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The Other Alice
Posted on April 7, 2016, tagged as The other Alice, blurb, cover copy, news
I’m thrilled to reveal the cover copy (or blurb) for my sixth novel, The Other Alice, which publishes in the UK on July 28th. The cover is still in progress, but I hope to be able to share that with you very soon. In the meantime, here, in a nutshell, is what I’ve been working on for the past year and a half.
What happens when a tale with real magic, that was supposed to be finished, never was? This is a story about one of those stories . . .
Midge loves riddles, his cat, Twitch, and ‒ most of all ‒ stories. Especially because he’s grown up being read to by his sister Alice, a brilliant writer.
When Alice goes missing and a talking cat turns up in her bedroom, Midge searches Alice’s stories for a clue. Soon he discovers that her secret book, The Museum of Unfinished Stories, is much more than just a story. In fact, he finds two of its characters wandering around town.
But every tale has its villains ‒ and with them leaping off the page, Midge, Gypsy and Piper must use all their wits and cunning to work out how the story ends and find Alice. If they fail, a more sinister finale threatens them all . . .
What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
Paper cut illustrations © Michelle Harrison 2016. Not to be reproduced without permission.
Please tell me where I can purchase this book! I would love to read it with my nine year old daughter, it sounds like a fantastic story that we would both enjoy so much.
Thank you.
Hello – we were in touch about this on my Facebook page, but for anyone else with the same question: the only edition currently is the UK edition, so if it isn’t sold in your country the best way to get a copy is online at Amazon.co.uk or bookdepository.com which offers free shipping worldwide.
Michelle Harrison. Your. Book. Is. Amazing. I’ve read the book and it is fabulous please make it in a movie it would be brilliant I hope you do and will look forward to finding it in Netflix one day. You have inspired me.
Thank you! Fingers crossed a film studio might make me an offer…
Does anyone know the riddle from it?
Hi, I loved this book: it was my favourite. I have taken inspiration from it to write my own story. Just one question, how do you make the characters feel real? How can you really get in their shoes? Thank you, and I look forward to your reply.
Aoife
Thanks Aoife, so pleased you enjoyed it and that it’s inspired you to write your own story! I’ve just replied to your email with the same question, but will answer it here too for anyone else who has the same question: every character in a story must want something, and you must give them obstacles to prevent them from getting the thing they want. (Perhaps the obstacle is another character who is trying to stop them, or who wants the same thing!) This creates conflict which makes the plot interesting.
You then need to imagine the situation through the eyes of this character, with the set of traits and flaws you have given them (flaws are VERY important as they make the characters more real. No one likes characters who are too perfect). It helps to exaggerate these characteristics to make the characters come to life and be distinctive. Hope that helps!