Travelling Book Fairs

Justin Somper wanted to be the fifth member of Abba or Wimbledon Champion when he was young. He says: "I drew a tennis net, and Bjorn Borg lurking behind it, in chalk on our garage wall and spent hours hitting a squishy ball against it. Sadly, such conscientious practice did not yield the desired results."

English was his favourite subject at school and he was always writing stories. He admits to being a bit of a swat at school but was "terrible at Physics and Chemistry, reduced to tears by Woodwork and pretty pants at sport". Among the things he says he couldn't live without are avocados, his mum's roast beef and trifle, his swimming goggles and disco music.

Justin worked in publishing for a number of years before setting up his own PR consultancy. Vampirates - Demons of the Ocean was his first novel. Drawing together the world of pirate history and vampire myth Justin did a lot of research while working on the novel and even had sword-fighting lessons to experience some of his characters' action-packed lives. Justin grew up in St Albans and now lives in north London.

Author titles that may be appearing at your book fair

Vampirates #3: The Blood Captain
The vampirates are back in this third title of the series. More incredible adventures for twins Grace and Connor and the crews of the pirate and vampirate ships.

Vampirates #2: Tide of Terror
Connor Tempest may only be fourteen but he's taken to the life of a pirate like a duck to water. But his loyalties are divided between his shipmates and his sister. Grace Tempest isn't finding the pirate life so appealing. She cannot shake the feeling that all is not well on the vampirate ship she left behind. Dare she try to return to it? Sidorio may have been expelled from the vampirate ship but his dark deeds are just beginning. In this sequel to Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean, the seas are rougher than ever and a new tide of terror sweeps up Connor, Grace, their allies and their foes.

Vampirates #1: Demons of the Ocean
Conor and Grace are twins, recently orphaned after their widowed father's death. Rather than being adopted by the town's busy-bodies, they decide to set sail for new pastures in their father's last single possession, his sailing boat. But a vicious storm sees their boat capsize and the twins are separated. Two mysterious ships sail to their rescue - each picking up one twin before disappearing into the mist. Conor wakes to find himself on a pirate ship and is soon being trained up with a cutlass. Meanwhile Grace finds herself locked in a darkened room, as the vampirates wait for night to fall and their feasting to begin... Determined to find each other, yet intrigued by their new shipmates, the twins are about to embark on the biggest adventure of their life...