Linda Davies - Longbow Girl - Interview Section 2

Below is a fantastic and insightful video interview extract with Linda telling us all about her debut children's book book. I hope it inspires you to want to purchase a copy and read It. 



You can also watch the first part of the interview extract HERE 

Summary
LongbowGirl is a young adult novel by Linda Davies.

A stunningly exciting and dramatic story set in the wilds of the Welsh mountains, where the brave and beautiful Merry Owen, the LongbowGirl, travels back in time to the autocratic kingdom of King Henry V111 to save her ancestors.

Steeped in history, ancient lore and crackling with tension between the central characters Merry and James, LongbowGirl explores the themes of who we are and who we can become when fighting for those we love and for our very lives. Are we prisoners of our history or can we break free? Can we become all that we need to be to meet the ultimate challenge of life and death in the King’s Tournament and in the dungeons of the Black Castle? 

Longbow Girl is published by Chicken House on September 3rd 2015.

To find out more about LongbowGirl: http://www.longbowgirl.com/
My book review: HERE

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Mr Ripley's Children's Book Picks - September 2015 - UK Post Two

Kevin Sands - The Blackthorn Key - Published by Puffin (3 September 2015) 

Follow the clues. Crack the code. Stay alive.       

Potions, puzzles and the occasional explosion are all in a day's work for young apothecary Christopher Rowe. Murder is another matter.

It's a dangerous time to be the apprentice of Benedict Blackthorn. A wave of mysterious murders has sent shockwaves through London, and soon Christopher finds himself on the run. His only allies are his best friend, Tom, courageous Molly, and a loyal feathered friend, Bridget. His only clues are a coded message about his master's most dangerous project, and a cryptic warning - 'Tell no one!'

The race is on for Christopher: crack the code and uncover its secret, or become the next victim . . .

Katherine Rundell - The Wolf Wilder - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (10 September 2015) 

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

Chris Riddell - Goth Girl And The Wuthering Fright - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (24 September 2015)

People are flocking to Ghastly-Gorm Hall from far and wide to compete in Lord Goth's Literary Dog Show. The esteemed judges are in place and the contestants are all ready to win. Sir Walter Splott is preparing his Lanarkshire Lurcher, Plain Austen is preening her Hampshire Hound and Homily Dickinson and her Yankee Poodle are raring to go. But there's something strange going on at Ghastly-Gorm - mysterious footprints, howls in the night and some suspiciously chewed shoes. Can Ada, the Attic Club and their new friends the Vicarage sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) work out what's going on before the next full moon?

Linda Davies - Longbow Girl - Published by Chicken House Ltd (3 September 2015) 

Merry Owen is desperate for her family to stay on their struggling farm in Wales, in the shadow of the Black Castle, owned by the de Courcys who have been enemies of Merry's family for generations. Skilled in the family tradition of archery, Merry is happiest out riding, but when she finds an overturned tree and a buried chest containing an ancient Welsh text, it leads her into a past filled with treasure, secrets and untold danger. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Linda Davies - Longbow Girl - Book Review - Chicken House

Linda Davies has written five bestselling adult novels and has sold millions of copies worldwide. A former investment banker, she has now turned her talented hand to writing for children. Her first book "Longbow Girl" which is aimed at the 10+ age range will be published by Chicken House on the 3rd September 2015. 

The book cover is not my personal favourite as, in my opinion, it does not reflect the story inside. However, don't be fooled by the cover as the story is fantastically immersive and incredibly vivid from the very first page to the final page. The author has made a fantastic transition from writing adult fiction to children's fiction in the blink of an eye. 

The plot is set in modern day time against the wild backdrop of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons and is stunningly told. You will find yourself being whisked away on a Welsh pony into a beautiful and descriptive landscape that will have you galloping into an unknown adventure and beyond. However, past and present soon collide into an explosive world filled with treasure, secrets and untold danger. The story covers mythology and draws upon the historical times of King Henry VIII and his dictatorial rule. Steeped in ancient lore, the plot is a cauldron of tension, action and mystery that will have you hooked in traditional classical storytelling. 

Merry Owen is a well rounded character and has been written particularly well in my opinion. She is strong willed, intelligent and fiercely talented with a Longbow; a tradition that has been passed down through her family. When she discovers a lost book of Welsh legends, could this be the answer to her family's financial struggles? 

The story is cleverly constructed and told with historical passion. Family life and the interaction between Merry and James give it a big sense of adventure. The plot is full of feeling and emotions that are explored throughout and work really well. The story is grounded in reality and modern day setting which offsets the time travel aspect and enables the plot lines to be tied all neatly together. 

This is a great story of family survival; a fight to save who we are and who we can become. It delves into history through the extraordinary events at the Battles of Crecy and Agincourt. The story is imaginative, very creative and well thought out. It incorporates extensive historical research which makes this book a fantastic and memorable read.