Best Selling Books by Catherine FISHER

A mysterious gothic Christmas tale set in a frostbound Victorian country mansion. When orphaned Seren Rees is given a mysterious package by a strange and frightened man on her way to her new home, she reluctantly takes it with her. But what is in the parcel?

It''s been 140 years since the Wolf swallowed the Sun, so why are all the cats in the dark, fog-shrouded town of Starspill bothering Zac about it now? He just wants to stay warm, listen to stories, and work hard for his brother as an apprentice starsmith. But the cats have other ideas. They want Zac to steal one of the three legendary Embers of the Sun from the town museum for them, and they''ve taken his precious secret map to make sure he''ll agree!

The plight of imprisoned African American women is detailed in this study. It is apparent that the nation''s prison systems are ill-equipped to meet the basic needs of the ever-growing female population, and that government has done very little to address the underlying causes of crime. Child care, medical conditions, the historical plight of incarcerated African American women, alternatives to prisons and future trends are also covered. The primary research is supported by the author''s survey of prison populations.

Fantasy/quest. An intoxicating world reminiscent of the Arabian nights.

Breathtaking sequel to The Oracle, the Archon must face a journey of treachery and adventure across the pitiless desert in a bid to save his people ... The Archon vows to lead a pilgrimage to the Well of Songs to seek peace with the Rain Queen and save the land from the terrible drought. The Well is hidden in the mountains across the desert. But he is not the only one with his sight set on the mountains: Argelin, the tyrannical and power-hungry General, follows behind, an ever-present threat, with his heart set on the riches to be found. With only Oblek, Seth and two tomb-thieves known as the Jackal and the Fox for company, the Archon''s journey is treacherous and dangerous. They must face the Great Desolation and the monstrous animals outlined on the desert floor, animals with mythical powers, and they must survive without Mirany, bearer-of-the-god and true friend of the Archon, who has had to remain behind to face a threat much closer to home ...

Galen has spent the winter in Sarres, building a power-base round the symbolic leadership of the Interrex. But as Relic Master, he knows that to face the mysterious Margrave he needs to seek out the Coronet of Flain to complete his powers. Also, Galen and Raffi rescue two men from execution by the Watch: a keeper and a sceptic. These new men severely test Galen''s and Raffi''s belief in the Order''s ultimate success. Meanwhile, Carys continues to struggle to leave the Watch and its way behind as she gradually accepts the help given to her by the Sekoi.

In this striking collection Catherine Fisher mixes vivid and particular poems about the Welsh landscape such as ''The Four Seasons'' and ''Field-walking'', with historical monologues such as ''Incident at Conwy'' and scenes from myth like ''Merlin on Ynys Enlli''. With an archeologist''s care, she sifts her imagery from the past and examines it in minute, careful detail. The title sequence, based on the journals of James Hartshill, a traveller on the voyages of Captain James Cook in the south Pacific in the eighteenth century, is a triumph of her technique. The famous explorer''s stubborn and heroic character and his adventures in the perilous frozen wastes of the Antarctic and among the natives ''sudden and dangerous as children'' of the lush Pacific islands are marvellously portrayed. "She writes imaginatively, bringing dead things to life, boldly placing them in the present world" Planet "I am conscious here of the quality of passion implicit in her work, and the exciting prospect of the future for a writer who clearly has so much more to say" New Welsh Review Catherine Fisher is the author of three volumes of poetry for Seren: Immrama, The Unexplored Ocean and Altered States. She is also a novelist for children; her books include The Conjurer''s Game which was shortlisted for the Smarties prize in 1992 and has been serialised on Radio 5. She works as a teacher in Newport, Gwent.

On a mission to recover his father lost in time, Jake finds himself in 1940s London. From the rubble of the Blitzed city, a clue leads him to an eccentric seer of ghosts, three sinister children and three strange prophesies. Two of them soon come to pass, but what is the Box of Red Brocade? Does it hold the secret of destroying the Obsidian Mirror? A talking bird, an invisible girl, a walking wood; the second volume of Catherine Fisher''s Chronoptika series is packed with mystery, magic and sinister intrigue. ''A new novel by Catherine Fisher, poet and prize-winning novelist is always worth looking out for. The Obsidian Mirror is both thriller and SF, and, being written in Fisher''s acid-etched prose, equally satisfying to fans of many genres. ''Amanda Craig, THE TIMES Children''s Book of the Week.

Having tapped into the Crow, the Order''s legendary powerhouse, Galen is charged with a force beyond anything he, or his apprentice, Raffi have ever known. And when, during the ritual ceremony on the night of Flainsdeath, Galen receives a message from the makers urging him to find the Interrex - the child of the last great Emperor - Galen knows that the Keepers are tantalisingly close to the brink of a revolution. Meanwhile, Gary is struggling to come to terms with her past, her identity and the mystery of how she became a member of the Watch.

