Spotlight on...
Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio

Today I am spotlighting the amazing winner of BBNYA 2025! It's a middle grade fantasy and you can find out more about both the book and the competition below.

Book Summary

Eleven-year-old Fiona isn’t allowed in the Fermata woods. And though its unique trees are fascinating, Fiona has no problem following her mother’s rules. That is, until the trees begin to sing.

Suddenly, it feels as though long forgotten memories are being unlocked in Fiona’s mind. As she nears the woods edge, the trees fall silent, so silent even the leaves stop rustling. Fiona will finally break the rules and venture into the woods. She’ll soon find herself traveling through portals to undiscovered worlds. And she’ll have to trust her instincts and her quirky new friends to bring back the music or she may get lost within its notes.

Author Bio

Kate grew up in Salem, Massachusetts surrounded by ghost stories and witch tales. As a microbiologist, she studies the tiny worlds of bacteria, viruses and antibodies. As a writer, she creates magical worlds of her own. Kate now lives just outside of Boston with her husband, son, dog and cat.

Kate can be found online at:

Website X Instagram Bluesky

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. 

Author Interview with Jonathan Brough 

I'm back with an interview with the author of Aaha! Racing to the Rescue — A Bear Trapped in Time. You can read my original post here including my book review and a guest post from the author.

I love astronomy, so I was very keen to read about this protagonist! Is astronomy a passion of yours? What made you include it?

Gosh- lots of reasons really! Partly there’s the whole sci-fi thing: the great unexplored space (literally!) where anything can happen: if black holes definitely exist and wormholes are theoretically possible, who’s to say that anything at all in the imagination isn’t possible- even a belligerent Starship Commander in a repurposed airport on the outskirts of London!

More practically, though, I worked as a primary school teacher for over 30 years and know all too well that children can understand complex topics more easily when they’re wrapped up in a story. So, whilst the novel is undoubtedly an accessible and fast-paced adventure, the reader will find out what they need to know about the Earth in Space at primary school too- all through osmosis and jokes!

Getting to the airport on time is always a bit of a mission. I really related to the experience in the book, especially getting up in the middle of the night! Was this how you remember childhood holidays, too?

We didn’t often fly abroad when I was little, although I do remember a certain middle-of-the-night escapade to what is now East Midlands Airport when I was about six. If my memories are to be trusted, we were going all the way to Guernsey… fortunately, though, I’ve been able to fly quite a lot during my adult life. Checking in on time, and then having to find ways to keep entertained during subsequent delays never seems to get any better though!

Can you tell me a bit about your writing process?

For me, it’s undoubtedly the idea generation that takes the time. I love love love A6-size hardback notebooks that fit into a trouser pocket, and I can fill them with emerging ideas as they slowly grow and mature. Then I plot everything really, really carefully into ten key plot points. By the time I’ve done all that, which sometimes takes months, the writing happens quite quickly because I don’t get stuck. Editing still takes a while, though, and I do it two full edits before I let work get anywhere near a publisher or industry professional. First, I edit the manuscript in the same text font and size that I used when I wrote it, then I deliberately change font, style and line spacing so that different parts of each sentence are in different places on the page- it’s amazing how many extra things I spot after that.

The end of the book had me feeling quite emotional. Did you plan to get your readers tearing up?

I’m glad the climax of the book had an impact on you as a reader! Whilst, of course, I don’t want to distress anyone, I do want to take the subject matter- that of realising responsibilities to younger siblings- seriously, and I need to show that the protagonist has learned from her experiences. I agree that there’s half a page or so when it seems like all is lost… and if the reader lives that alongside Aaha, I feel I must have done a good job… but of course there’s a happy ending when the time comes; this is middle-grade fiction after all!

Finally, I have to ask, what's your favourite cocktail?

Definitely a kir royale- all the fun of childhood blackcurrant cordial with the sophistication of champagne!

Thanks so much to Jonathan for those thoughtful, informative answers and here's how to make a Kir Royale for anyone intrigued! It's very simple but delicious.

Pour 15ml of crème de cassis into a champagne flute, then slowly top up with champagne or prosecco.

Undercover Angel: Grounded by Lisa J. Allen

Book Summary

Trainee angel Phoebe Speedwell is stuck in the human realm and under strict instructions not to do ANYTHING. Which is tricky when she finds a dangerous beast in the school basement and unwelcome guests on her doorstep.

