notreallybooks..... really good stories!
Although John has worked as a professional writer for Theatre and with Videos he thought that was all behind him and was perfectly happy just telling stories. But so many children, teachers, librarians and parents began to ask him if the stories were available in books that he began to think he couldn't say no.
A few 'meetings' (you know the sort) later notreallybooks was born with the help of a small group of friends, so although we're a VERY small company we can honestly say that we were set up in response to public demand - how many other publishers can say that??????
We can also say something else that's unique about notreallybooks: Every story published has been honed over several years in front of live audiences totalling thousands of children, so we KNOW they go down well with their intended audiences!
a bit different...... a bit special
notreallybooks are printed on very high quality paper, beautifully illustrated and nicely packaged - and are no more expensive than other books.
We're trying to encourage children who already love reading to love books as well, and to want to keep them as something special they can grow up with and revisit.
We're also trying to encourage children who are more reluctant about reading by giving them stories we know they'll love in a package they'll find exciting and stimulating.
All John's books are brilliantly and beautifully illustrated by the award winning Tom Morgan-Jones - look at the pictures here and all over the website and you'll see just how great he is.
And all our stories appeal equally to boys and girls. We think the idea of boys' stories and girls' stories is a myth created by the marketing departments of some publishers. A great story has universal appeal - if it didn't then John Harris wouldn't make a living doing what he does!
the best version of Beowulf isn't called 'Beowulf'!
You can read about our first two books, 'Charlie's Key' and 'The Creature of Crete', by clicking on the links to the right.
Our new book is called 'The Geat - the story of Beowulf and Grendel'.
(ISBN 978-0-9552129-2-5 Price £6.99)
It's not called 'Beowulf' because it's not just another retelling of the old Anglo Saxon poem. Over the last ten years or so John has developed quite a reputation for his version of Beowulf and many schools ask him back every year to tell it to a particular age group. In that time he's done a lot of research into the history of the story and its origins and of course this has shaped his retellings as much as the audience's reactions to aspects of the story he's developed.
So 'The Geat' is what John thinks is the nearest we'll get to the story that was told in northern Europe around the firelight for nearly a thousand years before 'Beowulf' was written. It's perhaps one of the earliest horror stories, and certainly one of the best!
and others seem to agree....
Several teachers who've heard John tell stories for year after year have all said the same thing about 'The Geat' - that as soon as they started to read it they could hear John's voice, which is exactly what he was aiming for!
The 'Daily Telegraph' said:
"Fearsome monsters, powerful heroes and gruesome murders should be enough to keep the most bloodthirtsy young reader satisfied.... The illustrations manage to be both frightening and comic."
The 'Teenage Librarian UK' Website said:
"'The Geat' is a modern retelling of the one of the oldest stories in the English Language - the saga of Beowulf and Grendel.
"Sagas were traditionally performed by storytellers and John Harris has done a masterful job of (re)writing a story that can either be read out loud or silently to oneself. The introduction (Before we begin...) sets the scene perfectly by explaining what it would have been like for people when the saga was originally composed. I feel the story is equally effective being read in the light of day or as a tale to be told at night around a flickering fire.
"The book is short enough not to put off younger teens and reluctant readers as well as appealing to fans of the Beowulf film and is intereseting and entertaining enough to appeal to regular readers. I enjoyed the book and would love to hear the story told live. On a scale of 1 - 10 I give it a solid 9."
'School Librarian' magazine said:
It is a shame that the publishers of this book have had to resort to the usual hype on the cover: 'This is the orginal horror story - two thousand years old and as exciting as ever. Read it if you dare'. This re-telling of the story of Beowulf needs no such hyperbole.
John Harris has apparently spent the last ten years telling the story in front of live audiences, honing the version that we now have in print. It has been worth the wait. Whilst the language is suitably bloodthirsty - and no details of pain, torture and death are omitted - a wonderfully evocative atmosphere is maintained throughout the book.
There are excellent colour illustrations throughout and good quality paper is used, making this a 'must buy' for any library.
Fancy a signed poster of 'The Geat'?
To buy a copy of 'The Geat' from Amazon.co.uk click here
If you enjoy it (and we're sure you will!) then why not write an on-line review and tell other people about it? If you send us the details of your review and your name and address we'll send you a full colour A2 sized poster of 'The Geat' signed by John and Tom!