Jones, Frewin 1954- (Michael Coleman, Sam Hutton, Allan Frewin Jones, Fiona Kelly, Steven Saunders)

PERSONAL:

Born April 30, 1954, in London, England; married Claudia Duwendag, 1991. Education: Middlesex Polytechnic, diploma of higher education, 1983.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Herne Hill, South London, England. Agent—Laurence Pollinger Ltd., 18 Maddox St., Mayfair, London W1R OEU, England.

CAREER:

Has also held clerical and civil service jobs and worked for a trade union; full-time freelance writer, 1992—.

MEMBER:

Amnesty International.

WRITINGS:

(With Lesley Pollinger) Writing for Children and Getting Published (nonfiction), NTC Publishing Group (Lincolnwood, IL), 1997.

"FAERIE PATH" SERIES; YOUNG ADULT FANTASY NOVELS

The Faerie Path, Eos (New York, NY), 2007.

The Lost Queen, Eos (New York, NY), 2007.

The Sorcerer King, Eos (New York, NY), 2008.

FOR YOUNG ADULTS; AS ALLAN FREWIN JONES

The Mole and Beverley Miller, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1987.

The Cost of Going Free, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1988.

Rabbit Back and Doubled, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1989.

Millions of Lisa, Knight (London, England), 1990.

Bad Penny, Red Fox (London, England), 1990.

The Half-Good Samaritan, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1991.

Tommy and the Sloth, Simon & Schuster Young Books (Hemel Hempstead, England), 1992.

Wishing Bird and Co., Simon & Schuster Young Books (Hemel Hempstead, England), 1993.

Burning Issues, Bodley Head (London, England), 1994.

Anna's Birthday Adventure (for children), Macdonald Young (Hove, England), 1997.

The Wicker Man, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1998.

The Plague Pit, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1998.

Blood Stone, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

Unquiet Graves, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

The Wreckers, Macmillan's Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

The Monk's Curse, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

Ghostlight, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

The Phantom Airman, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1999.

(With Adrienne Kennaway) Meerkat in Trouble, Star Bright Books (New York, NY), 1999.

The Tears of Isis, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 2005.

The Amulet of Quilla, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 2005.

The Mooncake of Chang-O, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 2005.

Legend of the Pharaoh's Tomb, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005.

Legend of the Anaconda King, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006.

The Cat Lady (stories), compiled by Damien Graves, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006.

(With Sally Jones) Shut Your Mouth/Nick Shadow, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 2006.

"HUNTER AND MOON" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; AS ALLAN FREWIN JONES

The Alien Fire File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

The Time Traveller File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

The Skull Stone File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

The Weird Eyes File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

The Thunderbolt File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1998.

The Starship File, Hodder Children's Books (London, England), 1998.

"LITTLE SISTER" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; AS ALLAN FREWIN JONES; CREATED BY BEN M. BAGLIO

Copy Cat, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

The Great Sister War, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

My Sister, My Slave, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

Stacy the Matchmaker, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

The New Stacy, Red Fox (London, England), 1996.

Parent Trouble, Red Fox (London, England), 1996.

Star Search, Red Fox (London, England), 1996.

Summer Camp, Red Fox (London, England), 1996.

"STACY AND FRIENDS" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; AS ALLAN FREWIN JONES; CREATED BY BEN M. BAGLIO

Sneaking Out, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

Sister Switch, Red Fox (London, England), 1995.

Full House, Red Fox (London, England), 1996.

Party Time!, Red Fox (London, England), 1998.

Pippa's Problem Page, Red Fox (London, England), 1998.

My Real Best Friend, Red Fox (London, England), 1998.

You Look Great!, Red Fox (London, England), 1999.

Bad Boy, Red Fox (London, England), 1999.

Scary Sleepover, Red Fox (London, England), 1999.

Pippa on Air, Red Fox (London, England), 1999.

Dream Sister, Random House Children's Books Books (London, England), 1999.

