#originally inspired by The Looking-Glass Wars but has since acquired elements of Die and Queen's Thief and Dublin Murder Squad and It

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

if you don't mind sharing what's the elevator pitch for your novel? Everytime you've mentioned it it sounds really interesting. But I understand if you want to keep personal projects to yourself

Yes! I'm going to paraphrase the pitch my beta reader wrote for me -- I'll have to find the exact thing when I'm not on mobile.

Kingdom Where Nobody Dies

10 years ago, Emma's childhood came to an abrupt end with her father's cancer diagnosis. Forced to move from Iowa to Guangzhou for his care, she left behind her friends — and left behind the secret country she tells herself she no longer believes in.

10 years ago, Ty answered the door to police officers with hands on their guns. Ready to extract a confession and get this case solved. It's always the boyfriend, they concluded when Olive disappeared, and this boy has no alibi.

10 years ago, Olive opened a portal in the middle of a corn field and walked through, never to be seen again. She never had a childhood in the first place, aside from the stolen moments in Ty's and Emma's homes.

10 years ago, a boy walked out of that portal. He calls himself Ian, though that isn't his name. He came to Earth for ibuprofen, for elevators, for conversion pants, for prosthetic legs that fit like 3D printed gloves. He came, as well, fleeing a secret.

Today, Emma finally has the chance to travel back to Story City, Iowa. Ty knows that Emma isn't crazy; Emma knows Ty isn't a murderer. Together they're going to recruit Ian to help them find Olive and clear Ty's name... but Ian's past is about to catch up to them.