Books by B.A. Keating
The Last Pirate
Publishing Summer 2023
A 350-year-old cursed pirate, a vengeful sea sorceress, a forbidden diamond, and a daring midnight raid. But will the boy who is deathly afraid of water be able to save the day?
After the tragic death of his mother, eleven-year-old Finn Dooley finds himself labelled an orphan and is unceremoniously shipped off to Cadgwith Cove in Cornwall to live with his Aunt Beatrix.
Terrified of the ocean and despised by his persnickety aunt, Finn is having a dreadful summer, especially when he becomes a target for the local village bullies.
But a chance encounter, one dark and stormy night, with a cursed pirate who has been forced to live in secret for centuries now in the caves of Cadgwith Cove, changes the young boy’s life forever.
With the old pirates help, Finn is finally able to overcome his fear of water. But will he ever be able to repay Jacob Barlow for his kindness and help free the last pirate from the ancient curse holding him prisoner?
Join Finn and Jacob on the summer adventure of a lifetime in this powerful story of loss, bravery, and the ever-lasting bonds of true friendship.
The Wood at the Bottom of the Garden Gate
What lengths would you go to in order to save your friends? And what if those friends were members of a secret magical community being threatened with extinction?
11-year-old Cat Whiteoak thought she was in for the worst summer on record, what with the unpleasant arrival of her father’s horrible new girlfriend, her best (and only) friend going away for the entire school holidays, not to mention finding herself grounded for her troubles. But when Cat stumbles across a real, live, but seriously injured flower fairy in her back yard, this leads to the discovery of a secret magical Wood located at the bottom of her very own garden gate.
The Guardian of the Wood, Serrabella Moon, grateful to Cat for her kindness towards the fairy, grants her unprecedented access to the enchanted Wood, where she spends a magical summer swimming with water sprites, reading with bookworms, and picnicking with pixies.
But not all the Wood’s magical residents are quite so keen on this human intruder invading their home, and they plan to put an immediate stop to it; there are secrets that must be protected at all costs.
But when the ancient Wood’s very existence is threatened by the human world with extinction, will Cat be able to save her new friends and their home from being wiped out forever?
A magical, must-read adventure filled with hidden dangers, unexpected friendships, and a cast of lovable, unforgettable characters you will want to make lifelong friends with.
"As a child I loved reading books that took me away to enchanted worlds believing the magic could be true one day and now as an adult - reading this book was not a disappointment!! I couldn’t put it down, interested in the characters’ lives and swept away on the magical travels of Cat and her new friends." - Amazon Review
11-year-old Cat Whiteoak thought she was in for the worst summer on record, what with the unpleasant arrival of her father’s horrible new girlfriend, her best (and only) friend going away for the entire school holidays, not to mention finding herself grounded for her troubles. But when Cat stumbles across a real, live, but seriously injured flower fairy in her back yard, this leads to the discovery of a secret magical Wood located at the bottom of her very own garden gate.
The Guardian of the Wood, Serrabella Moon, grateful to Cat for her kindness towards the fairy, grants her unprecedented access to the enchanted Wood, where she spends a magical summer swimming with water sprites, reading with bookworms, and picnicking with pixies.
But not all the Wood’s magical residents are quite so keen on this human intruder invading their home, and they plan to put an immediate stop to it; there are secrets that must be protected at all costs.
But when the ancient Wood’s very existence is threatened by the human world with extinction, will Cat be able to save her new friends and their home from being wiped out forever?
A magical, must-read adventure filled with hidden dangers, unexpected friendships, and a cast of lovable, unforgettable characters you will want to make lifelong friends with.
"As a child I loved reading books that took me away to enchanted worlds believing the magic could be true one day and now as an adult - reading this book was not a disappointment!! I couldn’t put it down, interested in the characters’ lives and swept away on the magical travels of Cat and her new friends." - Amazon Review
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Tales from the Land of Forever
Being transported to a magical, faraway land, far away from her troubles, was everything Sarah longed for. But will that wish become her downfall?
