SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: Magic Dark and Strange
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://powellkelly.com/
CITY:
STATE:
COUNTRY: Canada
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Female.
EDUCATION:University of Toronto, bachelor’s degree (history and book and media studies).
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
AWARDS:John Spray Mystery Award finalist, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2020, for Songs from the Deep.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
[new prose]
A Canadian writer, Kelly Powell is the author of the young-adult fantasy novels Songs from the Deep and Magic Dark and Strange. Both works are informed by her love of history, myth, and folklore, and have earned critical praise for their vivid settings and riveting plotlines.
In Songs from the Deep, Powell offers “a twisty, fairy-tale-like thriller,” according to Booklist reviewer Stacey Comfort. Moira Alexander has long been enchanted with the deadly sirens that haunt the sea around her island village. When the sirens are blamed for the death of a young boy and the residents of Twillengyle seek vengeance, Moira launches her own investigation into the matter with help from her childhood friend, Jude, the island’s lighthouse keeper. A contributor in Publishers Weekly applauded the “solid world-building, unforgettable characters, and well-paced plot,” and Quill & Quire reviewer Grace O’Connell stated that the novel “is driven by atmosphere; the mix of a murky island backdrop, suspenseful tone, and the strangely out-of-time historical setting is Guillermo del Toro-esque.”
Set during the Victorian Era, Magic Dark and Strange introduces seventeen-year-old Catherine Daly, a print shop worker who possesses the extraordinary ability to reanimate the dead, giving their loved ones a final chance to say farewell. When her boss assigns her the task of digging up a grave to retrieve a magical timepiece, Catherine inadvertently reawakens the body of a young man who springs fully to life but has no memory of his past life. Assisted by Guy Nolan, the watchmaker’s son, Catherine searches for answers surrounding the mysterious circumstances of the boy’s death. “Powell has a strong grip on the story, delivering just the right amount of chaos and spirited playfulness to keep readers guessing until the very end,” Heather Camlot observed in Quill & Quire. “Gothic in its texture and Dickensian in story, this will satisfy any mystery and magic reader,” remarked School Library Journal reviewer Connie Williams.
[end new prose]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2019, review of Songs from the Deep; September 1, 2020, review of Magic Dark and Strange.
Quill & Quire, November, 2019, Grace O’Connell, review of Songs from the Deep; November 1, 2020, Heather Camlot, review of Magic Dark and Strange.
Publishers Weekly, September 23, 2019, review of Songs from the Deep, p. 79.
Quill & Quire, November, 2019, Grace O’Connell, review of Songs from the Deep; November, 2020, Heather Camlot, review of Magic Dark and Strange.
School Library Journal, October, 2020, Connie Williams, review of Magic Dark and Strange, p. 84.
ONLINE
Kelly Powell website, https://powellkelly.com (March 1, 2021).
Nerd Daily website, https://www.thenerddaily.com (October 30, 2019), Nathalie DeFelice, “Q&A: Kelly Powell, Author of Songs from the Deep.“
Kelly Powell writes fantasy for young adults and currently lives in Ontario, Canada. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and book & media studies from the University of Toronto.
She is the author of SONGS FROM THE DEEP and MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE (October 2020). She is represented by Kristy Hunter of The Knight Agency.
Nathalie DeFelice·Writers' Corner·October 30, 2019·2 min read
Q&A: Kelly Powell, Author of ‘Songs From The Deep’
Kelly Powell Author Interview Songs From The Deep
SHARE
3
I recently had the pleasure of talking to Kelly Powell, author of Songs From the Deep, which releases on November 5th. It’s a melancholic yet beautiful story full of mystery as Moira and her best friend Jude work to solve a murder that has shaken the town, wrongly placing the blame on the mystical sirens. There’s so much to love about this story, with such a soft and sweet love interest. Jude Osric has won my heart and I have no doubt will win countless others, make sure you take a look and add it to your lists!
You can find Kelly on Instagram and Twitter, along with at her website.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind Songs From the Deep?
First, thank you so much for having me! I’ve always been interested in history, particularly the Edwardian era, which I used as inspiration for the setting. I also really love folklore and mythology, as well as cozy murder mysteries, so it was a matter of putting a lot of my favourite things into one book.
What was your path into publishing like, and could you tell us an aspect that you’ve really enjoyed from this experience?
Songs from the Deep isn’t the first book I wrote, but it’s one that’s very close to my heart. I spent a long time revising and querying it before signing with my wonderful agent, Kristy. She and my editor, Karen, understand my writing so well and always help me to do better. It’s honestly just a joy to work with them.
