Egmont New Titles

The menu is self-explanatory - try it and see for yourselves. The magazine is arranged into three main sections, REVIEWS, FEATURE ARTICLES and STORIES, and NEW & COMING SOON TITLES. The latter section is a little like a bookshop where you can browse what's new for this month, but it is arranged by Publisher, as this is the easiest way for me to do it. Let me knowwhat you think...

If you were lucky, and you're a dad, you might have received a copy of this fantastic book on Father's Day! Neil Oliver, the historian from the smash BBC series COAST, retells the stories that inspired us to be better men during the last century. He laments... more

Amanda Greenslade is a fantasy writer, like me (except she's young enough to be my granddaughter, and therefore has time on her side!). Her ASTOR CHRONICLES look fantastic, and I hope it won't be long before she finds a publisher. In the meantime, there's an interview with Amanda in this issue, together with information on TALON, the first book in the series.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG's latest book, THE SUMMONING, is so good I had to give it joint book of the month in the fantasy section; Kelley never lets you down, and this is a terrific read, chilling and entertaining at the same time - don't miss it!

And don't forget to let me know what you think of this issue of BOOKS MONTHLY ~ you can e-mail me at editor@booksmonthly.co.uk

Last weekend the fourth INDIANA JONES movie smashed box office records with takings estimated to be in excess of Ł148m - there are lots more great new Indy books reviewed in this issue, see the Feature Articles and Stories menu above

All of the titles listed or reviewed in Books Monthly are available from the store. Click on the Amazon logo to check availability as many are not yet published.

JULIA GOLDING: EMPTY QUARTER ~ Expats, espionage and exotic destinations. "Empty Quarter" is gripping - you won't be able to put it down.Darcie's stuck aboard a cruise ship for problem rich kids. It sounds exotic but it's more like boot camp. And, annoyingly the US President's daughter with her reputation for being out-of-control is there too.Things are about to get interesting though...Darcie becomes embroiled in a kidnapping plot that will take her from Naples, via Cyprus, to Egypt and on a terrifying journey through the desert empty quarter.It is an adventure-thriller starring Darcie Lock.

MICHELLE MAGORIAN: JUST HENRY ~ From the award-winning author of "Goodnight Mister Tom" comes "Just Henry": a gripping mystery-thriller and an insightful snapshot of time, set in post-war Britain. It's 1949 and life is bleak for Henry. He misses his father who died a war hero, and he escapes from his annoying stepfather and stepsister whenever he can and goes to the cinema - his passion.One day in the cinema queue he meets Mrs Beaumont who also loves films, and lends Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate; but he's about to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas.Henry will need his new friends when he processes the film and makes an alarming discovery.Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel.

VIVIAN FRENCH: SINGING TO THE SUN ~ Eight beguiling stories in the fairy-tale tradition by a leading story teller. Discover how a tabby cat and a court jester help a young lord to choose between power, riches and love. Read about the small thistle who, alone among all the beautiful flowers of the garden, has the wisdom and courage to help a childless king and queen. Follow the contrasting fortunes of the Little Beekeeper and her rude and foolish older brothers. Take a fantastical quest to the other side of Nowhere...Thoughtful and beguiling, these eight original stories in the fairy tale tradition have the resonance of much-loved classics, confirming Vivian French as one of the most imaginative and gifted storytellers of our times.

Kitty is fed up with being a cat and thinks that dogs have a far better time of it. They have much more fun, with all their playing, howling, barking and chasing robbers. They can even become film stars, for goodness sake. But of course, there is a downside to being a dog too. Being put on a lead can't be much fun. And chewing on old bones is a bit sad. And of course, they always have to do as they are told. Whereas cats get to catch mice and prowl like tigers and climb trees and come and go as they please--so maybe being a cat isn't so bad after all? Lydia Monks' highly original fable, I Wish I Were A Dog, reeking of envy and packed to the brim with exploding, vibrant in-your-face colour illustrations, is an absolute hoot. From the moment Kitty--the whiney, grumpy ginger cat dissatisfied with his lot--starts his whinging, to the moment he realises that a dog's lot is not always a happy one, this charming tale springs to life and is guaranteed to have readers, whatever age they may be, howling with laughter and dogs across the land wishing they were cats. A must-have picture book for children under 5 --Susan Harrison

JULIA DONALDSON: NIGHT MONKEY DAY MONKEY ~ Donaldson's text and Richards' artwork work stunningly together to create this charming story. Written with the rhythmic flair we have come to know and love in the award-winning Gruffalo, Night Monkey, Day Monkey tells of the enchanting two monkeys and how they come to learn about each other's opposite worlds. This is a beautiful book, not to be missed.

WHO ARE YOU, STRIPY HORSE? Read and sing along to this story of discovery and friendship. In the tick-tock quiet, a shaft of moonlight tickles the nose of something sleeping. It's a stuffed, stripy horse. He twitches. Then a dusty sneeze echoes round the room. He's awake. So begins this charming story, all about a forgotten toy who can't remember his name. He is befriended by Muriel (a hummingbird who flutters off the pattern on a lamp), Hermann (a daft draught excluder), and Roly and Pitch (penguin-shaped salt and pepper shakers), and embarks on an adventure to meet Ming, a wise and ancient Chinese vase cat, who is the only person in the shop who might be able to tell him who he is. Thrills, spills, and some seriously silly situations await him on his adventure.

THE OWL WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK ~ Plop is a baby owl. Perfect in every way - except for one. He's afraid of the dark. But he soon discovers, through a variety of new friends, that dark can be fun and exciting and magical.

Books Monthly (formerly Gateway Monthly) is published by Paul Edmund Norman on the first day of each month. You can contact me via e-mail at: editor@booksmonthly.co.uk . If you'd like to get a story published in Books Monthly just e-mail it to me and I'll consider it - no payment though, I'm afraid!