Mr Ripley's Interview with Tamsin Cooke - Author of Cat Burglar - Published by OUP

Tamsin Cooke SCHOOLGIRL BY DAY, CAT BURGLAR BY NIGHT, really? 
Welcome Tamsin to Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books. Thank you very much for taking the time out to answer some questions about your writing career and your latest book Cat Burglar. This is due to hit the shops on 7th January and will be published by OUP. If you would like to read the brilliant first chapter read it Here.  

Who would love reading The Scarlet Files: Cat Burglar, and why? 
I think both girls and boys aged 9+ would love to read Cat Burglar. It’s fast paced and full of adventure and humour. There are daring heists, mystical happenings and exciting characters.

Give us an insight into the main character, Scarlet McCall? 
Scarlet is an ordinary schoolgirl by day (trying to blend into the background, not making friends) but at night she is a trainee cat burglar. She and her father are on a mission to return priceless treasures to their rightful owners. Scarlet is brave and feisty but has huge issues around trust. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, apart from her father. She’s desperate to prove herself to him. 

What tips do you have for a would-be Cat Burglar? 
You need to keep a low profile – you can’t let people get too close in case they learn your secrets. 
You need to be very fit – able to scale walls and run away from guard dogs. 
If you have a fear of heights, you probably shouldn’t go into this line of work! 


Have you ever used contemporary events or stories “ripped from the headlines” in your work? 
I’m always on the lookout for stories about heists. And I like seeing how people have managed to get into buildings. Scarlet and her father have poached some of the more elaborate ways to access a house.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? 
Whenever I need a break from writing, I go into my kitchen and pull down the blinds. Then I put on my headphones and dance. I’ve been known to dance for an hour non-stop! 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? 
How many rubbish cat burglars there are! 
Two men decided to paint masks on their faces with permanent marker rather than wear balaclavas. Funnily enough, the police managed to catch two men covered in fading felt-tip. 

A burglar was upstairs when the family came home. He managed to stay quiet until the husband told a funny joke. The burglar burst out laughing, giving himself away!

Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they? 
It took me twelve years to get published. Certain things helped me get better - mainly practice and listening to what professionals had to say. I got so many rejection letters, but luckily they often included gems of advice. The literary agents could see where I was going wrong. When I first got these rejection letters, the temptation was to rage and throw them away. But after I got over the initial devastation, what they told me proved to be invaluable. So I would say - listen to constructive criticism from professionals. 

At the same time – keep believing in yourself. No one can tell your story as well as you can.

What helps you be creative? 
I pay attention to my dreams. I go for dog walks on my own (well - I do take my dog!) and just let my mind wander. If my story isn’t working and I’m stuck going round in circles, I’ll take a shower. I don’t know how it works – but having the hot water drip down my head unlocks ideas. On some days, I am very, very clean! 

What question have you never been asked in an interview? 
Am I writing from experience? Have I ever been a cat burglar? 
Obviously there is no way I can answer that!!!! ;)

Interview with Patrick Samphire - Secrets of the Dragon Tomb

Welcome Patrick Samphire to Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books. Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about your debut book, Secrets of the Dragon Tomb, which has been published by Henry Holt in the US. After reading this interview, I hope that you will be excited to read the book just like me. Have a read and see what you think?

Tell us a little bit about SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB?

SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB is a thrilling middle grade adventure story set on Mars in the year 1816. But this is not the Mars you might expect. It's full of strange, clockwork machines, weird, alien creatures, and dinosaurs. In the north, the ancient dragon tombs are packed with incredible devices and technology. 

Our hero, Edward Sullivan, spends his time trying to keep his eccentric family from complete disaster, but when his parents and eldest sister are kidnapped as part of a scheme to loot an undiscovered dragon tomb, he, his other two sisters, and their mysterious cousin set off on a perilous pursuit across the Martian wilderness. Together they must evade the bad guy's minions, battle mechanical nasties, and escape deadly Martian hunting machines. If they can't, they will never uncover the secrets of the dragon tomb and rescue Edward's family.

12-year-old character Edward Sullivan, what is he like as a character? Do you have any similar traits?

