I used to live in Manchester and would go out and explore the setting of Alderly Edge as a regular fair weather day out. Once went down one of the mines with a bunch of fellow "gamer's"... Oh how we laughed when we remembered that in D&D games you take swords and other weapons plus other kit down these sort of places.... No way, absolutely no way you can do it!
I am also a fan of the Green Knowe series of L.M. Boston, great favourites when I was younger and not to badly dated even now.
I'm loving the way you intersperse your own stories with recommendations and tales from other sources. Agree totally about the atmosphere in The Dark is Rising. I'm rediscovering Penelope Lively's supernatural writings for children at the moment. And perhaps Leon Garfield's The Ghost Downstairs would interest readers here - an eerie ghost story set in the Edwardian era.
Thanks Lynden - just a mention of Penelope Lively and Leon Garfield take me right back to primary school and Puffin Club. Both definitely writers who might appeal (and I have a paperback of The Ghost of Thomas Kempe waiting for me to read it.
Hi David - yes, both very much favourites, although the parts of Weirdstone where they're squeezing through the narrow passages make me feel ill! Am a bit fan of Garner.
I used to live in Manchester and would go out and explore the setting of Alderly Edge as a regular fair weather day out. Once went down one of the mines with a bunch of fellow "gamer's"... Oh how we laughed when we remembered that in D&D games you take swords and other weapons plus other kit down these sort of places.... No way, absolutely no way you can do it!
I am also a fan of the Green Knowe series of L.M. Boston, great favourites when I was younger and not to badly dated even now.
The Green Knowe stories are on my re-read list. Brave man exploring the mines on the Edge...
Young and foolish!
I'm loving the way you intersperse your own stories with recommendations and tales from other sources. Agree totally about the atmosphere in The Dark is Rising. I'm rediscovering Penelope Lively's supernatural writings for children at the moment. And perhaps Leon Garfield's The Ghost Downstairs would interest readers here - an eerie ghost story set in the Edwardian era.
Thanks Lynden - just a mention of Penelope Lively and Leon Garfield take me right back to primary school and Puffin Club. Both definitely writers who might appeal (and I have a paperback of The Ghost of Thomas Kempe waiting for me to read it.
Me too! Both fabulous writers. Yes, Puffin Club - they had an upper age limit for membership and I was gutted when I reached it!
Same!
Looking at your reading list, Have you read the "Weirdstone of Brisingamen" or "the Moon of Gomrath" by Allan Garner?
Hi David - yes, both very much favourites, although the parts of Weirdstone where they're squeezing through the narrow passages make me feel ill! Am a bit fan of Garner.