One of the best things about working for Puffin is meeting new authors who might never have written a book before. We’re so lucky to publish their books first and read them before anyone else!
That’s what happened with a new book, which published this month – Keeper of the Realms: Crow’s Revenge by Marcus Alexander. Marcus had published this book himself before but, when a Puffin editor heard about it, she decided that we had to have it!
In this book Charlie Keeper is forced from her home by a bloodthirsty and terrifying stranger, but in escaping she discovers her house holds the gateway to the realm of Bellania - a place of myth, magic . . . and an evil Lord with a very bad attitude.
Charlie is no ordinary girl; she is full of energy, attitude and determination. How many other young girls could survive in a strange new realm far from home, making unbelievable new friends and even unlocking secret powers they never knew they had?
Even more impressive – in between making new friends (and enemies), learning to control her new powers, and getting used to life in Bellania, Charlie manages to learn a new sport – K’Changa – which is based on different martial arts and dance styles that author Marcus has encountered during his travels around the globe.
Which is how I ended up at Hendon gym in London a couple of months ago filming some of the moves that Charlie learns whilst playing K’Changa. From break-dance moves to Kung-Fu-inspired kicks and flicks, freerunning, dance, gymnastics as well as some wushu and XMA (extreme martial arts) influences, the Hendon gymnasts showed how all these could combine to create a Bellanian sport to rival football in our world.
Take a look at some of the tutorial videos here and see some K’Changa moves for yourself!
Julia Teece
Puffin Marketing Assistant
