Adventure ⎸ Blog
DAY 4/5: I HAVE CONFIDENCE
ALLAN: One of the enduring puzzles surrounding the high point of our
DAY 2: THE SOUND OF MUZAK
ALLAN: The baroque grandeur of Grand Place is the premier destination for
THE ‘AFTER SCHOOL DETECTIVE CLUB’ IS HERE!
Over the last few months I have been privileged to work with
The best and the worst of sci fi predictions.
Anyone who loves sci-fi (that’s everyone, right?) is looking for a glimpse
‘One small step…’ my top ten moon stories for kids
On July 20th1969, three days before my ninth birthday, I crouched in
My top ten sci-fi reads for teens
Science Fiction was practically my entire life when I was a kid
Behind the green door – secrets from a writer’s shed
Pt1: “Lashings of ginger beer” A writer’s inner sanctum is surely the holiest
The chocolate porter
Our porters on the journey are all from the local tribe of Pemon Indians.
In the Lost World
The real adventure begins when our gear is loaded into 4X4s for the 20km journey to the start of the trek.
How Roraima got its name
Once there was a time when the animals and the humans knew the same language and they could all understand each other.
Poison darts, murder and gold
At Ciudad Bolivar we pause to examine Jimmy Angel’s plane, rescued from a tepui top from where he crash landed in the 30’s.
Chocolate trees, wombles and maggots
The eight hour drive to the Gran Sabana offers the prospect of getting to know our travelling companions a little better.
Murder, cash and a decent burger – welcome to Venezuela
“Caracas – murder capital of the world!” trumpet the uncomforting headlines.
Allan Boroughs is in the jungle – he may be some time…
How much adventure is too much? It’s a question I ask myself again as I prepare to leave for 3 weeks in the Venezuelan jungles.
There may be dinosaurs!
In 1908 the adventurer, explorer, cartographer, fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Radio stars!
Last week saw the hyper-talented Rachel Kellehar and me celebrate International Children’s
Ironheart is shortlisted for the Portsmouth Book Award!
So delighted to learn that Ironheart has been shortlisted for the Portsmouth
Bloodstone cover reveal
Very excited to receive the final artwork this week for the cover
IRONHEART in top 5 children’s books for 2014
Hugely exciting that Charlotte Eyre from the Bookseller has included IRONHEART in
Researching children’s writing – Part 1 – Going places
It was while I was packing my bag for Antarctica that my
“More gripping and engaging than anything that needs a charger”
IRONHEART receives a four star review in the Sunday Express
At last, girls are at the centre of the action in books and films
Amanda Craig interviews Allan Boroughs in The Telegraph newspaper on 1st Feb 2014.
Female characters in adventure stories like The Hunger Games no longer obey the sexist stereotype. The heroine is central, and her ‘quest’ is not to find love, but to save the world
Reviewers, get your copy of IRONHEART here
Are you a reviewer, book blogger or someone who recommends books to
IRONHEART launch party!
16th January saw the official launch party for IRONHEART at Waterstones in
IRONHEART – a Siberian adventure!
IRONHEART was finally published today. It is a hugely exciting time for
How big would an asteroid have to be to cause a mass extinction?
The Chicxulub crater was caused by an asteroid hitting the earth approximately
How vulnerable is the Earth to asteroid strikes?
The meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk in February was a reminder about
Russian space troops ‘not ready to fight aliens’
What are they thinking? We’ll just have to rely on Morgan Freeman
Antarctic Lake Vostok yields ‘new bacterial life’
7 March 2013 Last updated at 21:51 By Paul Rincon Science editor,
Did UFO ‘hit’ Russian meteorite blasting it to smithereens? Conspiracy theorists’ extraordinary claim after new footage emerges – Daily Mail 27/2/13
Theory is based on analysis of several different pieces of footage U.F.O.
Big meteorite found in Antarctica
The fifth largest meteorite ever found in East Antarctica was discovered Jan.
