CREATIVE CUTS - Fantasy trilogy

A magical encounter with owls in the foothills of the Glass House Mountains is the inspiration behind author Jayne McIntyre's debut middle-grade fantasy trilogy, The Feathers of Farwood and The Gripps Curse, releasing nationally on March 17.

The first book in the series will be available across Australia, including at Rosetta Books in Maleny. Jayne plans to visit local schools and libraries across the Sunshine Coast and beyond to engage with young readers on the craft of storytelling, and weaving interesting animal facts into fiction.

The Feathers of Farwood and The Gripps Curse follows the story of Eva Feather, whose father is transformed into an owl by the dreaded Gripps. Her mother whisks Eva and her sisters away to the mysterious Australian town of Farwood, a place where legends, tales, and whispers come to life. With the help of her newfound friend, Harvey, Eva races against the clock to find a cure for their feathery, family curse, before she loses her dad to his owlish form forever. Not to mention her own feathers are starting to show…

Jayne’s up-close encounter with owls (including: Eastern Barn Owl, Masked Owl, Barking Owl, and Boobook) thanks to local business Raptor Vision in Beerburrum last year deeply influenced the authenticity of the birds' behaviours and their environment in the story.

“There’s something truly magical about watching an owl take flight,” Jayne said. “I wanted every glide, gaze, and beak click to feel real on the page.”