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
Take a look at my Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today. I am spotlighting The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 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.
The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes is a 238 Page, adult literary fiction, fantasy that was published October 31st 2014.
Blurb
From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there’s more magic to the world than he thought…
When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he’s drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too.
Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something – yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?
About the Author
Ashley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
Today I am excited to announce I am on yet another of Victoria Williamson’s blog tours. This time for a brillaint middle-grade science fiction adventure, Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs. It is 198 pages and was released on October 24, 2024 by Tiny Tree Books.
Blurb
When the skies turn deadly, a young heroine must rise from the ashes…
Twelve-year-old Amberley Jain has faced incredible challenges since the crash that took her parents and paralysed her legs. Now, with her best friend Ricardo Lopez about to be sent away and a swarm of mutated insects closing in on the Skyfleet base, the stakes have never been higher. Something monstrous is driving the mutabugs north from the contaminated meteor site known as the Cauldron, and the only plane capable of stopping it – the Firehawk – lies in pieces in the hangar.
Determined to honour her parents’ legacy, Amberley hatches a daring plan. With Ricardo’s help, they stow away on a supply train, trading his most treasured possession for the parts needed to repair the Firehawk. After secret test flights, the legendary jet is ready for action. Now, Amberley and Ricardo must confront the deadly swarm and save their home, discovering their inner strength and the true meaning of friendship along the way.
Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs is a thrilling tale of adventure and resilience, perfect for middle-grade readers.
Review
Title: Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs
Written by: Victoria Williamson
Illustrated by:
Published by: Tiny Tree Books
This gripping sci-fi dystopian tale masterfully blends themes of determination, friendship, grief, and resilience into a heart-pounding adventure.
The story follows Amberley and Ric (Ricardo), two vividly portrayed protagonists with richly developed personalities and relatable struggles. Ricardo, who is visually impaired, relies on an advanced opti-kit to navigate the world. Amberley, paralyzed in a plane crash that claimed her parents’ lives, has been confined to a wheelchair ever since. Their lives take a perilous turn when their village is threatened by swarms of monstrous metabugs hatching in a nearby meteor crater.
As if giant, crop-destroying insects weren’t enough, the stakes escalate when they uncover an even deadlier enemy: colossal spiders immune to their weapons, abducting villagers and cocooning them for a gruesome feast.
The only hope lies in the Firehawk, a powerful jet fighter that crashed in the same tragic accident that left Amberley scarred. Though deemed irreparable, the Firehawk becomes the centre of a daring plan. With the help of Screwball, a maverick pilot with a knack for trouble, and her quirky pet wombat, Amberley and Ric embark on a secret mission to rebuild the aircraft.
The story surges forward with electrifying intensity as they scavenge for parts, outwit doubting adults, and test their skills and courage against all odds. The final showdown, with the restored Firehawk blazing into action, delivers a thrilling climax that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
What sets this tale apart are the dynamic narrative touches: the interwoven reports, technical specs, and log entries that seamlessly propel the story while immersing readers in the high-stakes world.
About the Author
Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com
To read reviews of Skyfleet: March of the Metabugs by Victoria Williamson take a look at:
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and upcoming events on her website: www.strangelymagical.com and follow her on X (formly known as Twitter) @strangelymagic
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this ultimate tour. Thank you. @The_WriteReads @WriteReadsTours
A special thank you must also go to Victoria Williamson and Tiny tree Books for sending me the wonderful book package.
My Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024 semi-finalist spotlight for today is Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 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.
Murder in Velvet by Sarah Wynne is a 290 page middle grade thriller/ mystery. It was published September 1st, 2023.
Blurb
13-year-old Grace loves her new charity shop coat. In fact, it’s perfect. Except for one tiny thing. When she wears it, she sees visions of the previous owner’s life … and their murder! Grace and her best friend, Suzy, decide to investigate but digging up the past reveals secrets some people want to keep hidden. Can Grace stay one step ahead and solve a fifty-year-old murder or will she become the killer’s next victim? A gripping story of secrets and murder for fans of fast-paced middle grade thrillers.
Author Bio
Sarah Wynne is from Chester in the northwest of England and lives with her husband, son and their little white ball of chaos, Daisy the dog. She spent over 10 years working as a primary teaching assistant but now writes full-time and provides editorial services to writers of children’s fiction.
When she’s not writing she’ll usually be found with her nose in a middle grade book or researching which book to read next or talking about books!
