Well, I promised them at Halloween – and here they are…  After dozens of requests, I’m finally revealing the titles of the remaining books in the Scream Street series:

Scream Street 7: Invasion of the Normals
Scream Street 8: Attack of the Trolls
Scream Street 9: Terror of the Nightwatchman
Scream Street 10: Rampage of the Goblins
Scream Street 11: Hunger of the Yeti
Scream Street 12: Secret of the Changeling
Scream Street 13: Flame of the Dragon

Any thoughts?

Tommy

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

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

As you may know, I’ve been laid up with swine flu recently and – whilst in bed with nothing else to do – I wrote a short article which answers, in my case at least, one of the questions most asked of writers: how did you get published?  The piece was written for a website called How Publishing Really Works, although I wanted to share it here as well.

So, here’s how I did it…

Tommy

—

How I Got Published by Tommy Donbavand

One of the questions I’m asked most often (aside from ‘what are you doing in my garden?’) is how I got published.  What’s more interesting than the question itself, however, is the belief and/or hope that there is some sort of magic formula or shortcut that I have found and can give the questioner to stop them having to do it the hard way.

Guess what?  There is no magic formula.  You have to do it the hard way.

I started writing while still at school, eschewing the teenage norm of hanging out on street corners to sit at home and practice my art.  Thankfully, I hit the library (no Internet back then…) and knew enough about how books were made not to submit my first ever attempts (although I did send some sketches out to Spitting Image, Stephen Fry and Ben Elton, getting very kind ‘keep it up’ letters in return).

After college I made the obvious career move – and became a clown called Wobblebottom (no, really).  I worked first at holiday centres around the UK and later on cruise liners, entertaining children.

A few years later I joined the cast of a musical in London’s West End – Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story – and even that was down to one-part perseverance and two-parts metal balls.  I went to see the show with my parents, spotted a part I thought I’d be good at and wrote to the producer that night, claiming I would be a much better choice than the current guy.  That landed me the audition – but, when I got there, they asked me to read for a different role.  I knew I would only have this chance once in my life and so I stopped halfway through and told them they should let me audition for the character I wanted.  They did, I got the part, and stayed with the show for the next eight years.

While in Buddy, I continued writing and continued being rejected.  Neither agents nor publishers were interested in the fiction I had to offer.  So, I turned to the old phrase ‘write what you know’ and put together all the games and activities I’d created and developed during my work as a children’s entertainer.  I pitched the book far and wide and, soon after, Quick Fixes For Bored Kids was published by How To Books in the UK.

Three other books – More Quick Fixes For Bored Kids, Quick Fixes For Kids’ Parties and Boredom Busters – followed.  Before long I was running events in book shops and being interviewed on both local and national radio as an expert in keeping kids entertained.  It wasn’t what I wanted to write, but it was a foot in the door, nonetheless.

Then the door closed over my foot.

Buddy ended, I left London, and the events dried up.  The books weren’t selling very well at all – partly because parents who buy books telling them how to keep their kids from being bored don’t generally have the type of kids that get bored – and partly because the publisher insisted on classifying the books as ‘parenting’ titles, instead of ‘activities’.  I would often go into book shops and find my work far away from the children’s section, sandwiched instead between toilet training guides and books of baby names.

I worked for a few months on a computer tech support line, then auditioned for a role in a small-scale children’s show visiting schools over Christmas.  I did the tour, and stayed with the production company afterwards in order to write their next shows – for next to no money at all.  But hey, at least I was writing again.  I often found myself playing a part in show ‘A’ while writing show ‘B’.  It was exhausting.

I was still writing fiction in what little spare time I had, sending off my work to publishers and agents, and amassing an impressive collection of rejection letters in return.  Apparently, my four previous books (now rapidly dropping out of print) counted for nothing.  I was back on the outside, forcing my work into the bottom of the slush pile.

