On Monday, 8th September, 2008 at 9.30am, De La Salle High School invited Mr Peter J. Murray to give a presentation about his books.  Peter J Murray is currently taking the UK children’s book world by storm with his trilogy of Mokee Joe books.  The presentation, aimed at children in Key Stage Two and Three was entertaining, dynamic and interactive.   

Three years ago Peter was a Deputy Head at Cheam School and struggling to find any interest for his books in the publishing world. So he decided to publish his first book Mokee Joe Is Coming. The book was an instant hit and sold 12,000 copies in a very short time.  He was immediately snapped up by Hodder & Stoughton and there he completed the rest of the Mokee Joe trilogy.

Following on from this early success, Peter won the Sheffield Children’s Book Award, a very prestigious regional competition, which was voted for by the children from 112 Sheffield Schools. The books are spooky action adventures involving three primary school children aged 11 and their scary encounters with a mysterious shadowy figure, Mokee Joe. Peter re-enacts parts of the story and dresses up as some of the main characters (even the seven foot  figure of Mokee Joe ) as well as involving the children.   Peter says, “Wherever we go the children just go wild – they love the books and just get a real buzz from hearing about Mokee Joe.” 

Peter brought both Bonebreaker and Mokee Joe books to school on the day and signed copies for the children at the end of the presentation as well as providing a set of the trilogy for the school library. 

The presentation began at 9.30am and lasted for just under two hours. The Year Eight pupils were totally engrossed and captivated by Peter’s entertaining and exciting presentation and were delighted to purchase their signed copies of the Mokee Joe books.

For further information on Mokee Joe and other publications by the same author, visit www.peterjmurray.co.uk .