Welcome to the oversky…
Wrap up warm and enjoy the ride. I’m the author of Ghostcloud - a soaring adventure of courage, hope and survival - and its sequel, Nightspark.
Both books are fast-paced adventures for readers 9+ and skygazers of any age. Ghostcloud was a Waterstones Best Children’s Book of 2021, a Guardian pick and included in the BookTrust Great Books Guide 2022.
It’s perfect for fans Vashti Hardy, Phillip Pullman and Thomas Taylor’s Malamander.
You can order Ghostcloud or Nightspark below, or explore the site to learn about me, events, and chances to win goodies via my newsletter.
“A superbly inventive and magical debut… will transport you on clouds of pure joy.”
-Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild trilogy
“A diamond of a book…with one of the best villains I’ve encountered in ages.”
-Ross MacKenzie, Author of the Nowhere Emporium
“Ghostcloud is an utterly brilliant debut children’s novel. ”
-Lindsay Littleson, Carnegie Medal Nominated Author
Order Ghostcloud & Nightspark:
About me
My first writing success was for a poem about potatoes - in a competition run by a Yorkshire school catering company. As a ‘reward’, I had to shake hands with a giant potato mascot in front of my entire school. It would be many years before I dared write again…
These days, I am a primary teacher by day, dad by night, and mostly write when I should be sleeping. I owe the idea for Ghostcloud to my coal-mining grandad and a lifelong love of cloudspotting. I’m half-Indian and passionate about diversity in children’s literature.
I have a first-class degree in anthropology, live in East London with my (very patient) partner and my (less patient) toddler, and can be found playing board games when I’m not busy losing my wallet. I was a winner of Undiscovered Voices 2020 and a London Writers Award in 2019.
My lovely agent is Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown
About Ghostcloud
Kidnapped and forced to shovel coal underneath a half-bombed, blackened power station, 12-year-old Luke's life is miserable. Then, he discovers he can see things others can't. Ghostly things.
Specifically, a ghost-girl named Alma. Alma, who can ride clouds through the night sky and bend their shape to her will, and who says she knows a way out of the station. With Alma’s help, Luke discovers that he is in fact a rare being - half-human and half-something else ...
Then Luke learns the terrible truth of why children are being kidnapped and forced to work in the power station. Can Luke find out who he really is ... and find his freedom?
A riveting, magical adventure set in the skies and furnaces of a richly reimagined London.
A Waterstones Best Children’s Book of 2021, A Guardian, BookTrust and Toppsta book of the month
Order Ghostcloud or Nightspark
“I love stories that immerse, engage and set the reader free. Ghostcloud is that kind of story. ”
-Anne McNeil, Editor/Publisher of How to Train your Dragon
“My class are going to adore this as much as I did. A story of bravery, friendship and finding your freedom.”
-Mrs Nicholas, Year 5 teacher, Cardiff (tweet at @MrsKNicholas)
“The characters leap off the pages and into your heart”
-Erin Hamilton, myshelvesarefull.com
Contact me (& events)
When not writing, I’m a school teacher, so love meeting readers (children or adults) to talk about writing in-person or online.
To find out more about booking school visits please go here
For other events and publicity (e.g. booksellers, libraries or festivals) please email my publicist.
Follow me on twitter (@mikebmann), instagram (@mikemannwrites)
Write an Amazon review of one of my books, let me know and I’ll send you a free signed bookplate and bookmark!
To reach me direct, you can email mikemannwrites@gmail.com or use the contact form.