Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch

Published by Puffin, November 2023

Is there a series that you have have loved so much that you have read the books many, many times over the years? One that’s a comfort to you whenever you need it? One with characters you can identify with and and are sure you’d get on with like a house on fire (There may be no survivors)? Imagine if, one day, someone asked you to fully immerse yourself in that world and write a book around your favourite characters, channelling their words and wisdom, drawing from their greatest adventures, and speaking in their voices. Not only that, but you get to write it with your closest friend and confidant, finishing each other’s jokes, sharing laughter and the good kind of tears along the way. Sounds like an impossible dream? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me!

Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch is an in-world guide to all aspects of witchcraft on the Disc. Told in the voice of Tiffany Aching herself as she shares the words and wisdom of the witches who have taught and inspired her over the years. We imagine the book to have been started in the early days of Tiffany’s career after finishing her training, and completed some time after the events of Shepherd’s Crown. Therefore, you can expect to see some of your favourite witches chipping in and having their say, even those who are usually adamant that you can’t learn witchin’ from books.

The book is a wonder to behold, beautifully designed by Alex Stott and lushly illustrated by Paul Kidby. I still can’t believe that my name is on a Discworld book, one which is now sitting on my shelves with the series that shaped me as a writer. I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed writing it.

Rani Reports

Published by Rock the Boat, an imprint of Oneworld

Rani Reports is a brand new series from Rock the Boat aimed at readers 7+. It is a collaboration between myself and my husband, Satish Shewhorak, and follows 10 year old aspiring journalist, Rani Ramgoolam, on her adventures with her rambunctious Mauritian Grandma, and cheeky parrot, Cookie. Like Rani, Satish’s parents are both from Mauritius and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed sharing aspects of his childhood amongst Rani’s adventures – the food, the snippets of Creole language, the Mauritian facts, e.g. did you know that the dodo only ever existed in Mauritius?

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Book One: Rani Reports on the Missing Millions – A Times Children’s Book of the Year 2023

What do a priceless painting, a minotaur, a lighthouse and a glass eye have in common? They’re all part of a treasure trail set by an eccentric millionaire. For 10-year-old aspiring journalist Rani it couldn’t be more perfect. A chance for adventure and also a shot at getting the perfect scoop for a story competition in the local newspaper. Joining forces with her mischievous Nani who is visiting from Mauritius, and her she sets out to get to the bottom of the mystery. But solving the clues isn’t so simple…and neither is outwitting rival wannabe journalist Lexi. Can Rani and Nani crack the clues and avoid a dangerous nemesis determined to take the prize at any cost?

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Knights and Bikes

Published by Knights Of

This is the series where I finally got to combine my love of videogames and game development with my love of writing, AND my experience of growing up in the 80s! Knights and Bikes is based on the brilliant characters and setting of the video game of the same name by Foam Sword Games. Set on a fictional Cornish island in the 1980’s, Knights and Bikes follows the story of new best friends Demelza and Nessa and their mad-cap, fast paced adventures filled with myths, legends, and BMX stunts.
Soon to be an animated TV series.

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Book One: Knights and Bikes

Welcome to the sleepy island of Penfurzy, where nothing exciting ever really happens. OR DOES IT? Adventure awaits Demelza and her new best friend in the whole world, Nessa, as they hop on their bikes and uncover the mysteries of the Penfurzy Knights. With a honking pet goose sidekick, a legendary treasure to find, and a terrible curse to avoid, it’s up to Nessa and Demelza to solve the puzzles before them, and face down danger with frisbees, water-balloons, toilet plungers and a boom box with an awesome mixtape!
THEIR FRIENDSHIP WILL WARM YOUR HEART. THEIR BRAVERY WILL MAKE THEM LEGENDS.

You can read a sample here!

Longlisted for the Blue Peter Awards 2019.

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Book Two: Rebel Bicycle Club

Adventure awaits Demelza and her best friend in the whole world, Nessa, as they embark on a whole new adventure, solving mysteries, fending off bullies and celebrating the greatest friendship of ALL TIME. When an unexpected guest arrives in Penfurzy, Nessa and Demelza go out of their way to help them, entering a world of ancient myth and legend. Facing ghosts and monsters, and Conan the bully who just keeps getting in the way at the worst possible moment. JOIN the brave knights of the Penfruzy Rebel Bicycle Club in an all new stand-alone KNIGHTS AND BIKES adventure packed with laughter, heart, action and award-winning illustrations.

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Book Three: Wheels of Legend

A new mystery has rolled onto Penfurzy island and the Rebel Bicycle Club are ready to investigate! Nessa, Demelza and Captain Honkers set-off to explore a travelling fun-fair when things begin to get strange. With new friends and a new legend to uncover, the best friends do what they do best: hop on their metal steeds and save the day!

