That's right: Vampirates. They're Vampires...who are Pirates. The best of both worlds, if you have to believe the sales figures as well as accolades for the author, British born Justin Somper.

Somper earned his stripes as a successful publisher, working-among other things- with the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, and the Narnia Literary Estate. 

He first made the jump from publishing to writing in 2005, with the British publication of "Vampirates: Demons of the Ocean". The story centers around twins Grace and Connor Tempest, who find themselves orphans, after their lighthouse keeper-father suddenly dies. To avoid the orphanage, they escape; a bad storm destroys  their vessel, and from here on out, adventure follows adventure in rapid succession.

The narration is solid, the moral questions Justin Somper raises are timeless, and the characters are utterly believable, even when they find themselves in fantastical settings and surrounded by magical creatures. The author answers the public's insatiable need for the supernatural, while at the same time spinning a coming-of-age tale that betrays his no-doubt classic background. There is no question: this man knows his Dickens.

The first installment of the "Vampirates" series was published in the US and elsewhere in 2006. Somper has since written three more books in the series:

"Tide of Terror" (2006)

"Blood Captain" (2007)

"Black Heart" (2009)