All of my characters have some part of me in them, but I definitely sympathise with Edward more than any of the rest of them. All of Edward's family are exceptional in some way. His father is a genius, and his little sister is turning out to be just as clever. His oldest sister is incredibly sweet and beautiful, and his middle sister is very caring and compassionate. Edward, though, is pretty ordinary. He's not a hero or super-intelligent or super-athletic. But what he is is absolutely determined and he refuses to give in. I don't know if that's me or not, but it is the kind of hero I like. I don't think it's much fun when the hero is cleverer or stronger than everyone else, but put someone who is basically ordinary in a terrible situation, and then you've got a story.

Can you describe a mechanical nasty? How do you get your ideas?

I absolutely love coming up with mechanical nasties. There are loads of them in the book. The world of my story is one where there are lots and lots of eccentric inventors with the kind of technology that lets them come up with whatever wild ideas they can. If you can imagine it, someone has made it out of cogs and levers and springs. My favourite ones in this book are the mechanical crabs, which are basically metal crabs with razor-sharp claws that are powered by springs. I don't want to say too much about them because I don't want to give away what happens in the story, but they have a great role to play.

One of my biggest inspirations for this book was old science fiction, particularly science fiction art from the nineteenth and early twentieth century. The most important influence was a French artist (and writer) called Albert Robida, who drew incredible, quirky machines. I didn't take any ideas directly from those artists, but what I did do was start each day by flicking through their art to get myself in the right headspace. I also told myself that there was no idea so wild or so ridiculous that I couldn't use it. I think it's really important not to censor your ideas just because you're worried about what someone else might think of them.

What do you think is funny, especially in Middle Grade Writing? 

I must admit I'm not a big fan of cruel humour I don't really like laughing at other people's misfortune. I think there has to be some kindness and warmth in humour, particularly in Middle Grade. Most of the humour in SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB comes from the characters, and that's the kind I like. I like silly situations, but I particularly like the funny things characters do to get out of them. I'm a big fan of PG Wodehouse, and I think his style of humour translates well to Middle Grade.

What tips can you share in writing a believable world/background?

Detail. The key is, you need to know how everything works, even if you don't put it in the book. In fact, as the writer you should know many, many times more than you put in your book. It has to be there in your head. You need to know the whole of your world. Then you can write the story within it. 

When you start off writing, it's tempting to just throw in some random, cool-sounding stuff, but if you don't know your world and you don't know how it all fits in, then it won't be convincing. For example, I have a detailed history for my Mars that goes back thousands of years. I have my own map (which is separate and much more comprehensive than the map that's in SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB). I know a lot about the creatures. I know the history that the characters don't and all the misunderstandings that they have about their past. I know (pretty well) how the weird technology works. And so on. It can be intimidating, but you build it up over time and it makes what could be a ridiculous story into something believable.

What do you think makes a good story?                                                  

The thing that made me want to write when I was a kid was reading books that totally absorbed me and carried me away. The kind of book you could sink into and which felt even more real than the real world. I wanted to write the kind of books that could make someone else feel the same way. That's still what I like reading, and for me, that's a good story. A world and characters that draw you in so far you don't notice your house falling down around you.

What genre of books do you like to read? do you limit yourself to only the genre that you write yourself?                                                                                                             

I've always been an enormous fantasy and science fiction fan, and that's what I read most of, but I do love lots of other books too, and I think every writer has to read widely. I've read some great mysteries, romances and literary novels in recent years. And, of course, I try to read as much Middle Grade as I possibly can, of all genres.

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

Yes, absolutely. Although there are plenty of great book blogs and review sites like Goodreads around, and people hear about books through word of mouth, when most people (including me) go into a bookstore, we don't know what we're going to buy. The thing that makes you pick up a book in the first place before anything else is the cover. I don't think anyone *buys* a book because of the cover, but covers are what draw them in in the first place. Covers have to tell you what kind of book you're getting and what type of story it's telling, they have to stand out from across the store, and they have to make you want to pick the book up. And they have to do it all in a split second. It's only when they manage that that you make the decision to find out what the book is about and maybe read a bit of it. A cover really can make or break a book.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I know it's a bit of a cliche, but I wanted to be a writer. I went through those stages we all go through of wanting to be an astronaut or a racing driver or a fireman, but the first time I actually knew I really wanted to be something, it was a writer.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us, like new writing projects?                                                                                                 
Right now I'm writing a proposal for a third book in the SECRETS OF THE DRAGON TOMB series. The second book, which will be called THE EMPEROR OF MARS, is going to come out at the beginning of 2017, and I'm going to pitch a third book to my publisher to see if she wants it. I've also started work on a completely unrelated Middle Grade fantasy with wizards, murder, and mystery, set in England in the 1930s. That's still in the early stages, so we'll see where it goes.

