Anita Loughrey's blog. This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing. As well as news about me and my books, it includes writing tips, book reviews, author interviews and blog tours.
For more information about me and my books see my website: www.anitaloughrey.com. Follow me on Twitter @amloughrey, Facebook @anitaloughrey.author and on Instagram @anitaloughrey
I’m thrilled to welcome Victoria M. Adams to the blog today as part of her blog tour to celebrate the release of her new novel The House at the End of the Sea.
Saffi doesn’t want her new life, living with her dad, little brother and old-fashioned grandparents in their B&B by the sea. She is grieving for her mum and longs for things to go back to normal.
But this new home is anything but normal: the walls change colour, a face appears in the mirror, and the pantry is suddenly filled with fancy food. When a party of extraordinary visitors arrive at midnight, Saffi begins to realise that her family has a dark, magical secret. It will take all her bravery to discover the truth and find a way into another world…
For this tour I am doing an author interview.
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About the Author
Victoria M. Adams spent her childhood bouncing between Cyprus, Canada and the US with her Iranian mother, trying to achieve first place in the ‘Most Visas Acquired Before Age Eighteen’ sweepstakes.
As an adult, she carried on the nomadic family tradition by adding France and New Zealand to the mix, where she worked as an animator, copywriter, tutor and story coach, in no particular order. Somewhere along the way, she acquired a BA in Film and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck College. She currently teaches Creative Writing at City Lit and shares her London home with two humans and a feckless cat.
You can discover more about Victoria M. Adams and her books on
I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour.
To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the tour schedule below:
Today I am on another blog tour with another author interview. This time for The House at the End of the Sea by Victoria M. Adams
It is with great pleasure I join the blog tour for Kate Foster and her latest book The Bravest Word.
My stop on this amazing tour will be a book review.
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Title: The Bravest Word
Written by: Kate Foster
Cover by: Thy Bui
Published by: Walker Books
Blurb
A rescue story of love and trust between a boy and a dog from the talented author of Paws.
Matt is a football superstar. He can handle anything. Except lately his chest feels empty and his head is screaming. He can’t concentrate in school or enjoy football anymore, and he is so, so tired. When Matt stumbles across an abandoned dog, there’s no doubt in his mind that he has to save him. But maybe the dog isn’t the only one who needs help.
Review
Matt used to love football but now it makes him anxious and he no longer wants to play, he wants to be alone and avoids his friends, homework is a chore and he feels tired and listless all the time. He does not understand why life does not hold any joy for him anymore. Even his favourite computer game has lost its appeal.
The Bravest Word is an intense emotional portrayal of depression written by someone who has experienced it from the overwhelming sadness, fear and guilt to the physical tightness in the chest and aching limbs. The character development is strong and realistic. I found reading this book to be quite emotional on so many different levels. It is excellently written and covers this more prevalent than recognised mental health issue with sensitivity and compassion, which will help young readers to understand and feel empathy. This book is a positive step in building awareness for a condition that is often overlooked.
Matt and his father find a dog tied and abandoned on their walk and decide to bring it home. Matt agrees to car for the dog, which he names Cliff after his grandad. He reads up about the dog’s behaviour online and recognises that Cliff has dog depression. Matt recognises that some of Cliff’s behaviour and reactions mirror his own and he begins to realise all the tiredness, anger and tears are symptoms of depression.
By highlighting these symptoms, The Bravest Word, will help others to recognise similar symptoms in themselves and others and will be in a better position to help, or will hopefully encourage them to ask for help.
A beautiful compassionate book. I hope to see more from Kate Foster in the future.
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About the Author
Kate Foster is an award-winning children’s author of middle grade fiction originally from a small town in the southeast of England and now living on the stunning Gold Coast in Australia with her family and second-hand dogs.
She is passionate about encouraging and teaching a wider understanding of autism and mental illness via a positive approach and representation in both her books as well as her presentations and talks.
It is with great excitement I join the blog tour for The Time They Saved Tomorrow by Steve Nallon. My stop on the tour is a book review.
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Title: The Time They Saved Tomorrow
Written by: Steve Nallon
Cover Design by: Eilidh Maclennan and Amy Turnbull
Published by: Luath Press
Blurb
He can’t lie, he can’t harm but he can save lives.
