A.Fablehaven is about a brother and sister who discover their grandfather is the caretaker of a secret preserve for magical creatures. In the book, the enchanted sanctuary called Fablehaven is located in present-day Connecticut. I lived in Connecticut from eighth grade to my junior year of high school, and I believe it was the adventures I had in the woods around my home with my siblings that started my mind down the road to imagining the magical environment of Fablehaven.

Q. There are so many children’s fantasy books to choose from, what makes Fablehaven different from others?

A.I’m a big fan of fantasy, but I feel like sometimes the style of those books gets stuck in a rut. I loved Harry Potter because of the fresh voice in which it told a fantasy story. I think the feel of Fablehaven, the way the story is told and how the characters interact, is a big part of what makes it fresh and different. There is a lot of originality and imagination in Fablehaven; and enough depth to the story that adults can enjoy it along with kids. I also think the balance the book strikes between fantasy and reality is different from most fantasy books on shelves today.

Q. A message that reappears frequently in the book is that there are consequences for our actions. Why did you want to include this in your book?

A.An important part of any good book is characters dealing with the consequences of their decisions. This theme is particularly strong in Fablehaven, because the magical preserve exists thanks to rules and laws that keep its dangerous inhabitants in check. The main characters of Fablehaven (siblings Seth and Kendra along with the fairies, ogres, satyrs) are fairly adventurous, and at Fablehaven, when rules get broken, serious consequences follow…I hope people who read Fablehaven will meet characters they become interested in, and that they learn something from their journeys. And most of all I want people to enjoy the ride.

Q. Do you really believe in fairies, trolls, and imps?

A.When I’m writing about them, yes. The writer’s job is to believe the story so sincerely that it feels true.

Q. What adventures are up next for Kendra, Seth, and Fablehaven?

A.The second book is due out in 2007. I’m almost finished. All the main characters from the first book will return to face a huge threat to the safety of Fablehaven and to a secret artifact hidden on the preserve.

Q. You are crossing the country talking to students. What is your message for them?

A.Imagination can take you places. I mean that figuratively in the sense that your imagination can take you places you may never visit when you read and when you dream. And I also mean it literally, in that developing your imagination will contribute to greater success in virtually any endeavor you undertake.

Q. What one thing do you want readers to know about yourself?

A.I love telling stories. I give it everything I have.

Q. Where can people find a copy of Fablehaven?

A.Fablehaven is available at big chains like Barnes and Noble and Borders nationwide, as well as online at outlets like Amazon.com and Shadowmountain.com.
Biography:

Brandon Mull has worked as a comedian, a filing clerk, a patio installer, a movie promoter, a copywriter, and briefly as a chicken stacker. His favorite job is writing fiction, partly because making up elaborate lies has always come naturally. For a couple of years, he lived in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile where he learned Spanish and juggling. He currently lives on the side of a mountain above a prison with his wife and two children.

Fablehaven is Brandon’s debut novel. A fortune cookie once proclaimed he would become a New York Times bestselling author. It now hangs on his fridge.
Books: Fablehaven