Paula Harrison introduces her new series, Faerie Tribes - Nosy Crow Skip to content
Posted by Tom, February 20, 2013

Paula Harrison introduces her new series, Faerie Tribes

Cover proofs for Faerie Tribes: The Crystal Mirror

In May we’re publishing the first volume in an epic new fantasy series for 9+ year-olds: Faerie Tribes, by Paula Harrison, author of the Rescue Princesses series. The series begins with The Crystal Mirror, and to introduce Faerie Tribes to you all we’ve asked Paula a few questions…

Can you tell us a little about Faerie Tribes?
The series is set in our modern world with faeries living secretly among us. They aren’t small creatures with wings. They look like you and me. Your next-door neighbour could be one and you wouldn’t realise. The faeries descend from five tribes that possess different features and abilities. Laney Rivers finds the world she knows dissolving around her. She has to find out who she really is and where she belongs in the world of the tribes.

Where did the idea for the series come from?
I’ve always been interested in the way people are tribal, and how they like to form sets and cliques. I’ve also always liked the idea of a reality hidden inside our normal everyday world. There was a moment when the idea pounced on me (I was having dinner with my kids) and I had to rush away and scribble down the core of it. But to be honest, it was probably brewing in my head for a while.

What parts of faerie mythology do you find most appealing? Did you try and stick to any tradition or make up your own history?
Other-worldly spirits like faeries, elves and goblins can be found in lots of different mythologies. I haven’t stuck rigidly to anything that’s gone before. I think the element I’ve adhered to the most is that they have a link to nature. But whether they use that link for good or evil depends on them.

Did writing Faerie Tribes feel very different to writing The Rescue Princesses?
Well, they’re for different age groups. Faerie Tribes has a more epic scope and quite a large cast of characters. There’s also a significant amount of back story involved. I think the biggest difference was the amount of notes I made about the story world before and during writing. I’ve been keeping stationers in business with the number of A4 notebooks I’ve filled. In The Rescue Princesses, I get the chance to explore a different character’s personality with each book. Whereas Faerie Tribes is Laney’s story and there are a lot of secrets that have been kept from her.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
My children asked me the same question a few days ago! I think I said something dull like – the power to zap the house instantly clean and tidy. (If you have kids you’ll probably sympathise). But actually I’ve always wanted to be able to fly. I quite often fly when I dream.

Thank you, Paula! You can find out a little bit more about Faerie Tribes herewe’ll make the first chapter available soon, so keep an eye out! If you’d like to be kept up-to-date with the new series, you can sign up to our books newsletter hereand The Crystal Mirror is also available for pre-order.

See more: