Tom: But how strict are you to the parameters of the game? Because the books are set in a special virtual reality version of Minecraft that doesn’t exist. So when do you go “Can I have artistic license here?” or do you think “No, this has to be exactly like it is in the core game?” Tom: Some of the text in the book is in bold or different fonts or stylistically very different. It’s not something I’ve really seen before in books. Can you tell us more about that stylistic choice? This chunky slipcase contains all six books from the Woodsword Chronicles series, so readers can follow the journey from beginning to end. Explore the world of the biggest computer game of all time! The first official young fiction based on the worldwide phenomenon Minecraft. Mojang Tom: So so far we’ve seen ‘Into the Game’ and ‘Night of the Bats’. The next book in the Woodsword Chronicles series is ‘Deep Dive’ – can you tell us a little bit more about that? Eindelijk dan het eerste boek gevonden! Ash is voor het eerst op de school en ik vond het erg leuk om te zien hoe ze zich motiveerde en hoe slim ze was. Ik vond het super hoe Jodi meteen haar onder de vleugels nam en ze best goede vrienden werden. Ik moest wel even schakelen want opeens is het een tijdje later en is er een wetenschapdingetje. Ik vond Jodi en Ash project echt fantastisch. Een exploderende Creeper pinata? Hallo, wil ik ook! Ik vond Morgan vanaf het begin gewoonweg strontvervelend. Ah, boehoehoe, iemand anders moet ook zorgen voor de klassenhamster, wat heb je het zwaar. Oh nee, iemand vindt een spel leuk dat jij ook leuk vindt, dat kan natuurlijk niet hé Morgan. En zo zit hij wel vaker te zeuren of haar expres niet bij dingen toe te laten. Wat een prut zeg. Gelukkig ziet hij wel in dat hij gewoon gemeen was. Uiteindelijk. *rolt met ogen* Ik vond het erg leuk om te zien hoe de kinderen in Minecraft kwamen en hoe ze probeerden uit te vinden hoe alles werkte en natuurlijk, heel belangrijk, hoe ze eigenlijk uit de wereld komen. Want probleempje... ze krijgen de VR niet af omdat ze die niet voelen. Oepsie. Ik vond het leuk om te zien hoe ze samenwerkten en hoe ze iets geweldigs bouwden. En dan is er natuurlijk ook het mysterie dat er gebeurde, iemand anders is ook in het spel. Dum dum dum.

Tom: You mentioned wanting the Phantom in the books. Were there any other Minecraft features that you were like “I have to get that in there, I’m determined to get that into the books”? Based on one of the most popular video game of all time, this all-new chapter book series takes a group of intrepid Minecraft players deeper into the game than ever before. In their last adventure, Morgan, Harper, and their friends barely survived a dangerous gameonly to return to a Minecraft Overworld in total chaos! The rift that’s been growing steadily larger in the sky is now on the verge of consuming everything in its path. The team has one chance to save Minecraft and their friend the Evoker King—but it may already be too late. Find out what happens in Book #6, the epic conclusion of the Stonesword Saga!!!Tom: You’ve got four Minecraft obsessives who can call out anything that doesn’t follow the rules of the game. It’s a Deep Dive and that’s a lot of the aquatic stuff; it’s an underwater adventure but it’s actually going into some of the real-world stuff that Mojang has inspired as well.

Tom: I’ve spent a few minutes before this interview trying to look up the name of the hamster in your books. I can’t remember what the hamster was called, but it was brilliant… You can join Morgan, Ash, Harper, Po and Jodi on an exciting adventure through the Minecraft world with Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles 6 Book Slipcase.The Woodsword Middle School crew have discovered magical headsets that actually transport them into Minecraft. At first it’s exciting, but then they realise this is more than just a game. As Ash, Morgan, and three of their fellow Minecraft players, who can actually enter the game, take a deep dive into the Aquatic biome, they find a world filled with beauty and wonder. A treasure map promises adventure and the opportunity to explore—but it could also be a trap set by the mysterious Evoker King. With air running low, will they survive to find out? Guess I’ll just have to read the new series to find out! Currently there are two Woodsword Chronicles titles available, Into The Game and Night of the Bats. They’re out in the UK and America (with region-exclusive covers, too), and there’s many more to come! But as a result of that, I’m determined to get llamas in the books whenever and however I can so there will be a lot more llamas as the series goes on!Tom: That is amazing – how long did you spend coming up with that? I might have to get my name changed to Baron Sweetcheeks. Five young Minecraft players in the real world find themselves transported inside the game they love. But now it's not a game—and they will have to use everything they know to explore, build, and survive! The Stonesword Saga comes to an epic conclusion in this deluxe illustrated hardcover chapter book—the only official Minecraft chapter book series!