Interview with Pirates of Darksea author Catherine Doyle!

Interview with Catherine Doyle

Meet Catherine Doyle, an award-winning author who has written books like the epic The Storm Keeper’s Island series – and the new swashbuckling adventure Pirates of Darksea, which is out now in all good bookshops!

NGK: Hi Catherine! Please tell us a bit about Pirates of Darksea…

Catherine: Pirates of Darksea is about eleven-year-old Max Reid, who receives an invitation to join the crew of the legendary Pirate King Captain O’Malley, and sail across the horizon to the magical land of Darksea. But the surprise quest is far bigger than anything Max bargained for. It’s the first adventure he’s ever been on without his older brother, Christopher, who is back home, battling an illness. And Darksea has never been more dangerous. The magic there is dwindling and all of its islands are being gobbled up by a mysterious monster ship…

With the help of his crewmate Ruby and a sarcastic parrot called Squawk, Max fights to save Darksea and restore its magic, in the hopes that he might be able to find a way to save his brother back home too. But in Darksea, not everyone is as they seem. When Captain O’Malley’s secret threatens to upend their mission and destroy Max’s chance to help his family, Max realises he’s going to have to navigate much more than he bargained for…

NGK: Can you introduce us to the main characters in the book and what makes them stand out?

Catherine: In going on an adventure that technically wasn’t meant for him, Max is stepping into his older brother’s shoes for the first time in his life, and trying on the bravery that Christopher has always worn so effortlessly. For Max, this is a story about facing your fears, and finding out just how far you’d go for the person you love most in the world. He’s not your typical hero, but he’s a brilliant brother!

Ruby is Max’s stalwart best friend – she’s clever, funny and loyal. She helps Max come out of his shell and adds some rollicking fun and mischief to the story.

Squawk is the sassy, sarcastic parrot who lures Max onto Captain O’Malley’s pirate ship in the first place. On the surface, he’s brash and mouthy, but deep down, he has a heart of gold. He provides some much needed comic relief, and was my favourite character to write.

NGK: What inspired you to write a book about pirates?

Catherine: I come from a long-line of seafarers (not pirates… I hope!). My grandfather was a sea captain for over sixty years, and as a child, I spent a lot of time on his ship. I’ve always loved being at sea. It feels wild and magical and exciting. I’ve also always loved stories about pirates – particularly Peter Pan and Treasure Island.

NGK: How did you go about creating the world of Darksea?

Catherine: To make Darksea really come alive, I gave it special myths and legends, like Cetos, the great star shark that fell from the sky and scattered magic across the sea. Then I added the islands, one by one, and tried to make each one feel utterly unique and special, like Aristo, for example, which is inspired by ancient Greece, and Turtle Roost, which is made up of hundreds of giant (cranky) slumbering turtles!

NGK: Were there any specific historical pirates that inspired elements of your story?

Catherine: Captain O’Malley’s name was directly inspired by the notorious Irish Pirate Queen Gráinne O’Malley, who was a fierce leader at sea and a shrewd politician on land. In life, O’Malley was brash and bold and completely fearless at a time when a lot of women didn’t even have a voice. I admire her for that.

What do you hope readers will take away from the book?

Catherine: At its heart, this is a story about bravery, brotherhood, and resilience. I hope it shows that, even in the darkest of times, when you feel too afraid to go on, hope will always shine out to light a pathway forward. Courage begins with a single step.

NGK: What important advice would you give to someone who wants to become an author like you in the future?

Catherine: Read, read, read, as much and as often as you can!

NGK: What was your favourite book as a child?

Catherine: I loved The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, and Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

NGK: And lastly, if you were a pirate – what would your pirate name be?

Catherine: Captain Cutlass. I’d carry around a big shiny sword that’s actually hopelessly blunt and only good for cutting cake

NGK: Arrrrrr! Thanks for talking to us, Catherine!

Pirates of Darksea is out now – available from Waterstones and all good booksellers.

Cover illustration ©Manuel Šumberac

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