❀Aimee❀ Just one more page... asked Joe Craig:

Is there a reason you chose Jimmy to be 11 in book one? Were you aiming for readers about that age?

Joe Craig Hi Aimee, thanks for the question and I'm sorry I only just saw it, eleven months later! Wow, I should keep a closer eye on this part of my page.
Anyway...
Yes, Jimmy is 11 in the first book in the series and has his 12th birthday in book 4 (JC: Sabotage). I put him at that age for a few different reasons. Mainly, I feel like 11/12 was the age when I first started becoming 'myself', in a weird way. For example, it's when I first started playing the piano, which involved finding out about myself in a similar way to Jimmy in the first book, though the skills Jimmy discovers are obviously very different and a bit more sinister than being able to play the piano! I was also thinking about readers being able to imagine themselves in the role of Jimmy. I wanted people to feel like the story could happen to them, tonight. Or now. Someone could knock on YOUR door and tell your parents they've come for you.
I was also influenced by Harry Potter, of course, who starts off aged 11 in his series.
So lots of reasons came together.

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