After their dramatic escape from the devastating fire at the Old Coach Inn, the Swidger railway tunnel takes William Arthur and Granny on to London for what appears to be a new adventure … or is it?
Dark forces that seeks out William Arthur are at play, leading our young hero to doubt his future as a SWIDGER. But then he is given a mysterious red book by an old man with a white beard. William is told to protect it with his life – yet the pages are blank.
A sudden catastrophe changes everything and William and Granny must somehow find a way to put the world back to what it was. Could the blank pages of the mystery red book somehow be the key?
Only time will tell
Blurb for The Time They Saved Tomorrow
Review
The Time They Saved Tomorrow is the second book in The Swidgers series and contains themes of courage, determination and hope. The concept of this series is ingenious in that time can be manipulated by the Swidgers who possess the power prevent disasters and save people from certain peril. But there are those who want to use their power for more devious schemes.
Book Two is set in London with a backdrop of the underground and features many iconic locations to ground the action as well as a mysterious ghost train. William Arthur is given a mysterious red book but the pages are blank. He embarks on a quest to unlock the pages to discover more about the secrets of Time and his own skills, whilst being pursued by The Man in the Macintosh Coat.
Different Swidgers have different skills but all are connected by Time.
‘Aloysois… The Swidger of Time Stopped… You, Alicia… The Swidger of Time Past… And Echo, who hears the world as it is lived… The Swidger of Time Present. But someone’s missing… The Swidger of Time Future… You said, we must look to the past to see what lies ahead. But who is it from my past that will show me my future tonight?’
Quote from The Time They Saved Tomorrow by Steve Nallon
In places it does get a little confusing in that time is not linear and so much is going on but I enjoyed this. My favourite scenes are when we see William using his skills, such as when he unwittingly splits time into alternate time paths and has to endeavour to fix it and when Granny is possessed and turned into a snake.
I loved the way this book encompasses a multitude of scientific theories from Einstein’s relativity, multiple realities and Godel’s Spacetime. Steve Nallon’s expertise at accents and intonation really shines through in the dialogue and William’s voice.
Seeped in science fiction The Time They Saved Tomorrow is a fun and entertaining read.
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About the author
STEVE NALLON has been a writer and performer in the world of comedy for over forty years. Steve began his performing life with his own comedy act on the Northern Working Men’s Club Circuit in Yorkshire back in the 1970s.
After gaining a degree in Drama and English at the University of Birmingham, Steve became a founding member of the cult satirical comedy series Spitting Image, where for over a decade he voiced many of the programme’s most iconic characters, including Margaret Thatcher, Roy Hattersley, Alan Bennett and The Queen Mum.
Steve’s acting work now ranges from theatre, film and television, to video games, puppetry and audiobooks. As a playwright and comedy writer, Steve has a considerable body of credits to his name, including plays and series for BBC radio, three one-man theatre shows and the satirical book I, Margaret, which he co-wrote with the novelist Tom Holt. Over the years, Steve has contributed to numerous periodicals such as The New Statesman and Musical Stages, and is a much sought after speaker on the lecture circuit for his insightful and amusing talks.
You can follow on X @SteveNallon and on Instagram @stevenallon
To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule:
I would like to thank Kelly at Love Book Tours for inviting me to join this blog tour. Thank you.
I am so pleased to welcome Radhika Sanghani to the blog today as part of her The Girl who Couldn’t Lie blog tour.
The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie is a middle grade an hilariously funny comedy farce, released by Usborne on the 9th May 2024.
Blurb
A fresh, funny story about white lies, brutal honesty and a bangle with special powers, from award-winning journalist and author Radhika Sanghani.
Priya Shah lies. A lot. She pretends everything in her life is perfect, so she doesn’t disappoint anyone.
But when she puts on a bangle left to her by her Ba – the one person she was always honest with – she finds herself unable to tell a lie.
Priya is mortified. She tells her dad she hates his cooking, she tells Dan Zhang about her huge crush on him, she shares her best friends’ secrets at school. She can’t get the bangle off, and she can’t stop the truths pouring out of her.
As more things go wrong, and Priya’s truth-telling spirals out of control, can Priya learn to be honest without hurting the people she loves?