Fern Flips, Red Fox (London, England), 1999.

UNDER PSEUDONYM STEVEN SAUNDERS

Dark Secrets, Red Ink, Macdonald (London, England), 1988.

Kisschase, Macdonald (London, England), 1989.

Blind Ally, Macdonald (London, England), 1989.

"MYSTERY CLUB" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; UNDER PSEUDONYM FIONA KELLY

Secret Clues, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1993.

Dangerous Tricks, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1993.

Hide and Seek, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

Secret Treasure, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

Crossed Line, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

Poison!, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

Out of Control, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

The Secret Room, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1994.

"MYSTERY KIDS" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; UNDER PSEUDONYM FIONA KELLY

Spy-Catchers, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1995.

The Empty House, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1995.

Blackmail!, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

Hostage!, Hodder & Stoughton (London, England), 1996.

UNDER PSEUDONYM MICHAEL COLEMAN

Virus Attack, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

Access Denied, Macmillan Children's Books (London, England), 1997.

"SPECIAL AGENTS" SERIES; FOR YOUNG ADULTS; UNDER PSEUDONYM SAM HUTTON

Countdown, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Deep End, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Final Shot, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Full Throttle, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Kiss and Kill, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2004.

Meltdown, HarperCollins Children's Books (New York, NY), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Frewin Jones is a prolific British writer who has published dozens of books for young adult readers under both his full name, Allan Frewin Jones, and a number of pseudonyms. He initially earned an income as a clerk and government worker while he wrote in his free time, but in 1992 he committed to being an author full time. When Jones first began to write for younger readers, most books aimed at that age group dealt with the transition to adulthood and the hardships that accompanied it, including falling in love, sexual relationships, the dangers of pregnancy, and so on. Such stories typically illustrated what might happen to a young person who jumps too quickly or rashly into adult behavior without proper forethought or preparation. Jones, however, was more interested in the childish side of that coin. He focuses instead on all of the insecurities and innocence inherent in the growing up process just before one transitions to the adult side of life. As a result, his books explore such subjects as unrequited crushes, first kisses, holding hands, and the terror inherent in asking a girl out for the very first time. Jones's books also address topics like social class and financial status, which affect children at all levels and greatly impact their relationships and means of socializing.

The Mole and Beverley Miller, Jones's first young adult book, tells the story of a shy boy who is in love with a girl named Beverley; wonder of wonders, she loves him too. But when Beverley has a bike accident and ends up in a coma, the boy must deal with a myriad of difficult emotional issues. In Kisschase, a far less innocent story, Paul finds himself jeopardized by his friendship with a young college girl named Naomi, whose former boyfriend has a violent streak. Naomi turns out to be the type of person who courts danger by researching drug dealers and pimps for a college project. The book discusses various beliefs about casual sex versus only being intimate within the confines of a committed relationship.

Jones has written numerous series for young adults. The "Stacy and Friends" and the "Little Sister" series are based on a concept developed by Ben M. Baglio. These books offer younger readers a number of stories focusing on family dynamics, competition between and older and younger sister, first flirting experiences, and the joys and sorrows of friendship. Under the name Fiona Kelly, he has written two mystery series: the "Mystery Club" books and the "Mystery Kids" titles. He also penned the "Hunter and Moon" mystery series.

Writing as Sam Hutton, Jones is also the author of the "Special Agents" novels, a crime series for young adults that features a trio of teenage special agents working as part of an elite, secret unit of the British Special Branch. The books include Deep End, Countdown, Final Shot, Kiss and Kill, Full Throttle, and Meltdown. The first book introduces Maddie Cooper, whose entire life changes when she and her parents are shot at in the street. Her mother is killed, her father crippled, and while Maddie recovers, her dancing aspirations are no longer a possibility. But thanks to her father's career at Scotland Yard, Maddie has options other girls might not. She signs up for training as part of her father's former unit: the Police Investigation Command. Her decision leads to her being teamed with two other whiz kids, Alex Cox, who excels at undercover work, and electronics genius Danny Bell. The series continues with the new team's ongoing adventures.

