We chat with author Bex Hogan about Owl King, which is a dark, captivating YA tale of deception and survival, set in the Realm of Never Moon where faeries live in fear of the Owl King, for fans of Holly Black’s The Folk of the Air series and Twin Crowns.
Hi, Bex! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hey there! Of course, I’m Bex, and I spend most of time lost in my own daydreams. I write fantasy for both YA and young MG, because I’m all about escapism! I love both reading and writing fantasy because there’s nothing better than being whisked away to another world, off on a magical adventure. When I’m not busy with work, I enjoy daydreaming in my garden, daydreaming on walks, and deep dreaming when having a nap!
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I’ve always loved stories. My earliest memories are of me playing out stories with toys, I was forever making up new ones. But while I loved having books read to me – I was raised on Grimms’ Fairy Tales – I wasn’t a huge reader as a child. I’m a very slow reader even now, but as a kid it meant I struggled to ever get into a book. This meant it never occurred to me I might be a writer, even though the only school work I ever enjoyed was creative writing. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I considered that perhaps I could write down the endless stories taking up space in my head, and once I started, I knew I’d never stop.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
Ah the pressure! Ummm here goes!
- The first book you ever remember reading: Grimms’ Fairy Tales
- The one that made you want to become an author: Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Your latest novel, Owl King, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
A love story between sisters.
What can readers expect?
Owl King is set in one of the Faery Realms, where faeries can shape-shift into birds. It is ruled by the cruel Owl King, who has had many brides, all of whom mysteriously disappear. When his eye falls on Lyla, her devoted sister, Ilsette, determines she’ll do whatever it takes to protect Lyla from a terrible fate. So while Lyla buys herself time by telling the Owl King stories every night, Ilsette sets out across the many realms in search of a powerful talisman that will save her sister. You can expect magic, mystery, friendship, curses and a touch of romance.
Where did the inspiration for Owl King come from?
It’s heavily inspired by the traditional fairytales I was raised on. The versions I was told as a child were far darker than the sanitised versions of today, and I really wanted to return to those dark fairytales of old. I’m also a Cornish girl, and I’m hugely inspired by the folklore there. The village I grew up in has its own legendary owl man – half owl, half man – who flies over the ancient church on the headland, with piercing red eyes. So he definitely takes some credit for the Owl King inspiration. And the Cornish scenery certainly makes imagining a faery forest an easy task!
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I particularly enjoyed writing the short stories that are dotted throughout the book. It was a chance to create the faerytales which would exist within the faery world, which was a lot of fun. It’s also a different way to push forward the narrative, which I always love as a reader. I also loved that Ilsette travels to the realm featured in the first Faery Realms book, Nettle, which gave me an opportunity to revisit places and characters from before, through the eyes of a different character, which is always a lovely treat as an author.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I always face the same challenge with every book I write – and that is what I call the 30k wall. No matter how much I’m enjoying drafting, or how much of a plan I have in place for the plot, I always hit this point and question every life decision I’ve made. There’s only one way to overcome this particular hurdle and that’s to keep going. But it’s my least favourite part of the entire process!
What’s next for you?
I shall be returning to the Faery Realms! The third book in the series comes out next year and is called Rowan. This one is Rapunzel meets Dangerous Liaisons, and I’m having a lot of fun with it!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I recently read Forest of Hearts by M.A Kuzniar which I adored. It’s an absolutely perfect dark fairytale retelling. I also loved The Wicked Lies of Habren Faire by Anna Fiteni, which is another book about the fae, inspired by Welsh mythology. I’m really looking forward to reading The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden, which comes out next year.