Patrick Samphire started writing when he was fourteen years old and thought it would be a good way of getting out of English lessons. It didn’t work, but he kept on writing anyway. He has lived in Zambia, Guyana, Austria and England. He now lives with his wife and two children in Wales, U.K. He has published almost twenty short stories. Secrets of the Dragon Tomb is his first novel.

Christopher Edge - The Many Worlds of Albie Bright - Book Review - Published by Nosy Crow

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Nosy Crow (14 Jan. 2016)
• ISBN-10: 0857636049
• Age: 9+

When Albie's mum dies, it's natural he should wonder where she's gone. His parents are both scientists and they usually have all the answers. Dad mutters something about Albie's mum being alive and with them in a parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum's computer and a rotting banana, and sends himself through time and space to find her...Quality commercial fiction, well written with real heart and adventure.

Traditionally, January is a very strong month for book releases. I've read so many great books already, especially in the middle grade genre. I've loved every reading minute so far and this book has been no exception. It is another fantastic outing by Christopher Edge; this is his fifth published novel (I believe) and one that resonated with me very much. The book cover is very inviting. Produced by Matt Saunders, it will grab your attention and make you want to read it.

I loved the plot from the very first minute. You are quickly engulfed in a warm embrace as you follow the main character, Albie Bright. He's a gentle boy, who is very lovable and helps to drive the story onwards and forwards to a parallel world and beyond. You never know where he will end up, with his rotting banana, in this exciting standalone novel. It is very cleverly written weaving in some uncommon subjects and emotions.  Albie is trying to come to terms with the grief of loosing his mum from cancer; he would move heaven and earth to see her again. Hurtling through time and space to captivate our hearts, the story explodes into life the more that you read.

This is a book that I really would like to see kids read. It has an engaging story exploring the themes of science and quantum physics; we are given a big dollop of insight into what the Hadron Collider is all about. Did you know it's the most powerful particle collider, and the largest single machine in the world? I did not know this until I read this book. It is educational in a fun and easy way that you don't even realise that you're learning. 

The book has been thoroughly well-researched, which makes it one of the smarter reads to pick up this year. It's a family adventure of a lifetime, full of a lifetime of memoirs. It will make you look at life in a totally different perspective, perhaps from a cardboard box or maybe as you look at the stars on a clear night thinking of Schrodinger's cat. It is a world full of many possibilities, a world of imagination and one that I would recommend to everyone, not just children. 

Check out the recent interview with Christopher on Mr Ripley's blog Here.  Many thanks to Dom and Nosy Crow for sending this book for me to review - it's very much appreciated. 

Favourite Book Picks: Children's/Teens - January 2016 - US Published - Post Two (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

James Riley - The Stolen Chapters (Story Thieves) - Published by Aladdin (January 19, 2016)

Owen Conners would never jump into a mystery. There are too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Mysteries are just not Owen’s thing. So how exactly did he end up in one with his memory erased? And that’s far from the only question.

How did Kiel Gnomenfoot, boy magician, lose all of his magic? Where’s Bethany, their half-fictional friend? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger?

Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel?

Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved…

Katherine Marsh & Kelly Murphy - The Door by the Staircase - Published by Disney-Hyperion (January 5, 2016)

Twelve-year-old Mary Hayes can't stand her orphanage for another night. But when an attempted escape through the stove pipe doesn't go quite as well as she'd hoped, Mary fears she'll be stuck in the Buffalo Asylum for Young Ladies forever. 

