Batley author draws on her childhood memories of growing up in Leeds as inspiration for her new novel
An author who swapped Batley for Brisbane has returned to her roots with her new book.
Caroline Jones’s new novel, The Billywood Chronicles: The Panacea, which is described as a “spell-binding middle-grade fantasy adventure”, plunges readers aged eight to 12 into a world of ancient secrets, hidden portals and high stakes adventure.
She said: “This story is for all kids, but especially for those who feel unseen, overlooked or held back by their circumstances.
“Those kids often carry the strongest inner worlds, and they deserve to know their strength is real and recognised.”
Caroline, who is originally from Kippax before moving to Batley and then relocating to Australia, has drawn on her childhood memories to form the heart of the story.
She grew up playing in the real Billywoods in Kippax – now known as Townclose Hills Nature Reserve – and the landscapes she once explored have inspired the setting of The Billywood Chronicles – the mysterious woodland at the centre of the adventure.
“The original spark for the story came from my own childhood in the real Billywoods behind my home,” she said.
“It was my playground in the late ’70s and early ’80s – weekends spent with the kids from my street and my twin brother, David, climbing trees, building dens, exploring mossy corners and daring each other deeper into the woods.
“We were convinced the devil lived there, and his beasties chased us home through the undergrowth, grabbing at our ankles from the limestone cracks.
“When David died over ten years ago, I began writing short stories about our time in those woods. Those memories – and the magic we believed in – that mix of fear, wonder and wild imagination planted the seed that eventually grew into The Billywood Chronicles: The Panacea
“In many ways, this book is a salute to childhood and to the belief that anything is possible.”
The book is Caroline’s first step into the genre of middle‑grade fantasy fiction.
Set between Earth and the perilous realm of Orbis, the story follows twelve-year-old Jack – a quiet, introspective boy who finds solace in the woods of Billywood. What begins as a refuge soon becomes the gateway to something far more dangerous.
When Jack is pulled through a portal into another world, he discovers The Deaths, a destructive force threatening to consume everything in its path.
If Orbis falls, Earth will follow. And against all odds, Jack may be the only one who can stop it.
Readers can expect “extraordinary creatures, breathless battles and a boy who must learn fast who he can and cannot trust”.
Caroline said the book “blends classic fantasy storytelling with emotional depth and contemporary relevance, exploring themes of belonging, grief, courage and connection”.
She added: “The novel speaks to readers who love stories of ordinary kids rising to extraordinary challenges.”
Caroline is an award-winning author, having won the 2022 Hawkeye Anthology Short Story Competition. Her work later featured in presentations and workshops highlighting excellence in short-form storytelling.
She was also longlisted for the 2023 Mansfield Readers and Writers Short Story Competition Anthology.
The Billywood Chronicles: The Panacea will be released on May 17 by Hawkeye Publishing. For more information, visit: https://hawkeyebooks.com.au/products/the-billywood-chronicles