My stop takes the form of an author interview.
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Tell us a little about yourself and the inspiration for The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie.
Hello! I’m a writer and The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie is my first children’s book. The inspiration came from me thinking about what kind of book I would have liked to read when I was younger. That’s when the character of Priya Shah came to me – I would have REALLY related to her when I was 12! – and the idea came from there.
Why did you decide to write a book about white lies for children?
I am a big believer in radical honesty. I no longer lie in my personal life – not even white lies – and it has drastically improved my life. I wanted to write a book that encourages children to think about honesty, and to realise that speaking their truth can strengthen their relationships and lead to a happier, more honest life.
How did you make the transition from journalism to writing for children? Explain how you broke into the market.
I’ve been a journalist for 12 years, but I’ve also published four novels for adults in that time. So I was already an author, and when I had my idea for a children’s book, it wasn’t such a challenge to move into this market. I was lucky in that my agent Madeleine Milburn also had an amazing children’s agent working for her – Chloe Seager – and she’s helped me make it all happen!
In your opinion, what makes a great children’s book?
For me, a great children’s book is full of honesty, relatability, humour and definitely a sense of mystery/the unknown!
Which part of The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie was the most fun to write?
I loved writing the comedy parts about when things start to go wrong for Priya when the magic bangle forces her to stop lying. But I also had a lot of fun writing the scenes with her best friends Sami and Mei because they’re both really funny characters.
What writing advice would you give to people aspiring to be a children’s book writer?
I would say to keep on writing – the more you write, the more you have to put out in the world, to see what lands! And also to have fun with it. My favourite thing about children’s novels is that you don’t have to be so serious – I love that my books can be a little bit magical and humorous.
Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie?
Just that I think anyone of any age could enjoy it – especially if you relate to Priya’s people-pleasing tendencies, and this sense of lying to make other people feel better!
I’d love to hear what you think of TGWCL if you read it!
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About the Author
Radhika Sanghaniis an award-winning features journalist, acclaimed author, screenwriter, influential body positivity campaigner and a 2020 BBC Writers Room graduate.
Radhika writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Elle, The Guardian, Grazia, Glamour and Cosmopolitan; was recently featured in Italian Vogue as well BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and is a regular guest on Sky News and Good Morning Britain. She is also a TedX speaker on body positivity, a yoga teacher and runs a charity initiative with AgeUK fighting loneliness in older women.
I would like to thank Bee from Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to take part in this tour.
To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the tour schedule below:
You can buy copies ofThe Girl who Couldn’t Lie by Radhika Sanghani from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
I am delighted to welcome you to my stop on the Into the Lion’s Mouth blog tour, to celebrate the success of the ninth place finalist for the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award, Nancy McConnell.
The BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Into the Lion’s Mouth is a superb historical fiction novel aimed at the middle grade age range and was published on September 7th 2021.
Here is the blurb:
Blurb
Venice is sinking, so they say.
And so are Nico’s chances to prosper in the most glorious city in the world. Nurse Francesca is threatening to send him to a farm to pick olives, he has failed at two apprenticeships, and one of the most powerful men in Venice would like to sink Nico’s lifeless body into the darkest canal. Orphans have very few options and Nico might be forced to choose the one he most wishes to avoid, leaving Venice behind forever.
My stop on the tour consists of an author interview .
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Tell us a little about yourself and the inspiration for Into the Lion’s Mouth.
I’m a teacher, writer and photographer. I think being creative is the very best thing for my soul. I always wanted to be an author and publishing Into the Lion’s Mouth fulfilled a lifelong dream for me.
About ten years ago I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Venice. I knew absolutely nothing about it before I went but was completely captivated by the magic of this unique city. While touring the Doge’s Palace, which features heavily in the book, I was overwhelmed by the idea that there must be so many stories to tell about things that happened there. When I got home, I started reading everything I could about Venice. I just knew I had to find a story to write about it. The idea of Nico, an orphan, trying to make his way in the city grew from a tradition the Venetians had of heading into the streets during the election of a new doge and bringing a street urchin into the palace to participate in the election. That seemed like a good start to a story, I began to imagine how something like that could change the life of the child who was chosen.
What does being a Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award finalist mean to you?
