With the convening of the Magicians' and Enchanters' Convention, magicians, wizards, and enchanters from all over the Hidden and Obvious Worlds have flocked to Owlchurch. But when the valuable golden prizes donated by the Klint-king are stolen, Thomas and his friends start to investigate. The mysterious Brock Blackbeard is high on their list of suspects, but when they're kidnapped by a gang of ruthless thieves it appears that they've stumbled upon a much more elaborate and dangerous plot.
Born in Indonesia of French parents, Sophie Masson was sent to live with her paternal grandmother in Toulouse, France, when she was just a baby and lived there till she was nearly five, when her parents came back from Indonesia and took her to Australia. All the rest of her childhood, the family stayed in Australia, with frequent trips back to France, and this dual heritage underpins a good deal of Sophie's work.
Sophie's first book appeared in 1990 and since then she has published more than fifty novels, mainly for children and young adults, but with several for children as well. her books have been published in Australia, the USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and many other countries. She has also had many short stories and articles published in newspapers, magazines, and online journals. She is a regular contributor to the writing blog Writer Unboxed(www.writerunboxed.com)
Sophie Masson lives in the high, cool New England tableland area of Northern New South Wales, Australia, with her husband. She has three grown-up children. She holds a BA and M.Litt in French and English literature, and is on the committee of the Australian Society of Authors.
Sophie's website is at www.sophiemasson.org
