Giveaway time! If you want a signed and dedicated copy of The Ghost of Ivy Barn and a bar of Ghost of Ivy Barn milk chocolate, then you’re in luck. I’m giving away five of this tasty pair this week. All you need to do is sign up to the Woodville Village Library Newsletter here to be in with a chance to win. The giveaway closes at 5pm BST on Sunday 11th September 2022. If you’ve already signed up to the newsletter then you’ll automatically be entered into the draw. Full terms and conditions are here. Good luck!
Wednesday 31st August, 6:30pm at Waterstones, Canterbury
The UK’s favourite podcast for writers celebrates 400 episodes with a special live show at Waterstones, Canterbury.
Join me and a panel of amazing writers including Rowan Coleman, Pernille Hughes, Nadine Matheson and Julie Wassmer.
After six years and 400 episodes, we’ll be asking if writing is a job for life. In these uncertain times, can an author really earn a living from just their writing?
Our authors share their experiences of being an author in an ever-changing world.
Oh, and this is a celebration! There will be wine, cake, a chance to meet the authors, a book signing and plenty of surprises.
If you’re anywhere near King’s Cross on the evening of Tuesday 9th August, I’ll be at the Super Relaxed Fantasy Club (upstairs at the Star of Kings pub) moderating a panel on the highs and lows of self-publishing. I’ll be chatting to self-pub superstars Nicola May, Kate Johnson and Andrew Wallace. It’s always a lovely evening and newcomers are always welcome. Hope to see you there. More details on this FB event link.
Join me “in conversation” with the very splendid F.M.A. Dixon, author of the delightful The Last House on Everywhere Street next Saturday 30th July at the Little Green Book Shop in Herne Bay.
Now, the more canny of you out there might be thinking; ‘Hang on, didn’t these two do an event at the Faversham Literary Festival at the beginning of the year?’ We did indeed, but a lot can happen in six months, and we’re going to compare our experiences of being published in 2022 and we won’t be holding back.
We’ve promised to tell the truth about festivals, book launches, Covid, school events, imposter syndrome, horror movies, driving agents potty, hassling publishers, escalating paper costs, avoiding reading reviews, and all while trying to write our next books.
Come for the unvarnished truth, stay for the free wine and cake (all included in the ticket price!).
Tickets are £5 and redeemable if you buy one of our books, so we can’t say fairer than that (and did we mention the free wine and cake?”)
Click here to get your tickets, and we do recommend that you book ahead. The Little Green Book Shop is a wonderful venue, but the clue is in the name. It’s little, and twenty people is a crowd.
So what do you think happened after E.T. went home? Turns out he was spurned by everyone he knew, got demoted, drugged a whole bunch of his aliens friends and stole a turnip spaceship. Yes. Really.
As the Battle of Britain rages overhead, a warlock leader from the Council of High Witches comes to Woodville with a ritual to repel the imminent Nazi invasion. The only catch is it involves full-frontal nudity on the White Cliffs of Dover. The Witches of Woodville are having none of it, but when more witches arrive they realise they might have a spy in their midst, and it’s up to Faye Bright to uncover the traitor. But she’s got enough on her plate already with the ghost of a Polish Hurricane pilot who may hold the key to the truth.
My Review
When we catch up with Faye she is still trying to process and deal with the aftermath of the dramatic battle at the end of the second book, Babes in the Woods. That’s when Larry approaches Miss Charlotte, Mrs Teach and Faye because there’s something…
I had so much fun discussing William Kotwinkle’s extraordinary novelisation of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial with the gang on the Authorized Novelizations Podcast. This is in-depth stuff and full of surprises. The delightful and often bizarre choices that Kotwinkle makes elevates this book above the average movie tie-in. Settle in for a rollercoaster ride. It’s on all the usual podcast providers, but here’s a link to Apple podcasts.
Join me and the superb David Lee Stone for a signing at Waterstones, Westwood Cross, Thanet. If you love fantasy with a big heart and lots of laughs you’ll love David’s books. See you there! More details here.
Thanks to everyone who’s watched my recent unboxing video for The Ghost of Ivy Barn, especially those who have been looking for the ghost in the background. He appears four times. Most people only see him three times. Here’s the original video…
So, here’s a breakdown of where you can see him…
I hope that clears everything up! By the way, if you’ve enjoyed our unboxing videos, you might like this little peek behind the scenes with some fun outtakes…
I’m going to be chatting with the wonderful FMA Dixon at the Little Green Bookshop as part of the Herne Bay Festival! Here are the details…
Join Herne Bay authors Malcolm Dixon and Mark Stay as they discuss writing fantastical stories set in the real world, writing for children and young adults, and what inspires them to write.
Mark Stay has 25 years of publishing under his belt and has written for TV and film. He is also co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast, which has inspired writers all over the world to finish and publish their books. His latest novel, The Ghost of Ivy Barn, is the third in The Witches of Woodville series.
Malcolm Dixon is the winner of the 2019 Acheven Prize for Young Adult Fiction. He will be discussing his prizewinning debut YA novel, The Little House on Everywhere Street.
This evening will include a Q&A and a book signing. Expect wine, snacks and plenty of bookish chat!
Tickets are £5, which is redeemable if you buy one of our books on the night!
Mark Stay Writes 