Today Sally Doherty joins Ian Eagleton in The Reading Realm to talk about her new book Max and Monty: The Raven Thief!

Before we sit down in The Reading Realm and talk about your new book, what’s your drink and snack of choice?

Hi Ian! Thanks so much for having me! Cup of tea for me, please. Milk and one sweetener. Pair that with a warm, gooey, underbaked cookie, and you won’t be able to get rid of me.

What can you tell us about your new book Max and Monty: The Raven Thief? 

Max and Monty features an eleven-year-old protagonist who has M.E. and is an ambulatory wheelchair-user. I’m so pleased to be able to include this representation in a children’s book to hopefully raise awareness and empathy.

It’s important to note, however, that Max has many other aspects to his character too. He has a loving family (OK, well his older sister is going through a teenager phase and is a bit hard to impress right now). He has a three-legged dog sidekick (Monty) for a best friend. And he loves drawing.

Though Max is dealing with his chronic illness in the background, there’s a fun and exciting (I hope!) external plot involving burglars on the beach who have a feathered fiend to help with their sinister plot. Without wanting to give too much away, ice-cream also makes an important appearance (because what is a story without sweet treats).

I was wondering if you thought Max and Monty: The Raven Thief was similar to your other book Toby and the Silver Blood Witches in any way? Are there any recurring themes in your stories? 

Both Max and Monty as well as Toby and the Silver Blood Witches feature themes of chronic illness. Having lived with M.E. myself for eighteen years, it’s hardly surprising that it snuck into my books. In Toby and the Silver Blood Witches, the protagonist is a young carer for his mum who is bedbound with Severe ME. In Max and Monty, it is the protagonist himself who has M.E. He also has a more moderate (though still extremely debilitating) level of the illness and is able to get around a little – it would be hard to write a children’s book and keep up the pace otherwise!

Alongside the underlying chronic illness theme, I like to write stories containing mystery, action and snippets of humour to maintain a child reader’s attention.

What was the writing and editing process like for Max and Monty: The Raven Thief?

Writing Max and Monty was a new experience for me as it was the first time I’ve been approached to write a story, rather than writing a story which is desperately trying to escape from my heart. It took some wracking of brains to come up with the initial pitch and idea but once that had been accepted, the words came flowing just the same as any other story I’ve written.

Fortunately, the editor was largely happy with the first draft they saw (though it was the third or fourth draft my end after getting feedback from writing friends) and it didn’t require too many changes. As it’s part of a reading scheme, I had to be more careful with keeping it clean than I might be otherwise and also think of its suitability for the international market. No mention of alcohol, even rum and raisin ice cream for example! And tennis ball shooter was changed to launcher. The book also went to several reviewers (including one at the ME Association) which brought another round of edits to ensure the representation was accurate.

I did have initial apprehensions about working with a large publisher when living with such an energy-limiting condition which lets me only write/edit a little each day. However, my editor was brilliant – very supportive and understanding of my needs.

Do you have a favourite illustration by Sonny Fletcher you could share with us? Why is it your favourite? 

Oh, this is a tough one! Monty is based on my own three-legged dog, and I especially love how Sonny has brought him to life. I also really like their double spread illustrations, particularly one which depicts Max lying on the beach and overhearing a mysterious conversation. I love how Monty has his head on Max’s leg (just like my own dog does when I rest) and even better, how he has one eye open! Sometimes the small details are the best part.

If Max and Monty: The Raven Thief were a song, which song would it be and why? 

OK, this is even tougher! I am probably the LEAST musical person in the country. My attempts at playing violin as a kid led to my music teacher calling me ‘cloth ears’, and I can’t hold a tune to save my life. So I don’t really think in terms of particular songs when I’m writing. But if it were a song, it would have the excited but raucous squealing of seagulls, with a backdrop of waves on the shore – first gentle and lapping, before building to a crashing crescendo.

Are there any plans for a sequel and if so, what might happen? 

I mean, I wouldn’t say no! I do have ideas for other stories in the Max and Monty series, with each focussing on a different mystery for them to solve. It’s important that each book would take place in settings where Max has the chance to rest amongst all the action. In my mind, the next one is set at a grand event at a hotel. However (and this is a big however!), I’m not sure if HarperCollins will be commissioning any more disability-themed books in the near future so I guess we have to watch this space.

Finally, can you describe Max and Monty: The Raven Thief in three words? 

Mystery, heart and humour.