The Border Lord

2010-05-25T16:08:00.001-07:00

I'm playing around with a new site. You'll be re-directed automatically... Hang on in there...

2009-04-29T17:35:00.000-07:00

Megan Fletcher has never walked away from a fight in her life.

But when she finds herself mixed up in a world of ancient myths, elemental creatures and magic swords, she’ll have to rely on more than her fists to survive.

When she is exiled to the countryside, Megan expects nothing more exciting than perhaps dying from boredom. That’s before she is saved from drowning by the mysterious Smith, picks up a magical sword and discovers that she’s been chosen to be The Border Lord – the one person responsible for stopping the world descending into chaos. Only problem is, no one seems especially happy about the fact.

Megan has to learn to master the elements as well as handle a sword. But what has she got to lose? For the first time, Megan has a reason to live. And she’s not going to give that up without a fight.

After over a decade as an advertising copywriter, specialising in writing for the video game market, I know that young adults love nothing more than a story of magic and menace. Which is why I believe they will be drawn to The Border Lord.

A complete manuscript at 62,000 words, The Border Lord is an urban fantasy novel, in the tradition of Alan Garner but with the modern edge of writers like Anthony Horowitz or Rick Riordan. It is the first in a planned series of six books, each continuing Megan’s journey through the fantastical realms of air, earth, fire and water.

You can read the first three chapters hereIf if you want to get in touch, drop me an email

Getting into the head of 60 teenage girls

2009-03-30T12:58:00.000-07:00

Writing is such a solitary pursuit. You sit in small rooms, dreaming up stories, always hoping that the people you are writing for (in my case young adults) might just maybe, if you're lucky, like what you are writing.

So, I was beyond delighted when I had the opportunity to find out what not just one young adult, but 60 young adults, thought about The Border Lord.

It was pretty simple really. I emailed my local school, Gumley House, and asked the head mistress if there was anyway that I might be able to get some feedback on my book from the girls. She was kind enough to put me in touch with the Head of English.

I was expecting, at best, to email the first chapter to the school and see what they thought. But the Head of English had bigger plans. She asked me to do a whole day of workshops with three of her English classes. Each class had read not just the first pages, but the first five chapters! And I got to pick their brains on what they thought.

To say I was blown away by their response is an understatement. Their excitement and enthusiasm for my book was more than I have been able to put into words. There just aren't enough clichés to cover it. It was staggering, overwhelming, mind-boggling. I walked in to the school a nervous wreck, not sure what to expect from a bunch of keen and brutally honest teenagers, and walked out like I'd just won the Carnegie Medal.

What did they think? Well, in short they loved it. One girl said she had never been gripped by a book like she was The Border Lord, an other couldn't wait to read the next four books (she was quite adamant that's how many there had to be) and they all had big plans for coming to the opening night of the film.

I've made this website as a place for them to get in touch, and keep up-to-date on what's happening with the book. Most of the comments above and below are from those girls (although, I think a couple of adult fans found their way here, too).

I just want to thank the girls and their teachers for their time, their energy and their support. It means the world to me.

I hope to see you all soon, with those promised signed copies!

Kim x