Case of the Diamond Shadow blog

I've just started another blog, this time set around a novel of mine, for teenagers, that's coming out half-way through next year. It's a mystery novel, set in the 1930's, called The Case of the Diamond Shadow. I'll be posting all kinds of bits and pieces on there. Go over and have a look! It's at http://www.caseofthediamondshadow.blogspot.com/

An exciting surprise!

I got a lovely surprise in the mail yesterday--my advance copies of the BBC Audiobook version of Thomas Trew and the Hidden People. On two CDs, completely unabridged and with a playing time of 2 hours 13 minutes all together, the novel is gorgeously read, in many wonderfully diverse voices, by the exceptionally talented Andrew Sachs. Best known for his star turn as the hapless waiter Manuel in the hilarious classic comedy series Fawlty Towers, Andrew Sachs is a seasoned actor, performer and scriptwriter whose voice is also often heard as a narrator of many audiobooks and documentaries.
He's certainly wonderful to listen to. He has all the different voices down so well, he really makes the story sparkle along. And it's lovely to hear your own story read aloud by such a great performer--and lovely too that it does transfer to being read aloud very well indeed. Exciting!
I'm not sure exactly when the audio book will be out in the shops, but it should be very soon. I'll keep you posted!

Story starter at Write Away

A little while back, I was asked by the lovely people at that wonderful children's literature website, Write Away, http://www.writeaway.org.uk/ , to write a Story Starter for them, on the subject of dreams and how they can inspire stories. That was of course because of how the Thomas Trew series started, in a particularly intriguing dream I had, which I wrote about in one of my first entries on this blog. The 'story starters' are excellent features of the Write Away site, and are used by individuals and groups as inspirational and fun exercises to help kickstart stories. They've been written by all kinds of terrific writers. I'm honoured to be in such company!

Now my story starter on dreams and how to use them to inspire your own stories is up at the Write Away site. You can read and download it for free! Go to the Write Away site, click on the Story Starters button in the main menu on the left, and then on to 'Dream On,' my story starter. Have fun!

Thomas Trew five out in UK!

Number five in the series, Thomas Trew and the Flying Huntsman, is just about to come out in the UK. Look for it at your local bookstore! It's coming out in Australia in March 2008. Like no 4 in the series, Thomas Trew and the Selkie's Curse, it features some terrific reviews by young readers, from schools in Britain and Australia.
The Flying Huntsman was one of my favourites to write. It's a very tense and rather creepy story, set in the strange sky-world of the Ariels. And Thomas is in even more danger than he's ever been before!

On Facebook..

I'm joined up to Facebook recently. If you're interested, go and have a look at my page, and take some of the quizzes I've taken! Find me by just putting me in my name. See you there!

Blogging at Inside a Dog..

Last week, I started a blogging stint as Writer In Residence at the Inside A Dog website, the website of the State Library of Victoria's Youth Literature Centre. I'll be blogging there for a month, till November 9, on all kinds of things to do with books, writing, life and everything--including Thomas Trew, spooks, and murderous magpies! Come over and join me on www.insideadog.com.au/residence

New look for Thomas Trew!

There's a whole new look to Thomas Trew, starting with the 4th book in the series, Thomas Trew and the Selkie's Curse, which comes out in Britain on September 21, and in October in Australia. Here's a sneak look at the great new jacket, complete with reviews by young readers!

And why the change? Because it was felt the original covers(as you see them to the right of this) weren't quite eye-catching enough, and that it would be good to have reviews from actual readers. Which is an excellent idea, I reckon. What do you think?

The next two in the series, Thomas Trew and the Flying Huntsman, and Thomas Trew and the Island of Ghosts, will similarly have bright new revamped covers and readers'reviews. Watch out for them!