Charlie Archbold has been a teacher in Australia, the UK, and Indonesia, which has given her a trove of experiences to infuse into her stories. Charlie’s books often explore themes of curiosity, community, and justice. Today we’re chatting to Charlie about the second book in her adventure series: The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage.
The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a reading copy of The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage.
From the publisher:
Gloria the talkative eclectus parrot is missing from the animal sanctuary, and Anna the massive ‘not an anaconda’ Australian scrub python has vanished from her enclosure at the library. Have they escaped? Or were they stolen? Andy, Eli, Harvey and the twins, Bernie and Fletch, along with Eli’s trusty sausage dog Washington, have their eyes on a prime suspect. Can the Sugarcane Kids follow the clues to discover what is going on?
The Sugarcane Kids are good at solving mysteries. When you’re starting a new mystery book, do you work out the whole plot (including the end/solving the mystery) before you begin the first draft? Or do you prefer not to plan – and to solve the mystery alongside your characters instead?
I always start with an idea of the feeling and themes I would like my readers to take away. I especially like to round off or echo the beginning and end so the story has a symmetry. How I get there though is a bit of a journey. I unravel the mystery with the characters. The balancing out of the story then becomes my focus in later drafts. It is really fun not knowing how a choice you make as a writer will affect the story. One thing leads to another and that is the best bit.
Your series is set in Queensland – is there a particular reason you’ve chosen Queensland?
Queensland is a special place to me, especially the far north. I spent time working there when I was in my twenties and then twenty years later. It is always the place I choose to visit. It is a magical place. Full of ancient rainforest and turquoise sea. I also set my books there because it is a regional non-urban area. Many books are set in cities but I like to set my books in unusual places.
At the centre of this mystery is Gloria the eclectus parrot. Have you seen an eclectus parrot in the wild?
I have been lucky to see both a male and female in the wild. They are so gorgeous, cheeky and clever. I have also met some close up in wildlife parks. My aunt had a pet parrot for years called Bird. He really made an impression on me.
Do you have a tip for young writers who want to try writing a mystery story?
Start with a problem or situation that needs to be solved. I suggest dropping your characters straight into the problem. Decide how you want it to end. Is the mystery solved or left undone? I like my mysteries to be solved. If you are a plotting person you can then plot and write. If you are not a plotter, jump on in and see where the story leads you but be prepared to rewrite it.
Can you tell us a bit about your next writing project?
I have a new Sugarcane Kids mystery coming out in 2025, which I am extremely excited about, The Sugarcane Kids and the Mystery at Angel Bay. This time the characters are heading out onto the Great Barrier Reef to find out what has happened to Jerry, a massive Queensland Groper fish.
The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library.
AWESOME EXTRAS
Read Chapter 1 (look for a ‘Preview this book’ link under the photo of the cover)
Check out Charlie Archbold’s website for more about her and her books
alphabetsoup.net.au 