Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere – A Q&A with Ruth Lauren

Posted in Author/Illustrator Posts on Thu, 2 March at 9.41 am

When Tourmaline’s mother goes missing on a search for precious artefacts, Tourmaline sets off to find her with her best friend George, her new friend (former foe) Mai and her limitless determination. On their adventure, they encounter a band of female pirates, a maze of talking trees and a series of challenges that test the children and their friendship. But will it be enough to reunite Tourmaline with her mother?

The first book in a fun, feminist fantasy adventure series, with a protagonist that flies off the page and into readers’ imaginations. Perfect for fans of Katherine Rundell, Vashti Hardy and Abi Elphinstone.

If you’d like to find out more about the author behind Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere, check out Ruth Lauren’s Q&A below:

What is Tourmaline and the Island of Elsewhere about?

 It’s about a very determined girl who has to launch a rescue mission when her intrepid explorer mother goes missing. It’s also about friendship and thinking about right and wrong and how it’s not always straightforward to tell the difference – but mostly it’s a fun adventure.

Tell us a bit more about the world Tourmaline lives in?

Tourmaline has lived all of her life in Pellavere University where her mother works as an artefact hunter, but she’s about to burst out into a much bigger world where she’s going to sail the seas, discover a very strange island and learn that magic exists.

What are you most excited to share with readers of your new children’s book?

 I really hope readers will love Tourmaline and her friends (and possible foes) and I can’t wait for them to meet a certain Captain and explore the very unusual island of Elsewhere. And last, but definitely not least, I’m excited to share the beautiful and striking cover by artist Sharon King-Chai. It’s stunning!

What children’s books would you recommend to young readers that have entertained and inspired you? 

So many! I’ll restrict myself to a few favourites I’ve read very recently. For the most wonderful fantasy, I loved Utterly Dark by Philip Reeve, the Monsters of Rookhaven books by Padraig Kenny and Gallant by V.E. Schwab. The Five Realms series by Kieran Larwood is brilliant. Anything by Lucy Strange is fantastic, as is Hilary McKay. And two very different books I enjoyed for very different reasons – When the Sky Falls by Phil Earle and Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans. I’ll leave it there or I’ll be recommending books forever.

Any tips for aspiring writers?

Read. Read everything. Read all the time. Nothing will make you a better writer than reading. And when you start writing, keep going. If you want to be a writer, you have to be very persistent and never give up – a bit like Tourmaline!