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
From the author of When I See Red comes a powerful and gorgeously illustrated exploration of bravery and its constant companion, fear.
In When I See Red much-loved author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup expertly gave voice to a girl’s feelings of rage. Now, with this same wisdom and sensitivity, the author looks at what it means to be brave.
Filled with evocative collage illustrations and dynamically positioned type, When I Feel Brave tells the story of a child wandering through a forest and being startled by a bear. At first the bear is terrifying—it is huge and unknown. But as the girl moves through the forest she becomes the bear’s companion and, by the time they reach the end of the forest, its friend.
Offering important insights into the nature of fear, this book helps young readers understand why things are scary, and discover the satisfaction of making friends with the very things that make them feel afraid.
Praise for Britta Teckentrup’s When I See Red: “A potent, powerful storm of a book.“ – Books for Keeps
“At a time when we are learning to listen to our emotions rather than suppress them, this book is a helpful reminder of the benefits.“ – Juno Magazine
“Stunning full-page paintings compliment a flowing, rhyming verse in the first person, from the point of view of an angry girl … this is a beautiful book to have on your shelf.“ – Teach Primary
Britta Teckentrup has written and illustrated more than one hundred and twenty children‘s books, which have been published in more than twenty countries. Her books include The Seedling That Didn‘t Want to Grow, When I See Red and The Swing. Born in Hamburg, Germany, she currently lives with her family in Berlin.
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).
Check out this extraordinary compilation released next month, the 23rd May 2024, written by Caroline Rowland, illustrated by Alette Straathof and published by Noodle Juice.
Version 1.0.0
A tale for every week of the year.
A year full of stories from around the world.
Once upon a time… a long, long, time ago, a story was told. Then, over time, that story was shared with many, becoming a mythical, legendary tale. The building blocks of our cultural heritage, tales of adventure and wonder exist in every society around the globe.
For as long as humans have existed, we have entertained and educated each other with such tales. Ancient stories that are sometimes based on fact, but other times are pure fiction, have been shared from generation to generation by word of mouth, written text, through songs and dances and even in sculptures and paintings. Tales of adventure and wonder exist in every culture.
Celebrate these tales in this amazing hardback compilation of a year full of stories from around the world. From cautionary fairy tales such as Perrault’s, Hans Christian Anderson and the Bothers Grimm, Norse sagas, myths and legends, Scheherazade’s 1001 Arabian Nights, as well as Shakespeare’s comedies to North American, Inuit, Indian and African folk tales. The stories in this new collection from across the ages come together in a glorious collection of 52 retellings of the stories that build our world.
Illustrated in sumptuous watercolour by Alette Straathof, these are tales that deserve to be brought into the light and shared as they would have been around fires centuries ago.
Last month I was lucky enough to be invited to the book launch of The Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle. I had previously been to the amazing proof launch in January and you can see my write up of this here: Spotlight – Pirates of Darksea by Catherine Doyle.
At the ‘proof launch’ we were presented with a bottle of stardust and a proof copy of The Pirates of Darksea. The official launch of the completed book with its brilliant cover, much needed map and additional chapter illustrations took place two months later on the 20th March 2024 below deck at Mr Fogg’s City Tavern, which was decorated with a nautical theme ideally suited to a pirate adventure. Having already read the book made this launch seem all the more special to me.
Again I dressed up as a pirate and although my chosen outfit was not as elaborate as previously I was pleased I had dressed appropriately for the heat as it was a very warm evening. Here I am with my complimentary rum punch cocktail, which by the way was delicious.
There was also canopy nibbles being handed round whilst networking with other authors and publishing professionals. This is a photo of me with the author Catherine Doyle after getting my new copy of The Pirates of Darksea signed.
It was a fantastic event and I would like to thank Grace and the crew (Arrghhh!) from Bloomsbury for inviting me to take part. Thank you.
For Autism Acceptance Week on the 2nd – 8th April I am spotlighting this brilliant early reader book for children ages 6+, which is due for publication on the 18th April 2024 by Little Island Books.
Blurb
A hilarious and heart warming chapter book for readers aged 6+ about a boy with ADHD who is transformed into a dinosaur, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations throughout.
I’m Rory, sometimes Roary Rory, and this is the story of the weirdest week of my life. Well, the weirdest week so far. Probably. I mean the week I was born was probably quite weird for me. But, I don’t remember that. Thankfully. Anyway, SPOILER ALERT, this week’s weirdness starts on Monday, when I am accidentally turned into a dinosaur… Rory is having a weird week. A really weird week.
He has been turned into a ridiculous, small, feathered dinosaur. Pretty awkward.
Rory can’t use a human toilet. He can’t hold a video game controller in his little dino claws. His breath smells really bad. And his new carnivore body can’t stop craving sausages.
Rory finally gets his friends to take his embarrassing situation seriously, and together they embark on Operation Make Rory Human Again. But it’s not easy. Will Rory be stuck as a dinosaur forever?
Blurb for Dinosaur Pie by Jen Wallace and Alan O’Rourke
Heart-warming and funny, debut author Jen Wallace explores ADHD and celebrating difference in Dinosaur Pie. With illustrations by Alan O’Rourke, this is the perfect story for children moving on from picture books, ready to take the next step on their reading journey.
