Grave News
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Scream Street
Here’s a short, instructional video explaining how to enter this month’s Quest, and win the chance to become a character in a future Scream Street book:
Find out more at: http://www.watchthemgrow.co.uk/quest.html
Tommy
Become A Character In Scream Street
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Have you ever wanted to appear as a character in a book? Well here’s your chance!
Renaissance Learning are running a Quest with each challenge set by a children’s author – and this month, it’s me! All you have to do is imagine that you wake up one day to discover you’ve turned into a vampire. How would you react? What would you do? And how far would you stay from the garlic in the supermarket?
I want you to write a story of at least 150 words telling me what you would do (you can of course write more than that – and include pictures, too). When all the entries are in, I’ll choose a winner and make that person a character in a future Scream Street book.
So, if you’ve ever wanted to see your name in print – click here and try The Quest!
Tommy
Trick AND Treat
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Happy Halloween!
To celebrate the spookiest night of the year, here’s a brand new Scream Street short story – ‘Trick AND Treat’ – written exclusively for The Times newspaper. Don’t have nightmares…
Trick AND Treat
A SCREAM STREET short story by Tommy Donbavand
“Come on!” cried Luke Watson, pulling the hood of his makeshift ghost costume over his head and bounding up the path to number 18 Scream Street. “It’ll be fun – I promise!”
Resus Negative licked his fangs nervously and exchanged a worried glance with their mummy friend, Cleo Farr. Wasn’t it bad enough that they were having to wander the streets in fancy dress without Luke getting all overexcited? “We’re not sure about this,” he said, itching at the spot on his neck where Luke had insisted on taping fake Frankenstein bolts.
Cleo dragged off her gorgon wig and straightened the bandages over her scalp. “It’s just not the way we do things around here,” she agreed. “Tonight’s more of a stay at home with the family kind of night.”
Luke sighed. Who would have imagined, now he lived among real vampires, phantoms and mummies, that Halloween would be so, well… boring? He’d pictured skeletons dancing while witches brewed up steaming potions and zombies burst out of their graves – but the most exciting thing he’d seen all night was a bat with a half-deflated balloon tied to its leg.
“Suit yourselves!” he grumbled. “All the more for me!” Spinning round, he rapped on the buckled wooden door and struck what he hoped was a spooky pose.
Limping footsteps approached along the hallway inside. Clump, swick. Clump, swick. Clump, swick. Heavy bolts were drawn back and the door opened with an agonised creak. “Yes, dear?” enquired the wrinkled face that peered out of the darkness. A thick tongue slavered over toothless gums. “What do you want?”
“Trick or treat!” beamed Luke from beneath his white bed sheet. He held out his pumpkin pail and added a ghoulish ‘Wooh!’ for good measure.
“Trick or treat?” mused the old woman. “Now, there’s a choice…” Then, without warning, she grasped a handful of hair, ripped her head from her shoulders and dumped it in the bucket.
Sticky, red liquid spurted over Luke and he backed away, pulling the soaking bed sheet from his face in horror. It was a moment before he realised it was nothing more than raspberry sauce.
Peering down into the plastic container, he found gobstopper eyes blinking up at him from beneath a mop of candyfloss hair. A stump of white, marshmallow spine protruded from the neck, wrapped in red liquorice veins.
“Never been a fan of choices myself,” cackled the confectionary head. “So why not have both?!”
THE END
Terror Times October 2009!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
The October 2009 edition of the Scream Street newsletter – The Terror Times – is now online here: http://www.screamstreet.co.uk/terror-times/tt1009/
This month, you can read an exclusive short story, learn all about a new book by yours truly and finally discover the titles of the remaining books in the Scream Street series!
What a scream!
Tommy
The Normals Are Coming!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Scream Street
Scream Street 7: Invasion of the Normals is published by Walker Books today!
Exactly a year after the first four Scream Street books appeared, SS7 sees Luke, Resus and Cleo up against the most terrible creatures of all – us!
After collecting all six relics and opening a doorway back to the real world, Luke is delighted when his parents decide they want to stay in Scream Street where he is truly happy. However, the doorway remains open and landlord, Sir Otto Sneer, is charging normals to visit “the greatest freak show in the world”. Can the trio find a way to stop the tide of tourists, will they be able to close the doorway – and how will Luke react to what happens to his mum?
PLUS – not only is Scream Street 7 an action-packed adventure – it’s 50% longer than the other books in the series!
What a scream!
Tommy
Faceache Joins Facebook
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Scream Street
Oh dear…
Scream Street landlord, Sir Otto Sneer, has shaken off his dislike of technology (second only to his dislike of his residents) and joined Facebook. His latest updates include rants about zombies’ feet, floating skeletons and a demand to know who gave his Hellhounds laxatives…
You can add him as a friend, follow his updates, and generally try to put up with his insults by clicking here: Sir Otto on Facebook
In fact, you’d better add him as a friend, or he’s going to get very angry indeed.
And as if that wasn’t enough – he’s also got a new Twitter account, with you can follow by visiting www.twitter.com/sirottosneer
Tommy
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…*
Poster Boys
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Links, Writing
Do your classroom or library walls suffer from blandness and boring areas? Do you yearn for something to look at other than that tattered old picture of Duran Duran? Then panic no more – the Poster Boys are here…
At Write2Excite – www.write2excite.co.uk – you can claim your FREE set of four posters, featuring best-selling children’s authors Andy Briggs, Joe Craig, Tommy Donbavand and GP Taylor!
So, what are you waiting for? Pin us up today!
Tommy
Scream Street Fan Art!
Posted by Tommy | Filed under Illustrations, Links, Scream Street
I found this superb piece of Scream Street fan art online over the weekend: Luke and the chihuahua from Fang of the Vampire, created by an artist who goes by the name of Marticus Productions:
I think it is FANTASTIC, and I look forward to seeing more!
You can see the original posting here: http://marticusproductions.deviantart.com/art/Tommy-Donbavands-SCREAM-STREET-136015157