News

Happy New Year everyone! Don’t worry, I haven’t succumbed to a bout of rampant egomania; the title of this blogpost is taken from an internet meme called the #NextBigThing that I’ve been invited to take part in. The charming Piers Torday who I met at the CWIG conference in Reading last year tagged me to take part in this back in December, but due to a flurry of last-minute deadlines and pre-Christmas preparations, I’m only now getting round to posting this up. Piers’s debut novel The Last Wild which has been described by one reader as a ‘sci-fi Roald Dahl’ is one of my most eagerly-awaited reads of 2013 and you can find out more about it by reading Piers’s #NextBigThing post here.

Anyway, here are my answers to the #NextBigThing questions:

What’s the title of your next book?

Shadows of the Silver Screen. It’s the follow-up to Twelve Minutes to Midnight.

Where did the idea come from?

When I finished writing Twelve Minutes to Midnight, I knew there were more stories I wanted to tell about Penelope, Alfie and Monty and even stranger mysteries for them to solve. Shadows of the Silver Screen is set at the dawn of the twentieth century: a time when the new-fangled world of moving pictures was taking its first steps from the fairground to the cinema screen, whilst spirit photographers and charlatans claimed to be able to photograph the dead. I’ve always loved haunted house stories and when I had the idea of a mysterious filmmaker approaching The Penny Dreadful to turn one of Montgomery Flinch’s stories into a motion picture, I saw the chance to combine these two strands into a haunted house story with a twist…

What genre does your book fall under?

Mystery and adventure with a touch of the supernatural.

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie?

I think I’d have to scour the country, holding a series of Harry Potter-style open auditions to cast the part of Penelope Tredwell, but I’d love to see Mark Gatiss play the part of Montgomery Flinch. I’m a huge fan of his work in Crooked House, The First Men in the Moon and the remarkable Sherlock, so if he wanted to adapt, produce and direct it too, he’d be more than welcome!

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

What if the camera could capture more than just memories of the past - would you dare to watch the shadows of the silver screen?

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Shadows of the Silver Screen will be published on the 10th January 2013 by Nosy Crow.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

It took me about a year to finish the first draft of Shadows of the Silver Screen. Moving house in the middle of writing and having to scribble away in an unfinished office whilst builders, plumbers and electricians knocked the house down around my ears probably didn’t help my productivity!

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

One of the highlights of 2012 for me was appearing on stage alongside Philip Pullman at the Oxford Literary Festival. Although I wouldn’t dare to compare my books to Phililp Pullman’s, several reviewers of Twelve Minutes to Midnight said that it would appeal to fans of his Sally Lockhart series which was a comparison I was delighted by.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I think every book I write takes inspiration in some way from the stories I have read and seen. Shadows of the Silver Screen has its roots entwined with classic ghost stories such as The Ash Tree by M.R. James and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If you want to find out what happened to the man who invented cinema but who history forgot, you should read Shadows of the Silver Screen.

Who are you passing the baton to for next week’s Next Big Thing?

Two fantastic authors who I share a roost with at the Nosy Crow nest. Helen Peters, author of the critically-acclaimed The Secret Hen House Theatre, who tweets as @farmgirlwriter, and Paula Harrison, author of the fabulous Rescue Princesses series and the forthcoming Faerie Tribes.

I’m thrilled to reveal that Twelve Minutes to Midnight has been shortlisted for both the 2013 Northern Ireland Book Award and the Warwickshire Secondary Book Award. It’s been chosen alongside some marvellous books on both shortlists and I’m really proud to be a part of these awards that help promote a love of reading.

Speaking of which, the education company Pearson have recently launched a campaign to promote reading for pleasure. If you visit the Enjoy Reading website, you’ll find a host of videos from myself and the author Michaela Morgan sharing our ideas and tips for parents on ways to help children to enjoy reading. Watch these if you want to find out why I recommend you don’t turn up at the birth of your first child with a copy of War and Peace, and exactly which Axel Scheffler book taught my daughter the word ‘Monster’.

I’ve also got a new blog up on the Bookbuzz website where I write about the literary inspiration I found on my older brother’s bookshelf when I was growing up. And finally, I just wanted to share the following poem that an eleven year-old reader of Twelve Minutes to Midnight sent to me recently. Caution - mild spoilers ahead if you haven’t read the book yet!

At Twelve Minutes to Midnight
Nothing is as it seems
At Twelve Minutes to Midnight
The inmates of Bedlam awake from their dreams
At Twelve Minutes to Midnight
Visions are unleashed
And Penelope is intrigued
Soon she can’t resist
The suspicious mist
And secrets of the future
Are revealed.

