Katy Birchall - Secrets of a Teenage Heiress - Book Review (Egmont Publishing)

Flick's family have owned The Royale – one of London's most prestigious hotels – for generations. But Flick isn't that interested. She is interested in the newest guest – superstar celebrity Skylar Chase, and Sky's mega-famous group of friends, including dreamy YouTube star, Ethan Duke. But just as Flick gets the chance to join their glittering squad, she gets grounded following an unfortunate incident involving a prince, a wardrobe and a selfie stick (it could have happened to anyone!). With only her Instagram star pet dachshund, Fritz, for company, will Flick find a way to escape The Royale and join the fame game?

This is a book that puts me as a reader/reviewer out of my comfort READING zone. However, this year is all about me pushing my reading boundaries and trying anything that has been sent to me. Last year I would have taken one look at this book, read the synopsis and then thought that this sounded like it was not for me. However, on this occasion, I would have been very wrong. Secrets of a Teenage Heiress was recently published by Egmont Publishing on the 11th January 2018. The authors recent 'The it Girl' series has found the heart of teenage readers and their funny bone to great acclaim.  

Get your selfie sticks ready and come and read this book. As soon as you turn the pages you will fly into the world of Flick and Fritz (the dog). Flick's life involves living in the world famous hotel 'The Royale'. The reason I loved it so much is that the narrative instantly transported me into the book. Plus, the main characters actually felt like real people. The descriptive backdrop felt like The Ritz in London, which was possibly one of the inspirations for this book. 

This book takes a look at the celebrity side of life with Sklar Chase. It shows that being famous does not stop you from being human and having normal feelings. The book also covers and focuses on teenage girls who look up to famous people and want to emulate them. Looking good, having millions of Instagram followers and the need for media attention is a huge topic at the moment. This book cuts through to reality and shows the high stakes involved. In the end, the story highlights that family and true friendship are actually more important than anything else. 

I really loved reading about the hotel and the inner workings of it. It really made you want to walk around and investigate the rooms and hotel-life, just like the characters in the book. It made you feel slightly dreamy which was rather cool. 

This is definitely a book that teenagers will relate to. It explores a vivid world of glamour that people will love to read about. It's funny in some parts and yet quite moving in others. There is a great cast of characters, all of which are easy to read. The story has a happy, feel-good ending which makes you want to read the next book in the series. For those of you interested, the next book is called Dramas of a Teenage Heiress and will be out at the end of this year. 
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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Michael Grant - Monster (The Monster Series) #Gone - Book Review

It’s been four years since a meteor hit Perdido Beach and everyone disappeared. Everyone, except the kids trapped in the FAYZ—an invisible dome that was created by an alien virus. Inside the FAYZ, animals began to mutate and teens developed dangerous powers. The terrifying new world was plagued with hunger, lies, and fear of the unknown. 

Now the dome is gone and meteors are hitting earth with an even deadlier virus. Humans will mutate into monsters and the whole world will be exposed. As some teens begin to morph into heroes, they will find that others have become dangerously out of control…and that the world is on the brink of a monstrous battle between good and evil.

This is the first riveting book in the new trilogy (The Monster Series) by Michael Grant. We are introduced to a range of new, exciting and diverse characters whilst also meeting and catching up with the familiar characters from The Gone Series. Michael has integrated both extremely well to create an exciting and compelling story. It really helps to connect the reader with every aspect of the story and can be read as a stand alone novel. 

Readers will be able to easily relate to one, or a number of characters, through the diversity of personalities which brings the universe crashing down explosively. The dome is down and the story has just begun in a fantastic installment that will change the face of the universe and keep you on your fantasy reading toes.

Set four years after the final book in the Gone series. Michael sets about exploring what it means to be a superhero/villain. The characters' superhero powers and reactions do not always make them a hero. One of the characters, through a series of events, soon find themselves becoming the biggest supervillain. It is fascinating to understand and read the characters' motives. It really highlights and promotes the reader to think about the influences and outcomes on people which can change them.

This is a fantastically articulated story that follows a character you might be all too familiar with called "Shade Darby". She has witnessed events that day, with devastating consequences, and vowed never to feel that powerless again. Now, four years later, she gets her hands on part of the meteor that began it all – and that’s when she changes.

This book features a range of sub-plots that leads the reader down many paths. This helps to connect the reader to the previous series by grabbing the attention of older Michael Grant readers as well as new ones. I really enjoyed reading about, and experiencing, the morphing/mutating from the 'ordinary' character to the one with super-human-powers. The transition was a real eye opener in some cases, as the superhero/villain was a much larger than life destructive force and makes you want to run for cover.

The plot line is very definitely driven by action and dynamic battles with a fantastic narrative that might just blow your fantasy socks off. The character's 'monster' forms are a heady mix of emotions and uniqueness. All are combined to create a fast-paced and heart-pounding sci-fi-thriller. It is incredibly well written but would be equally as effective on the big screen. The high-octane action was dispersed throughout the story rather than just at a particular point. As a result, this really enhanced the characters' interactions and developed the depth of the story.

​This book is not out until October, 19th 2017 (UK) Egmont (US) Katherine Tegen so this is a very early review. However, I loved this book so much that I wanted to let the monster urges out so I could not wait to review it. This is the best teenage book that I have read this year - Michael Grant has excelled himself. I understand from Michael Grant himself that Book Two is to be called Villain (2018) and Book three will be Hero (2018). However, this is a long way away and could all change.

Michael Grant lives in San Francisco with his wife, Katherine Applegate, and has written over 150 books - with Katherine, as himself, under pseudonyms and as a ghostwriter. He is best know for the international multi-million-selling young adult six-book GONE series: GONE, HUNGER, LIES, PLAGUE, FEAR and LIGHT. 

Which is your favourite book cover? 
The top one is the UK book cover.
This one underneath is the US book cover. 
I'm very interested to know what you think! 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Eoin Colfer - Iron Man: The Gauntlet (Marvel Fiction) - Book Review

Tony Stark is known throughout the world as many things: billionaire, inventor, Avenger. But mainly for being the Invincible Iron Man.

Just when Tony is about to add his pizzazz to an international eco-summit in Ireland, someone close to him forces him to question his role in making the world a more dangerous place with his high-tech weaponry. But Stark doesn't have much time to reflect before an old enemy presents him with an even greater challenge: the assassination of all the eco-ministers, and Iron Man himself. Just how invincible Iron Man is when he is stripped of everything remains to be seen in this breathless adventure by the best-selling author of Artemis Fowl.

Marvel comic favourites are becoming literally bigger, bolder and more exciting than ever! Marvel Press is proud to present five brand-new young adult and middle-grade novels coming in 2016!  The first issue is Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, which was created by the writer and editor Stan Lee. 

The character first appeared in a Tales of Suspense (issue 39) in March 1963. More recently Iron Man has appeared in many classic epic Marvel movies which has instilled a big passion in many people across the globe. If you have read the comics or watched the films then you will certainly love to read this new instalment as it ties in so brilliantly with both sets of fans. 

Eoin Colfer, a life long fan of the super hero, has set about the task of bringing the character to a new generation of fans, but he has given it the Eoin Colfer electric charm. The glossy cover will flash before your eyes as the action unfolds from the very first page. The story feels very original as it takes a well known character, but then takes it to new superhero ball park of Dublin, Ireland. The story is played out in the whimsical fantasy dream world of Eoin Colfer. 

When Iron Man sets out at the start of the story with his so called "Party Pack" Iron Man suit, Eoin has drunk his first cup of tea. When Iron Man is flying around saving the world Eoin puts pen to paper and thinks of being Iron Man. He dreams of being supercool, smart and funny but, ironically, Eoin is the man behind the power who moves this epic story into a brilliant fantasy adventure that any reluctant reader will love to hang around in. 

Iron Man's back history is quickly explored. We are given the basics for those uninformed before explosively leaping into action. Iron Man notices the sudden reappearance of a missing U.S. gunboat off the coast of an uninhabited Irish Island. He investigates with humour and charm despite having no backup and only a party-pack Iron Man suit loaded with fireworks, disco music and SOME AMAZING dance moves. A simple scout mission suddenly uncovers a sinister plot to destroy a vitally important World Eco-summit happening nearby. 

