Paul Magrs - LOST ON MARS+ THE MARTIAN GIRL + THE HEART OF MARS (The Lora Trilogy) - Festive Gift Ideas

We are getting closer to Christmas, so it's time to start thinking of ideal presents, stocking fillers and, of course, great books to warm you up throughout this festive period. Instead of me promoting this new book, I'm delighted to be able to introduce Lora to tell you more about this amazing series.

Hi, I'm Lora and Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books has kindly let me take over his blog, so that I can tell you about the story of my family on Mars. It's a story like no other a story - you will need to read it to believe it. We are lucky enough for Paul Magrs in writing a truthful account and for FireFly Press for publishing our little family tale. We call it the (The Lora Trilogy) The first in this epic Sci-Fi series Lost on Mars was published in May 2015  and the sequel The Martian Girl was published in September 2016. The last in the trilogy, The Heart of Mars, was published in March 2018. Mr Ripley has been a great supporter of the books and would like to recommend them to you all. This is a great Christmas present for everybody young and old. 

So here is more of my tale so you may know what lies ahead...

Dear Everyone,

There’s not many of us left now. Not after the Disappearances and all the terrible things that happened.

Life was tough on our Homestead, but we liked living there, out on the red Martian Prairie. There was Mum and Da and our crazy Granny with the mechanical leg and the laser eye. Then there was Toaster, our robot, who did loads of work around our place, and who used to be a sun bed once upon a time.

Why did the people of the first landings ever bring a sun bed to Mars? Where the sun’s so blistering all the time? When the heat gets wild and the dust storms come rolling over the plains, destroying our crops and bringing with them the terrifying ghosts of dead Martians.

Oh, yes. That’s where my tale begins. This whole epic adventure begins with the time that the storms came in the late autumn and ripped away all our fields of green corn. We were going to go hungry and cold that winter anyway, and that was bad enough. 

But then folk started getting Disappeared. 

We lost our Gran. She got whizzed away in the night, leaving just her electronic leg and eye behind. Then our Da went too, and we knew who’d got him.

The Martians were haunting us and taking us away one by one…

Heeee heeee heeeeee…

I could hear their laughter when I sat up late at night and my brother and little sister were asleep.

And I knew the Martian ghosts were coming for all of us. 

And I knew that we had to get away. I took the decision for all of our sakes. We would choose the most essential of our belongings and pack up the Hovercarts. We’d saddle up the great lizards who carried all our burdens…

So we set off into the great scarlet wilderness, looking for a new home. We followed the strange signals that came out of the last of our radios. We didn’t know what they were telling us, but there were people out there somewhere, calling us into the unknown…

And there were a whole lot of challenges and dangers that we had to face…

I kept a journal the whole time. I knew that the day would come when I would have to tell you all about our journey and our adventures. 

I knew I would tell you eventually about what happened when those few of us from our town were lost on Mars.

Yrs,

Lora.

'This series really is one of my all-time personal favourites; it is a science fiction delight that everyone should read... (it) will leave you feeling like you've read something really special by one of the best authors around.' Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Sarah Govett - The Territory: Truth (The Territory Trilogy) - Book Review (Firefly Press)

Limited Space requires Limited Numbers. Noa and Raf have found Jack, but at great personal cost. They must get back into the Territory and let people know what is happening. But how can they even scale the electric, gun-turreted fence, let alone fight the fake news of the Territory authorities?

The final installment of The Territory Trilogy is here; alive and kicking into the world of the fantasy readers. The Truth was published on the 1st April 2018 by Firefly Press and ends another series which started back in 2015. The first book started the experience in a dystopian whirlwind of imagination that captivated the readers instantly. It was a fantastically gripping start which we all wanted and got. 

The second book was The Territory: Escape in 2016. It was very enjoyable and built on the initial foundations of brilliance. This book delivered a real and intimate connection to the characters focusing on emotions and friendships. However, this meant the action side of the story became less of a focal point, in my opinion. The Truth started off in this same vein - very slow and shy. The characters, emotions and dialogue took centre stage for me and, at times, clogged up the potential. In Truth, what I really wanted was more action and more of the brilliantly imaginative and creative fantasy elements that we were treated to in book one. I wanted to explore and be transported to First City; the vivid, vibrant and active place that captivated me as a reader. 

Fortunately, this arrives in bucket loads with an explosive bang after the first one hundred pages or so. It leads to an amazing and well-thought out plot that will have you hooked and gasping for more. The more you read, the more you feel that Disneyland has never been invented. The author takes a brutal path and weaves strands of harsh reality ofor the reader to follow, which I absolutely loved and engaged with on so many levels. Death, destruction and fraying friendships come crashing down on the reader leaving mixed emotions that turbo-charge you into the reality facing the characters. This was all brilliantly written and very well-thought out. 

