“Where should we go then?”
Daniel narrowed his eyes. “We?”
“You heard Papa. He told you to go and have an adventure. So let’s go! There’s a big world out there, and it’s ours – all of it.”
“You’ll stay?”
“I felt the sun on my face today, Daniel. The real sun! And I can feel it any time I want. Knowing I can leave – just knowing – that’s enough for now.”
Daniel couldn’t contain his joy. Ellie could be impossible. She was maddening, and infuriating. But she was also loyal and brave. She was his friend – his sister – and he could not imagine a better one. He ran over and hugged her tight.
“Are you feeling all right?” she said.
Daniel thought about the question. He was nervous and terrified, excited and proud. He felt the weight of the Emporium on his shoulders, the pull of the world at his feet. He felt ready.
Most of all, he felt alive. He felt at home.
A smile danced on the edges of his mouth as he reached for a dusty old atlas and opened the pages.
And then Daniel Holmes and Ellie Silver began to argue, as only the dearest friends can, about far-off shores and exotic-sounding places, and where they might find their next great adventure.
***
Perhaps one day they will visit the place where you live.
Perhaps you will hear people whispering about the appearance of a strange shop built from bricks the colour of midnight. Perhaps you will witness the shimmering golden gate turn to dust, and the firework sign in the sky. And maybe, if you truly believe, you will walk through the red curtain, and witness the Wonders and secrets of the Nowhere Emporium with your own eyes.
But then again…
Maybe you already have.
The Wonders of Ross MacKenzie
Meet Ross MacKenzie, award-winning creator of the magical Nowhere Emporium…
Where did your inspiration for The Nowhere Emporium come from?
It’s a bit mysterious, actually! The Emporium sort of popped into my head fully formed. I could see this strange old shop so clearly in my head, the sparkling black brick and the faded sign. I knew the shop never stayed in one place for very long, and of course I had to find out why, so I wrote the story.
What is your favourite room in the Nowhere Emporium?
Actually, my favourite place in the entire Emporium is the shop-front where Daniel first meets Mr Silver. It’s dim and dusty and mysterious, filled with so many treasures and curiosities. I could spend days looking around!
What would you write in the Book of Wonders?
I’d have a library with every story ever written waiting on the shelves for me. But it would be a library with a twist: I’d be able to meet the characters from my favourite books face to face!
Actually, on second thought, this might turn out to be dangerous – the bad guys would probably try to escape and take over the world!
Ross is also the author of Zac and the Dream Pirates, winner of a Scottish Children’s Book Award.
Copyright
Kelpies is an imprint of Floris Books
First published in 2015 by Floris Books
This eBook edition published in 2015
© 2015 Ross MacKenzie has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the prior permission of Floris Books, 15 Harrison Gardens, Edinburgh
www.florisbooks.co.uk
The publisher acknowledges subsidy from Creative Scotland towards the publication of this volume
British Library CIP data available
ISBN 978–178250–190–9
The Nowhere Emporium Page 18
