I’m thrilled to be celebrating The Hive Queen’s book birthday tomorrow, September 1! See below for information about the official launch on September 8.
It feels like this story has been a long time coming even as it now feels to me as familiar as my own “real life.” The spark for it came when my son, then in elementary school, asked if the story I was working on, now The Bond, would have a sequel. Boys, he pointed out, prefer series since they get a taste of a story and want to continue.
Or, he asked, was I writing only for girls like his older sister?
His words percolated. Was there more to the story? If so, who should tell it? What would happen to Dinitra, my heroine, last seen escaping with 12, her hyba-battle dog cross, and Susalee, her frenemy from school?
Hmmmm… the more I thought about it, the more I realized two things. First, I love stories that have different points of view in successive books (like the switch between Lyra and Will in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series). And I also love the drafts I created in The Bond, especially the ferocious 12.
Just so that you can see the image I have in my mind about 12, this is a photo I saved on Pinterest as inspiration. Kind of a mini-version of 12!
The story quickly unfolded in my mind. This time, the voice would be Fir’s as he escaped bondage and led his brothers to freedom. Even though they know little about what awaits them, they know they would rather die than remain in bondage.
What they don’t count on is the mysterious Hive Queen. I love the natural world and am fascinated by the complex lives of bees. But my imagination really went wild after I saw photographs of the enormous beehives of Nepal’s Himalayas. Giant bees craft huge yellow lobes that hang from cliffsides and produce “mad honey,” which also has mind-altering effects.
I can't reveal too much more except that The Hive Queen also includes a wonderful map made by map-maker (and children’s author) Travis Hasenour. I’m a huge map fan, so this was really a pleasure to see and include in the story.
I’m grateful to Tammy Sparks for her review of The Bond on Books, Bones, and Buffy:
…by far my favorite part of the story is the relationship between Dinitra and 12. You know me, I’m always on the hunt for a great dog companion story, and boy did this deliver! I adored 12, who is intimidating and is bred to kill, but at heart she’s just a puppy and comes to rely on Dinitra for everything. I loved the way Dinitra loves and defends 12, because there are some horrible characters in the story who want to kill her. I wish someone would do some 12 fan art because I’d love to see some visual interpretations of how she looks! She isn’t exactly a dog, but she does have dog DNA and many canine qualities, like the ability to be trained and loyalty towards her master. And although this is a brutal story in many ways, animal and dog lovers should rest assured that 12 survives to the end of the book.
Kirk gives us a teaser near the end that leads directly into the sequel, and the last chapters are a heady combination of thrilling danger, emotional heartbreak and a hopeful yet uncertain future, as Dinitra and her friends start a new adventure. I hope after reading this review you are tempted to try The Bond, because I think you’ll be hooked by Kirk’s fascinating world and compelling characters just like I was.
Please join me for the official book launch on September 8 hosted by Durham’s The Regulator Bookstore. Five preorders will also receive some special SWAG!
Please share this with anyone you think may be interested!
Robin