A couple of weeks ago, we brought you some great competitions to win Joshua Files books and goodies. Now, we hear from the author..

Who were your favourite authors when you were a child?

Richmal Crompton (Just William), CS Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia). E. Nesbit, Herge (Tintin), Goscinny and Uderzo (Asterix)

What inspired The Joshua Files?

When I first visited a ruined Mayan city as a teenager in Mexico, my father casually told me that the Mayans “believed the world would end in 2012″. I didn’t  take it too seriously but I did think right away that it would make a great adventure story: a lost civilisation harbouring a secret about the date of the end of the world. So in 2005 when I started to think about writing for kids, I thought maybe that idea’s time had come.

Tell us about Joshua

Josh is thirteen at the beginning of his adventures. He was pretty happy with his life in Oxford until he found out that an ancient prophecy needs him to play a part in protecting an ancient book of knowledge about hwo to save the world in 2012. After that he has a lot of emotional issues to deal with – the death of his father, the passing of a huge responsibility onto his own shoulders, an arranged marriage that drives him crazy – until he realises he’s massively attracted to the girl. He’s brave and a little reckless but not a daredevil. He learns and uses a Brazilian martial art – capoeira, but secretly envies his cousin who pilots a super-whizzy aircraft.

What are you currently working on?

Something I call Ultra Secret New Project….

If you could go to any fictional place, where would it be?

The Havana of “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love”, for the music and the dancing.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Mixing cocktails and Cuban salsa dancing.

Thanks, MG. And working on something ultra secret – looking forward to finding out more about that! You can visit MG’s website here.

Today’s the last day of the brilliant competitions, so don’t miss out – click here for details.

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Bethan..

‘Prince Jasper the Unhelpful’ and ‘The Unhelpful Prince and the Jewel Thieves’ – S.J. Harris

Prince Jasper goes around the palace doing what he thinks is being helpful.   But when he meets Princess Miranda she helps him realise that when he tries to help, he always ends up in trouble.  What will he decide to do?

In the second book Prince Jasper is trying to change his ways and not interfere any more.  But when he gets in everyone’s bad books, he decides he’ll cheer them all up by trying to get back the family crowns, which have been stolen.  But instead he ends up helping the jewel thieves! How will he sort this problem out so he doesn’t manage to make everyone even more angry with him?

Prince Jasper made me laugh because he’s rather silly and doesn’t realise what’s happening till it’s too late, like when he’s on a tightrope and tells Princess Miranda how to cut a rope!  Another time he tries to give her advice about a catapult and ends up getting pelted with rotten food!

I liked both of the books about Prince Jasper because they’re very funny and I’m hoping that there are going to be more books about him.

Thanks very much, Bethan. The first ‘Prince Jasper the Unhelpful’ is out today, and you can buy it from our shop now. The second title, is out in October 2010. Thanks to Tick Tock books for sending us review copies.

You can also see our Q&A with the author, Sarah Harris here.

So you’ve seen the extract, entered the competition (surely?!), and now you can read our review. New reviewer, Bookbabbler Liz has been reading it for us..

Glee:The Beginning

Calling all Gleeks!

Glee: The Beginning is a short, fun read chronicling the events of McKinley High before Mr Schuester takes over Glee Club. The book starts off with Rachel Berry, resident over-achiever and know-it-all, being asked by Kurt to join Glee. After much deliberation, Rachel agrees to join, and the rest of the novel concentrates on the difficulties the members of the Glee Club have trying to avoid humiliation and gain acceptance from their peers and the “popular crowd”. Along the way, slushies are tossed, new relationships are forged, the importance of teamwork is explored and the Glee members even start to realise that maybe Rachel isn’t as annoying as she first comes across.

