Literary Spotlight: Wil Radcliffe

Wil Radcliffe is the author of Noggle Stones, a young adult fantasy novel named one of the Best Young Adult Titles of 2008 by Midpoint Trade Books. Radcliffe won the David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship for a script and storyboards featuring his original character, the mad goblin scholar, Bugbear.

Q: What inspired you to write young adult fantasy?

A: Young adult fantasy was what I read growing up; J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, T.H. White and other British authors with initials for first names. I was also heavily influenced by comic books and television shows like Doctor Who, Dark Shadows and Kolchack: The Night Stalker. When I grew older I started getting into Douglas Adams, Terry Prachett and Monty Python. So humor was a big influence on my writing as well.

Q: You have said that you wrote the book as an answer to the many violent-soaked fantasy novels aimed at young readers. Can you elaborate on this? In what way can parents become involved with their children through your book?

A: It isn’t so much that I find other young adult fantasy novels violent or offensive. It’s more the kind of “might makes right” mentality we see overall in our society that I find a bit disturbing. I’m really hesitant to criticize too much, because, as I said earlier , I grew upon comic books, which are filled with all kinds of jaw-breaking violence. I love The Incredible Hulk and let’s face it, that dude is all about violence! But even though I don’t have any real problem with limited violence in young adult material, in order to stand out and be unique, I wanted my protagonists to be thinkers rather than brawlers. There is violence in Noggle Stones, but it’s typically seen as regrettable and unavoidable, rather than something glorious and fun.

Q: Which came first the characters or the book idea? Who draws the characters? What is your relationship with the artist?

A: The characters definitely came first. I created Bugbear when I was in Junior High. He’s changed a lot since then. He started out as a kind of mutated science experiment! But eventually he evolved into the goblin scholar we all know and love. And Manchester who started out as the scientist who created Bugbear, became a failed stage magician. The other characters kind of grew around those two… a love interest for Manchester, a comic foil for Bugbear, and a spunky kid to keep them all together. A variety of artists have drawn the characters over the years.

I drew them myself at first. But as I became more serious about proper marketing, I began contacting professional artists. Ernie Colon is probably the most recognizable, having been the primary artist on the /Richie Rich/ comic book for years. Theo Bain, Fabio Laguna, Eliseu Gouveia, and Ben Glendenning also provided some excellent promotional artwork for Noggle Stones. And recently George Broderick Jr. drew a great ashcan comic that we gave away at Book Expo America. And of course, Darrin Stephens did the outstanding cover for Noggle Stones. I've gotten tons of compliments about the cover.

Q: You are employed as the Creative Specialist at 3RiversArchery.com, the world's largest traditional archery supplier, where you are helping to develop a line of Noggle Stones youth archery products. Discuss how this aspect of marketing helps promote your book.

A: 3Rivers Archery has been very supportive of Noggle Stones. Not only did they produce the archery line, but they financed the production of a Noggle Stones board game, which we’ve been giving out a t book signings throughout the Midwest and in New York at BookExpo of America. When you get the world’s largest archery supplier backing a product line, you get noticed. It’s definitely helped with sales and with securing book signings and interviews.

Q: You recently signed with Alberta- based licensing firm, Cyclone Studios, to develop toys, action figures, and games based upon the novel. How did this happen? When will these toys hit the stores?

A: I actually approached Clayton Brown, head of Cyclone Studios, after reading a post of his on a message board for vintage action figures. Clayton has a lot of connections in the toy industry, so I thought he might be able to help me get a line of Noggle Stones toys started. He read Noggle Stones and immediately signed on as a licensing agent. However, the toy line isn’t going to be out for a while. We have had interest from several toy companies, but we want to make certain we make the right choice. NO rights have been sold as of yet.

Q: You signed copies of your book at the BookExpo of America in New York City this past May. How important is it for writers to engage in such events?

A: EXTREMELY important. Writing a book is really just the beginning of the process. A writer is constantly selling. Not just his book, but him or herself. Whether you’re trying to convince an agent or publisher to take a chance with you, or get a book signing line up. Or secure a licensing deal, it’s always about marketing, branding and selling. Book ExpoAmerica turned to be a great opportunity for me to meet representatives from libraries, schools, bookstores and the media. And that leas to the best kind of marketing possible – word of mouth.

Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact, Touching The Dead and Vampire Resurrection, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.