Authors [ M ]
Patricia Murphy,
Author of Take Two, Millions!, Making It Home
Patricia Murphy grew up in Ballygall, Dublin , the eldest of six children, and turned to storytelling to amuse her brothers and sisters and sixty cousins. After graduating in English and History from Trinity College Dublin and journalism at Dublin City University , she worked in television as a continuity announcer and reporter for RTE and a freelance journalist for “Evening Herald” and “In Dublin. As a reporter and documentary maker, she got to travel the world from the Artic Circle to the Amazon Jungle. She is now a producer/director and has made a number of acclaimed documentaries for BBC and Channel 4, including several on children’s lives. Programmes include the 2004 Channel 4 hit “The Worst Jobs in History,” “Born to be Different” on babies born with disabilities and “Behind the Crime” the controversial series where criminals revealed how they committed their crimes. She is married and lives in Oxford .
The Chingles from the East is the first book in a trilogy and the winner of the Poolbeg Write a Bestseller for Children Competition 2004
Books
The Chingles From The East
The winner of the 2004 Poolbeg Write a Children’s Bestseller competition.
Step into a fantastical world of Irish magic, mythology and folklore, as Poolbeg’s newest addition, Patricia Murphy, takes you on a journey through modern and ancient Ireland . Patricia’s novel was a worthy winner of the Write a Children’s Bestseller competition, chosen by all three judges from hundreds of entries. Originally from Ballygall in Dublin , Patricia is a successful documentary producer and director now living in London . Some of her renowned work includes episodes of Channel 4’s Time Team, the much talked-about TV Dinners and Behind the Crime. The Chingles from the East is an education for children without a trace of the classroom about it, and with a major film company currently seeking film rights, this first instalment of a trilogy is destined to be a big success. Patricia will be in Dublin from the 18 th to the 22 nd October to promote her debut novel.
Legend has it that the giant Balor of the Evil Eye will return bent on revenge to destroy the remote island of Inish Alainn in his search for a magical stone. The only ones who can stop him are the mysterious “Chingles from the East”. But what does this have to do with Cassie, Thomas and Nancy who are spending their summer holiday on the island with their Uncle Jarlath?
Before they are even off the ferry, the children are plunged into an adventure where they encounter mischievous and dangerous creatures from Irish myth, learn of the mysterious powers of shapeshifting and meet the magical trees of the Sacred Grove.
If that wasn’t enough, they also have to contend with Sir Dignum Drax, the nasty tycoon who wants to cover the island in concrete. What is his link to the evil giant Balor and can the children master their new-found magical skills in time to take on Balor and his awesome powers?
The Chingles And The Vampire King
“Takes the reader on a journey through modern and ancient Ireland ” RTE Guide
“Fantasy fans will enjoy the story” The Irish Times
In their third holiday adventure on Inish Alainn, the Chingles have to take on the underworld of Eastern Europe when four babies, including their twin brother and sister and baby cousin, are kidnapped. But not only are they up against Vladimir the evil crime lord, they discover that he really is in touch with the dark powers of the magical Underworld. To find the missing babies they must enlist the help of Slavic gods and goddesses among the world of Eastern European mythology. They also have to take on the terrifying powers of the Baba Yaga, a hag who eats children.
But to rescue the babies the Chingles face their biggest battle yet – against the forces of the “undead”, a vast army of Vampires.
The Chingles Go West
Return with the Chingles to the fantastical world of Irish magic, mythology and folklore in the author’s sequel to
‘The Chingles from the East’
The Chingles, Thomas, Cassie and Nancy are back on Inish Alainn to holiday with their Uncle Jarlath. This time, their mission is to search for the swan Goddess Finnen, the sister of Aine the Sun Goddess who disappeared in a battle with their old adversary Balor thousands of years ago. The clue to her whereabouts lies with Cassie who has a vision that she is “among the stars”, but Cassie is also haunted by another vision of a woman trapped in glass, crying tears of blood.
Balor’s evil Queen Caithlin of the Crooked Teeth is hot on their heels as their adventure takes them on a daring rescue mission, and only by exploring Celtic and Norse mythology in Europe and finding themselves amongst the stars … in Hollywood can our heroes hope to save Finnen. But not without the interference of Lardon B.Hackenbacker 111, the annoying charge of their Auntie Angel and the spoilt brat of a movie mogul, who the Chingles are convinced is in league with the evil sorceress of the Crooked Teeth. Will the Chingles succeed in tracing Finnen and fighting off their nemeses?
Patricia Murphy started writing children’s fantasies because she missed telling stories to her five younger siblings and 60 cousins and ended up winning the 2004 Poolbeg Write a Children’s Bestseller Competition!