Fava beans and a nice chianti…
As often happens with binary predicaments there turns out to be a
An empire built on custard
To Detaille Island, home to an eight man team from the British
In search of the red otter
Today will be a better day. Yesterday we left Punta Arenas early
Chilean surprise
Twenty seven hours of travelling later and I am approximately two thirds
Completely bonkers (but in a good way)
I am ridiculously excited to learn that I will be in Antarctica
Back in the bubble
The vastness of Beijing airport makes Heathrow Terminal 5 look like a
The hairy foreigner
“Can we take your picture please?” She is about seventeen and accompanied
Thanks, but I had bugs for lunch
I am a little stunned to arrive in Beijing; it is quite
The good, the bad and the ugly
My eighth and final train takes me from Ulan Bator to Beijing.
Among the Golden Horde – Part 2
22nd March There are not many guests in the camp; apart from
Among the Golden Horde – Part 1
21st March In preparation for arrival at Ulan Bator I get up
Princess Anne vs Ghengis Khan
The Trans-Manchurian line runs from Irkutsk to Ulan Bator and on to
A lesson in leadership
The dog sledging centre is based in the valley high above Listvyanka
Fascinating facts file –Vol 1
Sometime during the night we passed over the Ural mountains and through
Why the toilets are shut.
At 1am we cross the border into Belarus. The train attendants wake
Get well Steve!
I have just learned that my friend and talented musician, Steve Dagleish
My hovercraft is full of eels…
My first day of solitary travelling and already I am on my
On Wednesday I leave for Siberia…
…and how often can you say that? When I broached the subject
Blog
DAY 4/5: I HAVE CONFIDENCE
ALLAN: One of the enduring puzzles surrounding the high point of our trip is, just who in their right mind (apart
DAY 3: CRISP APPLE STRUDELS
KATE: I’m not quite sure I can say I have now been to Munich. After a 7 hour train journey from
DAY 2: THE SOUND OF MUZAK
ALLAN: The baroque grandeur of Grand Place is the premier destination for any self respecting tourist and is undeniably beautiful (as
DAY 1: THERE MAY BE LIEDERHOSEN
ALLAN: It seemed like a good idea at the time – a shared love of ‘The Sound of Music’ with my
Getting paid
I followed a recent thread on Twitter where several writers discussed how their invoices for school visits were being paid chronically
THE ‘AFTER SCHOOL DETECTIVE CLUB’ IS HERE!
Over the last few months I have been privileged to work with the massively talented, million-selling author, Mark Dawson on a
The After School Detective Club!
Lockdown has been a busy period for me as I have been hugely privileged to be working with million-selling thriller writer,
Hygiene factors
The essence of packing for the jungle is to travel light. That is my theory and it seems a sound one.
BIG BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT!
I am hugely excited to announce that my next book, the first in a brand new sci-fi adventure series will be
The best and the worst of sci fi predictions.
Anyone who loves sci-fi (that’s everyone, right?) is looking for a glimpse of the future. And all sci-Fi writers like to
‘One small step…’ my top ten moon stories for kids
On July 20th1969, three days before my ninth birthday, I crouched in front of our TV set, mesmerised by the grainy,
My top five aliens
A top five list of aliens? Out of the wealth of alien-ness available in the field of science fiction how could
My top ten sci-fi reads for teens
Science Fiction was practically my entire life when I was a kid and it’s still one of the most imaginative and
Behind the green door – secrets from a writer’s shed
Pt1: “Lashings of ginger beer” A writer’s inner sanctum is surely the holiest of holys. The place where creative juices flow and
No such thing as MG!
Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old
The chocolate porter
Our porters on the journey are all from the local tribe of Pemon Indians.
In the Lost World
The real adventure begins when our gear is loaded into 4X4s for the 20km journey to the start of the trek.
How Roraima got its name
Once there was a time when the animals and the humans knew the same language and they could all understand each other.
Poison darts, murder and gold
At Ciudad Bolivar we pause to examine Jimmy Angel’s plane, rescued from a tepui top from where he crash landed in the 30’s.
Chocolate trees, wombles and maggots
The eight hour drive to the Gran Sabana offers the prospect of getting to know our travelling companions a little better.
Murder, cash and a decent burger – welcome to Venezuela
“Caracas – murder capital of the world!” trumpet the uncomforting headlines.
