Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Lycia’s Leopard, an upcoming release from Magic Moon Publishing, set to captivate readers in 2025. Shahrukh Husain shares the inspirations, challenges, and magic behind this heartfelt story. From big cat sightings in East Sussex to the bond between Lycia and her Alsatian, Clio, discover what makes this book a tale worth waiting for.

What inspired you to write Lycia's Leopard? Was it based on personal experiences or entirely from your imagination?
My stories stem from a blend of imagination, personal experience, and impactful moments. Often at the end of summer, Sussex papers reported "Big Cat" sightings of leopards, pumas, or panthers on the South Downs. They captured my curiosity. And once, driving past a thickly wooded area, I saw a large white animal, that looked very much like a big cat. I’ve since seen reports like that crop up in many areas of England... https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/countryside-woodland)
Another inspiration came from a heartbreaking news report about a beloved family dog impounded for not wearing a muzzle. The emotional weight of the incident stayed with me. The two elements together became the central drive of Lycia’s story, touching on themes of loyalty, resilience, and fairness.
The white leopard is a captivating symbol in the story. Can you share what it represents to you and how it ties into Lycia’s journey?
The white leopard serves as both a metaphor and a touchstone for Lycia’s growth. It’s a tale her father shares, about seeing this rare and extraordinary creature that survives against all odds. It’s a bit like Lycia’s own journey as she works through the upheaval of her parents’ separation, the challenges of bullying, and her struggle to find her place in a new environment.
In a way the leopard’s life mirrors her own situation as an outsider, different, not to be trusted but importantly not to be defeated. When Lycia puts her heart into painting a stunning image of the leopard – it’s her way of claiming her voice and proving, to herself and the world, that she can choose how to be.
I love the thought of big cats roaming the countryside. It’s a bit like the Loch Ness monster – we can’t prove its real but we’ve never been able to disprove it either.
Lycia’s relationship with her parents and Clio, her Alsatian, is central to the story. How did you approach writing these dynamics to resonate with readers?

Writing about Clio the Alsatian was very personal. I grew up with dogs – at one point 20+ of them. Alsatians were always my favourite and the dog in the book is named after her. Clio was my best friend, a gentle and sweet-natured creature I’d known since a toddler. We had a lot of fun playing in the garden, teasing each other, ducking and diving. As a child, I was impulsive and often in trouble so I took refuge with Clio. She always seemed to know when I needed comfort and became hyper-alert if she thought I needed protection. Her quiet presence lightened up even the hardest moments. Our relationship inspired Lycia’s bond with Clio.
I believe readers will tap in to the special closeness Lycia shares with Clio. Most children love animals and long for one of their own. Animals have a way of offering us unconditional love and understanding. Mostly dogs – but maybe I’m playing favourites.
When Lycia struggles with family problems, loneliness and asthma, Clio is there to comfort her. For anyone who’s had a pet that feels like a best friend, Lycia’s connection with Clio will feel real and relatable. It reminds us of how animals can help us through even the most challenging times.
The story delves into themes of resilience, family tension, and self-discovery. What message do you hope young readers take away from Lycia’s experiences?
I don’t usually plan how a character will develop. I got to know Lycia as I wrote her story – no doubt guided by some of my own childhood memories. It was like being in her mind and writing what she experienced.
Lycia, like us all, has her own set of problems and keeps going. But then Clio gets into trouble and Lycia puts all her energy into saving her friend. She energises local residents, her father and even the newspapers. Her challenges make her stronger and suddenly, she’s not alone. Lycia’s own problems vanish as she focuses on what is most important to her. Creativity and imagination can be powerful tools against the stress of messy relationships. Most importantly, Lycia embraces her unique strengths by focusing on what she can do rather than getting weighed down with what is beyond her control. Lycia shows, I think, that when there are things we can’t do, we should work on the things we can achieve.
You’ve painted vivid descriptions of the Sussex countryside in the book. Why did you choose this setting, and how does it enhance the story?

