Mark Stay's Blog, page 38
July 7, 2022
The Ghost of Ivy Barn is here!
It’s finally here! The Ghost of Ivy Barn is now available wherever you get your books. There are all sorts of buy links here.
I’m launching the book tonight (Thursday 7th July) at Waterstones in Canterbury, so please come along if you’re in the area. We have cake!
Or, you can join us on Youtube! This will be interactive, so you can ask questions and there will some extra bonus material for you streamers (to make up for the lack of cake) . Just click on the screen below…
Today also sees the start of a wonderful blog tour from Random Reads..
The first reviews have been amazing!
The Book Lover’s Boudoir said: “I love Faye. She’s my kind of witch. This is a hugely entertaining mix of history and magic. I can’t wait to see what the witches get up to next.” Here’s the full review.
And the Witches of Whitby at the Enchanted Emporium said: “The witches didn’t think this series could get better, but they were wrong. This is the best book yet – full of humour, magic, betrayal and murder, with a slight inkling of romance between Faye and Bertie.” Here’s the full review.
My huge thanks to everyone who helped bring this book into life, and to all you readers who have ordered it. I really hope you enjoy it and do please leave a rating or review wherever possible. Happy reading!
Book Review: The Ghost in Ivy Barn by Mark Stay
The Enchanted Emporium Bookshelf
The staff at the Enchanted Emporium were thrilled to discover an advanced copy of the third book in the Witches of Woodville series on the bookshelf, thanks to Random Things Tours. Arguments ensued about who would be the first to read The Ghost in the Ivy Barn but Willow won. There are advantages to being the boss.
Scroll down to see if this book matched the joy of the previous books, The Crow Folk and Babes in the Wood.
Book Review: The Ghost in Ivy Barn by Mark Stay
The Ghost of Ivy Barn by Mark StayTitle: The Ghost of Ivy Barn
Author: Mark Stay
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Genre: YA, fantasy, witchlit
Release Date: 7th July 2022
BlurbAugust, 1940.
As the Battle of Britain rages overhead, a warlock leader from the Council of High Witches comes to Woodville with a ritual to repel the imminent…
View original post 595 more words
#TheGhostofIvyBarn by @markstay
August 1940
As the Battle of Britain rages overhead, a warlock leader from the Council of High Witches comes to Woodville with a ritual to repel the imminent Nazi invasion. The only catch is it involves full-frontal nudity on the White Cliffs of Dover. The Witches of Woodville are having none of it, but when more witches arrive they realise they might have a spy in their midst, and it’s up to Faye Bright to uncover the traitor. But she’s got enough on her plate already with the ghost of a Polish Hurricane pilot who may hold the key to the truth.
***
The Battle of Britain continues to rage, with Hitler’s planned invasion of Britain, Operation Sea Lion, reliant on the destruction of RAF Fighter Command.
AUGUST 1940
***
(@simonschusterUK, 7 July 2022, ebook, 429 pages, #ARC from the publisher via #NetGalley)
***
GET A COPY***
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July 3, 2022
Can You Spot the Ghost in my Unboxing Video…?
Here’s my unboxing video for The Ghost of Ivy Barn! It didn’t quite go to plan… but can you spot the ghost? He appears four times…
CREDITS
Camera and Edit: Kai Newton
Music: Dominic Currie
Sound: Emily Stay
Production Assistant: Harry Gibson
The Ghost: George Stay
Special thanks to Stewart Tophill at Keel Farm for the use of the barn
June 30, 2022
One Week to the Launch of The Ghost of Ivy Barn…
You — yes you! — are cordially invited to the launch of the next Witches of Woodville book THE GHOST OF IVY BARN on Thursday 7th July, 2022 at Waterstones, Canterbury…
But why should one come to a book launch? What even happens at a book launch? Here are some helpful pointers for book launch virgins…I will greet you all and give a short reading from the book (I promise this will be 4 minutes or less!)I will take questions from those gathered and answer them without repetition or hesitation. Probably.The signing will begin!There will be cake, which is free! (okay, technically included with the ticket price)There will be wine and soft drinks, also free! (see above)You will get a fiver off the first book you purchase. That basically means if you buy a book you’re getting in for free… this also applies to students, who get in free anyway!You can meet the me in person, and I’ve had all my jabs and will have hand sanitiser on standby.You can get your books signed, dedicated, personalised, scribbled/doodled on by me.You can ask me questions that you didn’t want to ask in front of the others (or you thought of them while standing in line).You can get your book stamped with the official Woodville Library stamp (while ink lasts)!You can get a free Witches of Woodville bookmark (while stocks last).You can have your photograph taken with me, a wizard, a witch, a ghost, or all of us!Did we mention the cake?This is the first time I’ve been able to launch a Woodville book in person. The Crow Folk was published in lockdown, and I had Covid when Babes in the Wood was published, so I would love to see as many of you good people as possible, so book a minibus and crash the party!
To ensure your place at the launch, simply visit those splendid people at Waterstones by clicking here.
But if you can’t make it on the night, fear not… you can join us live on Youtube! Yes, we’re also streaming the event live, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions like everyone else, and there will even be some exclusive spooky content for streamers (if we can get the technical jiggery-pokery to work). You will have to provide your own cake and beverage, however. To join us on YouTube, simply click here.
FREE CHAPTER SAMPLEPsst? Want a sneak peek at the first chapter of The Ghost of Ivy Barn? Simply click here to download it. This is the sort of thing normally reserved for subscribers to the Woodville Village Library Newsletter, but I like the look of you, so you can get it too. If you like what you see, you can find all kinds of pre-order links when you click on the book cover below.
