Welcome to Inks Academy
The Seven Schools of Story
Dark tales. Bright hearts.
At the edge of imagination stands Inks Academy, a school where all story characters – all Inks – are trained in the Seven Schools of Story:
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Tragedy – finding meaning in loss
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Comedy – turning life upside down with laughter
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Quests – seeking purpose and adventure
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Dreams – exploring the worlds within
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Monster-Slayers – facing fears with courage
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Alchemy – transforming darkness into light
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Underdogs – rising up when the odds are against you
Each School teaches its Inks how to harness the power of story. But every Ink must also face their own challenges and discover who they really are.
Cover reveal coming soon
The Ghosts of
The House of Time
Secrets. Shadows. Courage.
Book One of the Inks Academy series
Coming spring 2027
Dustin Time is an Apprentice Goth at Inks Academy’s School of Tragedy, and he’s being haunted by his missing father. After discovering a dark family secret in the depths of the House of Time, Dustin must unlock the power within himself to release his father and rescue the future from the past.
The first book in the series introduces the haunted halls of the House of Time and sets the stage for the adventures to come in the other Schools of Story.
Meet the Author
Who is Briar Blackwell?
Nobody quite knows who Briar really is. Some say Briar lives in a crumbling house at the edge of the woods. There are rumours of candlelit rooms stacked with half-finished manuscripts, and of ink stains that never wash away.
What we do know is this: Briar writes stories that inspire wonder, courage and hope — even in the darkest of places. These tales invite readers to step beyond the ordinary, to face shadows with bravery, and to discover the light that lies within every story.
For Schools
Bring stories to life
Explore the world of Inks Academy through interactive author visits and creative writing workshops with Daniel Ingram-Brown, who writes the series as Briar Blackwell.
From assemblies and classroom readings to Spark to Story workshops, school visits encourage children and young people to explore their imaginations, develop their own stories and discover the power of storytelling.
Visits are available for primary and secondary schools, with activities tailored to different age groups.