Storm Bottle Tour: Interview Nick Green

The Storm Bottle

Swimming with dolphins is said to be the number one thing to do before you die. For 12-year-old Michael, it very nearly is. A secret boat trip has gone tragically wrong, and now he lies unconscious in hospital.

But when Michael finally wakes up, he seems different. His step sister Bibi is soon convinced that he is not who he appears to be. Meanwhile, in the ocean beyond Bermuda’s reefs, a group of bottlenose dolphins are astonished to discover a stranger in their midst – a boy lost and desperate to return home.

Bermuda is a place of mysteries. Some believe its seas are enchanted, and the sun-drenched islands conceal a darker past, haunted with tales of lost ships. Now Bibi and Michael are finding themselves in the most extraordinary tale of all.

Interview – Nick Green

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.

Open The Storm Bottle and find out why swimming with dolphins is the number one thing to do before you die.

--How did you get the idea for the story?

By sheer fluke (no pun intended) I got the chance to swim with a wild dolphin once off the coast of England. When pondering how to turn this experience into an adventure story, I ended up transferring the action to Bermuda, a place that has fascinated me ever since I first visited as a child.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

From this book? Probably Jill. She’s a dolphin though, so I’d have to sit on a boat or maybe a jetty with my packed lunch, and throw her fish now and then. She can’t hunt for herself, as she has an injured tail. Communication might be a problem, as I don’t speak rainvoice, but she’s very clever so I’m sure she’d be able to make herself understood. And she knows some great tricks that would help to pass the time.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I’m at work on a new trilogy called Firebird, but I can’t give you any dates at the moment. Books 1 and 2 are effectively written and seeking a traditional publisher. If I can’t find one then I’ll publish straight to ebook, but only after I finish book 3, so that all the books can appear close together.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I read voraciously – distrust any writer who doesn’t. The best book I’ve read this year was Ulverton by Adam Thorpe. It’s been out for 20 years but I only just discovered it. The story of a village through time, and an absolutely dazzling display of literary genius. Some chapters are written in almost impenetrable local dialect and are a real challenge to read, but decoding them gives you a sense of what it’s like to read for the first time – and that’s an almost indescribable experience. There aren’t many books where you can actually feel your brain changing as you read them!

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

Narnia would probably be fun to visit. No-one ever notices you’re gone, you generally get treated like a legend or royalty, and the Narnian air makes us humans effectively super-powered, so you can see off any nasties that might attack. Time for a quick adventure and then home for tea and scones.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

I do find that music can help with a book, capturing the emotion that I’m looking for. My tastes are absolutely eclectic – artists that helped to inspire The Storm Bottle include James Blunt and Dream Theater. That’s the first and last time those two will appear in the same sentence.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

Instant deactivation of any weapon at any range.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

I have two young kids, so… what free time?! If I do get some genuine me-time, say once or twice a year, then I might get on a horse and go riding.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

Get out more.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

If The Storm Bottle sounds interesting, you may also want to check out my Cat Kin trilogy: The Cat Kin, Cat’s Paw and Cat’s Cradle.  They feature a team of kids who learn to develop the powers of cats, and the setting is London – but a side of the city that you rarely see. It’s published by Strident Publishing and also as a set of ebooks, and book 1 is even available as an audiobook

Book Trailer




Praise

'I loved it... An absolute winner.'
- LA Weatherly, author of the Angel Burn trilogy

'A writer who knows how to grip the imagination, make you sit on the edge of your chair, and make you laugh out loud.'
- Michelle Lovric, author of The Undrowned Child, The Mourning Emporium and The Book of Human Skin

'If you only ever buy one Kindle book in your life (although that sounds a bit unlikely, now that I stop and think) this has to be it.'
- The Bookwitch blog.

Author Nick Green

Nick Green is a UK children's and YA author, best known for his trilogy The Cat Kin, published in the UK by Strident Publishing and in Germany by Ravensburger, and also as a BBC audiobook. He has appeared on BBC radio talking about his books, and has been shortlisted for two UK children's book awards. He regularly does school visits and other children's literary events. The Storm Bottle is his first straight-to-Kindle novel.

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