Rory Bean and the Reluctant Ghosts

Rory’s parents own and run The Gruffydd Arms in a quiet village in South Wales. It is twelve-year-old Rory’s home, and he loves living in it. So, when a ‘for sale’ sign appears, Rory is devastated.

Rory’s parents aren’t making enough money to keep the pub and then there’s the little matter of it being haunted.

Perfect for:

• Middle-grade readers aged 8–12
• Fans of spooky adventures and small-town mysteries
• Children exploring courage, problem-solving, and family bonds
• Young readers discovering friendship, loyalty, and community
• Classroom and school library reading lists

Trudie Thomas is a Welsh ex-English teacher who used to work in Further Education. Tudie now works as an Artist, exhibiting several times a year, and as a part-time Extra.

Trudie also writes a regular column, Trudie Talks To, for her local magazine about village residents with special talents. Trudie has written two short story collections for aduts, Take my Hand and Walking Under Ladders. Rory Bean and the Reluctant Ghosts is Trudie’s first children’s book. Trudie is based in Beaconsfield,Buckinghamshire.

Roisin Heycock has 15 years’ experience in trade publishing where she rose to publishing director at Quercus and Hachette. She set up the multi-award winning Quercus Children’s Books, which developed bestselling and prize-winning talents.

She also commissioned for Faber & Faber, Macmillan Children’s Books and Oneworld. She has been shortlisted three times for the Branford Boase Award for editing.