Gill Arbuthnott's Weblog

Lost at the Zoo

 When Rory the mouse falls out of Sam’s pocket in Edinburgh Zoo, he is afraid he’ll never find Sam again. ‘Have you seen Sam?’ Rory asks, and tries to describe his owner. He tells the zebra Sam’s got sticky-out sandy hair, and gets sent to the lion! He tells the lion Sam’s got big round eyes, and gets sent to the owl! Rory meets lots of animals as he searches the enormous zoo for Sam.

Lost at the Zoo is illustrated by Joanne Nethercott and published by Picture Kelpies. 

Short Story – Marilyn’s Hands

Last year I was commisioned by the Edinburgh International Book Festival to be one of fifty authors to contribute to ‘Elsewhere’ – a collection of new writing on the theme of identity. It has been a lovely project to be involved in, and my story ‘Marilyn’s Hands’  is now live on the New Writing website, with a podcast also available. It’s totally different to the sort of writing I normally do. My short stories usually tend to end up as novels, and this is my first published piece of adult writing. There will be an anthology out next year, for those who like their stories in ink and paper. Just click on the link above to read it.

 The Keepers’ Tattoo – Buyer Beware

Amazon have this book on their website with no information about it, and it’s obvious some people are assuming it’s a sequel to Keepers’ Daughter. Well, IT’S NOT! It’s the American edition of Keepers’ Daughter.

I would hate anyone to spend their money on a mistaken assumption, and I certainly don’t want all you wonderful book-purchasing people out there to think I am cynically pocketing your money; that might put you off buying the next book when it really does come out!

THE KEEPERS’ DAUGHTER

This is an exciting fantasy novel, published by Chicken House.

 Nyssa is an orphan who has no memory of her family or where she came from. Her life is turned inside out when she discovers an uncle she didn’t know about, and has to flee with him from the sinister Shadowmen. Why are they hunting her? Now Nyssa must find a twin she never knew she had and unravel the mystery of the tattooed message they both carry, before the Shadowmen hunt them all down.

GERM WARS

Not for the squeamish… All you never wanted to know about the Black Death, Smallpox and other hideous diseases. Plus how scientists and our bodies fight the never-ending battle against the germs.

MAD SCIENTISTS

 Always thought scientists were boring? Think again: most of this lot were as mad as a bag of snakes… Find out about the man who tried to eat everything, Alexis the human test tube, and the cat that’s alive and dead at the same time…

CRAZY CREATURES

Animals do really amazing and revolting things. Read on to find out about the lizard that shoots blood from its eyes, farting herring and the mite that dies before it’s born. Oh, and some potentially very interesting pets…

 THE CHAOS CLOCK

In Edinburgh, time is coming unstuck. Eleven year old Kate and David find themselves caught up in an age-old battle between the Guardians of Time and the Lords of Chaos, centred around the Millennium Clock in the museum. Will they help the mysterious Mr Flowerdew to keep the past at bay, or will the temptations offered by the Lords of Chaos be too strong to resist?

 THE CHAOS QUEST

Eighteen months have passed since the events of the Chaos Clock, and Kate and David find themselves dealing with the boring problems of family life. But everything is turned upside down for them again when Morgan the Hunter and the powerful Stardreamer appear in Edinburgh. The Lords of Chaos are hunting them. Can Kate and David help them fulfil their destiny before it’s too late?

WINTERBRINGERS

St Andrews, Fife, known for its glorious weather – but not this year. On summer holiday, Josh finds snow falling and the sea freezing.  Together with a local girl – Callie – he uncovers the journal of an eighteenth century girl who writes about a Kingdom of Summer. They find that a permanent winter threatens unless they can help the Winter King restore the balance of the seasons. Can they stop the Winterbringers?