Author Showcase
By Karen Inglis, for The Children’s Book Review
Published: October 29, 2011
“…a book that can be appreciated by both boys and girls alike… short, gripping chapters that lead you swiftly on through an absorbing tale of mystery and suspense.” Louise Jordan: London-based children’s books literary consultant and ex Head Reader at Puffin UK
The Secret Lake is a ‘time-slip’ mystery adventure, set in one of London’s Notting Hill communal garden squares, in which Stella and Tom, when trying to find their elderly neighbour’s missing dog, discover a tunnel that leads to a secret lake. Who is the boy rowing towards them who looks so terrified? And whose are those children’s voices carried on the wind from beyond the trees? Stella and Tom soon discover that they have travelled back in time to their home and its shared gardens 100 years in the past where they meet the children living there. As the story unravels the children make both friends and enemies and become embroiled in a daring rescue plan. They also uncover some startling connections between the past and present….
The Secret Lake has a strong mix of contemporary and historical characters and settings, all vividly – and often humorously – portrayed, and enough twists, turns and secrets-to-be-uncovered to keep young readers hooked right until the end. It’s exactly the type of adventure we all liked to curl up with as children, but with modern twists. You can order it from Amazon.com ($7.99) or in Kindle format ($2.01).
5-Star Reviews at home and abroad
The Secret Lake has received 5 Stars from Louise Jordan, ex Head Reader at Puffin and co-founder of The Writers’ Advice Centre for Children’s Books, a respected children’s books UK literary consultancy. It has also received 5 stars from an Amazon.com Top 10 Reviewer in the USA. The children’s reviews on Amazon and the book’s website speak for themselves!
Find out more at The Secret Lake website www.thesecretlake.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Inglis lives in south-west London, UK. She started writing children’s stories 12 years ago when her two boys (now rugby-mad teenagers!) were knee-high. The Secret Lake was one of the first stories she wrote and, until January 2011, it sat in a virtual drawer while Karen got on with her day job as a professional copywriter and web content strategist consulting to government.
Fast forward 10 years and, currently on a sabbatical from the day job since January, Karen has been busy polishing and editing her favourites from the stories she wrote back then. After The Secret Lake comes ‘Eeek!’ about a soccer-mad alien who runs away to Earth from space – look out for it soon!
Contact
Karen Inglis: +44 2088563 2224 / +44 7958 060 748 or kareninglis[at]wellsaidpress[dot]com
The Author Showcase is a place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works. This article was provided by the author. Learn more …
9 Comments
Dear Karen,
Hi, I’m Jessica Tedone, 8 years old and Ijust read your book.
I really enjoyed The Secret Lake. I loved the hysterical adjectives you used in some of the pages. It was kind of funny where they meet the Emma in the time-tunnel and Emma in the time where tom and Stella where living.
Love Jessica❤️❤️
🐳🐳💖💖💕💕😊😊
Dear Karen,
I really enjoyed The Secret Lake. I loved the hysterical adjectives you used in some of the pages. It was kind of funny where they meet the Emma in the time-tunnel and Emma in the time where tom and Stella where living.
Love Jessica❤️❤️
🐳🐳💖💖💕💕😊😊
Dear Jessica — I am *so* sorry not to have replied to you sooner. Another children’s author (Jemma Hatt – do look her up!) has very kindly just told me about your comment, which somehow I didn’t get a notification about. Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed The Secret Lake! I spent so many days, weeks and months working on this story and it such a joy and so special that so many children in the UK/US and beyond are now enjoying it! Keep reading, and I hope you find more adventures to enjoy 😊 Karen
Dear Karen,
I really enjoyed your book The Secret Lake. I loved how you used descriptive words and adjectives in your sentences! It was funny and a good book, I would recommend this to my friends! 😀 Please keep writing! .💖😊💖
Dear Alena
I don’t know if you will see this message, but I have only just (18 months too late!) seen your very kind words about The Secret Lake. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and that you enjoyed the humour and the descriptions! 😊 Just so you know, there will be a sequel coming out in the first part of 2022 and I’ve had great fun meeting with Stella and Tom and the other characters again — as well as a few new ones. If you’d like to know when the sequel is out visit my website kareninglisauthor.com to find out more. I hope you have found many more adventures to get lost in since you wrote to me last year! With very best wishes, Karen 📚 😊 ❤️
This was a very good book, one of the best that I have ever read and I would recommend all ages to read your novels. You are a amazing author.
Age 8
Arunveer Grewal
Hello, Arunveer
I have only just come across your message about how much you enjoyed The Secret Lake. I am so sorry for not seeing it sooner!! Thank you so much for your very kind words and I’m really glad you enjoyed Stella and Tom’s adventure. Just so you know, there is a sequel coming out in early 2022 😊. I will be announcing the date in my newsletter if you’d like to keep up to date 🙂 An adult can sign up over on my website kareninglisauthor.com I hope you have found many more adventures to get lost in since last March! Keep on reading! With best wishes, Karen Inglis
Hi Karen, I’m 13 and I know I’m a little old for this book but I and my book group read this, very easy to understand and had great unexpected plot twists. I really enjoyed it!
Hi Ryleigh — once again I am a couple of years late in finding this comment but just to say thank you so much for your very kind words. I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed The Secret Lake, and hope that, by now, you have discovered books 2 and 3! Thank you again, and my apologies for such a late reply!! Karen ❤️