The Master Game is a series of fantasy novels, following Jamie Tuff and her friends as they adventure through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk and Halfhawks fly.
Book One- The Summer Sacrifice is available to buy from all the major Internet retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO,
THE GREAT GODDESS SENT A
STORM TO DESTROY MANKIND.
SHE NEARLY SUCCEEDED.
ONE ISLAND SURVIVED.
These days, the Goddess stops the spread of evil
by sacrificing the Island’s rotten teenage souls.
Or so the story goes…
When Jamie Tuff survives her Taking she thinks her
worst nightmares are behind her. But then her soul
starts wandering into other people’s bodies, and she
discovers that the Island harbours a deadly secret.
Now, Jamie must save her little world from a fate
worse than—well, worse than what the Goddess
has already done to it.
Join Jamie Tuff and friends on their adventures
through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk
and Halfhawks fly.
“Read this book! You is not going to be disappointed, as us
Ticklers is in it, and we is good.”
—Sam O’ Brady, Head Braintickler.
Jamie Tuff
“I just happen to drop into other people’s bodies now and then, but don’t worry, I can’t control it!”
Seveny Brown
“Symbol my arse. That is a dead and stinking bird, attached to a dead and stinking snake!”
George Button
“If I go to Askerwell I’ll be dragged down to hell! Can I take anyone with me?”
Max Lively
“Did you see me smash it? Blake didn’t know what was coming when I wrestled him to the ground!”
Ella Rose Last
“Transparent means being honest, rule-abiding, nice and good. I’m all those things, aren’t I?”
These portraits were created by the cover artist of The Summer Sacrifice, David Revoy. I love how he’s imagined them!
When the story for The Summer Sacrifice was conceived after a trip to Dancing Ledge, it birthed itself on bits of scrap paper and notebooks lined and plain, emerging in the form of quotes and little doodles. Once the idea had taken a basic shape, I tapped it out on my computer and, armed with an ever-growing cast of characters, began writing my first scene.
This was a conversation between Jamie Tuff, Seveny Brown, Ella Rose Last, Max Lively and George Button, five close friends who I encountered hanging out in Blue Wood. This scene eventually ended up in Chapter 4: Stormy Weather in The Summer Sacrifice.
After these five core characters (who we’ll follow throughout the Master Game Series) had established themselves, the Brainticklers tickled their way into my mind. These bird-faced caring critters had a life of their own. Sam O’ Brady (Head Braintickler and spokesperson for the Ticklers) started speaking and wouldn’t stop. A good chunk of what he told me remains in The Summer Sacrifice, but because he went on and on, his speeches were as much in need of a cut as his bushy ginger beard.
Then came Miss Humfreeze, English teacher extraordinaire, chased into view by a gun-toting Evelyn Crackpot. After that, the rest of the world and its inhabitants arrived thick and fast!
The Master Game is a series of fantasy novels, following Jamie Tuff and her friends as they adventure through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk and Halfhawks fly.
Book One- The Summer Sacrifice is available to buy from all the major Internet retailers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
THREE HUNDRED YEARS AGO,
THE GREAT GODDESS SENT A
STORM TO DESTROY MANKIND.
SHE NEARLY SUCCEEDED.
ONE ISLAND SURVIVED.
These days, the Goddess stops the spread of evil
by sacrificing the Island’s rotten teenage souls.
Or so the story goes…
When Jamie Tuff survives her Taking she thinks her
worst nightmares are behind her. But then her soul
starts wandering into other people’s bodies, and she
discovers that the Island harbours a deadly secret.
Now, Jamie must save her little world from a fate
worse than—well, worse than what the Goddess
has already done to it.
Join Jamie Tuff and friends on their adventures
through land, sea and sky, in a world where stars walk
and Halfhawks fly.
“Read this book! You is not going to be disappointed, as us
Ticklers is in it, and we is good.”
—Sam O’ Brady, Head Braintickler.
After months of wiping my book’s nose, combing its hair and spit-polishing its cheek, I finally downed my keyboard. The never-ending-editing story was over. Finished. I did a pint-sized victory wriggle. And then my thumbs began to twiddle.
“What if the chapter headings were partnered by pictures?” I wondered, as one hand reached for ink and the other clutched some paper. I pulled the pen-lid off with my teeth and started drawing.
I had seemingly forgotten that The Summer Sacrifice has 51 chapters.
51 illustrations later and my right hand is all a-tremble. Hope you enjoy. Thoughts and comments, as always, welcome!
My name is Holly Hinton.
I am both a writer and an actress. Acting tends to involve some down time doncha know? My previous non-acting jobs have included theme park worker, water company worker, front-of-house worker, care worker, school support worker, and acting workshop worker. But none of those jobs brought me to writing The Summer Sacrifice. That involved a family holiday in Swanage 5 years ago…
England’s Jurassic Coast is a thing of wonder. But it has always seemed to me that Dancing Ledge has a particular kind of magic. One day, after a brief (and wet) visit to the Ledge, an image popped into my head.
I saw a large gang of teenagers dancing their hearts out on Dancing Ledge. Only in my head the Ledge was much, much bigger. And as they danced the greatest dance of their lives, some of them were falling into the water and drowning.
What compelled me to see an open-roofed night out gone so wrong is anyone’s guess, but from that day on all I could think about was why this was happening to those thirteen-year-olds. (I knew how old they were even then.) I had to solve the mystery. And I’ve spent the last few years doing just that. Luckily for me, Jamie Tuff flew into my brain shortly after the image did, and she has been helping me through it.
