We love hearing about new books that feature the Isle of Wight.
Award winning author Ali Sparkes will be launching her latest novel Unleashed: Mind Over Matter in Newport in a couple of weeks.
“I was born in Southampton and live there still,” says Ali, whose book Frozen In Time won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2010. “And so I’ve grown up with holidays and day trips to the Isle Of Wight and, like many Southamptoners, feel very protective and proud of it.
“Some years ago, while writing the second book of the Shapeshifter series – Running The Risk – I randomly mentioned it as the home of one of my characters. Years later, writing spin off adventures featuring characters from Shapeshifter, it made perfect sense to take that character – Luke – and his twin brother Gideon back to the Isle of Wight for their own story.”
’24 for kids’
Mind Over Matter, described already as ’24 for kids’ features Ventnor, Shanklin, Bonchurch, The Devil’s Chimney and Carisbrooke Castle as a backdrop to the novel.
Ali spent some time on the Island researching. “I took my family and we walked all around Carisbrooke Castle and up and down the Devil’s Chimney and across the landslip while I made little recordings, noting the details and the logistics of the story unfolding in my head.”
Meet the author
Ali will be signing copies of Unleashed: Mind Over Matter from 12 noon to 2pm on Saturday 19 January at Waterstones in Newport. Why not pop along and meet the author.
School visit competition
Ali is offering local schools the chance to bid for a free author visit by writing a paragraph and delivering it while she’s there.
“Teachers or pupils – or even PTA members – are welcome to write a bid,” says Ali, who visits schools and literary festivals all over the UK and Europe. “And they can bring in as many paragraph bids as they like. Whichever tickles or impresses me the most will get me back on the ferry for a school visit later in the year.”