I began to teach writing to adults in the evenings and set up a web forum to enable people in the classes to stay in touch.  Before long, an established writer posted on the board saying that Egmont Press was looking for writers-for-hire for a new children’s horror series, but that only writers with published fiction to their name need apply.  It was steel balls time again…

I called the editor and convinced her to let me write a sample chapter.  I was successful and soon chosen as the first author for the Too Ghoul For School series, eventually writing five titles for the range.  I was paid a one-off fee for each book, and no royalties – and it wasn’t even my name on the cover – but it was published fiction, and a step in the right direction.

My school events continued apace and I soon spotted an ad looking for a new writer-in-residence at Seven Stories, the UK’s centre for children’s books, based in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.  I applied and got the gig, ready to spend the next 12 months running workshops and writing exclusive material for visitors.

It was time to take a leap of faith so, in September 2006, on the day my son was born – I quit my job at the theatre company and became a full-time writer.  I started writing to agents again, pretty much to deaf ears until one of them suggested I contact Penny Holroyde at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.  I sent her my latest manuscript – a comedy space adventure for kids – and waited for her response.

Penny asked me to come to London for a meeting and explained that the book wasn’t what she was looking for, but asked if I was working on anything else.  I pitched an idea I had for a comedy horror series of my own and she liked it.  I signed with the agency and settled down to write what would become the first title in my Scream Street series.

I worked for almost six months on refining the manuscript and redrafting until it was in good enough shape to submit.  Penny’s notes were invaluable and, eventually, the series was picked up by Walker Books for publication in the UK from October 2008 onwards.

Now the hard work really began and, with my new editor Emma, I got stuck in to writing the series while doing as many school events as I could.  Part way into book three, I had an idea for a ‘second’ Scream Street series and, whipping out the metal orbs again, I pitched it to Walker at their annual sales conference.  The six book series was now doubled to 12 instalments (later upped again to 13 so I could drop a longer ‘hinge’ book between the two sets of adventures).

My regular school visits paid off when I was approached by Reading Is Fundamental (part of the UK’s National Literacy Trust) and asked to become the first RIF Ambassador, attached to a primary school in Middlesbrough and charged with the task of getting the pupils into reading and writing.  It was a great experience – and the school even initiated the ‘Tommy Donbavand Writing Hero’ award!

In January this year, I contacted seven other UK children’s authors with the plan of setting up a joint website through which we could promote books and ‘share’ readers.  The premise is that we were on our way to write the ultimate anthology of monster stories – when the monsters got to us first!  Now held captive in dark, damp caves, we’re made to blog about great kids books in return for food and toilet paper!  Trapped by Monsters can be found at http://www.trappedbymonsters.com

Scream Street began to sell to other countries around the world, including Australia, Italy, Sweden and Japan.  In August 2008, the series was launched in the US, published by Candlewick Press.

So, that’s where I am today.  I’m busy putting the final touches to the 10^th book in the Scream Street series, and have added events at literary festivals to those I still run in schools.  I’ve written two novels for Barrington Stoke, a publisher specialising in books for dyslexic and reluctant readers, and have just been asked for a third.  I’ve even been invited to the Houses of Parliament at the end of this month to discuss getting kids excited about reading.

I’m not sitting on my laurels, however.  I work hard at promoting my books online through websites, guest blog posts and Twitter – and the old steel balls are always polished and ready to use, should the need ever arise…

For those of you wondering where I’ve got to – I’ve been laid up with swine flu.  I’m now firmly on the mend, and busy catching up with work – and trying to stop my asthma from getting worse to join in the fun!

Unfortunately, being ill meant I had to cancel my appearance at the Cheltenham Festival, and postpone this week’s visit to Unity City Academy in Middlesbrough.  Events from next week onwards should be unaffected.

Now – back to work…

Tommy

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

Something new on my site today – a guest blog by fellow children’s author, Martin Howard.  Martin’s new series, Witches at War, launches soon with the first book, The Wickedest Witch – and I can’t wait to read it!  To give you a bit of a sneak preview, here’s an interview with one of the creepy characters, Esmelia Sniff…

—

The Wickedest Witches?

An interview with Esmelia Sniff and her apprentice Sam by Media Hysterick, Books Editor of The Cackler.

