Book Plug #7 - C . J . Busby - Cauldron Spells - Illustrated by David Wyatt

                                             
Get ready for more thrills, spills and spells in 2012! We now have book two out. Published by Templar.

Max Pendragon is not looking forward to attending Morgana Le Fay’s summer Spell School. Not only is his battered cauldron producing slimy sludge instead of perfect spells, but ever since he and his sister Olivia foiled evil Morgana’s plot against King Arthur, they have been wary of her plans for revenge.

Max and Olivia soon discover that Spell School has more in store for them than they ever imagined. With the help of Merlin and a mysterious bard, Caradoc, will they be able to outwit Morgana and save Arthur for a second time?

(All Images are By David Wyatt and subject to copyright 2012).

About the Author

C. J. Busby lived on boats until she was sixteen and often moved from place to place. She remembers one terrifying crossing of the English Channel in gale-force winds, when her family’s barge nearly overturned. She spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book, even when walking along the road. Luckily she survived to grow up, but she still carried on reading whenever she could. 

After studying science at university, she lived in a South Indian fishing village and did research for her PhD. She currently lives in Devon with her three children. She borrows their books whenever they let her.

Philip Reeve - Goblins - Book Review

• 
  
• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books; 1 edition (5 April 2012)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 1407115278
• Age: 9+

The dark, dark abandoned fortress, Clovenstone, where the adventure starts in home to seven bands of warring Goblins, each occupying a different tower and each bent on sating their own Goblin-tastic thirst for fighting, looting and eating. And fighting. And looting. Looting and fishing.

But there's one Goblin who stands out from the crowd (the crowd that's doing the fighting, looting and eating) and he's called Skarper. Skarper's the only Goblin clever and cunning enough to have found out about the old magician old magic that once made the castle the centre of the darstardly wizard Lord Lych's kingdom. An old magic which is beginning to stir and will soon sweep Goblins, fortune-seekers, trolls, giants cloud-madiens boglins, swamp monsters and tree-warriors up into thrilling magical conflict.

It is always exciting to have a new book by Philip Reeve land on your doorstep. It would be fair to say that this is not a book that you will easily miss - with an luminous green cover and matching page ends. The fantastic book cover illustration is by local boy, Dave Semple.

Venturing into Philip's mind is never straight forward; you can never guess what is coming next in the story. Instead you fall into it head first - excited and intrigued as to the journey that lay ahead. He's always highly imaginative; hooking the reader and plonking them down in a fantastical world that only the best can ever dream of.

There are so many ingredients that make this book so enjoyable to read. There is humour, which is at times, dripping with sarcasm. It's clever and witty as Philip is such a great story builder. He constructs the most amazing worlds that manifest into something out of the ordinary. As an admirer of Philip's writing, I'm always looking out for the characters. In this book you are sucked into feeling something and wanting everything to workout with a happy ending. `however, whether you get one . . . . . . .you'll just have to wait and see. 

This story is action packed and full of great ideas. I particular loved the Boglins, which are crossed between a giant frog and a Goblin and live in the Swamps. One of my favourite parts of the book was in the chapter "IN Natterdon Mire" - featuring the Boglins and their brilliant leader, Bospoldew. 

This is a captivating story incorporating rhyming songs and little bits of poetry which are sprinkled in for good measure. True to form, this is like a good old-fashioned fairytale.

What a brilliant family read - loaded with energy. This book will have you locked into the pages until it finally leaves you with a feeling of loss once it has all come to an end. Will we have more? To be quite honest, I'm really not sure but I hope so.

Other great series by Phillip include: 

Fever Crumb Series

Mortal Engines Quartet
Larklight trilogy

Here Lies Arthur and No Such Things As Dragons

                         

Guest Post: Roy Gill - The Daemon Parallel - (Kelpies)

The original idea for The Daemon Parallel came to me in a dream… 

I saw a boy who was staying with his Gran in Edinburgh – as I had sometimes done when I was small. She sent him out to buy something, but the world beyond her front door was all twisted and strange – both like the city I knew, and very different. When he’d made his way home, and successfully dodged several scary monsters, she didn’t seem that pleased to see him. In fact, she seemed a little cold.

When I woke up, I wanted to know why the boy had to live with this odd old woman, and what had happened to the city. It all went into a notebook, and lurked there for a while. One day I sat down and wrote - ‘It was over coffee and biscuits that Grandma Ives offered to return Cameron’s father from the dead’ - and the whole mad, creepy story unfolded from there… 

I guess I had always wanted to be a writer. Growing up, I was usually scribbling away on some story, or trying to draw a comic strip (badly), or plotting how to make my own episode of Doctor Who if I could ever get my hands on a camera.

