479 ratings | 17 reviews | avg rating:4.17

Neil’s Year In Books

Neil’s 2025 Year in Books

Take a look at Neil’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.

Go to Neil’s 2025 Year in Books

Neil J Hart’s Followers (15)

Neil’s Bookshelves

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Neil’s Friends (42)

Sam Ashurst

203 books | 101 friends

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Charlotte’s Books

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569 books | 4 friends

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2026 Reading Challenge

2026

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Neil J Hart has read 0 of 30 books.

Neil J Hart

Goodreads Author

Born

in Epsom, The United Kingdom

September 04

Website

https://neiljhart.com

Twitter

neiljhart

Genre

Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror

Influences

Terry Pratchett, V.E. Schwab, Brandon Sanderson, Leigh Bardugo, Neil G ...more

Member Since

August 2013

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/neiljhart

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Neil J Hart has won awards for his haunting YA fantasy adventure novels ‘The Last Scarecrow’ (Nightmare Before Christmas meets Return to Oz) and 'Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf' (His Dark Materials meets City of Ghosts).

His latest book, 'Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows' is a YA sci-fi mystery inspired by the adventure of Star Wars and magic of Harry Potter.

He is currently working on sequels to all a three series with audiobooks in the works too.

Neil also works as a graphic designer and a musician. He fosters for Cats Protection. Relies on coffee. Adores a perfectly made cheese and cucumber sandwich. And collects Tomb Raider memorabilia. ...more

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Ask the Author

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Neil J Hart I get stuck. Sure. But I tend to plot quite heavily in the first instance. If there are days when it's not happening then I either write something els…moreI get stuck. Sure. But I tend to plot quite heavily in the first instance. If there are days when it's not happening then I either write something else; a short story or screenplay or a stream of consciousness until I feel like returning to the book.

Other great ways to wake up the brain, in my experience, are a nice long run (this gives me loads of time to think about plots and characters and work out why I'm blocked), play the guitar really loud, read a book or watch a film that touches on the genre or themes that I might be dealing with in the book. One of these activities usually kicks me back into life and gets the words flowing.(less)

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How do you get inspired to write?

Neil J Hart Loads of things inspire me with my books. Mostly, other books (i try to read for the same amount of time as I write each day) but also films, tv serie…moreLoads of things inspire me with my books. Mostly, other books (i try to read for the same amount of time as I write each day) but also films, tv series, dreams / nightmares and the things people say. I also treat the process of writing as a job. For a long time I considered it a hobby but that meant that I could just dip in and out when I felt like it. To actually achieve something with my writing I had to sit down every day and write. I like to set myself a 3000 words goal every day. Sometimes I'm done by lunchtime, other times I'm there until the evening.

One of the best tools I've found for my productivity is the software Scrivener. Among hundreds of features, it allows you to block out the work into folders and sub-folders where you can place each scene and shift the order around with ease. This makes 'seeing' the structure and the length of the book dead simple. Finding scenes and instances and character recurrences is now done in seconds rather than having to painstakingly scroll through hundreds of pages of a Word document into your eyes go funny.(less)

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Combine Editions
Neil J Hart’s books

Average rating: 4.46 · 91 ratings · 57 reviews · 4 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1) 4.53 avg rating — 53 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sadie Madison and the Boy in the Crimson Scarf (The Madison Chronicles, #1) 4.35 avg rating — 23 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows (SpiralVerse Saga, #1) 4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Spritz (Spritz, #1) 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2006 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

45 posts
Neil J Hart's Blog

Fighting Fantasy

Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson’s Fighting Fantasy series has got a lot to answer for… As a child I hated reading. Really hated it. I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’m sure I was even guilty of saying, “What’s the point in reading a book when you can watch the film?” These days I’ll stop …

Fighting Fantasy Read More »

The post Fighting Fantasy appeared first on Neil J Hart.

Neil is Currently Reading

Neil J Hart is currently reading

Scareground

by Angela Kecojevic (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Nov 25, 2025 12:21AM

Neil J Hart is currently reading

The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2)

by Brandon Sanderson (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Dec 17, 2024 01:56AM

Neil J Hart is currently reading

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations, #1)

by B.B. Alston (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

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Jul 29, 2023 02:39AM

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Neil’s Recent Updates

Jan 05, 2026 10:23AM · like
Neil J Hart liked Anita Pringle's review of The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1):
Jan 05, 2026 10:21AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Neil J Hart liked Revy's review of Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows (SpiralVerse Saga, #1): "3.5 rounded up as this book really picks up in its closing third. I loved the twist reveal and the friendships Chalk forms with her companions. They feel dynamic and diverse and everyone brings something interesting to the scene. I liked Cube a tonne" Read more of this review »
Dec 03, 2025 04:36AM · see review
Neil J Hart liked Katie Vissian's review of The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1):
Nov 26, 2025 03:03AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Neil J Hart is currently reading Scareground by Angela Kecojevic (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 25, 2025 12:21AM · like
Neil J Hart made a comment on Val Penny’s review of The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1) " Thanks for the amazing review, Val! So glad you enjoyed it. "
Nov 17, 2025 01:33PM · see review
Neil J Hart made a comment on Sarah Cornforth’s review of Harper Hale and the Crystal of Shadows (SpiralVerse Saga, #1) " Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed HH's adventures at the Galactic Institute! ...more "
Nov 16, 2025 02:06AM · see review
Nov 11, 2025 11:37PM · like · view books
Neil J Hart rated a book it was amazing The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1) by Neil J Hart (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Nov 06, 2025 11:31PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Last Scarecrow by Neil J Hart <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Neil J Hart made a comment on Brad Lyon’s review of The Last Scarecrow (Scarecrows of Coldharbour Farm, #1) " Thanks for the awesome review, Brad! "
Nov 06, 2025 11:30PM · see review