New Project: Writing Children's Novel, "Mr. Magpie"

Dylan has started a new project, writing a children's novel about an international jewel thief named, Mr. Magpie. The novel is based off a short story Dylan wrote many, many years ago. he has reprised the character, Mr. Magpie, in a funny, action-packed book.

A Thieving Magpie

Synopsis

When Lily learns that the mysterious burglar known only as Mr Magpie is targeting Sandy Town Museum, she elicits the help of her best friend, Alfie, to catch him.

But when the Maharani Diamond is stolen, and Lily and Alfie aren’t believed, Lily realises that to catch a thief, you must become a thief. Even as everyone she loves turns against her.

How do you steal a diamond?

And what’s that got to do with a sunken ship off the coast of a redundant lighthouse?

These are the questions that Lily must face in her daring adventure. How dangerous could it be? Nothing ever happens in Sandy Town…

Inspiration

Mr Magpie is based off a short story that I wrote in primary school about a jewel thief attempting to steal the Maharaja Diamond, but he was stopped by a group of school kids. This novel expands on the short story by focussing on Lily, the main character, who seeks to avenge her parents' mistakes from their last run-in with Mr Magpie.

The book is funny, aimed at 8-11 year-olds, with plenty of action, too. Influenced by my own childhood reading of Anthony Horowitz and David Walliams, Mr. Magpie blends imagination with adventure.

The characters are inspired by my own family and random people that I have met, from the Chicken-crumb kid on a four-hour coach ride, to a supply teacher I once had at high school. I create fascinating caricatures:

Mayor Montgomery was firm but calm, “I assure you that all measures of security are to the highest standard.” he bumbled to the reporters. Despite being a large man, Mayor Montgomery resembled the scrawniness of a mop, and he never brushed his white hair. Dandruff snowed onto his grey suit and tie. “I have personally handpicked our security team, with Mrs. Heathcote-Williams here an integral member.”

Setting:

Mr. Magpie is set in the fictional North Norfolk town of Sandy Town. I have lived in Norfolk my entire life, so it was an amusing source of inspiration. The recurring joke is that nothing ever happens in Sandy Town, which is everyone's exact sentiment of Norfolk.

Sandy Town was a tiny, insignificant village on the north Norfolk coast. It was boring and safe. There was more likelihood of finding moonrock in a tube of Smarties than anything exciting happening in Sandy Town. Lily had lived there her entire life. Yet somehow, she had grown up adventurous, and despised the sleepiness of Sandy Town, where everyone was one-hundred-and-four and ate turnip soup for every meal of the day.

Mr. Magpie

Mr Magpie is the title character of the book. He is a renowned international jewel thief whose identity is unknown. He is so named because magpies love shiny objects and jewels; they use them to make nests. It also embodies Mr Magpie's costume and cruel nature.

From the mass, Mr. Magpie emerged. His wings were expanded, and he glided gracefully to rest on the balcony. There, he stood until the flock had dissipated.

Mr. Magpie was wearing different clothes today: white trousers and a black-and-white striped shirt that made him look like a bad mime-artist.

Concluding Words

I am currently nearing the end of my first draft, with lots of editing ahead of me. Keep checking on this blog for more updates or follow me on LinkedIn.

You can also check out my other novel, The Falling Sun, which explores the fates of a Japanese couple who immigrate to California.