The Enid Blyton Society

Split from another topic.

This may have been done to death already but I didn’t spot it on the new topics list.

There’s to be some new Secret Seven books written by a Dundonian teacher. The first one will be The Mystery of the Skull which doesn’t fit with the rest of the titles. But she was a big EB fan as a child and wants to do it justice.

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/d ... ven-novel/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Story in my local paper.

Thanks Fiona!

Very interesting...and above all I found it odd that they don't seem to be even attempting to make the title fit into the series' norm of using 'The Secret Seven' in the title! that sets it apart and not really in a good way! It sounds more like just any other adventure type book and not part of The Secret Seven. Wonder why they decided to do this?

it will be interesting to see how it sells. I must admit I'm always a bit cynical when it comes to already-established authors being approached to write follow-on books. It shows a lack of imagination from the publishers, in my opinion. Not that I'm biased in any way, of course!

It would be a brilliant idea if they held a competition in which they invited new authors to send in an Enid Blyton follow-on book - that would be very high profile, great publicity for them, and would also expose hitherto undiscovered talent from a range of ages and writers.

I don't know what to think really... I had assumed books using EB characters could not be published unless commissioned by the owner of the copyright - is this the case here I wonder?

She is an established author who was approached by the publishers (who own the copyright) to write two Secret Seven books.

Thanks Rob. I assumed there must be some kind of arrangement like that - just couldn't think what.

I'll be interested to read these - though I agree that The Mystery of the Skull sounds out of kilter with the titles of the original Secret Seven books.

It's good to know that Pamela Butchart was "a massive Enid Blyton fan" growing up and that she has been "very, very true to the time period" in writing her continuation novels. Of course, she isn't the "first person other than Enid Blyton to write (a) Secret Seven novel" (as claimed by the Dundee Evening Telegraph). Twelve sequels by Evelyne Lallemand were published in French in the 1970s-80s, nine of which were translated into English and published as Knight paperbacks between 1983 and 1987. There have been other people over the years who have written Secret Seven stories for an internet audience, including Julie and Daisy whose books are available in our Secret Passage.

Rob Houghton wrote:It would be a brilliant idea if they held a competition in which they invited new authors to send in an Enid Blyton follow-on book - that would be very high profile, great publicity for them, and would also expose hitherto undiscovered talent from a range of ages and writers.

Yes, that's a super idea!

Surprised the copyright publishers have done this. I've contacted them in the past about continuation novels, and they always say that they don't want to get into continuation novels, as they're more interested in selling the Blyton books already out!

Be interesting to see if this author keeps the books in the traditional style of Enid Blyton.

I look forward to reading these.

I'm generally quite positive about Evelyne Lallemand's continuation novels. I think they do a great job of capturing the essence of the originals whilst expanding on them. From memory, I think we learn more about the siblings of the seven, the area they live and the relationships between the group. I hope these continue that.

Julie2owlsdene wrote:Surprised the copyright publishers have done this. I've contacted them in the past about continuation novels, and they always say that they don't want to get into continuation novels, as they're more interested in selling the Blyton books already out!

Yes - I was thinking that too! I haven't ever contacted anyone about my continuation novels, but it would be interesting to see if I get a similar reply!

I'll be interested to read the new Secret Seven book, or at least to hear what others think, before I commit to buying it!!

I only have one of the earlier Secret Seven follow-on books, by Evelyne Lallemand and that is 'The Seven and Father Christmas' - which I've never read.

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of the French Secret Sevens!

https://www.enidblyton.co.uk/a-brand-ne ... k-in-2018/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the official website, not very informative!

Fiona1986 wrote:I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of the French Secret Sevens!

The English translations are listed in the Cave:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... etsevenseq" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I found The Seven and the Lion Hunt really silly but rather liked The Seven and Father Christmas. I read some of the others too but I can barely recall a thing about them now.

I read 9 books by Lallemand in English, but unlike Nick I don't think they caught the spirit of the Secret Seven characters and Susie well. I have twelve different books in French, I have yet to read them, maybe they're better than the English translation. I'm no fan of the Secret Seven though, I suppose I started to read them when I was too old for them. As far as I know the Lallemand novels were never published in German.

Off topic but I read last night that Lallemand also wrote additional Mr Men stories for the French market.