The Tally - E G Wolverson - A Warped Whodunnit!

Hull Daily Mail 11 May 2012: "A village author's new book has been voted March's best read. Set in Hull, Eddy Wolverson's tale The Tally follows a group of students in a warped whodunnit. His first draft was written while Mr Wolverson worked in the cloakroom at Hull Students' Union. The story was voted best book in March by users of the website www.goodreads.com. It costs £7.99 and is available on Amazon, or from bookshops on order. A £3.99 ebook version of The Tally is available from Amazon's Kindle Store."

Echo McCool - "An Engaging Fantasy Novel" - Billy Askew Review

This book starts with an enticing opening sentence: "She heard the twang of a bowstring beyond the glade." The story that follows is both original and charming. Echo McCool is a karate-kicking half-dryad girl from medieval times. After narrowly escaping death by hiding inside a hollow tree she awakes in the present day and befriends 12-year-old Jason Fleeting. With Echo's help, Jason goes off in search of his missing sister.

Both Echo and Jason are endearing characters who show tremendous resourcefulness and courage. This is an empowering message to young readers and the book is a pleasure to read. Recommended for readers aged 8-13.

Dryads in Fiction

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryad
Dryads are mentioned in Milton’s Paradise Lost, in Coleridge, and in Thackeray’s work The Virginians.^[12] Keats addresses the nightingale as ‘light-winged Dryad of the trees’, in his Ode to a Nightingale. In the poetry of Donald Davidson they illustrate the themes of tradition and the importance of the past to the present.^[13] The poet Sylvia Plath uses them to symbolize nature in her poetry in “On the Difficulty of Conjuring up a Dryad”, and “On the Plethora of Dryads”.^[14]
In the ballet Don Quixote Dryads appear in a vision with Dulcinea before Don Quixote, they also appear in the classical ballet Sylvia
Dryads are also featured extensively throughout The Chronicles of Narnia by British author C.S. Lewis and are shown to fight along side Aslan, son of the Emperor-Over-The-Sea, and the Pevensie Children.
The same characters recur in David Eddings’ The Belgariad, where Dryads live in seclusion on the Wood of the Dryads within the Tolnedran Empire and among the most prominent in the storyline is Ce’Nedra.
In the animated show Monster School, the character Rose Greendae is a dryad who can turn into a tree at will.
In the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, there is a dryad named Juniper who is the girlfriend of Grover Underwood.
____________
Other dryads in fiction:
Sue Maynard – Ebon Black and the Seven Dryads
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ebon-Black-Seven-Dryads-ebook/dp/B005HSPMUS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319464657&sr=8-1
Frank Stockton – The Lost Dryad
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Dryad-Stockton-Frank-Richard/dp/1110970137/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1319464733&sr=8-7
The Dryad Project – James Moy
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dryad-Project-James-D-Moy/dp/1843866900/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319464820&sr=1-1
The Dryad by Justin Huntly McCarthy
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dryad-Novel-Justin-Huntly-McCarthy/dp/1103049151/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319464820&sr=1-3
The Oracle of the Missing Dryad – Kristin Groulx
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Oracle-Missing-Dryad-Kristin-Groulx/dp/0981131522/ref=sr_1_56?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319465055&sr=1-56
Mr Griffin and the Dryad – Frank Stockton
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Griffin-Minor-Canon-Pipes-Dryad/dp/1425468659/ref=sr_1_100?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319465215&sr=1-100

Echo McCool - "The Thirty-Nine Steps for Kids" - Matt Scanlan Review

This is a wonderful story. My 8 year old loved it but would suit 8-11+ years. The story of Echo and Jason is filled with the kind of drama and emotions normally found in a crime thriller. In fact in places it reminded me of "The Thirty-Nine Steps." The author Roger K Driscoll is a great story-teller so if for some reason you've yet to try this book, buy it and read it because you'll definitely enjoy it!

Echo McCool - "An Icon for Mixed-Race Kids" - Samuel "Giant" Review

Due to her appearance and heritage, Echo McCool is proving to be very popular with mixed race kids in both the USA and Europe. I teach middle-school and have many of the kids talking about this one. I think it's nice to see a book with a character that offers diversity which I believe to be quite rare. I'm glad the kids have an icon to look at with inspiration. Since discussing this book in reading class, I've had a handfull of students tell me that they hope to become authors. It definitely puts a smile on my face to know that books out there like this one can still inspire children to fulfill a dream.

Echo McCool - "A top lister for 2011!" - Sherise Rolan Review

I'm so happy I found a great book to read before the end of the year! I was getting really upset having read one not so good book after another and was losing hope that I'd find anything interesting *I'm a picky reader*. I couldn't stop reading this book and finished it in 1 day! The lore in it is just amazing!! I loved the dryad background of Echo and the story that just went into so much depth.

There are too many specifics in this book to name only a few that I loved. I think that Echo and Jason make the best 'unlikely' team that just works so well together. They balanced out each other to make a perfect pair. ^_^ I liked how while reading I felt scared for Echo and Jason, and other times I was cheering them on as they would battle it out. It was a great story and I would pre-order a sequel in a heartbeat!!!!

Echo McCool - "Really really good" - Jacob Sutherlin Review

I'm very impressed with this one! As an older dad of 2 I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book. I think that readers of all ages will fall for Echo. Don't let the genre being in middle grade steer you wrong if you're an adult. It's a really good story!

The writing is FAR from "childish" and is composed in a way that adults and "tweens" can both enjoy. If you're an adventure or fantasy fan, it's definitely work checking out.