I really liked Glee: The Beginning because in this book, we get to learn more about our favourite characters from the TV series. Every wondered why Rachel is so determined? How long Kurt and Mercedes have been friends? How Puck really feels about Quinn? All these questions and more are answered in this prequel, and we get to see Glee Club at its first stages; where confidence is practically non-existent and motivation is just a ten letter word. It’s also great to see how the Glee Club starts to improve and the members start to believe in themselves, and how Rachel begins to see Finn in a new light. We get to discover more about each main character in the series, helping us to understand why they do the things they do.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something quick and enjoyable, and for all Glee fans, this is a must read!

Thanks, Liz. Thanks to Headline for sending us a review copy and letting us in on the Gleek Peek tour! It’s out to buy 5th August.

Today the Gleek Peek tour stops at Bookbabblers, and we are excited! We love Glee, so jumped at the chance to get a sneak preview of Glee:the Beginning, released by Headline Thursday 5th August. We can now share with you our ‘Gleek Peek’, the 6th extract, and launch a brilliant Glee giveaway for you, too! We’ll also be bringing you our review of the book soon.

Onto the extract:

There was no sign of Mrs Applethorpe coming in to interrupt Rachel’s show. She was either spellbound by Rachel’s voice or wrapped up in her knitting. Either way, Rachel knew a victory when she saw it. When she finished singing, she quickly rolled into the list of announcements.

‘And now for the news of the day. I hope you’re all planning on coming to the fall music recital: Fall in Love with Music!’

Rachel had wondered if she should sign up for it; she was worried the school wasn’t ready yet to see her onstage in all her glory.

‘Also, voting starts today at lunch for this year’s homecoming king and queen.’ Boring, she thought. Like the king and queen were ever a surprise. It was always the prettiest, blondest girl, and the handsomest, most Ken-doll-type guy.

‘The king and queen will be announced and crowned at the highly anticipated homecoming dance, which will follow the homecoming football game next Friday night. I’d like to sign off this morning by awarding Rachel Berry’s Gold Star of the Week – a very special award given each week to a person who has done something outstanding to improve life at McKinley High.’

She’d thought of this last night, and it seemed to be an appropriate way to give back to the school. ‘This week I’d like to award the gold star to . . .’ – she paused for effect – ‘myself, for taking over morning announcements and bringing them back to life.’ She was glad Mrs Applethorpe wasn’t listening. Maybe it was a little much to give herself the first gold star, but she was doing the school a big service. And what was wrong with giving herself a little pat on the back when no one else was? ‘I hope I’ve made everyone’s morning a little brighter. See you all tomorrow!’

She pushed the OFF button and stared at the microphone.

Want to find out more? Well, most obviously, buy the book!! It’s in our shop now. You can go to www.books4teens.co.uk next, as they’ll have the next Gleek Peek..

The giveaway’s also fab, Bookbabblers! One lucky Bookbabbler can win a goodie bag including:

Glee: The Beginning book

Glee: Road to Sectionals DVD

Gleebook posters

To be in with a chance of winning, comment on this post, retweet it or Facebook ‘like’ it (UK only). We’ll pick a winner 8PM Saturday – good luck!

Glee: Road to Sectionals is available on DVD now. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Jonathan..

The Death Stalker – Gill Harvey

The fourth in a new series of four books: the first and second titles were published in August and October 2009, the third to be published in February 2010. Fantastically atmospheric evocations of Egyptian life are encased in an exciting adventure story. Each story features the boy and girl characters Hopi and Isis, and their struggles for existence and adventure in Egypt circa 1150 BC. In this story, The Deathstalker, Isis and Hopi try to help a Libyan girl who has been taken prisoner. The author has spent much time in Egypt and the stories are meticulously researched. The book includes factual detail and notes about Egyptian lifestyle, the importance of the gods for the Egyptians, the tombs and much else.

The Death Stalker is a mystery story involving Isis and her older brother Hopi.  They live with a group of dancers who adopted them both following their parents’ death.  Isis has become a dancer and she and the others go to entertain the soldiers in their camp.  The camp is not all it seems, and Isis and Hopi are determined to find out what is going on behind the scenes.  Why do the soldiers keep mentioning “the pit”? What is it and what does it have to do with the prisoners the soldiers are holding?