Allan Boroughs is in the jungle – he may be some time…
How much adventure is too much? It’s a question I ask myself again as I prepare to leave for 3 weeks in the Venezuelan jungles.
There may be dinosaurs!
In 1908 the adventurer, explorer, cartographer, fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and occasional spy, Perceval Harrison Fawcett, visited the great
UKMG Extravaganza!
I am like the proverbial two tailed canine at the prospect of being at the UK Extravaganza – 17th October at
Radio stars!
Last week saw the hyper-talented Rachel Kellehar and me celebrate International Children’s Book Day by going to Share Radio. We talked
Ironheart is shortlisted for the Portsmouth Book Award!
So delighted to learn that Ironheart has been shortlisted for the Portsmouth Book Award (Longer Novel Category) – thanks so much
Bloodstone cover reveal
Very excited to receive the final artwork this week for the cover of Bloodstone. A Fantastic job by Jeremy Reston! (Bloodstone
IRONHEART in top 5 children’s books for 2014
Hugely exciting that Charlotte Eyre from the Bookseller has included IRONHEART in her top 5 children’s books from 2014. In such
Researching children’s writing – Part 1 – Going places
It was while I was packing my bag for Antarctica that my son gave me his carefully considered assessment of my
“More gripping and engaging than anything that needs a charger”
IRONHEART receives a four star review in the Sunday Express
At last, girls are at the centre of the action in books and films
Amanda Craig interviews Allan Boroughs in The Telegraph newspaper on 1st Feb 2014.
Female characters in adventure stories like The Hunger Games no longer obey the sexist stereotype. The heroine is central, and her ‘quest’ is not to find love, but to save the world
Reviewers, get your copy of IRONHEART here
Are you a reviewer, book blogger or someone who recommends books to others either on-line or in print? If so, and
IRONHEART launch party!
16th January saw the official launch party for IRONHEART at Waterstones in Islington. Wonderful to have so many of my friends
IRONHEART – a Siberian adventure!
IRONHEART was finally published today. It is a hugely exciting time for me; I am very proud of the finished book
At the Edge of the World!
Less than two days to go until IRONHEART is published and I am like a small child that has had too
Back from the printers!
It was great to be at Macmillan’s offices last week on the day that IRONHEART arrived back from the printers. Wonderful
How big would an asteroid have to be to cause a mass extinction?
The Chicxulub crater was caused by an asteroid hitting the earth approximately 65 million years ago. It was large enough to
How vulnerable is the Earth to asteroid strikes?
The meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk in February was a reminder about of how suddenly asteroids can strike and how deadly
Jet boy
Ryan and I have been preparing for MCM Expo next week – we spent the weekend putting the finishing touches to
Russian space troops ‘not ready to fight aliens’
What are they thinking? We’ll just have to rely on Morgan Freeman http://t.co/z0sGAleTR8
I want one of these!
Although I’m not sure ‘a motorbike in the sky’ is a winner as a marketing slogan http://bit.ly/18oOelp
IRONHEART
Published by Macmillan 2/1/14 Ironheart could save humanity . . . or destroy it forever. A classic action-adventure novel for fans
Antarctic Lake Vostok yields ‘new bacterial life’
7 March 2013 Last updated at 21:51 By Paul Rincon Science editor, BBC News website Russian scientists have claimed the discovery
Did UFO ‘hit’ Russian meteorite blasting it to smithereens? Conspiracy theorists’ extraordinary claim after new footage emerges – Daily Mail 27/2/13
Theory is based on analysis of several different pieces of footage U.F.O. watchers claim object seen close by could be a
In search of tentacles
Only one wild creature has ever been sighted at the South Pole, a Southern Petrel; an opportunistic bird that was most
Big meteorite found in Antarctica
The fifth largest meteorite ever found in East Antarctica was discovered Jan. 28 by an international team of meteorite hunters. (Photo:
Fava beans and a nice chianti…
As often happens with binary predicaments there turns out to be a third option. In the morning a stiff westerly breeze
Wild thing
Tuesday (pretty early) – it is now shortly before the time I was scheduled to be home in London as a
The price of fish
In the morning we take an early zodiac from the ship in the face of a wind that could cut glass,
An empire built on custard
To Detaille Island, home to an eight man team from the British Antarctic Survey between 1956 and 1959. Like many other
Swimming to Antarctica
On Tuesday morning we get the chance to visit what is possibly the closest thing to a tourist attraction in Antarctica.
