I hope you enjoyed my Halloween webchat today - there were some great questions. My tour has just about come to an end with the return of my publicist, Linda, to her home in New Zealand. However, I still have a few more local events between now and Christmas.

So it’s back to my writing, concentrating on finishing the first draft of ‘Slither’ (more news about that soon) and completing the fourth draft of ‘The Spook’s Blood’ which is will be published in June 2012.

I have enjoyed the ‘Grimalkin Tour’ and for those who have not yet read it why don’t you look at the new video trailer? I repeat that it is not a spin-off as is firmly in the main story arc. When Grimalkin finishes her story, Tom continues narrating his adventures in the June book.

Well now I must get back to work. Have a very scary Halloween and don’t gaze into the mirror too long after dark! Grimalkin might be staring back!

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

What are YOU doing this Thursday evening from 6-7pm? If you’re a true Spook’s fan, you’ll definitely want to be taking part in the 3rd annual Spook’s Halloween Webchat with Joseph Delaney. Everyone is welcome. There will be a very special Spook’s Halloween newsletter going out tomorrow with more details, so do sign up now if you haven’t already…

Hope to see you there.

The first week of the book tour was hectic. The intention was to visit new areas so we started in Bristol with Waterstone’s and then visited a school with Chepstow Books before touring South Wales for the first time. All went well and despite living out of a suitcase, staying at a different hotel every night, it was enjoyable to meet so many readers for the first time and also bring the series to the attention of new audiences.

After Wales we visited a London school before catching the train to Paris. I have talked to French children before but this was the first time I had answered questions in a school there. I had an interpreter but the questions were sometimes difficult and probing – those French children were experts on the books! But I’m sure through a misunderstanding that I answered one of them incorrectly. So here I’ll put the record straight.

How can Bony Lizzie be described as the ‘aunt’ of Alice and then later said to be her ‘mother’? So do the books contain a serious mistake?
I won’t say too much, not wishing to spoil the story for new readers but those familiar with the Wardstone Chronicles will understand. There is no mistake!

On my return to London I met my editor, Ruth Knowles, and we discussed the development of the series. By now most of you will know that the Wardstone Chronicles is scheduled to end with the publication of the final book in October 2013. So will Tom Ward and the Spook die? Will Alice survive? And what about Grimalkin – what will be her fate? The answer is that even I don’t yet know the answers to those questions. I ‘discover’ the plot and allow the story to tell itself. So we must all wait and see!

The first night after leaving London I was awakened in the middle of the night by the hotel fire alarm. I spent half an hour outside waiting for the fire brigade to check if it was safe to go back to bed. They found no fire but there had been a mysterious triple fault on the alarm system. No doubt it was the invisible boggart that follows me around sometimes causing posters to fall off classroom walls whilst I am speaking!
So the tour continues. I’m off to visit witch country in Pendle now and then head north to Bill Arkwright territory north of Morecambe Bay!

Best wishes,
Joseph Delaney

I am about to begin my book tour to promote I Am Grimalkin, the ninth book in the main Wardstone Chronicles series. I will be talking and signing in schools, libraries and bookshops. The main areas I will be visiting are: Bristol, South Wales, London, Paris and, of course, quite a few towns in Lancashire.

I will be in Paris on 7th and 8th October. Events are being arranged by my French publisher, Bayard. I hope to meet lots of readers there.

Here is a list of some of the events in the UK open to the public:
Saturday October 1st. 12 p.m.
Waterstone’s Lancaster Cornmarket
Marketgate Shopping Centre
Unit 5/6 Cornmarket
Lancaster

Sunday October 2nd. 1.30 p.m.
Waterstone’s Bristol
11A Union Galleries, Broadmead
Bristol

Saturday October 15th. 2 p.m.
Waterstones Barrow-in-Furness
25 Portland Walk
Barrow-in-Furness

Sunday October 16th. 1 p.m.
Waterstones Bury
4 Union Arcade
Bury

Thursday October 20th 7–9 p.m.
Scarefest at Crosby Civic Hall
(Tickets for the above from Formby Books)

Saturday October 22nd. 10.30 a.m.
Waterstone’s Wigan
6 Grand Arcade
Wigan

2 p.m.
Waterstone’s Preston
3–5 Fishergate
Preston

Sunday October 30th. 11.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.
Hoghton Tower
(Tickets for the above from Silverdell Bookshop Kirkham)

I hope to see you at one of these events where I will be happy to sign books and answer questions.