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What people are saying about Knights and Bikes:

“Knights and Bikes is thrill a minute and laugh a second. Inspirational reading for monster hunters with heart. Rollicks along at a furious pace with characters who are at once familiar and original. Gabrielle Kent has created the fantasy world we have been waiting for.” – EOIN COLFER

“A wonderfully heartwarming tale mixed with a delightfully funny dose of 80s nostalgia” – RHIANNA PRATCHETT

Knights and Bikes is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure mixing together myth and magic, ghosts and curses, and starring two brilliant main characters. Demelza and Nessa show vivid imaginations, perseverance and determination, getting themselves into all sorts of perilous situations – and out again. Ancient cairns, three-headed dogs, strange mists, living armour… let the treasure hunt commence!  BOOKTRUST Review

“So I finished Knights and Bikes last night and it is EXCELLENT. I felt like I was in a mixture of Sonic the Hedgehog and Candleshoe. The story made me laugh and I wanted to be friends with the heroines.” – Charlotte Eyre, THE BOOKSELLER

“off to a fantastic start with the hugely entertaining Knights and Bikes by Gabrielle Kent. When her family’s home is threatened, nine-year-old Demelza and her charismatic new best friend Nessa go on a quest to find the famous – and cursed – Treasure of the Penfurzy Knights. But both danger and magic await. Filled with delightful illustrations by Rex Crowle and Luke Newell, Knights and Bikes is both exciting and very funny- and if you know a reluctant reader who might need an extra incentive to pick up a book, there’s also a tie-in video game (which I genuinely want to try now)” THE IRISH TIMES Standout Titles of the Year Link

“As anticipated, this is a romping energetic adventure story on bikes that explores the wonders of friendship, with a quest to solve, and mentions of water balloons, frisbees and much more. A bit wacky, highly illustrated, and with a computer game to follow, this should be a well-thumbed mystery.” – MINERVAREADS blog.

TOPSTA Teacher, parent and child reviews LINK

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Alfie Bloom

Published by Scholastic

Alfie Bloom was my very first series and one which I still hold a lot of love for and hope to return to some day. It follows the story of a boy who inherits a castle and discovers that he has an ancient magic hidden inside him. A magic which others seek, but is very dangerous to use. Across the series of books, Alfie and his family and friends must protect his inheritance from dangerous forces. Fortunately, Orin Hopcraft the last of the great druids, Caspian Bone the shapeshifting solicitor, and Artan the flying bearskin rug are around to lend a hand!

The Alfie Bloom series has been translated and published in: The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, The Czech Republic, Turkey and the USA.

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Alfie Bloom and the Secrets of Hexbridge Castle

Alfie Bloom’s life is dull and lonely, until the day he meets the mysterious Caspian Bone and learns of his incredible fortune. Alfie is heir to a castle full of wonders that has been sealed for centuries. And so begins a life beyond his wildest dreams. But deep below the castle lies its darkest secret, one that Alfie must protect at all costs, or risk losing everything.

Read an extract or Buy the book

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Alfie Bloom and the Talisman Thief

Alfie Bloom’s new life has come with new dangers. When Ashford the butler is kidnapped in the middle of the night and the castle comes under siege from a terrifying magical enemy, it’s up to to Alfie to defend it.

Trapped inside with only his twin cousins and best friend Amy, Alfie knows he must take on the intruders and defend his inheritance. Because if he doesn’t, the world will never be the same.

Read an extract or Buy the book

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Alfie Bloom and the Witch of Demon Rock

When Alfie Bloom travels back to the 1400’s to begin his training with Orin Hopcraft, last of the great druids, he begins to understand the true power and dark lure of the magic that he guards. When those around him begin to fall victim to a creature of shadows, Alfie must undertake a quest to find the one person who can help them – the witch of Demon Rock.

Buy the book

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What people are saying about Alfie Bloom:

“Apart from being a damn fine storyteller, Gabrielle Kent is obviously a fellow lover of children’s literature as Alfie Bloom contains elements that in some ways almost make it read as a homage to the great children’s writers and books of the past, in the best possible way.”

“Middle grade fantasy adventure at its very best, and I can’t wait to read the sequel.”– THE BOOK ZONE 4 BOYS Full review

“A cracking read for anyone who loves a magical adventure.” – THE SUNDAY EXPRESS
 
“With elements of Blyton, Dahl and Nesbit in the mix, a thoroughly likeable and decent protagonist, a well-realised and enticing world, and a satisfying, meaty story with the sense of more to come, this series should get a lot of kids happily hooked, and agog for the second to appear.” – Imogen Russell Williams Book of the Week, MIDDLE GRADE STRIKES BACK Full review

“This is the kind of book that will appeal to Potter heads, but also to a wider audience who want a fantasy fix without the surrounding hype.” – Francesca Del Mese, ARMADILLO MAGAZINE

“This book has a little of everything, time-travel, magic, mystery and an enigmatic butler! It is a satisfying story of good versus evil and little verses big that will resonate with young readers. The characters are affable and adventurous and the well-paced story-telling will keep you hooked to the end.” – BOOKTRUST Full Review

“I read the Prologue very quickly and thought it was BRILLIANT! So much so I actually exclaimed ‘Brilliant’ out loud. Luckily no one was around to hear me…” – Sue Chambers, Finchley Road WATERSTONES

Awards