Penguins!
64 degrees South – Cueverville Island. This morning we will visit the Penguin colony of Cuerverville Island (as nothing in
In search of the red otter
Today will be a better day. Yesterday we left Punta Arenas early to make our good weather window. Two hours later
The big spit
Sunday – South Shetland Islands Swell: 3 metres Today I am mostly throwing up
Packed like Kate Moss
This morning I take a trip to the Punta Arenas cemetery to witness the Chilean way of death in all of
All points North
Today Punta Arenas is my oyster. Capital of the Magallanes region of Chile it sits on the Magellan Straits, a natural
A trip takes us
A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless.
Meteor strike in central Russia
A meteor strike in Russia has injured over 950 people – reports say the meteor broke up unexpectedly before impact.
Chilean surprise
Twenty seven hours of travelling later and I am approximately two thirds of the way to my destination having arrived in
Completely bonkers (but in a good way)
I am ridiculously excited to learn that I will be in Antarctica at the same time as Sir Ranulph Fiennes as
OMG, they killed Kenny!
In 1914, on the eve of the first world war, the great adventurer, leader and Irishman, Sir Ernest Shackleton left England
The perils of Winchmore Hill
A week on and I am still being struck by the ironies – the worst toilet on a 5,500 mile journey
Back in the bubble
The vastness of Beijing airport makes Heathrow Terminal 5 look like a provincial bus station. Inside I watch the check-in crew
The hairy foreigner
“Can we take your picture please?” She is about seventeen and accompanied by three generations of her family. Standing in the
Thanks, but I had bugs for lunch
I am a little stunned to arrive in Beijing; it is quite the largest city I have been in since I
The good, the bad and the ugly
My eighth and final train takes me from Ulan Bator to Beijing. It is by far the most modern and well
The horse master
My last day in the camp and we are invited to visit the nomadic home of Bachka who lives nearby (at
Among the Golden Horde – Part 2
22nd March There are not many guests in the camp; apart from our guides there is Kevin, a fuel technician who
Among the Golden Horde – Part 1
21st March In preparation for arrival at Ulan Bator I get up at 5.00am and do the Indiana Jones thing over
Princess Anne vs Ghengis Khan
The Trans-Manchurian line runs from Irkutsk to Ulan Bator and on to Beijing for the next leg of the journey. The
Nikky Nakky Noo!
I spend the day in Irkutsk before catching the train that takes me to Ulan Ude and then over the Mongolian
A lesson in leadership
The dog sledging centre is based in the valley high above Listvyanka in the heart of the pine forest. The centre
Breaking the ice
I disembark from the train at 6:15am at Irkutsk. In the last 24 hours the cabin next to mine has been
Camping for boys
Today is my last full day on board the #2 Moscow-Vladivostok train and there is a touch of cabin fever in
Fascinating facts file –Vol 1
Sometime during the night we passed over the Ural mountains and through Ekaterinberg (famous for being the birthplace of Boris Yeltsin
The odd couple
Train number six takes me from Moscow to Irkutsk and is the longest single leg of the journey. As I will
Lenin is being washed
It’s Saturday morning and I have roughly 24 hours to “do” Moscow. My guide is Lena, a Muscovite schoolteacher who works
Why the toilets are shut.
At 1am we cross the border into Belarus. The train attendants wake us up and the border guards come on board
Get well Steve!
I have just learned that my friend and talented musician, Steve Dagleish is unwell and in hospital. Get well soon Steve,
Anoraknophobia!
I have decided I like trains. Not in a geeky sort of way; I am hopefully a long way from wanting
My hovercraft is full of eels…
My first day of solitary travelling and already I am on my fourth train; the Belgian countryside is rolling past the
On Wednesday I leave for Siberia…
…and how often can you say that? When I broached the subject with my wife she was very understanding. “I want
