The Preston born author became an apprentice himself after attending Preston Catholic college. When asked why he decided to go into teaching and writing instead, Delaney replied "I completed my apprenticeship but didn’t like the job. So whilst still working as a fitter I studied A Levels at night school and then went to Lancaster University and then ST Martin’s College and became a teacher." Joseph Delaney work as an English teacher in Blackpool where he helped to found the 'Media and Film Studies Department'. He also adds that he tried to write books for years but "...only rarely completed them".
When Delaney began writing his first works were written under the pseudonym 'J.K. Haderack'. When asked why he chose to use a pseudonym he replied. "I liked the idea of a name change as I had been using ‘Delaney’ and had many rejections. The name is a play on the hero of ’Dune’ by Frank Herbert. It is also a bit of fun the name also meaning ‘JK had a hack’!". Delaney's first publishing under his real name was the first book of The Wardstone Chronicles 'The Spook's Apprentice'.
Despite the huge success of the book series 'The Wardstone Chronicles', the Spook's Apprentice film, 'Seventh Son', taken from the series did not fare so well with critics. Despite this,, fans of Joseph Delaney and his widely acclaimed book series were out in droves, with box office takings standing at over $100 million dollars, even though reviews had rated the film poorly, such as Rotten Tomatoes scoring the film as low as 13% and The Guardian coming in with a measly 1/5. This is indeed a testament to the success of the books and the loyalty of Delaney's fans. It wasn't only the critics that were less than enamoured by the film, the most important person in the concept of the film, someone as close to the story of Tom Ward and Master Gregory as possible, Joseph Delaney, the author of the 'Wardstone Chronicles' himself was less than impressed.
The film 'Seventh Son' was written as an adaptation of Delaney's work, 'The Spook's Apprentice'. Delaney pointed out that, "the first script was written by Matthew Greenberg was good and very close to the narrative of ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’". He goes on to say that over time the screenplay changed because, "...too many other people got involved and the final screenplay has been written by a committee!" Causing the film to now only slightly resemble any part of the book.
As we discussed the film 'Seventh Son' which came out in March of 2015, I asked Delaney if he enjoyed the film, he begrudgingly admitted "I think it is successful as a film for kids with lots of special effects. It is meant to be fun. But I am far from pleased with the outcome. They ripped out most of the dialogue and anything that made the idea original. Then they put in old worn-out genre devices like a magic stone! I spoke to Jeff Bridges and he asked me to tell him more about the stone. I couldn’t because I didn’t write anything about a magic stone!".
We moved topics to what he would change about the film if he could, "I would change almost everything.”. He replied, “I would keep the stars though and give them better dialogue to give them a chance to act!" Delaney then set the scene for his idea for the film. "I would need four of the books to make a film that would please me. I would start with Tom being chased through the forest by Grimalkin (from ‘The Spook’s Battle’). Then I would cut back to the beginning of the first book where Tom meets John Gregory for the first time. Mother Malkin would have a dirty face and would be shown eating a rat with blood dribbling down her chin. Alicia Vikander, who plays Alice in the film, would be encouraged to get a lot more creepy and scary and she would sniff Tom a lot. I could go on forever! Maybe they will turn it into a TV series like ‘Merlin’ one day". One could only hope.
As we moved to the topic of favourite authors and books Delaney said this, "I have no recollection of a favourite book. The first book I read was ‘Treasure Island’ but soon after that, I discovered my favourite genres: fantasy, science fiction, horror, ghosts and folk tales." He added that his favourite author as a child was Tolkien.
The final question was about aspiring writers and what tips he would give them. Delaney made three points. "Firstly keep a notebook and jot down any ideas that come into your head. They are like dreams and fade away like mist if you fail to write them down. I have already recorded the idea I got in the pub last night.
"Secondly read widely over a wide range of genres. I still read a lot and I believe I am learning to write as I do so. I take note of how a story is told (for example multiple narrators or single POV) and see what is good and bad about it and think about my own writing."
Finally, he added. "make time to write. You should be writing something every week (most days if possible). Life gets in the way of writing (job, family, watching football) so you need time for yourself. I used to get up early (about 6 am) and write for an hour before going off to do my full-time teaching job. It was the only way to get any writing done. I wrote ‘The Spooks Apprentice’ that way."
I enjoyed speaking to Joseph Delaney and hope that one day the book series will adapted into a television show, If you would like to read the books, The Wardstone Chronicles is available on Amazon and Audible.
