The Superpower Project

With the help of a wisecracking, steampunk robot, two accidental superheroes discover that they have inherited some amazing, if unusual, abilities. Computer whiz Megan can fly (mostly sleep-flying, but she's working on it) while her best friend Cameron can (in theory) transform into any animal, but mostly ends up as a were-hamster. 

Together they must protect the source of their ancestral powers from a wannabe evil mastermind and his gang of industrial transformer robots who've disguised themselves as modern art installations on their Greenock estate.

It isn't easy to balance school and epic super-battles, not to mention finding time to search for other super-talents and train with their Mr Miyagi-esque were-tiger coach. Can Megan and Cam beat the bad guy, defeat his robot transformers and become the superheroes they were born to be? Kelpies Prize shortlisted author Paul Bristow creates a hilarious tongue-in-cheek superhero mash up with a dangerous twist!


My first children's book, The Superpower Project, published by the wonderful Floris Books, is now available from the Discover Kelpies website and Amazon.

The book was originally written in early 2014 and was shortlisted for the 2014 Kelpies Prize. In fact, Kelpies are running their 2016 prize now, so if you have an idea for a childrens book, have a look.

The Superpower Project is a treasure hunt mystery for 8-12s, set in and around Inverclyde and featuring popular places and forgotten spaces which will be familiar to local readers; the Sugar Sheds, the cemetery, the McLean Museum, Fergusons, King George V parkland…all sorts of nooks and crannies.

A few places were tweaked slightly to help the story along - so Ravenscraig Hospital becomes Crowfell Hospital and relocates to the East End of Greenock, and the abandoned Glebe Sugar Warehouse becomes the much less abandoned Tobacco Warehouse...but it should still be an Inverclyde local readers will recognise. And I'm really pleased that it's set here, because at it's heart, the book is trying to say something about change, and how we should appreciate the importance of where we come from - although obviously it's saying that with robots, explosions and fights in graveyards and abandoned hospitals...
You can read the first three chapters for free right here.