An interpretation of a medieval Welsh tale by Catherine Fisher, recently appointed Wales'' first Young Person''s Laureate.

The dress was old, with a tear in the hem. It seemed to be a mix of colours, like a watery rainbow. ''That''s a Weather Dress,'' Sol said. "It will last you six days, but you mustn''t wear it for seven. The seventh day is dangerous...Remember,'' he said. ''Wear it only six times. Not once more! And keep it safe. I have an enemy who would like to steal it...'' When Molly buys a dress for a pound from Sol''s market stall, she cannot begin to imagine the sequence of events which will unfold, from an idyllic fun-filled day on the beach to an encounter with the queen of darkness herself. This sophisticated picture book is the first collaboration between award-winning author Catherine Fisher, and her sister, illustrator Maggy Davies. The beautiful illustrations create an appealing storybook with a sense of intrigue. The story can be appreciated on several levels and hence it can be enjoyed by a wide age group. Here''s an extremely well written story, a treat to read aloud.

When the evil Snow-Walker Gudrun steals Signi''s soul on the eve of her wedding, Kari knows it is his mother''s sign to take up her final, most dreadful confrontation - from which only one of them can emerge alive. Together with his stalwart friends, Jessa, Brochael, Skapti and Hakon he sets off to challenge Gudrun in her own land, beyond the rainbow bridge. It''s a journey few before have dared attempt -and from which none have returned. . .

Catherine Fisher''s The Bramble King includes poems on imaginary planets and princes, on the summer solstice, on drawing, on a glass shop and a clockwork crow: rich tales with imaginative twists and unexpected characters.

Three classic fantasy novels that lead to wonderful and eerie worlds. This volume contains- THE CONJUROR''S GAME, THE CANDLE MAN and FINTAN''S TOWER.THE CONJUROR''S GAME, should never have been started. Now Luke must replace the Tree on the central square before the Knights and Ravens rampage in their eternal battle through in the snowbound villages of Halcombe Great Wood. Can a man''s soul be trapped in a candle? Cursed from infancy Meurig treasures the candle as his dearest possession. But what happens if it is stolen by his enemy, a water goddess of immense power?THE CANDLE MAN is a tale soaked in mist and marshland. Jennie and Jamie find a magical book that offers to lead them to Fintan''s Tower. But who are the three strangers that pursue them? How can they know whom to trust, when the glass tower contains unimaginable terrors, and the only time they have left is a wink of the sun''s eye?

Raffi is apprenticed to the Relic Master, Galen, whose task is to keep safe the relics of a bygone age. But his powers are weakening and he and Raffi set off to meet the Makers in the City of the Crows and discover why. The journey is beset with dangers and Raffi''s courage is tested at every turn. They are joined by the enigmatic girl Carys and face an uncertain future in the City of Destruction. Will they be able to summon the Crow to help them? Or will the everpresent Watch eventually eliminate them?

Sixteen-year-old Raffi and Master Galen continue to evade the Watch as they seek the Coronet, a potent ancient relic that could be their only hope for defeating the power that is destroying Anara.

Sequel to At the World''s End. Caz and Will struggle to fit in at the Settlement where the genders are strictly separated. After the battle to arrive, it seems that they may be setting out into the frozen world once again. Gripping YA dystopia from the author of Incarceron.

"The ghost in Sarahs bedroom is begging for help. He just needs her to open a box.... can she save a soul, or is it a dreadful trap? Chilling supernatural thriller.

Katie has had her fair share of heartache. The men that come into her life just end up making it more complicated and she is starting to lose her faith in the opposite sex altogether. The only exception is her Grandpa, Edward, whom she has lived with since the age of six after her parents died. He is the constant that makes Katie feel safe and happy and she enjoys the comfortable life they have built together in their large, country house - Sweet Haven. After yet another man turns out to be only after Katie''s wealth, she takes herself away to a seaside retreat - intent on relaxing and healing the wounds. However, Katie''s world is about to change forever as she meets Rob, the handsome singer from her hotel, and he sets out to convince her that not all men are the same; especially not this one.

The theft of a bell from the newly discovered tomb of Meredith Rhys, scholar and possibly sorcerer awakens a kelpie, the powerful, beautiful, deadly and malicious legendary creature bound against its own will to serve the possessor of the bell for good or evil.

Timid Mirany is chosen to be a priestess to serve the High Priestess, who interprets the wishes of the god as conveyed through the Oracle. However, Mirany is unprepared for the dangers of her exalted position.