Joseph Delaney

"You can't just be reading books all the time and leave the writting of them to others."

Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher. He has three children and nine grandchildren and is a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events. His home is in the middle of Boggart territory and his village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church.

Most of the places in the Spook's books are based on real places in Lancashire. And the inspiration behind the stories often comes from local ghost stories and legends.

What genres does Joseph Delaney write in?

His work is primarily fantasy with strong supernatural and folklore influences, often featuring ghosts, witches, boggarts and other dark folkloric elements.

What is the best place to start with his most famous series?

Start with The Spook's Apprentice, the first book in the Wardstone Chronicles (also called the Spook's series), and then read the books in their numbered order.

Are the settings and stories based on real places or legends?

Yes. Many locations in the Spook's books are based on real places in Lancashire and the stories draw heavily on local ghost stories and legends.

What other Joseph Delaney series should I try after the Spook books?

Try Arena 13 for a different fantasy storyline. He has other series and titles such as the Starblade Chronicles and Aberrations, which also explore fantasy and supernatural themes.

Does he write companion books or spin-offs for the Spook universe?

Yes. There are companion tales and spin-offs within the Spook universe, including character-focused novellas and themed collections such as Spook's Stories: Witches and standalone tales like I Am Grimalkin and Slither's Tale.