The Big Dream follows two best friends who want to enter a remote-controlled car race, but first, they must raise $2000 while dealing with school, family & a mischievous crow. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The Big Dream has a transformational tale. It is book two in The Crow’s Tales series; however, it was written before book one. The most recent publication is the second edition of what originally was a Christmas gift for our four grandchildren. Since then, we’ve taken a more serious approach to writing and the story underwent a substantial makeover. The genesis of the story is attributed to Thorir more than fifteen years ago scribbling notes about his ten-year-old self growing up in Iceland with his friends. Pigeons, ravens, and seabirds were accessible and gave inspiration to the book’s pet crow, Ralph, and the original title, The Pigeon Flyer. Retirement sparked our collaborative effort on Thorir’s drafts, resulting in a lasting story for our grandchildren and a shared passion.

There were a lot of great twists and turns throughout the novel. Did you plan this before writing the novel, or did the twists develop organically writing?

Thank you for the comment and the question. The Big Dream’s twists and turns occurred as a hybrid of planning and merely following where the story took us. The crafting of those events, however, was carefully staged. As new writers, we’ve learned pacing is one of the critical elements of a good middle-grade story, and having twists and turns hit in the right place encourages reader engagement.

Constant action, fast pace, and a quick read is our attempt to compete with computer games, tablets, TVs, and other electronic social media for kids’ attention. It’s an uphill battle. Victoria is a retired schoolteacher and has a background in shaping young minds. We try to cater to how kids think today and how fast their world has become, it keeps us racing through our golden years.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

We strive to create contemporary realistic fiction for young readers offering important themes without being in-your-face didactic. Each book in the series offers its unique theme. The Big Dream is a quietly compelling story of honesty while integrating additional important values such as friendship, teamwork, and perseverance. These themes are woven into the narrative, offering young readers meaningful insights while maintaining the story’s engaging, lighthearted tone. The book subtly imparts lessons on these themes, illustrating how challenges can be overcome through collaboration and understanding.

The challenge we set for ourselves is to write relatable and wholesome narratives featuring characters and events that readers can identify with, providing entertainment and meaningful value. The Crow’s Tales series, The Bird Caper, book one, explores “change,” The Big Dream, book two, shines a light on “honesty”, and book three, The Crow’s Ring, will explore “truth.” All valuable life lessons.

When will book three be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?

We are super excited about working on the third book of the series, The Crow’s Ring, and expect it to be released early in 2026. It’s a mystery and it will keep readers on their toes. The main characters are older, and the story’s plot gets precarious. Brandon’s (our protagonist) friends (and pet crow) become entangled with a scruffy old police detective – the Captain – who owns a rusty dank tugboat destined to be scrapped by the city (Riverside). Roped into helping him save his tug, the kids find a confidential police file on board of an unresolved jewelry heist that took place in the 1930s, the Stony Creek Case. Solving this cold case could save the crusty Captain’s career and repair his tug with the million-dollar reward for finding the stolen loot. It’s a journey filled with nail-biting adventures that turn Riverside upside down and capture the imagination. Through their hair-raising experiences, Brandon learns the value of truth. He and his friends learn the importance of history, determination, and the meaning of working as a team to resolve complicated questions and conflicts, to uncover the truth.

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