It means a lot. When I first entered the contest, I was most excited by the idea that more people would read my book! That’s why writers write. I never expected to make it so far in the competition. It’s hard for indie authors to reach new audiences and the contest has helped others find the book. But also, it feels wonderful to know that people appreciate my work, and that it can stand up to some stiff competition.
Into the Lion’s Mouth is an intriguing historical novel set in late fifteenth century Venice, during the Renaissance. Did you have to do a lot of research into this period? What was the most unusual research you had to do? I did TONS of research. I knew nothing about the time period or the area. I read a lot and was fortunate enough to connect with the author of a comprehensive book on the history of Venice who gave me some great advice. Also I found a copy of a book about the orphan’s hospital and was inspired to create the character of Lisabetta based on a letter I read in the book. My editor also wanted to expand the prison escape scene so I read Casanova’s own account of how he escaped from the Leads, and used that as the basis for Nico’s escape.
Do you have a particular place you like to write?
My favourite place to write is on my back patio. I love the sound of nature; it just makes my heart happy and puts me in the right creative space. Unfortunately, I can only do that in the summer so in the winter, it’s with my laptop on my lap on my couch with a fire in the grate. I think I just need cosy to write.
Is there an aspect of writing and publishing you wish someone had told you when you started out?
Um, everything. I was super green (and probably still am) when I was lucky enough to find my publisher. I wish someone had told me that I was a legit writer even before my book hit bookshelves. I didn’t realize the scope of how much marketing is required to make a book successful and I could have started that much sooner than I did.
Would you like to share anything else about Into the Lion’s Mouth?
I wrote three other novels before I wrote this, but I knew it would be the one from the very beginning of the writing process. Even so, it took me six years from when it was finished to be able to hold my book in my hand.
One more practical thing about the book that I tell everyone is to read the author’s note last.
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Author Bio
Nancy McConnell grew up in a little family, in a small town on the outskirts of a bigger city. Besides her family, the two things she loved most in the world were: reading and playing pretend. When she grew up, reading was allowed but playing pretend was sometimes frowned upon.
Since that was the case, she decided to write books so that the stories running around in her head would still live. In between writing stories, marrying her college sweetheart, and moving to a new country, she had her own little family and settled in another small town on the way outskirts of a much bigger city. Some things never change. When not writing, Nancy can be found puttering in her garden, taking photos or baking.
You can purchase a copy of Into the Lion’s Mouth anywhere you buy books. But Nancy would like to encourage people to buy from their local independent book shop. If they don’t have it on the shelf, you can order it and that supports the most people, or you can order online from sites like uk.bookshop.org a website which supports local, independent bookshops.
You can read reviews of Into the Lion’s Mouth by Nancy McConnell here:
Today it is my stop on the Love Books Tour for Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery by Coline Monsarrat. I have reviewed the book for my stop on the tour.
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Title: Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery
Written by: Coline Monsarrat
Illustrated by: Drafts.com
Published by: Apicem Publishing
Blurb
Meet Aria and Liam, two average 13-year-olds with a not-so-average problem!
Hey, fellow adventurers! I, Aria, opened a portal to the past, which catapulted us into a 3,000-year-old kingdom! Since then, my BFF Liam and I have taken part in numerous adventures in history, facing exciting (and perilous!) missions. But don’t worry; we’re up for the challenge and learning how to become true adventurers! From ancient civilizations to historical events, we’re on a mission to save the day and find our way back home. So come along for the ride as we explore the past and make history… literally!
Get swept away into the foggy streets of London, where a baffling and cryptic adventure awaits Aria & Liam!
As Aria and Liam team up with the daughter of the famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, they must race against time to save him from a mysterious and sinister plot. But when Doyle announces the return of Sherlock Holmes, he suddenly vanishes, plunging them into a world of hidden clues and shadowy figures. Could the mastermind behind it all be a rival author, a member of a secret society, or someone from London’s high society? With each chapter bringing a new surprise, Aria and Liam must use their smarts and bravery to crack the case and save Doyle before it’s too late.
Will they prove themselves as sharp as the legendary detective, or will they fall victim to the same fate
Ideal for fearless adventurers aged 9 to 12 who love humour, excitement, and a dash of fantasy.
