Was this something you always thought about when you watched Peter Pan, or if not, how did this theme come about? They generally seem to be opposite ends of the scale and yet they often intersect or even switch roles in this story. And herself in the process!Īnother key theme that sat with me throughout the book is the divergence between dreams and reality. In the book Wendy literally changes the geography of Never Land-forever-with her stories. The relationship Wendy has with Never Land (in the movie) is intriguing: was she merely reciting events to her brothers that already happened there, that she knew about? Or was she making up stories about Never Land (and Peter Pan) that would then come true? I would say SOTM is less a story in a story than an exploration of the transformative power of storytelling. How do you effectively tell a story within a story? What are the pros and cons of doing so?
Storytelling is a key theme in this story. My husband and I have often talked about moving there. In all fairness, though, while it cannot compare (in size, at least) Glasgow has a special place in my heart. We’re taking the kids this spring for their first visit. We know you were born in England – is it really as boring a place as the start of your story suggests? ( Laughs ) You meticulously map out the dreariness of London life in the beginning of the book which wonderfully sets up Wendy’s – and the reader’s – transition from mundane to magic as her journey unfolds. It was instantaneous, brilliant fun-almost as if she wanted a word in too!
I’ll be honest about Nana though: those interludes and scenes just jumped onto the page fully formed from my head. Even Nana, the Darling family dog, has more dimension in your story and even has her own interlude! Tell us about the process for developing your characters in your story and what choices you had to make about and for them along the way.Īgain it’s that tightrope between keeping them true to the classic tale while exploring characters’ inner depths. You depict Wendy and Tink as strong, brave women – and I would like to think they have always been – though you give them greater depth and a louder voice than they otherwise have in Peter Pan. It’s actually Wendy! And she deserved to tell it in her own way.
#Straight on till morning a twisted tale movie
Of course! But if you ask a deeper version of the question: what character changes by the end of the movie, and whose point of view the movie is from, they often grow confused. It’s funny: if you ask a group of children who the main character of the movie is (and I have), they’ll all say Peter Pan. Tell us about what inspired you to write this book from Wendy’s perspective? Speaking of Wendy, we never really knew Wendy Darling until we read Straight On Till Morning.