The Spook's Mistake
Warning: Not to be Read After Dark.As danger increases in the County, Tom is sent far north by his master to be trained by Bill Arkwright, another Spook. Arkwright lives in a haunted mill on the edge of a treacherous marsh and his training methods prove to be harsh and sometimes cruel. But he has toughened up many previous apprentices and now he must do the same for Tom and prepare him for the gravest dangers of his life.But when the Fiend sends his own daughter, the ancient powerful water witch Morwena, to destroy Tom, Arkwright makes an error of judgement and Tom finds himself facing his enemies alone. The Spook and Alice realising his danger, hasten to his aid but will even their combined strengths suffice in the face of such terrible dark power? And what is the Spook's mistake, the consequences of which might give final victory to the dark?
Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Joseph Delaney
**Born** 	Joseph Henry Delaney
                25 July 1945
                Preston, Lancashire, England, U.K.
**Alma mater** 	Lancaster University

**Life and career**

On first leaving school, Delaney started work as an apprentice engineer. Upon the completion of his schooling, he went on to become an English instructor, with his initial literary specialization being in the area of vampire lore. In his capacity as an educator, he worked to establish the Media and Film Studies department at Blackpool Sixth Form College.[3]

His writing career began with the release of a sci-fi book, written under the pen-name of J.K. Haderack. This was followed up by releases under his real name, including his first children's novel, which was in part based upon actual experiences and memories he had as a youth. Additional works were produced to expand that single work into a series of titles tailored primarily at Young Adult and Adult Fiction audiences. The books that he wrote after his first pen-name book were The Wardstone Chronicles.

Delaney retired from his position as an educator in order to devote his energies to a full-time writing career. He has three children and seven grandchildren.

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Joseph Henri Delaney est un auteur anglais de science fiction et d’Heroic Fantasy, qui fut professeur d’anglais spécialisé en littérature vampirique. Sa carrière d’écrivain a commencé avec le livre « Mercer’s Whore » sous le pseudonyme de « J.K. Haderack ». Il a ensuite commencé à écrire sous son véritable nom le cycle « The Last Apprentice » (en français « Le dernier apprenti »). 
Il a aussi écrit la série de livres de l’Épouvanteur.

Il est surtout spécialisé dans les romans de jeunesse et principalement connu pour son œuvre The Wardstone Chronicles (Les Chroniques de la pierre des Ward).

Il vit en Angleterre avec sa famille dans le Lancashire, où il puise son inspiration pour son œuvre. Il a trois enfants et sept petits-enfants.