Happy Halloween!  Today was just the right day to officially launch the Scream Street series with a range of spooky activities at Seven Stories, the centre for children’s books in Newcastle.

I ran a creepy creative writing workshop, read from the SS books, played some werewolf vs vampire activities and, of course, signed copies of the Scream Street books for revolting readers.

Here you can see me causing chaos in the attic (everyone had just heard a scary noise behind them)…

My nephew, Luke, and son, Arran, came dressed as the werewolf version of Luke Watson and Twonk the zombie from the Scream Street books…

My niece, Aoife, dressed up as her witch namesake, Eefa Everwell…

Scream Street books were everywhere…

And I was happy to sign them…

A fang-tastic day all round!

Tommy

While waiting for a train at King’s Cross station in London last night, I popped into WHSmith and spotted Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire…

…at number 18 in the children’s book chart!

I smiled all the way home.

Tommy

Thanks to everyone at St John Ambulance for a great day at the Petrifying Party today!  The event took place at St John’s church in London, where we played some gruesome games in the garden…

I read spooky stories in the creepy crypt…

And signed Scream Street books for my revolting readers!  (This is Awful Alex having his picture taken with me!)

Tommy

Dah-dah-dah-da-da-dah, dah-dah-da-dah!

The sentence above is supposed to be the opening line of At The Sign of the Swingin’ Cymbals buy Brian Fahey (you can hear what it was supposed to sound like here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5BpQ_1RnolU)  The tune was oft used by Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman in his Radio 1 Top 40 show – and that’s a very weak way to introduce a bit of news…

Following my events at Borders stores in the north east last week, I’m delighted to learn that I became one of their top 40 bestselling authors!  Even better, I popped into the Silverlink store last night to spot Scream Street both in the window, and on the best reads for kids shelf along with some of my favourite authors, including Julia Donaldson, Terry Pratchett, Andy Stanton, Francesca Simon, Eoin Colfer and Charlie Higson!  Very excited, so I was!

Tommy

A great day today, speaking at the Gateshead Raising Achievement event at Seven Stories.  The theme of my talk was how I inspire children – and especially boys – to read.  So, I took along my Scream Street relics, read a section from SS2: Blood of the Witch, ran a mini-workshop and even performed a little magic!

I also signed some books alongside the very talented Mick and Brita, who were there to talk about their own books – and it was in the bookshop I spotted this rather lovely display:

I’ll be back at Seven Stories next Friday for the official Scream Street launch.  Join me – if you dare…

Tommy

Following the success of my visits to Borders stores in the north east – where I became one of their top 40 bestselling authors – I spent the early part of this week running school events at Borders in Speke and Cheshire Oaks.  Fun was had by all (especially me) and here’s the photographic evidence to prove it:

For those folks wanting a Scream Street event in the south – here’s just the thing!

On 28th October, I’ll be running a Petrifying Party for St. John Ambulance – in a 12th century London church crypt!  I’ll be reading from the Scream Street novels, playing some gruesome games and, of course, signing books.

More information, and details of how to book can be found here: http://www.sja.org.uk/sja/support-us/fundraise/social-and-special-events/petrifying-party.aspx

All money from tickets will go to help fund St John Ambulance itself.  So, come along for some spooky fun, and raise money for a great organisation at the same time!

Tommy

SS1: Fang of the Vampire has received an excellent review in The Scotsman newspaper…

Scream Street: Fang of the Vampire, with its blood red cover and pages spattered with blots, clots and claw marks, is the first in a series of comedy chillers by Tommy Donbavand (Walker Books, £4.99). Reluctant werewolf Luke Watson and his shocked parents have been forcibly relocated to Scream Street by the Government Housing of Unusual Lifeforms (G.H.O.U.L.), where their neighbours are ghosts, zombies, witches and worse. Luke soon teams up with a would-be vampire and a young mummy and they set out to find the first of six ancient relics that will open the way back to normality. Fast-paced, entertaining and, for most youngsters, just about scary enough.

You can read the review in situ here: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Children39s-book-reviews-big-monsters.4601406.jp

Tommy

Another brilliant Borders visit today – this time to the branch in at Silverlink, Wallsend…

Next week, I’ll be at Borders in Speke and Cheshire Oaks!

Tommy

More Scream Street fun – today at Borders in Gateshead.  Take a peek…