The fantastic story explores the mind and personality of Tony Stark; it shows his vulnerabilities and personal feelings which are loaded with his deadly smart aleck comments. I really liked this aspect of the story as you don't really get this in the Marvel Comics or the Films. I also love the Irish twist, humour and character that Eoin hurls at the reader faster than a spinning sliotar. 

The character of Inspector Conroy was my favourite as he made me chuckle on a number of occasions; he brought some zany reality to the story. I really did feel for him. It was an absolute pleasure to read this book with a great villain at the heart of the adventure, action in abundance and some fantastic gadgets. It is a really easy to follow plot, full of shining whit, Irish charm and a whole bucket of craziness to boot. Hopefully we will have a lot more to come! 

Published by Marvel Press (26 Oct. 2016) Egmont (27 Oct. 2016)

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Robin Jarvis -The Power of Dark - Author Interview (The Whitby Witches Trilogy/The Deptford Mice)

It's really cool to have the opportunity to ask one of my all time favourite authors some questions about his latest book. Robin Jarvis is the author of the spectacularly amazing dark fantasy series known as "The Whitby Witches Trilogy" and the fantastic series "The Depthford Mice." In more recent times, he has written "The Dancing Jax Trilogy" which was superb and is definitely worth checking out, if you haven't done so already. His latest book,"The Power of Dark", will be published at the start of June 2016 and is fantastic. Please check out my book review here to find out more. 
I'm sure you'll find the interview fascinating as it is a personal look into the author's fantastic writing career.

Who do you think will love reading The Power of Dark?
 The reader I always try to entertain when I'm writing is my childhood self. I wasn't particularly happy from the age of 10 onwards, as that was when my 18 year old brother had a motorbike accident that left him brain damaged and I needed to escape the awfulness of how that devastated my family. So that's what my books are for, other spaces to slip into, if someone needs a respite from their surroundings. When reality lets you down, a good book won't.  

The Power of Dark is set in Whitby, North Yorkshire, what makes you visit this town again in your stories?

I can't help it. The place won't leave me alone, it compels stories out of me. It's such a perfect blend of every location you could want, with a fabulously rich history that stretches back over a thousand years. Whitby is a bit like author fly paper, so many have been enchanted by it: Lewis Carrol, Dickens, Stoker, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, A. S. Byatt, Robert Swindells - and don't forget Caedmon was inspired by a heavenly dream to become one of the earliest English poets. There must be some powerful kind of word magic there.

What real-life inspirations did you draw from for the world building within your book?

 The character of Cherry Cerise is a real person who lives here in Greenwich (Cherry isn't her real name). She's a local eccentric who came up to me one day out of the blue, we didn't know each other, and started talking for forty five minutes. Her language and subject matter were far more colourful than anything I could put in this series but I knew I had to use her, she was a writer's dream.  If readers like Cherry as a character, it's because I managed to capture something of the genuine person.

Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work? 

 Oh yes, the start of the book where the cliffside crumbles and graves spill out, was an actual event that occurred a few years ago in Whitby. Also there was a real tension between the steampunkers and the Goths, which I found fascinating and had to include somehow.

 What makes a good fantasy writer?
I think you just have to be able to create characters that the reader can care about, maybe not even identify with, but love in some way. If you can do that, then the fantastical elements of the story will be so much more satisfying.

A good villain is hard to write. How did you get in touch with your inner villain(s) to write this book?

The villains and monsters are always great fun for me. I just have to step into their shoes - or scales, and try to think like them. Appropriate music helps enormously. Sometimes it can be a bit alarming when heinous ideas pop in but it's always exciting to be taken by surprise by your own evil creations.

If you were running the 100 metre dash with a new writer, what writing and/or publishing wisdom would you bestow upon him/her before you reached the final line?

