Fiona Dixon introduces her fantasy adventure, Crow: Thief of Magic
About Author
Enter a world where dreams can be caught, and sold, and where magic slips in to everyday life, in Crow: Thief of Magic, a gripping fantasy adventure.
Fiona Dixon has been getting lost in fantasy worlds for a long as she can remember. As a child, she spent a lot of time in wardrobes hoping to find a portal to another world or exploring the woods on imaginary adventures.
After travelling the globe and working in New York and New Zealand, Fiona now lives in a 200-year-old cottage on the Oxfordshire/ Northamptonshire border with her husband and two cats.
Interview
May 2025
Fiona Dixon explores dreams, magic and hope in her fantasy adventure, Crow: Thief of Magic
Crow is a thief, and a good one, who lives in the city of Starsgard. But is his luck in thievery just instinct - or something else? Could it be something more magical? Something that could change his life?
ReadingZone's Children's Author of the Month, Fiona Dixon, talks about her gripping debut fantasy adventure, Crow: Thief of Magic (HarperCollins Children's Books), and tells us what inspired this world where dreams - and nightmares - can be bought and sold. She also suggests a Creative Challenge, to write your own Dream Spell!
More about Crow: Thief of Magic: '12-year-old Crow is a thief. Scraping a living on the winding streets of Starsgard, Crow works for the leader of the criminal underworld, stealing from the city's wealthy ruling class.' Read a chapter extract.
Q&A with Fiona Dixon: Dreams, inspiration and settings
I've always wanted to have a big library with wheeled ladders that run along the floor! As well as books, I'd fill it with things that inspire me,
like maps, artwork and collections of natural objects
1. Hello Fiona, thank you for joining us on ReadingZone this month to talk about your new book, Crow: Thief of Magic. Can you tell us three things about you?
I'm a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, both the books and the films. I may have been a Hobbit in a previous life . . . I prefer crisps to chocolate, and Kettle Chips are my favourite. There's not much I loathe, but I can't stand Marmite!
2. How did you become a writer? Was it a long and arduous journey, or have you loved every minute along the way?
I've wanted to be a children's author since I was about seven. I've always loved fantasy fiction and stories with magic, but Narnia was really where it all started for me. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe captured my heart and set my imagination alight, and I spent far too much time in wardrobes as a child as a result!
Sadly, I never found a portal to another land, so I started creating my own imaginary worlds instead. When I was in primary school I used to put together illustrated 'books' for my younger brother.
3. Crow: Thief of Magic is your debut title - can you tell us what happens?
It's the story of Crow, a 12-year-old thief who works for an organisation called the Reavers, who run the city's underworld. Crow and his friends dream of a better life, and put together a risky plan to escape. But before they can do so, disaster strikes as a heist goes wrong. Alone and with nowhere to turn, Crow finds a new position as a sorcerer's apprentice, where he begins to learn the ancient art of dream magic.
4. What inspired this story of dreams, thievery and magic?
The initial inspiration for this story - quite fittingly - came from a dream. I had a vivid image of a ragged, dark-haired boy walking through the snow, and a room full of bottles of magical dreams. I started writing to try to find out who this boy was, why he was out in the snow, and what his connection was to the dreams - and the story developed from there.
5. Can you tell us about the three children at the heart of the story, and how you developed their characters? Did you know them well before you started to write or did they grow through the writing?
Crow's character came to me almost fully formed. As soon as I started writing he came alive on the page, and I knew exactly how he looked and what he sounded like. He has a talent for slipping in and out of places unnoticed, which makes him an exceptional thief. At the start of the novel he's unaware he has magic. It's only after he meets Viktor, the Dreamcatcher, that he realises what he thinks of as his 'danger sense' - a prickling feeling on the back of his neck, which acts as an early warning signal - is actually down to his natural magical ability.
Crow's best friends, Sal and Jonas, developed as the story grew. All three of them are street kids who work for the Reavers. They're the only people who Crow trusts completely, and the three of them have even developed their own form of sign language, so they can communicate without speaking - or if they want to keep something secret!
Sal is fierce and determined, and can usually talk her way out of trouble - although she also won't back down from a fight. Jonas is smart, with a talent for languages and cracking codes. Between the three of them they have a good combination of skills, which makes them very valuable to the Reavers.
6. The setting, Starsgard, is rich and magical, but did you draw on real life places to create it? Where did you start and how long did it take to develop?
I've been working on Crow: Thief of Magic for several years, so Starsgard evolved over time. It's an imaginary city, but I drew inspiration from London and Copenhagen when I created it.
I started with the main settings in the book: the Dreamcatcher's house, which is full of strange and wonderful things, and was incredibly fun to write; Old Town, where Crow grows up, and is a labyrinth of winding streets and alleyways; and the Market, where almost anything can be bought or sold. The rest of the city developed with the story, as Crow's adventures took him to different areas.
7. The story weaves dreams and magic throughout, with the Dreamcatcher at the centre. What were your 'rules' for the magic in this world?
Magic uses energy, just like physical activity. It's a bit like running - if you're not used to it, you get tired more quickly, but over time you can build up your stamina. There are three main branches of magic: Healers, Artificers (who work with physical objects), and Dreamcatchers (who have the ability to create magical dreams and nightmares). Most people who have magic can also learn to cast spells, which involves memorising runes.
8. Stargard is a city of masks, shadows and ghosts, where little is what it seems. What kinds of themes do you explore through the story and what do you hope readers will take from the adventure?
Crow's life changes dramatically during the book as he finds himself thrust into a very different world. It's a story about self-confidence, the power of friendship, and learning how to trust your own instincts, which is something I hope most readers will be able to relate to.
9. Will you be returning to Stargard for further adventures? What do you have planned for Crow and his friends?
I'm working on Crow Book 2 at the moment! It's set in Starsgard and takes place about three months after the end of the first book. There are lots more adventures for Crow and his friends to come, so I don't want to give away too many spoilers yet!
10. If you have a writing room in Stargard, what would you want it to be and what would it look like and how would it help you with your writing? Where do you write in the real world?
I've always wanted to have a big library with wheeled ladders that run along the floor! As well as books, I'd fill it with things that inspire me, like maps, artwork and collections of natural objects (I love collecting sea glass, interesting rocks and feathers). I'd also love a telescope, so I could look up at the stars.
I'm lucky to live in an old cottage that's full of character with lots of exposed beams, a big open fireplace, and lots and lots of books! The wall by my desk is plastered with Post-It notes with ideas for various stories on them! I also usually have a cat or two keeping me company while I write.
Creative Challenge: Create a Dream Spell In Crow: Thief of Magic, Viktor teaches Crow how to make magical dreams - from dreams of flying to exploration and adventure. Each type of dream uses a range of strange and intriguing ingredients, including narwhal tusks, dragon scales, brimstone, and precious gems. If you had the chance to make a dream, what kind of dream would it be? What ingredients would you put into it? Could you write a scene exploring what would happen in that dream?
School Visits: I can offer an assembly-style presentation with a Q&A and/or a creative writing workshop for class-sized KS2 groups. I'm still working on my author website at the moment, but you can send me a message via my Instagram page.
Crow: Thief of Magic
