Extracts taken from conversations, correspondences and interviews.


1)    Why did you write the book?

For three reasons. I love writing. I wanted to help raise the reading age of children. I wanted to help raise the profile of writers in my home town, Croydon.

2)    Are you saying there aren’t enough writers in Croydon?

Croydon produces some very talented footballers, musicians and comedians, but very few from other cultural fields. I wanted to fly the flag for writers – and start at grass root level, with children. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think Croydon has only ever managed to produce one children’s writer: Alan Ahlberg.

3)    Some people think the market has been flooded with children’s fantasy books.

Nonsense. Good writing and original ideas are always welcome.

4)    So, what makes your book unique?

My style of writing and story, which, I guarantee, is like nothing you’ve ever read before. Also, being a teacher has helped me tailor my prose in such a way that it is easily digestable by children of all ages.

5)    Has being a teacher resulted in you introducing an educational angle?

Yes – but I haven’t sacrificed any of the book’s entertainment factor. I recently entered my book in a competition, in the ‘Young Adult: Education’ category. I added this table to my marketing package: CLICK HERE

6)    Why are we so fascinated by magic and monsters?

Ever since the writing of The Epic of Gilgamesh, over four thousand years ago, the public has developed an incessant appetite for such stories. Consequently, every culture is now rich with fantastic myths and legends. We thrive off these stories – they nourish our imaginations – they inspire us to create a better world.

7)    Weren’t you put off writing a book for a genre rife with great authors?

No. There’s always room for new ideas. And quality always sells. My book might have a familiar feel to it – I’ve used the conventional template of a downtrodden protagonist, who rises up against an evil oppressor, and I dip into the archives of popular mythology to select some of my characters and settings – but everything about my book is fresh and new.

8)    Are some of your characters based on real people?

No. They’re all composites – and they all contain an aspect of me. That’s why I'm able to move them around so easily.

9)    And what’s the book really about?

That’s up to the reader to decide.

10)    Is the book priced correctly?

You can now buy the book for about £5 online. In bookshops it's more expensive. There are many reasons for this. Most young adult novels are between 20,000-40,000 words in length. Mine is approximately 70,000. Most paperbacks are printed on inexpensive paper, which will discolour and disintegrate over time, and are bound using the cheapest materials. Mine displays a high quality gloss jacket cover and is printed on acid-free paper. Most novels appear in the standard ‘pocketbook’ format and are 7”x 4.3”. Mine is 8”x 5”. Most novels contain just written text. Mine contains a detailed map, list of contents, chapter titles in the header, and a twelve-page lexicon. Most novels are not formatted properly. Words are often squeezed onto a line, or are separated by large spaces, making passages very difficult to read. Mine has been formatted over twenty times. The Enchanted Amulet is also supported by a writer’s website at www.christianainley.com, which is full of great ideas for aspiring young authors!

11)    What advice do you give to aspiring young authors?

Work hard – and be patient.