Seventeen years ago Angela Carr aborted an unwanted child. The child’s father, Christopher Moore, was devastated by the loss and he retreated from the world. Unable to accept what had happened between them both went their separate ways.

However, when Christopher makes a horrifying discovery whilst out walking his dog on the heath he finds that he is compelled to confront Angela about the past. As they start seeing each another again can they avoid the mistakes of the past? And will their future together be eclipsed by those mistakes of yesterday?

A compelling fable of our times, Ghost Children is a compassionate and gritty examination of love and loss from one of Britain’s most-loved writers, Sue Townsend.

‘Engrossing, memorable and moving’ 
Guardian

‘Gripping and disturbing. Utterly absorbing’ 
Independent

‘Startling and raw’ 
Observer

‘Bleak, tender and deeply affecting. Seldom have I rooted so hard for a set of fictional individuals’ 
Mail on Sunday

‘Leaves one gasping for more’ 
Daily Telegraph

SUE TOWNSEND is the creator of Britain's best-loved and best-selling diarist, ADRIAN MOLE, whose diaries have sold an incredible ten million copies in 42 languages.

THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE AGED 133/4 and THE GROWING PAINS OF ADRIAN MOLE were reissued by Puffin in paperback on 31st October 2002 and now Penguin presents the next two in this classic series ...

ADRIAN MOLE: THE WILDERNESS YEARS
To be published by Penguin in paperback on 13th February 2003

The fourth novel in the massively popular Adrian Mole series, once again Townsend lets us delve into the hilarious and touching life of a character adored by millions everywhere. Adrian Mole has at last reached physical maturity, but he can't help roaming the pages of his diary like an untamed adolescent. Finally given the heave-ho by Pandora, he seeks solace in the arms of Bianca, a qualified hydraulic engineer masquerading as a waitress. Between his dishwashing job and completing his epic novel, 'Lo! The Flat Hills of My Homeland', Adrian hopes that fame and fortune will not keep him waiting much longer.

THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF ADRIAN ALBERT MOLE
To be published by Penguin in paperback on 13th February 2003

Adrian Mole has grown up. At least that's what it says on his passport. But living at home, clinging to his threadbare cuddly rabbit 'Pinky', working as a paper pusher for the DoE and pining for the love of his life Pandora has proved to him that adulthood isn't quite what he hoped it would be. Still, intellectual poets can't always have things their own way ...

'She has an unrivalled claim to be this country's foremost practising comic novelist' Mail on Sunday

'Townsend has held a mirror up to the nation and made us happy to laugh at what we see in it' Sunday Telegraph

'Townsend is one of the funniest writers around' The Times

SUE TOWNSEND's collected columns, The Public Confessions of a Middle-aged Woman (aged 55 3/4), was published in 2001 - and was hailed by the Times as 'proof once more that Townsend is one of the funniest writers around.' She is also the author of numerous highly acclaimed novels and several plays including Bazaar and Rummage and The Great Celestial Cow. She lives in Leicester with her husband and has 4 children and 5 grandchildren.

Also by Sue Towsend ...

The new novel from SUE TOWNSEND ... NUMBER TEN

Going behind the most famous front door in the country, Number Ten is one of the most accessible and funny political commentaries of our time.

Published by Michael Joseph in Hardback on 7th November 2002

Also coming soon ...
'The Queen and I' to be reissued by Penguin in paperback on 28th November 2002.

'Ghost Children' to be reissued by Penguin in paperback on 1st May 2003.

Press contact: Abbie Sampson, Michael Joseph / Penguin Publicity
Tel: 020 7010 3273 / Email: abbie.sampson@penguin.co.uk