Joseph Delaney

English author (1945–2022)

Joseph Henry Delaney (25 July 1945 – 16 August 2022) was an English author best known for his children's dark fantasy series, Spook's, inspired by the folklore, history and geography of Lancashire. The series has been published in 30 countries, achieving sales of over 4.5 million copies. Born in Preston, Lancashire, in 1945, Delaney started his career as a teacher, who also authored science fiction and fantasy novels under the pen name J. K. Haderack. After struggling to find success as an author of books for adults, Delaney transitioned to writing children's books under his real name, beginning with the publication of The Spook's Apprentice, in 2004. The book was widely successful, selling over 3 million copies and winning multiple awards. It has been adapted into a play script, the feature film Seventh Son, and a graphic novel. The Spook's Apprentice marked the start of his highly acclaimed Spook's series, which eventually encompassed 20 books, along with several other works set in the same universe. After the publication of the series' second book, Delaney retired from teaching to become a full time writer. In 2014, The Spook's Apprentice was adapted into both a play script and the feature film Seventh Son. Additionally, Delaney published two other series for children: the science fiction and fantasy trilogy Arena 13, and the dark fantasy duology Aberrations. Delaney died in Manchester in 2022, at the age of 77. His final book, Brother Wulf: Wulf's War, was published posthumously the following year.

Joseph Henry Delaney was born on 25 July 1945 in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a labourer; He later became an English teacher at Blackpool Sixth Form College, where he started the Media and Film Studies Department. In the 1980s Delaney completed an Open University degree in an effort to become a computer programmer.

Delaney's first works were written under the pseudonym J. K. Haderack; a reference to the Kwisatz Haderach from Frank Herbert's Dune universe. After struggling to find success publishing science fiction and fantasy books for adults, his agent encouraged him to try writing for a younger audience, to meet the brief of a children's publisher. and winning the Sefton Book Award, Hampshire Book Award and Prix Plaisirs de Lire awards, as well as being shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year. The series has been published in 30 countries, with sales exceeding 4.5 million copies. Following the publication of the second book in the series, Delaney retired from teaching to write full time. Similar to Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, Delaney used his dreams to help write his stories, and never plotted or planned his stories in advance. Delaney travelled widely to boost the visibility of his books, frequently choosing New Zealand and Singapore for winter stays due to his aversion to cold weather. However, the majority of his time was devoted to his native county, Lancashire, which served as a profound inspiration for all of his literary works. From 2018 to 2019, he published the dark fantasy duology Aberrations, which tells the story of Crafty; trapped in the Shole's mist, Crafty must train as a gate grub in the Castle, operating portals for the Gatemancers guild and relying on his cunning to survive.

Delaney, who was living in Manchester, died on 16 August 2022, after a period of illness; he was 77 years old. He was working on his final book, Brother Wulf: Wulf's War, right up to his death;

Delaney married Marie Smith in 1968; they had three children and nine grandchildren. She died of cancer in 2007. In 2014, he married Rani Kuncher Vannithamby. Delaney shared his name (including middle name) with the late Joseph H. Delaney, an American science fiction author of several books and short stories.

In 2014, Stephen Delaney, the son of Joseph Delaney, collaborated with his father to publish The Spook's Apprentice – Play Edition, an adaptation of The Spook's Apprentice into a 160 page play script. In the same year, a film adaptation of The Spook's Apprentice was released by Legendary Pictures, directed by Sergey Bodrov, and entitled Seventh Son. Ben Barnes played Tom Ward, Jeff Bridges was the Spook, Julianne Moore was Mother Malkin, Alicia Vikander was Alice Deane, Kit Harington was Billy Bradley, Djimon Hounsou was Radu (an original character), and Antje Traue was Bony Lizzie. In 2023, a French graphic novel adaptation of the book, titled L'Épouvanteur, Tome 1: L'Apprenti épouvanteur, was released. It was written by Pierre Oertel and illustrated by Benjamin Bachelor.