Scottish author Mairi Craw recently moved to the village of Taurinya
in the foothills of Le Canigou, having spent several years living in
rural Dorset where she embarked on her debut novel, the first in a
fantasy trilogy inspired by her childhood in a small Scottish port.
Look out for weekly excerpts of her first book, ’Beyond the Hedge’ on Anglophone-direct over the coming months.
Mairi tells us.........
"The move to the Pyrénées-Orientales was unprecedented and completely
out of the blue. I considered Dorset to be my home for life and where
I would write the subsequent novels, and yet here I am settling into
a wonderful new life, after a short trip last summer to visit
relatives who’d emigrated to the Perpignan area some years before. As
we stepped off the plane, I was gripped by the feeling that I was
coming home, in spite of never having set foot in the Pyrénées-Orientales before. It was completely irrational but I’ve never been one to slam
the door in the face of destiny. I know this sounds preposterous, but
some things are just meant to be and six months into my mid-life
adventure I’m delighted to say it has never once threatened to turn
into a mid-life crisis. We have been made so welcome and the gentler
pace of life here agrees with the whole family, not least of all our
six cats and two dogs who, like us, appreciate the glorious climate."
’Beyond the Hedge’ is centred round 11-year-old Sandy Henderson who
lives a carefree life with her family in Irvine, unaware that the
enchanted world of Sylvania lies beyond a huge hedge at the bottom
their overgrown garden. When her beloved cat, Leo, tumbles headlong
into this extraordinary land, while they’re exploring an unfamiliar
part of the orchard, Sandy undertakes a dangerous journey to bring
him home again.
"At the time the novel is set, my father, Captain Ralph Henderson,
was harbourmaster for the port of Irvine. Dad was a born storyteller
and, when I was very young, he used to keep me entertained with
imaginative stories about a resilient elf called Alfie, his feisty
wife, Pogo Pixie, and a snake called Sammy who guarded a giant
sapphire in an enchanted cave at a secret location in our own back
garden. The idea for ’Beyond the Hedge’ grew out of my memories of
that atmospheric wilderness behind our sprawling Victorian house,
coupled with a longing to meet the magical fairyfolk my father had
created."
..........and if you just can’t wait for each weekly episode, you can buy ’Beyond the Hedge’ here