The very next day, a mysterious woman named Madame Z appears at the orphanage requesting to adopt Mary, and the matron's all too happy to get the girl off her hands. Soon, Mary is fed a hearty meal, dressed in a clean, new nightgown and shown to a soft bed with blankets piled high. She can hardly believe she isn't dreaming!

But when Mary begins to explore the strange nearby town with the help of her new friend, Jacob, she learns a terrifying secret about Madame Z's true identity. If Mary's not careful, her new home might just turn into a nightmare.

Award-winning author Katherine Marsh draws from Russian fairytales in this darkly funny middle-grade fantasy novel.

Monica Tesler - Bounders - Published by Aladdin (January 5, 2016)

In the tradition of Michael Vey and The Unwanteds, twelve-year-old Jasper and his friends are forced to go up against an alien society in this first book in a brand-new adventure series!

Thirteen years ago, Earth Force—a space-military agency—discovered a connection between brain structure and space travel. Now they’ve brought together the first team of cadets, called Bounders, to be trained as high-level astronauts.

Twelve-year-old Jasper is part of this team being sent out into space. After being bullied back on Earth, Jasper is thrilled to have something new and different to do with other kids who are more like him. While learning all about the new technologies and taking classes in mobility—otherwise known as flying with jetpacks—Jasper befriends the four other students in his pod and finally feels like he has found his place in the world.

But then Jasper and his new friends learn that they haven’t been told everything about Earth Force. They weren’t brought to space for astronaut training, but to learn a new, highly classified brain-sync technology that allows them to manipulate matter and quantum bound, or teleport. And it isn’t long before they find out this new technology was actually stolen from an alien society.

When Jasper and his friends discover the truth about why Earth Force needs them, they are faced with a choice: rebel against the academy that brought them together, or fulfill their duty and protect the planet at all costs.

Jennifer A. Nielsen - Rise of the Wolf (Mark of the Thief, Book 2) - Published by Scholastic Press (January 26, 2016)

Nic may have escaped enslavement in the mines outside of Rome, but his troubles are far from over. The Praetor War -- the battle to destroy Rome from within -- is in full force, and Nic is caught in the crossfire. The secretive Praetors are determined to unlock a powerful amulet -- one sure to bring the empire to its knees. Worse, the Praetors believe Nic holds the key to finding this amulet, and they will stop at nothing to steal it, even if that means harming the people Nic holds most dear.

When the Praetors capture Nic's mother, Nic knows he must do anything to save her. He challenges the Praetors to a chariot race. If he wins, they will release his mother. But if he loses, he must hand over a magic that will certainly bring about the end of Rome as well as his own life. Can Nic once again harness his magic and gather the strength to defeat his enemies? Or will he lose his mother and bear witness to Rome's destruction?

Favourite Book Picks: Kids/Teens - January 2016 - US Published (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

Dianne K. Salerni - The Morrigan's Curse (Eighth Day) - Published by HarperCollins (January 26, 2016) 

Adventure, action, and magic collide in the latest installment of the series that School Library Journal called "fast paced and exciting." In the third book of the series that VOYA recommends "for fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter," the war over the Eighth Day continues—and there's more at stake than ever before. 

The battle between Kin and Transitioners that's been brewing for centuries has finally come to a head. The sinister Kin have captured Evangeline's younger sister, Addie, a descendant of Merlin whose presence will allow them to reverse the Eighth Day Spell and free themselves. Addie doesn't realize the full consequences of her cooperation. She's been helping the Kin because they value the strength of her magic—something Evangeline never did. The feeling of power coursing through her veins is impossible to resist. 

Meanwhile, Riley, Evangeline, and Jax craft a plan to rescue Addie from her captors. But the Kin's unstoppable magic, and a rebellious Addie, force Riley to reconsider whether saving Addie is worth sacrificing everyone who lives in the seven-day week. Jax won't let Evangeline's sister be used as a pawn, so he risks it all in a secret mission of his own. With the Morrigan pushing both sides of the war toward annihilation, Addie must decide where her loyalties lie, while Jax, Riley, and Evangeline confront the possibility of losing Addie to save the world.

