Young Jason Lurcher learns the hard way that a single hand up a puppet can lead you straight to hell...Frank Lurcher and Tolstoy the Long-Eared Bat! Twenty years ago they were the biggest names in ventriloquism, with their own TV show and endless summer season and panto bookings. But all good things come to an end. Now, Frank Lurcher's a washed-out, grumpy has-been and his scraggy puppet Tolstoy is stuffed away in a trunk in the loft. But trouble is brewing. Frank suddenly declares that his teenage son, Jason, must follow in the family tradition and get a puppet of his own! But someone's got a shrewd idea who that puppet should be. Someone with green eyes, moth-eaten velvety wings, a snarling snout and two extra-large pointy ears...Tolstoy the Long-Eared Bat is making a comeback - with Jason as his new chosen puppeteer. He's out for another shot at TV superstardom, and a gruesome revenge on the showbiz puppets and people that wronged him in the past. Can Jason fight his evil controlling power? Will the lovely Lisa Turmoil, hair-stylist to the stars, help him in his battle - or just go off and give someone a perm? And if you cook a puppet ostrich in a microwave oven, does it count as murder? Paul Magrs' hilarious second novel for Simon & Schuster is for twisted children of all ages.
Paul Magrs was born in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear in 1969. He was educated at Woodham Comprehensive in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, before attending Lancaster University, where he studied English Literature and Creative Writing.
He has written novels for adults, teenagers and children, as well as several original Doctor Who novels for the BBC and Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish Productions.
His most recent Doctor Who project is the five part audiobook series, 'Hornets' Nest', starring Tom Baker and published by BBC Audio.
He'd describe most of his novels as mysteries - sometimes spooky, sometimes fantastic, often funny. His most recent novel is the fourth to feature that courageous double act, Brenda and Effie. It's called 'Hell's Belles', and is published by Headline on Paul's fortieth birthday. At the same time Salt Books are publishing a collection of his short fiction entitled, 'Twelve Stories'.
He lives in Manchester, where he teaches on the Creative Writing MA course at Manchester Metropolitan University.
His website and blog are at: www.paulmagrs.com, and he loves hearing from readers.
