The North-West is burgeoning with exceptional authors. Altblackpool would like to highlight a variety of publications which we think would make terrific stocking fillers. As an added bonus, if you complete our readers’ survey (competition closed: 24/12/12) (a mere 2 minutes of your time) you are in with a chance of winning copies of all 4 books featured! Today’s books are suitable for children and teens.
Mathamagical
by Colin Davies
This is a book about a young boy called Ben Small runs away form home because he is accused of cheating because his English test results are so much better than his maths ones. Because of the storm raging outside, Ben decides to bed down for the night in the science classroom of his school. It is here where he meets Adder, a talking snake from the city of Mathamagical in the land of Maths. Ben joins Adder on a quest across the land of numbers and maths symbols to help solve an English problem and stop a war with the advancing Alphas. Along the way Ben meets characters that help him with his own understanding of mathematics.
Colin Davies is a big Roald Dahl and Lewis Caroll fan. This book is great for reading to 6-8 year olds, with a self-reading age of 8 and up. The book has been written to appeal to children who like a good fantasy adventure story. It teaches some concepts used in mathematics without it being a teaching book. The idea is to make maths fun. Read a review of Mathamagical in The Guardian.
How Much Does it Cost?
£5.99 in paperback – £1.93 on Kindle
Colin is a graphic designer/author who has lived in Blackpool for 25 years. He enjoys anything that isn’t real. Films, books, computer games, if he can go on a journey to another realm, he’s happy. Colin used to review films on the Ged and Hayley breakfast show on Radio Wave which he followed with his own show, ‘Listen Me Alice’, on the internet radio station Impact Radio. During this time, and since leaving the shows, he has been writing poetry for the Blackpool Dead Good Poets Society, which boasts some of the most wonderful people on the planet. Colin loves football and supports Manchester City. Before anyone accuesses him of being a plastic blue, he wishes to point out that this a genetic thing and part of his breeding. Recent successes are still causing him to think he is dreaming.
Where can it be bought?
Amazon.co.uk, with free delivery. Online book shops.
Witherstone
by J A Brunning
‘Witherstone’ has been termed “a really outstanding read – good old-fashioned storytelling, in the very best sense; engaging and gripping as only the most skilful writing can be” and has so far received only 5* reviews. It’s a story of social politics and murderous enemies, and a girl fighting to save her family.
It would make an ideal gift for anyone 12 and over who enjoys a real page-turner and a heart-thumping good read. Readers so far have been 70% adults and 30% young adults, and all of them have LOVED it.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary depending on whether in bookshops or online, and whether kindle or paperback: Kindle edition is £1.54, the online paperback is £6.27.
About the author:
In a former life, J A Brunning was a university lecturer in English Literature and Creative Writing, and was also the project co-ordinator of the Lancashire Writing Hub. She gave all that up to concentrate on her own writing career, although she still does freelance workshopping around the North West and she also keeps bees, but not usually at the same time.
Where can it be bought?
Amazon.co.uk and in the real world at Waterstones Preston; and Broadhursts Bookshop in Southport.
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