Patrick Samphire - Secrets of the Dragon - Published by Henry Holt and Co. (January 12, 2016)

Mars in 1816 is a world of high Society, deadly danger, and strange clockwork machines. Pterodactyls glide through the sky, automatic servants hand out sandwiches at elegant garden parties, and in the north, the great dragon tombs hide marvels of Ancient Martian technology.

Twelve-year-old Edward Sullivan has always dreamed of becoming a spy like the ones he reads of in his favorite magazine, Thrilling Martian Tales. Instead, he spends his days keeping his eccentric family from complete disaster ... that is, until the villainous archeologist, Sir Titus Dane, kidnaps Edward's parents as part of a scheme to loot an undiscovered dragon tomb.

Edward and his sisters set out on a perilous pursuit across the Martian wilderness. Together they must evade Sir Titus's minions, battle mechanical nasties, and escape deadly Martian hunting machines. If they can't, they will never uncover the secrets of the dragon tomb and rescue Edward's family.

Ryan Dalton - The Year Light - Published by Jolly Fish Press (January 19, 2016)

When 15-year-old twins Malcolm and Valentine Gilbert moved to a new town, they never imagined that the old house across the street could bring them so much trouble. Inside the old house, a secret machine with the power to pierce time has reawakened. Meanwhile, lightning storms are breaking out all over town. They’re getting worse every week, and seem to enjoy striking kids who just want to pass science class and mind their own business. When Malcolm and Valentine discover a connection between the house and the storms, their situation goes from mysterious to crazy-stupid dangerous. Someone is controlling the great machine, and their purpose is nearly complete. In a race against time, the twins must uncover the chilling plan, the mastermind behind it, and the force that’s driving the deadly storms. They’ll hunt a powerful enemy that threatens their town’s existence, and the only clues are written in the sky.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR: RYAN DALTON either wears a cape and fights crime abroad, or he writes about it from his red captain’s chair at home. Perhaps he’s a superhero that’s trained with the world’s finest heroes, or he’s a lifelong geek who sings well and makes a decent dish of spaghetti. It’s also plausible that he’s been plotting to take over the world since he was ten, or that he’s since been writing novels to stir the heart and spark the imagination.

Patrick Carman - Voyagers: Omega Rising (Book 3) - Random House Books for Young Readers (January 5, 2016) Website:VOYAGERS HQ

Earth is in danger! The only things that can save our planet are six essential elements scattered throughout the galaxy. And it is up to the Voyagers—a team of four kids and an alien—to gather them all and return to Earth.
 
It isn’t just the Voyagers out in space—they’ve got company in the form of Team Omega. Omegas have their own reasons for wanting the elements—and they’ll do anything to win. The third planet, Aqua-Gen, has unbelievable new challenges in store. Sea monsters, pirates . . . Both teams better know how to swim.

Interview with Christopher Edge - The Many Worlds of Albie Bright - Nosy Crow

Here we have the first interview of the new year, which is with Christopher Edge. His latest book "The Many Worlds of Albie Bright" is a brilliant read and one that I would thoroughly recommended. The book will be published by Nosy Crow on the 14th January. The book review will be posted next week, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I hope that you all enjoy the Q&A. Many thanks to Christopher for taking the time out to answer the questions. 

So here it is.......

In a nutshell, what is The Many Worlds of Albie Bright all about?

It's about a boy called Albie Bright who's in Year 6. His mum and dad are scientists and usually have the answers to any question Albie asks. But when Albie's mum dies of cancer and Albie asks his dad if his mum's really in heaven, his dad starts to tell him about quantum physics instead. His dad explains that some scientists believe that this universe - the world we all live in - is only one of an infinite number of parallel universes - and every time our universe is confronted by a choice - for example, to turn left or turn right - it splits into new universes where each possibility actually happens. Albie's dad tells him that according to quantum physics there's a parallel universe out there where Albie's mum never got cancer and is still alive. Instead of the comfort intended, Albie hears hope in these words. If quantum physics says that his mum is still alive in some parallel universe, then maybe quantum physics can help him to find her. Reading about Schrodinger's Cat in one of his dad's books, Albie finds a cardboard box, his mum's laptop and a rotting banana, and sends himself to parallel worlds in search of his mum.

How much of the character of Albie Bright is in you?

