ABOUT ADRIAN WOODLAND
Origin Story
Adrian Woodland is a novelist, English teacher, musician, inventor (really) and BMX enthusiast who loves 80s movies and scary buildings. In 2019, he graduated from Northumbria University with a Master’s in Creative Writing and spent four years plotting, developing, writing, and changing The Potentials (repeatedly). He promises that the next one will not take as long because he has ironed out most of the plot holes that would see him torn to shreds by his nerdy friends. Born in Durham, Adrian lives in Sunderland and is working on the second book in The Potentials series.
PRESS RELEASE​
Adrian Woodland Unveils New YA Urban Fantasy: The Potentials
Explores Identity, Friendship and Learned Behaviour.
[Sunderland] – [28/11/2024] – Debut author Adrian Woodland is excited to announce the release of his highly anticipated new novel, The Potentials (available 22/11/2024). In this mind-bending urban fantasy, Woodland delivers a gripping narrative that pushes the boundaries of both genre and imagination. The Potentials is a powerful exploration of identity, free will, and pupil disengagement in an increasingly uncertain world, post-covid.
Set in the Northeast, The Potentials follows the story of Daniel Ambrose, a troubled teen with a grim outlook on life. Ever since his mother left home, his life has crumbled around him, but when the school decide that he is underachieving because he is under-stimulated, a move to a higher-ability class leads to flawed powers and a perilous adventure that pits Daniel and his new classmates against a hidden evil lurking in the pages of every story ever told.
Woodland, known for dark characters rooted in the reality of the working-class north, has crafted a novel that not only thrills readers with its fast-paced plot and high-stakes action, but also invites them to ponder the current climate that our young people exist in. In The Potentials, the lines between hero and villain are blurred, forcing characters—and readers alike—to consider what it means to truly be human.
"I wanted to write a novel that challenges the way we think about the modern world and our own history," said Woodland. "In The Potentials, the characters grapple with real life, and historic recollections that are open to interpretation, dependent on who tells the story. It’s a wish fulfilment story that balances the realities of growing up with the realities of supernatural powers in a modern city. It’s a reflection of the world we live in today, where young people are subjected to monumental pressures having lived through unprecedented times."
A longtime fan of 80s movies and BMX bikes, Adrian Woodland’s previous works have earned him a reputation for his unique blend of psychological depth, moral ambiguity, and speculative technology. With The Potentials, he continues to evolve as a storyteller, offering a tale that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant.
“Depending on character — and there are a few — writing styles throughout the book,’ said Woodland. “Some stories are written in a simpler tone, but the themes are much darker in those sections — Irvine Welsh meets Enid Blyton in Goonies.”
The Potentials is now available in paperback and e-book from Amazon, Waterstones, and other major retailers worldwide.
For more information about the novel and Adrian Woodland, visit www.adrianwoodland.co.uk or follow him on: www.facebook.com/adrianwoodlandwriter/
Instagram: @adrianwoodland
TikTok: @woodies_creative.
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