Extract
Jen says:
“This book started out as a cunning ploy to get my kids to eat their dinner (Is it really dinosaur pie, Mum?) Then it became a poem for a few years. It enjoyed that but then it began to dream of being a book. So it pestered me and pestered me and eventually I helped it become this book.”
Jen Wallace
My Thoughts:
Written from the point of view of Rory who has ADHD and a very limited attention span. I found I could relate to this book and Rory’s stream of thought. I enjoyed his interesting insights of his school, home life, friends and You Tube videos. I also liked the way Jen Wallace built in coping strategies into the narrative.
An ideal book for every child who has ever felt different from everyone else.
Jen Wallace writes stories and poetry, for both children and grown-ups. After being diagnosed with both ADHD and autism late in life, she loves to write neurodivergent characters so people like her can see themselves in books. She lives by the sea with her family and their cats, goats, chickens and rabbit. Jen has wanted to be a writer since she was very small, although she also wanted to be a superhero, a firefighter and the President of Ireland.
Alan O’Rourke Alan is tall. Very tall. He writes and illustrates children’s books. But that is a work in progress. The tallness is permanent. Hopefully. Alan lives with his family beside the sea in the northeast of Ireland. Find out more and subscribe at www.spoiltchild.com
I have been invited today to take part in the cover reveal for Anca Antoci’s latest cosy paranormal mystery, Pierced by Silver.
But first let me tell you a little about the book.
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Title: Pierced by Silver
Series: Paranormal Misadventures#2
Genre: Cosy Paranormal Mystery
Release date: March 21st 2024
Pre-order: Yes
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Here is the blurb:
“Where the boundaries blur between the living and the dead, the line between hero and monster is thin Deep in the heart of Transylvania, nestled amidst ancient forests and shrouded in centuries-old superstitions, lies the village of Vânători.
A string of gruesome murders has left the villagers terrified, and the authorities baffled. Joining forces are Ella Martin, a witch with a hidden past, Felix Goia, a brilliant but haunted police inspector, and Radu Lupu, a mysterious police captain whose supernatural nature has the potential to unravel everything.
As the bodies pile up and the villagers’ fear turns to rage, Ella, Felix, and Radu find themselves caught in a race against time. The locals suspect one of their own to be a strigoi – a relentless force that hungers for blood. They must uncover the truth behind the killings, whether it’s a human monster or a strigoi, before the village is consumed by darkness. However, their investigation takes a perilous twist when Radu, as a vârcolac, becomes the target of an unrelenting predator armed with silver tipped arrows.
With their strongest ally out of commission, Ella and Felix must hurry to save him and stop the killings before Vânători becomes a ghost town.”
Blurb for Pierced by Silver by Anca Antoci
And the moment you’ve all been waiting for… here is the cover for Anca Antoci’s latest novel in the Paranormal Misadventures series:
Based on Romanian folklore and mythology, the story follows the events of Midsummer Night’s Curse, but can also be read as a standalone.
Each book in this series features a new mystery that will be solved by the end of the story, but the dynamics between the characters may change and evolve, so I recommend that you read the books in order.
Fun fact: The wolf head on the cover is called Draco and was a religious and military symbol for the Dacians, an ancient people who inhabited what is now Romania and parts of surrounding countries (before we were conquered by the Romans 2000 years ago). It was a standard, typically made of bronze, that depicted a wolf head with an open mouth and a snake-like body.
The Draco held significant meaning for the Dacians in two ways: military and religious. It was mounted on a pole, carried by a standard bearer, and often displayed proudly during battles and religious ceremonies. The Draco played a crucial role in uniting Dacian warriors and intimidating enemies during battle. The wolf head contained metal tongues that vibrated in the wind, creating a howling sound resembling wolves or dragons. Its wind-borne howl served as a psychological weapon against the enemy, striking fear into their hearts.
The Draco also represented the Dacian pantheon, particularly the sky god Zalmoxis (serpent) and Gebeleizis (wolf). Both gods embodied power, protection, and connection to nature. Now, you may be wondering why I’m telling you all that. Since this is the second book in Paranormal Misadventures, I’ll assume you have already met police captain Radu Lupu (by the way, lupu means “the wolf” in Romanian and it’s a pretty common surname).
Just in case you haven’t finished Midsummer Night’s Curse, I’ll avoid spoilers. Let’s just say it’s relevant to the story. There’s actually a Dacian legend of the Great White Wolf I drew inspiration from. I hope you’ll enjoy the pieces of my culture and heritage I included in this story.
Like all Anca’s covers, this one too was designed by her husband, Florin.
I am shining a spotlight on The Rat King: The Rats of Letniv Volume One by Emma Miles as part of her blog tour.
The Rats of Letniv is a prequel to the Fire-Walker saga and Land Beneath the Sky companion books. This young adult, fantasy was published on 31st October 2023.
