Joseph Delaney
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Delaney is a British former educator and currently an author of science fiction
and fantasy
books.
His writing career began with the release of a sci-fi book, written under the pen-name of J.K. Haderack. This was followed up by releases under his real name, including his first children's novel, which was in part based upon actual experiences and memories he had as a youth. Additional works were produced to expand that single work into a series of titles tailored primarily at Young Adult and Adult Fiction audiences. The books that he wrote after his first pen-name book were The Wardstone Chronicles.
Delaney retired from his position as an educator in order to devote his energies to a full-time writing career. He has three children and seven grandchildren.
His legacy carries on however in Newtownards, Northern Ireland in Regent House Grammar School
as "Delaney-fever" has swept the school with his photo cropping up all around the school.
"The County", as written about in the books, is based upon Lancashire
in the North of England
. The locations concerned are also largely based upon those known to Delaney, for example: the town of Priestown is based loosely on Preston, where he was born; Lancaster becomes Caster; Blackpool
is now the Black Pool; and Chipping
is Chipenden. He still lives in the same area that "The County" is based upon.
The rights for the first feature-length film of this series have been acquired by Warner Bros.
Joseph Delaney has also written other novels on the Wardstone Chronicles;
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
books.
Life and career
On first leaving school, Delaney started work as an apprentice engineer. Upon the completion of his schooling, he went on to become an English instructor, with his initial literary specialization being in the area of vampire lore. In his capacity as an educator, he worked to establish the Media and Film Studies department at Blackpool Sixth Form College.His writing career began with the release of a sci-fi book, written under the pen-name of J.K. Haderack. This was followed up by releases under his real name, including his first children's novel, which was in part based upon actual experiences and memories he had as a youth. Additional works were produced to expand that single work into a series of titles tailored primarily at Young Adult and Adult Fiction audiences. The books that he wrote after his first pen-name book were The Wardstone Chronicles.
Delaney retired from his position as an educator in order to devote his energies to a full-time writing career. He has three children and seven grandchildren.
His legacy carries on however in Newtownards, Northern Ireland in Regent House Grammar School
Regent House Grammar School
Regent House Grammar School is a co-ed voluntary grammar school situated in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. It comprises two parts: the preparatory department, known as "the Prep" and the main school itself...
as "Delaney-fever" has swept the school with his photo cropping up all around the school.
The Wardstone Chronicles (UK) / Last Apprentice (USA)
The Wardstone Chronicle Series is an examination of a Master / Student relationship particular to the supernatural."The County", as written about in the books, is based upon Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
in the North of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The locations concerned are also largely based upon those known to Delaney, for example: the town of Priestown is based loosely on Preston, where he was born; Lancaster becomes Caster; Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
is now the Black Pool; and Chipping
Chipping, Lancashire
Chipping is a village and civil parish of the borough of Ribble Valley, Lancashire, England, within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 1,046....
is Chipenden. He still lives in the same area that "The County" is based upon.
The Wardstone Chronicles
- The Spook's ApprenticeThe Spook's ApprenticeThe Spook's Apprentice , written by Joseph Delaney, is the first story in the series "The Wardstone Chronicles" The plot is centred around a 13 year old farm boy named Tom who lives in the countryside of The County, loosely based on the English county of Lancashire, where the author resides with...
(Reprinted in the USA as: Revenge of the Witch) - 2004 - The Spook's CurseThe Spook's CurseThe Spook's Curse is the second book in the Wardstone Chronicles series. In America, it was released as the second book in The Last Apprentice series, with the title Curse of the Bane.-Plot summary:...
(Reprinted in the USA as: Curse of the Bane) - 2005 - The Spook's SecretThe Spook's SecretThe Spook's Secret is the third book in the Wardstone Chronicles series. In America, it was released as Night of the Soul-Stealer in the Last Apprentice series....
(Reprinted in the USA as: Night of the Soul Stealer) 2006 - The Spook's BattleThe Spook's BattleThe Spook's Battle, written by Joseph Delaney, is the fourth story in the series The Wardstone Chronicles. It was released in America in March 2008, and is titled Attack of the Fiend, as the fourth book in The Last Apprentice series.-Plot:...
(Reprinted in the USA as: Attack of the Fiend) - 2007 - The Spook's MistakeThe Spook's MistakeThe Spook's Mistake is the fifth book in the Wardstone Chronicles children's fantasy series by Joseph Delaney. In the U.S. it has been titled: The Last Apprentice: Wrath of the Bloodeye. It was first published in 2008.-Plot summary:...
(Reprinted in the USA as: Wrath of the Bloodeye) - 2008 - The Spook's SacrificeThe Spook's SacrificeThe Spook's Sacrifice is the sixth installment in the Wardstone Chronicles series by Joseph Delaney. Its release date is August 25, 2009. In the U.S. it is titled The Last Apprentice: Clash of the Demons....
(Reprinted in the USA as: Clash of the Demons) - 2009 - The Spook's Nightmare (Reprinted in the USA as: Rise of the Huntress) - 2010
- The Spook's DestinyThe Spook's DestinyThe Spook's Destiny is the eighth book in The Wardstone Chronicles , released in June 2011. In the U.S. it is titled The Last Apprentice: Rage of the Fallen.-Main Plot:...
(Reprinted in the USA as: Rage of the Fallen) - 2011 - Spook's I Am Grimalkin - October 2011
- The Spook's Blood - June 2012
- Spook's I Am Alice - October 2012 or June 2013
- The Spook's Ten - October 2013
The rights for the first feature-length film of this series have been acquired by Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
Joseph Delaney has also written other novels on the Wardstone Chronicles;
- The Spook's TaleThe Spook's TaleThe Spook's Tale is a fantasy novel written by Joseph Delaney, as part of the fantasy series The Wardstone Chronicles. The book was released in March 2009, with the other World Book Day book's, which can be purchased for £1, or for a World Book Day 2009 book voucher.- Blurb :How would you like to...
- 2009, as part of World Book Day - The Spook's Bestiary - 2010.
- Spook's Stories: WitchesSpook's Stories: WitchesThe Wardstone Witches is a short-story anthology written by English writer Joseph Delaney, that was released in October 2009 as part of the expanding series The Wardstone Chronicles.- Summary :...
(Reprinted in the USA as: A Coven of Witches) - 2009