GARTH NIX is an award-winning and bestselling author whose books have sold more than six million copies worldwide. Good Reading for Young Adults caught up with Garth to discuss his latest book in the ‘booksellers’ series, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath.

In 2001 Garth Nix made the decision to pursue a full-time career as a writer after working as a literary agent, book editor, marketing consultant and bookseller. Now he is a beloved fantasy and science fiction author. Since 2001, Garth has produced a mountain of brilliant works that have transfixed readers across the world. His books have sold more than 6 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 40 languages.

He was born in Melbourne but moved to Canberra shortly after. It’s here that his passion for reading and writing was nurtured. ‘I like telling stories. I like the small details that help build up the “realism” of a story,’ he tells me.

Indeed, it’s these small details that truly bring Garth’s stories to life. He’s been praised for his elaborate world-building. As well as his characters which are seen in his critically acclaimed ‘Old Kingdom fantasy’ series and his latest ‘Booksellers’ series.

His latest novel, The Sinister Booksellers of Bath, is set in an alternate 1980s England. The story returns to the same enchanting and magical world of his first novel, The Left-Handed Booksellers of Bath. The novel follows a team of booksellers who are fighting to keep dangerous magic under cover before it destroys the world.

A major aspect of the novel is it’s unique setting. So, I asked Garth what inspired that decision. ‘When I began the first book, I toyed with either a contemporary 2020s setting, or the 1960s. But neither felt right to me. Eventually I decided on 1983 because that was when I first went to London and I was there for six months. I have very strong memories of that time. Once I started writing with that in mind, it felt right,’ he shares.

In The Sinister Booksellers of Bath the left-handed bookseller, Merlin, is translocated via a magical map from a bookshop in Bath to a house that only exists in a kind of pocket universe. What follows is a thrilling adventure where Merlin and the booksellers investigate various deaths and disappearances.

‘It was fun to revisit my own memories and also research England in 1983. Not to mention having to spend many hours “in” Bath, via maps, old tourist guides, Google Street View and other references. Plus I watched many episodes of Minder and The Professionals. As well as some other early 80s British tv shows, noting a lot of small background detail.’

In addition to the wonderful setting of the book, fans of Garth’s first novel won’t be disappointed. There’s lots of horror and mythical elements,. Even monstrous living statues that will have you at the edge of your seat.

‘I like to imagine things that frighten me. Though often I am revisiting familiar horror tropes and/or ancient beliefs or myths. The idea of statues coming to life (and being inimical) probably goes back as far as people have made statues of any kind. I can see some Neanderthals or early people telling a story about the stone at their cave mouth, which someone gave rudimentary eyes and a mouth, coming alive and hungrily coming inside …’

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath is a gripping and adventurous tale that will definitely leave you wanting more. Luckily Garth tells me, ‘I do have notes for a third book. But the setting must remain a closely guarded secret. A very bookish city in the UK, which is a clue. I suspect people will find it not too difficult to guess.’

Find out more about author Garth Nix HERE.