The Faerie Path is the first book in a paranormal trilogy by Jones. It begins when Anita Palmer reaches her sixteenth birthday and suddenly finds herself transported out of her home in London to the Faerie World. It turns out that she is not normal teenager Anita after all, but Tania, the Princess of Faerie and the youngest of seven daughters of Oberon and Tatiana, the King and Queen of the realm. She vanished more than 500 years before, and now that she has returned, she is expected to take up her rightful place. Sleeping Beauty-like, the Faerie land has been in a sort of stasis since her disappearance, and time has not actually passed, so her parents are still young and feel as if she was only just recently lost to them. However, Anita is not sure she wants to stay in this new world, and as time goes by she misses the life she has known and the parents who raised her more and more. Anita has a rare gift in that she can pass between the two realms; it is a talent someone might wish to steal from her. Suddenly, it becomes very clear that there was a reason she vanished and a reason she has returned, and Anita must get to the bottom of the mystery. In a review for Kliatt, Donna Scanlon noted that "if the plot and characters are at times transparent … Jones introduces some original fresh ideas."

The series continues with The Lost Queen, in which Anita, now Tania, must return to her old world in search of her mother, Tatiana, who has gone missing. The book serves as a reverse quest, with Tania aided by Edric Chanticleer, who is known to her mortal parents as her human boyfriend, Eric. Ultimately, this causes problems as Tania must explain her disappearance, during which time she was in the Faerie World, while taking into account that her parents still believe they have the right to ground her. Again reviewing for Kliatt, Scanlon observed some inconsistencies in this installment, but concluded that "the storyline is strong, the writing is lively and vivid, and the breakneck pace at the end will keep the pages turning." Jones completes his trilogy with the 2008 release, The Sorcerer King, in which Tania and Edric make one final return to Faerie, only to discover their land has been invaded and it is up to them to save it.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

St. James Guide to Young Adult Writers, 2nd edition, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1999.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2007, Krista Hutley, review of The Faerie Path, p. 82.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, March, 2007, April Spisak, review of The Faerie Path, p. 297.

CM Magazine, May 14, 1999, review of The Plague Pit; May 14, 1999, review of The Wicker Man.

Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2006, review of The Faerie Path, p. 1270; September 15, 2007, review of The Lost Queen.

Kliatt, January, 2007, Donna Scanlon, review of The Faerie Path, p. 14; September, 2007, Donna Scanlon, review of The Lost Queen, p. 13.

School Librarian, August, 1995, review of The Great Sister War, p. 109; November, 1997, review of Anna's Birthday Adventure, p. 191; summer, 1998, review of The Alien Fire File; summer, 1998, review of The Time Traveller File; summer, 1998, review of The Weird Eyes File; spring, 1999, reviews of Meerkat in Trouble, The Plague Pit, and The Wicker Man.

School Library Journal, March, 2007, Beth L. Meister, review of The Faerie Path, p. 212.

Times Educational Supplement, October 28, 1994, Jan Mark, review of Burning Issues, p. 16; May 2, 1997, review of Writing for Children and Getting Published, p. 8; June 6, 1997, reviews of The Alien Fire File, The Skull Stone File, and The Weird Eyes File, p. 8.

Voice of Youth Advocates, April, 2007, Angela Carstensen, review of The Faerie Path, p. 66.

ONLINE

Em's Bookshelf,http://emsbookshelf.blogspot.com/ (November 3, 2007), review of The Faerie Path.

Eternal Night,http://www.eternalnight.co.uk/ (January 10, 2008), Amanda Kilgore, review of The Faerie Path.

Fantastic Fiction Web site,http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/ (January 10, 2008), profile of Frewin Jones.

HarperCollins Web site,http://www.harpercollins.com/ (January 10, 2008), profile of Frewin Jones.