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Dragonborn: the Twilight Child is the second book in the rapidly-expanding world introduced in Dragonborn. This fast-paced book throws readers headfirst into Alex’s story, as she struggles to contain her emotions and figure out why her overprotective mother is so over the top… but Alex never expected the answer to involve dragons! In book two, Alex and friends must dive deeper into the hidden stories of the past if they have any hope of building a future where humans and dragons can co-exist peacefully. This is an edge-of-your-seat read with gripping action and heart-pounding adventures!

One of my fifth graders wanted everyone to know that Dragonborn was a fantastic book with “a lot of things I was not expecting!” (They did not want to say more in case of spoilers.) They also burned through my advanced copy of The Twilight Child, reading almost as fast as a dragon flies!

Interview with Author Struan Murray

Katie: Struan, thank you so much for swinging by From the Mixed-Up Files to chat about Dragonborn: the Twilight Child, the highly-anticipated sequel to last year’s smash hit, Dragonborn. 

First question, if you were at a school visit with a roomful of upper elementary kids, what would be your quick elevator pitch for why they should read Alex’s story?

Struan: Dragonborn is about a girl who discovers that dragons are real, and then discovers that she is one. In The Twilight Child, Alex and her friends travel to a hidden world deep in Scotland where humans and dragons are trying to live alongside one another, even while an army of ancient demons attacks every night. So if you like dragons, monsters and mysteries then there’s definitely something in here for you!

Katie: Alex is such a complicated character with quite the emotional journey. Does Alex have much in common with you as a kid? If not, where did you find inspiration for her personality and challenges?

Struan: There’s definitely some of me in Alex, though I think she’s much braver than I was at her age! Even so, she’s struggling with her fear and a lot of other big emotions too, which I think is something all young people can relate too. Alex’s emotions simply have much more fiery consequences…

Katie: Teachers often tell students to “Write what you know?” How have you been able to use “what you know” and your own life experiences to write a fantastical story populated by dragons?

Struan: I think “write what you know” is often more useful when it relates to emotions than to the literal events of a story. I have sadly never turned into a dragon, but I do know what it feels like to be frightened, angry, frustrated, lonely. Taking our own personal experience of those things and putting them on the page is what makes the fantastical parts of a story feel real.

My background in science probably sneaks in too. I spend an unreasonable amount of time wondering how my dragons actually work: how they fly, what happens when they transform, how they actually produce fire. Most of that never makes it onto the page, but I like feeling that somewhere underneath all the magic there is a set of rules!

Katie: I love that! Kids might be surprised to learn that you are not only an author but also a professor (of biochemistry, no less!). Can you tell us a little about your path to publication? What led you to write for kids?

Struan: I’ve always loved both science and stories, so for a long time I was doing both without really expecting the writing to become a career, scribbling away in my notebooks while waiting for an experiment to finish. It was also useful to have a hobby like writing to cling to—an emotional life-raft of sorts to cling to whenever an experiment (inevitably) backfired. There were quite a few unsuccessful novels along the way, but eventually I submitted a manuscript to a writing competition on the advice of my partner, that led to me getting literary representation, that led to a publishing deal!

Katie: What advice would you give to fledgling MG authors?

Struan: Finish things! I spent years starting novels, getting twenty or thirty thousand words into them, deciding they weren’t good enough and beginning something new. You learn an enormous amount by actually reaching the end of a story, even if that story never gets published. I’d also try to remember the books you loved when you were the age you’re writing for. Children read for all sorts of reasons, but I think one of the most important is simply the pleasure of finding out what happens next. You can tackle difficult emotions and complicated ideas, but you still have to make them want to turn the page.

Katie: Great advice! On that note, what are some of your favorite middle grade books or series?

Struan: Northern Lights by Philip Pullman is probably the book that had the greatest effect on me when I was young. I loved the scale and strangeness of it, but particularly the sense that Pullman trusted young readers with enormous ideas. I also love Diana Wynne Jones, especially Howl’s Moving Castle, and I’m a huge fan of Philip Reeve’s books — his Mortal Engines series was a big influence on me as a young writer. More recently, I’ve loved books by writers such as Katya Balen and Ross Montgomery.

Katie: Readers hoping for a quick resolution to Alex’s story are going to be left at the edge of their seats yet again. Is there anything you can tell your readers about where the story is heading from here? Can we expect a trilogy … or more? Do you have any other upcoming projects you can share about?

Struan: I can confirm that there will be a third Dragonborn book! Without giving too much away, the world of dragons will be shaken up massively by the events of The Twilight Child, with many dragons now eager to join Drak Midna in his war against humanity, and an ingenious new foe rising to battle Alex and her friends. 

But beyond the third book, who knows? 

Actually, I know, as it happens, and I can tell you right now: there will be more to Alex’s story beyond book three!

Katie: Hooray! My 5th graders will be cheering as soon as I tell them!

Lightning Round with Struan Murray

Coffee, tea, or Medu?

Coffee in the morning, tea for the rest of the day. Medu only in emergencies.

What color dragon would you be?

Probably purple. Although knowing my luck I’d discover after transforming that I was beige.

Dream job when you were a kid?

Everything! Baker, doctor, actor, architect… and a palaeontologist, of course, which I suspect is what happens when a child like me discovers that dragons almost existed.

Superpower?

Stopping time. I have two small children and far too many books to write. An extra few hours while everyone else was frozen would solve an extraordinary number of problems.

Finally, where can readers find you if they want to reach out?

You can find me through my website: struanmurray.com, or on Instagram @struan_c_murray, where I share news about my books, events and occasional glimpses of what I’m working on.