Best wishes,
Joseph Delaney

Each series must eventually come to an end. All along my intention has been to finish off the story of Tom Ward, the Spook, Alice and Grimalkin properly, leaving no loose ends. So I have now decided to end the Wardstone Chronicles with Book Ten.

Additionally, I Am Grimalkin and the I Am Alice book will not be spin-offs. Each will be part of the main ongoing narrative.

In June 2011 The Spook’s Destiny will be published.

In October 2011 I Am Grimalkin will see the witch-assassin play a major part in moving the story towards its conclusion.

In June 2012 Spook’s Nine will be published (at the moment I am close to completing its first draft). There is still no title!

In I Am Alice, which will come next, you will see Alice do what is necessary, and at whatever cost, to give the Spook and Tom a chance of finally destroying the Fiend.

And finally, in 2013, Spook’s Ten will mark the end of the series.

It is true that I have not yet decided how it will conclude, who will live and who will die. I am still discovering the ending.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

I have just returned from nine weeks in New Zealand to a chilly English welcome, (the weather I mean!). I was determined while away that as well as a holiday, I would write 30,000 words of Book nine, (which I almost achieved) but I did break from my writing for a three city tour in Australia and on my return spent a week visiting schools in a part of New Zealand that I hadn’t visited before. I have a bit of space for writing now before I start the Destiny tour in June. We hope to include a trip to Ireland as that is where the book is set but nothing has as yet been confirmed. As soon as possible, I will, make details of that tour available on both my websites.

Film News

Those of you who keep watch for film news will be aware of the recent discussions/rumours that have been circulating. I can’t say anything yet other than that for the first time since I signed I actually will have something really significant to report and the news is good – there will be an official announcement made shortly. I honestly think there is a 90% chance that they will start filming this year. And I can confirm that the title of the Spooks’ Apprentice/Last Apprentice film will be ‘The Seventh Son’.

Australian Tour

The tour in Australia was busy but again I got to see some fantastic scenery and as always met some lovely booksellers, librarians, teachers and of course children. We started in Sydney and I had my first visit to the Blue Mountains where, as well as school visits, Evie from ‘Megalong Books’, very kindly drove us around and ensured we got some of the best views of the mountains, (I couldn’ t resist a photo of a rock that looked like a dragon) and of course, the ‘Three Sisters’. I enjoyed the train journey from Sydney – it is very scenic and I always like catching the train in any country I am in (I don’t like to be away from trains for too long!). I had a good afternoon at Pinerolo – The Children’s Book Cottage in Blackheath. Margaret Hamilton has had many years in the publishing industry and she now hosts events from her home. It is a very interesting place for an author visit as it is deep in the bush (they have to have regular bush fire drills) and Margaret has made a feature of the art from her years of publishing picture books. I had another great train journey to the central coast, where I had a day at the Gosford library and spent the night in Terrigal - a beautiful beach resort. It was very relaxing and I would like to spend a few days there next year.

I visited the Sydney botanic gardens which as well as being a very nice walk had the added interest of flying foxes (they look like giant vampire bats) which I was surprised to see were so numerous and visible by day. That was very inspiring for an author such as me! Apparently there is a bat farm up the coast which will definitely be on the agenda next time I am in Australia.

It was another good event at The Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft. Paul Macdonald is very enthusiastic about books and reading, hosting many events at the book shop and taking authors into schools. He has a great shop, well worth a visit.

I had a very busy day in Tourquay, a one hour drive from Melbourne and gateway to the Great Ocean Road. I gave four talks in a row at Tourquay College, and I am sorry to say, scared a few of the children in one group. I think since I started including power point in my presentation my talks have become more gory – or perhaps I am channelling Grimalkin a bit too much. I need to finish editing that book so she stops being such a bad influence!

The two days in Perth weren’t long enough but I had an enjoyable visit to Bullsbrook Community Library, and the drive from Midland to Bullsbrook was very scenic - though the only evidence of wildlife was a dead kangaroo. However, earlier in the tour I did glimpse a live snake which slithered past my publicist’s foot without sinking its fangs into her!

