Capturing
the Castle (How “Once Upon a Castle” was born)
On a
bitterly cold, November afternoon, I found myself stranded near Bamburgh Castle
on the wild Northumberland coast whilst the local, old fashioned garage, with
tall petrol pumps, repaired my broken-down car.
The
delicate, somewhat bright, late autumn sunlight created an eerie, pastel
coloured scene, albeit tempered by a biting breeze, yet quite magical,
certainly ancient, and almost ethereal.
Vikings have
landed here,’ I told myself scanning the unique white beaches below the hazy
castle ramparts. It was one of those strange experiences that triggered the
imagination and I could see a Scandinavian longship coming ashore, disgorging
horned-helmeted warriors seizing the beach before storming inland to ravage the
sparse Saxon populace. I could feel that there was a tale to be told.
With the
genesis of a story in my mind, I conducted research into Northumbrian castles
and was intrigued to discover there was another ruined castle along the coast.
This gave me a plot basis involving two castles, one of which was real and the
other a phantom! Ideas built as I thought this was an area to where children
were evacuated during World War II.
Things
shaped towards an exciting novel for young adolescents involving
twelve-year-old twins, Tom and Mary (to appeal to both sexes) who dread being
sent from southern England to Aunt Victoria’s Northumberland farm. Yet she
proves to be young, and fun, until lessons are arranged with a terrible private
tutor, Miss Urquart. Their London Uncle Toby had said: “There will be castles
to explore with ghosts and things.”
Teenage
rebelliousness ensues as the twins escape and riotous, scary adventures
involving castles, Vikings and even the Royal Navy begin.
“Once Upon a
Castle” is republished by USA publisher GMTA Publishing under their imprint,
Mythos Press.
“Once Upon a
Castle” Blurb
Uncle Toby
had said that there would be castles to explore, with ghosts and things. This
helps to cheer up the glum twelve-year old Lovell twins, Tom and Mary, leaving
their schools and loving parents to be evacuated to wild Northumbria during
World War II. Then the adventure begins.
They live
with their Aunt Victoria and Uncle Leslie, meet the loveable ‘Mrs M’, a strange
dog called ‘Scamp’ and, worst, the terrible private tutor, Miss Urquart, from
whom they run away to find a mysterious castle seen through an old telescope.
Now they are
drawn into bizarre supernatural events of a time-warp between the war itself
and ancient warfare. They encounter dark forces, as the story twists and turns,
and are even rescued by the Royal Navy. Yet, this is only the beginning of more
unexpected tragedies before the twins begin to escape from it all.
About the
Author
Alan S.
Blood worked in the British Civil Service, Advertising and journalism (edited
three publications) before qualifying as a Teacher from the University of
Reading, England. He enjoyed a long, distinguished career in the Teaching
Profession, in both Primary and Secondary levels of education, in several parts
of the UK - which eventually led to Senior Management. His main subject area
was English and, at one time, he was Head of English and Drama. Throughout, he
gained considerable knowledge of literature that children and adolescents
enjoy.
Alan now
devotes his time to writing novels, plays, screenplays and poetry. He won top
award in the ‘Hastings International Poetry Festival’ (2003) with his
controversial ‘litter’ poem ‘CONTRITE CAN CANNOT’. The paranormal genre
features in much of his prose work.
‘ONCE UPON A
CASTLE’ is a ghost story written for young people (but also enjoyed by adults)
set in World War 11. It concerns both a real and a phantom castle based upon
Alan’s experience of strange castles on the wild Northumbrian coast of England
on cold, dark wintry afternoon.
Alan Blood
has widely travelled the world and undertook research in Chile where some of
his supernatural crime thriller ‘CRY OF THE MACHI A Suffolk Murder Mystery’ is
set. He was previously a Cotswold Morris Dancer and the novel is a conflict
between the forces of good and evil linking a Chilean ‘Machi’ and ‘organised
crime’ to murders in a Suffolk Morris Men side.
Alan enjoys
wildlife photography in the Welsh countryside, painting and scraperboard
engraving. He lives in a Victorian (1873) house below the Cambrian Mountains of
Mid-Wales.
Connect With
Alan
Buy the
Book:
Amazon: http://goo.gl/lmxAF
Barnes &
Noble: http://goo.gl/Ct08l
Kobo: http://goo.gl/8zc3n
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