(Dark) Summer Lovin’
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal, Writing
OK, so there are plenty of disadvantages to being stuck in a cave and guarded by foul-smelling monsters (www.trappedbymonsters.com). The rotten food is one, Joe’s snoring is another – but I’ve recently discovered a plus point, too…
As authors, we’re still writing and, as our books come close to release, our various publishers produce something called uncorrected proofs of our books. Basically a ‘proof’ is the story in basic book form so that readers and reviewers can enjoy the story before it hits the shelves. That’s why new book releases already have glowing reviews by the time they hit the shelves.
I’ve been honoured to read two of these proofs over this last week, and will blog about them separately – starting with Dark Summer by Ali Sparkes…
What can I say? I went to bed last night with the intention of reading a chapter or two but literally could not put the book down. I finished at 3.10am knowing that I had read possibly the best children’s book, ever. That might sound like a cliche but, trust me, it’s not. This is a GREAT book!
Without giving too much away, Dark Summer tells the tale of Eddie – an intelligent if slightly sensitive boy who is forced to spend the summer with his aunt and cousins near the Wooky Hole caves. But, what begins as a bog-standard family day out to the tourist attraction, turns into so much more and changes not only Eddie’s life, but that of an arthritic distant uncle and several never-seen-before characters.
Dark Summer isn’t out until July, but I urge you to go out and pre-order a copy. Books rarely get better than this.
Rumpled Split-Skin
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
I recently wrote a story for the utterly brilliant Reading Zone website. It’s the tale of Rumpled Split-Skin, a mysterious zombie who has the power to turn gold into pure brains…
You can read the story here: http://www.readingzone.com/?zone=cz&page=fullnews&id=599
If you dare, that is…
Tommy
Screaming Spires
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
A FANTASTIC visit to the Oxford Literary Festival yesterday where I staged my anarchic Vampires vs Werewolves Game Show for pupils from three different but equally noisy schools! I also got to meet two of my own favourite writers – Tony Bradman and Justin Somper.
Whilst in Oxford (one of my favourite places in the UK!), I took the opportunity to see the sights (again)…
…and hang out at the Eagle and Child pub, once home to the Inklings society – a group of writers whose members included C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. I guess using your initials was a condition of membership.
T.C. Donbavand
Mostly Books – Totally Fun!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
A HUGE thank you to Mark Thornton and everyone at Mostly Books in Abingdon for a tremendous event yesterday. I took my box of Scream Street relics down south for the audience to experience, and did my best to spook the entire audience:
As you can see from the video footage below, some of the crowd were braver than others…
If you’re looking for an independent bookshop from which to satisfy your literary needs – you won’t go far wrong with Mostly Books!
Tommy
Scary Stories
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Thanks to everyone at St Joseph’s school in Middlesbrough for a warm welcome today. We created some incredibly spooky stories together, and I was delighted to receive emails from some of the pupils after the event to say how much they’d enjoyed the workshops!
Tommy
Scream Street USA!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
I can FINALLY reveal that the Scream Street series will be published in the USA from August 2009 by Candlewick Press!
The first two books, Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire and Scream Street 2: Blood of the Witch, are now available to pre-order via Amazon.com
Suffice to say, I’m VERY excited!
Tommy
Happy Red Nose Day!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal
Riotous Writing In Ryton!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Thanks to everyone at Emmaville Primary School in Ryton for two great days! I was given a fantastic welcome by staff and pupils alike – and everyone wrote some utterly brilliant stories!
If they keep that up, I’ll be out of a job pretty soon!
Tommy
Happy World Book Day!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
I hope you’re planning to spread the word about great kids’ books for World Book Day – I know I am. I’ll be running creative writing workshops and staging my fangtastic Vampires vs Werewolves game show at Mowbray First School in Guide Post today, then Brighton Avenue Primary School in Gateshead tomorrow.
Plus – be sure use your World Book Day voucher to pick up a riotous read! I’ll be grabbing a copy of Mr Gum and the Hound of Lamonic Bibber – but there are some fantastic other titles available, too. Maybe next year, they’ll let me write a special Scream Street story…
Tommy
Borders Gateshead
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Thanks to everyone at Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead for a great couple of days causing chaos with local schools!
My next Borders stop is at Silverlink on 17th March. See you there!
Tommy