This book is the fourth in the Egyptian Chronicles series and is probably best read after the other three books.  It can be rather confusing not knowing all the people involved, but there is a helpful cast of characters, glossary and fact file at the end of the book.

I found this an exciting and enjoyable story.  I particularly liked the Hopi character, who I thought was brave and kind, despite the fact that he found life difficult due to his disability.  I also enjoyed learning a little more about the Egyptian way of life.  This is a good book.

Thanks, Jonathan, and thanks to WHSmiths for sending us a copy.

When Yvonne Emery, author of Xenitha, got in touch with us to offer a review of our book, Bella quickly volunteered to read and review it for us. Here we share her review with you..

Xenitha – YS Emery

Jack Adams owns a second hand shop. One day after having an old oak table delivered amongst some other items of furniture, he notices a message carved into the surface of the table. After closer examination he realises that this is the first clue to a quest, which after being copied down magically disappears.

He later meets a dwarf named Trobate, who tells him that he, his granddaughter Abigail and her best friend Ethan will have to leave their world and enter his world called Xenitha. Once there they must help Trobate, with the aid of Driskoll, Erskine and Finbarr, who are Forest Dwellers and an ingitia bird named Ezra, to find the enchanted gown that belongs to the goddess Ophelia, who once ruled Xenitha before she was cursed turning her to stone.

Thanks, Bella! To find out more, visit the Xenitha trilogy website here.

As promised, here’s Bethan’s review of Who Ate All The Pies, along with the chance to win a signed copy..

Who Ate All The Pies? – CB Lindsay

Cuthbert is hooked on his granny’s custard pies. But his world turns topsy turvy when Granny starts feeding him turnip stew instead. With the help of his friend Arnold, Cuthbert embarks on a mission to discover who is eating all of Granny’s pies… Will Cuthbert get his just desserts? Find out in this addictively funny adventure story filled with mad inventions, an out-of-control robot, barmy bakers, and lots and lots of custard!

This story is about a boy called Cuthbert who loves custard pies.  When Cuthbert finds out there aren’t any more custard pies, he and his friend Arnold are determined to find out why Granny isn’t making them.  And then when they discover she is still making them, they want to know where the pies are going…

There are a lot of really great characters in this book, I couldn’t decide who my favourite was.  I liked Cuthbert because he is the one who found out that Granny was still making custard pies, the machine that does funny things, Granny because the things she says make me laugh and Arnold because he is a very good detective.

This book is a very quick read but it’s really funny, especially when Professor Ankles fights his fridge!

Thanks, Bethan! Sounds like she enjoyed it! Tick Tock books have offered us a signed copy to giveaway to one lucky Bookbabbler. To be entered into the draw for it, just comment on this post, retweet it or Facebook ‘like’ it (UK only). We’ll pick a winner at 8PM on Wednesday – good luck!

Take a peek at Mad, I mean, Professor Ankles’ Journal entries, written just days before the mystery of “Who Ate All the Pies?” begins…

Monday

8.00am: Awoke to discover the room had turned blurry overnight. Was about to run down to the lab to grab the radiation detector, when I realised my glasses had fallen off while I was sleeping

8.30am:  Soggy fish fingers for breakfast again

8.50am:  Arnold complaining of a sore tummy before setting out for school – nothing a strawberry sherbet couldn’t sort out

9.00am:  Donned lab coat and went to lab to try some new experiments

11.10am:  Accidentally melted the legs of my glasses into my face – thankfully growing a beard at the moment and so was able to shave them out – this took up best part of the day

2.45pm:  Lunch – some mouldy cheese I found at the back of the cupboard. (Scraped the mould off of course!)