Following a trail of stale bread crumbs though the thorns of Pigsnout Wood to Esmelia Sniff’s ramshackle cottage, the first thing you notice as you arrive is the smell. Esmelia’s apprentice, Sam, opens the door and tells me with a shrug, “You don’t ever really get used to it, but it stops making you actually sick after a few weeks.” I can’t say I believe her and stop for a moment to throw up in my handbag. Thankfully, for the rest of the interview having a bag of cold sick close by works just like an air freshener.

The stench is coming from a bony ratbag sitting by the fire with a scowl on her face like she’s chewing a wasp. As it turns out, Esmelia Sniff is chewing a wasp, but spits it into the fire before getting up with a creak of old bones to shake a finger at me. “I ain’t telling you nuthin’,” she shrieks. “I know what you newspaper reporters is like. Making stuff up about whom I’ve snogged and takin’ pictures of me knees as I’m getting off me broom.”

I try to tell Esmelia that The Cackler is not that kind of newspaper, but of course it is that kind of newspaper. She stalks off muttering and grumbling to herself.

While Esmelia sulks in a corner, I take a look around the cottage. It’s a proper old-fashioned witch’s hovel with spider webs, sagging beams and an ancient Hansel & Gretel Industries HaG 3000 oven—big enough to fit even the most gangly teenager and with traditional wonky styling for the choosy witch. “I love what you’ve done with the place Esmelia,” I sneer. (Being a reporter for The Cackler is all about sneering. That and funny-shaped vegetables.) “It’s soo 200 years ago.”

“It’s oldey worldey,” snaps the crone

I’m just about to tell her that it looks more like “mouldy worldey” when Sam brings me a cracked mug of something that might be tea, if tea was lumpy. I push it away and we sit to begin the interview at a kitchen table that is covered with books, potions, and Esmelia’s sleeping cat, Tiddles.

For a witch who’s already made such a name for herself Sam looks very young. It’s easy to forget that this saucy young lady who has caused such a stir in the witching world only got her license a few weeks ago. She has green eyes and running across her nose are either freckles or beetle footprints. It’s difficult to tell which and there’s a large beetle perched on her pointed hat. Sam introduces Ringo, her famous familiar. He waves a foot at me and begins jogging around the brim (Ringo is a fitness fanatic).

I’m supposed to be here to talk about a new book—The Wickedest Witch. It’s all about Sam and Esmelia’s recent adventures and their attempts to become Most Superior High and Wicked Witch. I don’t really give a thrupenny trump about that though, so I ask Sam if she’s old enough to go out on dates and if she’s been seen on the arms of any celebrities at swinging nightspots.

“Umm no,” Sam blushes. “Definitely no. I’m not old enough and, anyway, Esmelia has views about that sort of thing.”

There is a snort from the corner of the room. “Disgustin’,” Esmelia mutters.

“So how did you come to be the apprentice of old Stinky Sniff?” I ask instead.

“Well,” says Sam. “Ever since I was very little I knew I wanted to get involved with magic. I read tons of stories about it and spent ages waiting to be whisked away from the orphanage to a magical land, which is what usually happens in books. I once spent the best part of three weeks in different wardrobes trying to force my way out the back.” Sam stops for a moment and looks wistful. “But there never were any fauns or talking lions and it made people jump, finding me in there when they went to get some clothes, so they made me stop. Anyway, after I got my head stuck in a rabbit hole I got sick of waiting and everyone said that there was a wicked old witch living in Pigsnout Wood so I came to find her. It was lucky… well sort of lucky… for me that Esmelia needed an apprentice.”

“Worst mistake I ever made,” grumbles Esmelia in the corner. “Put a pointy hat on a sock puppet and it’d make a better apprentice.”

Sam hunches over the table. “Esmelia’s not all that bad once you get to know her,” she whispers. “She does whiff a bit and she’s a crusty, miserable old baggage who likes to poke people in the eye, plus she used to eat children, but she does have her good points and she’s a vegetarian now.

“That’s what you thinks you cheeky little maggot” I hear Esmelia cackle under her breath.

“Esmelia has good points?” I ask Sam. “Can you name one?”

