Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Amazon Music
PocketCasts
Pandora
iHeartRadio
RSSJohn Peel
John Peel is an accomplished and beloved author who has published an extraordinary number of books over the decades, going all the way back to the original Doctor Who series, which he has written many tie-in books for. He’s also done novelizations of and tie-ins for plenty of other major franchises, including Star Trek and James Bond. However, to me, he will always be one of the top old-school kidlit authors, having written a variety of highly imaginative and enduring horror and fantasy series for young readers, which I still enjoy even now in my 40s. He was one of my earliest childhood inspirations when I first started writing my own horror and fantasy stories long ago, and it was an absolute pleasure to connect with him today to discuss his many, many years in the publishing world.
Links
John’s latest book, Unstoppable, has just been released.
You can check out lots of his other work here.
And some of his Doctor Who audiobooks as well:
My personal favorites are the Foul Play books, the Diadem series, the Dragonhome trilogy (aka Jane Eyre with dragons), and the Shockers books.
Enjoy!
First of all, John Peel is wonderful, and this was an excellent conversation. Secondly, I can’t believe you mentioned Peter from My Teacher is an Alien! I had exactly the same feeling when I read that series. I felt kind of reverse homesick over not getting to live his life of running off to the stars with aliens, and although I know it’s moving when he reunites with his dad in the last book, I also felt that loss for him having to go back to Earth.
Hangman made me terrified to be home alone for YEARS.
For real. So many images in that book will never leave my mind, like the noose swinging gently in the breeze in near pitch-black.
I adore this man. His books are my childhood!
brb going to break out my copies of Dragonhome
Diadem was a special series. And hearing him explain about the cover art and everything is breaking my brain. I never thought about how much planning and creativity went into it!!!
omg Hangman and Hide and Seek scarred me for life. I’ve been sharing those books with my kids lately hahahahahaaa
Haha the mom talking about neutering Vicki the cat would’ve been great! Stupid editor making him cut it. So good.
Oh I LOVED Carmen Sandiego growing up!
Oh wow, John Peel, Christopher Pike, and R.L. Stine were my most read authors in elementary school. Great interview with a legend!
This was so nice! I love your style and will be subscribing, assuming you’ll be releasing more.
As I’m listening to this, I’m rummaging around in my drawers for the scraps of my Dragonhome books, which are almost being held together with elmer’s glue at this point
It’s finally live! And one of my favorite old-school writers to start with! Yay!
John seems like one of of the loveliest people I’ve never met
John is my spirit animal writer lol
The Foul Play series ruled! I’m still mad they were never turned into movies or a tv show or something like Goosebumps.
I’m middle aged now and I still flipping love Diadem. What a joy hearing him talk about it years later!
I’m with you. I’ve never understood this nonsense about certain things being for kids and not adults, as if you should magically stop liking things as you get older. I have so many books from when I was younger still on my shelf and go back to them every few years. Being older doesn’t mean I like them less.
“John…your agent’s a real dragon!”
“There are times when I need a dragon, thank you.”🤣
This might be one of the most pleasant interviews I’ve listened to in a long time
So. Much. Nostalgia. Right now.
John’s original idea for the Quantum Leap book sounded great but I’m not surprised they had him change it. God forbid he made a woman the main character instead of the male hero for a single book. It was a nice thought though
I used to love reading the Shockers books to my little brother and creeping each other out. Amazed that he’s still putting out new books all this time later!
I agree with the interviewer, it’s a travesty that there were only 4 Foul Play books! I wanted one for every single kids game they were so good.
Awwwwwwww John Peel is so good.
Who else will you be bringing on to talk? Will you take suggestions or questions for guests?
It’s nice that you just let him talk and share his stories. he has so many years of experience, it’s wonderful to hear him discuss it all without being rushed through it
aw what a lovely conversation! Johns had such a long and crazy career.
Something about the way John talks is so soothing to me. I know he writes books but I’d kind of love an audio book by him too lol
lovely
I LOVE John Peel. He’s an incredible writer for all ages but god his kids horror books were gold.
Um…okay, I LOST IT when he talked about his intrusive thoughts regarding fan mail HAHAHAHAHAHA
Super chill conversation with a legend!
RL Stine cranked out Goosebumps and Fear Street but Peel’s Foul Play and Shocker series blew them out of the water and were criminally underrated in comparison.
The fact that he’s a massive DW fan who got to spend so much of his career writing DW books is just chef’s kiss
Hold up the calendar people had him write clues for every single day of the year!? Ngl I kinda want to see it now.
Timewyrm was a trip bro
I’m so happy to hear you mention Bruce Coville and Christopher Pike! Any thoughts of bringing them on too?
Will you be releasing episodes on a regular schedule or is it going to be more sporadic? I’d love more but I know you mentioned in the initial announcement that it’s just a side project.
Like you, John Peel was legit one of my first literary inspirations. His Shockers series got me writing my own little horror stories all the way back in elementary school and gave me a love of fiction thats dark but also fun and quirky at the same time.
John is the gentlest, kindest person. I’m so glad to see him getting the love he deserves.
Solid podcast! I’m enjoying the casual chat approach a lot. I’ve seen too many interviews lately that just hit the guests with so many questions, and it gets old. This was fun.
Kind of reminds me of Peter Capaldi – older English gentleman, big fan of Doctor Who, and got to work on it professionally!
Carmen Sandiego! My memories!
Bless this man. I’ve read my Dragonhome books so much they’re being held together with paper clips.
I wish he did more of these! he’s such a pleasure to listen to
Dragonhome!
Ugh. Such good stuff. Any thoughts on bringing Bruce Coville on for a session?
His “Are You Afraid of the Dark” books were wonderfully creepy. I was a big fan of the show so I enjoyed seeing novels for it too.
I agree with you! If one of my favorite horror authors wrote back with a scary message, I’d *love* it! But I get why he didn’t do it LOL. Still hilarious though.
thank you for featuring such a childhood treasure!