Aria & Liam is a series of standalone middle-grade books allowing young readers to enjoy each adventure in any order they wish.
A sudden catastrophe changes everything and William and Granny must somehow find a way to put the world back to what it was. Could the blank pages of the mystery red book somehow be the key?
Only time will tell
Review
Aria and Liam: The Baker Street Mystery is the eighth book in this time travelling series published by Apicem Publishing. The series follow Aria and Liam on their adventures through time to different historical eras and geographical locations such as Ancient Egypt and the Incas as well as Rome and the mythical lands of Atlantis and Camelot. This series amalgamates history and mythology into fun and exciting adventures for children.
The Baker Street Mystery opens with introductions from the main characters, Aria and Liam, introducing each other and gives a brief overview of some of their other escapades covered in the previous books. There is also a lovely addition of vignettes of portraits of the main characters. In places there are discrepancies between the text and illustrations such as Mrs Thompson glaring at them through rectangular glasses and in the picture the glasses are circle.
This action adventure stand out for me as it is quite unusual as it is written in third person present tense. Sometimes the speech patterns reminded me of Lady Whistledown’s narration in Bridgerton, with its old-fashioned English and calling each other ‘My dear, Liam’ or ‘My dear, Aria’ and Arthur Conan Doyle starting his letter at the end of the book, ‘My dear reader’. I found all the character’s voices to be very similar to each other which made it difficult to know who was talking in longer passages of dialogue. I also found it a little worrying the children were able to lie so easily without negative consequences to the point several scenes were devoted to how to get their story straight.
It must be noted the premise of this story is entirely fictional as there is no records of Arthur Conan Doyle going missing, which the author acknowledges in a letter written as though it were from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle at the end of the book. Unlike Agatha Christie who did go missing and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle reportedly investigated her disappearance. I felt The Baker Street Mystery was not particularly historically accurate but rather touched on life and the way people lived in Britain during the early 1900’s.
The Baker Street Mystery was an entertaining read, suitable for children aged seven to twelve years old, who enjoy traditional-style mysteries.
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Author Bio:
Coline Monsarrat is a fervent enthusiast of history, driven by a feverish passion for the captivating and unforgettable stories that unfold within its pages. Whenever she finds herself in the history section, she becomes engrossed in the rich narratives that have shaped our world. With an insatiable curiosity, she often ponders the “what ifs” of history—contemplating the alternative outcomes of pivotal events and the possibility of a different course for humanity.
Fuelled by her desire to share this passion with children, Coline crafted the enchanting historical and adventure fiction series Aria & Liam, where history and its legends seamlessly blend with adventure, humour, and the enduring power of friendship. Each book in the series captures the spirit of thrilling adventures packed with action, humour, and fascinating journeys through history.
You can find our more information about Coline on her author’s website: www.ariaandliam.com or follow her on X (Twitter) @ColineMonsarrat and Instagram @ariaandliam @ColineMonsarrat
To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule below:
I would like to thank Kelly from Love Book tours for inviting me to take part in this book tour.
It is my honour to be spotlighting Time Marked Warlock by Shami Stowall.
Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. I have previously spotlighted her book Academy Arcanist. You can read my interview with Shami about this book here: Blog Tour – Academy Arcanist by Shami Stovall.
Before writing full-time, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second.
When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.
Time Marked Warlock is am urban fantasy of 402 pages and is released in June 2024. Here is the blurb:
Blurb
Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best private investigators for hire. He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.
So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.
Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well.
Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.
My stop on the blog tour will take the form of another author interview, this time about Time Marked Warlock.
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Tell us a little about Time Marked Warlock and your inspiration to write this book.
First off, I’d like to gush. Time-Marked Warlock is getting a full-cast audiobook production! Soundbooth Theatre is putting together an amazing team to bring life to the whole book, and it’s one of the greatest things ever.
But to more accurately answer your question, Time-Marked Warlock started because I love the trope “grumpy one, sunshine one” which is basically when a grumpy character is forced to work with someone who is blazingly optimistic and happy.
Adair Finch, the warlock, is jaded and sarcastic, but Bree, the young witch, loves life. They’re also joined by Kull, the mischief spirit, which is a more comical character.
So, this might be one of the first instances of “grumpy one, and TWO sunshine ones,” which is a lot of fun.