I am happy to announce today is my stop on blog tour for Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson. This chilling Middle grade novel ws publsihed on the 10thOctober 2024 by Usborne books.
If you would like to win a copy of Spooksmiths Investigates: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson simply leave a comment on this blog post. This prize giveaway is open to all UK residents. Please be aware you must be happy for your postal details to be forwarded to Usbourne and Kaleidoscopic Tours so they can mail you a physical copy of the book.
My stop on the tour takes the form of a review.
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Title: Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman
Written by: Alex Atkinson
Cover art by: Miriam Serafin
Published by: Usborne
Blurb:
Discover a brilliantly spooky new horror-mystery series for fans of Dread Wood, Goosebumps and Aveline Jones…
Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn, accidentally releasing the Cinderman: a terrifying ash monster, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies, unless they can stop him by sunset.
Using their newly awakened Spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?
Review
Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman is a well-paced mystery with plenty of spooky scenes and cliff-hangers that kept me turning the pages.
Indigo and Rusty’s parents run the 400-year-old funeral home in Greyscar. Bhind one of the bookshelfs Indigo discovers a secret room where she inadvertedly smashes an urn containing the ashes of The Cinderman who was trapped there by here grandfather. That night the ashes cover the village turning everyone to zombies except the twelve-year-old twins, Indigo and Rusty, as they are Spooksmiths who have the ability to see and talk to ghosts.
The Cinderman is a formidable villain with a few spine-chilling traits. In contrast Phrank the Pheasant is a dynamic and hilariously funny ghost with some excellent one-liners. Together they add the ideal mix of comedy and horror that will delight middle grade readers.
Rusty and Indigo’s character arc has been artfully crafted to demonstrate how they antagonise each other at the beginning and gradually learn to overcome their differences to work together to uncover the mystery of The Cinderman to save the village before Ashmageddon strikes. One of my favourite scenes is when Indigo and Rusty meet the residents of Little Hope Graveyard and we see them beginning to work as a team.
A great, excellently written middle-grade mystery with themes of sibling rivalry and finding the best in yourself, ideal for Key Stage Two at Halloween.
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Here is a little Halloween taster from the first chapter:
Extract
There’s a secret door in my family’s bookcase.
A secret door with steps going down behind it…
It’s the entrance to a basement. Or a dungeon. Or maybe it’s a bat cave. I let out a nervous laugh, but I’m more excited than scared. I have so many questions. I could – and probably should – get Mum or Dad, but they’ll just tell me it’s dangerous and stop me investigating…
Or maybe they already know about the secret door and have kept it hidden? A familiar fizz of anger bubbles in my belly. It would be so typical of them to keep something like this quiet. I can hear their disapproving voices in my head: It’s too dark and dangerous and dirty.
I’m going in.
The doorway doesn’t reach down to the floor like a normal door. It’s two shelves up, so I have to climb inside, ducking to avoid the clusters of spider’s webs dangling from the ceiling. The light behind me illuminates a set of twisting stone steps. I take a deep breath and immediately regret it: the air in here is stinkier than Rusty’s bedroom, like dust mixed with sweaty socks.
Halfway down, the stairs twist to the left, a pillar blocking the light from above. The next step down is in complete darkness. I curse myself for not having my phone on me, but heading back up to get it and being caught by Dad isn’t an option, so I keep going, holding the wall to guide me. Maybe
there’s a light switch further down.
Five more steps and I reach the bottom. There’s a faint whispering sound, but it’s probably just the pipes from the house. I take a few hesitant, shuffling steps forward and my outstretched hands brush something cold and metallic. The whispering gets louder as I pick the something up. It’s the size of a coffee jar and weighs almost nothing.
Intrigued, I shuffle back to the stairs, towards the light. As I climb, the thing seems to get colder. Icy tendrils numb my hands, climbing up my arms towards my heart, leaving me wondering what could be inside.
I round the corner of the basement stairway and a shaft of light from upstairs lands on my hands.
I’m holding a dented, dusty old urn.
The hairs on the back of my neck prickle.
We’ve got urns all over the place. Why is this one hidden in a secret basement?
As if in answer, the urn lid rattles.
I scream and instinctively throw the urn away. It lands with a clatter somewhere beneath me. The gasping sound that follows chills me to the bone. It sounds like someone taking their first breath in a long time. Heart pounding, I race up the stairs to the doorway pursued by a dry, ash-choked voice:
“Speak my name.”