Oh gosh, that's difficult. At school I could run that in fourteen seconds but it'd take me an hour these days. I don't think I'm qualified to give advice to anyone, as it's such a personal passion and everyone finds their own unique voice.  All I would say is write something that you'd love to read yourself.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

I've met some great actors who read my books on audio, including childhood heroes like Tom Baker and Jon Pertwee, but my all time favourite celeb moment was when Felicity Kendal came up to me on a plane once and asked for my autograph for her son. You should have seen the faces of everyone else!

What can we expect in the next book in the series, and how many are there going to be?

The next book is called The Devil's Paintbox, and Whitby really suffers this time. There'll be a lot more peril and heartbreak for Lil and Verne, some familiar fiendish faces and new horrors to run away from. There's going to be four in this series.

Do you think book reviews are important?

 Oh absolutely. They're great for a reader who isn't familiar with an author's work to get an idea of what it's like and if it's something they might enjoy. What's fascinating for me is how different some of the reviews can be, which just shows how personal an experience reading a book is.

Last question, what five things would you take on a desert island and why?

If I can't take someone useful like Bear Grylls or Ray Mears, then four books on survival and DIY because I'm as practical as a rubber sword - and finally the soundtrack from the old tv serial of Robinson Crusoe that was always shown during the summer holidays when I was growing up. Although, to really immerse myself in the experience, I would have to lose my colour vision as that series was in black and white. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Robin Jarvis - The Power of Dark Bk One - Book Review

Something is brewing in the town of Whitby. To best friends Lil and Verne, it just seems like a particularly bad storm. But Cherry Cerise, the last of the Whitby witches, fears that ancient forces are at work, reviving the curse of a long lost magical artefact.

The legend goes that the Nimius was created by magician Melchior Pyke, with the assistance of a young witch known as Scaur Annie. But they were both betrayed by Pyke’s villainous manservant, Mister Dark, causing a feud that has survived even beyond death.

As Mister Dark, with his horrific winged familiar, arises to mastermind Whitby’s very own apocalypse and take the Nimius for his own evil purposes, can Lil and Verne join with Cherry to quell his plans and save their home?

Robin Jarvis is back with a mighty bang and a fantastic new series. The first book "The Power of Dark" will be published at the end of June 2016 by Egmont. There are also a further three more books to come in the series which will be published in six-montly intervals, which I'm really looking forward to reading. The first book is set in the town of Whitby, North Yorkshire. This is a place that Robin knows very well from his previous visits as part of "The Whitby Witches" series. It is a perfect setting and backdrop full of myths and legends and is one of the finest gothic settings in England. 

The book follows two friends, Lil and Verne, who are inexplicably caught up in a supernatural adventure from the past. It will have you running up the 199 steps so fast that your feet won't touch the ground. You will be wrapped in a fantasy cocoon of magic, mayhem and horror. It's a genre busting novel that throws everything at you throughout the 255 pages. It will sweep you off your literary feet.  

From the very first page you are quickly introduced to one of the main characters, Verne Thistlewood, as he is chased by a group of bullies. This sets up the story and sucks you into a narrative that soon leads you astray.  A storm is brewing on the cliff tops, there is a change of wind and a storm of skeletons appear that will give you the heebie jeebies. This scene is so vivid and crazy that it really made me smile at the creative inventiveness and the idea. It's fantasy writing at its best. It really did set the atmospheric tale on fantasy fire and made the plot come alive with a big bang. 

You'll find yourself hurtling through this book in a fantasy frenzy. It is a yarn bombing experience of topics, magic and colour. The brooding darkness/evil slowly seeps through the story the more that you read. There is a fight against good and evil, but will the last surviving Witch of Whitby come out fighting with her Mary Quant bag in her hand? She will have you in stitches with her bizarre personality. She's not afraid to speak her mind and she certainly has a lot to say. She is a fantastically well written character with bags of personality;I hope that we will see more of her in the next books. 

The town slowly gets sucked into a big crazy battle which is action packed and totally bonkers. It brings a climatic ending to an ancient feud that has survived even beyond death. This is a story of betrayal, love and revenge like no other....

I loved every minute of this book which makes it one of my favourite reads this year. Check out the fantastic cover which has been illustrated by Nicholas Delort. He definitely draws on the power of Robin's story and makes you want to find out what is inside...  

Grab a copy as you will not be disappointed! 

