The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards
The Great Fox Illusion is a fantastic glimpse into illusions and magic. We are so pleased to share a guest blog from Justyn Edwards, the author of this super book!
The Process Behind the Novel: How The Great Fox Illusion Came About
As a child, my parents would sometimes take me to Hamleys toy shop. It was always an incredible place to visit, filled with so many delights. But what always fascinated me the most, the part of the store that I would keep coming back to time and again, were the magic tricks. There would be a performer demonstrating the products, and I could happily stand for hours fascinated by what they were doing, but also know that I could spend some of my hard-earned pocket money and find out how the trick was done. I could do it too.
I’ve never forgotten that hook. Watching the trick, you know there is a simple solution, you know it’s right there in front of you, you’re looking at it, but it’s so cleverly put together you can’t quite work it out. That feeling is at the heart of The Great Fox Illusion. I realised that what holds your attention in a magic trick is the story the performer tells. The series of actions that make up the trick form a narrative. That flow and arc are essential to how a performance works. Then I realised that all stories are like magic tricks in that the author hides their secrets in the series of actions that make up the plot. They direct the reader’s attention and choose when to make the big reveals. That flow and arc are essential to how a book works too. So, that’s why I had to write The Great Fox Illusion. It’s an attempt to capture that feeling, that sense of wonder, that joy in being fooled, that nagging hope that you can work out how it’s done, that thrill in the mystery, that desire to know the answers that are right under your nose. I hope you get those same feelings as you open the book and start to read.
The Great Fox Illusion is published by Walker Books and is available now!