The Children’s Book Review | January 15, 2019
Gregory Funaro is the NY Times best selling author of Disney-Hyperion’s ALISTAIR GRIM’S ODDITORIUM (an Amazon Best Book of the Month for January, 2015) and ALISTAIR GRIM’S ODD AQUATICUM (2016). His newest book is WATCH HOLLOW from HarperCollins (February 2019). Gregory is also a drama professor at East Carolina University, and spends far too much time on the internet searching for vintage lunchboxes.
I write because …
As Stephen King said, “for the pure joy of the thing.”
I read because …
Same as above.
My latest published book is …
I wrote this book because …
I was commissioned by Abby Ranger at HarperCollins to write an in-house proposal. Many of the original ideas are still in the book, but the story is very different now from that first proposal.
Best moment …
In the book? I don’t want to give too much away, but perhaps when Lucy rescues the clock animals from the Shadow Woods and comes face-to-face with the Garr for the first time.
My special place to write is …
In bed with my laptop.
Necessary writing/creativity tool is …
Caffeine, caffeine, and more caffeine.
The person who has been my greatest writing teacher or inspiration is …
Stephen King.
Currently reading …
Peter and the Starcatchers, but I am sure I will have moved on to something else by the time this is published.
Favorite bookshop is …
Savoy Bookshop in Westerly, RI.
All-time favorite children’s book I didn’t write is …
Watership Down.
Favorite illustrator …
Gosh, probably a tie between Maurice Sendak and Beatrix Potter.
A literary character I would like to vacation with …
Sherlock Holmes. Watson can tag along too if he wants.
When I am not reading or writing I am …
Spending time with my daughter.
Please visit his official web site at www.gregoryfunaro.com.
Written by Gregory Funaro
Illustrated by Matthew Griffin
Publisher’s Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Gregory Funaro brings us into a world where magic exists, monsters roam in the shadows, and wooden animals come to life.
Deep within the enchanted woods in the town of Watch Hollow stands the once-grand Blackford House, whose halls hold a magical secret: a giant cuckoo clock that does much more than tell time. But when the clock’s gears cease to turn, an evil presence lurking among the trees begins to come out of the shadows.
When Lucy and Oliver Tinker arrive in Watch Hollow, they have no idea that anything is wrong. A mysterious stranger has made their father an offer that’s too good for him to refuse. All Mr. Tinker needs to do is fix the clock at Blackford House and fistfuls of gold coins are his to keep.
It doesn’t take long, however, for the children to realize that there is more to Blackford House than meets the eye. And before they can entirely understand the strange world they’ve stumbled into, Lucy and Oliver must join forces with a host of magical clock animals to defeat the Garr—a vicious monster that not only wants Blackford House for itself, but also seeks to destroy everything the Tinkers hold dear.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: HarperCollins | February 12, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0062643452
Available Here
Discover more books like Watch Hollow, written by Gregory Funaro, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Magic, Magical Creatures, and Middle Grade Books; plus, be sure to follow along with our Writing and Reading Life series.