The Hawkweed Prophecy is the debut novel from Irena Brignull who also happens to have written some pretty amazing scripts.
The Hawkweed Prophecy, written by renowned screenwriter Irena Brignull (The Boxtrolls, Shakespeare in Love, The Little Prince) is a new Young Adult tale about the power of sisterhood, fate, and magic.
Amanda M. Murray, Editorial Director of Weinstein Books tells us what makes The Hawkweed Prophecy so special, “Reading The Hawkweed Prophecy for the first time was like falling into a richly-detailed storybook world — I think of it as a modern fairytale. Poppy and Ember are two teenage misfits whose lives are forever intertwined after a chance meeting in the woods. The novel brilliantly captures the essence of friendship, and the struggles we all face when setting out on our path in life. These fascinating characters are just discovering their powers, both metaphoric and literal; they stayed with me long after I finished reading, and when that happens I know the story will resonate with other readers.”
About ‘The Hawkweed Prophecy’
Poppy Hooper and Ember Hawkweed couldn’t lead more different lives. Poppy is a troubled teen: moving from school to school, causing chaos wherever she goes, never making friends or lasting connections. Ember is a young witch, struggling to find a place within her coven and prove her worth. Both are outsiders: feeling like they don’t belong and seeking escape.
Poppy and Ember soon become friends, and secretly share knowledge of their two worlds. Little do they know that destiny has brought them together: an ancient prophecy, and a life-changing betrayal. Growing closer, they begin to understand why they’ve never belonged and the reason they are now forever connected to each other.
Switched at birth by the scheming witch Raven Hawkweed, Poppy and Ember must come to terms with their true identities and fight for their own place in the world. Enter Leo, a homeless boy with a painful past who – befriending them both – tests their love and loyalty. Can Poppy and Ember’s friendship survive? And can it withstand the dark forces that are gathering?
Describe your novel in five words.
Friendship, magic, family, love, coven
Where did the idea for The Hawkweed Prophecy come from?
I had just finished working on The Little Prince movie and was on holiday. (The best ideas seem to come when I stop trying so hard to think of them!) One day, sitting in the sunshine with my daughter, I started sketching (very badly) two girls — one a witch, the other a normal teenager — who had been switched at birth.
Tell us five random facts about yourself.
- I’m half Greek and I spend every summer on a beautiful Greek island.
- I have a phobia of filling in forms. (Trying my best to conquer it for this one.)
- When I was a kid, I dreamed of winning Wimbledon one day.
- I have a golden lab called Crosby.
- I eat a bit of dark chocolate every day. Not good!
What one YA novel do you wish you had when you were a teen?
Rainbow Rowell’s Eleanor and Park. Such an honest, unsentimental description of teen love would have been a real comfort back then.
What is the writing process like for you?
A joy. It’s my escape from all my endless mum duties. (I love you, kids)
If I weren’t a writer I would be…?
A film exec — my old job before getting the nerve up to try and write something of my own.
If I could have one supernatural power it would be…?
Witchcraft. Having written so much about it, I’d love to try a spell or two.
My hollywood crush is…?
My husband…when he’s a tourist in LA. (And Gregory Peck.)
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