Finally, the one you’ve all been waiting for… The Spook’s Nightmare Limited Collector’s Edition is now available to pre-order on Amazon.

Here’s a sneak peek of the full cover:

Thanks to all the loyal fans who’ve been waiting for this!

The ‘Spook’s Nightmare Tour’ has come to an end and I am finally back to my writing. I have met my editor, Sarah, and agreed changes. So I’m now working on Draft Two of Book Eight which is now provisionally titled ‘The Spook’s Destiny’.

For now the ‘Alice Book’ has been postponed and I will not write it until next year. The reason is a good one. Because of plot developments in Book Eight (a big crisis for the main characters at the end) it works better by having the ‘Grimalkin Book’ published immediately after it in October 2011. So now I am writing about Grimalkin. So far it is going really well but, as usual, I am discovering the plot as I write.

On September 30th this year, ‘The Spook’s Bestiary’ will be published. Here is the cover image below.

Yulek Heller is the artist and his work is really impressive; he has truly brought the Bestiary to life. Below is an image he has created for the book.

Above is a skelt, the creature that lives in crevices near water. It has a long translucent bone-tube rather than teeth and sucks blood from its victims neck. Most of you will probably remember the part played by one in ‘The Spook’s Mistake’.

The launch of ‘The Bestiary’ is to be done in conjunction with the ‘Silverdell Bookshop’ in Kirkham. I’ll let you know the date and time as soon as it has been fixed.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

The Spook’s Nightmare will be available in shops from May 27th.

“The Spook, Alice and I were crossing the Long Ridge on our way back to Chipenden, the three wolfhounds, Claw, Blood and Bone, barking excitedly at our heels………”

Little do they know what awaits them in the future. This is the stuff of nightmares. Will the Spook live to see the morning? Is his apprentice ready to face the dark alone?

“The moon went behind a cloud, plunging us into darkness, and all I could see was a pair of glowing red eyes. Then it bellowed loudly - a fearful cry that made the ground - and the very trees - shake. So terrifying was that cry that I was rooted to the spot, unable to move.”

The details of the ‘Spook’s Nightmare Tour’ are now being finalised. Here are some of the public events where I will be signing.

Wednesday 26th May
Pritchards Bookshop, Formby
For signing 4.30-5.30

Thursday 27th May
Pritchard’s Bookshop, Crosby shop
For signing 4.30 to 5.30

Saturday 29th May
Waterstones, Preston
12.30 to 1.30

Tuesday 1st June: LIBRARY DAY
Maghull Library 11-12
Crosby Library 1.30-2.30
Birkdale Library 4-5

Saturday 5th June
Bury Waterstone’s for signing.
13.00 – 15.00
Address: 4 Union Arcade, Bury BL9 0OF

Sunday 6th June
Waterstone’s Trafford Centre:
1.00pm
Address: 42 Regent Crescent, Trafford Centre, Barton Dock Road, Manchester M17 8AP

Friday 11th June
Derbyshire Literature Festival
6.30 – 8.30 Long Eaton Library, Tamworth road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire NG10 1JG - Public event

Sunday 13th June
1.00pm Public event – talk and signing at Harris Library
Address: Harris Library, Market Square, Preston Lancs PR1 2PP

Monday 14th June
Lancaster Cornmarket Waterstones
3.30pm – public signing

Saturday 19th June
Wigan Waterstone’s
10.00 – talk and signing
Address: 6 Grand Arcade, Wigan WN1 1 BH

Waterstone’s Bolton
3.30pm – public signing
Address: 32-36 Deansgate Bolton BL1 1BL

Please visit the sites to see additions to the above.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

I did a signing and gave a talk at Garstang Library on Thursday, April 22nd, where I did my first ever reading from the next Spook’s adventure. I had to use the manuscript because I don’t have a copy of the book yet. The event was arranged by Mary Wynburg from the Corner Bookshop.

I enjoy this type of occasion because you get a good audience mixture which usually includes new readers, existing fans of the books, children and adults. This was no exception and the visit went well. I will be doing events with Mary during ‘The Spook’s Nightmare Tour’ in June. I will also be visiting her shop late in May to sign the latest book for customers.

The following day I was at the Darwen Aldridge Community College as guest of the librarian, Janet Arnott. I was interviewed by two well-informed students who had devised some excellent questions; that interview and the subsequent talk were both filmed for other students to watch.

My writing is still going well. Within two weeks I hope to get Draft One of Spook’s Eight (it still hasn’t got a title yet!) to my editor and I can then devote the whole of my attention to the Alice Book (provisionally titled ‘The Alice Deane Diaries’).

The emails to Grimalkin, via the Spooksworld website are becoming more frequent. I must apologize if she has made threats against anyone. I would like to reassure you and say she doesn’t mean it but that wouldn’t be true. She is often in a witchy mood, pondering her next kill, and takes offence very easily. I have had to intervene on at least two occasions when she was searching for the location of those readers in a mirror and getting ready to sharpen her knives. So please don’t threaten her. I have little control over her now and it’s getting worse.