I’m really captivated by East Sussex with its vast green expanses, enchanting forests, and the lively and ever-changing moods of the sea. I spent a lot of time looking at the Bexhill sea, just across the road from my window. It inspired several books including Lycia’s Leopard. I’ve spent time exploring the area – it’s both beautiful and atmospheric: the perfect setting for Lycia’s story. The rolling countryside feels like a natural reflection of Lycia’s journey; its beauty offers moments of peace and inspiration, while its untamed, wild nature mirrors unexpected experiences in Lycia’s life.
The woods and country vistas with their quiet mystery, seemed the perfect place for the magic of the white leopard to come alive. The seaside at Bexhill, with its openness and endless horizons, symbolizes hope and the possibility of new beginnings – like the magical touch of a dinosaur footprint . Looking across from a window in my flat every day, I watched Beachy Head. It looked magnificent with the sea-spray swirling around like dragon’s breath, misty and playful in the morning and fiery in the setting sun. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24051329.dinosaur-prints-130-million-years-old-found-sussex-beach/)
The landscape is integral to Lycia’s emotional journey and little flashes of magic and joy kept infusing themselves into her story.
The story incorporates elements of magic and realism. How did you balance these to keep the narrative grounded yet imaginative?
It came quite organically, really. I’ve always believed that magic, however you define it, is all around us. There may be a hard-core explanation but who can prove that there’s no such thing as magic? The balance lies in blending the extraordinary with the everyday. In Lycia’s Leopard, magic and reality are essential to both sides of the same journey. The search to prove that the leopard really exists is the central force in saving Clio. Without one, the other is unfulfilled. Yet, if magic was simple to explain, easy to believe, would it be special? Or exciting? Or wonderful?

The detective strand involving a Big Cat investigator offers the energy and mystery to keep readers wondering. To prove Clio’s innocence, Lycia has to be practical but if she doesn’t let herself believe that the leopard exists, what hope is there of getting Clio back. Magic is recognisable in many ways – an Alsatians and a leopard, both rarely white, the appearance of a stranger at just the right moment, the mix-up between two white-coated animals and many other special moments.
Simon’s story of being rescued from a bully by a white leopard introduces magic as something subtle and unprovable, yet deeply transformative, echoing the idea that magic exists in ways we don’t always see, for example when Simon describes the moment when a bud blooms or a creeper latches on to something for support. As a child I loved to wonder about why things happened, what was real, what wasn’t, why we should believe one thing and not another. I still think about those things. I guess that’s why I make stories.
Lycia faces asthma and stress, which are portrayed with sensitivity. How did you balance these to keep the narrative grounded yet imaginative?
It is really important to be accurate about the effects of asthma. Having seen first- hand the impact of asthma on children, including my own god-son, and drawing from my experience as a psychoanalyst, I’m deeply aware of the emotional and mental toll on both patients and their families.
I studied the medical research and made sure to learn directly from children with asthma and their parents. I wanted to convey clearly and simply, the distress and tension that come with the condition, while also showing the strength to bounce back every time. It’s important to show the reality of these critical aspects while highlighting hope and a path forward.
What was the most challenging part of writing Lycia’s Leopard, and how did you overcome it?
Once I got going, Lycia’s Leopard pretty much wrote itself. Lycia’s life – the internal drama and the material and physical changes in her life as well as the guilt about her parents’ split, flowed easily. The main challenge was to plan out the investigation and bring together the unrelated parts of Lycia’s life. Finding a new friend, Ryan, to help her was the start. From there on the story took on a new direction which eventually brought together all the parts of in Lycia’s life.
I had to think carefully in order to balance these real-life struggles with the inexplicable appearances of the leopard. It was a challenge, but also incredibly rewarding to see it all come together. The pressure to prove Clio’s innocence became the main focus but was the existence of the leopard real or imaginary? Well, that remains for readers to decide. Maybe they’ll write and let me know.
Are there plans for a sequel or more stories exploring Lycia’s life?
Now that’s an idea! If it goes down well with my readers, I’m sure there could be much more to tell!
Coming in 2025 from Magic Moon Publishing, Lycia’s Leopard is a heartfelt story about resilience, self-discovery, and the quiet magic that surrounds us. Keep an eye out for this extraordinary tale that promises to inspire and captivate readers of all ages! 🐾✨
Connect with Shah on Instagram: @Shahrukhhusain65
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