We are delighted to announce the longlist for the TMWS Book Award 2026. This is for the best book written for young people in the last academic year, as chosen by TMWS students. Congratulations to all those on the longlist. We will be narrowing it down to a shortlist over the next few weeks.

Already up to date on the Night House Files? Never fear. The Nightwatchman has delivered another file. Keep your eyes peeled for details.

These are brilliant 🤩

Need something scary in yer life?

Well, that was wonderfully bloody and bonkers.

Ahhh, we love this series!! 😍 The second of The Night House Files by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social (pub. @barringtonstoke.bsky.social) is the Wintermoor Lights, where some kids start behaving strangely after seeing lights in the sky. I won't tell you what happens but what a reveal it was at the end!

Seven years ago today, I was hosting a remembrance event & had a crazy idea to work alongside the Victoria Tunnels & have an author read a section of their war related book 55 feet underground. Who would be mad enough to help me? It was always the legend that is @dansmithauthor.bsky.social

Congratulations @dansmithauthor.bsky.social as #TheDeadsoulProject shortlists for the 2026 Brilliant Book Award! bba.inspireculture.org.uk

In #PhilHickes's spine-tingling Barrington Stoke debut, Cody and his friends set off into the woods on #Halloween to search for the haunted McBride House. But what they find there is more terrifying than the three teenagers could ever have imagined... bit.ly/42nVPUO 🎃

What really happened at Alpine Heights, and why did the Wintermoor children disappear? Discover the truth no-one wanted you to hear in the #NightHouseFiles, a terrifying new series from master of sci-fi horror @dansmithauthor.bsky.social. bit.ly/4jW711S. bit.ly/4mFvzx3. ✨

Looking for some proper scary Halloween reads? (Can be read at other times of the year, too!)

Spooky season is underway at Magster Towers, and The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social is a welcome party guest. The spirit of The Village of the Damned flows, wrapped up in a completely different mystery. Sharply paced,building to a terrifying crescendo. Love this series! ☠

Just read THE WINTERMOOR LIGHTS by Dan Smith Mysterious lights in the sky affect kids in a terrible way & only one girl sees what’s happening. A great horror/SF book with a real sense of dread. Nice “investigative” feel to it too. Wonderful! @dansmithauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

The autumn nights are drawing in. The perfect time to learn the truth about what really happened in Wintermoor ... if you dare.

Just read THE DEADSOUL PROJECT by Dan Smith. Something awful invades a 1970s tower block & two kids fight for their lives. This is fantastic horror/sf book, scary & tense, with a clever “investigative” structure to the story. Brilliant stuff! @dansmithauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Today is the #DayofGermanUnity, the 35th anniversary of two German states becoming one again. Here is a fab classroom resource from @dansmithauthor.bsky.social to explain to kids what separation meant. A brilliant classroom resource! timetunnellers.com/2024/11/20/t...

US editions are here!

The perfect choice for 11+ readers in need of a short read for Spooky Season, The Night House Files: The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social, illustrated by Luke Brookes, is out now from @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #KidlitUK worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/t...

Why should The Night House Files: The Wintermoor Lights be on your radar? If you’ve enjoyed these books then you’ll love the latest from @dansmithauthor.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social out now for 11+ 📖 #kidlituk

Tara Fisher’s best friend Zoe is the first to see the lights over Wintermoor – and she’s never the same again. The adults dismiss what is happening, but will they finally listen when the kids start to disappear…? Terrifying thriller from master of sci-fi @dansmithauthor.bsky.social. bit.ly/4mFvzx3

I'll be at Waterstones in Durham on Saturday to sign books - including my new one! - to chat, and to make a nuisance of myself. Come and say hi! @wstonesdurham

Super scary book post today in the form of The Night House Files: The Wintermoor Lights by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social. Out 11/09 for 11+ readers, huge thanks go to Poppy @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #KidlitUK #UKKidlit

Watch @dansmithauthor.bsky.social talk about his new Night House Files book if you dare! I feel like I’ve been sent some subliminal messages and will be muttering numbers in my sleep tonight! 😵‍💫

The #Nightwatchman has sent @dansmithauthor.bsky.social a second file! Mysterious lights, numbers, personality changes - what really happened to the children of Wintermoor? Coming September 2025. Hear from Dan about the next instalment of the #NightHouseFiles here: bit.ly/44iU9w4...

The #Nightwatchman has sent me another file, and this one is just as terrifying. Can you handle the truth?