Sam thinks about it for a few minutes, then says, “… so that’s how I became Esmelia’s apprentice anyway.

“We’d better talk about The Wickedest Witch,” I interrupt with a sigh. “I am The Cackler’s books editor after all. So, it’s the full and exclusive story of all the recent hoo-hah, capers, and goings-on at the tryouts for the Most Superior High and Wickedest Witch, isn’t it?”

Sam nods.

“And in the book Esmelia comes across as a total twonk, doesn’t she? A useless sack of doings, tied up round the middle. A wart-faced old cauldron-boiler with not enough brains to feed a wasp. In fact, Esmelia Sniff is as drooling, dung-faced dolt. A…”

At this point in the interview Esmelia stamps across the room and jabs a gnarly old finger at my eye. It seems I’ve accidentally upset her though I’m sure I don’t know how. Some people will get all worked up over the slightest little thing.

“It’s all lies,” she screeches as I duck out of the way of her pokey finger. “Them books people will print any old rubbish these days. It’s disgustin’. Well, I’ll show ‘em. I’ve put a curse on that Martin Howard what wrote it. We’ll see how he likes it when his bottom falls off and me and Tiddles is playing ping-pong with his eyeballs. That’ll learn the dirty, lying beggar.”

“Calm down Esmelia,” orders Sam. “She’s trying to make you mad…”

“I’ve got some book reviews here,” I tell them. “Tiffany Toadlick, Leader of the Grand Coven says, ‘The Wickedest Witch is a great book and it’s all true: Esmelia made a total nong of herself at the trials and I was one of the judges, so I should know’. And the Opera Lamprey book club writes, ‘This is a brilliant tale of wicked witching, and best of all is laughing at Esmelia, who—as we all know—is so batty she couldn’t find her own hands with both hands’.”

Esmelia makes a grab at my throat as Sam pulls her away by her raggedy skirts. Her face has gone a very deep shade of green.

“But as you’ve so kindly decided to join the interview Esmelia,” your intrepid reporter continues breezily. “Perhaps we can move on to something our readers might actually be interested in. Would you like to say something about the gossip that you’ve been bothering a certain wizard? Let’s see, what did Dr Sulfurus Cowl tell The Cackler this morning? Oh yes, I just happen to have it here. Dr Cowl said, ‘Since the Most Superior High and Wicked Witch trials Esmelia Sniff won’t leave me alone. On one occasion I went to put the rubbish out and found her ghastly face staring up at me from the bin, all covered in potato peelings and chicken giblets. Another time I caught her in the laundry basket, rubbing my old socks against her face…”

“I was polishin’ me warts!” Esmelia shrieks as she struggles with her apprentice. “There ain’t no law against it.”

“The Wickedest Witch is released on October 16^th. Just in time for Halloween,” Sam shouts, tugging on Esmelia’s dress. “It’s a really good story, and funny too…”

“Who cares about that?” I laugh, while scribbling away in my trusty notebook. “So Esmelia, you don’t deny you’ve been following Sulfurus Cowl around like a bad smell then?  An extremely bad smell.”

Esmelia tears her skirt out of Sam’s hands and throws herself at me with a screech. She really is quite the touchy touchy touch touch. I’m forced to swing a sick-filled handbag at the side of her head and before you know it we’re rolling around on the floor pulling out great handfuls of each other’s hair.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Sam flicking her wand with Ringo jumping up and down on her shoulder. She mutters, “Oh for goodness sake” then there’s a tiny pop and I’m back at my desk in The Cackler offices, which is very impressive magic for an apprentice. Sadly though, it looks like the fight… sorry, the interview… is over. Just as it was starting to be fun too. Still, I’m almost sure I bit off part of Esmelia’s ear. And I pinched three of her spoons while she wasn’t looking.

Media Hysterick

The Wickedest Witch by Martin Howard with illustrations by Colin Stimpson, is the first instalment of the Witches at War! trilogy. Published by Pavilion Children’s Books, it is available from all online booksellers and most bookshops.

Visit www.witchesatwar.co.uk for a sneak peek, or meet Esmelia Sniff on Facebook.  Sir Otto Sneer already has…