FREE books

This offer has closed.

Inspired by all the writers and artists who are going the extra mile to help relieve kids' boredom while off school during this Coronavirus crisis, I want to do my bit. So, I'm giving away a signed and personalised Codecracker books for FREE to any interested party. All I ask, is that you pay the postage (Ireland: €2.50, Rest of World €4.50). Please pay the postage via Paypal to kieranfanning(at)hotmail.com. Please replace the (at) in the email address with @. While making the Paypal transaction, add a note with the name of the person you'd like the book signed to, and the name and postal address of the person it is to be posted to. Only one book per household.

The Codecrackers books are interactive puzzle adventures where the reader must solve puzzles to continue the story. Have a closer look at the books here, and try out some sample puzzles.

Offer ends April 30 2020.

My 5 star reads of 2019

On the Trail of Ded Moroz

Here is a Christmas story from STARLIGHT 4, published by Folens.

Pirate Racers

I designed a board game for kids. What do you think?

My 5 Star Reads of 2018

 
 
 
 

Clementine Crystal

As part of the #BookPenPals scheme, I'm writing a story with Year 6 of Mab Lane Primary School in Liverpool. They came up with a story idea, and then I started writing it. Click here to see the opening paragraphs. The students will then write the next part of the story and send it back to me. We shall continue like this until we reach the end. Keep checking back to see progress!

Review of THE CLOAK OF FEATHERS by Nigel Quinlan

What a joyful read this was. A celebration of all things Irish, steeped in the traditions of Irish myth

and legend, and written in the lyrical style that these stories were told (both in Irish and English). Like the action of the plot, the sentences tumble over each other, ramble and race, and only stop to take a breath at the end of each chapter. The writing is wonderfully descriptive, and the page detailing the arrival of the Fair-- Oops, I nearly said the word. Ahem. The page detailing the arrival of the GOOD FOLK is one of the best I've read anywhere. 

But most of all, this was fun - hilarious fun. From ghost pigs, banshees on bicycles and an epic hurling match between the residents of Knockmealldown and creatures from the Otherworld, every page will have you laughing out loud. LOLLING, isn't that what the youngsters say? But there are no LOLs here - just old-fashioned sniggers, smiles and belly-laughs. Though it's set in modern times, the story harks back to a more innocent Ireland, the one we all grew up in, the one before smartphones and internet and LOLs. And for this reader, at least, I welcomed this with open arms.

Quinlan is carving out a unique brand in modern Irish children's literature by resurrecting the Ireland of myth and magic, and lacing it with his own quirky sense of humour. He is a modern seanchaí, and is doing, as far as I can tell, something nobody else is doing. Eddie Lenihan would be proud!

I liked THE MALONEY'S MAGICAL WEATHERBOX but I loved this. It felt like a more structured piece with tighter plotting.

5 stars! And I don't give them out often.