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.

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 - "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!!

Echo McCool - Author's debut book in top ten list

A BEVERLEY author has just seen his first published work named as one of this year’s top ten books.

Roger K Driscoll’s children’s book Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time was picked out for praised by independent literature comparison website www.goodreads.com

The children’s fantasy novel aimed at nine to 12-year olds is also now on sale at WHSmith book store in Toll Gavel, Beverley.

Mr Driscoll from Curlew Close, Molescroft, said: “I’ve been scribbling for years but this is the first one that’s been published, it took a lot of practice.”

The author grew up in the Beverley area and was inspired to write because of his enjoyable childhood playing out from dawn till dusk.

His story about a magical medieval girl linking up with a 12-year-old runaway is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley.

“Oswaldley is really Beverley, Witch Wood is Burton Bushes and Hazelby is Driffield. I don’t have any children myself and it’s difficult to say why I chose to write children’s books, they chose me.

“I think it depends on what sort of time you had when you were that age. I had a great time.

“I lived not far from where I live now and we used to play out all the time. I don’t think that happens so much.

“Sometimes we went raking off for miles.”

Mr Driscoll is a former legal executive who was made redundant in 2008 and used his redundancy money as an “advance” so he could take time out to write.

He was able to secure a deal with Grosvenor House Publishing, one of the directors of which is the respected Yorkshire author GP Taylor.

He said: “I wouldn’t say my career has ended but it’s on hold. It was difficult to do both at the same time because legal work is quite taxing. You end up shoe-horning in the writing.”

Whatever happens, anyone who enjoys Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time can be assured there is a sequel on the way.

Echo McCool - "Author's book praised on literature website"

BEVERLEY author Roger K Driscoll has seen his first published work named as one of this year's top ten books.

Echo McCool Outlaw Through Time was praised by independent literature comparison website www.goodreads.com

The children's fantasy novel aimed at 9 to 12-year-olds is now on sale at WHSmith book store in Toll Gavel, Beverley.

Mr Driscoll, of Curlew Close, Molescroft, said: "I've been scribbling for years, but this is the first one that's been published."

The author grew up in the Beverley area and was inspired to write because of his enjoyable childhood.

His story about a magical medieval girl linking up for adventures with a 12-year-old runaway is set in a mythical place called Oswaldley.

But the author said: "It's based on Beverley and the East Riding. I've used different place names, but they're all linked to this area. "Oswaldley is really Beverley, Witch Wood is Burton Bushes and Hazelby is Driffield."

The book is published by Grosvenor House Publishing, one of the directors of which is respected Yorkshire author GP Taylor.

http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/Author-s-book-praised-literature-website/article-3623280-detail/article.html

Echo McCool - Beverley Guardian 13 May 2011

Losing his job helped Roger realise dream

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 12:26

REDUNDANCY forced a Beverley man into realising a life-long dream of becoming an author.

Roger Driscoll’s first book, Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time, is now rated as one of the top 10 best reads of the year by the website www.goodreads.com.

The book is the tale of Echo McCool, a magical, medieval girl with attitude.

In her own time, Echo escapes death from a poisoned arrow and hides inside a hollow oak tree. She lies dormant for hundreds of years, until the present day when she is awakened by Jason Fleeting, a 12-year-old runaway from a children’s home. Together, they set out to solve the murder of Jason’s mother and to rescue his kidnapped sister.

Roger’s work is heavily influenced by 1970s TV writer Richard Carpenter, who created series including Catweazle and Dick Turpin.

After some success in England when he was first published in January, Roger’s Amazon rating in America started to go up.

More recently, the book was rated in the top 10 best books of 2011 by the users of American site goodreads.com.

“That was quite unexpected,” Roger said. “I thought it would start in my own back yard and spread out, but it’s done the opposite and really taken off in America.”

Roger said being made redundant from a large law firm in Hull was the push he needed to finish half-written manuscripts he was storing under his spare bed.

“Trying to write on a weekend and evening takes its toll. Being made redundant gave me the chance to write full-time, which is so much better for me,” he said.

Roger first became interested in writing after meeting a children’s author whilst on holiday as a child in the Yorkshire Dales.

“I thought ‘that’s the life for me’,” he said.

However, Roger turned to law, although he did complete some writing work during this time and sent it off to various publishers.

“It’s very difficult in this country to get taken on by the big guys, so many people aspire to do it,” he said.

Roger eventually had success with Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time, seeing the book picked up by Grosvenor House Publishing, a small company based in North Yorkshire.

He is now working on the sequel to Echo McCool, Outlaw Through Time and also plans to write a short novel.