Empathy and love for the characters really grows throughout the book. The full and all-action ending was captivating and very memorable; it was exactly what I was hoping for. It left you guessing, satisfied, but also a feeling of awe from the outcome of the story. However, there was also a pinch of sadness as you finally left such a brilliant world. I think there is more to be explored and developed; it could certainly become a futuristic masterpiece. This is a great ending to a brilliant series full of highs and lows. I am hoping to read more stories like this by Sarah Govett and Firefly Press. 

Paul Magrs - The Heart of Mars (Lora Trilogy) Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Book Review (Firefly Press)

Have we come to the sad end of the sci-fi Lora trilogy by Paul Magrs?

It all started with "Lost on Mars" which is the first book in the trilogy. This was a brilliant read and became my favourite book of 2015. The second book in the series, "The Martian Girl" (2016), was, again, an excellent read which I thoroughly enjoyed. The final installment is "The Heart of Mars" and is absolutely amazing. This series really is one of my all-time personal favourites; it is a science-fiction delight that everyone should read. 

The Heart of Mars will be published across the galaxy on the 15th March 2018 by Firefly Press. NOTE: this book can be read on its own or on Mars. However, I personally would recommend that you start with the first book in the series.
If you've not read the previous books then grab all three and begin a reading adventure like no other. Unfortunately, they're not that easy to find so you may need to order them. Nevertheless, it will be worth the time and investment as they will leave you feeling like you've read something really special by one of the best authors around.  

I lost all sense of time as I followed Lora, Peter and, Toaster (a Servo-Furnishing machine) into the deadly swamplands full of mist and thick purple mud. The further they plunged into the adventure, the greater the sense of creeping eyes following and strange voices drifting through the air. It's a fantastic shuttle-ride of escapism as you follow Lora's epic mission to reunite her family in an all-out thrilling finale. 

A strange encounter with the Ancient Ones delivers a power-packed punch of fantasy and magic. You'll be slapped in the face with an air of mystery and so many unanswered questions. It's a brilliant story packed full of action, adventure and a fantastic host of characters, creatures and monsters. Yet, the simplicity of the story alongside the engaging narrative is cleverly built around a detailed fantasy world that seeps into the pores of the reader.

The author's vivid imagination in taking an idea and running with it, regardless, is breathtaking. It is incredible how he is able to write a Sci-Fi novel with such ease and poise. Even more remarkably, is that it will be loved by kids as much as by adults. It really does have his unique personality stamped onto every page, but this is what is to be expected from Paul Magrs. In my opinion, he is such an underrated author so start reading his books now. 

This book is a super extra-terrestrial romp through space and time. It is from the heart and is full of friendship danger as well as humour (I am Watt. Watt I am!). Definitely a book to devour and a series to savour. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Interview with Rhian Ivory Author of The Boy who Drew the Future‏

Welcome to Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books. Today, I’m very lucky to be interviewing Rhian Ivory, who is the author of The Boy who Drew the Future. This book has been published by the small Welsh publishing company Firefly Press; they have a great eye for amazing stories. Thank you Rhian for agreeing to this interview - it's wonderful to have you on the blog today.

How would you describe your book The Boy Who Drew the Future to potential readers? 

Two boys living in the same village over 100 years apart suffer the same curse - the ability to draw the future. In the present day Noah tries to blend in with the crowd but when he meets Beth he is forced to face his greatest fears and look at what he's drawn, but can he work out what his drawings mean before it is too late? In 1865 Blaze is desperately trying to survive in the village by drawing people's futures in return for food and clothing, with only Dog to keep him company he tries to avoiding a return to the Workhouse. Can their futures be redrawn or will history repeat itself?

Give us an insight into the main character. 

Blaze is an orphan, he lives in a hut in the gardens of the old Manor House in Sible Hedingham. He draws pictures of people's futures in return for food, shelter and clothing but there's one person's future he doesn't want to see let alone draw but Emilia just won't leave him alone. Blaze has already run away from the Workhouse once and he knows that unless he gives in to Emilia this might be where he ends up again and this time he won't be allowed to escape. 

Is there a message in your book?