3.00pm:  Read an article in the Science Times about frozen turkeys taking over the planet in 2050

3.25pm:  Defrosted this year’s Christmas turkey just to be on the safe side

3.30pm:  Arnold home from school and wanting to know what’s for dinner

6.00pm:  Ordered curry and hid the Christmas turkey under the sink

6.30pm:  Ate tea and watched a movie about Lizard People – very interesting

9.00pm: Time for bed

Tuesday

9.30am: Ironed some socks and listened to the shipping news

11.30am:  Headed down to the lab and thought about how one would go about creating Lizard People

12.45pm: Searched the garden for lizards

1.00pm:  Found a slug

1.30pm:  Popped to the shops and bought fresh cheese and some lettuce for the slug

3.30pm:  Arnold came home and we ate the cheese. We played with the slug for a while until it fell asleep

7.00pm:  Bad smell coming from under the sink

7.15pm:  Arnold has found the turkey and seems unhappy

9.10pm: Off to bed

Wednesday

8.35am:  Ate Colin’s lettuce for breakfast. Named the slug

8.45am:  Cut Arnold’s hair with Great Aunt Sandy’s priceless fruit bowl

8.55am:  Arnold set off to school with his scarf over his head – very odd behaviour

9.30am:  Read over this journal – think our eating habits could be tweaked somewhat

10.15am:  Had a brilliant idea! Pulled apart kitchen.

12.30pm:  Arnold is going to love this…

Has this got you wanting more??! We’ll be bringing you our review of Who Ate All The Pies? later today, along with the chance to win a signed copy of the book – watch this space!

You can find out more about the author, CB Lindsay here, and follow her on Twitter here. Thanks for the diary sneak peek, Cathryn!

Last week we brought you our Q&A with PC Cast and a trailer for her new book. Now we share with you our review of The Avenger, by Bookbabbler Carol..

Time Raiders: The Avenger by P C Cast

Most well known for the House of Night series, P C Cast has written many other romance novels including those of both the Goddess Summoning and the Divine series.  She’s ex-military and part of a group of romance writer’s known as the RomVets (Romance Veterans); it was they who came up with the original idea for Time Raiders. When the call went out for authors, PC grabbed the chance to take on this particular story, having heavily researched Boudicca and the period for the House of Night books.  While both are similarly steeped in mystical powers, intrigue and passion, there are other very strong parallels between The Avenger and the House of Night series. Significant weight is given to the importance of tattoos – Alex and Zoey are both marked by the Goddesses they serve (and these too have strong similarities). Both suffer from having their souls shattered and each is brought back by someone travelling to the Otherworld (same name), Caradoc for Alex, and Stark for Zoey. It is also interesting that both Zoey and Alex have older, wise mother figures who support and help them along the way; for Zoey it is her Grandmother, for Alex it is the ghost of Caradoc’s mother. The strongest link of all is that it is Boudicca’s daughters, Una and Mairain, who found the House of Night’s Dark Daughter’s.

But what of The Avenger?

A time travelling, ex-military, reluctant psychic female meets an Ancient British Warrior Druid, whilst supporting Boudicca’s army fighting against the Romans; throw in an urgent mission to retrieve medallions needed to save the modern world from an aggressive and cruel alien people, and this is, in its barest form, Time Raiders: The Avenger – an odd mix of historical romance and fantasy with a dash of sci-fi thrown in for good measure.

I was prepared to find the whole thing unbelievable and unreadable. What a ludicrous plot line! What a daft mix of genres! But I was also intrigued as to how an author whose House of Night series I loved, would deal with the ‘problems’ as I perceived them. How would 21st century Alex be accepted by 1st century people, but more importantly how would people converse? In Avenger, Cast uses some clever devices to overcome these difficulties. Alex is a psychic, she sees and converses with the dead, this makes her a Soul Speaker in the ancient world, and a clever little micro-chip implant sorts out the language problem. In the end, books are entertainment and we very often have to suspend our knowledge, logic, and belief, get on and just enjoy the tale. So I did and found Avenger to be a thoroughly enjoyable, rollicking, romantic, historical adventure, and once I started I couldn’t put it down.