I went to university to study English and Film – and stayed there a very long time! I mainly wrote academically for a while, trying to discover how and why people fell in love with certain stories. In an odd way, I became a little sidetracked from my original goal. When I was about to hit 30 – one of those milestones where you take stock of your achievements – I realised it was time to get back to my first love of writing fiction.

The Daemon Parallel is my first novel. It sometimes feels like my second and third as well, because it took a lot of drafts to reach the final version! In 2011, it was submitted for the Kelpies Prize for new children’s fiction, and made the shortlist. I was delighted when Floris said they would like to publish it.

It’s got twists and turns, thrills and monsters, and hopefully quite a few laughs along the way. You definitely don’t need to know Edinburgh to enjoy it – although those who have visited this gothic city might start to see it differently. You’ll certainly never look at the shadow on a crumpled curtain, a rundown cinema, or a rambling department store in quite the same way again… 

Welcome to The Daemon Parallel!

If that post doesn't have you hooked and chomping at the bit to read it, then I think you might need your head testing! The Daemon Parallel is due to be published on the 22nd of March by Kelpies (great little Scottish publisher). So don't wait and get your order in now. 


Many thanks to Roy for taking the time to write such an insightful post into his debut book and for giving us a taste about the man himself.

New Book Plug Preview #1: Lissa Price - Starters

              

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Childrens (29 Mar 2012)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 0857531352
• ISBN-13: 978-0857531353

                              
In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . . .


“The only thing better than a terrific concept is one that is as well executed as “Starters.” Readers who have been waiting for a worthy successor to Suzanne Collins’ “The Hunger Games” will find it here. Dystopian sci-fi at its best, “Starters” is a terrific series kickoff with a didn’t-see-that-coming conclusion that will leave readers on the edges of their seats, waiting for the second and final book, “Enders,” which will be out this year.” http://www.lissaprice.com/

NEWS:BLOOMSBURY LAUNCHES HOOKED ON BOOKS

On Friday 9^th March Bloomsbury will formally launch its new Facebook page, Hooked on Books. The page will focus on Bloomsbury ’s young adult fiction and will feature news, events, giveaways and extras.  

The Hooked on Books logo will be unveiled on Friday morning and a day of exclusive news about summer 2012 super-lead, Burn Mark by Laura Powell , will follow. Be the first to read an extract from the book, find out about Laura, win a proof copy and see the jacket.

‘Like’ us at www.facebook.com/hookedonbooks

You can also ‘follow’ us at www.twitter.com/hooked_books

Press Release:Macmillan Children’s Books buys three-book series by Andrew Lane

                                 

(Picture by Helen Stirling)

MCB Associate Publishing Director, Polly Nolan, has bought world rights in a new three-book series by Andrew Lane, author of the hugely popular Young Sherlock Holmes series. Rights were acquired from Robert Kirby at United Agents.

Entitled Lost Worlds, Macmillan Children’s Books will publish one novel a year from May 2013 in ebook and paperback original, the paperback retailing at £5.99.  The launch will be backed by a major marketing and publicity campaign.

The Lost Worlds novels will feature fifteen-year-old Calum Challenger, a genius on a mission to track down creatures considered so rare that most people don’t believe they exist. Calum is doing it for two reasons – to take their DNA and use that to help protect these species, but also to search for a cure for his paralysis. From his state-of-the-art bedroom in London he commands a group of fearless misfit friends – a computer hacker, a free runner, an ex-marine and a pathological liar – in a race around the globe against those who want to wipe out these endangered creatures.

Andrew Lane comments:

‘I'm more than overjoyed to be working on this exciting new series with the highly talented editorial, marketing and publicity teams at Macmillan. I've had an amazing time working with them on Young Sherlock Holmes, and Lost Worlds will bring the same sense of intelligent adventure and excitement to a modern-day setting.

‘That doesn't mean I'm going to stop writing Young Sherlock Holmes. The series gets more popular every day, and I've got plenty of ideas up my sleeve that will keep both series bubbling merrily along!’

Belinda Rasmussen, Publisher, Macmillan Children's Books, adds:

‘We are delighted to be working with Andrew Lane on a new series to sit alongside the Young Sherlock Holmes series. Lost Worlds has a captivating cast of characters and a pacy, narrative style combined with nail-biting adventure and thrilling plot twists. As with Young Sherlock Holmes, all these elements make a truly addictive read.’