Why are book awards important to you?
It’s always so humbling and amazing whenever someone enjoys my work. I’m so very lucky to have this opportunity, and it really makes everything seem bright and wonderful to know there are readers out there enjoying my stories.
I think I was born to be a storyteller. Ever since my time as a DM in Dungeon and Dragons, I’ve derived a lot of pleasure from crafting stories and building engaging characters. The fact that other people think I’m good at it just fills me with joy.
How do you manage to be so prolific with your writing?
I love writing. It isn’t a chore. It isn’t something I “just have to get through.” I do it every day because it’s a delight and fills my soul with nourishment, just the same as a hamburger chases away gnawing hunger.
What risks have you taken with your writing that have paid off?
I quit my job to write full time. I also started a business (Capital Station Books) and both have paid off for me in spades. I knew they were risks, but if you don’t bet on yourself, who will?
What is your favourite childhood book and why?
My favourite childhood book is Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. It’s about a young woman who is deserted on an island. She had her brother, but after he’s killed by wolves, she’s all alone.
It was the first book that really blew my mind. I had never thought about living on an island alone, and I devoured the book multiple times just thinking about all the crazy things that could happen.
My favourite part is when the main character kills the wolf that killed her brother, but then later goes on to adopt its pups.
Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about Time Marked Warlock and the Adair Finch series?
The book involves people healing from trauma. Adair Finch lost his brother, and he basically gave up on life, but when Bree enters the picture, he learns to get back on the horse, so to speak.
I love stories about healing. And not only does Finch heal, but Bree does, too. Her mother was killed, and Finch helps he move past that terrible moment in her life.
Also, please look out for the crazy release of the full-cast audiobook, and the brand-new cover done by Chris McGarth (the man who does the Dresden Files covers).
I am happy to announce today is my stop on the Alex Neptune Zombie Fighter by David Owen blog tour.
This is the second book in the Alex Neptune series published by Usborne.
Blurb:
When a creepy fog rolls into Haven Bay, Alex, Zoey and Anil are ambushed by terrifying crab-riding zombies, controlled by the evil spirit of Brineblood the pirate.
The only weapon that can stop Brineblood’s zombie army is a powerful trident – but it’s been broken into three pieces. Alex, Zoey and Anil must enter three deadly worlds that have been magically trapped in bottles to retrieve the hidden pieces, all before the zombies can catch them. But with some penguins, an octopus and a frozen dragon on their side, how can they go wrong?
My stop on the tour takes the form of an extract:
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Tour Extract
The ocean no longer wanted Alex Neptune to die, but he was beginning to wonder if his friends did instead.
A mammoth wave cast a dark shadow over their rowing boat, frothing and spitting as it rose, ready to swamp the tiny wooden craft. Zoey Wu swiped her fringe clear of her eyes and faced it defiantly. She crouched at the front of the boat, one hand trailing in the churning ocean, the other raised to tame the rebellious water. The wave strained against her control like a great white shark on a dog lead.
“Remember what I said about summoning waves to face away from you?” Alex said.
Zoey gritted her teeth as she fought to restrain the water. “It’s not my fault I’m too good at stupid sea magic!”
The towering strength of her summoned wave was no real surprise. Alex had quickly learned that if he asked Zoey to conjure a puddle, she was more likely to deliver a flood.
His friend was right – it was his fault she was struggling to control her magic. Alex was supposed to be teaching her to do exactly that. The problem was, no matter how hard he tried, he didn’t really know how.
“Use your power to direct the wave away from us,” Alex instructed gently, trying again. “Remember, your magic is a natural connection to the sea. Don’t try and force it – guide the water.”
“Should I start rowing away?” asked Anil Chatterjee, gripping the oars tightly from his seat in the middle of the boat. “Maybe very fast?”
“No, I can do this!” Zoey nodded confirmation to herself and stuck her tongue between her teeth. Then she lashed her raised hand sideways as if trying to swat a fly. Alex felt her sea magic surge, a flare of power that made him stagger.
The wave responded by twisting around on the spot to face away from the boat.
“Yes!” Zoey cheered.
Reeling dizzily, the wave kept turning, coiling around itself like a rope. Each twist stretched it taller and narrower until it had braided itself into a tottering waterspout.