Interview Transcript:
GHC: When you were an apprentice yourself, did your mentor act anything like the spook in the stories? Did they have some rules that you were very odd?
DELANEY: I worked with several mentors but the first one was probably the closest to the Spook. He was very calm and confident and took great pride in his work. At one point all the apprentices were given notebooks. We had to write down how a piece of machinery was dismantled and assembled. So that went into the stories about Tom Ward.
GHC: Why did you decide to change from working as an apprentice to getting your degree and becoming an English Teacher? To then go on to write a series of books.
DELANEY: I completed my apprenticeship but didn’t like the job. So whilst still working as a fitter I studied A Levels at night school and then went to Lancaster University and then ST Martin’s College and became a teacher. I tried to write books for many years but only rarely completed them. In 1991 I managed to get an agent and from then on wrote a full book each year. The first Spook book was signed up by Random House in 2002 and published in 2004.
GHC: For your first piece of work, you used the pseudonym J.K.Haderak. Why is it that you decided to use a pseudonym?
DELANEY: I liked the idea of a name change as I had been using ‘Delaney’ and had many rejections. The name is a play on the hero of ’Dune’ by Frank Herbert. It is also a bit of fun the name also meaning ‘JK had a hack’!
GHC: Were you asked to write the screenplay for the film ‘Seventh Son’? or was it a team and then you wrote the book 'Seventh Son' based on the film?
DELANEY: The book came first – at least ten years before the screenplay. I think the first script written by Matthew Greenberg was good and very close to the narrative of ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’. Then too10 many other people got involved and the final screenplay has been written by a committee! I had no part in shaping that film!
GHC: Did you expect your work to become the inspiration for a film?
DELANEY: In my dreams, I hoped the book would be turned into a film.
GHC: Are you pleased with the outcome of the film ‘Seventh Son’?
DELANEY: I think it is successful as a film for kids with lots of special effects. It is meant to be fun. But I am far from pleased with the outcome. They ripped out most of the dialogue and anything that made the idea original. Then they put in old worn-out genre devices like a magic stone! I spoke to Jeff Bridges and he asked me to tell him more about the stone. I couldn’t because I didn’t write anything about a magic stone!
GHC: If you could, would you change anything about the film?
DELANEY: I would change almost everything. I would keep the stars though and give them better dialogue to give them a chance to act! But I would need four of the books to make a film that would please me. I would start with Tom being chased through the forest by Grimalkin (in ‘The Spook’s Battle’). Then I would cut back to the beginning of the first book where Tom meets John Gregory for the first time. Mother Malkin would have a dirty face and would be shown eating a rat with blood dribbling down her chin. Alicia Vikander, who plays Alice in the film, would be encouraged to get a lot more creepy and scary and she would sniff Tom a lot. I could go on forever! Maybe they will turn it into a TV series like ‘Merlin’ one day.
GHC: Where did you come up with ideas for your books?
DELANEY: Some ideas come from dreams but they can drift into my head at any moment. I was out having a pub meal with some of my family yesterday and I got an idea for a book just sitting there at the table. The idea for the Spook books came from the village where I live. It is supposed to have a boggart so I imagined a man whose job was to deal with such things.
GHC: What was your favourite book as a child?
DELANEY: I have no recollection of a favourite book. The first book I read was ‘Treasure Island’ but soon after that, I discovered my favourite genres: fantasy, science fiction, horror, ghosts and folk tales.
GHC: Who was your favourite author growing up?
DELANEY: My favourite author was Tolkien.
GHC: Finally, my father started writing notes for a book he wants to write, have you got any tips for him or anyone else who wants to pursue writing?
DELANEY: There are just three main things. Firstly keep a notebook and jot down any ideas that come into your head. They are like dreams and fade away like mist if you fail to write them down. I have already recorded the idea I got in the pub last night.
Secondly read widely over a wide range of genres. I still read a lot and I believe I am learning to write as I do so. I take note of how a story is told (for example multiple narrators or single POV) and see what is good and bad about it and think about my own writing.
Thirdly make time to write. You should be writing something every week (most days if possible). Life gets in the way of writing (job, family, watching football) so you need time for yourself. I used to get up early (about 6 am) and write for an hour before going off to do my full-time teaching job. It was the only way to get any writing done. I wrote ‘The Spooks Apprentice’ that way.
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