Helped only by her banshee best friend, a terrified trainee who’s completely out of his depth and a football-obsessed schoolboy, will Phoebe risk losing everything, reveal her secret identity and use her powers to save everyone?

Phoebe is a fantastic main character. She's a sarcastic, 503 year old trainee angel in the body of an 11 year old school girl, her best friend is a banshee and she lives with Auntie and what seems like a million cats! 

After (almost) completing her mission on the human realm, she was hoping to go back home. Unfortunately, vanquishing the banshees but letting Chloe the young banshee stay, isn't quite what her bosses had in mind so she's stuck for now.

Phoebe has definitely been given a tough deal but she won't let that stop her proving herself and becoming the love angel she's determined to be. All she has to do is stay put and resist interfering, then persuade the powers that be that she's much better suited to love than disease. You'd think that would be easy but a giant 3-headed dog, 3 Furies and some cryptic hints at her unknown strength, all make being docile that much harder.

I am now fervently hoping there will be more books in the series as book one was fun but now the overarching story is shaping up to be very intriguing! 

To make an Angel's Delight cocktail, put 30ml gin (I used pink gin for an extra flavour shot), 30ml triple sec, 40ml cream (or milk) and a few dashes of grenadine into a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass, then enjoy!

Mix & Match 18 - Kids Edition

This edition of Mix & Match is centred on some amazing middle grade books. Check out my quick reviews and then pick one to go with my yummy Choc Orange Espresso Martini!

After depriving myself of chocolate for so long before Easter, I decided to make up a chocolate based Espresso Martini by swapping some of the vodka for chocolate orange baileys. Add the following ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice, shake and strain into a cocktail glass - 30ml vodka, 30ml chocolate orange baileys, 45ml espresso, 10ml coffee liqueur.

Linnet and the Periwinkle Flyer by Lindsay Littleson

Linnet is desperate to leave the orphanage, but now that she is finally free of it, she's not sure if her new situation is actually better. At least now she has the opportunity to use her inventiveness to impress her new boss and she might even have a chance to find out what happened to her best friend. Excitement, peril and friendship ensue in this wonderful adventure.

The Scream of the Whistle by Emily Randall-Jones

Ru is such a sweetheart and tries so hard to be positive for everyone else, despite feeling like everything is falling apart. And being far from willing to accept it!

This was much more nerve-racking than I expected, and the conclusion had me shedding a tear or two.

Grimogen Darkstar by Emma Finlayson-Palmer

You'll love Immi, she's determined to prove to her family that she is responsible enough for her own pet.  Her love for animals, in particular the rare bat-cat (the best pet of all), makes her try her hardest to behave properly but everything keeps going wrong and no one believes it's not all her fault!

Scarlett Buckling and the Case of the Missing Pictures by Mario Ambrosi

Scarlett is devastated when her grandmother goes missing so she's determined to solve the mystery of why she disappeared. This is a lovely story, talking about something important in a very sensitive and non-preachy way. I also enjoyed the extra puzzle hidden in each chapter heading.

The Subject Society: The Pythagoras Puzzle by Sarah Surgey

Book Summary

When subjects mix, problems get solved.

Mabel has a big idea: turn her garden shed into a clubhouse where she and her friends can use their favourite subjects to solve problems.

When Theo’s violin exam makes him really nervous, the new Subject Society must figure out how maths, science, art and engineering can help him hit the right note. But with snakes, circles and ancient mysteries involved, how can they find the perfect pitch in time?

A brilliant adventure of STEM and the Arts, packed with humour and teamwork, this is the perfect read for curious kids who love short stories full of fun and learning.

Mabel and her friends all love different things so the Subject Society is the perfect club for them all. Together they can find ways to solve problems using all their brains and their various specialties.

In this book, one of the friends has a musical problem so they all pull together to help him. I loved all the interesting facts they uncovered about ancient philosophers and the mathematical properties of music.

Mabel's friends are a lovely bunch, with all sorts of interests and different personalities, but they work together wonderfully and are always there to help each other out.

To make a Society cocktail, add lots of ice to a mixing glass and pour in 45ml gin, 20ml dry vermouth and a dash of grenadine. Stir well and strain into a cocktail glass.

