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Hi, welcome to my website which has details of my Heart of the World YA novels including background info and extras. Thanks for visiting. Plus other books as well. Twitter: @JohnConnors100 Instagram: johnconnors100
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October 2023
Heart of the World Book Six
The Lonely Sea
The Monster's Tale
Strange things are happening in the small seaside town of Malford Bay. A glowing gold box that teenager Alfie Speed finds is the only clue to a terrible event that happened forty years ago but has been erased from history. Alfie and his friends find themselves on the run from goat faced creatures and mysterious human agents who all want the box but for different reasons. Alfie has to work out who the real monsters are and save the world before it is too late in this fast moving sci-fi - fantasy-espionage -adventure!
Available from August 2022
Kindle or Print versions available here
Dark Nature
The fifth Heart of the World novel
Deep inside the mountain known as Devil’s Peak, a group of misfit scientists’ amazing plan to solve ecological problems is threatened by an elemental menace with dangerously different ideas. As Tom Allenby tries to stop this new threat to mankind, he faces the most serious peril of his fifteen year old life. Things will never be the same again. In his toughest, most personal adventure yet can Tom save the world and those closest to him? Or will humanity fall to the storm of the century?
Available May 2021 from Amazon
Blue Sky Black
The fourth Heart of the World novel.
When Tom Allenby, the 14 year old boy who can control the elements, sees metal objects and cars rising into the air one night he knows he is facing a powerful enemy. The trail leads to stolen magnetic stones, sinister experiments in an old country house, and a village hiding a secret. As each of his friends faces challenges of their own, can Tom fight a force which knows all about them? Somehow they must overcome what divides to stop the world being plunged into crisis.
Available August 2018 from Amazon
Paperback or Kindle version available here
The Spectres of Winter
In the thrilling third adventure Tom Allenby faces a double threat. In the depths of a freezing winter, Harrow Hill school is overrun by a force which can control ice. Meanwhile a super evolved subterranean group emerge with a plan that threatens the whole world. Trapped and isolated can Tom and his friends overcome the dangers in time? Or will the Spectres of Winter win?
This is the third novel in the Heart of the World series set in the village of Rooksbourne where the world’s natural energy is stored. Using an ancient rock called the Earthstone, Tom Allenby can control the elements but has much to learn as he takes on powerful figures who have their own powers.
Kindle Version @£1.64 or free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers
Living Things
Deep in Rooksbourne Woods an ancient power threatens humanity.
Thirteen year old Tom Allenby is an ordinary boy who has been given an extraordinary gift that enables him to control the elements.
In his second incredible adventure he and his friends face a new danger.
Is the girl in his class who seems to have similar power a friend or foe?
What has happened to all the wildlife in the woods?
Who is the mysterious figure in a cloak made of leaves?
What is causing pupils at School to become violent?
Tom faces danger at every turn as he struggles to save the world.
Available to buy in print or e-book formats from Amazon - just choose one of these links-
Elemental
Thirteen year old Tom Allenby is plunged into the adventure of a lifetime when he moves to the village of Rooksbourne where nothing is what it seems. With the help of new friends and a mysterious stone that gives him new powers Tom battles deadly over-sized animals, plants and birds as he races to stop a plan that threatens the whole world.
Mixing fantasy, mystery and myth Elemental is the exciting first book in the Heart of the World series!
Available to buy in both paper and digital edition from Amazon!
About Me
I was born and live in Liverpool in the UK, home of The Beatles and two football clubs. Though my first novel was published in 2014, the ideas go back a decade before that. Many moons ago I wrote stories at school even winning a prize for one about a lion but for some reason I'd stopped afterwards. Then in about 2000, inspired by the success of the Harry Potter and His Dark Materials books, I decided to have another go. Not that I wanted to copy those stories, just that I aimed to create something designed for children and young adults but which adults of any age might enjoy. Like many part time authors I've got a stack of rejection letters from literary agents for early versions of `Elemental` but then self publishing online became a Thing. So I decided to do just that.
I’ve always liked fantasy stories that have a strong basis in real things. If you start with something that people can believe could be happening right now and then develop the idea to make more unusual things happen readers will go with it. I also wanted to re-create the sort of excitement you get from watching tv shows where things move really quickly. The books avoid magic – all of the creatures and powers are developed from things that actually exist in real life.
The fact that all the Heart of the World novels were fully plotted out before I published the first one means that though each novel is self contained they are all part of a larger story. The freedom of self publishing means that even if they don't sell zillions of copies I can put them out there into the public domain though of course that's also the downside. There are so many self published books out there that it can be difficult for any individual one to get attention. Still they are out there indefinitely and I'm hoping a film producer might find them and offer me a fortune for the rights!
I should add that all the novels were done in my spare, spare time! I do have a full time job as well as being a part time carer. Recently (2021) I've started work on a novel unrelated to the Heart of the World series though the latter will continue as there are seven stories in all. That's all I can think to say right now. Happy reading, John
