Claire Fayers
About Author
Interview
STORM HOUND
MACMILLAN CHILDREN'S BOOKS
FEBRUARY 2019
STORM HOUND is a great adventure story with plenty of heart and warm humour, aimed at children aged 9+, and also makes a strong read-aloud.
The story follows Storm, one of the legendary Wild Hunt stormdogs, who falls from the sky during a storm chase and instead of a huge, forbidding hound finds he is now a rather cute puppy.
Luckily, Storm finds himself in safe hands with Jessie and her family - but there are more sinister happenings afoot and others who want Storm at any cost.
We asked author Claire Fayers (Accidental Pirates, Mirror Magic) to tell us more:
Q: Storm Hound, follows one of Odin's stormhounds after he accidentally falls to Earth. What gave you the inspiration for a stormhound?
A: Honestly, I'm not sure. I was trying to write a serious fantasy at the time and it wasn't working at all, then I started bashing the keyboard in a fit of frustration and Storm just came out. It's the only time that has ever happen to me as a writer. I fell in love with Storm straight away and I knew I had to write his whole story.
Q: Why did you decide to connect the stormhound with Odin's mythology? Did you enjoy reading myths as a child, and do you have any favourites?
A: I love mythology. I discovered Greek myth first, as a child. My local library had an illustrated copy of Greek myth and I took it out week after week until the librarian told me I had to let someone else have a turn. Perseus was my favourite - I had a real thing about flying horses.
I came across Norse myth a bit later on, and I fell in love with all the crazy, larger-than-life characters. The gods in Norse mythology are always doing really stupid things.
The Wild Hunt is an odd bit of legend - it crops up all over Europe and no one can agree who leads the Hunt. I chose Odin because I like him as a character. Because the book is set in Wales, I also added King Arawn of the Welsh Otherworld, who also owns a pack of magical hunting hounds.
Q: There are a lot of funny moments in the story when the fierce stormhound falls from the skies and is turned into a cute puppy and discovers sheep, and 'obedience classes'. What for you was his funniest moment?
A: Funny? Storm's struggles are mighty and serious and he'll blast you with lightning if you laugh at him!
That's what I love most about Storm. He's a stormhound trapped in the body of a puppy and he's constantly frustrated that no one will take him seriously.
My favourite bit is when Storm is left alone in the house for the first time. As a responsible stormhound he decides he must protect the house from all dangers - including shoes, the letterbox and letters. He's sure the humans will be terrifically grateful when they come home. (Spoiler: they're not!)
Q: There is also a wily old cat in the story - but where do your loyalties lie, are you a cat or dog person?
A: I am very much a cat person. Nutmeg, the cat in the story, is based on my old cat, Penny. Sadly, Penny died a few weeks ago, aged 19 years and a bit.
She was a lovely cat - very gentle and affectionate with her friends but she wouldn't stand any nonsense. We miss her a lot, and I'm very glad she'll get to live on as Nutmeg.
Q: The story also follows Jessie, who is living with her dad and brother having moved away from their mother, who they miss. Why give Jessie such a difficult family background?
A: Difficult backgrounds often lead to better stories as your characters have to work to overcome their problems.
But I also wanted Jessie's story to echo Storm's. They're both feeling out of place, they're both missing their families. This is what draws them together in the first place - they recognise that they are both lost and maybe they can help each other.
Q: There are some villains in the story who want to catch Storm - do you enjoy creating the bad guys?
A: I always have great fun creating villains. The bad guys break the normal social rules so they can surprise you with what they do and say. In Storm Hound, my villains are trying to blend in, but they're not terribly good at it, which leads to some funny scenes.
Q: Why did you decide to set the story in Wales, do you like to be familiar with the landscapes in your settings? Does Wales also tie in well to the idea of the myths in the story?
A: This is the first book I've written set entirely in the real world. I live in Wales, not far from Abergavenny. I started writing Storm Hound while I was visiting schools in the area and I knew it was the perfect place for the story. The town is surrounded by mountains, just like they're protecting it, and the weather can change from sun to storm very quickly.
And, yes, Welsh myths feature heavily. I've already mentioned King Arawn and his hunting hounds. You'll also find the story of the shape-shifting enchantress, Ceridwen, and white hares feature too. If you follow a white hare in Wales, it will often lead you to the Otherworld.
Q: Will you be following Storm with more adventures?
A: I'd love to write another adventure with Storm - he is such a great character. I would have to come up with the right story, though, probably set somewhere else so I can bring in some different mythology.
In the meantime, I have written a bonus short story in which Storm changes bodies with the cat next door - look out for it on my website.
Q: In the story, we learn that stormhounds are a little bit magic - they have fierce shadows, and they can fly! If you could have some stormhound magic, what would it be?
A: I would like to fly. I'd have a fantastic time soaring over the mountains and scaring sheep.
Q: Where and when is your favourite time to write? Can you describe your writing area?
A: Mornings are my best writing time. I have an office at home which is full of books with a door into the garden so the cats can wander in and out.
I also meet my friend Peter Bell (author of The Train to Impossible Places) in a coffee shop for writing sessions. Whoever gets there first buys the coffee and we sit for two hours, staring at our laptops and not speaking to each other.
Q: Do you read other children's authors - do you have any recommendations for our child members?
A: PG Bell's The Train to Impossible Places is one of my favourite books, and not just because I know the author - it's a clever, funny, non-stop adventure. Then, if you haven't read The House With Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, you absolutely must. Stephanie Burgis has a delicious mix of dragons, magic and chocolate in her dragon books.
If you like myth and legends, Catherine Fisher has written some magical books set in Wales, and for something different, Grace Lin writes beautiful books based on Chinese folktales. Finally, I can't wait to read The Boy Who Flew, by Fleur Hitchcock, out on March 7th.
Q: What is your favourite escape from writing?
A: I love gardening. I have a very small garden at home, but I rent an allotment - a plot of ground on a site near my house - where I try to grow fruit and vegetables (sometimes I even succeed!)
It's lovely and quiet so I can think about new story ideas while I do the digging and weeding. I love to pop down there for an hour or two in the afternoon after a morning at the computer.
Thank you for having me!
Storm Hound
Journey to Dragon Island
Voyage to Magical North
