Shop - thanks to everyone who stopped by!
Had a great three days singing books at the Raven Shop - thanks to everyone who stopped by!
Book signings, Tower of London, Feb half-term
Come down to the Raven Bookshop at the Tower of London, where I will be signing copies of These Dark Wings and What the Raven Brings. I'll be there on 15-17th Feb, from 2-3pm.
The Tower at War
This February half-term, These Dark Wings is at the Tower of London for family events and book signings. Come check out The Tower at War, Feb 13-17th.
New Arrival at Historic Royal Palaces online shop
In good company with the 'New Arrivals' at the Historic Royal Palaces online shop.
What the Raven Brings, AUS/NZ pub dates
What the Raven Brings is out now in AUS/NZ from Harper Collins
Historic UK article
I explore the day to day life of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London in my article for Historic UK.
What the Raven Brings
What the Raven Brings, Book 2 of the Ravenmaster Trilogy is out now (UK).
Book signing, Goldsboro Books, What the Raven Brings
More These Dark Wings events at the Tower
Join us at the Tower of London for more These Dark Wings-inspired events in the new year. For more info, please visit here.
Final Proof of Book 2
Birthday treat from Head of Zeus - the final proof of Bk 2. What the Raven Brings is released Dec 1st (UK).
These Dark Wings workshop success
Had a blast at our Characterization Workshop at the Tower of London. Many, many thanks to Historic Royal Palaces, particularly Ceri Fox and Megan Gooch, and the amazing acting talents of Emma Cogger Hatton and JP...
For more pics of the event and info on applying for next year, please visit my facebook author site.