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Valleys Spring Magazine
A new project, but not a book!
I'm not going to tell you much about what I'm up to - I will say that it involves writing, but isn't a new book I'm working on. It also involves video too.
I'm immersing myself in a medium that is exciting and challenging. It may work, but it may not. I know I'm being a bit vague about it, but you will see what I mean when I'm ready to launch.
I haven't blogged in a while and I don't even know if anyone follows me, so if you do keep an eye out for my brand new project...
Talk soon.
Only February 2019 and already a new publishing deal for 2020.
I'm so happy to announce that a Young Adult book of short stories will be published by my new publisher: ThunderPoint Publishing. I had a meeting in late December 2018 with owner Seonaid Francis and she loved the material. The Man with the Black Shoebox and other Strange Stories will be published in 2020. I'm thrilled at the chance of working with another great publishing house.
Onwards and upwards for 2019
So, what happened in 2018...
It started off in January with me becoming "Patron of Reading" for Cherry Grove Primary School in Cheshire. It's the first time I've been asked to do anything like this and I've enjoyed working with the school.
As you know I've been quite busy throughout the year doing school events with Authors Abroad and some private talks with various groups too. What I love about this job is that I get to do many different audiences, from young people to adults.
Having a book published is still a thrilling experience and in February - I, along with my publisher Pegasus Elliott MacKenzie launched GHOSTED (a supernatural tale). The book is set in the Rhondda Valley in South Wales and the response to it has been amazing. I've had many, many compliments about the story and the artwork of the cover. My son Ryan (a creative designer) worked along side Pegasus to create a fantastic book cover design.
The Rhondda Book Fair 2018 in September was all the more special this year because the guest speaker was none other than Jasper Fforde. He agreed to a live Q & A (streamed on Facebook) which was hosted by the amazing Matt Lees. Jasper Fforde is such a funny and gracious guy and Matt gave a brilliant interview. There were also twenty or so authors at the event - many of them my friends.
Also in September I had a short story published in an anthology called "The Turnings of the Years" along with a plethra of brilliant writers. My story - The Last Second was added and as it was for charity, made it all the more special. You can download and get a paperback copy from Amazon.
Connections Radio - The Sound of Business (a radio station based in Sussex) asked if they could do an interview with me about my life as an author and my new book GHOSTED. We did this in mid-December and it has aired over the Christmas period.
Phew, a lot has gone on. So, what's happening in 2019?
Well for starters my new children's book "Wizards' Exile" will be published, again by Pegasus Elliott MacKenzie. I'm really excited about this and it will be my fourth novel with them. I'm not sure when it will be out, but definitely sometime in the new year.
I'm also working with another publisher for another project, which hopefully will be published in 2020. All I can tell you is it will be a book of short stories (I'll keep you in the loop about the book and the publisher, when the ink has dried on the contract). I've got another idea for a project, which hopefully will be in collaboration with an author/illustrator for something special in 2019. I've never worked with another author before, it should be a very different and exciting experience for both of us - I'll keep you updated on that too.
In the background, I am still working on my adult supernatural crime fiction series "Killian Spooks Mysteries" - I'm attempting six books. I've written the first two and am writing book three at the moment.
So, all-in-all twenty-nineteen is already looking fantastic (if everything goes to plan). I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and keep reading (especially my books lol).
So, I'm writing an adult Urban Fantasy series...
This is my first blog in absolutely ages.
I've literally just sent off my eleventh children's fiction manuscript to the publisher (fingers crossed!). But, my next book is going to be an adult fiction series.
'Oh,' I hear you cry, 'are you abandoning children's and Young Adult writing?'
'Well, the answer to that is a resounding - NO!'
I've been toying with the notion of writing for adults for a while. It was actually where I started out. I originally wrote adult fiction short stories for magazines, so really I'm going back to my roots.
But I will still be writing children's fiction... don't worry!
So, what am I writing about in my adult books?
My latest Children's/Young Adult novel is called GHOSTED. The main character in that novel is a supernatural hero called Killian Spooks. I'm going to write a series of books around him, and the genre for that is called - Urban Fantasy. Killian will be able to deal with magic and the supernatural, so a really cool wizard and spirit chaser, all mixed in.
What's the series going to be called?
Again, I've been toying with many different titles. If indeed it turns into a series, it'll have to have a series title, and a sub title for each adventure.
What do you think?
Killian Spooks Mysteries.
The first book will be called Spirit Jumper Case 1 - Phantom Thief Case 2 - Strange Happenings Case 3 - Head Count Case 4 - Digital Demon Case 5 - Night Bites Case 6.
Oh, and for my adult fiction - I'm giving myself a pseudonym, or pen name. This is not to mix up my children's fiction with my adult writing (because my adult books will be a lot more graphic).
Killian Spooks Mysteries will be written by Jake Ridge. That's all for now.
I'll keep you updated on my progress.
Patron of Reading
I am so proud to announce that I am Patron of Reading for Cherry Grove Primary School in Chester. What an amazing honour to be chosen for this very special position.
A Patron of Reading is a school's special, designated children's author, with whom the school forms a personal attachment. The author might be a writer of fiction - a writer of non-fiction, a poet, an illustrator or a storyteller. They will work with the school to raise the profile of reading for pleasure with pupils, parents and staff.
The duties of a patron are:
* Visit a school regularly (at least once a year)
* Interact with pupils and parents on the school's website, or author's website
* Donate any new books to the school library
* Write a newsletter about books they are reading
* Occasionally write to pupils who have done something amazing with reading
* Share any new ideas they hear regarding reading, books and libraries
* Support the Summer Reading Challenge
So, this is such a fantastic opportunity to visit and support the pupils and their school. Never thought I'd be asked, but am thrilled. Thank you Roz Artist Head of English.