Hello from deep in the bowels of the caves…. at least that what it smells like. Or is it slightly off Marmite? Hard to tell. To be honest, Marmite is one of the few foodstuffs that improves when it goes off.
Anyway, enough yeast spread-based havering. My next book, The Loon on the Moon, is due to hit the shelves on July 5. It’s a picture book, so if you have a small brother or sister or a particularly intelligent pet dog, it might be right up their street, avenue or leafy cul-de-sac.
Here’s a sneak preview of some of the decidedly lovely and non-threatening alien monsters drawn by the fabulous Bristol artist Emily Golden Twomey (great name, great illustrator). If only the horrors that lurk down here were as delightful…
What, exactly? Something blobby? Certainly. Something phlegmy? Potentially. Some Ginger Parkin? Not on your Nelly.
As Jon says: ‘it all seemed so simple then’. Oh but it wasn’t. It was all a plan. They smiled, (‘Helloo!’). They chatted, (‘Yes I like books and pictures and stuff!’). They lured. (‘Come and see our cave!’).
But Barry and his cohorts had been trapped too long: they’ve turned. They were out to get us and they got us and here we are covered in Niamh’s toenail clippings and Gillian’s couscous, trying to avoid The Keeper that lurks in the tin that once contained Chae’s Ginger Parkin. I wish I hadn’t taken the lid off…
G’aarrrggghhhh! I knew hanging around with Scary (in a good way) Sam Enthoven was asking for trouble! Little did I know that it would lead me to such infernal realms as these! Yup, I’ve been Trapped By Monsters. Caught by Creeps. Ensnared by… ensnary things. Oh, the humanity! Still, I must say, the company’s rather entertaining and there’s no shortage of troll-entrail canapés, plus you get all the beetlejuice you can drink.
And here’s another bright light in the monstrous darkness – I can exclusively reveal to TBM the cover artwork for WITCHFINDER 2: GALLOWS AT TWILIGHT! Isn’t it pretty?! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – David Wyatt is a genius!!!
And here’s a little teaser of the plot for the second book in the Witchfinder series:
A WAR HAS BEGUN…
Eight pale hands – some with fingers stripped down to the bone – rose out of the earth. Slimy with rain, the rat-gnawed heads of four soldiers loomed into view. They moaned at the sky and their cry moulded itself into a word: ‘FLLLLLLEEESSSSSSSSHHHHH!’
The Demon Father has escaped from hell and walks among us, his trident symbol branded into the earth in countries all over the world. A scorching beacon. A call to arms. A sign that war is coming. Jake is struggling to harness his powers and live up to his reputation of the boy who closed the demon door. But now he must push all doubt aside. To stop the Demon Father Jake must change the course of history – embark on a treacherous journey deep into the past and into another dimension, filled with horror and pain. A place where innocent people are tried and tortured. A place where the law of the Witchfinder rules. Let the rushes be lit for there will be gallows at twilight…
Ok, I’m heading back to the beetlejuice bar… anyone fancy joining me?
Take a sneak peek at these beauties – the official covers for the next two spooky Scream Street adventures…
In Scream Street 9: Terror of the Nightwatchman, Luke and Resus are woken with the news that Cleo has been kidnapped. Following a trail of gloopy green goo, they find themselves in a dense jungle where they must try to rescue their friend from the clutches of the terrifying Nightwatchman – a shadowy creature who feeds of the fear created by bad dreams. The trouble is, they’ll have to go inside Cleo’s worst nightmare – and face their own – if they stand any chance of saving her.
Quite possibly the scariest book of the series so far!
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Scream Street 10: Rampage of the Goblins sees Luke, Resus and Cleo in Egypt, tracking down the ancient Pharaoh, Heru, in order to return his heart. It’s hot, the pyramid is full of weird, dangerous creatures and the founding father’s sarcophagus is hidden somewhere among vast piles of gold and jewels. In fact, the only thing that could make this task any harder is a horde of angry, farting goblins… Uh – oh!
Yes, those gruesome, guffing goblins are back – and this time, there’s a royal wedding on the cards!
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Books 9 and 10 in the series will be published in the UK on 4th October this year – just in time for Halloween!
A new book by Sarah Singleton is a cause for celebration as far as I’m concerned. Every book she’s written to date has been a cracking read and this one is no exception. The Island is a contemporary story of three teenagers taking a gap year abroad before going to University. It is a story of murder and a mystery with just a hint of the supernatural about it, which is one of Sarah Singleton’s trademarks.
Otto, Jen and Charlotte are friends on many levels. Otto is attracted to Jen, but is frightened by the degree of committment a relationship with her would entail. Charlotte is besotted with Otto, but he can’t see it. She’s been his best friend since forever, and the thought of a relationship with her could not be further from his mind. The three plan a trip to India, but Otto leaves for Goa five days ahead of the two girls and his wandering eye for the ladies gets him into a whole load of trouble. The girl he fancies turns up dead in the surf, and Otto, having found her, becomes the prime suspect for her murder. Then it gets worse … and worse … and worse still. This is a superb story, which I was delighted to find is not yet finished. Breaking her mould of being a writer of brilliant, but one-off novels, Sarah has written a sequel to this one, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
If you have never read a book by this author, go and get one now. It doesn’t matter which book – they are all brilliant. Sarah Singleton is a five star writer who is currently firing on all cylinders.
I found myself in Norwich last week as part of the launch for the new mobile library that is set to patrol the roads and some 250 schools in the area for the next 10 years! Why me I hear you ask? Well, I am incredibly lucky to have been the illustrator chosen to have some of my artwork decorate the vehicle.
It was quite strange to see my drawings at such a vast scale. Couldn’t help but worry about all those little mistakes I’d done at the time, and which are now amplified for all to see.
Later I spoke to some wonderful children at Tuckswood Primary School. Thank you to the local council, the librarians and the school who made me so welcome throughout the day!
Even with the new intake of prisoners here in the caves, it’s always a welcome relief to make it out to visit schools. The last few weeks have been more hectic than I can remember. Yesterday I was at Portsmouth Grammar School, who sent me this photo as a souvenir:
The event was superbly organised by the wonderful Byrony Hart, and the Hayling Island Bookshop help shift loads of books. Fun was had by all!