“Push it the other way!” Alex shouted.
“I’m definitely going to start rowing away now.” Anil pulled hard on the oars.
But it was too late. The waterspout seethed and lurched forwards to snatch up the rowing boat in its furious grasp.
Zoey tumbled backwards. “I’ve lost control!”
Alex lunged to touch the tossing surface of the sea before the waterspout could devour them. Sea magic flowed through his body like salt water streaming along his veins, fizzing cold and strong. But he couldn’t make contact in time to release his power into the ocean and unravel the danger.
Because Anil had moved faster. Yelping in panic, he had dropped the oars so that they slid out of their locks and beneath the raging waves. When Anil plunged a hand in after them, magic gushed recklessly from his fingertips, surging along the tangled threads of the ocean. It picked apart the whirling waterspout, collapsing it into a wave that washed roughly over the boat, almost capsizing them.
Cold water sloshed over Alex’s skin as he picked himself up from the bottom of the swaying boat. He nodded his thanks to Anil, who still clung tightly to the side, gasping with the effort of pouring out his magic. Zoey sat up from where she’d fallen under the central bench.
“That was close.” She wrung out her sleeves before glaring down at her hands. “The power is right there. Loads of it! I just can’t make it do what I want.”
“And I can only actually use my magic when we’re about to die.” Anil flexed his fingers as if they were somehow faulty.
“You’re both still learning,” Alex said. The wave had soaked him to the skin, and he shivered. “It’ll be a while before either of you can fully control your power.”
If they all survived long enough.
Alex had a lot more experience with sea magic. Last summer, he had discovered that Haven Bay, his sleepy seaside home, was actually an ancient place of the sea’s power – the last one left in the world. That meant it came complete with the last remaining Water Dragon, a powerful
protector of the ocean. They had bonded and Alex’s own magic had been unlocked.
Since then, he had had the chance to practise his newfound powers on nefarious pirates trying to steal magic for themselves and an army of overgrown ocean parasites that had tried to turn the Water Dragon against him.
His friends’ sea magic had only awakened a few months ago, when the original dragon had surrendered its physical form to fully pour its power into the ocean and save the world from the parasite infestation. That left its baby – the new Water Dragon – still learning its magic too.
Which meant Alex was somehow left as the most experienced magic user of the group and had inherited the unwanted role of teacher.
He was happy that Zoey and Anil now had magic too. It would make them a stronger team in their mission to protect Haven Bay. As the last place of power, keeping it safe from anybody who would exploit its strength was crucial to defending the entire ocean.
Alex had hoped that sharing his magic would take some of the pressure off him. But teaching was just a different kind of pressure. He knew his friends were disappointed not to be learning more quickly. Despite him having many more months of experience, he didn’t feel qualified to be coaching anybody. Before, there had been an ancient Water Dragon with centuries of experience to guide them. There was no way he could live up to that.
The young new Water Dragon bobbed up to the surface beside their rowing boat, lifting its scaly, lion-like head to check on them. It had doubled in size over the winter, maybe more, and the grey and green scales on its long, serpentine back had hardened into fitted plates of armour. The whiskery spines under its chin had thickened to the size of icicles.
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Author Information
Having worked as a freelance games journalist and taught on a BA Creative Writing course for three years, David Owen’s debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and was followed by three further highly acclaimed YA novels. Alex Neptune is his first series for younger readers, born of his love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships.
It is with great pleasure I join the blog tour for author Sarah Tagholm and illustrator Jane McGuiness and their latest book We are the Wibbly. My stop on the tour will be a book review.
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Title: We are the Wibbly
Written by: Sarah Tagholm
Illustrated by: Jane McGuiness
Published by: Bloomsbury
Blurb
OH MY CRIKEYS!
Doesn’t life move fast? One moment you’re in the Wibbly, relaxing with your Wibbly friends. The next, they’ve all grown tails and turned into tadpoles! And what’s more, they are bursting OUT of the Wibbly … AND you’ve got to keep up!
Some tadpoles don’t feel ready to become frogs.
And some never wanted to become tadpoles in the first place.
