‘Dribblesome Teapots’, that’s the only book I can really remember reading as a child, I think because I was enormously amused by it.
Funny the things that stick with you, isn’t it?
What I remember better are the books I became enthusiastic about as a teenager and going on from there. My first proper fandom of an author was Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series, which I devoured. I just loved those books and his funny, clever way with words.
After Hitchhiker’s, Terry Pratchett became a huge presence on my bookshelves. I think I’ve got virtually every Discworld book in my own personal library. My brother and I both became obsessed with him at the same time and would always buy each other the latest book for birthdays and Christmas and, you knew, if it wasn’t there when the unwrapping was done, there were stern words to be had!
Through Pratchett I discovered Neil Gaiman in the Good Omens collaboration. That is a book which I have read over and over. My family can’t quite believe my capacity for re-watching favourite films and rereading favourite books. I have an ability to switch off my recollection of it, partly down to that terrible memory of mine, but mostly because it means I get to experience my favourite stories again and again and get to enjoy them all over.
More recently it’s been the Harry Potter series which has received this treatment. I have devoured the books, adored the films and have especially loved the audio versions, narrated by Stephen Fry. They’re just so rich and entertaining. His ability to be all the characters is phenomenal.
I think from what I’ve said already about the books and audio books I’ve enjoyed, that it shouldn’t come as any surprise that I do like a bit of magical fantasy, and the Potterverse tickled my love for it like nothing else.
When the books had all been read, the films all watched and the audio all listened to by myself and my children, a gaping hole opened up in my literature world and as we all know – nature abhors a vacuum. This was when an idea for a book series hit me.
It was about a boy who lived in a magical circus and suddenly finds himself unable to continue with what he believed was his destiny.
Turns out he’s no good at the family talent of making magical confectionary and during a disastrous attempt at it in the family caravan kitchen, he manages to set light to the big top and all but gets thrown out of the troupe. His only chance for reprieve is to run the circuit, which sees him take on a series of magical apprenticeships to find his true magical talent, the talent that will allow him and his family to stay.
I could see so much potential for this story that I sat down and I wrote a world encyclopaedia for it immediately. It just seemed to fall out of my head. Loads and loads and loads of details and brilliant information about characters, acts and what his story arc was going to be and how he was going to rise to this challenge. Harry Potter meets the Greatest Showman – the magic potential was fantastic!
I have been writing the adventures of my magical fantasy hero, Phyllo Cane ever since!
The first book, Phyllo Cane and the Circus of Wonder came out in February 2021, followed by Phyllo Cane and the Magical Menagerie and most recently Phyllo Cane and the Clockwork Cabaret. There will be seven books when the series is done.
I can’t wait to share them with you.
I hope you enjoy the stories,
Sharn.