Trapped By Monsters – One Year On
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Personal
Those of us held captive at Trapped By Monsters have been here for a year now. Perhaps if I can find a way inside your computer, I may be able to get a message out…
More Brilliant Scream Street Art!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Personal, Scream Street
Julia in Sweden has been at it again – and I think this one is fantastic! It’ll be framed on my wall before long…
Check out more of Julia’s wonderful artwork here: http://marticusproductions.deviantart.com/
Happy Roald Dahl Day!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Personal
13th September is Roald Dahl Day and, to celebrate, here I am discussing my favourite book from the great man…
Do yourself a favour and devour some Dahl today!
*Several eagle-eared viewers may have spotted my, er… deliberate mistake in saying that Danny’s dad vanishes every night when, of course, I meant to say “one night”. In no way was I attempting to rewrite a Roald Dahl classic…*
National Literacy Trust Interview
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal, Scream Street, Writing
I was recently interviewed by the National Literacy Trust for their newsletter – covering topics such as getting boys gripped by books, authors being vetted prior to class visits and even what I would change about schools if I got the chance! To find out what I think about these important matters and more – simply click here to read the interview.
Giving Words A Good Home
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal
It’s often easy to forget that, as a writer, I work with words every day and find communicating my thoughts and feelings to others a very simple affair – but that’s not the case for everyone. Some people struggle to make themselves understood.
So, I was delighted to discover a wonderful website that allows you to adopt a word for a year at a time and I used it to adopt the word SCREAM.
Adopt A Word charges just £20 to make a word ‘yours’ for 12 months – with all the money going to a brilliant charity called I Can which helps children with communication and speech problems.
So, if there’s a word you’ve always coveted, why not give it a good home? Because words are for life – not just for Christmas cracker jokes…
Tommy
The Heroes Are Here!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal, Scream Street
I had an utterly FANTASTIC day at North Ormesby Primary School yesterday to conclude my year as RIF Ambassador to the school. In front of such esteemed VIPs as author GP Taylor, head of the National Literacy Trust Jonathan Douglas, and RIF director Judith Parke – I was delighted and honoured to announce the second annual winner of the Tommy Donbavand Writing Hero award. And it is….
…Ryan Patton! That’s him in the picture with me and last year’s writing hero, Kian Belsham. Like Kian, Ryan will also soon become a brand new character in the Scream Street series (I already know as what – but you’ll have to wait until book 9 to find out!)
I can’t thank the pupils and staff at North Ormesby enough for a wonderful year. Mrs Kemp-Hall, Mrs Hawes and everyone else have made me feel so welcome, and been extremely kind and understanding when I had to arrange visits at the last moment. I’ll definitely be staying in touch.
Tommy
New Children’s Laureate
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal, Writing
Congratulations to fellow Walker author, Anthony Browne, on becoming the new children’s laureate. I’m looking forward to seeing how he continues the wonderful work of Michael Rosen.
For more information on the role of the children’s laureate, visit the website here: http://www.childrenslaureate.org.uk
Into The Woods
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal
As part of the challenge I’ve given myself to write an entire book on my NEO writing tool, I set off into the local woods today in order to find some peace and quiet. I found it, too – if you don’t count the millions of insects buzzing around me!
For those who don’t know about the challenge – I’m so impressed with the NEO as a potential tool for professional writers that I’m attempting to write the entire manuscript for The Uniform (to be published by Barrington Stoke in 2010) on it.
You can learn more about my NEO challenge here.
Happy Towel Day!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal
A few of the more observant blog visitors may have noticed that I’ve been missing for a while. It all started when I moved with my family to Lancashire, and then Kirsty fell ill… Let’s just say the last few weeks have been among some of the most stressful ever!
But now – I’m back! And just in time for Towel Day, the day each year when fans of Douglas Adams’ brilliant Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series of books carry a towel with them to show their appreciation of the great man and his work.
Adams, who suffered a permanent existence failure in 2001, wrote 5 books in the trilogy – and there’s another on the way – And Another Thing, courtesy of Artemis Fowl author and all round top bloke, Eoin Colfer. News of the book was greeted with mixed reaction among Adams’ fans but, personally, I can’t wait.
Until then – Don’t Panic, and always know where your towel is.
I’m Back!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Personal
Yes, after a mammoth house move from Northumberland to Lancashire, I’m back online and posting again! My apologies for the absence and for the lack of Screamcast or Terror Times updates in March due to furious packing of everything we own! Normal service should resume shortly – just as soon as I’ve deleted the 435 spam comments I’ve received!
Tommy