I’m so freaked out I can barely remember my own name, but I think…I think that voice came from whatever –or whoever – was in that urn.
Which means only one thing: I can hear the dead.
About the Author
Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor.
She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies. SPOOKSMITHS INVESTIGATE: THE CINDERMAN is her debut novel.
It is with great pleasure I am joining the tour for Handle with Care by Louisa Reid, published by Guppy Books on 10thOctober 2024. Handle with Care is a stunningly powerful YA novel from a master storyteller told in both prose and verse.
Blurb
No one knows Ruby is pregnant – not even Ruby herself. So when she gives birth at school on a miserable February morning, her world is thrown into chaos. Keeping the baby isn’t an option, but keeping quiet about who the father of her child definitely is; because if Ruby’s best friend Ashley finds out the truth, then she’ll lose her too.
When Ruby finally realises what she and her baby need, somehow that doesn’t seem to matter any more. So Ruby must take matters into her own hands, with tragic consequences…
Extract
Pretend I’m fine.
Pretend I’m not standing here
something running down my legs.
They all think I’ve wet myself.
All night I lay in bed
my belly tight.
Not a second’s sleep.
Period, I thought,
thank God,
maybe
my period is coming at last,
and I swallowed pills,
paracetamol, ibuprofen,
and tried to dream.
But now,
now my body
is an enemy
that takes my breath,
and holds me in a relentless fist.
I pant, try to stand up straight,
gasp,
don’t want to make a noise,
don’t want them to look,
but it HURTS.
I bite my lip, my cheeks.
Head spins.
I want to be sick.
About the Author
Louisa Reid is the author of the YA verse novels Gloves Off, nominated for the Carnegie Medal, Wrecked, which was selected for both the Read for Empathy collection and National Poetry Day and Activist. Her debut adult novel, The Poet, was published to critical acclaim. Louisa Reid has spent most of her life reading.
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When Louisa’s not reading she’s writing stories, or imagining writing them at least. As an English teacher, her favourite part of the job is sharing her love of reading and writing with her pupils. Louisa lives with her family in the north-west of England and is proud to call a place near Manchester home.
My spotlight today is for Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu written by Ain Heath Drew and illustrated by Erin Robinson. It is due for publication by Barefoot Books on Tuesday 17th September 2024 and suitable for readers 5+.
Quote
“Our ancestors come from many nations in Africa. We are still connected to them today… Our cultures, our style, and our ways are connected to the ways of our ancestors.” “What do you mean, Dad?” “I’ll tell you more about this tomorrow, Ayo. Right now, it’s bedtime.”
Blurb
Join Ayo as he explores the creative and resilient cultures of his heritage.
One night, a young African American boy Ayo tumbles into an extraordinary journey across the African diaspora. From hip-hop to kente cloth, from Mansa Musa to revolution, the African diaspora has inspired the world!
Ayo’s Adventure is an A-Z introduction to the vast and powerful global concept of the dispersion of African people across the globe and offers an engaging way to explore many diverse cultures, historical figures, nations, events, and movements within the diaspora.
The wide-ranging countries and cultures represented include Trinidad and Tobago, the Dogon and Makonde people, Nigeria, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Ghana, Haiti, Mali, Ethiopia, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zulu, and more! Colourful spreads include info boxes and country labels, while thorough back-of-the-book resources deepen engagement with the story and further explore connections between the nations and traditions represented on both sides of the Atlantic.
About the Author
Ain Drew is the author of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. She is inspired by the power of words and loves writing beautiful stories for children. As an educator, Ain uses books to expand her students’ knowledge about the world around them.
Ain lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and enjoys spending time with her son, DJ, learning about different cultures around the globe, exploring new places, and reading.
Ain Heath Drew says:
“Bringing the idea for this book to life has been an adventure. I expected to teach young readers about the beauty of the African diaspora, but I didn’t anticipate how much I would learn.”
About the Illustrator
Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art.
Erin’s illustrations have been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post, and she has illustrated numerous picture books, including A Library by Nikki Giovanni. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC.
