Jayne McIntyre

 

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Today's Author Sit-Down is with Jayne McIntyre, the author of The Feathers of Farwood.

I asked Jayne five inquisitive questions about her debut novel.

1. Please give us a high concept (25 words or fewer) that encapsulates your book, The Feathers of Farwood.

This magical, middle-grade adventure follows Eva Feather’s search for a cure after her father is turned into an owl by the mysterious Gripps.

2. Tell us about your experience with real life owls.

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to participate in a ‘wildlife experience’ with owls in Beerwah, on the Sunshine Coast. Run through a local rehabilitation and education centre, the activity allowed me to have these magnificent birds of prey fly and land on my arm.

It was the perfect opportunity to get up close with Aussie owls, including the Eastern Barn Owl with its heart-shaped face, aptly-named Barking Owl (yes – they really do make a barking sound!), Masked Owl, and Boobook Owl.

While my writing incorporates magic and folklore, it was important for me to capture the realistic features and behaviours of owls: from the way they turn their heads (270 degrees, to be exact), to snatching food mid-flight, and the placement of their sharp talons. I wanted all this to feel authentic on the page.

3. Why owls? When did you become interested in these feathery little folk?

I loved reading about witches, wizards, and magical lands in storybooks when growing up. And there would always be ‘the owl’ – wise, mysterious, delivering secret letters, and normally found perched on the edge of a bubbling cauldron.

Owls pop up again and again in children’s literature, and I think they bring something special to every story.

When I wrote The Feathers of Farwood (which started as a single manuscript but quickly grew into a planned trilogy), I had a vivid image/idea in mind: what if a person turned into an owl? Then, what if they had an owlish family too? What if it had to be kept a secret? It was the perfect starting point – and the story and plot bloomed from there.

Why Australian owls specifically? I think it’s nice for readers, especially kids, to see familiar landscapes and wildlife in the stories they read. At the same time, I believe my story will appeal to broader audiences beyond Australia. 

Plus, owls are very interesting and remarkable creatures. I learned this during my wildlife experience, where they had their own, varied personalities.

Just don’t call a Tawny Frogmouth an owl, it might get offended! Contrary to popular belief, they belong to the frogmouth family, Podargidae. You’ll find quite a few owlish facts (some surprising, some gross) in my books.

4. How do you incorporate writing into your everyday life?

By day, I’m a marketing manager and a busy mum of two. Writing doesn’t just happen when inspiration strikes. I like (and need) to have a schedule. This might mean writing a bit each night, even if it’s just editing something from the day prior.

To balance the (many, many) hours at my desk, I run and spend time in nature (like hiking or walking the dogs). It’s all part of the creative process. Jogging helps me clear my thoughts and untangle plot holes, and the sights and sounds of the beautiful Sunshine Coast often spark new ideas.

5. Thinking about your next book... who (or what) will be the main character?

Eastern Barn Owls feature in the first instalment of The Feathers of Farwood trilogy. In the second and third books, I will highlight other types of owls (and animals).

As Eva digs deeper into her father’s feathery predicament, the tangled past of those ‘cursed’ by the Gripps begins to unravel.

Farwood’s a bit of a whimsical town, with Round the Twist vibes. There are lots of colourful characters with their own motivations and secrets.

The Feathers of Farwood, Book One, takes flight in March 2026. But the world of Farwood is just the beginning. I have plenty of other ideas in store to (hopefully) entertain and inspire middle-grade readers.

Thanks, Jayne! I should think your story will appeal to older readers too... in fact, you and I would probably get along. I'm also the mother of two, though mine are grown up, and I also love walking, especially with dogs. I also plot while out and about and keep a schedule!

One of my favourite owls from fiction is Glimfeather from the Narnia series.

 hope my readers have enjoyed hearing about Jayne's writing. If you are a reader and/or writer, and would like to chat about your books or someone else's, drop me a note as sallybyname(at)gmail.com with Author Sit-Down in the subject line.