Kirkham Grammar School, September 21st
My week started with a visit to Kirkham Grammar School, in the company of Hazel Ferguson from ‘Book Talk Groups’, to launch a new initiative aimed at getting schoolchildren to read and discuss books. ‘Spook’s Stories: Witches’ was the first one chosen for discussion. The event was covered by Lancashire Radio and short extracts from the talk plus interviews were broadcast that evening.
Holy Family School, Warton, September 22nd
Many visits are arranged directly by Lauren Bennett my Random House Publicist others come through contacts, local requests or chance meetings. This one was organized by my nephew, Phillip, who is the school caretaker. This was an excellent junior school and I talked to a very excited and enthusiastic audience of children. It was an enjoyable and worthwhile event and I was made very welcome.
Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School, September 23rd
I really enjoyed the visit and it was great to meet so many enthusiastic girls. I often talk to mixed audiences and sometimes groups of boys but only rarely do I get the chance to visit a girls’ school. It was refreshing to meet so many girls who enjoy the adventures of Tom, the Spook and Alice. I intend to return early in June, 2010, and catch the classes that I missed on this occasion.
Bowland High School, September 24th
I visited Bowland High School in the company of Mary from the Corner Bookshop, Garstang. Usually, I catch trains to events but Mary drove us, avoiding motorways and taking us the scenic route through Chipping – the one that approximated the route taken by Tom and the Spook when they set off to deal with the Pendle witches in ‘The Spook’s Battle’. The school is in a very picturesque setting with an amazing view of Pendle Hill. I was kept very busy and talked to six groups of children, some new readers others veteran readers of the series. There were lots of interesting questions and I spent a long time signing books in the library afterwards.
The Corner Bookshop, Garstang
The following evening I visited the Corner Bookshop to give a talk and sign books. It was a themed ‘witches’ evening with Mary wearing her best pointy shoes and her daughter dressed up as a very convincing witch. It was a great event and I really enjoyed it.
A Request …
I would like a picture of the Pendle ‘Snow Witch’ for my website. I already have one but don’t know who took it and who the copyright belongs to. I would take my own picture but even when it snows the witch isn’t always visible so I don’t know how long I’d have to wait. It seems it depends on how the snow melts. So if you have a picture please send it with permission for it to be used by email to the spooks website.
Thanks and best wishes,
Joseph Delaney
October 8th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
hi,just wondering are you coming to dublin,because i can’t find any details anywhere ,can you send me any info as i’ve inquired through CBI but they have not posted anything,
plus can you please put my name in you books.
your biggest fan ryan brennan
October 9th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Just got my copy of the new book and looking forward to it!!! My girlfriend and I love all your books and being Manx are both really excited that the next book will be partly set on the Isle of Man!! When we read that we literally cheered! Hopefully there will be a Manx Spook!
October 13th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Please please please may i apear in your books my name is Feezan brittain and it’ll be awesome if i could be in one of your books i love the books and cant wait to read the spooks nightmare you are by far my favourite writer and the spooks books are my favourite the spooks nightmare isn’t the last but either way im really exited bout the release of the book. i am half affrican and half welsh i was born in wales and i have light brown skin i have curly hair i have three brothers and 1 sister my sister also read’s your books her name is also weird her name is aysha brittain and she’s my only fully related sibling all my brothers are half brothers so plaease put me in your books .
October 14th, 2009 at 1:40 am
Kia Orana from the Cook Islands, I am 12 years old and have just finished reading the Spooks Apprentice after mums pestering! I very much enjoyed reading this book and wish i had the full collection. Anyways, just thought I’d drop in and say hello and thank you for a spine-tingling read! Cheers
October 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Hello Joseph, my mum grew up around Pendle in Lancashire and knows about all the witches. She’s got lots of books about them. One is called The Lancashire Witches and one called The Pendle Witches. We would love to have come to see you at Cheltenham on Sunday, but we live in St Albans and can’t get there. Are you going to be visiting near here or London ever? Lewys.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
hello there..
i’ve read the first three books..
i am currently trying to have a complete collection of the wardstone chronicles..
it’s quite hard to find your books here in Malaysia, and now I found out that you have changed its cover..
Bookstores in my place no longer sell the books with its former cover..
is there any way I could get the books with the old cover?
October 18th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Hi, I just finished reading The Spook’s Mistake and I loved it - the other books are also great!
I live in Denmark and The Spook’s Sacrifice comes to Denmak next year but I couldn’t wait for that, so I ordered it in english.
sometimes the books are so scary I can’t fall asleep at night - they’re really exciting!
I love reading the Wardstone Chronicles and it’s really great that there is going to be movies about them!
November 29th, 2009 at 6:53 am
Hey i just started the fourth book and i was hoping that there are gonna be more books then six hopefully because im really picky with books and i just love spooks. and if there was no more books ittl be back to that book was boring.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Hi Joe,
Seems a long time since we bumped along in old bangers from Leyland to Blackpool with Bill and Dave Neville. Congratulations on your belated success - if only it had come sooner - you wouldn’t have had to suffer the excesses of 4 band 5. Are you still in Stalmine? I’m in Preesall and retired too.
Glyn
December 8th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
he came to my sch but westcraven aint up thier
December 8th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
i read the spooks apprentice as aclass read at sch then we had 2 write a rewiw + i got the best in the class iv been mad about the books sice and was destrote since i finnished all the books in 2 weeks and nothing els 2 read
anyway they r amazing and i carnt wait till the 7th book comes out in june 2010
December 8th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
there r gona be 10 books yeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
:D 
:D 
:D 
:D
December 8th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
there r gona be 10 books yeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
December 13th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Hey Joe has one been posted up cause I’m doing a photography class at school and I think I could get one. Hope your 7th book is a success.
Your Biggest Fan (Arguably).
Michael.
January 11th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
THERES 10 BOOKS??? REALLY??
January 11th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Wait…..there’s the Spook’s Apprentice · The Spook’s Curse · The Spook’s Secret · The Spook’s Battle · The Spook’s Mistake · The Spook’s Sacrifice and the Spook’s Nightmare and the spook’s Bestiary and……….???
April 17th, 2010 at 1:40 am
i just love your books thay are so cool and awsome :~)