Could you tell us one of the characters in Songs From the Deep that you really related to while writing the story?
There are pieces of myself in both Moira and Jude, so I relate to both of them!
What is a tidbit about Songs From the Deep that might not have made it into the book that you would want readers to know?
Jude knits his own sweaters. I don’t think that detail made it into the final copy.
What are Jude and Moira’s favorite seasons? What would they be doing on a day like today?
The story takes place in autumn and it’s the season they both prefer. There aren’t many tourists on the island now that summer has ended, the winter storms haven’t started up yet. Moira would likely be tutoring a student in violin, and Jude would be keeping the light. They lead pretty quiet lives and they’re doing what makes them happy.
Name five things that Moira couldn’t live without?
The island, the sea, the sirens, her violin, Jude Osric.
See also
Byron Lane Author Interview
Writers' Corner
Q&A: Byron Lane, Author of ‘A Star Is Bored’
What would Jude’s fall Netflix lineup look like?
I think he’d really enjoy the home and garden shows. He’d definitely steer clear of the crime and mystery genres.
If you could live within the realm of Songs From the Deep, what would your occupation be?
I’d love to be a lighthouse keeper, so long as I could write in my spare time.
Do you have a secret WIP? Would you be willing to share five things from it?
My WIP is currently in edits, so I can’t share too much, but it’s another YA fantasy standalone. There’s magic, murder, a girl who prints obituaries, and a boy who works as a watchmaker.
What are your favorite reads at the moment?
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones are two of my favourite reads from this year. I highly recommend them!
Will you be picking up Songs From The Deep? Tell us in the comments below!
Author Interview with Kelly Powell
POSTED OCTOBER 31, 2019 BY AUSTINE IN INTERVIEW
Happy Halloween!! Today I’m welcoming author Kelly Powell to NovelKnight for an interview and a chance to learn more about her new book Songs from the Deep! This YA fantasy filled with deadly sirens releases this coming Tuesday, November 5, so make sure to pre-order or grab a copy from your favorite retailer!
ABOUT KELLY POWELL
Kelly Powell has a bachelor’s degree in history and book and media studies from the University of Toronto. She currently lives in Ontario. She is the author of Songs from the Deep and Magic Dark and Strange. Visit her online at PowellKelly.com or on Twitter @KellyCPowell.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Tumblr
INTERVIEW
You wrote a book! That’s pretty awesome. Why don’t you tell us a bit about what inspired Songs from the Deep?
Songs from the Deep is mainly inspired by my interest in history and folklore. I wanted to write a murder mystery in a fantasy setting.
Introduce us to your main character!
Moira Alexander is a young violinist who spends most of her time playing music by the cliffs of her island town and watching sirens on the shore below. When a boy is found dead on the beach, she endeavors to solve his murder alongside her childhood friend, the lighthouse keeper Jude Osric.
Lots of aspiring authors out there. Any advice for them?
Write the book you want to read, write what interests you, and write from the heart.
I know asking someone’s all-time favorite book is a loaded question so what’s your current favorite read?
The Bone Houses by Emily Lloyd-Jones! It’s a story steeped in Welsh mythology and so skillfully told. It was one of my most anticipated reads of 2019 and I completely adore it!
Alright, the ultimate question: why should we read your book?
If you’re a reader who enjoys murder mysteries, with a dose of fantasy, romance, and an autumnal, rain-soaked setting, I think you’ll like Songs from the Deep.
This morning you woke up with the ability to time travel to only one time period. Where (or more accurately “when”) would you go?
As long as I could travel back to our time, I’d love a peek into Edwardian Toronto!
Coffee or tea?
Tea! Though I do drink a fair amount of coffee as well.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Author Interview with Kelly Powell
SONGS FROM THE DEEP
by Kelly Powell
Published on November 5, 2019 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
A girl searches for a killer on an island where deadly sirens lurk just beneath the waves in this gripping, atmospheric debut novel.
The sea holds many secrets.
Moira Alexander has always been fascinated by the deadly sirens who lurk along the shores of her island town. Even though their haunting songs can lure anyone to a swift and watery grave, she gets as close to them as she can, playing her violin on the edge of the enchanted sea. When a young boy is found dead on the beach, the islanders assume that he's one of the sirens’ victims. Moira isn’t so sure.
Certain that someone has framed the boy’s death as a siren attack, Moira convinces her childhood friend, the lighthouse keeper Jude Osric, to help her find the real killer, rekindling their friendship in the process. With townspeople itching to hunt the sirens down, and their own secrets threatening to unravel their fragile new alliance, Moira and Jude must race against time to stop the killer before it’s too late—for humans and sirens alike.
