Joseph Delaney

Joseph Henry Delaney (25 July 1945 – 16 August 2022) was an English author best known for his children's dark fantasy series, Spook's, inspired by the folklore, history and geography of Lancashire.

The series has been published in 30 countries, achieving sales of over 4.5 million copies.

Born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1945, Delaney started his career as a teacher, who also authored science fiction and fantasy novels under the pen name J. K. Haderack.

Joseph Henry Delaney was born on 25 July 1945 in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a labourer; he was the oldest of four children.

As a child, Delaney had a recurring nightmare where he sat with his mother while she knitted, when, suddenly, a shadowy figure emerged from the coal cellar, picked him up, and carried him into darkness.

Delaney attended Preston Catholic College and then worked as an apprentice engineer and fitter.

He took his A-Levels at night school before studying English, history and sociology as a mature student at Lancaster University.

Following graduation, he studied at St Martin's College to become a teacher.

He later became an English teacher at Blackpool Sixth Form College, where he started the Media and Film Studies Department.

Delaney married Marie Smith in 1968; they had three children and nine grandchildren.

In the 1980s Delaney completed an Open University degree in an effort to become a computer programmer.

In 1983, he moved to the village of Stalmine, where he discovered that, in the past, a boggart had been found there by a priest; he noted this down and the finding later became the source of the Spook's series.

Delaney's first works were written under the pseudonym J. K. Haderack; a reference to the Kwisatz Haderach from Frank Herbert's Dune universe.

After struggling to find success publishing science fiction and fantasy books for adults, his agent encouraged him to try writing for a younger audience, to meet the brief of a children's publisher.

To fulfil the requirements of the brief, Delaney wrote a book based on a story he had first written in 1993, which was inspired by Stalmine's boggart, as well as the folklore, history and geography of Lancashire; Delaney also drew on his childhood memories and experiences.

After struggling to find success as an author of books for adults, Delaney transitioned to writing children's books under his real name, beginning with the publication of The Spook's Apprentice, in 2004.

The book was widely successful, selling over 3 million copies and winning multiple awards.

It has been adapted into a play script, the feature film Seventh Son, and a graphic novel.

The Spook's Apprentice marked the start of his highly acclaimed Spook's series, which eventually encompassed 20 books, along with several other works set in the same universe.

After the publication of the series' second book, Delaney retired from teaching to become a full-time writer.

In 2004, it was published as The Spook's Apprentice, under his real name, which became the first book in his dark fantasy Spook's series.

The book was widely successful, selling over 3 million copies, and winning the Sefton Book Award, Hampshire Book Award and Prix Plaisirs de Lire awards, as well as being shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year.

This marked the start of the Spook's series, which achieved international success chronicling the adventures of Delaney's lead character, Tom Ward, who is apprenticed to John Gregory, the local spook, to help protect the County from the Dark.

The series has been published in 30 countries, with sales exceeding 4.5 million copies.

Following the publication of the second book in the series, Delaney retired from teaching to write full-time.

Delaney identified J. R. R. Tolkien and Frank Herbert as his two biggest inspirations.

Similar to Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, Delaney used his dreams to help write his stories, and never plotted or planned his stories in advance.

Delaney travelled widely to boost the visibility of his books, frequently choosing New Zealand and Singapore for winter stays due to his aversion to cold weather.

However, the majority of his time was devoted to his native county, Lancashire, which served as a profound inspiration for all of his literary works.

Delaney authored two additional series for children.

She died of cancer in 2007.

In 2014, The Spook's Apprentice was adapted into both a play script and the feature film Seventh Son.

Additionally, Delaney published two other series for children: the science fiction and fantasy trilogy Arena 13, and the dark fantasy duology Aberrations.

Delaney died in Manchester in 2022, at the age of 77.

His final book, Brother Wulf: Wulf's War, was published posthumously the following year.

From 2015 to 2017, he published the science fiction and fantasy trilogy Arena 13.

The trilogy follows the journey of Leif, a sixteen-year-old determined to conquer the notorious fighting pit, Arena 13, and vanquish Hob, the malevolent being reigning over and terrorizing the city zone of Midgard city, who is responsible for Leif's family's death.

From 2018 to 2019, he published the dark fantasy duology Aberrations, which tells the story of Crafty; trapped in the Shole's mist, Crafty must train as a gate grub in the Castle, operating portals for the Gatemancers guild and relying on his cunning to survive.

Delaney, who was living in Manchester, died on 16 August 2022, after a period of illness; he was 77 years old.

He was working on his final book, Brother Wulf: Wulf's War, right up to his death; it was published posthumously in 2023.