Guest Book Review by M - The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

Katherine Woodfine's bestselling debut novel. A fast-paced historical mystery adventure for readers aged 9+, with gorgeous Edwardian period detail. Perfect for fans of Enid Blyton, Chris Riddell's Goth Girl and Robin Stevens' Murder Most Unladylike series. 

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villains to justice… 

*** 

Left penniless when her father dies, Sophie is pleased to find a job in the millinery department of Sinclair’s, soon to be London’s largest and most glamorous department store. There, she makes friends with Billy a junior porter and beautiful Lil, who is one of the department store “manikins” by day and an aspiring actress by night.

Just before the store is due to open, there is a daring burglary, including the theft of the priceless Clockwork Sparrow. When Sophie herself becomes a suspect, the only solution is to solve the mystery of the clockwork sparrow. Her friend's Lil and Billy help her to solve the crime.

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend that you read it, especially if you are looking for strong female role models. Sophie Turner has had quite a life in regards to fate and fortune but she never gives up and is an intelligent and resourceful heroine who goes against social norms to do the right thing. She is aided by her friend, society beauty Lilian Rose, who exudes a passion for life and who also bucks the social expectations of others. Both do this with great grace and style. 

They are supported in this tale by a range of well developed characters, from true friends, colleagues, police and villains, all who play their part in moving the mystery along at a good pace with great attention to detail. The descriptions of the grandeur of Sinclair's department store to the cold, dark horrors of its basement really do draw you in. The plot has a few well chosen twists and turns, some unexpected and the story has a particularly positive, empowering ending that leaves the reader wondering as to what path Sophie will take next.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Author Interview with Jason Rohan The Sword of Kuromori &The Shield of Kuromori

Today I'm very pleased to be interviewing Jason Rohan, the author of "The Sword of Kuromori" and "The Shield of Kuromori." I'd like to thank him for agreeing to do this interview and for taking the time out to answer a few questions for Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books. This has been one of my favourite Q&As that I've received recently - very interesting and incredibly engaging. Thank you very much. 

Tell us a little bit about The Sword of Kuromori and the series?

As the title suggests, The Sword of Kuromori is somewhat unique for a kids' book in that it's set entirely in modern Japan. Japan is one those countries that everyone knows a little about but at the same time is still viewed as exotic and largely unknown which is odd given the huge presence Japanese culture has in our lives. Be it film, comics, consumer electronics, cars, toys, games, fashion, cuisine - you name it - Japan has its influence.

Having spent five years in Japan, living and working the sarariman lifestyle, I wanted to bring that rich culture to a wider audience, not only by describing everyday life in the country, but also by tapping into its history, religion and folklore. As with Europe, villages were quite isolated in feudal times and regions developed their own distinctive traits, such as dialects, foods and folk tales. These diverse myths create a rich backdrop to set a story against and I had a blast bringing some of these ancient stories kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

One of the central conflicts I see in modern Japan is the clash between a fiercely traditional society and a fast-paced world which embraces technology. I decided to take that old-versus-new battle to a literal extreme by having ancient Japanese gods adopt modern science to settle old scores, and that's another aspect which I think sets the Kuromori books apart from other middle grade fantasy stories.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 

There is, but I try to be subtle about it as I think readers don't like the sense that they are being preached to. The Kuromori books each have a different theme which is etched into the DNA of the story. The first is about the power of belief, of having faith in yourself and in not giving up when life sets you back - I think every aspiring writer can relate to that! The second book explores the classic samurai dilemma of 'duty versus desire,' and the third book is about duality and the necessity for balance. In every case, the theme grew out of the story and not vice versa.

How much of the book is realistic? 

I'd like to say, "all of it," but I probably can't get away with that in a book featuring magic, myth and monsters! I did try to portray life in Tokyo as realistically as possible, so I write about public transportation, language, using chopsticks, correct etiquette when visiting Shinto shrines, bowing, removing shoes, public baths, the tea ceremony, even correct shuriken-throwing technique! I tried to get all of the everyday aspects as accurate as I could with the idea that someone could read the book and have a good idea of what to expect if they ever visited Japan. 