Andrew Lane is an author, journalist and lifelong Sherlock Holmes fan. Macmillan Children’s Books publishes his bestselling Young Sherlock Holmes series, with a fifth novel, Snake Bite, due to be launched in October 2012.

Andrew's passion for the original novels of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his determination to create an authentic teenage Sherlock Holmes made him the perfect choice to work with the Conan Doyle Estate to reinvent the world’s most famous detective in this new series.

He lives in Hampshire with his wife and son.

Conrad Mason - The Demon's Watch - Happy Launch Day - March 1st 2012

Many thanks to Conrad for taking the time to write a little post about his exciting debut book which is out today. I for one loved it, so check out the review Here
I hope that you enjoy the blog post below. If it grabs your attention then go and buy a copy of the book so that you can have an amazing amount of fun reading it. 
If you've already read the book then please let us know what you thought of it. Don't be shy and write a few words in the comments part at the bottom of this page. I look forward to reading all your thoughts and comments soon. 


When I was young, I thought it would be cool to read a book which had magic, elves and goblins, but in an 18th century style setting - with pirates, tricorne hats and muskets. I never found that book, so years later I decided to write it.
There are a lot of fantasy stories in which a young farmboy goes on a quest to defeat a dark wizard, facing evil creatures along the way (usually orcs of one sort or another) and discovering that he is the chosen one, destined to rule the kingdom. I love this kind of story. But for The Demon's Watch I wanted to do something different. So my hero is a goblin boy, and there's nothing special about him at all. My villains are the League of the Light - self-righteous humans who want to rid the world of anyone who isn't like them. It's a sort of fantasy-in-reverse.

Here's a bit about the story:

Port Fayt - where humans live in peace alongside trolls, goblins and fairies alike. Captain Newton and his men are the Demon's Watch, keeping the town safe from pirates and smugglers. But now Fayt is under threat from a much more deadly enemy - the all-human, all-powerful League of the Light. And to make matters worse, a dangerous witch has just arrived in town.

Half-goblin boy Joseph Grubb works in his uncle's tavern, the Legless Mermaid, and has only ever heard stories of the Demon's Watch. But when he runs away from his uncle and finds himself deep in a criminal underworld, Grubb might be the one person who could help the watchmen save Port Fayt.

The Demon's Watch is my first book, and it's out in March with David Fickling Books. I've tried to pack it full of action, humour and mystery, with some big twists along the way. I like to think the younger me would have enjoyed it. I hope you will too. 

Conrad Mason's website: www.conrad-mason.com

Jim Carrington - Drive By -Happy Book Publication Day - Bloomsbury

What would you do if you thought you had killed someone? After an innocent prank goes horribly wrong Johnny is wracked with guilt, but things go from bad to worse as the consequences of his actions spiral out of control.  

On the way back from the park one sweltering summer day, Johnny and his friends spot the mean old lady who burst their football. They decide to take their revenge and give her a drive-by soaking with their water pistols. Johnny later discovers that the old lady has suffered a heart attack and died. He feels terrible, and when he starts waking up at the same time every night, in a cold sweat, sensing a presence in his room, he is convinced she is haunting him.

To make matters worse, the impossibly cool girl Johnny can’t get out of his head is the old lady’s granddaughter. He doesn’t know what to do, but the sleepless nights and ghostly visits are getting to him. Something has to change . . .

Jim Carrington is an expert at writing gripping stories with teen dilemmas at the heart of them. Drive By raises moral questions about taking responsibility for your actions as well as keeping the reader guessing right until the end. 

Jim Carrington grew up in Norfolk before moving to Raynes Park, London, where he still lives. When Jim was at university he started writing a fanzine, which is when he realised that he was better at making things up than reviewing gigs and albums. Not long after that he moved on to writing short stories and decided to do the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. Jim is also a primary school teacher.

Jim’s debut novel was inspired by his memories of school bullies. Inside My Head was initially a short story he wrote for anti-bullying week. It was shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year award.

Happy World Book Day - 1st March 2012 Post

Background: World Book Day was designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, and is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

World Book Day is a partnership of publishers, booksellers and interested parties who work together to promote books and reading for the personal enrichment and enjoyment of all. A main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.

To mark the day, school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token (or equivalent €1.50 Book Token in Ireland). The Book Token can be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books, or is redeemable against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club. The World Book Day £1 Book Token will be valid from 27th February to 25th March 2012.

