Briefly tell us about your book.
Dragon Skin is the story of a slightly sad girl named Pip who finds something remarkable in a waterhole; a tiny injured magical creature. A dragon. Pip embarks on a journey to save this little creature and in doing so rescues both herself and her mother. Dragon Skin is a magical story about the transformative power of friendships, grief and resilience, heartbreak and hope. And, of course, baby dragons and what you need to save them.
Who is your favourite character in the book? Who are you most similar to?
I love Pip so much. She’s a real mix of things, tough but tender, damaged but strong. She’s so resilient. I love that she chooses to believe, that she chooses to not give up, on the dragon she calls Little Fella, or on herself and her mum. There’s a lot of Pip that reminds me of myself, especially her love of nature and the outdoors. I grew up in the same town as Pip, Mount Isa, and spent a lot of time exploring the Leichhardt River, the bush and the hills around where I lived. Like Pip,I felt really connected to that place. It seemed like such a magical place to me. And, I totally loved the idea of magic, any kind of magic.
How does this book compare to your other books?
It’s so hard to compare my books; they are all different from each other. I’ve gone from YA literary fiction with a twist of mystery, to fantasy in snowy cities, to Victorian era magical London, to a family drama in America, and now to magical realism in outback Mount Isa. I just follow whatever is in my heart. It’s the only way I know how to write. I start with a tiny seed of an idea: a memory, a character’s face, or a place, and I go from there. Writing can be such a strange and mysterious process, sometimes wonderful, other times completely frustrating. Dragon Skin contains a different sort of magic to any that I’ve written before, deeper maybe, and can be read at different levels. It’s beautifully simple and complex at the same time.
What inspired the idea behind the book?
I was thinking a lot about the place where I grew up, Mount Isa, way out in the middle of nowhere. It’s an amazing place, really rugged, and beautiful. I was thinking a lot about that place and the kind of childhood I had there, which was one full of freedom. We ran wild, exploring what we called ‘the creek’ which was the dry Leichhardt River, climbing hills, and riding our bikes for kilometres. I also really love thinking about magic. All sorts of magic but especially the possibility of magic in the ordinary everyday world. I wondered how I could combine these two things; a harsh outback mining town and a magical creature. I kept seeing an image of a girl sitting near a small waterhole at dusk. A girl who was going to find something incredible. That’s how the story started.
What are you hoping readers will take away from your book?
I wrote Dragon Skin in the hope that it would be an enjoyable page-turning fantasy story that asks the question – what do you need to rescue something? Is it weet-bix, tinned spaghetti and arrowroot biscuits? Is it love, friendship, hope and resilience? I also wanted to write a story that shone a light on domestic violence and the strength that is required to escape toxic relationships. These themes are not often visited in children’s literature but they are incredibly important. It’s so vital that these issues are discussed and not hidden. I really wanted to add my voice to this conversation in the only way I know how, through story, and I hope Dragon Skin might also spark conversations in the classroom or in the home. I also loved writing the friendships in this book. Pip is not alone on this journey, she finds strengths through two new friends, Laura and Archie, as well as her beloved friend Mika, a steady voice in her ear. I hope that readers take away the message that there is always someone who will help. But lastly, Dragon Skin is a story about resilience, and the main message that it imparts is never ever give up on hope.
Karen Foxlee spent most of her adult life working as a registered nurse while pursuing her secret dream of becoming a writer.
Her young adult novels The Anatomy of Wings and The Midnight Dress have been published internationally to much acclaim. Her books for younger readers include the much loved classic Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy, as well as A Most Magical Girl and the multi-award winning Lenny’s Book of Everything.
Her new children’s novel, Dragon Skin, is out now. Buy a copy here.
Karen Foxlee’s insights into storytelling are inspiring! Her creativity parallels the addictive gameplay of brick breaker, where every level presents new challenges and triumphs.