Brimstone (Earth, Air, Fire and Water , #1)

Brimstone was first published in 2010, in paperback and ebook, by the author under the imprint Sibling Press.

The book has been well-received by both critics and readers, with the Herald on Sunday calling it "... perfect for the young adult audience for which it was written" and Evie Wool......more

Brimstone was first published in 2010, in paperback and ebook, by the author under the imprint Sibling Press.

The book has been well-received by both critics and readers, with the Herald on Sunday calling it "... perfect for the young adult audience for which it was written" and Evie Woolmore of Allonym Books and Awesome Indies writing that Brimstone is "A wonderfully well-imagined novel... a delightful read."

Brimstone is fantasy only in the way all fiction is fantasy. It isn't a book about witches, wizards and warlocks; there are no elves, ogres or trolls; there is no magic, except the magic of storytelling and the magic of finding a main character who is intelligent, resilient, feisty and brave and who experiences for herself a more personal magic: the magic of discovering what she truly is.

But Brimstone is, first and foremost, a great adventure and action story, with an array of memorable characters, both heroes and villains.

If you have read this description, I hope you are interested enough to read Jenny's tale. And having done that, I hope you are sufficiently taken with her story to discuss it with me and the others in this reading community.

Now, a short taste of what you'll find in Brimstone:

At the age of 14, Jenny Swift is torn from her home deep in the forest to become apprenticed to the master alchemist Richard Antrobus. Jenny's mother was a healer from the East who has taught her well and from whom she inherits her exotic looks. But this difference means that she faces suspicion and distrust as she is drawn into a plot to throw the world into chaos. Not only does Jenny have to fight to stay alive amid the treachery and intrigue that surrounds the court of the Duke, but she finds her friendships and loyalties tested to the full. Forced to seek the key to the greatest secrets of the alchemists, Jenny discovers the power that lies within her - skills which could make her the greatest alchemist of any age.(less)

Writing and theatre have always been my great passions and I have been fortunate to have been able to keep both in my life - despite the many distractions that have led me astray over the years. So often we put aside those things most important to us while we attend to the ordinary demands of life, ......more

Writing and theatre have always been my great passions and I have been fortunate to have been able to keep both in my life - despite the many distractions that have led me astray over the years. So often we put aside those things most important to us while we attend to the ordinary demands of life, until one day we stumble across that neglected part of ourself and wonder how we came to neglect it for so long. All of us should remember that if something is worth dreaming about, it is worth acting on.

My first completed play, Daisy Chain (co-written with my daughter, Eryn) was produced in Melbourne in 2010. Before that, I had written Blue Fire and Ice and Furnaces of Forge, young fantasy novels that introduced readers to a unique and magical p

Writing and theatre have always been my great passions and I have been fortunate to have been able to keep both in my life - despite the many distractions that have led me astray over the years. So often we put aside those things most important to us while we attend to the ordinary demands of life, until one day we stumble across that neglected part of ourself and wonder how we came to neglect it for so long. All of us should remember that if something is worth dreaming about, it is worth acting on.

My first completed play, Daisy Chain (co-written with my daughter, Eryn) was produced in Melbourne in 2010. Before that, I had written Blue Fire and Ice and Furnaces of Forge, young fantasy novels that introduced readers to a unique and magical place simply called The Land, with its assortment of delightful and special characters and the adventures that befall them.

After that came Brimstone, the first in the four-book series, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Its sequel, Hourglass is nearing completion. I am also completing a literary historical romp called Master Quickly. Oh, and I mustn't forget a children's picture storybook titled Buckle and the Pirate, with illustrations by the wonderful artist Serena Riglietti, who (among a great many other achievements) was the illustrator of the Italian edition of the Harry Potter books. Rather than release Buckle and the Pirate as a traditional book, I am planning to develop it into an interactive book app. Last, but not least, I have also done some freelance work, including an article for the Guardian books section.

Earning enough from my writing to keep body and soul well-nourished is a fine ambition. But, like many an author, simply being read beats everything else.

Everything worthwhile about an author is to be found within the pages of an author's books. But, for those who like a dash of trivia with their dose of literature, I can tell you that I was born in Boston. In 1964, my six siblings and I migrated to Australia - by coincidence, at exactly the same time as his parebts did the same. In 1991, I moved (without siblings or parents) back to Boston for a year, then to London (my spiritual and preferred home) where I established a consultancy in the City, offering advice to firms such as Barings, Legal and General, Lotus Corporation and Lloyds of London. There I stayed until that milestone year, 2000, when an offer from Credit Suisse drew me to Switzerland. From 2000-2005 I lived and worked in Zurich, and then again from 2008-2010, before returning to Melbourne to spend time with my family.

Rights to my book have been sold to Spain, Brazil and Vietnam. (less)