New Zealand Tour

Back in New Zealand I drove for the first time down the North Island (usually I fly) from Auckland to Palmerston North which takes in the desert road (and a view of Mt Tongariro and Ruapehu, if you are lucky), and the beautiful lake Taupo. ‘Paper Plus’ had scheduled school visits in Palmerston North, Hawera and Feilding which again were very well organised and the audiences were well prepared and very receptive, with some very good questions. I was very pleased in Hawera to see the volcano Mt Taranaki poking out through the clouds. A return visit to that region is very much on the cards for the future.

While I was in New Zealand, one of the main cities, Christchurch, experienced a devastating earthquake with many lives lost and the heart of the city destroyed. On my first visit to New Zealand in 2008, I spent a week in Christchurch and it was very distressing to think that the places I had visited were now destroyed

My heart goes out to all who have been affected by both earthquakes.

Best Wishes,

Joseph Delaney

Blue Mountains, Australia

Dragon Rock

I have just completed my final events of the year. On Monday December 6th I visited Wirral Boys Grammar, Bebington. The roads were icy, the traffic very slow-moving and I am just glad that I wasn’t doing the driving!

Tony from Pritchard’s Formby was driving and, despite his best efforts, we arrived late for the first talk. It went well, however and in the afternoon we were off to St John Plessington Catholic College for another great visit, where lots of books were sold and even more signed. Even when with a bookseller I am happy to sign books that you have bought previously - even the whole series!

On December 9th I travelled east to Accrington to talk to pupils at the Hollins Technology College. The Librarian, Gill Ainsworth, had organized the school visit and there had been a great deal of preparatory work. There were many brilliant drawings relating to the Spook’s world and a few of them are here for you to see.

In the evening I was driven to Haslingdon Library, where Heather Pitman had gathered a largely adult audience who were knowledgeable about the series and asked many great questions.

My final December visit was to go back to the Blackpool Sixth Form College where I used to teach English, Media and Film Studies. It was great to talk to the students (quite a few of whom hoped to become writers themselves) and meet up with a few members of staff that I used to work with. My talk was addressed to a reading group who had just read The Spook’s Apprentice and the event was organized by the College Librarian, Helen Crowther, who presented me with very well-informed students. I hope to return there in June when The Spook’s Destiny is launched. Speaking of which, I have just seen the first stage in the development of the cover. It promises to be the very best since they were re-launched with different jackets.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

A reminder that Joseph will be online from 6-7pm tonight to answer YOUR questions about Spook’s… Be there or be scared!
Sign up for the webchat now

The ‘Bestiary Tour’ is almost over and now I can finally get back to my writing. Deadlines are looming. I have to get draft one of Spook’s Stories: Grimalkin to my editor before the end of November. In December I have to do a third draft of The Spook’s Destiny and then there is something else equally important…

I have to begin the first draft of Spook’s Nine (which is as yet untitled). I always begin each book just before Christmas. If I get off to a good promising start, and write several thousand words, I can enjoy the holidays like everybody else, confident that I can continue successfully in January.

I enjoyed the tour and met lots of readers both old and new – even one who went by the name of ‘Tom Ward’! Some events stand out. The visit to Stonyhurst College was especially memorable and it was great to do talks in that historic school. We were given a special tour of the building and its library and it was like being shown into the Vatican Archives. I was accompanied by the proprietors of the ‘Silverdell Bookshop’ and it was a special treat for Elaine Silverwood’s mother, who had wanted to visit Stonyhurst College all her life.

On Sunday night I met the winners of the Spook’s Apprentice Competition in Manchester. After signing their books we were taken on a walk through the city’s darkest alleys by Flecky Bennett, a great character and guide, who produced the best ghost tour I have ever experienced. We followed the trail of a phantom dog and were told stories guaranteed to send shivers down every spine and turn many future dreams into nightmares. There were stories and incidents that could find their way into one of my books!

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

The seven lucky winners of the 2010 Spook’s Apprentice Competition met Joseph yesterday for a Spooky walk around Manchester. Watch this space for pictures and video from the event, but in the meantime, here are some highlights from the winning entries…

Leo, age 10

Just like in the Books, I have been keeping a notebook and writing down everything about the dark in it. Recently I finished writing a novel, 31 000 words long.

