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An Exciting Journey
Stonechild follows a teenage girl living in London who is determined to discover how and why the city’s statues are coming to life. What inspired the setup of your story?
As a mountain guide, I was already involved in the climate crisis and sharing the word on what needs to be done. This particular day, I was working in London on some corporate training. It was a hot day, we had walked a lot and my clients were taking a long time in solving a clue, which was based around the Royal Tank Regiment Memorial statue in Whitehall. I pictured the statue coming to life with the answer to the clue, and the idea grew from there. I sometimes joke that, as in the story, the statues share a telepathy, and so perhaps they gave me the idea!
Molly has lived her life traveling and exploring, giving her a unique perspective on the mystery but still allowing her to grow and learn from the experiences. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Molly is a combination of my own experiences and those around me. My own son travelled extensively from a young age, and I have friends who home-educated their children. Being curious has opened many doors for me during my life. I used to work in youth development and so I wanted to briefly touch on the subjects that affect us as teenagers, and in doing so, Molly’s character developed further. It was also interesting to explore Molly’s relationship with her brother and how that was changing when he had a girlfriend.
When you first sat down to write this story, did you know where you were going, or did the twists come as you were writing?
This was a really interesting and at times, an exciting journey for me. I had ideas of why the statues would come to life and how. Climate was to be the reason behind the plot. The rest just grew as I wrote. I did a lot of research and ideas often sprung from that research. Sometimes, I would wake up at four in the morning with an idea, and would just have to get up and write. I was a police officer in the UK, so quite methodical in what I do. My writing place had files on each character and a map of London on the wall placing where the statues are and Molly’s adventures.
Will there be a follow-up novel to this story? If so, what aspects of the story will the next book cover?
Stonechild finishes with the opening to the sequel, which I am currently researching. We will have moved on by about five years, and as readers might guess, we still haven’t done much to stop climate change. The story won’t be a repeat of what happens in Stonechild, I have something different in mind and it won’t be in London. As with Stonechild, I want a really good story that also makes us reflect on what we should be doing with this beautiful planet and how we live our lives.
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Stonechild
In a London that crackles with hidden magic, young Molly Hargreaves stumbles upon a world where statues of historical icons come to life. These awakened figures deliver mesmerizing performances and cryptic messages, presenting an enticing mystery. As the city’s residents revel in this new phenomenon and the authorities scramble to suppress it, Molly embarks on a thrilling quest across the city to uncover the statues’ secrets. What profound truths will she unveil in her pursuit, and how will they change her life forever?
Stonechild, by Kevin Albin, is a masterfully crafted audiobook that seamlessly weaves together the richness of history and the profound messages of life’s journey. From the very first chapter, Albin captivates listeners by introducing central “figures” whose stories unfold with a blend of familiarity and mystique, setting the stage for an unforgettable narrative. The plot unfolds with a delicate balance of suspense and revelation, punctuated by moments of humor that make the narrative easily digestible despite the wealth of information presented. The characters in the book resonate with remarkable depth and authenticity, each one intricately developed to draw readers into their world. Among these compelling characters, Molly stands out. As a teenager with a profound sense of purpose, her thoughts and actions strike a chord with the audience. Molly’s extraordinary upbringing, rooted in a family of travelers, has endowed her with an out-of-the-box mindset that is both lovable and endlessly fascinating. Her perspective on life, shaped by diverse experiences and a constant quest for meaning, adds a unique and refreshing dimension to the story. Molly’s journey is not just a path she walks but a testament to the transformative power of seeing the world through a lens of curiosity and intention. The main message masterfully straddles the line between the expected and the unexpected, delivering a revelation that made me laugh at its surprising clarity while simultaneously driving home its profound significance. This duality underscores how easily such crucial insights can be overlooked in the hustle and bustle of daily life, yet how imperative it is to keep them in mind. The narrative delves deep into a web of themes that resonate with our very existence, unlocking key reflections on identity, legacy, and the passage of time. Each chapter peels back another layer, inviting readers to ponder their own lives and the symbols that populate them.
Each chapter offers new layers of intrigue, compelling one to ponder the interconnectedness of past and present, fiction and reality. Stonechild isn’t just a book—it’s an experience that lingers in the mind long after the final chapter is done, leaving one eager to explore the nuanced messages woven throughout its narrative.
Pages: 231 | ASIN : B08B5FSNST
LITERARY TITAN 