I think every character I write has a part of me in them - and increasingly I think I seem to be turning into the characters I write. From my own childhood, I recognise the way that Albie wants to make everything right, even against seemingly impossible odds. I'd like to think that I share Albie's determination and his sense of hope. However I think that Albie's probably more of an expert about science than I was at his age - I only got a grade D in my GCSE Physics exam!

How much research did you do in preparation for writing this book?

As you might guess from my answer to the previous question - lots! I wasn't any kind of science whiz at school, but as an adult I've become fascinated by the wonders of the universe as expertly explained by scientists such as Brian Cox, Jim Al-Khalili, Michio Kaku and Brian Greene. The American physicist Richard Feynman once said, "If you think you understand quantum physics, you don't understand quantum physics", but thanks to a huge pile of books in my office by these and other expert authors, I've been able to pretend that I understand a little more than I did before I started writing The Many Worlds of Albie Bright. It was important to me that all the science mentioned in the book was real and accurately described, so I had the manuscript checked by a friend who's a Professor of Particle Physics and also works at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Luckily he said it passed the test! 

What was your favourite subject at school? Did it have any influence on this book or any other books that you have written?

More than any school subject, I think the biggest influence on this and the other novels I've written is the time I spent in my local library when I was growing up. From discovering favourite authors such as Susan Cooper, Roald Dahl and John Wyndham, to the excitement of being let loose on the adult shelves when I'd exhausted the children's section, every book I read there helped to shape me as a writer. The Many Worlds of Albie Bright is a very different book to Twelve Minutes to Midnight and the other Penelope Tredwell novels, which in their turn seemed to fox attempts to pigeonhole them - one of my favourite reviews described these as a historical-alternate history-mystery-horror-paranormal series - and I think this genre-jumping trait in my writing is a reflection of all the different types of books I first found and fell in love with in the library. And if you look closely you might also be able to spot a reference or two to one of my favourite childhood books in the pages of The Many Worlds of Albie Bright.   

How do you develop your plots and characters? 

For me character and plot go hand in hand, sometimes one leads the way but the other is always following close behind. With The Many Worlds of Albie Bright I had the character of Albie and the central concept of the plot from the very start and I knew exactly how the book would end, but then it was a matter of working out the different stages of Albie's journey in search of his mum. It was a bit of a Russian Doll of a novel to plot, with different parts of the book foreshadowing and echoing others as Albie travels to different parallel worlds. When I finished writing the first draft of the book I found that its structure actually reflected the five stages of grief that psychiatrists describe people as going through when they lose somebody they love, and this element became strengthened in terms of Albie's characterization in the second draft. I used to outline my novels in ridiculous amounts of detail, but now I just need to have a strong sense of the through thread before I start writing. With The Many Worlds of Albie Bright getting Albie's voice right was the key and once I had this in place the rest of the book took off from there.   

If you found a machine that let you travel to a parallel universe, what moment in time would you like to have changed in that universe and why?

Once you start thinking about the implications of the existence of parallel worlds, life can become quite dizzying. If in this universe you step out into traffic and just avoid being hit by a bus, then the chances are you've just ended up as pavement pizza in another parallel world. Everything that can happen does happen somewhere. Maybe fiction is just the broadcasts that make it through from different parallel words. So if I could travel to another parallel universe, maybe I'll pick the one where I've just won the Booker Prize!   

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

I'd hate for The Many Worlds of Albie Bright to be seen as a didactic novel. It's more about asking big questions than sending out messages. Even though Albie asks his dad, 'Do you believe in heaven?' I'm not trying to set science up against religion or vice versa, I'm more interested in how stories can help us make sense of the world, with all its wonder and possibilities as well as its inevitable pain. Maybe someone who reads the novel might have lost a parent just like Albie or had to face up to a situation that they wished they could change. Hopefully The Many Worlds of Albie Bright will help them to realise that they're not alone and give them hope and strength for the future.  

Are you currently involved in any writing projects?

At the moment I'm writing a new novel which should hopefully be published in 2017. This is another stand-alone novel and has some semi-autobiographical elements, so for a change this hasn't involved mindbending amounts of research into topics such as quantum physics and the late-Victorian literary scene as my last few books have! I've also got another couple of projects taking shape in the back of my brain but it's a little too early to talk about these at the moment. Watch this space!    