Once again in response to many enquiries I have to admit that I have no further news of the film. I know that some of you have expressed an interest in playing the parts of either Alice or Tom. If open auditions are held I will immediately advertise that on both websites.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

I have just completed ‘The Spook’s Nightmare’ and gone through the proof-reading process. The artwork is probably the best of the new-style covers and features a daemon called a ‘buggane’. I thought you might be interested to see three images which show the development of the cover. The first is the text over the artwork in grey before the addition of colour.

The second is just the image itself in colour. Some time and care was taken to select the most dramatic colour. I think this is perfect.

Finally we have the full jacket.

I’m now back doing events in England again.

On Thursday March 25th, I am with Tony, the manager of Pritchard’s Bookshop, Formby. We are scheduled to visit St Eddie’s School and probably others yet to be decided.

Other visits still being arranged are to Dublin, Ireland, April 8th (linked to the Eason’s bookshops) and also to the Wigan Festival on April 16th.

But already confirmed is an open visit to Garstang Library, Lancashire at 4pm on Thursday April 22nd. I will be with Mary from ‘The Corner Bookshop’.

At the moment a very busy June tour is being planned for the publication of ‘The Spook’s Nightmare’. As soon as I know the details I will post them on my next blog

I found out recently that ‘The Spook’s Sacrifice’ is on the shortlist for the Lancashire Children’s Book of the Year Award. This will be the fourth time that a book from the series has done so. I find that particularly pleasing on two counts: firstly Preston, where the award ceremony is held, is the town where I was born; secondly the books (from shortlist to winner) are chosen entirely by the children. I don’t expect to win but it’s great to be on that list. I always go to the award ceremony anyway to meet the readers of the series and sign their books.

There is still no further news about the film but I am crossing my fingers having just signed another option contract. So it is going ahead despite the delay.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney.

I have just completed the final draft of ‘The Spook’s Nightmare’ which will be published in June. Now I have to work with the copyeditor to remove any errors and inconsistencies. The jacket illustration is under development and I saw a preview yesterday. It is excellent and really scary, probably shaping up to be the very best of the new style of covers.

Once again I feel the need to warn readers that the Spook’s books are published in America by a different publisher under a different title. So apart from the illustrations and a few spelling changes, ‘The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch’ is the same fiction as ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’. Some readers have recently bought the same book twice by mistake.

Last week I was in Australia and did talks and signings in Sydney and Melbourne. It was enjoyable with many enthusiastic audiences but for someone from chilly wind-swept Lancashire, the hot weather made talking difficult. I am in New Zealand for a few more weeks and then return to England early in March where I will continue to write Spook’s Eight (which is about half-completed) and the Alice book, which I have only just begun. I’ll also try to fit in a few events during March and April.

My own website has now been completed and the address is: www.spooksworld.co.uk.
From within the site you can send an email to me and receive a reply or even enter into the Spook’s fictional world by sending an email to one of my favourite witches - Grimalkin.

Below are a few pictures from New Zealand – including my feet standing on the geographical centre of New Zealand which is in Nelson, South Island.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

At present I am temporarily based in Auckland, New Zealand. The picture below is a view from Devonport, looking across the harbour towards that city with its spectacular ‘Skytower’. I’m here to write and also do some promotional work.

My first events were further south and they were organized by John McIntyre of ‘The Children’s Bookshop’ (based in Wellington) and both school events (Evans Bay Intermediate and St Anthony’s) were well-worthwhile. I got to meet keen readers of the series and also to introduce the books to a new audience. It’s a small world because at St Anthony’s the teacher responsible for the groups was Steve Douglas, a Kiwi. I had met him previously at another school event when he had been travelling and teaching in London, England. He had already introduced his classes to the series; they were well-prepared and most of my work had been done for me.

Also being planned is a short tour of Australia. This will begin about February 8th. No details of the schedule are yet available. But I’ll be back home in England early March, 2010.

On Monday I will be sending the latest draft of Book Seven, ‘The Spook’s Nightmare’ to my editor. Once that is done, I’ll be free to begin work on my next two books which will be published in 2011. They are Spook’s Eight (I have no title yet) and the novel about Alice (provisionally titled ‘The Alice Deane Diaries’).

My own website is still being developed which will be a sister to www.spooksbooks.com
Hopefully the site should be up and running before Christmas but, if not, it will be ready by early January at the latest. You will be able to email me direct and ask questions. In the meantime if you have any questions about the new site please email:
linda@spooksworld.co.uk

I am just about to sign a contract extending the film option for another eighteen months. Warner Brothers are still keen to get the film made. I am expecting some news about its production very shortly and will keep you informed here.

Best wishes,
Joseph Delaney

On Saturday, August 1st, I attended the National Play Day event at the Marine Hall, Fleetwood, Lancashire. There were lots of attractions, including a talent competition, and it was a really good day out for families. So if you didn’t go this time, give it a try next year.

