#TheNotwitches
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garypanton.co.uk
I'm absolutely over the moon to say that #TheNotwitches is The Times' Children's Book of the Week. Huge thanks to @timeslucy.bsky.social for giving it such a lovely review.
This zippy fable is a triumph of nonsense. By Lucy Bannerman This is fun. The biggest compliment l can give The Notwitches is that it feel s like a book children will actually like, and not the kind of book adults desperately want them to like. Is there a plot? Barely. Is it profound? Not at all. It is concerned with much more important things, like hairy motorcycle gangs and jokes about eating stationery. Melanda is an unhappy child "in a very unfortunate situation". She has not one, not two, but three horrid aunts. Think Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker from James and the Giant Peach, plus another: "Aunt Thumb, whose bright and baggy clothing might have suggested she was someone with a warmer personality were it not for the fact she had stolen it all from some tents at a music festival." When her grotesque Aunt Claggy isn't eating all the paper, Melanda loves to write scary stories, such as the one about the Crunchy Man who is 209 years old, "has way too many pairs of knees" and wears "scuffed ghost-skin boots that he stole from a haunted fairground". One day, an older girl knocks at the door. She is an endearingly unconvincing witch, wearing a rubbish plastic nose and carrying not so much a broomstick as a broom handle. In July. But her dubious plea to "join the witches" convinces Melanda to run away from home and they begin an adventure that revolves almost entirely round the increasingly silly and surreal conversations with the gnomes, mermaids and sleepy rock monsters they meet along the way. l say mermaids ... these ones are reversed: "Top half of fish . Bottom half of a lady". They run around, "sounding their siren call, 'HIYA!'" The dialogue feels indebted to the surrealist humour of Blackadder or Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the short, funny chapters zip along, making it a good option for youngsters who are still building confidence as independent readers. I can imagine some grown-ups may also enjoy reading this one out loud.
January 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
garypanton.co.uk
London friends: signed copies of #TheNotwitches are now on sale in Owl Bookshop in Kentish Town, Foyles Charing Cross, Daunts Marylebone and Waterstones Piccadilly and Charing Cross. I know they're there because I just spent a very fun afternoon signing them.
Me with my signed books in Foyles.
April 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Tomorrow I'm doing my first ever reading from #TheNotwitches in front of actual people, so I would very much appreciate your thoughts and prayers. 🙏
November 19, 2024 at 7:34 PM
garypanton.co.uk
#TheNotwitches comes out tomorrow (hooray!) so I thought I'd give this a go tonight. Hit me up with any questions you'd like to ask about the book or anything else, and I'll pop back on later to answer anything that gets sent in.
ngl.link/garypanton
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ngl.link
February 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Hello there! Just popping in to let you all know that my debut children's novel, THE NOTWITCHES, is being published by the lovely people at Chicken House Books next February, with illustrations by the wonderful Dotty Sutton. Doesn't it look great? You can pre-order it here: tinyurl.com/thenotwitches
April 10, 2024 at 12:54 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Introducing Team Notwitches: me and the brilliant illustrator Dotty Sutton. Pic 2 is of the book's hero, Melanda, which Dotty drew live on stage yesterday while I read from the book for the first time. I cannot wait for you all to meet #TheNotwitches.
The Notwitches author Gary Panton and illustrator Dotty Sutton. Melanda Notwitch, as drawn by Dotty Sutton.
November 21, 2024 at 1:03 PM
richreadalot.bsky.social
Back from a weekend away to this #bookpost bonanza!

For starters...

Thank you @Usborne for #JennyPearson #ShrapnelBoys & @GMcCaughrean #UnderAFireRedSky

@barringtonstoke for @thelucystrange #TheBoyAtTheWindow @DanSmithAuthor #DeadsoulProject

