I’m off to Australia any day now so I’m really busy trying to finish things off. Draft 2 of The Spook’s Sacrifice has just been sent my editor; tomorrow I hope to finish Draft 3 of The Spook’s Bestiary. The World Book Day (£1 book), The Spook’s Tale is finished and has gone off to the copyeditor and illustrator. Can’t believe it but, so far, I’m still on schedule to get three books out next year.
On a sad note, some of you might be aware that my wife, Marie, died suddenly last November. She was a great inspiration and support and each book in the series has been dedicated to her. Without her help I now have many more things to do and organize for myself. That, together with the pressure of writing extra books and the foreign tours means that I’ve not yet managed to reply to all the letters that I’ve received recently. All I can say is sorry and to promise that even if it takes months, I will reply to them all eventually. Also I do read all the comments you send to the Blog. I haven’t the time to respond individually but I do take note of what you say and it’s really valuable to get feedback from readers of the series.
I now have firm dates for two of the events in the Lancashire Reads (which will focus on The Spook’s Apprentice). On the Tuesday evening of the 16th of September, it will start at the Pendle Heritage Centre (where there is a permanent exhibition based on the Pendle Witches). I’ll give a very short talk and all the people involved will get to meet and discuss what’s going to happen.
The final event will be at Lancaster Castle on December 5th. There the Paul Nicholas Acting School will perform a dramatised version of The Spook’s Apprentice’.
Finally, here are the winners and runners up of the Ghost story Writing Competition. All three will be placed on the website. The winner will be taken on a trip to a haunted place.
Winner: June-Marie Jolly ‘Bones Baby’
Second: Tara Griffin ‘Mysterious Mabel’
Third: Shannon Jackson ‘The Spirit of the Curse’
So congratulation to all three.
Joseph Delaney
