One Wish Blog Tour: Michelle Harrison and The Magical History of Spinney Wicket

Today, we are thrilled to host a stop on the blog tour for Michelle Harrison’s newest book, fantasy middle grade novel One Wish, a prequel to her fantabulous 13 Treasures Series.

Here to share a poem about Spinney Wicket, the novel’s setting, please give a warm welcome to Michelle Harrison!

The Magical History of Spinney Wicket

The town of Spinney Wicket is a place that’s mighty fine
A seaside full of golden sand and air that smells like brine.
On the pier there’s candy floss and ice cream cones galore
With seagulls pecking fish and chips that’s fallen on the floor.

At the funfair waltzers whirr next to the carousel
And further up the street you’ll find the town’s old water well.
In the distance Spinney Castle’s flags fly high and proud
Climb the tallest towers to gaze out on sky and cloud.

But underneath the seaside smells and shouts that fill the air
There’s stuff you never dreamed of here that I’m about to share.
Not just the secret passage from the castle to the well
There’s magic in this town, you see, although it’s hard to tell.

I don’t just mean the Inbetween, though that’s pretty impressive
With ghosts that lost their way and rival witches most aggressive.
The portal’s hidden cleverly between the land and sea
And seasons there are jumbled up rather confusingly.

But that’s not the star attraction, there’s better magic still
For everyone who has a wish they’d like to see fulfilled.
That’s right! You heard me, make a wish! It surely will come true!
(As long as you accept the limitations put to you.)

You see that grand old elder there? It’s called the Wishing Tree.
It speaks in rhyme, sleeps half the time, and by the way . . . it’s me!
Spinney Wicket’s VIP, once just a wee young sprite
When farmers tried to cut me down – it gave me such a fright!

In my panic I explained that elders are enchanted
And promised if they spared me I would see their wishes granted.
Thank goodness they agreed and took their axes far away
But word soon spread and people still bring wishes every day!

They come and hang their wishes from my branches low and high
In jars and bottles dancing on the air below the sky.
There’s few with the ability to hear me when I speak,
To most my voice is little more than branches as they creak.

These days it can be weeks before I’ve uttered any word
There’s not much point when most of what I say will go unheard!
Yet, still there are a few who have what’s called the second sight
The power to see fairies, elves, and other things (like sprites).

So look between my branches, you’ll see knots and moss and leaves
As well as all the jars and bottles swaying in the breeze.
And whether there’s a craggy face, or nothing else to see
Your wish, once made, will soon come true – and all because of me!

About the Book:

Having the ability to see fairies means that Tanya Fairchild’s life has never been easy. After all, real fairies are nothing like the ones in books; ones that grant wishes or leave money for teeth. Real fairies don’t like to be talked about, and they cast spells if Tanya steps out of line. The most she’s ever received in exchange for one of her teeth is a chewed up toffee. Of course, it would help if Tanya knew someone – anyone – else who could see them, too …When Tanya meets Ratty, she finds not only that can he see fairies, but that he has a fairy friend, Turpin. Turpin is rude and spiteful, but funny and loyal too. When Ratty goes missing, Tanya discovers her new friend has another extraordinary ability; an ability that has the potential to destroy them both …

About the Author

Michelle Harrison is a full-time writer. She is a former bookseller and editorial assistant. Originally from Grays in Essex, she has a degree in illustration, and lives in Oxfordshire with her partner. Her debut novel THE THIRTEEN TREASURES won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize in 2009. She has since published two sequels, THE THIRTEEN CURSES and THE THIRTEEN SECRETS, as well as her teen novel UNREST. See more here.

Day 3 of Michelle Harrison’s Fairy Quest

To celebrate the publication of Michelle Harrison’s magical new novel, One Wish, Simon & Schuster Children’s has set up its very own fairy quest. To be in with a chance of winning a Thirteen Treasures goodie bag, all you have to do is visit each of the five blogs in the banner above over the course of this week.

Each blog will have one question associated with its content. Take the first letter from the answer of each of those questions to reveal the identity of a character in One Wish. For example…

If the answers each day were Red, Oak, Whisper, Apple and Night, the final answer would be ROWAN.

When you have the name of the character, please send your answer to childrensbooks@simonandschuster.co.uk with the subject header FAIRY QUEST. Entries will close at midnight on Wednesday 11th June.

The question you will need to answer is:

What would you climb to gaze out on sky and cloud?

GOOD LUCK.