Stephen Henning's Blog, page 3

Enjoy the new book trailer video for Jesus of the North

I’ve had great fun in creating a book trailer for Jesus of the North, the sixth book in the Class Heroes series and the second to be co-written with Samuel Osborn.

In the spirit of collaboration, I also had some help in creating the trailer from a top-notch, hot-shot up and coming director, who shall remain nameless.

The Class Heroes series continues. The story so far…

Sir Michael Rosewood’s vision of bringing together all the people in the world who carry the superpower gene is starting to come together. 

In book 5: Hearts and Minds, we discover that Sir Michael has invested in the construction of an artificial island in the English Channel: Liberation Island. 

In this book, book 6, Jesus of the North, we learn that Sir Michael has begun a world-wide search for anybody who believes they have a super ability, or carries the required genetic material from which they might develop a power. He has extended an open invitation to all potential ‘superheroes’ to find sanctuary on Liberation Island.

If you’ve ever watched the X-Factor, or a similar talent show, you’ll be familiar with the mass audition process, as millions of hopefuls line up outside stadiums and arenas to show the judges what they can do.

Deenpal Mander arrives in Manchester (UK), and with thousands of other hopefuls, prepares to demonstrate his special ability. Will Deenpal become a superhero?

Deenpal’s mother was white, Scottish;  his father was a British-born Sikh. Both were Captains and doctors in the British Army, and died during active service when Deenpal was eight. Deen was looked after by his auntie Chuni until he was fourteen, when Chuni died of cancer. A family rift over his parents’ marriage meant that he had no other family who would take him in, and no support network.

Deenpal has been let down by the system, and he sees Sir Michael’s open invitation as a chance to start a new life with people  whom he shares a unique bond.

He’s been hiding his special ability for several years, afraid that to reveal who he really is will put him in danger. But when you have a power like Deenpal’s, people take notice. In the age of social media, it’s very difficult to remain anonymous, and there’s a whole online army of people who want to find him, and they’ve given him the nickname JESUS OF THE NORTH.

But Deenpal’s special gift, his vulnerability, and his naive decency, also makes him an easy target for the criminal underworld.

Can Sir Michael give Deenpal the sanctuary and purpose that he so desperately craves?

 

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Film script “Devil Inside” for The Haunted Hotel movie

Film Suffolk has released the independent movie The Haunted Hotel, a film comprising eight ghost stories. While the cinemas remain closed, you can watch it from the comfort – and safety – of your sofa via Amazon Prime Video. I’m proud to say that I wrote the script for the eighth and final tale in the film, and it’s called Devil Inside.

What’s the story?

Eight tales of ghostly encounters through the decades, manifesting amid the ruins of a once grand English hotel.

Let me tell you more about my story, Devil Inside.

The Haunted Hotel was filmed at Ipswich’s (once proud, now closed) Great White Horse Hotel, and stars a number of familiar faces from TV and film, including Hugh Fraser (probably best known as Captain Hastings in the ITV Poirot series), Paul Moriarty (EastEnders, A Touch of Frost, Ashes to Ashes, Doctors), Reece Richie (The Outpost, Prince of Persia) and Rob Jarvis (Eddie the barman in Hustle)

Watch the movie on  Amazon Prime Video and Google Play.

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Free books available for Easter 2021

If you would like a thrilling book to read this Easter, Class Heroes 6: Jesus of the North will be available free to download from Monday March 29 to Thursday April 1 2021. The book is available from Amazon. Please check that the price is 0.00 before downloading, otherwise Amazon will charge you.

If you haven’t even read the first book in the series, A Class Apart, well that will be free to download from Amazon too, from Monday March 29 until Tuesday March 30 2021. Again, please make sure the book is priced 0.00 or you will be charged by Amazon.

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New release – Class Heroes book 6 – Jesus of the North

I’m delighted to say that Class Heroes 6 has been published and is now on sale on Amazon. It’s called Jesus of the North, and features a new hero in the world of the Class Heroes. His name is Deenpal Mander, and he has a very unusual, potentially world-changing superpower.

Who is Deenpal Mander?

Deenpal — who often goes by the name of Deen — is 17 years old. He was born in Birmingham, and is the orphaned son of Captain Opinder Mander and Captain Susan Mander (nee McDermot) of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

What’s Deen’s story?

Deen arrives in Manchester (UK), to attend some very special X-Factor-style auditions, which have been organised by Sir Michael Rosewood to try and find people with super powers.  Deen longs for acceptance and safety with other people like himself — but when is life ever that easy? His special ability brings him to the attention of crooked construction boss Richard Ratchett, and puts him in danger from the world of organized crime. Can Deen find a way to escape an evil people-trafficking network? And if he does, is accepting Sir Michael’s friendship really the salvation that he thinks it is?