The full list of World Book Day £1 books for 2012 is:

The What the Ladybird Heard Song, Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks

(Macmillan) 

Winnie Flies Again, Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul (Oxford University Press) •

Where’s Wally Now?, Martin Handford (Walker Books) 

Magic Molly: The Clever Little Kitten, Holly Webb (Scholastic) 

Roald Dahl's Fantabulous Facts, Roald Dahl (Puffin) 

How to Train Your Dragon: The Day of the Dreader, Cressida Cowell (Hodder

Children’s Books) 

Skulduggery Pleasant: The End of the World, Derek Landy (HarperCollins)

Big Day Out, Jacqueline Wilson, Illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Random House)

World Book Day aims to encourage children to explore the pleasure of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own. To mark the day, all school children are entitled to receive a World Book Day

Book Token. The Book Token can be exchanged for one of eight specially published World Book Day £1 Books, or is redeemable against any book or audio book of their choice costing £2.99 or more at a participating bookshop or book club.

Barry Hutchison - The 13th Horseman - Book Review

The road to scaring children is definitely not the easiest of paths to take when writing a story. However, in the past, Barry has done a great job with his first five books in the Invisible Fiends series. These have already been published and are doing really well, but now it's time to seek pasture new and green. Welcome to Barry's new sequence of books entitled AFTERWORLDS - I'm not sure how many will be in the series, but I hope it's lots.

The first thing that you will notice about this story is the brilliant book cover - it is absolutely 100% bonkers. This book comes with a warning,it will put a massive grin on your face. In fact my jaw is still hurting now that I come to think of it. This book is essentially a trip back into Barry's mind - plucking out everything that he has enjoyed reading and then crammed it into this book with equal measure. The result is a fight between Pratchett, Gaiman and his childhood memories - which comes out on top I have no idea.

This book is brilliant. However, if Barry's reading this review then we will tell him, for his own sake, that it's a bag of bilge water and not to be read unless supervised by a moral understanding of life coming to end as we know it. It's the funniest book that I've read for a long time. The plot and the characters are both highly imaginative and very awe inspiring. I actually have no idea as to what they story is really about - although it features a flying shed and three horsemen of the apocalypse playing snakes and ladders, drinking tea and eating chocolate! It also includes Drake (not you average heroic young boy) who has no cares in the world. That is until he's told that he's a good candidate for Death and therefore he's the man for the job.

There are a number of fantastic visionary instruments of torture and a transformer-like epic monster who battles it out in the park. This action scene involves a great deal of madness and the characters are very engaging. It has great comedic moments that will leave you chuckling to yourself. 

I hope that this review is grabbing you as potential readers as I think that this is Barry's best work. However, it has me written all over it - a fantasy world that is well written but with a touch of darkness to give it light. In fact I think it is up there with the best of them; just about anyone and everyone will love to read it. It has everything going it for it so don't wait for the world to end, read it now. 

You can follow more of the madness by reading the Diary of the Apocalypse here: http://www.the13thhorseman.com/

Eoin Colfer - Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian - Book Reveal and Prologue

     Prologue

Ériú; Present Day

The Berserkers lay arranged in a spiral under the rune stone, looping down, down into the earth—boots out, heads in, as the spell demanded. Of course, after 10,000 years underground, there were no physical boots or heads. There was just the plasma of black magic holding their consciousness intact, and even that was dissipating, tainting the land, causing strange strains of plants to appear and infecting the animals with uncommon aggression. In perhaps a dozen full moons the Berserkers would be gone utterly, and their last spark of power would flow into the earth.

We are not all disappeared yet, thought Oro of the Danu, captain of the Berserkers. We are ready to seize our glorious moment when it comes and to sow chaos among the humans.

He sent the thought into the spiral and was proud to feel his remaining fairy warriors echo the sentiment.

Their will is as keen as their blades once were, he thought. Though we are dead and buried, the spark of bloody purpose burns bright in our souls.

It was the hatred of humankind that kept the spark alive—that and the black magic of the warlock Bruin Fadda. More than half of their company of warriors had already expired and been drawn to the afterlife, but still five score remained to complete their duties should they be called upon.

Remember your orders, the elfin warlock had told them all those centuries ago, even as the clay was falling on their flesh. Remember those who have died and the humans who murdered them.

Oro did remember and always would. Just as he could never forget the sensation of stones and earth rattling across his dying skin.

We will remember, he sent into the spiral. Remember and return.

The thought drifted down, then echoed up from the dead warriors, who were eager to be released from their tomb and see the sun once more.    

See More HERE