Wexford author's new Sci-Fi book is inspired by Bunmahon village in County Waterford

Author, John Hearne’s second children’s book, ‘Someone’s Been Messing with Reality’, is a science-fiction adventure with a setting inspired by Bunmahon village in county Waterford.

The book has just landed in bookshops and has already garnered considerable praise, having been named by Dubray Books as their middle grade book of the month.

“Think ‘Stranger Things', but set in an Irish seaside town” John Hearne said to the Waterford News & Star.

“It might be science fiction, but it’s very much based in the real world. 

The village in which the action takes place is inspired by Bunmahon on the Copper Coast. I wanted to set this story in the real world, so the village where the action takes place – Glencooper – is a mash up of Castlebridge in County Wexford where I grew up, and Bunmahon, where my Dad’s from," he said.

“There used to be a thriving mining industry there in the eighteen hundreds. When we used to go to Bunmahon as kids, there was always an air of mystery and danger about the disused mines. 

They were always going to pop up in a story at some point," he added.

The book, for 9 to 12 year olds, follows a boy called Martin Ryan. When he sees a video of his father flying unaided through the air, he realises everything he believed about his life has been a lie. Now his parents have disappeared and something very strange is happening in the village where he lives.

Martin and his friends must do whatever they can to defeat the aliens that threaten the entire human race. 

Even if it means stealing cop cars, blowing up the mines and turning a paddling pool into a fighter aircraft.

‘Someone’s Been Messing with Reality’ is available from all good bookshops and from the usual websites. More info is available at johnhearneauthor.com.