Extract from “The Rowan Tree”
Lenny ran back to the golem, and sat on it’s back. He whispered into it’s ear. “ go to Svalig’s tower!” the brown creature hissed, and ran towards the silhouette against the sky. It was black, and it was as if it had grown since Lenny had last seen it.
There was a humanoid silhouette on top of it, about six feet tall, with two ram like horns curling from it. It raised it’s hands, and two fireballs shot toward Lenny. He picked up an abandoned crossbow and fired a shower of bolts at the fireballs, shooting them away into the sky.

Calvin, age 14

I think the books are so great that I contacted Joseph’s publisher and arranged for him to come to my school, and I can’t wait! I have put posters up around my school and to get people reading the spooks and lots of people are now reading them and if i was picked I would get even more people to read them.

Joseph Delaney is an inspiration to me and got me trying to write my own books. I am currently working on ‘Warlocks’ and ‘The Draconis Madstone’.

I made a costume of Tom a while ago but it doesn’t fit me any more so I sent a picture of my sister with it on and I made a witch costume and I have sent that as well.

If I was picked I would make my whole room about spooks and put up drawings and posters up all over my room (I am doing computer graphics at school for GCSE so I think they will be really good). As a huge commitment to the spooks books and I got through I would try and learn Greek to get a greater feel of Toms experiences.

Aimee

I left the house approximately at 7:40 in the morning, as I do everyday.
The sun was peering over the horizon, the blue sky breaking through the silver clouds and the sound of precious birds singing their
songs like there is no tomorrow.
It certainly was enough to lighten your day.

As the time came I reached my school to experience a warm sense, not only in my stomach, but my mind too.
I knew that day something marvellous and amazing would happen to me.
So the day began with my first lesson, English.
I strode through the room to find out that it wasn’t going to be an ordinary lesson, it was definately going to be different.

Do you know why that day was so amazing?
It was the day I discovered my favourite authors first of many books, the spooks apprentice.
I flicked to the where the story began, since then it has changed my life.
Now I have read all of the seven books including the spooks witches.
Once I start to read them I can never put them down, they are like a part of me, whenever I read them I wish that I could be there to share the adventure with them.
They never leave my mind, they are some of the greatest things that have ever happened to me.

Raven, age 11

I think I should be the Spook’s Apprentice because I have been following the books since they first came out and have loved them ever since! I recommend them to all my friends and teachers and I convinced my school librarian to move the series to a more prominent position so more people could find it. I have persuaded several friends to go out and buy the books. I have re-read the books at least 10 times (at least 20 times for The Spook’s Apprentice) and have been to see the play and to 2 book signings. I especially enjoyed the signing in Lancaster last summer, although this was partly because of the castle and the food festival which had delicious hog roasts. I also went to a book signing in Preston so if I don’t win based on my idea, I think I should because of the petrol considering that I live in Blackpool :P.

After reading the Spook books I was inspired to make a video which I made with my friend Chloe and my mum and you can watch it here.

If I won I would organise spooky walks around Lancashire to visit the places in the books and learn more about the real spooky history of the area. I would arrange the spooky walks around Halloween, in the half term holiday, and everyone should come in fancy dress. At the end of the walk someone could read a scary section from the book in candle light and there could be toffee apples so that everyone was happy, apart from the diabetics.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Mark age 11

My name is Mark, I am 11 years old and I live in Northern Ireland. I am a keen reader of the Spooks series and was introduced to Spooks by my friend Anna who had brought the Spooks Apprentice on holidays with her. The illustrations and the blurb drew me in and right then I knew it was my type of book.