Spotlight on...
Speak the Ocean by Rebecca Enzor

Today I am spotlighting the 13th place BBNYA 2025 finalist! Read on for more about the book, the author and of course the BBNYA competition and how you can get involved.

Book Summary

Corporate tells the public the mermaids aren’t dangerous, but that’s a lie.

When the superpredator Mer kill another trainer, Finnegan Jarvis finally sees his opportunity to become a superstar trainer. No more scrubbing tanks and cleaning blood: he’s gonna be in front of the audience showing off his brand-new, fully-trained mermaid. If only he can get her to do the tricks she’s supposed to.

That mermaid is Erie, an ocean-princess ripped from her home when she pushes another Mer out of the way of the net. She doesn’t understand why she’s there, but she’s determined to learn air-words to find out.

While Finn trains Erie, she teaches herself air-words. And when she finally speaks, Finn breaks the number one rule at Oceanica: Never Humanize The Mer.

Now he’ll do whatever it takes to save her.

Author Bio

Rebecca Enzor is a fantasy author and environmental chemist on Whidbey Island, WA, where she lives with her husband, two dogs, one cat, and sometimes chickens. Her articles on writing science in science fiction can be found in “Putting the Science in Fiction” from Writer’s Digest Books. Obsessed with everything ocean, she studied fisheries biology in college and electrocuted herself collecting fish in a river, which inspired several key scenes in her debut novel, Speak the Ocean, a Blackfish meets The Little Mermaid retelling.

Rebecca can be found online at:

Website: https://rebeccaenzor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.enzor 

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rebeccaenzor.bsky.social 

About BBNYA

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 (17 in 2025) finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. 

Aaha! Racing to Rescue a Bear Trapped in Time 

by Jonathan Brough

A book that combines astronomy, comedy and holidays... what's not to love? This was wonderful, full of jokes that will delight kids and interesting space facts for everyone. The end truly got me all emotional! I'll definitely be picking up the next in the series, I wonder if Aaha will time travel again.

Read on for more about the book, a guest post from the author and the recipe for an Aviation cocktail. 

Book Summary

She’s ten. She’s off on holiday… But she’s going fifty years the wrong way!

Ten-year-old comedian and astronomer Aahana (Aaha) Kapoor has two big problems: a holiday she doesn’t want and a stepbrother she really didn’t ask for. But when a lost teddy and some hot chocolate send her fifty years into the future, she discovers that time travel is no joke… and neither is family!

With the help of a rebellious robot and a suspiciously familiar commander, Aaha races to fix the future before her flight takes off without her.

A hilarious and heartwarming adventure about family, responsibility and second chances.

Author Post

Children growing up have always found the world to be a confusing place, and the issues which they hear about in modern times mean that has never been more true than it is today. But ever since the days when cave people painted stories on walls, humans have used narrative to help them make sense of what is happening around them.

When I began writing the Aaha! series of books for children aged seven to eleven- the first of which, Aaha! Racing to Rescue a Bear Trapped in Time, has just been published by Tiny Tree- I wanted to create accessible, fast-paced stories which have an excellent role model as their central character. That is why Aahana- known to everyone as Aaha because she solves problems and makes scientific discoveries- is always cracking jokes and doing her best to make the world a better place for everyone around her.

However, I wanted the stories to do two other things as well, directly linked to that initial idea that when readers work their way through a story they live vicariously and derive valuable experience and wisdom from events in the plot. So, during each book, Aaha tackles a particular social issue that affects readers or their friends, and she gains first-hand experience of an area of the curriculum that children encounter in school. Of course it is important that such matters are tackled in sufficient depth and with appropriate respect for the gravity of the situations depicted. These carefully structured chapter books of around 128 pages respect their readers for being able to appreciate an enjoyable adventure story with an appropriately moral message. The texts are not joke books wrapped up with a thin plot: rather, I aim for them to be transformational experiences in the tradition of the best children’s fiction.

In the first book, Aaha’s social challenges involve coming to grips with living in a blended family. Her new stepfather has just moved in and brought his son, Barun, with him. Barun is somewhat of a challenging brother and rarely speaks, which means he gets a lot of their mother’s attention and Aaha resents that. But by the end of the story- after Aaha has found herself in a position where only she can avoid family disaster- she has realised her fondness for him, her responsibilities as a big sister and her commitment to their parents’ relationship.