Blurb for We are the Wibbly by Sarah Tagholm and Jane McGuiness
Review
We are the Wibbly is the ideal book to stimulate discussion on lifecycles and growing up. This book outlines the lifecycle of the frog with the unique voice of one of the tadpoles who is not as advanced as its brothers and sisters. I liked the way we are totally in first person in the point of view of the tadpole throughout the story. There is no omniscient, third person narrator as there is in many picture books. This made this book stand out for me.
The illustrations and tadpole expressions are adorable. The pastel shades are perfect for the lake environment and I liked the use of orange to symbolise danger.
There is also scope provided by reading this book to young infants for discussing sibling rivalry and wanting to be the same as everyone else. Although, it was lovely that at the end of the book the tadpole / frog was able to teach his brothers and sisters something, showing everything has its strengths.
This is a great picture book highlighting the difficulties of growing up and the problems we face that shape our lives in a way young children can relate to. After all, we all had to face our own ‘spiked hunger monster’ and ‘furry danger monster’ throughout our lives.
The perfect book for pre-school and nurseries and if you are doing a topic on minibeasts and lifecycles.
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Author Information
Sarah Tagholm is a children’s author who loves writing about confused animals, mischievous children and all things funny and strange. Her first book, Wolves in Helicopters, was published by Andersen Press and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly.
Jane McGuinness is a Scottish illustrator and author who specialises in picture books. She loves animals, trees and the natural world, and completed the prestigious MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She was awarded the Sebastian Walker Prize and her debut picture book, Say Hi to Hedgehogs! (Walker Books, 2018) was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Award.
I am pleased to be a part of the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award to celebrate the 10th place finalist Little White Hands by Mark Cushen.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Blurb
Almost five hundred years have passed since the Seasons were at war.
Half a millennium since Winter defied Spring, and lost.
Generations have come and gone, not knowing the bitter freeze and howling snows of Winter ever existed.
But now, after centuries of silence, the participants in this ancient struggle have resurfaced and reignited their feud on the doorstep of an unassuming little kitchen boy.
Garlan’s dreams of being just like the knights he idolizes may not be as impossible as he has always been led to believe, when he is chased from his home and thrust headlong into the kind of adventure he had only ever read about in books.
Setting out on a journey that spans the entire kingdom of Faeland, Garlan will traverse impossible mountains and stormy seas and battle terrible monsters, all to keep the world he knows safe from an enemy who will stop at nothing to bring about a never-ending winter.
With a cast of fantastical characters to aid him in his quest, can Garlan overcome his self-doubt and find the courage he needs to rise above his humble station and become the hero he always dreamed of being?
The fate of the world rests in his hands.
My stop on the book tour takes the form of a book review.
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Title: Little White Hands
Author: Mark Cushen
Book Cover by: Jeremy Adams
Little White Hands is a story of bravery, sacrifice and determination. It is set in a the sword-weilding fantasy world of King Arthur where the climate is determined by whuch of the High Seasons walks the Earth.
I liked the concept of Lord Winter fighting for dominance over the other High Seasons to keep the world frozen. His manipulative and fierce ice-warrior henchman, Hoarime, was a strong antagonist for our main character, 11-year-old Garlan.
Garland is a kitchen boy with his own goal of becoming one of King Arthur’s Knight’s despite his small hands. He is a fascinating, well-rounded character who draws you in from the start.
He meets the other seasons: Spring, Lady Summer and Baron Fall who set him on a quest to stop Lord Winter escaping from his firey prison. Together with his animal friends they must save the world by defeating Hoarime.
Little White Hands is a well-pitched middle grade novel ideal for young readers who love fantasy adventure.
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Author Bio
Mark Cushen has loved the fantasy genre since he accidentally stumbled onto Ray Harryhausen’s stop-motion masterpiece, “Jason and the Argonauts”, while channel-hopping one Christmas-time Saturday afternoon, somewhere between the ages of 5 and 8.
Ever since then he has been obsessed with sword-wielding heroes battling monsters in fantastical lands, and now, after spending a few years writing his own Goosebumps fan-fiction as a child, he is attempting to create such stories of his own.
When he is not working his day job or sitting at his desk (ok, on the couch) writing, he can usually be found walking through the woods, either listening to a podcast about an obscure subject or the OST of The Last Samurai on repeat.
Much To Do About Writing 