Yes. I wanted to look at the way in which outsiders are treated in society. Both Noah and Blaze are regarded as different and decidedly other, they don't fit in, they don't look or act in the same way as everyone else but both try to hide it. Being accepted by society and the village they live in is something they both strive for whilst trying to hide away their darkest secret. Blaze is French and seen very much as a foreigner, an outcast and physically looks very different to the rest of the village and is treated accordingly, Noah however looks very much the same as everyone else but when people begin to suspect him he suffers the same treatment as Blaze back in 1865. What I found interesting as I wrote  the novel is the way in which very little has changed, of course you cannot legally 'swim' a witch in Noah's timeline as you could in Blaze's but the kind of public trial and witch hunt that both boys suffer is very similar and made me think of the way people treat one another on social media, trolls, trials and witch hunts seem frightening prevalent today as much as they did in the 1860s.

What is your favourite theme/genre to write about? 

I do seem to have a bit of a thing about the future as I've written about it before in True Colours under my pen name Rhian Tracey. However as I get older I find myself being drawn to the past more than the future and I'm very interested in people who are different and how they cope in the real world, especially when their Plan A fails and they have no Plan B to fall back on. I like characters who live in the shadows, hovering on the edge of the world, they're much more interesting than those taking centre stage. 

What is your least favourite part of the publishing / writing process?

The bit when I get nervous about sitting down at the computer which is where I'm at right now. I'm almost at 30,000 words in my new YA book and I know how the story ends but I don't quite know how to get there. I'm having a fight with myself, my head is in shouty caps lock mode "YOU SHOULD BE SITTING AT THE COMPUTER WRITING AT LEAST 1000 WORDS A DAY!" but my heart whispers you need to slow down, there's no rush, stop and have a think and a Cadbury's caramel, relax and watch the world go by, you'll work it out. 

Eugh. I hate this bit. 

What are your thoughts about how to encourage more children to read?

I'm all over it! I'm a Patron of Reading and as such my main purpose is to go into schools and encourage children to love stories, to want to listen to them, tell them, share them, draw them and write them. There's stories in everything, songs, films, newspapers, galleries, museums, eavesdropped conversations, shopping lists, poetry, plays, prose, non-fiction its all about turning up the volume on their world and letting them see the huge possibilities out there and then helping them to reach their potential. I love going into schools and helping children find their love of reading either for the first time, or helping them find it if they've lost it along the way as many of them have. Libraries play such a vital role in this, a school without a library is like a person without a heart, it is the life and soul of a school or at least it should be. 

Are there any particular authors that have influenced your writing?

Yes, Roald Dahl. I've read all his books, I still have most of them, some have fallen apart and had to be replaced over the years. I re-read The Witches about once a year, that's my favourite. Seeing Roald Dahl on TV when I was younger in his shed with his paper on his knees and his pen in his hand joined up the dots for me between books and a writer. I didn't know what one was until I saw him writing in his shed. That's when I thought I want his job!

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read. 
Talk about writing. 

Think about writing.

Dream about writing.

I also like to make cakes with my kids and while they are cooking we do crazy dances in the kitchen. We have Slipper Dance Offs on the slippy tiles, think Strictly Come Dancing merged with Casualty. Lots of fun and narrow misses, A&E should be on speed dial on my phone.

Do you read your reviews? Do you respond to them, good or bad? 

When my book first comes out I'm allowed a few weeks of being obsessed with it, reading reviews and clicking on my sales ranking but after that I make myself move on and try and get into the next book. I did say try.

What question would you liked to be asked?

I like it when people ask what my favourite word is...since you asked so nicely I'll tell you, mine is cacophony. Isn't it gorgeous?

The Boy who drew the Future, September 2015 from Firefly Press -  http://www.fireflypress.co.uk/node/161

'Secrets start to emerge as danger grows and Ivory keeps the tension high in this taut novel.'

The Telegraph's Best Young Adult books of 2015

Sarah Govett - The Territory - Book Review (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books )

Book Synopsis: Limited Space requires limited numbers: Noa lives in what's left of a Britain where flooding means land is scarce. Everyone must sit an exam at 15. If you pass you can stay in the Territory, if you fail you must go to the Wetlands. Rich families can buy their children an upgrade to help, but Norms like Noa must succeed on their own merits. Noa is a bright funny teenager, not sure which boy she likes, devoted to her friends. The book follows her as she and her friends face the exam. Who will pass and who will fail?

Book Review: If you are looking for a book purely on the quality and uniqueness of the story then this is a great one for you. The team at Firefly Press Ltd are publishing some cracking reads at the moment. Slightly different from other mainstream publishers, this is a super example of one of them. The Territory is an immersive dystopian thriller set in future Britain. It takes a look at how the world would function if land became very scarce due to climate flooding. This kind of topic is very much in vogue and poses many questions for the reader to consider.