The mix of Druid mysticism, Celtic lore, and an ancient way of life with savage battles, political intrigue, and a near impossible mission, keeps this love story moving long at a pace. Cast’s writing is relaxed and easy, making the changes from modern America to Ancient Britain easy to accomplish. Occasionally the phraseology is a little awkward, especially in the love scenes but it’s a common problem of the genre, and in the end doesn’t detract from the story. Given the restrictions for a book of this sort, the relationship between Alex and Caradoc doesn’t overwhelm the other plot lines, as so often happens in romantic novels. In The Avenger, we can enjoy all the elements of the tale, including the romance. As for teen readers, given the elements that have been published in House of Night, there shouldn’t be any objections to older teens reading this.

My only criticism is detail, bits are ‘missing’. For example, what happened to Caradoc when he time travelled? P C Cast has very clearly undertaken considerable research into this period and The Avenger touched the edges of that research.  It was a bit like a Chinese meal, you are quite full when you finish, but an hour later you want more.

I loved this tale but feel that hidden in the pages of The Avenger is a much longer, more detailed and, dare I say it, more serious book. I very much wish she’d write it.

Thank you, Carol – great review. If this has tempted you, it’s available to buy in our shop now.

Bookbabbler Aly’s been reading Ian Beck’s Pastworld for us.

Pastworld – Ian Beck

What if all of London were really an amusement park—a whole city returned to Victorian times to entertain visitors from the twenty-first century? That’s the wildly original premise of Ian Beck’s Pastworld, a high-stakes mystery set in a simulated past. Eve is a lifelong resident of Pastworld who doesn’t know she’s living in a theme park until a mysterious threat forces her to leave home. Caleb is a visiting tourist who finds the lawlessness of the past thrilling—until he suddenly becomes a fugitive from an antiquated justice system. And in the midst of it all, in the thick London fog a dark and deadly figure prowls, claiming victim after victim. He’s the Fantom, a creature both of the past and of the present, in whose dark purpose Caleb and Eve will find their destinies combined.

The cover itself is very thrilling, from the moment I got it I was very curious about this book. Imagine the whole of London is just a mere memory rebuilt to merely appear what London may have been like many years ago, the residents of Pastworld live in just that – the past, a memory. In Pastworld lurks danger, mystery, and most of all the Fantom, a being who is merciless and vengeful. There are some quite gory scenes in this book so I would recommend it to 15+. For some, however, living in the 21 century, Pastworld is something to be treasured. People visit from all over just to get a glimpse of a world that was once theirs. Caleb has come with his father, the founder himself, to visit and is instantly in awe of this place which is so different to his own. In Pastworld resides a beautiful naive Eve unaware of the truth that surrounds her, that the world she lives in is a lie and in fact an amusement park for outsiders to visit.

Eve lives with Jack her Carer whilst Caleb has just arrived when things go wrong. Suddenly Caleb is accused of murder he is now a fugitive, Eve has ran away to join the circus where she realises there is more to Pastworld than meets the eye and in the process finds a family of her own and discovers things about herself that she was never meant to. Bible J, who takes Caleb under his wing, is a charming character – he seem sincere and is very likeable. I was confused at times, however, when it came to romances. I could never tell who was falling for who and as you come nearer to the end, things only got more complicated. I’m hoping there is a sequel because I feel there are a lot of things that were left unsaid. Eve is quite the strange girl herself and there is a reason for it though, explained at the end. One thing I can say about this novel is that it is definitely on the “Creepy side”. I was snuggled in bed and kept finding myself on edge, especially when the Fantom himself is introduced – you cant help but be wary. I found this book to be a refreshing treat, something entirely different from what I had read before.

Thank you, Aly. Thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a review copy.