Joseph Delaney
Joseph Henry Delaney was born on 25 July 1945 in Preston, and was educated at Preston Catholic College before continuing his studies at the University of Lancaster. A citizen of the United Kingdom, he worked in the English language throughout his career as a writer.
Delaney produced fiction associated with fantasy literature and science fiction literature, directing much of his output toward younger readers in his roles as a children's writer and young adult author. His notable work, The Wardstone Chronicles, represents a significant part of his output, and he was also associated with the children's dark fantasy series Spook's. These works established him as an English author whose writing engaged with fantasy and dark fiction for children and young adults.
Delaney died on 16 August 2022 in Manchester. The Library of Congress Name Authority records him as "Delaney, Joseph, 1945–2022," a designation that marks the span of his career as a writer of fantasy and children's literature. The Wardstone Chronicles and the Spook's series remain the concrete works by which his writing life is documented.
Quotes by Joseph Delaney
Have you ever felt time slow so much that that it almost appears to stop? Ever listened to a clock when the next tick seems to take forever to follow the last tock?
Sometimes, when something bad leaves the world, something good enters in its place. I’ve seen it happen before. – Mam.
I can’t be yours forever, Mab,” I told her, the words flying into my mouth as if by magic. “I already belong to someone else. I belong to Alice!
Everybody tells lie sometimes, she replied. Wouldn’t be human if you didn’t. But mostly I tell the truth. – Alice.
But if everything’s already decided, then what’s the point of living? – Tom, pg 437.
Sometimes in this life it is necessary to sacrifice oneself for the good of others. – Mam.
I like to keep my books in my library, he said, ’and I like my library to get bigger rather than smaller.
We depend on neither man nor beast to get us where we need to go. If you rely on your own two good legs, then they won’t let you down.