Fun Reads for Christmas

 The Ghosts of Cockleshore Castle - five fun stories in three books. The stories tell the adventures of 

Septimus Smythe who loses his haunting skills

 Horace, a ghostly sailor, who finds himself on a trip to Majorca

 Edward, the ghostly librarian who sets out to stop some book thieves 

and  Mary and Maisie, the cook and the kitchen maid who solve the mystery of a missing master chef. 

In the final story, Conflict at Cockleshore Castle, all of the ghosts and friends they've made along the way, get together to stop something dreadful happening to the castle.   

Watchman William - Ghost Detective and Watchman William Balloon Trouble are two books each with five stories. William and his sidekick Thomas set out as detectives to solve mysterious crimes that happen in around the village of Little Hardleigh. 

Take a look on Amazon now for special offers of some of my books.

HALLOWE'EN FUN

 Read all about the adventures of 'The Ghosts of Cockleshore Castle' in my five stories in three books.

1.Septimus loses his haunting skills and needs a break from the castle to practise.

2. Horace, the ghostly sailor, finds himself on a cruise to Majorca where he makes a surprising discovery. Edward uses his haunting skills to scare the book thieves away.

3. Mary and Maisie solve the mystery of the missing master chef. All the characters get together in an effort to save the castle. 

Join in with the adventures of  William, the ghost detective, and his sidekick Thomas.

Enjoyed by children aged 7 - 11 years, my books are available at Waterstones and on Amazon.

SEPTIMUS SMYTHE AND THE SPECTRE DETECTORS

' Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectors is the first book telling of the adventures of the Ghosts of Cockleshore Castle. There are two more books that flip over with a story at each end. The five stories are all suitable for children aged 7+.

Septimus Smythe is a ghost with a problem. He is the star attraction at the castle where he haunts, but lately things haven't been going too well for him. He's been getting stuck in walls, reappearing at the wrong time, and removing his head has been getting harder and harder!

The other ghosts decide that Septimus needs a holiday to rest and recover. With the help of his new friend, Jack, Septimus is getting better and better at haunting. But then the spectre detectors arrive and threaten everything...

You can purchase my funny ghost stories at  Waterstones and Amazon.

WATCHMAN WILLIAM Balloon Trouble!

 'Back at the manor...'

William and Thomas are at it again - solving crimes, uncovering mysteries and munching their way through a seemingly endless supply of Ginger Nuts!

What is the true meaning of the secret message?

Who has stashed a locked trunk in the old house and what's inside?

Who is stealing pedigree dogs?

How will they survive their adventure in a runaway balloon?

Can you help William and Thomas with their crazy enquiries? 

WATCHMAN WILLIAM Ghost Detective

 

'I'm William and I'm wearing these clothes because I was a night watchman at the time of Good Queen Bess. I'm a ghost you see!

With his young friend Thomas, and a great detective for inspiration, William sets out to investigate mysterious happenings in and around Hardleigh Manor, all with a little help from his readers..

Can William stop the bicycle thief? Who is causing the sabotage at the Hardleigh Hotel? Floods, false trails, enormous exploding marrows and suspects upended in pig swill - all in a day's work for William!

Loaded with clue summaries, suspect lists and lots of action, readers can pitch in with the detective work and help William and Thomas in their efforts to become great detectives.

More details and how to buy can be found at Waterstones and on Amazon.  

My Books

My books are suitable for children aged 7+. They have been enjoyed by boys and girls up to and including 11 years of age. They are fun ghost stories in two series:
1.

.' Septimus Smythe and the Spectre Detectors'
'Horace and the Stowaway' /Edward and the Book Crooks'           (flip book with two stories)
'Mary, Maisy and the Missing Master Chef' /'Conflict at Cockleshore Castle' (flip book with two stories)

are the books about the adventures of the ghosts at Cockleshore Castle.

2.

The other two books are about a ghost called William and a boy called Thomas.

'Watchman Willian Ghost Detective'

Watchman William Balloon Trouble!'

All of my books are available to buy at Waterstones, both in the stores and online. They are also sold by Amazon and there are some good offers at the moment!

You can read the blurb of all of my books on my website-

                                                                       www.dianashaw.co.uk

Keeping Busy.

It's difficult at the moment, not being able to meet people and chat about my books for children. I miss the bookshops and my friends who work there. It won't be long now before they can open again but I can't see my little events being able to happen for some time!
However, despite a bit of a problem with my eyes at the moment, I'm doing my best to keep in touch.
I have made short videos of me reading from my books  and posted them on Facebook- I hope you have enjoyed listening. My books are available to buy online from Waterstones and Amazon. Once the stores open, you will be able to buy copies at Waterstones stores too. Some independent shops sell them too. There's a lovely little book shop called 'Forget- me -not' in Culcheth, near Warrington. My books are on sale there. Please support local businesses like them -they are certainly going to need your support once they can open again! 
I keep busy writing. I have two new time travel books that I hope might be published. I'm having fun writing my poems about Chloe, Walter and Beau. I read one on Facebook recently. I would love to make them into a book one day. There are six poems so far.
Please take a look at my website and read the blurb of all of my books. www.dianashaw.co.uk
Thank you to all those who have 'liked' my page - 'Diana Shaw's Books for Children.'
I would really appreciate it if you  would share my posts too.
Thanks everyone. Keep safe and well.

Keeping in Touch

It is a while since I posted on my website. The restrictions of the lockdown have affected all our lives in many ways. I so enjoyed visiting bookshops and meeting and chatting with people. Children would tell me about books they enjoyed and talk about their writing. I hope they enjoyed my competitions in Waterstones Stores. I miss my friends, the booksellers ,who always made me so welcome. Let's hope it won't be long before the bookstores can open again. In the meantime I would like to thank people for continuing to buy my books online from Waterstones and  Amazon. If you would like to know more about them, please look on my website where you can read the blurb of all my books.
www.dianashaw.co.uk

I've had a bit of fun lately discovering how to record myself reading from my books and posting the readings on Facebook. Thank you to the people who listen  and make encouraging comments! Another thing I've been doing is writing poems. You will find  me reading one one on Facebook called 'A Close Encounter.' It's about the adventures of my cat called Chloe, a cockerel called Walter and his lady friend, a hen called Beau!  Sounds crazy? It's fun and something a bit different for me. I've written five poems about their adventures so far. 
An online radio station called Chat and Spin did a short interview with me about my books. Maybe you heard it? 
I've written other books too. My latest are time travel stories. It would be great to get them published one day. Thank you to my agent who is trying to do just that.

Look out for more readings from my books and please listen!

One thing I am not happy about is not being able to get my hair cut - it's driving me mad!!!!!!!

Book Signing

I will be at Knutsford Waterstones on Saturday 22nd February. Please call in and say hello.

                                   

                                                  There will be a competition too!





                                                               

Book Signing at Waterstones, Golden Square, Warrington

I am looking forward to visiting Waterstones in Warrington on Saturday, 8th February.
I will be there from 11am until 3pm, signing my books and chatting about writing. Please come along to say hello. There will be a competition too!

Book signing at Waterstone's Birkenhead

I will be signing my books for children at Waterstones in Birkenhead on Saturday  1st February.  I will be there from 11am. Please come along and say hello.