Amazing Art Competition - Enter Now!

I hope that you have all enjoyed a magical Christmas and that Santa brought you lots of lovely new books to read!

Now that the excitement of the big day is over, you might have a little extra time on your hands - so

how about entering an exciting drawing competition? Head over to the World Book Day website and you'll find a competition based on my new Secrets of the Tombs series All you have to do is draw a scene from the first book of the series, The Phoenix Code, and you'll be in with a chance of an amazing prize  - the chance to be a named character in the third and final book of the series - in which Cleo and Ryan will travel to Mexico for their biggest - and most perilous - adventure of all. Click here for all the details.

Drop everything (even that leftover turkey and mince pie sandwich!) and do it now, because the closing date for entries is 10th January. Good luck. I can't wait to see all your pictures!

Super-Talented Readers

A few weeks ago I received a lovely e-mail message from a reader called Trinity. She was writing a ten-page essay about the differences or similarities between two of her favourite characters  - George Kirrin from Famous Five and Emily Wild from the Adventure Island series. Trinity asked me lots of fascinating questions, which I did my best to answer.

George Kirrin

Emily Wild

And then, just the other day I was thrilled to receive another message from Trinity, with her brilliant essay attached. It was so interesting, thoughtful and beautifully written, I thought other readers might like to see it, and she kindly agreed that I could share it on my website. And that wasn't all! Trinity also sent a fabulous book review of The Mystery of the Invisible Spy by her sister, Gabriella. I've copied that below too.

What a very talented family! Thank you, girls, for being such lovely readers. I'm delighted that you have enjoyed reading the Adventure Island books.

Read on for Trinity's essay and Gabriella's book review . . .

Update on Secrets of the Tombs Two

If you enjoyed reading about Cleo and Ryan's adventures in The Valley of the Kings in The Phoenix Code, you might be wondering where their next mystery will take them - and more importantly, when!

I'm happy to tell you that I can now answer both questions.

(1) China
(2) June, 2015

If you were reading very carefully, you might have picked up a hint as to the first answer . . . in the final chapter of The Phoenix Code, Pete McNeil mentions that he's been asked to study a strange ancient burial in China. He wonders whether Ryan's Mum, Julie Flint would be interested in coming along to write some articles about the dig. So that's where they go. You can find out what happens next in The Dragon Path . . .

The final version will have lovely shiny foil lettering

 And here it is! A sneak preview of the new book cover. I hope you'll agree that the cover is fabulous - full of mystery and danger. I love it!