3 minute read
INTERVIEW
from EastLife July 2021
by Times Media
Heart and troll –
LOCAL AUTHOR’S STORY SET TO STONE
Trolls do not just live under bridges (or online), as JON RAWLINSON discovered recently. BUY THE BOOK!
Leonie Agnew’s latest book, The Memory Thief will be available from bookstores and online from July 10, followed by an offi cial launch from 2pm, July 17 at Howick Library.
Leonie Agnew: The Memory Thief | RRP $19.99 | Puffi n
Memories of memories are at the heart of the latest book by acclaimed children’s author, Leonie Agnew, The Memory Thief.
“Since I was a kid, I was intrigued by the name ‘Garden of Memories’, which is next to Uxbridge [Arts and Culture Centre] in Howick – it was an important piece which brings the story together. It [the book] is more magical realism than a fantasy book because it’s set in an actual, real-life place,” the Pakuranga local says.
Billed as ‘a magical, spine-tingling novel about a girl (Stella) who wants to escape her memories, and a troll (Seth) who is desperately trying to remember his,’ Leonie’s book also draws on memories yielded from another garden further afi eld.
“When I was a writer in residence at Otago University [2013], I used to visit the Dunedin Botanic Garden a lot – it’s lovely and has some wonderful statues,” Leonie explains. “I knew I wanted to set a story there. One night, I ended up reading about trolls from Scandinavian mythology online and so it all started to fi t together.”
A troll by night, Seth turns to stone when the sun rises. Unlike mythological trolls, Seth feeds on the memories of others.
“I read trolls are allergic to iron, which fi ts nicely, as the Dunedin Botanic Gardens are fenced in with iron. Also, there was a sign at the garden saying ‘Open from dawn until dusk’, which would mean the gates would be closed to him at night, the only time when he could move around,” Leonie explains.
“Seth can’t retain his own memories so it’s a mystery to him as to how he got there, where he came from and whether he will ever get out.”
Since the release of her fi rst book, Super Finn, in 2011, Leonie has had a number of works published, including The Importance of Green (2013), Conrad Cooper’s Last Stand (2014) and The Impossible Boy (2016). For the most part, she focuses on junior fi ction, for readers aged (roughly) 8-13 years. She has either won awards, or reached award fi nals, for a number of her books.
“I don’t think it’s really a choice to write for this age group, it’s just what seems to work best for me,” she says. “Awards are nice to have but that’s never the aim. I just write what interests me. Winning isn’t all that important but being a fi nalist, at least, can help ensure books are published.”
Complete with an endorsement by renowned writer and illustrator Chris Riddell and illustrations by Wellington-based Kieran Rynhart, The Memory Thief could well steal hearts of judges.
“I’m really lucky to have a quote from Chris. I met him a couple of years ago during the Auckland Writers’ Festival – he asked to read The Memory Thief then gave me a quote. That was massive; I was very excited,” Leonie says smiling. junior fi ction novel, so there are not a lot of them in there, but Kieran is incredibly talented and he [captured the characters] really well.”
A former Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School teacher, more recently Leonie has worked at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Ellerslie. However, thanks to a study grant, she is honing her talents even further, working towards a Masters degree in Creative Writing. She is also looking ahead to releasing yet another junior fi ction novel.
“I’ve just fi nished another book but I can’t really talk about it yet,” she says.. “It’s a bit of a return to my Super Finn style, with humour and everyday kids.”