Does Deen’s story carry on from the events of Class Heroes 5?

Yes it does. Without giving away any spoilers for those who haven’t yet read Class Heroes 5, this is the continuing story of the characters from the Class Heroes novels that began back with book 1, A Class Apart. Sir Michael’s desire to find and unite people with powers, wherever they might be in the world, has just been stepped up a gear. Deen is drawn to Sir Michael by his charisma, and promises of acceptance, family, and a meaning to life.

Do I need to have read books 1-5 to read book 6.

No. It works as a standalone story — but it wouldn’t hurt to give them a go

Are Samantha, James, and Lolly in it?

Not saying!

Can I read a bit, just to see if I might like it.

Of course you can! You’re a valued reader. You came to this page because you’re either a loyal fan, or you were mildly interested in this book. Either way, the least I can do is let you read the prologue.

Class Heroes 6: Jesus of the North, opening chapter  — The Prologue

My name is Deenpal Mander. You can call me Deen. 

I think I was an accident. Looking back on my early childhood, reading between the lines, yeah, no doubt about it, I was an accident. It took me until I was 15 — I’m 17 now — to realise that. 

Not that I had a bad childhood or my parents didn’t love me. They were the best. But Mum and Dad were career soldiers in the British Army — captains and doctors, both of them — and having a baby doesn’t make much sense when you want to spend your life on the front lines, right? 

Mum and Dad both died when I was eight. So Auntie Chuni, my Dad’s sister, looked after me. She was a wonderful, amazing woman who loved me every bit as much as a mum could. And then she died too. 

Sorry to start my story on such a bum note. But you see, it’s left me wondering why bad things happen to good people, and at the same time, why so many bad people go through life enjoying themselves and not suffering any consequences.

Doesn’t it all just prove that life — this world we live in — is governed purely by chance?

Like what you’ve just read? I hope so. Deen has a very exciting, roller-coaster of a story to tell.

Would you like to be a reviewer?

Can you write engaging, insightful, maybe even funny reviews?

I love a review. I love it when the review is as entertaining (or more so) than the original work. I love reading other peoples insights, understanding, and unique take on a work that I’m interested in.

For authors, there’s nothing more gratifying and rewarding than getting reviews on our books. Well… good reviews that is. No sane reviewer craves a bad review, but that just goes with the territory. But… if you’re intrigued by the prologue to this book, if you want to find out what happens to Deen…. and you fancy yourself as a bit of a critic…. then please do contact me using this website’s contact form. I will happily send you an ebook copy of Jesus of the North and will look forward to reading your review on Amazon. 

 

 

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Jesus of the North

Class Heroes Book 6

Deenpal Mander arrives in Manchester (UK), to attend some very special X-Factor-style auditions, which have been organised by Sir Michael Rosewood to try and find people with super powers.  His special ability brings him to the attention of crooked construction boss Richard Ratchett, and puts him in danger from the world of organized crime. Can Deen find a way to escape an evil people-trafficking network? And if he does, is accepting Sir Michael’s friendship really the salvation that he thinks it is?

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Hearts and Minds

Class Heroes Book 5

The Class Heroes adventures continue, and Lolly Rosewood is as deadly as ever. Lolly’s father, Sir Michael, takes them on a mission to Montana to track down a kidnapped girl — Erica Barrington — who he believes has superpowers. Can Lolly find the girl before a group of ex-Marines? And can she trust her father’s motives for finding Erica?

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Book Review: Paul Darrow, You’re Him Aren’t You?

You’re Him, Aren’t You?: An Autobiography by Paul Darrow

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Well now, I really rather enjoyed that.

Paul Darrow. What a great guy. I could listen to his stories forever. And I probably will. If you’re reading this review, you’re probably a Blake’s 7 fan. Like me, you might have wondered why you hadn’t read/listened to this book before, given it was published in 2006.

I’m just glad I read it now. I’m only sad I can’t write to the author and tell him how much of an influence he/Avon (they’re kind of indistinguishable in my mind) was on my childhood and – if I care to admit it – my adulthood too.

In his charming, silky, ever listenable, conversational style, Paul recounts his early life, his induction into acting, his many theatre and TV roles, and of course Blake 7.

There are some actors who come across as almost embarrassed by some of their most famous roles. Paul Darrow is one of those people who knows what the public want, and likes to please them. There’s no shortage of B7 anecdotes, Paul’s wider relationship with the series, his friendship with Terry nation, and his praise for fellow actors. It’s all told with good humour, wit and fun. It’s a shame he never did a volume two.