My part was easy. I was there with Tony Higginson from Pritchards Bookshop, Formby and we sold copies of the Spook’s books and also signed any that readers brought along with them. I met lots of old friends including Jaclyn and Karen from the Paul Nicholas School of Acting and also met lots of new people including two ladies from the Fleetwood Library – so now I hope to do an event there in September. Whilst signing, one reader said to me: “Wish Tom a happy birthday for me
on Monday!” I was caught out for a moment then I realised that Tom Ward’s birthday is August, 3rd. I chose that date because it’s the actual birthday of two of my children, Paul and Joanne, who are twins. So a happy birthday to all three of them!

And now I’ll try to deal with some of the questions raised in reaction to my blogs. I haven’t got time to do them all but here goes…

The new covers?

Some readers love them, but there’s certainly been a mixed reaction. I do feel sorry for those readers who feel let down because they can’t complete their set in the old style.

The truth is, I like both types of cover. And these decisions are not mine but are made by my publisher. Their job is to package the books in such a way that sales will increase and they tell me it’s working…

But I have spoken to them and they’re looking into publishing a Limited Collectors’ Edition of The Spook’s Sacrifice in the late autumn which will feature an ‘old look’ cover, so fingers crossed for that. So let’s wait and see.

When will the next books be out?

‘Spooks Stories: Witches’ will be published, October 1st 2009. These stories will also be published in the USA with a different name and at a later date.

‘The Spook’s Nightmare’ will be out June, 2010.

‘The Spook’s Bestiary’ will be out October, 2010.

Will you use my name in your book?

I will look at all names submitted and will certainly use any that are ‘different’ and suited to the genre and the Spook’s World.

Will I go to Ireland to sign and talk?

Yes. I will be there October 5th to October 10th, 2009, starting in Dublin and moving southwest towards Kerry. The trip is being planned now by Tom from Children’s Books Ireland.

Spook’s Maps?

As far as I know there has been no really detailed map drawn of the full Spook’s County. The nearest so far was the one produced by Lancashire Library Services. They took a very old map of Lancashire and highlighted places such as Caster and Pendle. It was very good and I still have a copy on my study wall.

Romania?

This is mainly for the Romanian readers and their Wardstone Chronicles Blogs and forums but may be of interest to other readers. At the moment I plan to link the plot of Book Nine to Romania. Book Eight is likely to be set in Ireland because Tom and the Spook are in the Isle of Man in Book Seven and it makes good plot sense to sail further west for the next adventure, particularly as to return to the County then is very dangerous (won’t say why because I don’t want to give away too much). I am already collecting ideas for the Romanian book and have done some research on the witches and vampires there (nothing to do with Dracula!) which as usual I’ll change to make it part of the Spook’s world. At some point before that I’d like to return to Romania, particularly Transylvania, to look at the landscape again and do some talks and book signings.

Where do I get my inspiration from?

The ideas for my books come from nightmares, dreams and day-dreams which I always jot down lest I forget them. Sometimes I’m inspired by the things that people say or do or a piece of town or countryside I see whilst out walking. I do more ‘writing’ in my head than I ever do on paper or type into my computer.

I hope that helps for now.

Best wishes,

Joseph Delaney

Babylon Lane

Things are start to calm down a little now but I still did two further enjoyable events last week. The first was at Baine’s Primary School, Thornton; the second was St Peter’s School, Bury. At both I met enthusiastic readers but the second had another significance because it is where my son, Stephen, is currently teaching. He generally works long contracts on supply and wherever he goes he reads from the books and tells his class about the series. As a follow-up to that I then visit the school. This must be about the sixth time we’ve done this. In fact my very first talk as a writer in 2004 was to Anderton County Primary where he was teaching at the time. The kids there asked me to put the name of the school in my next book. I did the next best thing. The school is in Babylon Lane and I used that for the location of the Spook’s brother’s locksmith shop.

Making sure that you buy the right Spook’s books!

After looking at what’s for sale on Amazon UK, I’d like to clarify some of the books, so that UK Spook’s fans don’t buy something by mistake that they have read before.

‘The Last Apprentice: The Spook’s Tale and Other Horrors’
This is a USA publication meant for the American market, which repeats ‘The Spook’s Tale’ which was available as a World Book Day flip-book. It also contains a new Grimalkin story and an Alice story that first appeared as a ‘bonus’ in the paperback edition of ‘The Spook’s Battle’. It is a good production with excellent illustrations and could be a present or provide an introduction to new readers of the series.

‘Spook’s Stories: Witches’ however, is a UK book which will be published in October 2009 in England. It contains five new stories not published here before. There is a story in which Tom and Bill Arkwright face a Banshee witch; ‘Dirty Dora’ a tale of revenge narrated by a dead witch; The Spook’s account of his full dealings with Meg, the lamia witch; an expanded version of the Grimalkin Story (larger than that contained in the USA publication above); finally, in ‘The Brain Guzzler’ Alice Deane tells of her attempts to survive the first week of training in witchcraft by Bony Lizzie. I’m quite proud of that story collection; in my mind it ranks alongside the best of the Spook’s Series.

I hope that clears things up. I hate it when people, by mistake, buy things that they have already read.