Thanks so much Ahlaam for sending me your poem and giving me permission to share it on this blog.

I meant to post this up back in Children’s Book Week at the start of the month, but at the time I was chained to my desk checking the proofs of Shadows of the Silver Screen and writing the first draft of The Black Crow Conspiracy. Anyway, I just wanted to say how incredibly proud I am that Twelve Minutes to Midnight has been included in Booktrust’s 2012 Best Book Guide alongside some wonderful books from fantastic authors such as Philip Reeve, Celia Rees and Eva Ibbotson to name but a few.

As well as appearing in the 2012 Best Book Guide, Twelve Minutes to Midnight also appears in a Booktrust’s Children’s Book Week list of their favourite stories with inspiring heroines, with Penelope sandwiched between Roald Dahl’s Matilda and Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. I cannot tell you how happy this conjunction made me!

Until next time when I’ll have news of heroic adventures…

Over the past week or so I’ve been delighted to receive some lovely emails from students who have picked Twelve Minutes to Midnight as their Bookbuzz choice. To find out more about Bookbuzz, check out the fantastic website where you’ll find competitions, quizzes, book reviews and much much more. You’ll even be able to watch a video of me introducing Twelve Minutes to Midnight and hear from a young reader who explains why the story gave him goosebumps.

A huge thank you to everyone who has chosen Twelve Minutes to Midnight as their Bookbuzz selection.

The sequel to The Dead Ways is out now, so if you love supernatural conspiracy thrillers filled with shady politicians, secret societies and non-stop action, then check out Army of the Dead.

I’ve got one signed copy to giveaway and all you have to do to win it is tell me who you would like to see leading your army of the dead into battle. So whether it’s Queen Boadicea at the helm of undead horde or a zombie Oscar Wilde slaying the enemy with his perfectly weighted bon mots, let me know in the comments below for your chance to win a signed copy. The contest is UK only and closes at midnight on Sunday 10 September (UK time).

May the best army win…

This Saturday I’m heading to the Just So Festival for a weekend filled with pirate training, stone balancing, pillow fights, levitation, music, poetry, dens and daydreams, children’s authors and even Babar and the Gruffalo! And on Saturday night, at around twelve minutes to midnight, there will be the Twelve Minutes to Midnight feast! Come along to hear the electrifying adventures of Penelope Tredwell as she investigates a sinister mystery filled with spiders, madness and strange glimpses of the future and then stay for hot chocolate, marshmallows and even moustaches…

Being invited to fabulous events like the Just So festival is one of the unexpected benefits I’ve discovered to being a published author. Earlier this year, I took part in the marvellous Oxford Literary Festival where I was honoured to appear on the same stage as the children’s publisher Marion Lloyd, the children’s author JD Sharpe, and one of my literary heroes, Philip Pullman. Here’s the four of us in front of the Sheldonian Theatre where our debate on the legacy of Charles Dickens took place, and where I let slip my confession that my first experience of Dickens’s work was the Muppet Christmas Carol.

Perhaps in my next blog I’ll be able to post up a picture where I’m hobnobbing with the Gruffalo!

First of all, an apology. I’m afraid that I’ve been treating this blog like the diary I kept when I was thirteen: initial flurries of activity punctuated by long drawn-out silences, although with slightly less angst-ridden poetry written in the margins.

Anyway, since Twelve Minutes to Midnight was published back in February, it’s been receiving some rather lovely reviews and I just wanted to collect some of these together in one place so that anyone who hasn’t bought a copy yet can see just what they’re missing out on! I was prompted to do this when I spotted this great review yesterday from a reader on the Guardian Children’s Books website. A huge thank you to Isaac260 and to all the reviewers who have taken the time to share their thoughts on Twelve Minutes to Midnight.

“Pacy and tightly-plotted, this is an exuberant and entertaining adventure story set in an appealingly foggy and sinister Victorian London. The feisty and courageous Penelope makes the perfect heroine for an adventure packed with exciting twists and turns.” Booktrust

“Really pacey historical thriller with a great sense of eerie Victorian atmosphere.” The Bookseller

“Twelve Minutes to Midnight is an exceptional introduction to the mystery genre in children’s literature. This is a fast-paced historical thriller in every sense of the word. Packed full of intrigue and drama, it reads like a ‘Sherlock Holmes’ for kids.” The Bookbag

“This is a clever Victorian romp, fast paced and very readable.” Books for Keeps

“Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge is my first “must-read” of 2012 and will continue to be one that other middle grade novels will be held up against.” Theresabook.com

“A thriller with a fast-paced cinematic style…an electrifying story from an exciting new author” lovereading4kids.com

“A gripping story which brings Victorian London vividly to life.” parentsintouch.co.uk