Children's/Teenage UK Book Picks For January 2016 - Post Two

Max Brallier and Douglas Holgate - The Last Kids on Earth - Published by Egmont (7 Jan. 2016)

Forty-two days ago I was an ordinary kid, living an uneventful life. But now it’s TOTAL MONSTER ZOMBIE CHAOS and I’m battling beasts on a daily basis. Crazy, right? But I know exactly how to make it through the zombie apocalypse. 

Jack Sullivan’s ULTIMATE FEATS OF APOCALYPTIC SUCCESS:

·      Locate Quint Baker, best friend and inventor

·      Find and rescue June Del Toro, the coolest girl I know

·      Defeat Blarg, the biggest, baddest monster in town

·      Become a zombie-fighting, monster-bashing tornado of cool! 

Wish me luck – cos I’m gonna need a bunch of it. 

R. J. Anderson - A Pocket Full of Murder (Uncommon Magic 1) - Published by Orchard Books (14 Jan. 2016) 

A magical murder mystery set in a fantastical city fuelled by spell power. I saveth Breck is brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice, especially after her father is wrongfully arrested. Quiz, the eccentric eye patch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can't resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton's most influential citizens and save Isaveth's beloved papa from execution. But as the list of suspects grows, finding the culprit becomes more of a challenge than the two young detectives anticipated. 

Jon Mayhew - The Venom of the Scorpion (Monster Odyssey 4) - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (14 Jan. 2016)

A new and dangerous mission awaits in the fantastic Monster Odyssey series, in which our hero Dakkar must defeat a clan of evil brothers intent on ruling the world, while battling terrifying monsters. Inspired by Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Dakkar is a young Captain Nemo and these books are the most thrilling of adventures.

After being framed for murder, Dakkar must escape from prison and follow the only clue he has - a scorpion-handled dagger - in order to clear his name. Knowing this must be work of an evil Oginski brother, Dakkar soon finds himself in Algiers facing the deadliest crawling monster ever! 

But even if Dakkar can defeat this beast, he will face the ultimate betrayal - his enemy has been closer than he thought, all along. Will there be anyone left who Dakkar can trust?

Maria Turtschaninoff -The Red Abbey Chronicles: Maresi - Published by Pushkin Children's Books (14 Jan. 2016)

Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

Ross Welford - Time Travelling with a Hamster - Book Review (HarperCollins Children's)

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books (31 Dec. 2015)
• ISBN-10: 000815631X
• Age: 10+

Laugh, cry and wonder at this race-against-time story of a boy who travels back to 1984 to prevent a go-kart accident, and save his father’s life…

“My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty nine and again four years later when he was twelve.

The first time had nothing to do with me. The second time definitely did, but I would never even have been there if it hadn’t been for his ‘time machine’…”

When Al Chaudhury discovers his late dad’s time machine, he finds that going back to the 1980s requires daring and imagination. It also requires lies, theft, burglary, and setting his school on fire. All without losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer…

If you're like me and sometimes judge a book by it's cover, even though I know that you really shouldn't, then you could be forgiven for thinking that this book might be a little bit childish and that it might alienate some readers. Perhaps it's the combination of the book cover and the title that indicates this. I do believe that the bold blue cover is very good; it has been illustrated by the talented artist Tom Clohosy Cole, but I do wonder whether it would attract many 10+ year olds. However, once you get beyond this notion and start to read it you'll soon start to explore a plot which feels very much more grown up. It does not patronise the reader in anyway as it's fantastically written and is aimed at all readers that love a great story. 

This is a cracking book, by a debut writer, to welcome in the new year with. The story will lift your spirits and raise your fantasy fists high into the air. It's a fantastically original story involving time travel which is used as a cog to drive the character on a emotional dodgem car ride of an adventure. 

What if you could meet your dad as a kid and save his life?

When Al gets a letter on his birthday from his father, his life changes forever. The discovery of the time machine drives the plot as he attempts to go back to the 1980s. The story explores a full range of emotions from great hilarity to equally poignant and sad elements that will move you. One such point included the reuniting of Al with Grandpa Byron who mistakingly thinks that he is Pye.

