Jaclyn Moriarty’s new book, A Corner of White, is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge, England. It’s also the story of a boy named Elliot who lives in another world – the Kingdom of Cello – a world like ours in many ways, but with some very drastic differences. For instance, no one you know has ever been killed by a Purple, have they?
‘Cello’ is pronounced ‘chello’—like the musical instrument. Not long ago, my brother-in-law told me he’d been assuming it was pronounced ‘sello’, and that I was writing a trilogy about the Kingdom of Cellophane (called ‘Cello’ for short). For a moment I thought about starting again. The Kingdom of Cellophane would be such a lovely, thin, transparent Kingdom, so crinkly and crackly, so perfect for crafts and hampers, and so impervious to air, oil, grease and bacteria (making it ideal for wrapping food)! But it was too late. I’d already written several pages of notes about the Kingdom of C(h)ello.
A lot of people ask why I decided to name the Kingdom after a musical instrument. The answer is that I just like the word Cello. The musical instrument didn;t come into it at all.
However, one day I was working on the trilogy in a café. A neighbour stopped by my table and saw the word ‘Cello’ on my notes.
‘Cello!’he said. ‘Now that’s a beautiful instrument.’ (Everyone says this.)
I explained that I was writing a trilogy set partly in a Kingdom called Cello, and partly in the real world, but that the musical instrument did not come into it at all. My neighbour must not have been concentrating.
I think he was lost in reverie about his days as a cellist in his school orchestra. He began to talk about those days. He talked about Bach’s cello suites, the merits of the various recordings thereof, his favourite living cellists etc, etc.
‘I have some books about the cello,’ he finished up. ‘If you want to borrow them for your research?’ There was a pause while I considered repeating that my trilogy had nothing to do with the musical instrument.
‘All right,’ I said. ‘That’d be great.’
So I read several books about the musical instrument. (I need to give them back. I haven’t seen that neighbour for years, but he recently ‘friended’ me on facebook, which I think must mean he wants them back.) I found out that the cello has a soul, and that the bow of the cello is made from the hairs of wild white horses. I started listening to various cello recordings on youtube. I decided that the rare and magical wind that blows through the Kingdom of Cello has a sound exactly like the instrument.
I also decided, not long ago, that I could not write a trilogy about a Kingdom called Cello without learning to play it myself. The decision came to me while I was in the shower. I got out of the shower, went straight to my computer, and bought a cello on ebay. Now I take lessons with a local Polish cellist. So far, my playing is the precise opposite of beautiful. I practise every day. The people who live downstairs from me have just put their apartment on the market. Might be unrelated.
The Kingdom of Cello is composed of six named provinces, and one undisclosed province. On the plus side, the Kingdom boasts (in its northern, ice-bound province) a Lake of Spells where you can fish and dive for spells; drifting seasons and mountain ranges; and a butterfly child with a talent for farming who is small enough to fit into a locket.
On the down side, you are always at risk, in Cello, of a clandestine attack from Wandering Hostiles, or of a more open, direct, ‘tear-you-to-pieces’ sort of attack from a Colour storm.
The world has not had contact with the Kingdom of Cello since the 17th century. All records of the Kingdom have either been lost or destroyed and, to the best of my knowledge, it is not covered in a single high-school geography syllabus. There is not even a Wikipedia entry for it.
Thank you so much, Jaclyn! I love getting insight into the inspiration for the worlds that authors create.
Don’t forget to visit today’s other tour stop at Hobbitsies where Jaclyn is talking about Require-These Reds.
I’ve got a wonderful red-themed prize pack to give away!
Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter! (US Residents only)
Find out more about Jaclyn Moriarty and A Corner Of White!
Website
Facebook
Jaclyn Moriarty is the prize-winning, best-selling author of novels for young adults and adults including Feeling Sorry for Celia and The Year of Secret Assignments. Jaclyn grew up in Sydney, lived in England, the US, and Canada, and now lives in Sydney again. She is very fond of chocolate, blueberries, and sleep.
Keep exploring the world of Cello by visiting the other wonderful tour stops!
Wednesday, March 20th: Jaclyn is stopping by My Friend Amy’s Blog and Presenting Lenore is “Yearning For Yellows” on The Colors of Madeleine tour!
LOve the mug and journal! Cannot wait to read A Corner of White~
Sounds awesome!! Thanks!
Ohhh, must read now =D
What a neat interview! I’m so impressed that your imaginary kingdom prompted you to learn the cello!
After reading all about the Kingdom of Cello, I think I might have found what will quickly become one of my top three’s for 2013. I love when I read how a story came to be and the things that happened along the way to keep it going. I also find it really cool (for lack of better word, it’s Monday and I’m slacking on the coffee having only downed one cup thus far, my vocabulary and typing skills are barely at working capacity) when something can spark an interest that leads to another interest that leads to learning something brand new bring about a whole world of knowledge that opens so many more opportunities. Meaning the Cello leading to learning the histories of the instrument, leading to learning to play it, etc. Lol, I need more coffee to get the brain to actually work now but I really enjoyed this interview (I already loved this blog although I think this might have been the first time I posted on it) and have written down the author and book because I think I must read this! Thanks!
Shelly H.
booski24@hotmail.com
It is so so cool that she learned how to play just for the book! It sounds like an awesome read:)
Thank you:)
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I just finished A Corner of White last week and I think it’s remarkable. I love the mix of fantasy and realism, the voices of the main teen characters, the idea of attacking colors is genius (and a bit disturbing given my feelings about color.) I love the shifts JM presents in her writing; she’s a favorite of mine.
I’m quite intrigued by this book and that all these stops are colour themed! I LOVE Jaclyn’s other books and the idea of a Cello Kingdom.
Sounds like a great read!
Cute giveaway and just LOVE hearing what the author was thinking (and how that changed) as she wrote.
Okay, so one of Moriarty’s characters was my first book crush in high school. I made all my passwords a refrence to him and I am so tickled to see she has a new book.
I just LOVE the giveaway package your giving away!! I so, so love journals! I don’t know why:) The book sounds really GOOD! I haven’t heard of it before but glad I found out about this book here on your blog. Thank you so much for having such an awesome and very generous giveaway!!!
Sounds like a really good read!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Such a cute giveaway!! This book sounds so adorable 🙂
If the humor in The Corner of White is anything like the humor in this guest post, I think I’m going to love it. The Kingdom of Cello sounds fascinating! And way to go starting the cello! It’s a beautiful instrument. 😉
Jaclyn Moriarty is the only author whose books I always know I’m going to love. Really looking forward to this one.
Love getting this insight into the world of Cello (and I totally thought of the instrument at first too, I can’t help it, I play :D). I’m really excited to read my copy of this now. Great guest post, thanks for sharing!
I’ve really wanted to read Ms. Moriarty’s book, doubly so now that I’ve read this post. I know the kingdom of Cello has nothing to do with the instrument, but the instrument is GORGEOUS. Gah. Second only to the violin, in my opinion.
This looks awesome! 🙂
Can’t Wait to read this book!
Andrea G
This one’s been on my TBR list for awhile. It looks so good!
I like how the tour is rainbow-themed!
I love hearing the inspiration for a novel. And that’s a gorgeous cover!
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