There’s not many characters who have such enduring popularity as Avon, and Paul is rightly proud (and yet also modest) about his work. I finished the book feeling like I’d just lost a dear friend. Silly, I know, but there it is.

Probably there isn’t a lot here for the non-Blake’s 7 fan, unless you just like listening to the memoirs of a kind and popular actor. In which case, you won’t be disappointed.
I’d definitely recommend the audiobook over the written word. Like Orac, it’s worth every penny.




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Book Review: Is There Life Outside the Box? (An Actor Despairs), by Peter Davison

Is There Life Outside the Box?: An Actor Despairs by Peter Davison

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Peter Davison is absolutely splendid

To anyone other than a Doctor Who fan, the title of the review is going to sound a bit poncey. But I’m betting the majority of people interested in this book are Who fans, eager to hear the life story of one of their favourite Doctors.

I really enjoyed Peter’s autobiography. It was my first Lockdown Listen (the first of many). The book covers Peter’s whole life, and a fair bit of his prior family history, too. I have to be honest, this is the bit I always struggle with in any autobiography. If the subject has a fairly average childhood, ie they go to school, they’re mostly happy, nothing horrendous happens, and their parents are kind of OK (give or take a war) then I’m pleased for them, but it isn’t always the most fascinating story.

For me, Peter’s autobiography gets going about the time he joins drama school. I like hearing about how famous people ‘made it’: How and when they get their breaks; the kind of knock-backs they get; and the type of life they have to lead in order to create opportunities for themselves. Peter lays it all out in his usual humorous, self-deprecating style.

He tells us about his early career breaks, the rise to fame as Tristan in All Creatures, and provides lots of great anecdotes about his time on the show. I love listening to actors. I find what they do totally amazing, and I can (and indeed, now do) listen for hours to their stories of working in the profession.

I particularly enjoyed the parts relating to Peter’s time as the Doctor. Sadly it seemed all too brief (as did his tenure, which was a formative part of my childhood), but his subsequent ‘wilderness years’ and his ability to come back from that is absorbing and entertaining. He was always too good an actor to just disappear forever in a dry patch. His talent and simple likeability guaranteed his return to mainstream acting parts, thank goodness.

I loved listening to this book. I’m a runner, but my mojo had slipped a bit, so I needed a way back into enjoying running again without the pressure to hit PBs every time I went out. I’d already downloaded this book, and it had been sitting in my library unlistened because I never seemed to have the time. The answer to both problems was simple: listen to my book while running. Yes it was lockdown, but I got out for my hour’s exercise most days and listened to Peter’s story. When it was over I felt like I’d lost a friend.

The only negative of the book is that it isn’t read by Peter himself. It’s a big shame, but the narrator does a good job, and in my memory it feels like I did hear the story from Peter himself. Actors are clever like that.



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Author Interview on the ManyBooks.net website

The Many Books website has done an interview with me, discussing the Class Heroes books in general and a free book promotion that is running on book 4, London Belongs to the Alchemist, from 15 to 19 May 2020.

Here’s a link to the full interview. 

https://manybooks.net/featured-authors/stephen-henning-developing-superpowers

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It’s the Superhero Novel you’ve been waiting for

You’ve been waiting for something like five years, if we’re putting dates on it. Here it is, Class Heroes book 5 Hearts and Minds, the new superhero / young adult / fantasy / science fiction / [make up your own genre] novel. And this time, it’s not just written by me. I have a new co-author!

First let me say, it’s wonderful to have a book published again after all this time, and what better way to celebrate than by having a delicious cake?

Yes, that rather large book is in fact a rather large cake, and yes it does taste as nice as it looks. It was kindly made for me by cake-making genius Di Cleaver. Thank you Di, you’re amazing.

Next, let me tell you what the book is all about. I’ll just say, the actual book is not as big as the cake.

Sixteen-year-old Lolly Rosewood, the cold and calculating anti-hero from the Class Heroes series, is back in a new, thrilling and dangerous mission.

Lolly and her father, Sir Michael, are in Montana on the track of a kidnapped girl — Erica Barrington — who they believe has superpowers. But there are other people hunting for the missing girl. Can Lolly and her father find Erica in time?

This is the fifth book in the Class Heroes series. It’s a journey of discovery — and more secrets — for father and daughter. Lolly has always trusted her father implicitly, followed his orders, and shared his goal to reach out to other people with special abilities. This mission to Montana is a new experience for Lolly as she battles to shake off the shackles of being seen as a little girl in her father’s eyes, and establish a new relationship with him as an equal.

Warning: Contains Violence, Death, Sexual References, Dark Humour and some Upper Class British Snobbery