Reviews
“A book brimming with affirmations of Blackness! Ayo’s Adventure is a love letter that reveals to be part of the African Diaspora is to be part of a global community of Black brilliance, Black creativity, Black resilience, Black joy” (Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, co-founder of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy)
“Structured as an ABC book (A is for Afro, B is for Braids, C is for Calypso), Ayo’s adventure takes him all around the globe . . . This is a valuable book to serve as a mirror or window for a wide variety of readers and reading levels” (School Library Journal)
“A gentle but enormously powerful introduction to the Diaspora, Ayo’s Adventure is a joyfully inventive journey that can inspire readers of all ages to explore the many ways that people of African heritage around the world are connected” (Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, author of Makeda Makes a Birthday Treat)
“As a lifelong literacy advocate, I seek out children’s books that help kids explore the world around them. Ayo’s Adventure is a journey through the sights and sounds of the African diaspora. I loved hanging out with Ayo on his adventure. I learned so much.” (LeVar Burton, Actor + Children’s Literacy Advocate)
“Ayo’s Adventure is a dreamy and illustrious stroll through Black history and culture. It is a beautiful and brilliant reminder that Blackness is both deep and wide and joyful. It is everything I would read to my three free Black children” (Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Ph.D, Chair of the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College)
I am please to announce I am taking part in the spotlight tour for the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2024. Today I am spotlighting a young adult fantasy , Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth.
About BBNYA and the Spotlight Tours
The Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is celebrating the books that made it to the semi-finals with a mini spotlight blitz tour for each title.
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 16 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.
Lady of Dragons (Part One) by Shelby Elizabeth is a 375 page historically based fantacy romance published on August 29th, 2023.
Blurb
“You will be bound, dragon and human.”
Finlay McDonough wants nothing more than to be a Dragon Knight: a warrior bound with a dragon partner, intent on ridding the kingdom of its dragon-killing monarchy. Well, she might want one thing just a bit more … Evander, her childhood friend, now keeper of the dragon sanctuary. Scouting with Evander one day, Finlay’s attempt to save a dragon goes horribly wrong, and she inadvertently ties her fate to the dragon’s—their souls bind, lending Finlay powers like those of the Mages the Knights are sworn to destroy.
After passing the trial to train as a Knight, Finlay discovers a devastating truth about a beloved dragon. To save them, she’ll need to risk her dream of becoming a true Knight, her chance at a happily-ever-after with Evander . . . and maybe her very identity.
Fantasy romance with a fierce heroine, gentle love interest, sassy dragon companion, and more than a dash of adventure awaits.
My Thoughts on the Book:
The writing was engaging with a good pace. There is some detailed world building and plenty of information given to keep me turning the pages. Enough hints were dropped to me want to find out more. In this way, I was invested in the story.
Finlay and her friends want to be dragon knights and they have to complete their training and apprenticeships. We really delve into their feelings for each other with the extensive descriptions of the characters. There was also some intensive world building to help set the scene.
The characters were well developed and there was plenty of character emotional response which was good. They were believable and their feelings for each other relatable. I liked Finlay’s impetuous nature, which sometimes had devestating results.
I particularly liked the dilemma of Finlay wanting to be a Dragon Knight whilst knowing she would love to work full time in the dragon sanctuary with Evander. I was also impressed with the characterisation of the dragons. Each dragon has been given it’s own personality, which comes out in the way they speak and react.
On the whole, lots of intrigue throughout. An enjoyable read with a real Mills & Boon style romance.
Author Bio
Shelby Elizabeth is a teacher in Upstate New York. She is a major geek (favourite fandoms include Lord of the Rings, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and One Piece) and loves spending time with her family, and relaxing at home with her cats.
She writes both young adult fantasy romance and young adult contemporary romance. Shelby can be found on Twitter (X) @ShelbyEBooks and on Instagram @shelbyelizabethbooks.
You can read more reviews by following the links below.
I am thrilled to be able to join The Write Reads Ultimate US Blog Tour for Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North by Antonia Maxwell. This brilliant dystopian,middle grade adventure is published by Neem Tree Press and was launched in the UK on July 4th 2024 .
My stop on the tour takes the form of a spotlight of the book.
About the Book:
Blurb
Book 1 in an action-packed dystopian adventure series set in the near-future post-melt Arctic.
The last ice cap has melted, and the world is on the brink of collapse. A deadly force—Terra Electrica—has been unleashed. It feeds on electricity. It is infecting civilization.