During the course of the first book Aaha also, quite literally, navigates her way around the solar system and therefore reinforces work on the Earth in Space that children learn at school. By the time they finish the story, they will have revisited concepts such as the order of the planets and the composition of each one, as well as- possibly- having enjoyed some “aaha!” moments of their own such as the date of the moon landings.

There are facts, there are emotions, and they make children think. At the end of the book, there’s also a hint of what’s coming next for Aaha: she’s off to Vindolanda to tread in the footsteps of the Romans, accompanied by a new best friend, a refugee…

After thirty years in the primary school classroom, twenty of which were spent as a headteacher, Jonathan Brough recently retired from full-time teaching. He is now working as an educational consultant and children’s writer. He can be emailed at aaha@jonathanbrough.net and he has a website at www.booksbyjonathan.website

Of course I had to make an Aviation cocktail for Captain Bear. Add the following ingredients to a shaker with lots of ice, shake and strain into cocktail glass. 50ml gin, 15ml maraschino, 10ml creme de violette, 15ml lemon juice and 10ml chilled mineral water.

The Alphabet of Happiness by Klaudia Mitura

Book Summary

What does it take to live a happier life? Discover your path to fulfilment with The Alphabet of Happiness, a real, refreshing, science-backed guide to living a more joyful life. Inspired by Klaudia Mitura’s award-winning podcast, The Happiness Challenge, this invaluable book combines expert insights with hands-on ideas to build happiness in relationships, at work and within your own skin. Weaving surprising science with personal anecdotes and topical examples, each of the 26 alphabet-inspired principles offers easy-to-understand psychology with practical solutions, allowing you to explore and apply these insights in any order, step-by-step, to achieve genuine positive transformation in your life. Perfect for self-reflectors and go-getters alike, The Alphabet of Happiness is a must-read for anyone ready to take small but powerful steps toward a happier life.

This was an interesting read with lots of practical actions. I really liked that the author grouped the sections in the introduction so readers can choose what they want to focus on. For example, I started with the Energy (I want to have more motivation) collection and read Dreams, Meaning, Resilience and Zest. Of course you can also read cover to cover or just dip in and out randomly, whatever method works for you!

You'll want to keep a notebook close for notes and answering the questions and exercises posed for each letter. Each chapter also has recommendations for relevant episodes of Klaudia's Happiness Challenge Podcast. Another bonus is the quotes at the start of each chapter, I enjoyed reading through those first.

The only alphabet cocktail I could find had 26 different ingredients, one for each letter. That seemed far too long winded for here, plus it was very unlikely I would have everything needed! Instead I found this Scarlet Letter cocktail which is perfect as I just bought some cherries 😃

Muddle 6 cherries then add 45ml gin, 15ml cherry liquor, 15ml morello syrup, 3 dashes of bitters and the juice of half an orange. Add ice and stir to cool and dilute, then strain into your cocktail glass.

Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom: 50 Inspiring Ways to Navigate Your Life by Susie Hall

Book Summary

Sassy Godmother’s Pearls of Wisdom is a simple and powerful set of guidelines designed to help you step back from your busy life so you can restore some well needed balance and perspective. Whether at home, at work, in love and in life, Sassy’s stories, examples and timeless wisdom will give you an indispensable guide for building your confidence, increasing your happiness and creating equilibrium.

Sassy shares the ups and downs of her 30-year journey of personal, professional and spiritual growth. She has wisdom to reveal and is determined to pass on what she’s learned. By following these simple mantras and engaging in the exercises and tools you’ll begin a journey of self-discovery, reflection and personal growth from which you’ll never look back.

This is an ideal book to dip into when you're feeling a bit... bored or unsatisfied with your life. You never know what you might find! Some of the 'Pearls of Wisdom' are common sense but still, I think sometimes you just need an extra push to take action or even just to take notice of what is around you.

I would have found it useful to have chapters or sections, so you can find advice on a particular part of your life when you need it, however it does seem they are organised in themes so once you find something useful, the others around it are usually on a similar idea.

Some useful lessons for me were Follow Your North Star, Create Space in Your Life and Do the Tough Stuff First. I definitely always resist that last one!

I really liked the little poems and quotes at the start of each chapter and interspersed throughout. Some were funny, some thoughtful but they are each relevant to the Pearl. At the end of each Pearl, there are thoughtful actions you can choose to take or think about.