How much research do you do? 

Tonnes! It's hard to measure exactly, because I tend to do research as I go along. For example, I have a section in the book where the main characters take a tour of the Imperial Palace, something I wasn't able to do when I was there. After a few hours of serious digging I was able to take a virtual tour, cross reference several Japanese guide books, check maps, read visitor blogs and collate what I needed. I also did a lot of reading up on Japanese mythology and folklore as background. It helped that my Japanese is still serviceable so I was able to go to the source for a lot of my research. In fact, that language barrier is probably one of the biggest reasons why Japanese culture remains largely unknown to western audiences.

Do you work to an outline/plot or do you prefer to see where an idea takes you? 

I'm definitely a plotter by nature and you'll see a classic three-act structure in what I do but that doesn't mean I write an outline and stick to it slavishly. Most of my novels tend to start out as back-of-the-envelope sketches, and I start writing with that loose map in mind and then see where it goes. I'm a firm believer in always knowing the direction you're drifting in and in knowing your ending, but I'm open to taking detours and feeling my way through a story, because characters will surprise you and do their own thing if you let them. While it's important to not be too rigid, I don't fancy writing a whole book straight off the cuff. I can't afford the time if it goes spectacularly wrong!

Is travel an important aspect to you, as your books are based in Japan?

I love travel and have been fortunate enough to visit many parts of the world, but there's always more to see, learn and discover. I have a fairly diverse background being Indian by genetics, Caribbean by heritage and British by culture. My extended family includes Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Jews so I have a very broad view of the world. To me, people are essentially the same wherever they are; we have the same desires and needs. Travel, and by that I mean seeing how people live and sharing in their lives, rather than merely passing through and treating them like exhibits, is a hugely rewarding experience because it teaches you new ways of looking at the world. We are so steeped in our cultural mindset that we assume it is the only way of seeing things; exposure to different peoples shows us how blinkered we are and how little we know. For example, the concept of owning land is alien to some cultures. They see it the other way round and, if you think about it, it is absurd to believe that any individual can lay claim to any portion of our planet. The land owns us and that's a lesson that we'll be reminded of in the coming decades as the climate changes.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process? 

That's an intriguing question. I'd like to say no, that readers will discover new books through word of mouth or recommendations from trusted bloggers, but if packaging wasn't important, we wouldn't spend millions on it. It's funny, because I've had kids express reservations about the cover of The Sword of Kuromori yet go on to love the book. Equally, there are books that have gone on to huge success with covers that I don't find at all appealing. I've been very lucky, though, in that my publisher Egmont has involved me fully in the cover design process and I love the movie-poster/computer-game look that we've gone with.

Are there any authors that you have found inspiring?

As a kid, I devoured the Willard Price Adventure series of books and learned so much from them about animals, nature, science and the wider world. I also enjoyed classics such as King Solomon's Mines by H Rider Haggard and I can see even now how those novels inspired my rapid-fire style of writing. Stan Lee at Marvel Comics was another huge influence because not only did he write multiple titles simultaneously but he also went big with his ideas. Lee was never afraid to raise the stakes and go epic while retaining the sense of fragility that encapsulates mankind. Finally, I have to mention Sarwat Chadda because we go back a long way and seeing him break into publishing gave me the kick that I needed to get back to writing seriously.

Do you have any advice for other writers?  

Don't write for success. Don't write for the market. Don't write for your friends. Don't write to meet an arbitrary target. Don't write to win a bet. Write for yourself because not getting that story out will haunt you for the rest of your life. My father wanted to be a writer but he never knuckled down and only left a few pages of jottings. I wrote four books before I sold one and I was prepared to keep writing novels, even if I never succeeded, so I would leave my children a shelf full of finished manuscripts and they could say that at least I tried. Write because you have to. Everything else is a bonus.

Is there anything else that you would like to tell us? 

