Annie Atkins – Cackle Crackle available for pre-order
Witch hunting made easy
Annie’s new book – Cackle Crackle: Letters from the Witch – is due to be published in the UK in September, which we thought presented us with a good opportunity to find out more about it from Annie herself.
The story sees a group of children seeking help from five witches, just when those witches are getting ready for the annual Big Witch Convention. Will the witches find the time to help the children with their secret spells and how will the children know they’re not hoodwinked by witchy trickery? The story has been written in rhyme by Annie and features ten pull-out props created by Annie, including handwritten letters and spells. The book has been illustrated in watercolours by Colorado-based artist Taryn Knight. The book is published on 3 September and is available for pre-order now.
But before you order let’s hear from Annie:
Where did you get the idea for Cackle Crackle: Letters from the Witch?
My publisher suggested a book about witches writing letters, after the success of the North Pole book. I was working on the new Spielberg movie, Disclosure Day, at the time, researching old documents from the 1930s. I fell down a rabbit hole when I started reading Einstein’s letters. I found that all these old scientists were writing each other mail under the guise of scientific advancement – but the underlying feeling was that they were all just showing off! It made me think… If scientists can write like that to each other, then so can witches.
Is there a direct connection to the characters and story from your previous book Letters from the North Pole?
Not directly, although the books are definitely cousins. In both stories, children find hidden worlds through letters that make those worlds feel real. I love this kind of prop-based storytelling, where readers can hold the clues in their hands. Santa Claus and witches inhabit pretty different corners of mythology, but they both lend themselves nicely to that kind of immersive experience.
Had it always been an ambition to write books for children?
Yes, always. I’ve always written. The first novel I ever attempted was when I was eight years old – I wanted to write a book for teenagers to help them through adolescence. Which was pretty naive looking back now! It wasn’t until I had my own children that I actually finished a fiction manuscript. I do a lot of market research through my kids. We read tons of books together every week, so I’m well-versed in what hits the spot.
How much fun did you have creating all the ephemera that’s included in the book?
Way too much fun! Designing graphic props is my happy place. Every handwritten note, spell, signature and mysterious scrap of paper tells its own little story. I spend a huge amount of time thinking about things like ink colours, paper texture, folds, stains and handwriting styles. Those tiny details help convince the reader that these objects really belong to someone. There are spells about growing a garden from your head, instructions on how to control the weather, how to levitate… it was great fun.
Who were your own favourite writers as a child?
For picture books it was Judith Kerr, Richard Scarry, Shirley Hughes, Janet and Allan Ahlberg – I still read their stories to my kids now, they love them. And then for older kids I loved Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, Lois Lowry (especially Anastasia Krupnik!), Christopher Pike, Judy Blume, the Babysitters Club … I read so much as a child. I read everything I could get my hands on. My mum was a huge reader, too. And she loved to read out loud to me at bedtime, until I was well into my twelfth or thirteenth year. I loved escaping into stories and I still do.
Did you enjoy pop-up and other interactive books when you were growing up?
I had very few interactive books as a kid. We had the Jolly Postman, of course, and that was definitely one of the main inspirations for my series. My kids now have tons of pop-ups, but back in the 80s they were fewer and further between. One of my earliest memories is being carried crying out of a bookshop because my parents wouldn’t buy me a Spot the Dog book. They said lift-the-flaps were too expensive!
Why did you decide to write in rhyming verse?
I love reading rhyming books to my kids. That’s why I love Julia Donaldson books – at bedtime I want a story that zips along and feels good to read out loud. I was always pretty good at writing poetry when I was younger. I actually think it’s easier to write in rhyme than it is to write prose, sometimes. Put it like this: there are only two words in the English language that rhyme with “magic”, so if you’re writing a rhyming book of spells you’re going to have to use both of them. The more limited you are, the easier writing is!
Do you know any witches?
After spending a year making this book I am certifiably half-witch.
How did you come across Taryn Knight? What was it that attracted you to her work?
I was head over heels in love with Taryn’s work and I wrote most of the manuscript with her in mind as the illustrator. She has a pretty witchy sensibility, but it’s not the obvious Halloween style. It’s more nuanced. I wanted our witches to be a group of characters who were eccentric, funny, clever and a little bit mischievous. I liked the idea of ordinary children stumbling into their world and discovering that magic is never quite what you expect. Taryn had that in bucketloads, I was so happy when she said yes.
Do you already have ideas for your next book?
I’ve written two more books since. The first is another picture book in the series, Letters from Cupid, which is about a kid called Cupid Jones who’s grounded in her bedroom, and resorts to writing match-making love letters after she has her bow and arrow confiscated. The other is a novel for older kids, which hasn’t been announced yet. Both books will be packed with paper props and published by Magic Cat next year.
