I was thrilled to discover that Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire has made the cut for the National Literacy Trust’s National Young Readers’ Programme Recommended Book List, in the age 9-12 category.

You can see the entire list here:

http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/assets/0000/1676/Booklist_2010_9_-_12_yrs.pdf

Some of my own favourite authors are also on the list including Charlie Higson, Andy Stanton, Mark Walden, Dav Pilkey and Roald Dahl!

Suffice to say, I’m very excited!

Tommy

Hurrah!  My throat infection has finally gone – and I’ve got my voice back!

This means I can resume my scheduled school events – and it’s just as well, as I’ve got a busy month!  Yesterday, I had a wonderful time at Mostyn House School in Parkgate (where I performed my Vampires vs Werewolves Game Show in a very ornate setting – see above picture!), and today I received a fabulous welcome at Burnley Brow Community School in Chadderton!

Tomorrow I head up to Glasgow for the Aye Write Book Festival, then it’s back home for a quick visit to Formby High School and Our Lady of Compassion School (both on the same day, thanks to Pritchards Books in Formby!) – and then I set off on a week-long tour for the Scottish Book Trust!

Who said this writing lark was easy?

Tommy

…is almost over!

Look what I’ve got!  An actual, honest-to-goodness copy of Scream Street 8: Attack of the Trolls!

The book will be published in just over a month now – so not long to wait…

Tommy

Today is World Book Day!  Hurray!

And I’m not running any events!  Boo!

I was supposed to be at Coleshill Heath School yesterday, Alcott Hall School today and Starbank Primary School tomorrow – but I’ve had to postpone all three visits because I’ve got a throat infection.  Yes, yours truly is completely mute.  I can’t even whisper.  And my throat hurts.  A lot.

Thanks for the sympathy.

Still, I’ve got a couple of (silent) treats up my sleeve for today – the first being a pdf file of spooktacular Scream Street activities that you can download from the World Book Day website here: http://www.worldbookday.com/assets_cm/files/pdf/10webA1P_Vampire_Activity_Sheets.pdf

You should also find some fun Scream Street information in your school’s World Book Day pack.

Have a great day!

Tommy

It’s official – I’m losing my voice!

I spent this morning at Liverpool Central Library and afternoon at Toxteth Library, running my spooky Vampires vs Werewolves Game Show for visiting school groups – only to become quieter and squeakier during the day!  By the time I got home, I could barely talk (the family had a peaceful evening for once!)

Despite the croaking, it was a fantastic day (thanks to Tricia and Neil!) and wonderful to finally meet Jenni and Spider – a real Scream Street character (more on that soon…)

Check out what top reviewer, Ella McKenzie, had to say about Scream Street 1: Fang of the Vampire…

Thanks to everyone at Holy Trinity School in Ashton (and the visitors from St Peter’s) for making me feel so welcome today – despite my failing voice!  I think I’m coming down with a cold – but everyone’s enthusiasm for writing their stories made sure I had a smile on my face from the moment I arrived.

I’ve just got back from a fantastically fun Renaissance Learning symposium in Belfast – where I got to enjoy a talk by Theresa Breslin, author of the powerful Divided City.

My own presentation was a little more low key than usual – partly because I’m coming down with a cold and rapidly losing my voice, but also because there was no way I’d have got my box of Scream Street relics through the airport scanners without being hauled off to a side room for interrogation!  As a result, I took the audience through a creative writing workshop and showed them how to construct a story plan with their pupils.

Thanks to Christine and the team from Renaissance Learning, Anna from Scotia Books, Barrie from Barrington Stoke and everyone who came along for another enjoyable event!

Tommy

On the Scream Street website, you’ll find two new wicked wallpapers to creep up your computer screen – one for Scream Street 7: Invasion of the Normals, and the other for the forthcoming book, Scream Street 8: Attack of the Trolls.

Both wallpapers are available in three different sizes, so you’re sure to find something that’ll suit your screen and your nerves!

Click here to download the latest Scream Street desktop wallpapers!

One of the questions I’m most frequently asked is whether I draw the illustrations for my Scream Street books – and the answer is always a resounding NO!  I have all the artistic ability of a teaspoon.  My publishers, Walker Books, however knew of a very talented artist by the name of Lily Bernard who works for Cartoon Saloon – and it’s Lily who brings my characters and stories to life in picture form.

To demonstrate the process Lily takes, here are three images of one of my newer Scream Street characters – Kian Negative.  You can see how each image progresses from a preliminary sketch to get a feel for the character (which my editor, designer and I get to see and comment on) through an intermediate stage and finally onto the finished picture.

I’m sure you’ll agree that Lily is not only very talented, but she has a real grasp on the feel of the Scream Street series.  I’m very proud to be working with her.

Tommy