Mines of the Minotaur
Mines of the Minotaur
‘Something’s wrong,’ Col said urgently. The wind was buffeting him back, trying to prevent him reaching his friend. ‘Connie!’ he yelled. ‘Connie! Stop it!’ She was standing very close to the cliff edge, her toes curled over the crumbling lip...
Connie is a Universal – she can talk to animals and mythical creatures. But something dark is calling to her, giving her dangerous power, and her best friend Col doesn’t know what to do.
When her strange behaviour means Connie is rejected by the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures - the very group of people who are supposed to protect her - she hides in an abandoned tin mine. There she is befriended by a blinded Minotaur, and feels safe amongst the other wounded creatures the Society and the world have forgotten.
But even deep underground she can’t block out the dark voice in her head. Who is it, and where does it come from? And why does Connie feel so terrified by the power it gives her?
Messages
Max wrote on 30 October 2007:
hi im max and i was wondering if connie and col ...well...you know like each other more then friends and start a relationship and all that you know. oh and julia.......I LOVED YOUR BOOKS I COULDENT PUT THE BOOKS DOWN EVEN IN CLASS I GOT IN TROUBLE COZ OF THAT BUT IT WAS STILL FUN (Hi Max, you'd better read on... Julia)
Anna wrote on 20 October 2007:
Hi my name is Anna and I just wanted to ask whether you believe in Mythical creatures and which is your favourite creature? Mine's either the Unicorn or the Pegasus! I wish I could be a universal companion like Connie, it would be soooo cool! Oh, and, how many books are there going to be? Make it 100! I think you could do some games on your site, so you could be in the place of connie fighting Kullervo! Cool or what? Ok thank you! Anna. P.S Say hello to Windfoal and Morjik for me! ( Hi Anna - there are four books in the quartet. I'd love to do some games but that would take more computing skills than I have! There are some simple ones on the Companions website you could try. My favourite creature? That changes - at the moment it is the fire imp. Julia)
Tracy wrote on 08 October 2007:
When do books 3 & 4 become available for purchase? I am a Children's Librarian and just ordered your first book for our collection. I have book #2 on my next order but do not see 3 & 4 listed or available through our BIBZ ordering system. Thank you & have a wonderful fall day! (Hi Tracy I think you must be from the States, yes? Parts 3 and 4 will be out very soon - check with Marshall Cavendish for actual dates. UK editions are already out - hence the confusion. Julia)
Claire wrote on 01 October 2007:
I have just completed your book and it is great! its good to know that I have a fave author now you. By the way please say connie and col get together they are just made for each other (if I were col I would be honoured to have a universal as a partner).
Natalie Loh wrote on 17 September 2007:
This book unlocks a whole new world of imagination and wonder. Action, adventure, mysteries and betryal, even a little romance to spice up the story! Connie and Col is no longer a part of your imagination, now, they are brought to life in Mines of the Minotaur!
