The Keys to the Kingdom #1: Mister Monday

Strange things begin happening after Arthur Pengaligon dreams of a strange figure who hands him a key shaped like a minute hand. A winged man-dog tries to invade his house. A sleeping sickness falls over the city. And then there's the weird new house that only Arthur can see. . . Before long, Arthur realizes he's stumbled into a strange new universe of moving staircases and gigantic clocks and it's up to him to set things right in a literal race against time. Full of adventure and mystery, Mister Monday is the first book of seven in the Keys to the Kingdom series.

Garth nix was born on a Saturday in Melbourne, Australia, and got married on a Saturday, to his publisher wife, Anna. So Saturday is a good day. Garth used to write every Sunday afternoon because he has had a number of day jobs over the years that nearly always started on a Monday, usually far too early. These jobs have included being a bookseller, an editor, a PR consultant, and a literary agent. Tuesday has always been a lucky day for Garth, when he receives good news, like the telegram (a long time ago, in the days of telegrams) that told him he had sold his first short story, or just recently when he heard his novel Abhorsen had hit The New York Times best-seller list. Wednesday can be a letdown after Tuesday, but it was important when Garth served as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, because that was a training night. Thursday is now particularly memorable because Garth and Anna's son, Thomas, was born on a Thursday afternoon. Friday is a very popular day for most people, but since Garth has become a full-time writer it has no longer marked the end of the work week. On any day, Garth may generally be found near Coogee Beach in Sydney, where he and his family live.