In this chaotic, rapidly changing reality, 12-year-old Mani has lost her family and community to the Terra Electrica. Armed only with some ancestral wisdom and a powerful, ancient wooden mask she was never meant to inherit so soon, she suddenly finds herself responsible for the fate of the world.
Can Mani piece everything together and harness her newfound powers in time to save humanity?
You can read reviews of Terra Electrica: The Guardians of the North here:
Antonia Maxwell is a writer and editor based in North Essex and Cambridge, UK.
With a degree in Modern Languages and a long-standing career as a book editor, she has a lifelong curiosity for language and words, and a growing fascination in the power of story – the way it shapes our lives and frames our experience.
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.
To follow the rest of the tour please see the schedule below:
For my spotlight today I will be introducing the hilarious Disaster Dad series by Irish rugby player Donncha O’Callaghan, written with Blue Peter Book Club author Karen Owen and illustrated by Jenny Taylor. This series is pubished by Eriu, an imprint of Bonnier Books and is released this week, on Thursday 24th October 2024.
A laugh-out-loud family story for readers aged 7+, perfect for fans of Dermot O’Leary and Pamela Butchart. Disaster Dad is a four-book series for developing readers who love mischief, disaster and embarrassing stories!
Blurb
When Dad decides to plan a special surprise for Mum’s birthday, the house turns to chaos! Mum is going to America to visit family for a week and has left a very clear master plan for Dad, Finn and Emma to follow.
But when the plan is destroyed, Dad goes rogue and starts organising a birthday surprise! From disastrous D-I-Y and cockadoodle-doo-ing cockerels to bonkers baking, this book is crammed full of chaos!
About the Author
Doncha O’Callaghan is one of Ireland’s most recognisable faces in the world of sport, TV and radio. The rugby legend, who played for Munster, Ireland and the Lions, has turned his attention to broadcasting in recent years and become a firm favourite with both listeners and viewers across RTÉ on the 2FM Breakfast Show, Ireland’s Fittest Family and The Full Irish Hidden Camera Show. Donncha is also a devoted husband and father-of-four. Disaster Dad: Chicken Chaos is his first book.
Karen Owen is the author of the Major and Mynah series, amongst others. She was brought up in Kent and currently lives in London. She has loved books from a young age and read every children’s title in the village library. She spends her days in a variety of imaginary worlds, either writing or reading. Her favourite story is always the one she is creating at the moment. She enjoys hiking and her ambition is to walk the coast of Great Britain (but not all in one go).
About the Illustrator
Jenny Taylor is a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and self-confessed biscuit lover specialising in fun and quirky children’s book illustration. Originally hailing from Falkirk, Scotland, well-known for its magical horse heads, she now lives in Preston where she works as a full-time illustrator.
Today I am very pleased to be joining the blog tour for The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter. This chilling middle grade adventure is the sequel to A Girl Called Corpse and was released by Usborne on the 10th October, just in time for Halloween.
To celebrate this release of The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter, Usborne are giving away free copies of the first book in the series, A Girl Called Corpse. To win a copy all you have to do is leave a message here on my blog about this series.
The spooky cover art for both books was by Maxine Lee-Mackie and the inside illustrations were beautifully done by Eleanora Asparuhova. the title lettering was by Kristy Lund-White with additional lettering by Sarah Coleman.
Here is a little more information about both books:
Blurb for A Girl Called Corpse
“A spooky, funny, magical and atmospheric adventure with a compelling hero you will adore.” Jessica Townsend, New York Times bestselling author of Nevermoor
Maybe some ghosts enjoy walking through walls and being invisible – not me. I never asked to be a kid ghost.
With no memory of the kid she was before she was taken by the Witches, Corpse is bound to haunt the rock-that-doesn’t-exist for ever.
Until she learns of a treasure, one that can reunite Corpse with her family and her name. She must set off for answers, on a journey across the stormy sea, battling magic, zombie-skeletons and monsters. But the Witches want the treasure too.
And they’ll do anything to get to it first.
Welcome to Elston-Fright, a forgotten town where witches lurk, sea monsters roam and a girl is on the hunt for answers…
Previously published in the UK as The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name.
Blurb for The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright
The thing about magic is that it likes to stay hidden…
Flip Little’s family have always been Lightkeepers, guardians sworn to protect the town of Elston-Fright from magical, monstrous threats. And Flip is no stranger to magic; only he knows about the two ghost-girls haunting a rock out at sea.
When their spider friend, Simon, is spider-napped by ancient Poltergusts, weather ghouls out to cause mayhem, Flip, Girl and Corpse set out to rescue him. But first they must find and return the missing Light to the lighthouse, restoring its magic.
Only nothing in Elston-Fright is quite as it seems. Questions bubble up from the deep. Dark secrets emerge. And soon, Flip and his friends learn that in order to beat the Poltergusts they need to understand what happened in the past.
First Impressions of The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright
Due to the late arrival of this book, I have unfortunately been unable to finish in time for my stop on the blog tour but I can give you my first impressions.
The first few chapters of the novel are very well-written and do draw you in. Even though there are a few false starts you get a great sense of voice and the Lighthouse setting is very vivid and definiely eerie.
It is written in dual narrative from the points of view of corpse and Flip who yearns for adventure and the kid-ghost Corpse from the previous book. Flip is short for his age but does not let this hold him back. Corpse can fly with the aid of her Cemetery Stone. I particularly liked the way we got Flip’s view of Corpse and her view of Flip. The supporting characters Girl who is also a ghost and Simon the Spider who has gone missing are also well-developed.
I always love a map in an adventure book and both books in theseries do not disappoint. Here is the map so you can an idea of what I mean:
I look forward to completing the novel.
Extract from The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright
If there’s one thing I know, it’s this: being a Lightkeeper is Very Serious Business. Protecting an entire town from dangerous magic? That’s a big responsibility. Seriously big. But somebody’s got to do it. After all, you can’t just let your home become overrun by wickedness and shadow, can you? You can’t allow briny bogey people and wily wraiths to roam about freely, hurting people as they go. No, you have to defend your home. You have to protect it from harm. And when it comes to the fishing town of Elston-Fright that I call my home, the person who’s always protected it from bad magic has been a Little.
Like me. I’m a Little – Flip Little.
And Littles are Lightkeepers.
My family’s been doing it for ever – taking care of Elston-Fright, that is – ever since my great-great-great-grandfather Lionel Little built the lighthouse where, these days, I live with my nan. The town wasn’t much more than a handful of cottages back then, and the wharf was no more than a single crooked jetty. The fish mill hadn’t been built yet, and the town hall didn’t even have its bell. The lighthouse was one of the very first buildings to crop up in Elston-Fright, and it quickly became the most important. It was from the lighthouse, at its far-flung place on the point, that Littles would fulfil their duty to protect. Ever vigilant, Lightkeepers would keep an eye – both eyes, actually – on Elston-Fright, ready to respond to whatever magical threat might be the next to arrive on its shores. That’s why, after seeing the very-weird-and-totally-not-normal thing that I saw from my window this morning, I knew it was up to me to investigate. Strange things don’t just happen, after all. Mysteries don’t solve themselves.
Somebody has to look into it – who better than a Little?
Bertie’s motor growls loudly. My hand is squeezed so tightly around the tiller that if I looked back at it, I’m sure my knuckles would be bone white. I don’t look back, though. I look forwards, towards my destination, with my eyes narrowed against the morning sun. The wind whipping off the ocean is icy, and every now and again Bertie’s bow crashes into a wayward wave and kicks water up in my face. It gets in my mouth, salty and sharp, and it goes up my nose too, but I quickly wipe it away with my free hand and urge Bertie to move faster. My heart thumps in my chest.
Bertie is my little yellow dinghy, by the way. Or, well, it’s my nan’s little yellow dinghy. I’m only borrowing it.
Does it count as borrowing if Nan doesn’t know about it?
I shake the thought from my head. There’s no time for thinking about all that right now. It’s one of the first rules of Lightkeeping: there are times for thinking, and there are times for acting. After spotting the mystery-in-question from my window, now definitely counts as a time for acting.
Besides, I’m about as used to breaking rules as a person comes.
But before I can investigate the very-weird-and-totally-not-normal thing, there’s something else that I need. Every hero needs their sidekicks, and so that’s why right now I’m racing across the water at full speed, headed for backup. Directly ahead of me, breaching the waters like some kind of supersized whale, is the rock where I’ll find it. It’s the rock where my very best friends live.
About the Author
Reece Carter is a high-profile Australian nutritionist who has written two non-fiction books for adults, appeared on many of Australian’s major television networks, and written for magazines like GQ. He grew up in rural Western Australia and now lives in Sydney.
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