One of the biggest surprises I've found this year is that there are so many really wonderful people out there who love reading, love books and give up their free time to share that love. The community of readers, writers, editors, agents, bloggers and publishers that I've stumbled across is like a big, warm hug and I'm honoured to be a member of that extended family. Thank you to everyone who has read this, supported their favourite author and spread the word about their favourite book. It's been a pleasure.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Recommended: Minecraft Blockopedia Hardcover

Blockopedia is the ultimate reference guide, featuring information on every single block that makes up the Minecraft world. The world of Minecraft is made entirely of blocks. Some help you build, some help you stay alive. Every block you discover opens up new possibilities and exciting adventures.

This hexagonal book is a 'comprehensive reference tool for beginners and more experienced players alike', written by former Edge editor Alex Wiltshire and is accurate up to the latest 1.8 game update.

“Working closely with Mojang, we wanted to make sure this encyclopaedia was so much more than just an ordinary reference book, so it could truly reflect both the richness of the world and iconic visual identity of the game," said Sarah Bates, publishing director for licensed character books, Egmont Publishing.

"Blockopedia pushes the boundaries of what we expect a book to be. It’s totally unique and we’re extremely proud to be bringing such an innovative product to market."

Blockopedia is out on December 4th from all good book retailers, with an RRP of £30.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - The perfect present for any Minecraft addict. Full of tips to help with the game. Hours of addictive fun for all the family. Once you start, you will not be able to stop. Recommended purchase this christmas. 

MICHAEL GRANT - LIGHT (GONE) UK BLOG TOUR - DAY 6 - EGMONT/ELECTRIC MONKEY

Thanks to Vincent who was foolish enough to hand his blog over to me. 

Thanks Michael for popping over as well to Mr Ripley's Enchanted books on the final stop on the Light UK blog tour. 

People like famous people.  Which I believe may be the cause of fame to begin with.  I’m sometimes asked whether I’m famous.  The answer is: No.  I am not famous.  In the States I’m even less famous than I am in the UK.  I will admit to being better-known than the average grocery store clerk or insurance salesman, but no one has ever come up to me in a random public place and said, “Oh!  You’re Michael Grant!”

Thank God.  I’ve never understood why people want to be famous.  I am altogether on-board with rich.  Rich is excellent.  Money is real and you can use it to do things and own things and have people killed.  (Just kidding.  I do all my own killing.)

Fame just means you have people watching as you try on clothing that no longer fits.  Fame is people overhearing you threaten your bratty children with water-boarding.  (Hey, it’s not torture, if you believe the previous American president.)  Fame is a bunch of strangers all up in your face then rushing off to Tweet that you had a booger.  Who wants that? 

I get asked whether I know various famous writers.  I’ve never met JK Rowling.  Sorry.  I’ve never met Stephen King, though we have emailed.  I was at a dinner once with Veronica Roth.  (She’s very tall and pretty.)  I’ve exchanged a few words with RL Stine.  Ditto Lois Lowry. Did a  panel once with Lemony Snicket. And I met Chris Colfer.  You know, Kurt, from Glee.  Oh, and Teller of Penn and Teller is a distant cousin.  I think that’s it for the famous people I’ve met.  Or failed to meet.  

I do know a fair number of other writers, and count Andrew Smith, DJ MacHale, Lisa McMann, David Lubar, Paolo Bacigalupi, Alex London, Mike Mullin, TM Goeglein, Beth Revis, Jon Scieszka  and a few other great writers as buddies.  But they’re no more famous than I am.  Believe me, we can all sit together in a bar drinking and absolutely no one bothers us for autographs.  I know this because we’ve put that to the test.  Again and again.  

Oh, wait, I met Henry Winkler (the Fonz) and interviewed Weird Al Yankovic.  So there’s that.  

But probably the most famous writer I’ve met is my wife, Katherine Applegate, who won the Newbery for THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN last year.  (It’s a big-deal prize she won for some book about a talking monkey.)  And really, when we’re sitting around in our sweatpants and food-stained t-shirts watching YouTube bootlegs of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE-OFF we seldom ask each other for autographs.  

Fame is stupid.  Money is cool.  Don’t be famous, be rich.

Oh, wait!  I forgot to mention my new book series, MESSENGER OF FEAR.  See, it’s that failing to mention stuff that results in you not being famous.  

Website: http://www.michaelgrantbooks.co.uk/