We chat with author Brandie June about Magic at the Grand Dragonfly Theatre, which is a YA historical fantasy book for fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart or Hotel Magnifique, where two sisters live in hiding at their uncle’s theatre—one who is hiding illegal magic, and the other who has sworn to protect her.
Hi, Brandie! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’ve always been a theatre kid. I was acting on stage before I could read. This is part of the reason Magic At The Grand Dragonfly Theatre is so special to me. It’s basically my love letter to theatre. Eventually, my life took me in different directions and I got more serious about writing, but throughout it all, I always go back to my love of storytelling. I’m also a huge fantasy fan. My debut, Gold Spun, is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling where the miller’s daughter is a con artist and Rumpelstiltskin is a mysterious fae. When not writing, I work as a marketing and product director, drink a lot of iced lattes, and am pet mom to four birds and two dogs.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I found my real love for writing a bit later in my journey. As I mentioned, I was an actor as a kid, and that was my primary passion for a long time. I hadn’t seriously considered writing until I joined a theatre company that did short play performances. At the time, the idea of writing a full-length play (or novel) seemed insurmountable, but I could write a five-page short play. And once I started writing short plays, I began writing short stories. I was hooked. I loved that as the storyteller, I could create the story, not just be a part of it. This eventually led to my full-length plays and novels.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It was one of the early reader chapter books and I was so proud of myself for reading a chapter book.
- The one that made you want to become an author: There really wasn’t just one book. Rather, it was the authors that I was reading, comedic satire such as Terry Pratchett and Christopher Moore who beautifully combined magical setting with witty banter. Authors like Leigh Bardugo and Naomi Novik who created adventurous tales with lush settings. While I didn’t want to copy these authors, I was inspired to write my own worlds with lush settings, exciting adventures, and witty banter.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Spinning Silver by Naomi Novak. It’s a fairytale retelling; it has three different female protagonists with their own stories that weave together. It has morally gray male protagonists with strong motivations. It’s one of few books I will regularly reread.
Your latest novel, Magic at the Grand Dragonfly Theatre, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Secret magic, loving sisters, theatre
What can readers expect?
Tropes:
- Secret, illegal magic
- Strong sister relationship
- Bounty hunters
- Multiple POVs & Multiple romances
- Found family
- Surprising twists
- Lush, atmospheric settings
- A standalone book
- And theatre!
Vibes:
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles, and Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor
Where did the inspiration for Magic at the Grand Dragonfly Theatre come from?
At its core, Magic At The Grand Dragonfly Theatre is my love letter to theatre. I wanted to invite readers in to not only experience the magic onstage, but also all of the creativity, love, and chaos that goes on behind-the-scenes and during rehearsals in order to get to the fantastical world that appears every time the curtain rises. I also wanted to combine fantasy magic with real-world magic, to keep both the audience and the readers guessing. As such, I started taking magic classes at The Magic Castle in Hollywood to learn about real-world magic.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really loved exploring the relationship between the sisters, Iris and Violet. I set out with the goal of creating a strong sister bond, as I had been reading so many books where the siblings either hated each other or one was always saving the other. The sisters are very different people, and while they don’t always get along, they also deeply love each other and always have each other’s back.
As someone who currently works for a theatre, I know all too well how easy it is to fall in love with theatre and its magic! Can you share where your love for theatre came from?
I’ve always loved the magic that is theatre. I was acting before I could even read. For me, it was the magic of storytelling and embodying a character different from myself. I think there is something so very special for both the actors and the audience when the lights go down before a play and everyone knows that when the lights return, they’ll be transported to another world. For me, it’s the closest I get to experiencing magic in the real world. I wanted to capture that feeling along with all the chaos, love, and work that goes on behind the scenes and during rehearsals in order to get to that moment.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
There were a lot of highs and lows during the process of writing Dragonfly Theatre. I started research and writing just as COVID hit, and trying to focus on anything during a worldwide pandemic was a huge challenge. I had to allow myself to go at a slower pace, which is always a challenge for me. I’m constantly wanting to be creative and writing, but during COVID, I had to give myself permission to focus on my mental health first, since there was so much stress going on. I reminded myself that any writing was still progress.
What’s next for you?
I have a manuscript on submission, so while I can’t say much about it, this story is extremely close to my heart. I wanted to write a book about depression that wasn’t depressing, something I would have wanted when I was a teen. It’s equal parts dealing with depression and a whimsical fantasy world. I can’t wait to share more about it!
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
A few of the books I’ve read:
- Sleights of Mind: What The Neuroscience Of Magic Reveals About Our Brains by Stephen L. Macknik, Susana Martinez-Conde, and Sandra Blakeslee.
- A Gentleman’s Gentleman by T.J. Alexander
- The Debutantes by Olivia Worley
- Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
- A Rivalry of Hearts by Tessonja Odette
A very small sampling of my TBR pile that I’m looking forward to:
- Thief of Night by Holly Black
- If We Never End by Laura Taylor Namey
- The Baby Dragon Café by Aamna Qureshi
- Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
- Alchemy of Secrets by Stephanie Garber