If you want access to free and exclusive Woodville stories, then you can sign up for the newsletter here.
June 23, 2022
Hear an exclusive reading from The Ghost of Ivy Barn on my BBC Radio Kent interview with Dominic King…
I was delighted to pop on the Dominic King show on BBC Radio Kent last night. I read an exclusive bit from The Ghost of Ivy Barn and discussed how the magic ritual featured in the book is based on one that actually happened.
Click here for the show and skip forward to 2 hours 15 minutes for my bit.
Just two weeks to go till The Ghost of Ivy Barn is published! Have you got yours on order? There are links here.
https://witchesofwoodville.com/#ghostofivybarn
June 21, 2022
More Witches of Woodville books signed by Simon & Schuster…
Here’s a bit of good news from the folk at Bookbrunch (I’ve popped the full text below if you don’t have a subscription)…
Bethan Jones, senior commissioning editor at Simon & Schuster, has signed two further novels in Mark Stay’s Witches of Woodville series, billed as appealing to fans of Lev Grossman, Alan Garner and Terry Pratchett. S&S has UK & Commonwealth rights through Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock.
The series is set during the Second World War, as Faye Bright learns to use her powers to defend Woodville from demonic forces.
Jones said: “Editing these books over lockdown really helped to save my sanity! They are pure escapist joy, charming, nostalgic and absolutely compelling. I have fallen in love with Faye Bright and Woodville, and I am in awe of Mark’s incredible imagination and his ability to create such exceptional stories. I’m so pleased and excited that we will be seeing much more from these characters, and I cannot wait to see where Mark takes Faye next.”
Stay said: “I can’t tell you how much it means that I get to return to Woodville for more adventures. These books are my happy place, and the faith that Bethan and all the team at Simon & Schuster have shown in them over lockdown has been inspiring. Here’s to many more.”
Wilson said: “Mark has created the perfect feelgood series – witty, charming, and tailor-made for Sunday afternoon TV. It’s Buffy meets the Famous Five in WW2 Kent. Faye and her trusty bicycle against the forces of the occult, with hapless villagers getting in the way. Ginger beer at the ready! We hope the series runs right through till VE Day.”
Stay worked in the book business for 25 years, and is the author behind the forthcoming Warner Bros horror movie Unwelcome. He is co-presenter of the Bestseller Experiment podcast.
Heyne has begun publishing the Witches of Woodville series in Germany, and rights have gone in several other territories.
June 15, 2022
Amazing Crow Folk Art from Harry Goldhawk…
If you’ve read my Witches of Woodville books, you’ll have no doubt been blown away by the incredible cover art by Harry Goldhawk. Indeed, in my recent reader survey, the love for Harry’s work was overwhelming.
So you can imagine how delighted I was when Harry sent me two illustrations he’s done of the Crow Folk and Faye. Just take a moment to enjoy these, please…
The Crow Folk. Art by Harry Goldhawk.
Faye Bright. “Hello, Mum.” Art by Harry GoldhawkIf you want to check out more of Harry’s amazing work, pop over to Papio Press here.
May 7, 2022
Crikey, just two months till THE GHOST OF IVY BARN is published…
I know, I’m just as stunned as you are. The third of the Witches of Woodville books arrives on 7th July 2022, and we’re having a special launch party at Waterstones, Canterbury and you’re all invited. There will be cake, real witches and wizards, free wine and did I mention the cake? Tickets are a fiver, but that comes off the RRP of any books you buy on the night, so that’s a pretty good deal. You can grab tickets here.
The proof cover arrived this week and… Well, I know I’m biased, but it’s a thing of beauty. Harry Goldhawk‘s artwork is as spectacular as ever, and there are some lovely quotes and possibly the first blurb to ever use the phrase, “The ritual must be executed in the nuddy.”
The book will be available as a paperback, eBook and audiobook read by Candida Gubbins. You can pre-order them all right now, and there are some handy links here if you need them.
I’m also running a reader survey. I’d like to know more about my lovely readers, including what they like/dislike about the books, the other stuff they read, and what sort of Woodville merch/swag they might like. If you’ve read the books, do please complete the survey. It’s all GDPR-compliant, so your personal data will be safe, and you can be entered into a draw to win one of five 100g bars Ghost of Ivy Barn-branded milk chocolate (see below).
You can complete the survey here. To ensure that you’re entered into the draw, the survey needs to be completed by 1700 BST on 15th May 2022.
The terms and conditions for the giveaway are here.
And my privacy policy which ensures the safety of your data is here.
March 25, 2022
I’m having a Book Launch… and you’re all invited
You are cordially invited to the launch of my next Witches of Woodville book THE GHOST OF IVY BARN on Thursday 7th July, 2022 at Waterstones, Canterbury…
Yes, it’s a little way off, but best to get these things in your diary, I say. Especially as this is a real world, in-person event! (Covid and other disasters permitting). It costs a fiver, but you save that money if you purchase the book on the night, and I promise to sign them all.
There will also be free refreshments including wine, soft drinks and cake (while stocks last, of course).
I’ll be joined by Kentish author of high regard, Mr Kit Cox, who will emcee the evening. And there will be magical folk in costume, which will allow for many opportunities to do things on the Instagram, TiketyTok and the like.
To ensure your place at the launch, simply visit those splendid people at Waterstones by clicking here.
