Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Kevin Albin

Book Title: Stonechild

Released:  06/14/20

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Interview by Heather L. Barksdale

What inspired you to write “Stonechild”?

Albin: I was working in London as a facilitator on some corporate training, a sort of glorified treasure hunt, and at the same time I was quite heavily involved in the climate crisis. My clients were searching for the answer to a clue involving the Royal Tank Regiment Memorial Statue in Whitehall. It was a hot day. The clients were taking ages. I had this image of the statue coming to life to help the clients with a comment of, “come on guys, it’s not that difficult!” That image grew as I mused as to how they could have life and why would they  — perhaps with a climate message, and over time, the idea of the book just grew and grew.

How did you come up with the names of your main characters?

Albin: I didn’t have to think too hard with this as all the statues have their original names.The main character is Molly Hargreaves, and Molly is a favourite name of mine and my wife; if we’d had a girl instead of a son, we would have called her Molly. Molly’s brother, is called Charlie and that just seemed to fit. The other important character is Gee-Gee, but I can’t reveal anything about his name as it would spoil something about him.

Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?

Albin: Perhaps a little about my background. I was a police officer in the UK for 25 years, working on a tactical firearms team and as a hostage negotiator. I then retrained as a mountain guide and have worked all over the world, sometimes on conservation projects and a lot with local people. It’s here that I became more aware of the climate crisis and climate injustice. I drew on both of these careers in writing Stonechild. It was also an opportunity to touch on some issues that young people face in growing up, my own son was a teenager at that time.

If "Stonechild" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?

Albin: I wrote Stonechild with a film in mind, I think it would be a terrific adaptation especially with today’s special effects. I’ve had some reviews that have likened the story to a mix of Night in a Museum, (which was directed by Shawn Levy, and I have taken the liberty of sending a copy of the book!), and the Da Vinci Code. Molly Hargreaves is a independent and feisty fifteen year old who stands up for what she believes in, so someone like Emma Watson who played Hermione Granger in Harry Potter would have been ideal albeit she is now much older now than Molly Hargreaves.

When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?

Albin: I think I’ve been fortunate in that this hasn’t really happened. When I commit to writing something, it’s because I’m already excited by the idea. With Stonechild, I often found myself getting up at four o’clock in the morning because a thought had dropped into my head that just needed to be written. On occasions I might have needed to think out a scene or decide where it was going, and I’d often pace around the house or go outside for a walk. 

Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?

Albin: The obvious ones would be to learn the art of writing: creating plots and characters, show don’t tell, hooks and suspense, but also, get ready for the long haul, it doesn’t just stop when you’ve you’ve finished writing your book or story. This is true whether you find a publisher/literary agent or if you self publish. There’s a lot of work to be done in getting your story out there, marketing and promotions, seeking reviews etc and in a competitive market. 

What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?

Albin: I think we all enjoy being drawn into a fictional story, and that’s crucial that the author achieves this. I’m a real attention to detail writer and in writing Stonechild, I spent time in London working out what could be done and what things looked like. If I said that a character ran from one place to another and it took five minutes, then I would have done that myself. Subsequently, in my own reading, I need the story to be feasible and realistic with not too many inaccuracies, and I do say that with tongue in check having written about London’s statues coming to life!

What are you working on next?

Albin: I am working on the sequel to Stonechild, which will find Molly five years older and in America this time. I also have an idea, which is growing, to write about my experiences as a mountain and expedition guide over the last twenty-two years. I’ve seen such wonderful things, met with amazing people and even, on occasions, achieved what seemed to be impossible. All this has taught me many lessons in my life and I would like to share those. We have such a wonderful planet that we should all treasure. 

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