Justin Somper is the bestselling author with the Vampirates sequence.
The first title, Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean debuted in 2005 and has sold over 100,000 copies to date in the UK. Justin was dubbed “The Next Big Thing” by Sunday Times Magazine while, in Waterstone’s “Harry Potter Report”, the chain’s buyers selected Demons of the Ocean as their top recommendation for fans of Harry Potter. The Sunday Times said Vampirates “promises to be an addictive series”. The Evening Standard welcomed “a vivid and bloodthirsty debut”, whilst The Times acclaimed “a clever combination of two genres that could make it as popular as Pirates of the Caribbean”.
With Demons of the Ocean, Justin won the Birmingham KS3 “Explores” Book Award and the Solihull Children’s Book Award. He was runner-up in the North East Children’s Book Award and short-listed for the prestigious Red House Children’s Book Award. Justin’s work has also won praise from fellow children’s book authors including Darren Shan who calls it, “An intriguing mix of piracy and vampirism. Justin Somper has brought new terrors to the blood-drenched seas – bravo!!!”
There are now six titles in the Vampirates sequence (not including Dead Deep):
Book 1: Demons of the Ocean (2005)
Book 2: Tide of Terror (2006)
Book 3: Blood Captain (2007)
Book 4: Black Heart (2009)
Book 5: Empire of Night (2010)
Book 6: Immortal War (2011)
As if writing each book in the sequence isn’t enough, Justin also finds time to reply to the comments and queries left by his readers on vampirates.co.uk and Facebook. To celebrate a launch of VAMPIRATES: EMPIRE OF NIGHT, Justin participated in a live event with bittenbybooks, where he chatted live on-line with fans globally.
Traveling to festivals, schools and libraries is a highlight of Justin’s year, when he gets the opportunity to meet avid readers and aspiring young writers. Since the publication of Vampirates internationally, Justin has completed events throughout the UK, in France, Australia, Sweden, and the USA – where it’s not out of the question for fans to drive across state lines for the chance to meet Captain Somper!
On the lookout for more stuff? Why not sign up to the VAMPIRATES CREW – you’ll get Justin’s newsletter, have access to exclusive competitions and hot news before anyone else!
See what Justin has to say for himself when faced with tough questions on writing Vampirates, sword-fighting, and the things he couldn’t possibly live without.
Justin talks about the world of the Vampirates and shows us around his writer’s den – where the magic really happens!
The brand-spanking, chock full of good stuff, JUSTIN SOMPER WEBSITE will launch in JULY 2012. Be sure to check back in a few short weeks for some EXCLUSIVE news about Justin’s LATEST WRITING PROJECT!
The year is 2505. The oceans have risen. A new era of piracy is dawning. A vicious storm separates twins Connor and Grace Tempest, destroying their boat and leaving them fighting for their lives in the cruel, cold water.
Connor may only be fourteen but he’s taken to the life of a pirate like a duck to water. But his loyalties are divided between his shipmates and his sister. Meanwhile Grace isn’t finding pirate life so appealing. She cannot shake the feeling that all is not well on the Vampirate ship she has left behind. Dare she try to return to it?
For Connor these are testing times aboard the Diablo and he finds himself crossing a line from which there is no return. Grace also faces danger as she travels with Lorcan to Sanctuary, a place of healing presided over by Vampirate guru, Mosh Zu.
There's a new ship of vampirates roaming the seas, leaving a trail of fear and devastation in its wake. When a high-profile pirate is slain, the Pirate Federation takes decisive action and begins training up a ship of dedicated vampire hunters.
Sidorio, fuelled by grief and revenge, is intent on building a new empire to bring terror to the oceans. But he faces growing opposition from the Pirate Federation and the more benign vampirate realm. Twins Grace and Connor Tempest, reeling from the discovery of their true parentage are thrust deep into the heart of the conflict.
A bloody war is raging across the oceans, with the Pirate Federation and Nocturnals in alliance against the renegade Vampirates, led by Sidorio and Lola. Connor and Grace Tempest each have important roles to play - he as a pirate warrior at the heart of the fight; she as a powerful healer working with the war-wounded.
Dead Deep is a one off short story written exclusively for World Book Day in 2007. The action takes place between the end of Demons of the Ocean and the beginning of Tide of Terror when Connor and his new pirate buddies Bart and Jez have their first bit of shore leave...but soon find them selves in deadly deep water.