Maybe our Godmother would like to sip on a Sassy Paloma while writing her words of wisdom. First get your glass ready - run a piece of lime around the rim of the glass then dip it into a mix of chili flakes/grains and salt. I like to just cover half the glass in case anyone isn't keep on chilli or salt! Fill the glass with ice. Then add the following to a shaker with lots more ice - 60ml tequila, 45ml grapefruit juice, 30ml lime juice and a dash of bitters. Shake and strain into the glass then top up with 60ml grapefruit soda.

Maya's Sri Lankan Spice Trail of Tails by Sharika Chauhan

This book will make every kid want a pen-pal to write to and visit. The descriptions of the places Maya visits make it feel as if you're actually there, the sights, smells and tastes all tempting you to have your own Sri Lankan adventure.

I found it a little confusing that I couldn't figure out how old Maya is supposed to be. It reads like a children's book but the various illustrations show her as 10 or even 15. Maybe previous books make it clearer. However this probably helps all ages see themselves in the book.

All in all a fun, quick read that will leave you wanting to travel the world, maybe after reading the other books in the series to help you choose the ideal starting location.

Book Summary

Maya is back with her next whirlwind adventure in the Maya’s Worldly Wonders series—this time to the dazzling land of palm trees, spice trails, surfing beaches, and jackfruit curry! She’s finally meeting her pen pal, Ramy, in real life—and their bucket list is bursting with fun.

From surfboard wipeouts and coral reef giggles to swinging over the sea and slurping Sri Lanka’s tastiest dishes, it’s the trip of a lifetime… until Maya meets Mimosa, a golden retriever who’s been waiting too long for a forever home.

Determined to help, the girls launch Operation Mimosa—complete with glitter charts, walkie-talkies, and dog cuddles galore! But when a global pandemic changes everything overnight, their mission takes on a whole new meaning...

To make a Maya Margarita, add 30ml tequila, 15ml agave sec liqueur, 10ml grand marnier, 30ml lemon juice and 15ml orange juice to a shaker. Add lots of ice, shake and strain into a cocktail glass.

Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate's Portolano by Victoria Williamson

I think this might be my favourite of Victoria's books so far. It's definitely the most fun with high speed chases on the ocean, hideaways in an old astronomy tower, giant food cooked by the quirkiest chef I've ever heard of and an extremely mischievous monkey.

This is a wonderfully intriguing world of huge city ships and pirate vessels, on a globe completely covered by the sea. Though it does make me wonder if this could be in our future!

Kitti spends her days getting into trouble with her monkey Caboodle and best friend (and stowaway) Scally. But all she really wants is her family back, which seems alternately impossible and just in reach. She is constantly trying to find out what happened to her sister, and her father who went in search.

There is a very satisfying ending, but it is definitely seems open for a sequel. I'm hoping it will be soon!

Book Summary

A daring mission, a sister turned pirate and a sea full of secrets…

In a world of water where land is a legend, 11-year-old Kittiwake Stormhaven dreams of adventure aboard the Amazon Princess. When a vital mission takes the ship into dangerous waters, Kittiwake discovers shocking news - her long-lost sister, Petrel, is now a feared pirate queen.

Kittiwake must outsmart pirates, outmanoeuvre storms and face ghostly captains to save her ship, her mischievous monkey Caboodle and her friends. But in a high-stakes showdown, family loyalty collides with survival, and Kittiwake learns the ocean hides more secrets than she ever imagined.

Kittiwake Stormhaven is a fast-paced, sea-swept adventure filled with daring rescues, thrilling discoveries and the magic of friendship.

Author Bio

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author from Glasgow, Scotland, who loved reading books and writing adventure stories from an early age. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK.

Her previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, War of the Wind, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, Norah’s Ark, The Whistlers in the Dark, Feast of Ashes, and Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs. Her books have won the RED Book Award 2024, YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023 and the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, and have been short-listed and long-listed for numerous other awards. War of the Wind and Norah’s Ark were also both nominated for the 2024 Yoto Carnegie Medals.