& #chickenhousebooks for Gary Panton #TheNotwitches
January 28, 2025 at 6:54 PM
garypanton.co.uk
#TheNotwitches has been out for A WHOLE MONTH and I want to say a big mooshy thank you to everyone who has read it and said nice things about it. It's honestly meant the blimmin' world to me. If you've enjoyed it please do remember to leave a review on Amazon/Goodreads/wherever. It really helps! 🧙‍♀️
Me, reading The Notwitches while dressed as a massive witch. Yeah that's right drink it in.
March 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
garypanton.co.uk
If you're around the St Andrews area on 23rd August, come along to this and say hello to me and Dotty! #TheNotwitches
The Notwitches: Meet the Author & Illustrator at Waterstones St Andrews, St Andrews | What's On Fife
On 23rd August, Waterstones St Andrews will welcome Gary Panton and Dotty Sutton to take over our childrens' department! Join us for this free event filled with fun, drawing, chats and crafts! What's ...
www.whatsonfife.co.uk
July 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Possibly not the done thing to post screengrabs from X on here but I couldn't resist sharing this wonderful review of #TheNotwitches from the lovely people at @telltales.bsky.social
The screengrab says: Oh. My. Goodness! I've just galloped through this fantastic book! Gary Panton and Dotty Sutton must be so proud. If you have a child who loves a book with a funny but qlso big hearted plot, maybe some madcap characters and slapstick - but all played... ... straight then this is for you. The illustrations are absolutely brilliant, adding an extra layer of depth and humour. It's out on February 13th. So, if you want to come along with Melanda Notwitch, meet her disgusting, revolting aunts and discover the truth then do make sure you order a copy! This is for children 7yrs and upwards who are perhaps fans of Roald Dahl. Published by Chicken House.
January 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Woot woot! #TheNotwitches is @booktrust.org.uk's Book of the Day. And if you can't trust a trust, then who can you trust, right?
Screengrab from the Booktrust's X page, says: Our #BookOfTheDay is a hugely entertaining tale that mixes magic and surprises with moments of friendship, kindness and joy. It's #TheNotwitches from Gary Panton and Dotty Sutton.
March 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
garypanton.co.uk
A really lovely blog post here from @arenaillustration.bsky.social about wonderful Dotty Sutton and the massive role she played in creating the visuals and character design of #TheNotwitches. Dotty's funny, playful, spooky art is just a perfect match for the world I wanted to create with the book.
Dotty Sutton Sprinkles Magic on New Series The Notwitches - Arena Illustration
Bringing characters to life is the best part of my job, and Gary made it very easy with his hilarious descriptions. Aunt Claggy is one of my favourite characters I have ever drawn!
www.arenaillustration.com
February 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Set myself a little challenge of trying to make #TheNotwitches characters out of LEGO and I'm very pleased with the results if I do say so myself. All based on the brilliant character designs of Dotty Sutton.
LEGO Notwitches minifigures: a witch with purple hair, a black cat with orange eyes and a little girl with a pink jumper and a rabbit toy.
May 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Still a few days left to win a copy of #TheNotwitches signed by me and Dotty Sutton - details below! 👇
April 21, 2025 at 12:43 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Thanks to The Week magazine for including this lovely little write-up for #TheNotwitches in their latest issue. Thanks also to @krahim.bsky.social for sending me this pic! (And of course I need to make the obligatory mention of the fact that The Notwitches 2 is out NEXT WEEK! 🥳).
The Notwitches by Gary Panton Melanda runs away from her horrid auntd and has increasingly surreal chats with the monsters, gnomes and mermaids she meets in this "cheeky, refreshing" tale. "A triumph of nonsense", it has "an old-fashioned dose of innocence." (Ages 7-11, Chicken House, 304pp, £7.99)
August 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Quick shameless plug just to say that signed copies of #TheNotwitches are now available at Waterstones in Perth, Stirling & Edinburgh Princes Street, plus Edinburgh indies Toppings, Portobello Books, Golden Hare Books & the Edinburgh Book Shop. Here's my cheesy grin after signing a bundle in Perth.
Me clutching a copy of The Notwitches in Perth Waterstones.
March 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
garypanton.co.uk
Massive thanks to Anna Bonet at The I Paper for including #TheNotwitches in this list of summer reads for kids. It's been so lovely to see reviewers embrace the book's silliness (which very much continues in the upcoming sequel, in case you're wondering!).
14 books your children will actually want to read this summer
From a choose your own adventure novel to a funny teen comedy, these are the reads that will keep your children entertained
inews.co.uk
July 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Exciting new addition to my lanyard collection today. 😍 #TheNotwitches
Lanyard featuring the cover of my book, The Notwitches.
November 20, 2024 at 7:58 PM
garypanton.co.uk
Tiny reminder for any Perth peeps out there that I'm doing a free event at Waterstones this Saturday morning at 11am. Bring your kids (or even just yourself) along for some reading, colouring and interactive fun. I'll also sign copies of #TheNotwitches and do a Q&A. Hopefully see some of you there!
Free event - MEET THE AUTHOR - Saturday 19th April, 11.00-12.00 @ Waterstones Perth. Join children's author Gary Panton for a morning of reading, colouring and interactive fun, plus a signing of his new book, The Notwitches.
April 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
garypanton.co.uk
My first advance copy of #TheNotwitches just arrived in the post and it suddenly all feels wonderfully, wonderfully real.
A copy of The Notwitches by Gary Panton (me!) sticking out of a brown envelope.
December 21, 2024 at 10:39 AM
garypanton.co.uk
Oh this is a great idea. I'm Gary Panton, author of #TheNotwitches, a comedy adventure series for kids. Book 1 is out now, with Book 2 on the way! #writersliftwednesday
The Notwitches book cover, with an 'Out Now' flash.
February 26, 2025 at 7:52 AM
garypanton.co.uk
Mega-thanks to the lovely people at @chickenhousebooks.bsky.social for marking the upcoming release of #TheNotwitches by bestowing upon me the gift of cheese! It will be a highly cheesy weekend round my place: that much I can promise.
A big box full of cheese.
February 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
garypanton.co.uk
And #TheNotwitches is out in the world ... NOW. It's the best thing I've ever done and I can't wait for people to see it. You can find all the order links at garypanton.co.uk/books/ - but please do consider buying from a local independent book shop if you have one. I hope it makes you all smile!😊
A picture of The Notwitches book cover, with an 'OUT NOW' flash.
February 13, 2025 at 7:48 AM
garypanton.co.uk
First ever live event for #TheNotwitches is in the bag. Well and truly in at the deep end in front of a few hundred kids on World Book Day. Absolutely terrifying but SO. MUCH. FUN. If needed, I will now be asleep for the rest of the day.
A pile of copies of The Notwitches on a table.
March 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
garypanton.co.uk
I have one spare copy of #TheNotwitches signed by me and Dotty Sutton, and I'd like to give it away to one of my followers on here. If you want it, just like this post by the end of 6th April and I'll randomly choose someone to send it to (UK-based only I'm afraid). Any reposts appreciated too. 🧙‍♀️🧡
A copy of The Notwitches, written by me and illustrated by Dotty Sutton.
March 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM