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
My spotlight today is for The Seamaiden’s Odyssey, written by Berlie Doherty and illustrated by Tamsin Rosewell. This middle fantasy is due for publication on the 5th September 2024 by UClan Publishing.
Blurb
From twice Carnegie Medal-winning author, Berlie Doherty, comes a stunning new fable, drawing on the folklore of ocean and landscape to create a magical coming-of-age novella for the modern era, brought to life by Tamsin Rosewell.
A strange and beautiful sea-creature is brought into the marine sanctuary where Sasha works. The sea-girl is kept as an exhibit and for scientific research. But Sasha wants to know more about her – are there more of her kind? What sort of community does she come from? Does she have a family?
There is a story to be told, in exchange for a promise. It is a story of cruelty and grief, of love and longing and pride; the story of Merryn, who makes a traumatic journey from sea and to land, from defiance to finding her true self and the power of sisterhood.
About the Author
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.
About the Illustrator
Tamsin Rosewell is an artist, historian and broadcaster with a background in politics. She was a bookseller for 15 years, with a specialist knowledge in children’s and picture books before moving to illustration.
She is also known for her painted window displays. Tamsin is a regular panel speaker and Festival event chair, as well as being a judge of the Stratford Salariya Picture Book Prize. She is based at 55-year-old independent bookshop, Kenilworth Books, but divides her time between London, Oxford and Warwickshire
To discover more about The Seamaiden’s Odyssey, Berlie’s inspiration and view some of Tamsin’s artwork take a look at Belie Doherty’s website: www.berliedoherty.com.
You can see my other spotlights of Berlie Doherty’s books on my blog here:
Bryony Pearce’s debut middle grade novel, Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood, is a crazy romp of an adventure that will keep readers turning the pages. Based on the children of the Greek gods, you may think this story is going to be a predictable demi-god story or a weak version of Percy Jakson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, but you would be wrong.
Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood is a highly original, hilariously funny and entertaining story. Eleven-year-old Hannah Messenger, the granddaughter of Hermes the messenger god and Dylan, the grandson of Demeter the god of harvest, are best friends. Hannah has recently come into her powers and her and Dylan decide to go to the marker stone on the outskirts of Hockwood to practice using them instead of going to school.
Whilst they are there they meet Amy, the granddaughter of Aphrodite and school bully who is also bunking off school as she is upset her school work is not taken seriously by the teachers, as all that is expected of her is to be pretty. They also find school loner, Alistair has missed school too for a me-day. All the characters including the antagonist have been well-developed with their own strengths, weaknesses and well-crafted character arcs.
These four children form the core characters are real heroes fighting to save the human world through all odds. When someone moves the and marker stone, the gods of Olympus and their descendants lose their memories so they believe they are ordinary humans with no powers. Only Hannah, Dylan, Amy and Alistair know who the gods are and they are also losing their powers fast.
They discover the god’s objects of power such as Thor’s lightning bolt and Aphrodite’s apple and Herme’s staff have gone missing so they must overcome their differences and work together to find the thief and stop them using the source of the god’s powers to destroy the world.
A great story with endearing characters and a lot of heart. Encompasses themes of hope, perseverance and combating depression.
You can buy copies of Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwood by Bryony Pearce from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
It is my pleasure to be taking part in the blog tour for Justin Somper’s incredible new pirate series, Pirate Academy.
About the Author
Justin Somper is a creative talent in children’s book publishing. Beginning his career as a writer/editor for Usborne, he joined Puffin Books as a publicist in 1992 and moved to Random House as Children’s Publicity Director in 1996. In 1998, Justin became one of the UK’s first specialist children’s book publicists. He has since worked with Anthony Horowitz, Louise Rennison, the Roald Dahl literary estate and the Narnia literary estate amongst others.
Justin made the transition from leading book publicist to bestselling author, with a roaring success with Vampirates. He has recently released the second book in his new Pirate Academy series, Missing at Sea.
My stop on the tour takes the form of an author interview about the writing of Pirate Academy: Missing at Sea.
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Ahoy Justin. Ye be welcome to me blog.
JS: Thank ye!
When I was invited on the tour I was excited, as I loved your first book in the Pirate Academy series, New Kid on Deck. I am currently reading the second book Missing at Sea and finding it just as good as the first.
JS: Thank ye again! (Just to be clear, I never talk like this!)
Tell us about yourself and the inspiration for the Pirate Academy series.
I’m a British author (mostly middle-grade) currently living in Perth, Western Australia with my Aussie husband. I’m probably best known for my Vampirates books, which have been published in 35 countries to date and are currently being developed for TV.
Pirate Academy has its beginnings in my other MG series, Vampirates. The Pirate Academy (Coral Sea Province) first appeared in Vampirates 2: Tide of Terror, as did several key characters, including Headcaptain Commodore John Kuo, Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock.
I know there’s a lot of affection for Pirate Academy from longstanding Vampirates readers. Also, during visits to schools over the years, I’ve been asked for pirate stories for younger readers that still retain my typical edge as a writer. For these reasons, I’ve been keen to return to the idea of Pirate Academy for a while and break it out into its own series. When UCLan Publishing released their fab new editions of Vampirates in 2020 and 2021 and I started going back into schools after the pandemic, the strong response I received to my stories from new readers encouraged me to get moving with Pirate Academy. Pleasingly, it came together quite quickly.
If you were a pirate, what would your pirate name be and where would you hide your treasure?
I’d be Captain Swashbuckle Somper, I guess. Keep it simple, right? I’d hide my treasure in a complex underwater safe, protected by various mechanisms and a good deal of seawater above it.
Asking for a mate – Can ye send a map?
I’m afraid not. But maybe a coded clue?
How did you develop your characters and their voices so children can identify with them?
I do try to give the characters distinctive voices and points of view and work hard not to “duplicate” characters. Depicting the fifteen members of Barracuda Class has been a next-level challenge in this regard. I hope that I’m getting it right most of the time and that Jasmine, Neo, Jacoby, Leif, Shay and co all have distinct voices. There were points in the second book where I worried that Ocean was sounding too like Jasmine and Cosmo too much like Jacoby, so I went back and thought further about the nuances of their different mindsets. I’m writing Book 3 at the moment and I’ve done a chapter where all fifteen Barracudas have a line of speech. This was very fun and satisfying to do. I enjoy writing dialogue and I like listening to how people talk to each other in real-life, so I can carry some of that onto the page.
What was your favourite children’s book and why?
My favourite book series as a child was Helen Cresswell’s The Bagthorpe Saga, so it would be one of those books – maybe Absolute Zero. I think I really identified with the big, noisy family life it depicted. (I am one of four kids.) I was lucky enough to meet Helen Cresswell and tell her how much those books mean to me.
As a teen, I adored The Outsiders and Catcher in the Rye.
Talk us through your world building for Pirate Academy.
How much time do you have?! There are so many different aspects to world-building for these books – and again, I’m enjoying the challenge. I’m on a schools tour in the UK at the moment and one aspect of world-building I am talking to young audiences about is the lessons at Pirate Academy. I think it is central to the success of this series that the lessons need to be believable but also fun and also full of jeopardy. My starting point was borrowing my nephew Matt’s school timetable and swapping out his weekly lessons for more piratical ones. Once I’ve devised the lessons themselves, then I like to take things to the next level once we are “in” the class. So in Knots Class, we see Captain Quivers getting as excited as her students with “attack knots”. And in Swords Class, we find that the floor tilts to mirror conditions on the deck of a ship.
Another key aspect of world-building is thinking about the kids’ pirate families and their ships. I’ll build up extra back-story in my head to deploy when the time is right. For instance, from the beginning, I’ve had the thought that the Lermentov and Corsini families are deadly rivals and wouldn’t tolerate Ocean and Cosmo being friends. And, of course, Cosmo and Ocean ARE great friends, but it’s only in Book 3 that we will become aware of the pressure from their families. It’s good to have these reserves of extra story to plug into as and when.
Tell us about your Pirate Academy school tour and upcoming events planned for this summer.
Ha! I’m about halfway through the schools side of it and I’m having a wonderful time. In just over a week, I’ve visited 14 schools, several of which have invited other schools to join the sessions. I’ve been working with students across KS2 and I’m excited that Pirate Academy seems to be hitting the mark for Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 – which is broader than I anticipated. I have more visits scheduled for the next week and my final one is really special because it’s the school in East London that my two great-nephews go to!
After that, I’ve got two days of public events on The Golden Hinde (August 3rd) and the Cutty Sark (August 9th). Tickets are (I think) still available for both of these via their websites.
What writing advice would you give to people aspiring to be a children’s book writer?
Read often and widely
Write often but in realistic chunks – say 90 mins or two hours at a time
Don’t give up!
If you’re an adult, don’t talk down to your audience
Is there anything else you would like to tell readers about your books and writing for children?
I think we’ve covered a lot, thank you! Oh you could check out my lesser-known “duology” for young teens, Allies & Assassins and its sequel A Conspiracy of Princes.
What are your social media links where can people find out more about you and your books?
I’m easily found as I’m @JustinSomper on Insta, X and Facebook. I’m most active these days on Insta. I dabble with TikTok but I suspect I’m not going to become a BookTokker.
Where is the best place for people to buy your book?
You can find multiple links in my linktree on my socials. But why not just pop into your local bookshop – be it an indie or a chain bookstore – and ask for it. Even if they don’t have it right there, they can speedily order it in for you. As I’m based in Australia for the forseeable, I am exploring a relationship with one or two indie booksellers through whom we can always offer signed and personalised copies of my books. Check my insta for more news on this as it develops!
You can purchase copies of both books in the Pirate Academy series by Justin Somper from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
I would like to thank Graeme Williams for inviting me to take part in this tour. Thank you.
To follow the rest of the tour take a look at the schedule:
My spotlight post for today is for Bryony Pearce’s debut middle grade novel, Hannah Messenger and the Gods of Hockwold, which was released on 6th June 2024 by UCLan Publishing.
Blurb
From award-winning YA and adult author Bryony Peace comes a debut middle grade novel – a funny, contemporary fantasy story about learning that real power is in the friendships you make.
The Gods of Olympus have finally retired – not to a Greek island but to a sleepy English village, Hockwold cum Wilton, complete with a parish council, a cricket pitch and a local pub.
But the Gods of Olympus and their descendants have lost their memories. They think they are ordinary humans. Only Hannah Messenger, the great-granddaughter of Zeus, and her friends know who they really are. And that means, when the God’s objects of power start to go missing, only Hannah and her friends can stop the thief.
About the Author
Bryony Pearce is a multi-award-winning novelist working in both the YA and Adult markets. In the YA genre she has produced a mixture of dark thrillers, paranormal adventures, dystopia and horror. Hannah Messenger is her middle grade debut.
Bryony teaches the course Writing for Children at City University, regularly visits schools to speak about reading and writing and conducts creative writing workshops, as well as delivering entertaining and inspirational talks. She has performed at the Edinburgh Literary Festival, The Wychwood Festival, Comicon, YALC, the Sci Fi Weekender, The Just So Festival and a number of other festivals and events.
I love this trilogy. It is not very often I decide to review a whole trilogy in one go but it is been a long time since a trilogy has impressed me this much and what I had to say about the series is relevant to all three books.
The Legend of the Sky trilogy comprise of three distinct and dynamic, rip-roaring fast-paced adventures that will keep you on the edge of your seats and have you turning the pages to the very last word and leave you wanting another new episode – a fourth book.
Think of this series as Game of Thrones for younger readers with a real emphasis on the dragons. It puts other middle grade dragon adventures in the shade. The descriptions and the characters really pull you into the story.
I was enthralled on how the history and folklore of the dragons and the different islands was cleverly weaved into the story as it progressed so at no time did you feel like it was a massive info-dump.
The covers of all three books, by award-winning Joe Todd-Stanton, are dramatic and eye-catching that will entice readers to pick up the book to see what they are about.
Now I will spend a little time on each of these brilliant books.
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Title: Dragon Daughter (Legends of the Sky #1)
The first in the Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy adventure series.
On the island of Arcosi, dragons and their riders used to rule the skies. But now they are only legends, found in bedtime stories, on beautiful murals and ancient jewellery. Then servant girl Milla witnesses a murder and finds herself caring for the last four dragon eggs. Forced to keep them secret amidst the growing tensions in the city, she begins to fear that the island’s ruler, Duke Olvar, isn’t all that he seems.
But how can Milla and her friends keep the eggs safe when it means endangering everything she’s ever loved? Fiery friendships, forgotten family and the struggle for power collide as Milla’s fight to save the dragons leads her to discover her own hidden past.
Milla is a shy, hard-working servant in the Thornsen household, who is unable to tell people ‘no’ even though she is exhausted. she has no self-esteem and tries so hard to please everyone she is running herself ragged. When she witnesses a murder and discovers a bag containing four oval objects, which she later realises are dragon’s eggs, she must learn to overcome her shyness and be more assertive. In this way Dragon Daughter has a brilliant and satisfying character arc that has the reader routing for her from the start.
This is a fantastic story and the dynamics between the different characters are believable as is the politics of the different islands and their struggle for power. I enjoyed reading about the contrasting relationships of the twins, Isak and Tarya, with their father and the conflicting feelings of Taya and Vigo.
An exciting fast-paced adventure with well-described charismatic dragons worth risking your life for.
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Title: Rise of the Shadow Dragons (Legends of the Sky #2)
The second in the Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy adventure series.
Jowan wants only one thing – to bond with a dragon of his own. Then disaster strikes and his world suddenly turns into a darker and more dangerous place. But a new friend and an astonishing discovery could lead him to what he has always wanted….if he is just willing to take a leap of faith and brave the impossible.
Set on the Island of Arcosi ten years later. Vigo and Tarya are now the Duke and Duchess, Isak is chief dragonguard and runs the Dragon School and Milla is an important dragonrider and protector of Arcosi. I loved how we were introduced to some incredible new dragons in the form of the shadow dragons, Ren and Fidell, and the intriguing mystery that surrounds them. These dragons are born out of all four elements, fire, air, water and earth, so unlike other dragons they have to ability to swim underwater.
There are also some dynamic new characters who are the main protagonists of the story. Joe Thornsen, who we met briefly at the end of Dragon Daughter, is about to attend the Hatching Ceremony to see if he is lucky enough to be chosen as a dragon rider by one of the new hatchlings. When things go horribly wrong he befriends Winter, whose dragon died in the Great Loss when a terrible sickness killed over half the dragons. Together they must overcome them doubts and their overwhelming emotions.
I am in awe of Liz Flanagan’s world-building that really does without a word of a lie, keep you on the edge of your seat turning the pages. The new Game of Throne style power struggle is well-executed with highly believable motivations and disagreements, with the added peril of a volcanic disaster.
Another thrilling middle grade fantasy adventure that will fire up the imagination.
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Title: The Pirate’s Dragon (Legends of the Sky #3)
A thrilling conclusion to the award-winning Legends of the Sky middle grade fantasy series.
Serina and Raff live on separate islands, each believing the other’s people to be their sworn enemy. Forced together in dramatic circumstances, they become unlikely friends while caring for their young dragons. But when Serina’s home, family, and all the dragons of Arcosi are threatened, can Raff and Serina persuade their families to work together? It will take faith, forgiveness and courage to save the dragons!
Before I started reading The Pirate’s Dragon I thought, how can Liz Flanagan top the first two book in the Legends of the Sky series in her third and last book of this fantastic trilogy, but she certainly does. This final conclusion of the trilogy is as flawless and compelling as the other two. Again there is superb world-building and tremendous character arcs that had me enthralled to the end.
This time they are from the perspectives of another two new characters, Serina the daughter of Duke Vigo and Duchess Tarya and the Queen of the pirate’s step-son Raff Sparrowhawk. Their dragons are Alden and Pearl and each have their own characteristics and quirks in the same way as any of the humans.
Arcosi is under threat from their neighbouring nations again, as they want to own dragons of their own. The Norlanders are trying to return the city back to the way it used to be before there were dragons. Our heroes from all three books must join ranks to save the dragons and their homes.
An epic conclusion to this captivating middle grade series.
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All three books are cleverly plotted with highly motivated characters that will really capture your imagination and your hearts. With themes of determination, bravery and friendship, the Legends of the Sky series is a highly recommended middle grade read.
You can purchase copies of all three of the Legends of the Sky series from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org which supports local, independent bookshops.
Another exciting pirate adventure aimed at middle grade. This book is set in 2507 when the ocean levels have risen and there is a golden age of piracy led by the Pirate Federation. The characters’ names, the names of the year groups and the names of their parents’ ships add to the authentic feel of the setting.
Pirate Academy – New Kid on Deck is written from a multi-point-of-view with different chapters jumping from Jacoby’s, Jasmine’s and the new kid Neo’s viewpoints. I enjoyed being able to delve into the thoughts, actions and motivations of the different characters in this way, as it added a greater insight into the children’s characters and beliefs and provided useful backstory. Teo Skaffa’s illustrations also help to bring the story to life. It is the sort of book you can imagine being a big screen movie.
We join our main protagonists Jasmine and Jacoby at one of the nine prestigious Pirate Academies where the world’s greatest pirate captains send their children to train for ten years to become pirate captains themselves. Jasmine’s parents have gone missing and Jacoby is in danger of being expelled. When one of their classmates is whisked away by his parents and Neo mysteriously arrives at the school unusual things begin to happen. At first nobody trusts Neo but he soon proves himself and the big reveal at the end about who he really is was sensational. In fact, I loved the duplicity of some of the characters so you never know who to trust in true pirate fashion.
Excellently written, intense action adventure that keeps you turning the pages with the unpredictable twists and turns.
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
Written in rhyming couplets, A Family Christmas by Alana Washington and Emily Nash, brings back fond memories of reading, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. I believe it is all set to become another Christmas classic. The books opens with the excitement of Christmas morning and guides us smoothly though the family events of the day right up to bedtime when the children are safely tucked up back in their beds.
A Family Christmas would be a great book for encouraging discussion on their own family Christmas routines and traditions. Children can talk about the similarities and differences of how they celebrate Christmas Day, what foods they eat, what activities they enjoy and look forward to, and what makes the perfect Christmas. It would also be ideal in the classroom to help children with sequencing the day.
There is a strong sense of family throughout the book leaving you with a sense of peace and hope.
You can buy copies of A Family Christmas by Alana Washington and Emily Nash from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
To mark the Halloween festivities this weekend and tomorrow I am posting an extra-special book review of tingling proportions.
Ooooohhhh!
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Title: Autumn Moonbeam Spooky Sleepover!
Written by: Emma Finlayson-Palmer
Illustrated by: Heidi Cannon
Published by: UClan Publishing
This ‘spell-tacular’ spooky sequel to Autumn Moonbeam Dance Magic is an eerie magical mystery. Join Autumn as she sets out to discover who, or what, is sabotaging their rehearsals at the Sparkledale Dance Academy and what exactly does it have to do with Autumn’s neighbour and rival, Serina Bloodworth.
This sequel is just as good as he first. I think what makes this book stand out from other early chapter books is each character has clear and distinguishable character traits. I love the way Zephyr, Autumn’s twin sister is always so neat and organised in direct contrast to Autumn and I like her best-friend Batty’s imaginative spooky story-telling, and how Leif tells such awful jokes and how Autumn has an inner struggle with her own confidence. Emma has cleverly given each character their own magical name that suits their characteristics and put a smile on your face.
The illustrations by Heidi Cannon add their own magic as you can imagine these characters dancing off the page and around the room whilst you read.
This is a story of friendship and coo-operation, full of fun and sparkle. I can’t wait to read Autumn’s next sparklicious adventure.
I would like to thank Graeme Williams, part of the Moonbeam team, for organising a review copy for me and inviting me to return as part of #TeamAutumnMoonbeam.
You can buy copies of both Autumn Moonbeam Spooky Sleepover! and Autumn Moonbeam Dance Magic! by Emma Finlayson-Palmer and Heidi Cannon from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.
Much To Do About Writing 