In this book it's all about the survival of the intelligent - everyone must pass an exam at 15 years old to stay in The Territory. If you don't, then you are exiled to the disease-ridden Wetlands. The system in place is in the favour of the more wealthy kids, who have the advantage of uploading information through a node in the back of their neck. This concept brings about a brilliant story of family, friends and friendship within a global futuristic world. 

Noa, the main character, is very likeable and has many humorous qualities that I really liked. Following her daily life, her heart and loyalty become pulled in two directions, leaving the average teenage having to think on her feet. It is a story that many readers will be able to relate to, in my opinion. I love dipping my toe into this crossover type of book as it makes the imagination juices overflow. I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it. 

The story is well plotted; depicting an interesting and disturbing vision of what could be in years to come. It's convincing and sometimes tense. The ending is particularly climatic. Once you've read the last page, you will certainly want to find out what happens next. Please bring out book two fairly quickly so that we can find out soon!

Published by Firefly Press Ltd (14 May 2015)

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Paul Magrs - Lost on Mars - Book Review

Book Synopsis: With the scale and scope of the great science fiction epics, Lost on Mars tells the story of Lora and her family, third generation human settlers on the red planet who are struggling to survive in incredible circumstances. The family clings to life on a smallholding in the desert landscape, surviving storms and sinister rumours of un-explained disappearances until one night Lora sees the Dancers. When her father and grandmother disappear themselves, Lora's family is driven out to seek a new life across the plains. But none of them are ready for what they find the beautiful, dangerous City Inside.

Book Review: I was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of this book. In fact, I gave a little dance when it landed in my letter box. It never even made my 'To Be Read' pile as I devoured it straight away. Paul Magrs has quickly become one of my favourite authors, so I was eagerly hoping that this book would live up to my expectations. 

The synopsis gives very little away, as you can see above, so my imagination was on overload from the very start. Paul has a very expressive way of telling a story; simply told with a fantastical and futuristic vision that packs a mighty punch to the senses. Inspired from the books that he read as a child, this has helped him deliver another science fiction epic of his own. 

It's FANTASTIC, it's BRILLIANT, it's certainly strange and the plot will hit you in both the gut and the heart at the same time. It's thought provoking and very surreal following the characters into the realms of the unknown. I was never quite sure what would happen in this book as it's a magical ride of two halves with a big dollop of craziness, of course. Although, the story does have an underlying dark and sinister edge; disappearing people, unexplained sightings and possibly a cannibalistic race of aliens that will have you running for another planet. However, the more that I read, the more that I fell in love with this book. 

The final part of the story is a fantasy marvel. It hits you out of nowhere and changes the whole direction of the story. This certainly shows Paul's pedigree of writing through his epic involvement in writing twenty five or so Dr Who novels.

One of my favourite aspects of the story included another one of Paul's trademark 'servo furnishings'. This time it was a sunbed, if I recall correctly. I'd love more books to feature one as it makes the book sparkle with amusement and wonder.  

This is easily my favourite read of the year. It is a cracking space odyssey for the Young Adult audience and beyond. A unique outlook all wrapped in a disturbing fight for survival against a bleak and desolate landscape. Although, the end does pose the question as to whether there will be a sequel or not.

I hope that you will grab a copy of this delight of a book and enjoy it as much as I did. Many thanks to Firefly Press for publishing this book and Megan Farr for sending a copy in my direction.

Paperback: 352 pages - Publisher: Firefly Press Ltd (14 May 2015) ISBN-13: 978-1910080221

Publishers News: Paul Magrs Signs New YA Book Deal - Lost on Mars 2105

Wales-based children’s and young adult publisher Firefly Press has acquired a YA science fiction title by Dr Who novel writer Paul Magrs.
 
Lost on Mars, which will be published in spring 2015, tells the story of Lora and her family, who are human settlers on the red planet and struggling to survive.
 
“I wanted to write a science fiction epic set on another planet, about human beings surviving in incredible new circumstances and encountering mysterious and fascinating new ideas,” said Magrs. “It’s a kind of blend of the best elements of classic children’s fiction, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books, and Golden Age space operas such as Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles.”
 
Firefly publisher Penny Thomas, which acquired world rights from literary agent Charlotte Robertson at United Agents, said she was “delighted” to sign Magrs and described the book as a “thrilling read from a terrific writer”.
 
Magrs has written more than 25 original Dr Who novels for BBC Books, as well as YA title Exchange (Simon & Schuster Children's), which was shortlisted for the Book TrustTeen Book Award in 2006 and longlisted for the Carnegie in 2007.