Blurb
Being the son of a Coven Lord is a far and desperate cry from luxury and safety. Every day Rothfel must prove he is worth the food his father puts on the table, and avoid the notice of Lord Atise’s brutal bodyguard, Bicken. When his only friend, a lowly slave, is cruelly taken from him, Rothfel finds himself alone in the sprawling, chaotic city of Letniv.
Yearning for friendship, love, and approval, he is offered a hand from the unlikeliest of places…
But who is really worth his loyalty?
Akimas Atise, his distant, cold, and terrifying father?
Golghen, the mysterious chameleon of Letniv city; king of liars, king of thieves?
Gentle, brave Leida; slave, concubine, descendant of the free women of the north?
Or Zephyr? Ghost, murderer, and devoted follower of the King of Rats.
Rothfel is only ten, but his choices, his love, his loyalty… will change the Land Beneath the Sky.
Blurb from The Rat King by Emma Miles
A Word from the Author
I often get asked when I knew I was a writer; the answer is always. A writer is what I am, it’s in my soul. There have been times in my life when I couldn’t write, and times when my writing has been the only thing that kept me going. I think I always longed for something deeper from life, something more meaningful, and I found it in my imagination and in the music of words.
It was poetry which first caught my attention, and whilst my younger cousins called for ghost stories it was animals I first wrote of. I think I gravitated toward fantasy because of the freedom it gives, I could create my own worlds and decide my own rules. My Wind’s Children trilogy was born from an image that came to me whilst daydreaming, of a young man sitting alone below a bridge. I didn’t know who he was; it turns out neither did he, but we found out together.
I’m now working on my seventh book and love writing more than ever, it’s an addiction, an obsession, but one I now share with my wonderful writing family. My beta readers, my editor, and you, my readers, having you with me on my journey means the world to me.
I write as much as I can around work, but I also try to squeeze in a ridiculous amount of hobbies! I’m a wildlife photographer and do a little archery. I paint, sculpt with clay, withies and driftwood, preferring to be outdoors if I can. I still have a love for the theatre, having started out in life studying backstage crafts, and a great love for language. I speak a little French, Romanian and Italian, ma non molto bene!
Thanks for reading this. If you read any of my books and love them, please come say hello and tell me, you’d be surprised at how much that means to an author.
Granny was a Buffer Girl is set in industrial Sheffield from the 1930s to the 1980s. Three generations of Jess’s family tell her the heart-breaking and funny family stories and romances that bind them together. 11+ Carnegie medal, Boston Globe-Horn Honor.
A new edition of Granny Was a Buffer Girl will be published by UCLan in 2024. This book was the winner of the Carnegie Medal in 1986 and has been refreshed with an eye-catching new cover by Tamsin Rosewell.
Before leaving Sheffield for a year’s adventure in France, 18 year-old Jess joins a family gathering. They share stories that have bound them together through generations. Stories of heartbreak, humour and romance. She listens to the tale of her grandparents, whose love kept them together in spite of family conflicts; of her other granny Dorothy’s daily toil from the dirt and grime of the buffing wheel; and of her parents’ first meeting. And, of course, there’s Jess’s own story too.
Blurb for Granny was a Buffer Girl by Berlie Doherty
Berlie Doherty is the author of the best-selling novel, Street Child, and over 60 more books for children, teenagers and adults, and has written many plays for radio, theatre and television.
She has been translated into over twenty languages and has won many awards, including the Carnegie medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody, and the Writers’ Guild Award for both Daughter of the Sea and the theatre version of Dear Nobody. She has three children and seven grandchildren, and lives in the Derbyshire Peak District.
To find out more about Berlie Doherty and her books take a look at her website: https://berliedoherty.com/
Children of Winter is a historical time-slip novel set in the Derbyshire village of Eyam. Three siblings have to survive alone in a barn during the Great Plague of 1666. They long to know what is happening down in their village.
Previously published by Catnip, November 2019 and originally published by Methuen, 1985 (HarperCollins paperback) a new edition of the much loved classic was published by UCLan on 2 November 2023. It was also available as a BBC Jackanory cassette, read by Sylvestra le Touzel, a video: Channel 4 schools Bookbox dramatisation and a BBC4 schools abridged reading.
Catherine and her family set out for her grandmother’s house deep in the Derbyshire hills. Sheltering from a storm in an old cruck barn with her younger sister and brother, it becomes strangely familiar to her, and she is drawn back to a time when three children sheltered all winter away from a terrible plague that was devastating their village. Written by a master storyteller, Children of Winter recreates the time when the tiny village of Eyam in Derbyshire cut itself off from the rest of England in 1666.
Blurb for Children of Winter by Berlie Doherty
Cover Art by Tamsin Rosewell.
Berlie Doherty is the author of the best-selling novel, Street Child, and over 60 more books for children, teenagers and adults, and has written many plays for radio, theatre and television.
She has been translated into over twenty languages and has won many awards, including the Carnegie medal for both Granny Was a Buffer Girl and Dear Nobody, and the Writers’ Guild Award for both Daughter of the Sea and the theatre version of Dear Nobody.
To find out more about Berlie Doherty and her books take a look at her website: https://berliedoherty.com
Much To Do About Writing 