Malcolm McCoard

Humorous rhyming stories which parody the lives of great Scottish heroes of the past. Mary Queen of Stoats follows Mary from a troubled pup, crowned queen just one week old to her struggles against Liz the First, the weasel Queen of England. Though guaranteed historically inaccurate, its a great light-hearted introduction to these historical figures which will bring a smile to the face of readers of any age. Robert the Goose chronicles the life and mis-adventures of a young gosling with spindly legs as he battles for the Scottish crown and to win the freedom of his native fowl against the tyrant drake King Edward the first. The final installment William Water-horse lifts the lid on the secrets and true nature of the Loch Ness monster. Also known as a kelpie or water-horse - the secrets of the identity and concealment of this practical joker across the ages are finally laid bare!

2017 Purple Dragonfly International award winner in the 'Young adults' category. Like nothing you've read before! A fast moving, laugh-out-loud magical comedy and fantasy adventure that will keep your "heart thumping like a bongo drum strapped to the back of a runaway camel!". Join Maya a young Scottish girl and her know-it-all talking cat Mischief, her living wand Spell and dragon Blink on a series of magical adventures and mishaps as she discovers her magical powers and their hilarious pitfalls. Find out what lies behind the forbidden door. Solve a series of strange riddles and journey across Ayrshire and Arran landmarks in search of clues. How will each of her friends meet with their inevitable sticky end? Can she figure out who the mysterious shadow is and how to defeat it? Is Aunty Dot really that shallow and can Maya really trust her? Or is she destined to be lost in the strange nightmare of the mirror maze? There's only one way to find out, read it! Failure to do so may lead to feelings of disappointment, delusions of sanity and the loss of a potentially right good giggle! This a previously published edition of ASIN B06X9F4GQ7.

Follow Mischief a rather sarcastic witch’s cat, as he trains up his rather dim-witted successor. As guardians of a great and ancient secret, the unlikely friends become entangled in an evil plot to steal the magic from every coven in the land. The strange truth behind witchcraft and the true origins of magic is about to be revealed. If you’ve been waiting for answers to some of life’s most perplexing questions: Why do cats have 9 lives? Who really domesticated the first humans? Why are dogs no longer a cat’s best friend? Is the author completely mad? Can I really resist reading this nonsense? Then the answer to the last question is, don’t! A spin off from the award-winning Young Adult series Maya's Magical Adventures, but a “cracking good stand-alone work in its own right!” Hall of fame Amazon reviewer NN Light says of the series: "Looking for what to read after Harry Potter? Pick this up today! A must read for all fantasy readers, 5 stars.”

Hilarious and surprising sequel to the 2017 Purple Dragonfly prize winning young adult novel Maya's Magical Adventures. Join Maya, her rather grumpy and unhelpful cat Mischief, dragon Blink and friends on another laugh-out-loud mystery as she comes face to face with magical and terrifying foes on an impossible quest to restore her friend's magic bone and with it her powers. To find and restore the lost magic bone and defeat her enemies, Maya and her friends must gather the ingredients for the impossible spell, each of which, naturally enough, it is impossible to find or does not exist. So if you want to find out how to find something that cannot be found, gather ingredients that do not exist and cast an impossible spell that can never be cast ... Stop! Don't read this. It's impossible!

Following the mysterious disappearance of her mother. Maya, a determined and clever Scottish teenager, discovers the strange truth behind her mother's double life as a witch. Now, under the often less than helpful guidance, of her know-it-all cat Mischief, she sets out on an epic adventure to rescue her mum, from a trap like no other. Enlisting the help of another young witchling, Evaline and some very special magical friends along the way, she must pass increasingly challenging initiation tests, to join the fearsome Coven of Deeds in order to secure her mother's release. All is not what it seems however, someone is out to thwart her at every turn. Who can Maya really trust? When her mysterious foe is finally revealed, and the breath-taking extent of the ingenious deception is revealed. One question still remains unanswered... what could have driven them to such extreme measures? The answer, when it comes, is more devastating for Maya and her friends than anyone could have imagined. Their fate and perhaps even the existence of magic itself, is under threat. Now, forced to flee by a seemingly invincible foe, they are led to Threave Castle. An ancient family residence, where the whole story is finally revealed and Maya must face the ultimate test of her courage and wits. Be warned, this is a highly original, imaginative and surprising adventure, an emotional rollercoaster of a book. Maya faces more challenges and unexpected plot twists and turns, than a fat hamster, stuck in a treacle filled labyrinth, complete with hidden trap doors and the occasional crocodile thrown in, just for fun. If you like a fast moving, original and surprising mystery, with a good heart, positive values and a quirky sense of humour, then congratulations, you've just found a hidden gem. If not, consult your doctor and check for a pulse. Most physicians advise at least two chapters every night, before bedtime. Excessive indulgence can lead to over excitement, so please read responsibly!