Nicola wrote on 15 September 2007:
Hey Julia- I'm slighly confused- people r saying that Connie and Col should get together- but aren't they cousins- I think Connie and RAT should get together- and Annenna and col should get together (Hi Nicola, No, Connie and Col are no relation except by marriage - Evelyn marries Col's father in Minotaur. Julia)
Lena wrote on 02 September 2007:
Hello i'm Lena and i'm sure u get this alot but i seriously love your bks companions quartet i stayed up till 4 in the morning reading them i'm hoping of becoming an auther to in a bit i'm 12 so if u could send me some advice it would be very helpful. i totally agree with u about the environment and would like to help but i havn't really got as much chance as connie did. the romance bit between her and col i think work i new sumthin was goin on between them to since the beginning really.... i can't wait till ure next book! (Hi Lena - if you look on my contact page you'll see some tips for writers. We can all do stuff for the environment even without being a universal, like turning off lights, not leaving things on standby, walking or using public transport, recycling - but I'm sure you know all this. Bigger steps will be needed but that's up to governments - let's hope they don't wait too long. Good luck with your writing. Julia)
joy wrote on 27 August 2007:
HI my name is Joy and i love your books but i am tricked how some sopes hase ou lates book but it ofisioly comes out in september? answer me soon. Your friend Joy (Hi Joy - some shops get copies early. I don't know why. Julia)
joy wrote on 27 August 2007:
I agree with so meny others. I realy think hat col and conny should get together. Or they cinda are aren't they. I mean the ending of the 3 book kinda makes you think that. Eny way i can't wait for the 4 book i am so exsited
joy wrote on 26 August 2007:
I have a qestion... How did u come up with al the names like Gard , Col, Kulervo and all those names... (Hi Joy, sometimes the names are chosen to fit the character - Gard has Guardian-like qualities - sometimes taken from existing myths - as in Kullervo. Otherwise they just fit, like Col. Julia)
Sophie wrote on 20 August 2007:
I loved this book and am glad that Col and Connie got together, there a nice couple. (Well they're not exactly 'together' are they? J ;) )
Connie wrote on 15 August 2007:
i sent a message before but i had to write agian because i'v just finished the chimeras curse and it was apsalutly brilliant. I'm really sad though 'cos now it's over but maybe could it possibly be laeving room for a new one.....fingers crossed.
sophie wrote on 11 August 2007:
Three books in three days, s'pose I'd better start again. The books are really good. I,m thinking of translating rhe secret of th sirens into cat language, if I do I could somehow send it to you but I couldn't really type it in because it would be mainly made up of pictures.
Natalie Loh wrote on 01 August 2007:
Amazing. Mines of the minotaur is the best yet! I hope Connie and Col starts dating; that would be great!! I love the companions quartet!
ben frankwick wrote on 26 July 2007:
I really don't want this series to end, it is so amazing!!! PPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEE write a fifth.
Michelle R. wrote on 11 July 2007:
Julia G. i haven't yet read your third book but i am looking forward to it. I read your first two books so far and i am very intrested in the plot and everything about the book so far. i am writing a book of my own and i find it really hard. i have rewritin the same begining of the book like 5 times but i can't seem to get past a part in the book. i know my story and how i want it played out but i can't seem to pice some of the bigger issues togather. maybe you have ran into this type of problem before, i was just woundering if you had any ideas on how to help me out with my book. thanks a lot michelle R. p.s. plz send answer to my email. Hi Michelle I'm sorry but I can't email people individually - anyway I'm sure other readers will be interested in the answer! If you read back through my comments page you'll find tips for writing. On this one, I've definitely suffered with this problem. The answer is not to worry about getting it right, just plough on knowing that you'll go back to sort it out once you've finished. You can even make note-stepping stones e.g. 'in this bit x,y,z happens' then go on to do the writing you can manage without getting stuck. Good luck. Julia
Amy Robinson wrote on 10 July 2007:
I love your books- the mix of fantasy, that could also be reality, the messages of preserve the environment and tales of friendship are uplifting. I cannot wait for the final book. My favourite characters are Connie and the golden dragon [Argand - J] whose name I have forgotten in my excitement.
Christian Mills wrote on 05 July 2007:
Hi Julia, I've read the first two books and I must say I really enjoy your work. Good job! I'm currently looking out for the third, which doesn't seem to be in the school library yet. I'm a big minotaur fan (I'm trying to write a book about one myself), so of course M.O.T.M. has real appeal for me. :P I hope to be able to read it soon. Anyway, good luck with the concluding book and I hope it all goes well for you. Christain
*B*abii *A*mba xx wrote on 21 May 2007:
this is myy fav book of all of them!!! i love it!! its absoluley amazing!! i love the new species that yuu'v introduced; the frost wolf, && if i had a companion creature i know what it wud b...the moyang melur! the half tiger half man creature!! i love cats and they seem to love me lol :) :P xx
Maryam Qazi wrote on 21 May 2007:
Hi, my name is Maryam, and i just want to say that i love your books so much, so far i liked the 3rd book the most, and i was wondering if col and connie get together because then that would be a perfect ending to the these great series, i would love to buy more books just like these in the future, but no author is as good as you. : )
Add your message