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Michael Scott (The Alchemyst, The Magician) shortlisted for 2009 Irish Book Awards

Ireland’s leading children’s author, Michael Scott, casts a spell over readers as he is shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards 2009

This shortlisting gives further proof to Michael’s position as one of the leading writers for young people and fantasy fans in the world. THE MAGICIAN is the second novel following on from the international bestseller, THE ALCHEMYST.

Michael Scott uniquely weaves historical fact with myth and legend to create un-put-down-able fantasy adventure novels. Michael stumbled across the idea for the books on a trip to Paris: “I can pinpoint, almost to the day when the idea solidified into The Alchemyst. It was late September 2000, in Paris, and I had stumbled – entirely by accident – across Nicholas Flamel’s own house in the narrow Rue du Montmorency: the Auberge Nicolas Flamel.” Michael realised what an interesting character Nicholas Flamel was; a man who, himself, has been the subject of hearsay and rumours since his supposed death in the 15^th century.

But Michael’s books are certainly not dusty tomes of historical fact: “I wanted to write a contemporary fantasy, one set very firmly in the present, with modern teenagers as my heroes, characters who used computers and cell phones, who sent emails and text messages.”

It’s this juxtaposition between modern-day action/adventure and the history and myth that make Michael’s work so original. And he has legions of fans – Michael receives over 1000 emails per week from children and fantasy readers throughout the world wanting to know more about the books.

Irish-born Michael Scott [link to biography, bibliography] began writing over twenty-five years ago, and is one of Ireland’s most successful and prolific authors, with over one hundred titles to his credit, spanning a variety of genres, including Fantasy, Science Fiction and Folklore. He writes for both adults and young adults and is published in thirty-four countries and in twenty-four languages.

He is considered one of the authorities on the folklore of the Celtic lands and is credited with the resurgence of interest in the subject in the mid-1980′s. A bookseller for over 20 years, Michael is an accomplished scriptwriter and headed up the drama department in Tyrone Productions, the creators of Riverdance, where he also scripted for high profile events such as the Special Olympics and the Irish Film and Television Awards. He has worked as a television producer and a presenter.

Praised for his “unparalleled contribution to children’s literature,” by the Guide to Children’s Books, Michael Scott was the Writer in Residence during Dublin’s tenure as European City of Culture in 1991, and has featured in the 2006 edition of Who’s Who in Ireland as one of the 1000 “most significant Irish.”

This is the fourth year of the Irish Book Awards and for the first time, this year, the overall winners of the children’s categories will be chosen by a public vote. Fans can vote at www.irishbookawards.ie

• The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel book review

Related posts

• Due out in August: The Necromancer by Michael Scott
• Michael Scott’s The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel to be adapted for the silver screen
• Exciting competition for Michael Scott’s Irish and Northern Irish fans
• Michael Scott – Questions and Answers

Posted: April 12th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Michael Scott