The reason I feel I should be The Spooks Apprentice is because I love everything about Spooks, I am a Spookaholic! I have read every single Spooks book in the series and the two extra books. Last Halloween I dressed up as Tom and the one before that I went as the Spook. I am very proud of the fact that I have also been responsible for introducing Spooks to many of my friends in school and out of school. They have become popular in my year group because of my love of not only the books but also my love of spreading the word of Spooks. I can’t wait until the Spooks movie comes out as well as the next book in the series. If I were chosen as the Spooks Apprentice I would try even harder to spread the word of Spooks, in fact I would make it my own job. So far I have made my whole class aware of Spooks and have loaned my classmates my treasured copies of Spooks unsurprisingly they love them. As part of my work in school I have completed three book reports involving Spooks books….”Spooks Witches, Spooks Sacrifice and my most recent Spooks Nightmare”. I have had to research Joseph Delaney who is the author (but you knew that). I have also researched David Wyatt the illustrator. I also completed three detailed character studies on Tom, Alice and the Spook. I have used the Spooks website to help me with my research and have continued to browse it to find out any updates on Spooks.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, winning this competition would mean the world to me.

Jack, age 12

I would love to be one of your spooks apprentices, because like Tom I’m very inquisitive, love history, have a wild imagination and like to help people. I am strong, faithful, clever and I will devote my life to the country.

To be a spooks apprentice would be like a modern day community support officer today. Like Tom, you would be getting reports from all over your local area and country what was happing. Where Tom got rid of Bogart’s and witches, today I would get rid of all the bad people and try to make it a safer place to live in.

Qualities that I have are that I listen to people and instructions; I can lead and be forceful when I want to be and be quiet and confidential when I need to be. If I was Tom in his day, I would spread the word by holding village meetings with all the locals and warning them about the dangers of the witches and Bogart’s. I would also put posters up all over the village and surrounding towns.

I think if it meant walking hundreds of miles to pass the word around and be rid of the Bogart’s and witches it would be worth it. Reading about the witches has made me more interested in where they originated from. They had a terrible time, being burned at stake and drowning on ducking stools. It makes me sad to think that just because old women picked different flowers and plants around the country side they were classed as witches. When all they were doing was trying to make some sort of herbal medicines. They were persecuted and hunted down just for telling people they were going to put a spells on them. All of this could just have been myths and poor innocent people where killed because of it.

George, age 14

I am your everyday fourteen year old boy who loves to read Spook’s. Since my friend mentioned them I’ve been hooked like a fish. Every time a new Spook’s story get’s released, I beg and nag my mum to take me to purchase the gripping book. When she finally agrees to drag me to the shop, she is actually relieved. This is because I have my head buried in great fiction for weeks, but it only lasts until I want the next one. So you could say I am a HUGE fan.

During my time at home and at school I really enjoy art. The Spook’s books have inspired me to draw scenes, front covers and characters from the series. If it wasn’t for the books I don’t think I would have been accepted into art GCSE for next year. Because of the author’s great writing skill, I have been able to draw from my imagination; however, living where I live in the county (Lancashire), I am able to draw from reality as well as drawing from Joseph Delaney’s immense writing skill. I have displayed one of my pictures at the bottom of the page.

Have you ever heard the expression boys are ‘reluctant readers’? . Luckily, I’m not; I love reading but I know lot’s of friends who don’t. My Idea was to make my friends read Spook’s, because they are so gripping I think that they would enjoy and improve at reading.

Previously, I have been working on some clay models. My Dad got me some modeling clay which I love. Being such a big fan of Spook’s I have started making models of Spook’s characters. My Dad enjoys playing chess and so do I; I thought that I would make a chess set using my modeling clay. All of the pieces will be characters from the books.

OVERSEAS WINNER: Rafe, age 12

Hello, my name is Rafe and I’m twelve years old. I have always loved the strange and fantastical. When I first heard about the spooks apprentice I thought it would just be another book. I wasn’t quite expecting the book to become a full on obsession. I would read it with a flashlight hours after my parents were asleep. I would sneak it into class and read it during math. The book consumed my life for a few days. I quickly told all my friends but alas, no one seemed interested. I pestered and ranted and frankly wouldn’t talk about anything else until my friends finally started to read it.

Ever since I started reading The Wardstone Chronicles have inspired me and the artwork I create. I doodle little lamias or ghosts in class, make acrylic paintings of different scenes and people, and try to sculpt a worme or any other creature from the series whenever I get my hands on a lump of clay.

I have sent two pieces of my artwork inspired by the series. The first is what I thought Golgoth might look like if he were to take human form. He resonates such an aura of cold that icicles form on his face and beard. The second is a sculpture of a malevolant witch’s face on a bust of a head.