Have you ever wanted to just disappear and escape from all your troubles? 10-year-old Sarah George certainly did after the unexpected death of her beloved father.
But when Sarah accidentally stumbles across an ancient book in the Manor library and is somehow magically transported to a far-off, enchanted land, she soon begins to regret her wish when she finds herself stuck in the In-Between.
In her epic quest to locate the elusive Bookkeeper and find a way to return home again, Sarah enlists the help of a rag-tag but fiercely loyal group of friends that she is fortunate enough to meet during her time in the fantastical Land of Forever. Together they must battle the dark and sinister forces lurking in the Silent Forest, just waiting to snatch them into its horrifying bowels.
But will the Bookkeeper be able to help our desperate travelers? Or must they continue on to the Middle Lands and the Tournament of the Four Kingdoms, where the most powerful sorcerer in the land holds Sarah's fate entirely in his hands.
It reminded me of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." - On My Kindle Review
"A wonderful tale of friendship and adventure." - JED Says Children’s Book Review
Have you ever wanted to just disappear and escape from all your troubles? 10-year-old Sarah George certainly did after the unexpected death of her beloved father.
But when Sarah accidentally stumbles across an ancient book in the Manor library and is somehow magically transported to a far-off, enchanted land, she soon begins to regret her wish when she finds herself stuck in the In-Between.
In her epic quest to locate the elusive Bookkeeper and find a way to return home again, Sarah enlists the help of a rag-tag but fiercely loyal group of friends that she is fortunate enough to meet during her time in the fantastical Land of Forever. Together they must battle the dark and sinister forces lurking in the Silent Forest, just waiting to snatch them into its horrifying bowels.
But will the Bookkeeper be able to help our desperate travelers? Or must they continue on to the Middle Lands and the Tournament of the Four Kingdoms, where the most powerful sorcerer in the land holds Sarah's fate entirely in his hands.
It reminded me of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." - On My Kindle Review
"A wonderful tale of friendship and adventure." - JED Says Children’s Book Review
The Academy
Being accepted into the English Ballet Theater’s Academy of Dance was 11-year-old Molly Plum’s dream. But will that dream turn into a nightmare that threatens to ruin her chances of ever becoming a ballerina?
Enter the hallowed halls of the Academy: A prestigious ballet school steeped in history and tradition, and peek behind the stage door into a world filled with pointe shoes, friendships, tutus, and rivalries.
When Molly arrives for her first term at the English Ballet Theater's Junior School, she is so excited to begin her training she could almost burst.
But that excitement soon disappears when the hard work really begins, in both the ballet studio and the academic classrooms of the Academy. The competition is fierce, and Molly rapidly begins to feel like a puny fish in an enormously talented pond. Especially when she is picked on and bullied by one of the most promising students at the school.
Ignoring the cruel taunts from Pandora Pemberton and her gaggle of friends, Molly focuses on practicing for the upcoming auditions to secure a part in Ballet Theater's production of The Nutcracker. But will all that hard work pay off? Or will Molly be left alone in the wings?
Enter the hallowed halls of the Academy: A prestigious ballet school steeped in history and tradition, and peek behind the stage door into a world filled with pointe shoes, friendships, tutus, and rivalries.
When Molly arrives for her first term at the English Ballet Theater's Junior School, she is so excited to begin her training she could almost burst.
But that excitement soon disappears when the hard work really begins, in both the ballet studio and the academic classrooms of the Academy. The competition is fierce, and Molly rapidly begins to feel like a puny fish in an enormously talented pond. Especially when she is picked on and bullied by one of the most promising students at the school.
Ignoring the cruel taunts from Pandora Pemberton and her gaggle of friends, Molly focuses on practicing for the upcoming auditions to secure a part in Ballet Theater's production of The Nutcracker. But will all that hard work pay off? Or will Molly be left alone in the wings?
