Q&A with Ross Montgomery

  

 

 

Ross Montgomery is the author of the new middle grade novel Small Wonder. His other books include I Am Rebel. He lives in London. 

 

Q: What inspired you to write Small Wonder?

A: I've always leaned towards making books with complex plots and sprawling narratives - they're exactly the kind of books that I loved reading when I was a kid.

 

But recently, I've found that I've wanted to go in the other direction - writing stories that are as simple as possible, with straight-forward narratives. As odd as it sounds, they're actually harder to write!

 

The challenge I set myself was to write a book that felt like it could have been written a hundred years ago, in a good way: something that felt as simple and honest as a fairytale.

 

Q: How did you create the world in which the novel is set?

A: It's the first and only time that I've come up with a plot by drawing a map! It's a technique that other authors I know have used, and it's a brilliant one. I sat down and drew a map of the story, which became the kingdom of Ellia, and the whole plot came from that!

 

Q: How would you describe the relationships among your characters Tick, Leaf, and Pebble?

 

A: Tick is only 10 years old, but has a lot of weight on his shoulders: he feels responsible for his horse and his younger brother, and is desperate to honour the promise he's made to his grandfather to look after them when he's gone.

 

But being a child, he still finds his younger brother Leaf annoying and has to find a way to be a caring grownup for him. His horse, Pebble, is fiercely loyal, and with a strangely secret past. Together, they're the perfect team!

 

Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?

 

A: I wanted the book to feel like clinging on to a runaway horse: a breathless ride through a plot with twists and turns and a build to a huge climax, with an ending that leaves you glowing. So I hope readers close the book with their faces flushed and a sense of wonder that only a good adventure book can bring!

 

Q: What are you working on now?

A: I'm working on a few different things! We're just in the process of working out what my next children's book will be, and I'm busy at working on my series of adult murder mysteries as well. I've just handed in my second and I'm already starting to work on the third!

 

Q: Anything else we should know?

 

A: I have a few of my older children's books being released in the States this year! The Chime Seekers will be out in July, and The Midnight Guardians will be out in October. 

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb. Here's a previous Q&A with Ross Montgomery.