With Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire introduced us to a vivid intersection of portal worlds containing magic, mystery, and occasional mayhem. Twin sisters Jack and Jill were seventeen when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children. Now, readers will finally get to walk through the doorway that transported the pair to a world of vicious vampires and mad scientists in Down Among the Sticks and Bones, a new Wayward Children novella set before the events of Every Heart a Doorway.
We’re excited to share an audio excerpt from the novella below, read by Seanan herself!
Author and narrator Seanan McGuire had this to say:
I’ve done voice work before, but never for an audio book, and heading for the studio for the first time was both exciting and terrifying—a combination that only got stronger as our GPS led us deeper and deeper into a landscape out of one of my books. We found the place tucked up on a hill, surrounded by trees and unexpected wildlife. Once there, it was perfectly professional and absolutely delightful, even if I couldn’t have soda near the microphone. So I sat, and I read, for hours and hours and hours. I met my own text in a whole new way, and I loved every second of it. Even if Dr. Bleak’s voice sort of hurt my throat.
Listen to Seanan read Chapter 3 below—you can also read Chapters 1 and 2 here.
Down Among the Sticks and Bones is available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats from Tor.com Publishing! From the catalog copy:
Twin sisters Jack and Jill were 17 when they found their way home and were packed off to Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children.
This is the story of what happened first….
Jacqueline was her mother’s perfect daughter—polite and quiet, always dressed as a princess. If her mother was sometimes a little strict, it’s because crafting the perfect daughter takes discipline.
Jillian was her father’s perfect daughter—adventurous, thrill-seeking, and a bit of a tomboy. He really would have preferred a son, but you work with what you’ve got.
They were five when they learned that grown-ups can’t be trusted. They were 12 when they walked down the impossible staircase and discovered that the pretense of love can never be enough to prepare you a life filled with magic in a land filled with mad scientists and death and choices.
You can find the audio edition on Audible or get the ebook edition at the links below!