For immediate release
Genre-bending novel offers Harry Potter fans glimpse into the past
May 25, 2017: Toronto
The Harry Potter universe expands this week with the launch of a fan fiction novel, Before the Tide, that takes the reader on a wild ride through 11th century England. Historical fiction writer Christine Malec, has taken Rowling’s tantalizing hints about the fabled founders of Hogwarts, and fleshed them out into a layered, adventurous story.
Fan fiction, stories created in the fictional universe of another author, is an increasingly popular, and sometimes controversial genre. While a few authors do not condone the practice, Rowling has come out in support of it. According to BBC Online, Rowling is “flattered” that others want to write stories based on her characters. “In a sense,” says Malec, “fan fiction has been around as long as humans have told stories. A bard telling stories in an ancient Babylonian tavern was probably taking a popular tale and putting their own spin on it. The difference is that the internet offers a vastly expanded potential audience.”
Steeped in the lore of Rowling’s magical world, the novel reads as coherent historical fiction. While keeping one step ahead of the conquering army of William of Normandy, the four founders, from wildly different backgrounds, find themselves embarked on a quest of honor. On the road, they encounter seductive druidesses, people who aren’t what they seem, and a host of magical creatures to satisfy the most enthusiastic fans. “I got to wondering what the wizarding world might have looked like before the Ministry of Magic,” Malec says. “I got excited about some of my ideas, and wanted to write about them.”
In addition to the electronic text, Malec offers an audio version. “As a blind person and an enthusiastic reader,” Malec says, “I appreciate how much more satisfying it can be to read a book in a human voice rather than in a computer-synthesized voice, or in Braille. I wanted to offer this option to other blind readers, or to anyone else who prefers a somewhat more immersive experience.” Why invest so much time and energy into something that won’t generate revenue? Malec says, “Mostly for the creative satisfaction. The story started telling itself in my mind, and I wanted to bring it out into the world. If it invites readers to be interested in my other work, then that’s a happy bonus!”
Christine Malec is a historical fiction writer whose first novel, Beltane, received positive reviews. Her work, including a free download of Before the Tide, can be found here