Echo McCool - "My New Hero" - LoveReading Review

I love Echo! She is probably one of the coolest female leads I've ever read about. I think girls and women around the world are going to fall for her. Shes rough and tough and doesn't let anyone mess with her, yet she is a great friend and loyal to those she cares for...a real hero! I loved her abilities and that she isn't fully a human at all. The storyline was epic and I enjoyed how she was introduced right in the beginning so that you really get to know her throughout the book. I'm a permanent fan of Echo McCool!!! More please :)

Echo McCool - "An Adolecent and Young Teen Masterpiece" - Glen Cantrell Review

The writing is smart and swift. An Adolecent and Young Teen Masterpiece as I headed above. As a fifty-year-old adult, I enjoyed this tremendously. It's because of the Author, Roger K. Driscoll's technique of holding the reader's attention and he does so with conviction. This story is a definite page turner of fantasy. Buy this today if not for your son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter.

Echo McCool - "Enchanting" - Sammi Williams Review

I picked up this book after seeing some recommendations that fans of Stig of the Dump would enjoy it. So, being the Stig fanatic that I am, I decided to give it a try. Echo McCool (a twelve-year-old half dryad girl from the 13th Century) gets chased through a forest and shot by a poisoned arrow. But she has a magical card to play, she hides inside a hollow tree that, in time, will cure her of the poison. But the spell lasts a lot longer than she thought and she finds herself in the 21st century, when she is awakened by a boy called Jason Fleeting. Then the story becomes an enchanting tale of a unique friendship. Although Echo and Jason have had very different lives they learn a lot from each other. They have many adventures, some funny and some exciting. I would recommend this book to readers of all ages.

Echo McCool - "Excellent Adventure" - Rich Evo Review

I don't usually write reviews but the setting for Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time is inspired by the area where I live so I decided to go ahead and give it a read. The author starts out in Medieval times when the half-dryad girl Echo McCool escapes death from a poison arrow and hides inside a magical hollow oak tree. Then there is a clever time twist when Echo awakes in the present day and teams up with Jason Fleeting, a boy with plenty of problems that Echo helps him to solve. The story builds up to a spectacular and heart-stopping climax. I don't want to give away the ending but this book will have you glued to the pages and will keep you thinking about it long after you've finished.

Echo McCool - "This Book Blew Me Away" - Bomar Habasu Review

With so many poorly written works coming out on the market, it's almost discouraging to go hunting for a gem. Luckily for fans of fantasy, Echo McCool is here!! My friend read this first and wouldn't stop urging me to give it a try. Finally I did after procrastinating for months and absolutely loved it!

The story is filled with adventure, suspense, mystery, and sooo much more. I think the author has an incredible way of allowing readers to see, smell, and feel what is happening in the story. From the moment Jason crossed paths with Echo, I knew I was going to be in for a wild ride.

This book d id not disappoint and I think readers of all ages are going to enjoy it. Can't wait to read more!!

Kids' book sells out

BEVERLEY: WHSmith in Toll Gavel has had to restock with new copies of Molescroft author Roger Driscoll's children's book Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time after selling out.

The story about a magical medieval girl is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley but based on locations in and around Beverley.

It was named in the top ten best reads of 2011 by the website www.goodreads.com

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Kids-book-sells/story-12729951-detail/story.html 

The Best thing that's Happened in the UK since Transportation

From the blog of award-winning Australian author Mark Dapin

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Fantastic news for the thousands of overseas readers of this blog: King of the Cross is now available from amazon.co.uk at the I-lose-about-ten-dollars price of £4.99. It's being sold as "used-like new" from Oswaldley Bookstore, but all copies are actually new and Oswaldley is my mate Roger. Other dealers stock it, but only Roger's are new. Buy it for your friends and family in the UK for Easter (it's more traditional than a chocolate egg) or pesach (it tastes better than a burnt offering). It's the ideal gift for birthdays, weddings, funerals, Anzac Day, Liberation Day (Italy) and the May Day holiday.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/King-Cross-Mark-Dapin/dp/1405039620/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1303030550&sr=8-3
And if you are a young adult, or used to be a young adult, or know somebody who's a young adult, you should also buy Roger's own book, Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Echo-McCool-Outlaw-Through-Time/dp/1908105267/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1303030961&sr=1-1
Imagine the thrill of owning two books by people who used to live in the same house. You can't buy that sort of experience.
Well, obviously, you can. But you couldn't until last week.

http://markdapin.blogspot.com/2011/04/best-thing-thats-happened-in-uk-since.html#comments

Roger K Driscoll Beverley Advertiser 2 June 2011

School and Other Cruelties

I met this author recently, while he was visiting the Inner Hebrides researching his next book. As a former owner of a children's bookstore in Scotland I was asked to read and review Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time.


Echo, the girl of the title is half-human half-dryad which, among other things, means she has stripy limbs, she can see into the past and she is adept at a kind of medieval Kung Fu.


After a long sleep she travels from her own time to the twenty-first century and meets Jason Fleeting, a modern-day boy her own age who has been living in a children's home following the murder of his mother. Jason and Echo set out on an adventure that involves the reader in several action scenes, including an escape from a collapsing tunnel and a grand punch-up of a finale. Echo and Jason even help out a few other people along the way, Lone Ranger-style.


This story combines a number of popular fiction genres to produce an interesting mix of present-day goodies-v-baddies adventure, a mystical element introducing dryad magic and links with times long-past, plus the all-action razzmatazz of Kung-Fu (with more than a little humour thrown in). Echo and Jason are both brave and likeable characters.


Will it be the next big thing? Who knows? Personally I think once established this book will prove to be quite popular.