Al Chaudhury's mission is to prevent a go-karting accident in 1984 in order to save his father's life. The added complication is that he needs to achieve this without losing his pet hamster - otherwise known as Alan Shearer! I thought this was a well chosen name as Alan is one of my personal heroes, but not as a hamster!

During a number of points in the story I was in stitches. The writing is very clever and sophisticated through the range of approaches used to share the main characters thoughts and feelings. This really helped the reader to understand Al and the bond between him and his family.

Towards the end of the story, I began to feel that some of the ideas were slightly unnecessary. They seemed to slow down the plot and could leave some readers feeling quite confused and a little disorientated. Nevertheless this was a brilliant read; it is totally original and captivating. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader. It will transport you to and from the 1980s in the blink of an eye!

Happy New Year to you all!

Children's/Teenage UK Book Picks For January 2016 - Post One

Gareth P. Jones - Death or Ice Cream? - Published by Hot Key Books (7 Jan. 2016)

Larkin Mills: The Birthplace of Death! Larkin Mills is no ordinary town. It's a place of contradictions and enigma, of secrets and mysteries. A place with an exquisite ice cream parlour, and an awful lot of death. An extraordinary mystery in Larkin Mills is beginning to take shape. First we meet the apparently healthy Albert Dance, although he's always been called a sickly child, and he's been booked into Larkin Mills' Hospital for Specially Ill Children. Then there's his neighbour Ivor, who observes strange goings-on, and begins his own investigations into why his uncle disappeared all those years ago. Next we meet Young Olive, who is given a battered accordion by her father, and unwittingly strikes a dreadful deal with an instrument repair man. Make sure you keep an eye on Mr Morricone, the town ice-cream seller, who has queues snaking around the block for his legendary ice cream flavours Summer Fruits Suicide and The Christmas Massacre. And Mr Milkwell, the undertaker, who has some very dodgy secrets locked up in his hearse. Because if you can piece together what all these strange folks have to do with one another ...

Ann M. Martin - How to Look for a Lost Dog - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (1 Jan. 2016)

11-year-old Rose is autistic and struggles to understand her classmates. But when her father gives her a stray dog, which she names Rain, the dog becomes her best friend, her anchor in a confusing world. So when Rain goes missing during a storm, Rose refuses to stop looking for her...A touching story from the beloved author of The Babysitters Club.

Helen Dennis - River of Ink:1 Genesis - Published by Hodder Children's Books (14 Jan. 2016)

What if a teenage boy washed up on the banks of the River Thames, soaked to the skin and unable to explain who he is? What if the only clue to the boy's identity is a sketch he made of a strange symbol?

Who would help him? Who would hunt him? 

Who is River Boy?

When a mystery teenage boy emerges from the River Thames drenched, distressed and unable to remember anything about himself, he becomes the focus of worldwide media speculation. Unable to communicate, the River Boy is given paper and a pencil and begins to scribble. Soon a symbol emerges, but the boy has no idea why he has drawn it even thought it's the only clue to the mystery of his identity... 

As the boy begins to build a new life under a new name, the hunt for his real identity begins.

A hunt which will lead him on a dangerous QUEST that he has only one year to complete ...

Gavriel Savit - Anna and the Swallow Man - Bodley Head (28 Jan. 2016)

Anna and the Swallow Man is a stunning, literary, and wholly original debut novel that tells a new WW2 story.

Kraków, 1939, is no place to grow up. There are a million marching soldiers and a thousand barking dogs. And Anna Lania is just seven years old when the Germans take her father and suddenly, she’s alone. 

Then she meets the Swallow Man. He is a mystery, strange and tall. And like Anna's missing father, he has a gift for languages: Polish, Russian, German, Yiddish, even Bird. When he summons a bright, beautiful swallow down to his hand to stop her from crying, Anna is entranced. 

Over the course of their travels together, Anna and the Swallow Man will dodge bombs, tame soldiers, and even, despite their better judgement, make a friend. But in a world gone mad, everything can prove dangerous . . .