POWELL, Kelly. Magic Dark and Strange. 208p. S. & S./MargaretK. McElderry Bks. Dec. 2020. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781534466081.
Gr 7 Up--In a deserted cemetery, on the darkest of nights, Catherine Daly is digging up a grave. Awaiting the opening of the casket is a young man hoping to speak once again with his beloved sister. Catherine steps aside and, using a magical talisman, gives him the hour he hopes for. Catherine works by day as the obituary printer for the newspaper and is often tasked to provide such services by her boss. One afternoon, she is assigned to open an unmarked grave to find the magical timepiece rumored to be buried within. Wanting help to identify the piece, she invites Guy Nolan, the son of a watchmaker known to have his own magic. When they open the grave, however, there is no timepiece, and when Catherine uses her magic to temporarily awaken the young man buried there to question him, he instead comes to life. Young Owen has no memory of his former life, but his wounds suggest murder. When Catherine returns to her boss he accuses her of stealing the timepiece, leaving her, Owen, and Guy racing to find the item before it can be used for evil. While their search takes them from the darkest corners of the cemetery to the halls of the rich, they also look for answers regarding Owen's identity, why he was murdered, and what connections they have to this timepiece and the magic it produces. Catherine and Owen are described as pale-skinned, and Guy has brown hair. VERDICT Catherine, Owen, and Guy live in a world where magic intermixes with the dark reaches of greed, wealth, and the possibility of resurrecting the dead. Gothic in its texture and Dickensian in story, this will satisfy any mystery and magic reader. --Connie Williams, Petaluma P.L., CA
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Williams, Connie. "POWELL, Kelly. Magic Dark and Strange." School Library Journal, vol. 66, no. 10, Oct. 2020, p. 84. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A638792810/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=39f383bf. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.
Powell, Kelly SONGS FROM THE DEEP McElderry (Young Adult Fiction) $18.99 11, 5 ISBN: 978-1-5344-3807-1
A young violinist takes on a murder case on an island surrounded by deadly sirens.
Moira Alexander lingers on the cliff's edge, playing her violin a safe distance from the sirens who dot the sea. Like her late father, she feels compelled to protect and understand the creatures that lure people to their deaths with their song. Most other islanders don't feel the same, however, regarding them only as necessary for tourism. Moira worries they'll turn against the sirens completely and lift the hunting ban introduced by her father. Now, a young boy has turned up on the beach with a slashed throat, and it's presumed to be the work of the sirens. But Moira believes otherwise. With the help of 19-year-old Jude Osric, the lighthouse keeper, Moira decides to solve the case. As they chase leads, the islanders show their disdain for Moira's love for the brutal sirens who claimed Jude's family and countless others. Threatening notes warn them to back off--and then another body turns up. As tensions rise, so do Moira and Jude's feelings for one another, no longer burdened by secrets. The atmosphere is as immersive as an island fog, with the alienlike sirens curious and sinister figures lying in wait. More time spent on the lore of the sirens could have buoyed this captivating tale into something truly magical. Major characters are presumed white.
An intoxicating blend of mystery and enchantment. (Fantasy. 14-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Powell, Kelly: SONGS FROM THE DEEP." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2019. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A597739277/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=796228fe. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.
Powell, Kelly MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE McElderry (Teen None) $18.99 10, 27 ISBN: 978-1-5344-6608-1
Catherine Daly is able to raise the dead, but her magic comes at a cost.
By day, 17-year-old Miss Daly works at a print shop in the city of Invercarn. By night, her employer, Mr. Ainsworth, tasks her and her roommate, Bridget, with providing a farewell service for people in the town. Catherine uses small amounts of blood magic to raise the recently deceased just long enough for mourners to say a brief, final goodbye. When Mr. Ainsworth asks her to dig up the contents of a mysterious unmarked grave in search of a magical timepiece, Catherine enlists the help of 18-year-old Guy Nolan, son of a local watchmaker. Together, they manage to not only dig up the grave in question, they also inadvertently raise the boy who was entombed there. The three of them work together to solve the mysteries surrounding the boy’s death—Owen, as the boy chooses to call himself, has little memory of his previous existence. As their investigations proceed, Catherine and Guy develop a romantic relationship. Simple language and light character development make this book, set in a world that evokes Victorian Britain, a quick and somewhat flat read. The plot, while straightforward, is enjoyable and will appeal to teen readers. All characters are White.
A lukewarm gothic fantasy with a slight touch of romance. (Fantasy. 12-18)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2020 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 8th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Powell, Kelly: MAGIC DARK AND STRANGE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2020, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A634467307/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=434c4a1f. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.