Spooky writer
NG Kids: Hi Joseph! We love your books! Can you tell us about your latest one, The Spook's Mistake?
Joseph Delaney: It's a bit different from the others. The Spook sends Tom north to work with another Spook who deals with water witches. This Spook's a much tougher man than Tom’s used to dealing with.
NGK: What inspired you to write The Wardstone Chronicles?
JD: I actually had the idea 25 years ago. I was asked to write a short story in 2001 and looked in my old notebooks for ideas. I found an idea I'd had in 1983, about a man that would deal with the supernatural and get rid of boggarts for money.
NGK: So what's a boggart?
JD: Some people call them poltergeists. They're things that go bump in the night – the raps and bangs you hear around the house. My son, Stephen, had a boggart where he used to live. He was woken up by a loud crash in the kitchen once, when a pan flew across the room on its own!
NGK: Ooh, that's really spooky! So what scary situations have you found yourself in?
JD: I had a really weird night at a hotel in Devon once. There were strange pattering sounds from the foot of the bed and a really loud noise, as if someone was throwing a coin into a metal bucket!
NGK: Do these spooky experiences inspire your writing?
JD: Yes, the house in Watery Lane in The Spook's Apprentice is based on where I lived when I was seven. I had the same nightmare lots of times there. I'd be sat in the front room and this dark shadowy thing would come to take me away!
NGK: Eek! What kind of books did your read as a kid?
JD: All sorts of things – I used to go to the library every week. I loved science fiction and I was obsessed with ghost stories.
NGK: What other cool stuff have you got coming up?
JD: Well, next year, there's an illustrated book, full of all the beasts and monsters from The Wardstone Chronicles, a short story for World Book Day, and the sixth Spook’s book. Oh, and The Spook's Apprentice is being made into a film as well!
Want to be a writer?
Here are Joseph's top tips for budding writers!
- Read
It helps you learn to write, as you absorb different techniques - Keep a notebook
Write down all your ideas, however daft. One out of every 30 is usually good - Observe
Write about your different experiences. It's good practise and triggers memories - Write
Make time every day or at least every week to do some writing - Let your imagination run wild!
The more amazing your ideas, the better!
The Spook's Mistake by Joseph Delaney is out now