Victoria writes and edits Key Stage 2 books for the education company Twinkl. She spends the rest of her time writing novels and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops. Her latest novel, Kittiwake Stormhaven and the Pirate’s Portolano, channels her love of pirates and swashbuckling adventure to create a steampunk world set on the seven seas, and is illustrated by the very talented James Brown.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website

I made The Perfect Storm cocktail to go with this book. Fill a glass with ice, add 60ml of spiced rum and a squeeze of lime juice, then top up with ginger beer.

Check out my posts on some of Victoria's previous books:

Eerie Exhibits

Skyfleet: March of the Mutabugs

Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams

War of the Wind

The Entrepreneur's Almanack by Robin Bennett

Robin Bennett doesn't fail to amuse. While there weren't as many laughs as in The Good Snooze Guide of Great Britain, he's still managed to turn even a business book into something humorous and light. This time he's telling the story of his success, via quite a few setbacks and leaps of faith.

I particularly liked all the vitally useful dates for businesses such as 6th Feb National Work Naked Day, 9th June Donald Duck Day and 5th December International Ninja Day. I also now have my new favourite word - dipsomaniac 🍸 

Book Summary

This third in a series of short yearbooks celebrates the underrated art of entrepreneurship and a key aspect of the same: namely, success in business has more to do with intangibles than we care to admit.

The guesswork and the gut, divine providence, even dumb luck are all players and should be welcomed round the table, not ignored at the fringes.

The Entrepreneur’s Almanack is the cosmic crutch you never knew you needed in business, but shouldn’t be without.

Author Bio 

When Robin grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)… until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys. Robin writes business books for adults, too.

I found the perfect cocktail for this book, the Bennett Cocktail! Who knew the author had his own cocktail 😁 45ml gin, 15ml lemon juice, 15ml sugar syrup and 2 dashes of orange bitters. Just shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.

 David Barker Author Interview

PAX and the Secret Swarm

Today I have a very special post. As part of the blog tour for the third book in the Pax trilogy, I have a Q&A with David Barker himself! Read on for a bit about the book, and David's fascinating answers. Also check out my posts on the previous 2 books of the series: 

PAX and the Missing Head

PAX and the Forgotten Pincher

Book Summary

As New London edges closer to war, Pax must decide what he is prepared to sacrifice to achieve the impossible – a united kingdom.

Pax and his friends head back to Scholastic Parliament for their third and final year, their focus shifting to their plans for the future. Meanwhile, the mayor’s renewed plans in his fight against the Countryside Alliance demand even greater sacrifices from the citizens of New London.

Stumbling upon secrets that could change the fate of New London forever, Pax finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy that threatens him, his friends, and everyone in the city. Can he bear to risk everything he holds dear for the thing he’s always wanted?

A high-stakes sci-fi thriller set in a fractured, futuristic London.

Interview

Where did you get your original inspiration for the character of Pax?

I think I came up with the idea for an isolated London and British civil war back when the Brexit vote was recent news and when Trump was threatening to build a giant wall on the border with Mexico. Then followed the idea of turning the Houses of Parliament (one of my all-time favourite buildings!) into a school. And that’s when the image of a young boy sneaking around at night with a tiny robot companion sprang to mind. Pax.

Did you have the plot for the whole trilogy set out from the start or did your characters surprise you by doing something you weren't expecting?

I had a very firm grasp of the plot to book one from the off and I knew the broad outlines of the plot for the other two books in the series. But there have certainly been some surprises along the way – including the mayor’s daughter, Megan’s role in the books and many of the sub-plots such as the Graphene Hawks. I’m being a bit vague on purpose to avoid spoilers.

It seems the environment and sustainability is a strong theme, with the vertical farms etc. Are you hoping readers will come away with a sense of wanting to help avoid this kind of future coming true?

For sure there are elements of climate change hinted at throughout the books, and even more so in my Gaia trilogy of thrillers setting during a world war for water. Of course, the whole idea of recycling old bits of tech equipment is an important part of Pax’s back story. I find it hard to write stories set in the future without incorporating these elements in them. I hope it helps readers to think about these issues without getting in the way of the story. If it manages to persuade a few people to change their habits for the better, that would be marvellous.

Please tell us about your next book or books.

