Freddie Kölsch – författare

“This sensational YA debut blends tense, terrifying horror with dark humour, queer romance and hugely original storytelling.” Guardian November 1999, North Dana, Massachusetts. The body of Bastion Attia – high school quarterback, secret witch, and Nesbit Nuñez’s even-more-secret boyfriend – is discovered at the edge of Stepwood Cemetery. As Nesbit and his coven of queer misfits investigate Bastion’s death they discover local folktales of Mr. Nous, a terrifying wish-granting creature, one whose gifts come at a terrible price.The coven must do battle against an age-old evil before it strikes again …Now, Conjurers is a wildly original, spinechilling YA debut about queer found family and a love that outlasts death. ‘This book is charm itself … smart, edgy, funny and heartfelt.’ – Tamsyn Muir – bestselling author of Gideon the Ninth

“This sensational YA debut blends tense, terrifying horror with dark humour, queer romance and hugely original storytelling.” Guardian November 1999, North Dana, Massachusetts. The body of Bastion Attia – high school quarterback, secret witch, and Nesbit Nuñez’s even-more-secret boyfriend – is discovered at the edge of Stepwood Cemetery. As Nesbit and his coven of queer misfits investigate Bastion’s death they discover local folktales of Mr. Nous, a terrifying wish-granting creature, one whose gifts come at a terrible price.The coven must do battle against an age-old evil before it strikes again …Now, Conjurers is a wildly original, spinechilling YA debut about queer found family and a love that outlasts death. ‘This book is charm itself … smart, edgy, funny and heartfelt.’ – Tamsyn Muir – bestselling author of Gideon the Ninth

"Lush and atmospheric, this grungy YA folk horror is layered with themes of queer found family, fierce friendship and recovery from trauma." Guardian You are safe, my child. You are loved, my child. You are surrounded by the good earth. Darian Sabine Arden loves her family’s summer home in the picturesque Massachusetts village of Kesuquosh. It’s where her three best friends live, and it’s the only place in her life where she isn’t haunted by reminders of the worst thing that ever happened to her. The villager's belief in a godlike, benevolent scarecrow who protects the town only adds to the charming local colour. But when Darian’s magnetic, mercurial crush KJ is chosen during a bizarre ritual on Halloween, Darian is forced to admit that Good Arcturus is more than just a quaint, folksy superstition – he’s terrifyingly real.Something ancient and sinister lurks behind the autumnal fields and warmly glowing windows of Kesuquosh. Something that doesn’t take kindly to its paradise being threatened by a group of scrappy, weird teenagers. To save KJ – and themselves – Darian and her friends will have to follow a tangled trail of clues and question everything they thought they knew about their home. And Darian will have to finally face up to her own ghosts…EMPTY HEAVEN is a YA-crossover horror novel about queer found family, redemptive romance, overcoming trauma, and the dark sides of beautiful places. Full of cinematic prose, and late-90s grunge music, it asks: who pays the price for perfection? And what if the real monsters don’t always look like monsters?

"Lush and atmospheric, this grungy YA folk horror is layered with themes of queer found family, fierce friendship and recovery from trauma." Guardian You are safe, my child. You are loved, my child. You are surrounded by the good earth. Darian Sabine Arden loves her family’s summer home in the picturesque Massachusetts village of Kesuquosh. It’s where her three best friends live, and it’s the only place in her life where she isn’t haunted by reminders of the worst thing that ever happened to her. The villager's belief in a godlike, benevolent scarecrow who protects the town only adds to the charming local colour. But when Darian’s magnetic, mercurial crush KJ is chosen during a bizarre ritual on Halloween, Darian is forced to admit that Good Arcturus is more than just a quaint, folksy superstition – he’s terrifyingly real.Something ancient and sinister lurks behind the autumnal fields and warmly glowing windows of Kesuquosh. Something that doesn’t take kindly to its paradise being threatened by a group of scrappy, weird teenagers. To save KJ – and themselves – Darian and her friends will have to follow a tangled trail of clues and question everything they thought they knew about their home. And Darian will have to finally face up to her own ghosts…EMPTY HEAVEN is a YA-crossover horror novel about queer found family, redemptive romance, overcoming trauma, and the dark sides of beautiful places. Full of cinematic prose, and late-90s grunge music, it asks: who pays the price for perfection? And what if the real monsters don’t always look like monsters?

The first book in a gripping new series, perfect for fans of The Swifts, Murder Most Unladylike, Lockwood and Co and Wednesday.'Spectacularly spooky . . . Full of warmth and humour, but threaded with delicious darkness' Philippa Leathley'Percy Jackson meets Wednesday, with a huge dollop of originality on top' Thomas TaylorLilac Black does not believe in ghosts. So she’s rather surprised to learn she comes from a long line of gifted Seers, all of whom attended Spindlewood: a top-secret boarding school for children with the power to see, hear and communicate with spirits.And now, Lilac has an invitation to Spindlewood herself. The only problem? There's been a huge misunderstanding. Lilac does not have the gift.Reluctant to disappoint her proud uncles, and curious to see this mysterious school for herself, she decides to play along. But as Lilac’s web of lies becomes more tangled, one thing is clear: there is something wrong at Spindlewood. Something ancient and sinister, hidden beneath the library. Something connected to the long-ago disappearance of Lilac's parents.Something waiting for her...'It's hard to put your finger on the difference between a very good and a great book, but you know it when you see it. Spindlewood is a great book' Russell Franklin'Fantastically fresh . . . Deliciously cosy and creepy all at once' Booklist

The first book in a gripping new series, perfect for fans of The Swifts, Murder Most Unladylike, Lockwood and Co and Wednesday.'Spectacularly spooky . . . Full of warmth and humour, but threaded with delicious darkness' Philippa Leathley'Percy Jackson meets Wednesday, with a huge dollop of originality on top' Thomas TaylorLilac Black does not believe in ghosts. So she’s rather surprised to learn she comes from a long line of gifted Seers, all of whom attended Spindlewood: a top-secret boarding school for children with the power to see, hear and communicate with spirits.And now, Lilac has an invitation to Spindlewood herself. The only problem? There's been a huge misunderstanding. Lilac does not have the gift.Reluctant to disappoint her proud uncles, and curious to see this mysterious school for herself, she decides to play along. But as Lilac’s web of lies becomes more tangled, one thing is clear: there is something wrong at Spindlewood. Something ancient and sinister, hidden beneath the library. Something connected to the long-ago disappearance of Lilac's parents.Something waiting for her...'It's hard to put your finger on the difference between a very good and a great book, but you know it when you see it. Spindlewood is a great book' Russell Franklin'Fantastically fresh . . . Deliciously cosy and creepy all at once' Booklist