New YA Fantasy adventure book published TODAY

Spikelangelo

Active member
It's an exciting day for me tomorrow. My first children's book, "The Watcher and The Friend", is published by Burton Mayers books. You can get it from Watersones, Amazon and Foyles online, and The Book Corner in Saltburn is stocking copies. The book is set in Runswick Bay, Whitby, The Moors and York, and if you like Harry Potter, Philip Pulman type stuff, it will probably be right up your street.
There's a feature on the Rachel Teate show on BBC Radio Tees tonight between 7 and 8, (repeated Saturday morning) and an interview, and it's about to be featured on Teesonline. You can also listen to me reading the first chapter, to give you a flavour, here: Podcast

You can find out a little more about it here: https://www.rjbarron.co.uk/ , where there are links to buy the book, and via the official press release.

It would be great if some of you could give it a go, and if you like it, spread the word. Obviously, if you don't like it, don't say a word..............
 

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Well done, good luck with it. Is it bad luck to say good luck in the literary world? Do you say break a wrist or break a spine or something? Anyway great achievement and knowing it'll be something enjoyed by kids must make it a really motivating experience.
 
Well done, good luck with it. Is it bad luck to say good luck in the literary world? Do you say break a wrist or break a spine or something? Anyway great achievement and knowing it'll be something enjoyed by kids must make it a really motivating experience.
Thanks. I trialled it with some classes of kids and they liked it (after telling me exactly what was wrong with it!), so I'm hopeful, but you never know. I've got my fingers crossed.
 
I loved it - just finished it last night and it is exceptional. You don't need to be a young adult to read even grown ups like me can escape down a tunnel into a parallel world in the past, somewhere beneath the North York Moors edge. A great adventure but also the kids that disappear down those tunnels bring back plenty of food for thought for our modern world.
Loved it. Am writing a review later.
Good luck with the launch.
Big recommendation.
 
I loved it - just finished it last night and it is exceptional. You don't need to be a young adult to read even grown ups like me can escape down a tunnel into a parallel world in the past, somewhere beneath the North York Moors edge. A great adventure but also the kids that disappear down those tunnels bring back plenty of food for thought for our modern world.
Loved it. Am writing a review later.
Good luck with the launch.
Big recommendation.
Thanks Rob. I've always thought you were a man of taste and discernment. Seriously, I'm very pleased you enjoyed it.
 
Kindle edition only £3.99. Or read for free of you have kindle unlimited.
Spent many a happy Sunday in Runswick Bay Castleton Danby Lealholm Egton when I was a nipper.I'll give it a go.
 
Here is my review for "The Watcher and The Friend"

Thirteen year old Thomas Trelawney is on holiday from London in scenic Runswick Bay. His parents hope the sea air and the visit of his cousin Dan will help him come to terms with his first Christmas following the sudden death of his older sister Grace. Yet little do his parents realise that Tom is not withdrawing into himself but instead into a parallel world of Georgian Yngerlande.

A cracking fantasy adventure for Young Adults by Boro fan and fmttm poster, R J Barron. Rob's first foray into children's fiction and he sets this adventure along the rugged North Yorkshire coast.


Teenage Tom is plunged head long into an important quest to help protect a world of tolerance and diversity that is under threat. There are surely plenty of lessons that chime for our 21st century world as well.

In his time of need Tom finds he is very much needed by The Watcher, a benevolent parish reverend organising a Georgian resistance to those that want to roll back the clock. That clock is ticking but the wild beasts Tom hears roaming the moors are clues that this is not merely time travelling through Georgian England but he has found a portal to a more magical Georgian Yngerlande.

This is a book for children and young adults that can be borrowed and devoured by adults also. Everyone is going to enjoy exploring the scenic North York Moors and especially the former fishing and smuggling village of Runswick Bay.

A magical mystery adventure that is a first children's book by former teacher Rob Barron. Hopefully it is the first of many. I couldn't put it down. I felt myself drawn into the world Rob has so eloquently penned. His love for Runswick, comes across so strongly. Clinging to the wild and rugged coast and maybe only just clinging to our own century.

Like young Thomas you will find yourself hankering to escape into Yngerlande. And like Thomas you will need to be on your toes because there are surprises around every corner and every page turn.

A friend in need is a friend indeed and a must read.
 
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