I’ve just signed a two-book deal with Tiny Tree for a couple of standalone adventures. The first is a sci-fi story, based loosely on a retelling of Oliver Twist, set in a city on the Moon. It has the same dystopian feel as Pax, but with a very different setting and a very different set of problems for the hero to overcome. There will be heists and jet-pack races! The second story is a fantasy set on a planet where one half is permanently in daylight and the other is night. A young girl has to flee into darkness when her village is attacked. Guided by a strange glowing boy she has to find a mythical artefact that holds the key to rescuing her family. Think Noughts and Crosses with dragons.

And finally, what is your favourite cocktail?

I don’t drink cocktails often (sorry!) but one we’ve enjoyed recently is a Limoncello Spritz: 2 parts Limoncello, 3 parts Prosecco, 1 part soda water poured over ice. Delicious!

That Limoncello Spritz does sound delicious. And I love that Megan's character took on a life of it's own! My thanks for David for his great answers and I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading his new books when they are released. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Gargoyles series by Tamsin Mori

I devoured these two books back to back. I loved the first and was very happy to have the second ready and waiting! Callen's journey is no easy one and he faces many set backs in his attempts to be a guardian, but he's so determined to prove himself. I loved the friendships he built up with the other kids and was intrigued by all the secrets his father had kept from him. 

Read on for a bit more about the books, plus a Gargoyle cocktail.

Guardians of the Source

A crumbling mansion 

A magical source 

A living gargoyle 

Callen's Dad has always been secretive of his past but when the family have to move into his childhood home, the last thing Callen expects is a boarded-up mansion covered in gargoyles. It's enormous, the doors are nailed shut, the gardens are overgrown... and long-forgotten magic is returning. When a disgruntled gargoyle wakes up in his presence, Callen must befriend Zariel and earn her trust before it's too late. A dark threat is growing in the shadows and only a Gargoyle Guardian can stop it. 

"Magic is neither good, nor bad - it simply multiplies the dreams you feed it. Be careful what you wish for..."

The Watcher

An inexperienced Guardian. A missing kelpie. A growing threat. Callen may have befriended a gargoyle, but he's yet to complete his training. When Oculus discover that Callen has been made a Guardian, they send a Watcher to assess his skills. Callen knows that if he fails, he risks losing both his gargoyle and his new home. But satisfying the Watcher is the least of his worries. With ghasts on the prowl, a missing kelpie to find, and blighted magic spreading beyond Gargoyles Rest, Callen's friendships, his courage, and his ingenuity will all be put to the test.

The Gargoyle No2 cocktail is an appropriate choice (though I have no idea what happened to the No1 version-maybe the watcher didn't approve!) Scrape the fruit of a passionfruit into a shaker and add 30ml gin and 30ml vodka. Add a dash of sugar syrup and ice. Shake and strain into a glass.

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett & Ziggy Hanaor

Book Summary

Sometimes everything feels heavy and uncomfortable. My body, my family, my life… And the only thing that releases that weight is music…

Nel is 15 years old and life is a grind. GCSEs are exhausting, social pressures are relentless and parents and teachers are oblivious. Somehow Ludo, Nel’s handsome twin brother, seems untouched by it all, gliding effortlessly through life’s complications with a confidence and arrogance that only illuminates Nel’s insecurities. Her best friend, Kit and her playlist are pretty much the only things she’s got going for her right now.

When Ludo joins a band and Kit starts going out with the guitarist, it feels like even the tiny space Nel has carved out for herself is in peril.

But nothing is forever, and teenage life can turn on a dime. When Nel finds herself taking Ludo’s place in the band, she has to work out whether life outside the shadows is all it’s cracked up to be. Sometimes you need to follow the music to find your way back to yourself.

At the start, I found it quite heartbreaking to see how Nelly's family and the other schoolkids treat her. Thank goodness for the kindred spirit in her aunt, it was great to see their relationship giving her a bit of a lifeline.

I couldn't really see why they all gave her so much of a hard time just because she tried to do something with her life and though it was ultimately positive and hopeful, Nelly let her brother off far too easily!

I liked the simple style of the illustrations, with just a couple of colours so it wasn't too extreme. The characters expressions were spot on, particularly Nelly's frustration!

I found this adaptation of an Aperol Spritz and liked it even more than the original. To make an Aperol Spritz Amplified, take a large wine glass and fill with ice. Add 2 parts prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part blood orange soda. Personally I prefer slightly lower portion of Aperol so you can try with 1.5 parts and add a little extra prosecco.