The Wall Between Us by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social has been on the shelf too long! In bits by the end (no spoilers) after getting totally and utterly absorbed in Monika and Anya’s Berlin Wall story. Dan - I’m a fan anyway - but this has been a brilliant read. #ukkidlit #berlinwall #historicfiction

Hello all -my lovely #kidlit friends please please can you help by sharing? 🙏🙏🙏 Minty has been in our friendship group since uni (over 20 years. In Jan he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. www.gofundme.com/f/stuart-minty Please please please share (and/or donate but only if you are able to)

Mucho enjoyed this one. Very tense …

A big thank you to all the amazing children’s authors and illustrators who have helped my own children become book dragons. (And a special shoutout to some of my fave northerners @gabriellekent.bsky.social, @dansmithauthor.bsky.social and @chris-callghan.com) #InternationalChildrensBookDay

Blimey, this month has been super busy with school visits. It has been exhausting but rewarding in so many ways, and I have now reappeared on the other side of it. Phew. Now it's time to write!

Just a quick reminder that I have a new book out - The Deadsoul Project - and The Times said it's 'Stephen King for children'! Published by @barringtonstoke.bsky.social and illustrated by Luke Brookes.

Angel of Grasmere by @tompalmerauthor.bsky.social Apocalypse Cow by @orsorrel.bsky.social Bird Boy by @catherinebruton.bsky.social Black Hole Cinema Club by @christopheredge.bsky.social Creatures of Kilburn by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social Cross My Heart and Never Lie by Nora Dåsnes 2/4

Newcastle!!!

Fab display at the school I visited today!

So cool to see The Deadsoul Project as Children's Book of the Week in The Times! @barringtonstoke.bsky.social Times

It's a little bit X-Files, a wee bit Stephen King-lite and a lot of frightening fun... The Times children's book of the week is The Deadsoul Project by Dan Smith, the first in the new Night Files series. Illustrations by Luke Brookes. @dansmithauthor.bsky.social www.thetimes.com/article/3410...

Heading back from 1st visit of World Book … month? Had the difficult task of choosing a favourite front cover design.

Thanks Raffy for the awesome review of The Deadsoul Project. booksupnorth.com/kids-book-re...

I have recently meditated at my spiritual temple (AKA @quinnsbookshop.bsky.social ) and High Priestess, Danielle, has furnished me with these little beauties, for my TBR. Looking forward to getting stuck into these #JonathanStroud @dansmithauthor.bsky.social and Alan Garner.

The Deadsoul Project is the first in the new series, The Night House Files, shared with us by @dansmithauthor.bsky.social and Luke Brookes (pub. @barringtonstoke.bsky.social) on the command of the Nightwatchman. It's a tense tale of terror not for the faint-hearted, and we can't wait to read more!

Trying to concentrate on work but keep getting distracted by all the s@*t the US is throwing at the world.

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project @dansmithauthor.bsky.social is TERRIFYING. There, I’ve said it! Stranger Things meets X Files meets The Raid. Superb horror sci-fi 👏 Out now for 11+. Thanks @barringtonstoke.bsky.social #kidslituk checkemoutbooks.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/t...

I need to shout out @jacquisydney.bsky.social & @karenwallee.bsky.social They have been constant supporters of middle grade & young adult writing. I always see them showing up for debut authors, as well as those of us who are on our 6th or 7th go. I'm so grateful to both of them today! Thank you!

GIVEAWAY! The Nightwatchman is so pleased how The Deadsoul Project has turned out that they have 5 signed copies to giveaway. There will be posters and badges too! Like, Follow, Repost by 24th Feb and the Nightwatchman will pick 5 lucky winners at random. @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

TOMORROW at 10:30, I will be at Drake the Bookshop @drakebookshop.bsky.social to sign books, chat and maybe even ... work behind the till? Can I possibly be trusted? Come along and find out!

Just got home to find this in the post! So excited to read this over my half-term and then donating it to my school library because I know so many of my kids would love it! #BookSky #KidLit @dansmithauthor.bsky.social

Today’s the day. Publication day for the first file from the Night House … The Deadsoul Project. The truth is finally out there. @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

You think the Night House isn't real? Think again. Tomorrow sees the publication of the first book to reveal the truth. But, are you READY to hear the truth? Find out by reading The Deadsoul Project. Published by @barringtonstoke.bsky.social Illustrated by Luke Brookes

This is your daily reminder that I will be in @drakebookshop.bsky.social Drake the Bookshop, Stockton on Sat 15th 10:30am to sign my new book The Deadsoul Project, to chat and ... work the tills? Come along and say 'hi!'