“An enjoyable read set in Victorian England with a lead character who I adored … I am already excited about getting the next instalment.” The Overflowing Library

“Christopher Edge weaves a truly delicate and intricate plot set at a perfect level for this age group.” My Book Corner

“I found this book absolutely gripping and loved the combination of Victorian London – with its Dickensian scar-faced villains and possibly-mad beautiful widows – and the supernatural, with the eerie predictions of the asylum inmates.” Liz Bankes

“More feisty fictional heroines are definitely welcome – and Penelope Tredwell certainly fits the bill.” iVillage.co.uk

“It’s got everything you want from a mystery set in Victorian times - scar-faced villains, beautiful but damned widows, and elements of the supernatural - it’s the ultimate tale of terror!” The Kooky Toon Book Corner

There is also a fantastic review of Twelve Minutes to Midnight on the Fun Kids radio station Book Club podcast - you can download this for iTunes for free or just click on the play button next to the February podcast (number 4) to listen.

At the end of last week I received the fantastic news that Twelve Minutes to Midnight has been chosen by Booktrust for their inaugural Bookbuzz list. Bookbuzz is a new reading programme that offers secondary schools the chance to give their Year 7 pupils the choice of a book from a specially selected list of 17 titles that includes fiction, non-fiction and poetry.

The Bookbuzz programme aims to support reading for pleasure as children make the transition from primary to secondary school, which is time when many pupils can start to drift away from books and lose their love of reading. As someone who has written publications about promoting enthusiasm for reading and improving reading in schools, I am incredibly proud that Twelve Minutes to Midnight has been chosen to be part of this wonderful programme.

Bookbuzz rolls out this September to secondary schools across the country and schools who wish to take part have until the 20th July to register. So, if you’re involved in secondary education and want to encourage reading for pleasure with some fabulous books and resources, get the Bookbuzz!

A huge thank you to Booktrust for choosing Twelve Minutes to Midnight, and Nosy Crow and all the other publishers who support this vitally important initiative.

On Saturday I’m going to be visiting the Oxford Literary Festival for the very first time. Ordinarily this would be enough to make me very excited at the prospect of getting to see and hear a whole host of fabulous authors, illustrators and literary types (this year’s line-up features Alan Moore, Axel Scheffler, Christopher Priest, Claire Tomalin, Frank Cottrell Boyce and Josie Long to name just a few!). However, my excitement currently knows no bounds as I’m also going to be appearing at an event myself!

The event is entitled ‘Dickens’ Legacy’ and I’ll be appearing on a panel alongside Philip Pullman, J D Sharpe and Marion Dickens Lloyd to discuss the lasting influence of Charles Dickens’ work, particularly on children’s literature. I feel incredibly honoured to be invited to be part of this event and, I must admit, just a little nervous too! The venue for the event is the rather grand Sheldonian Theatre and looking at the panaromic pictures of this on the internet, I can’t help wishing that I had some of Charles Dickens’ theatrical skills to draw on when I step out on the stage.

So if you’re anywhere near Oxford at 10am on Saturday 24th April, come along to the Sheldonian Theatre to see if I crack and start to enact the death of Little Nell live on stage! Tickets and further details about the event are available at the Festival Website.

Today is a day I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time – the publication day of Twelve Minutes to Midnight! I’m immensely excited about the prospect of going into a bookshop and spotting my book out there in the wilds of the shelves at last. It hardly seems a minute ago when it was just a tiny Word document with a title page, a chapter heading and a handful of words typed inside. Sniff!

Looking back at my notebook where I first scribbled my ideas for Twelve Minutes to Midnight, I was reminded of some of the inspirations which seeped into the pages of the story in strange and unforeseen ways and I thought I’d share some of these with you here.

“I chose next to wander by Bethlehem Hospital … partly, because I had a night fancy in my head which could be best pursued within sight of its walls and dome. And the fancy was this: Are not the sane and the insane equal at night as the sane lie a dreaming? Are not all of us outside this hospital, who dream, more or less in the condition of those inside it, every night of our lives?” Charles Dickens

“People think dreams aren’t real just because they aren’t made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.” Neil Gaiman

“Fiction is like a spider’s web, attached ever so slightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners.” Virginia Woolf

“The past is but the beginning of a beginning, and all that is and has been is but the twilight of the dawn.” H. G. Wells

“The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion” Albert Einstein

“The past is still there, the future has always been here. Every moment that has existed or will ever exist is all part of this giant hyper-moment of space-time.” Alan Moore

“The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.” Winston Churchill

Finally, if Twelve Minutes to Midnight had a theme song, I think it would be the song at the top of this page. Sweet dreams…