If you’d like to know how to look this good…and more Goblin advice on preparing for a night out partying then go to my blog here: www.davidmelling.co.uk/blog

Enjoy!

A Letter for Florence starts here. If, while more episodes are forthcoming, you’d like to check out Postcards from Cosmo, they start here.

And here (with thanks to The Kraken) is another Door – a short piece of animation written and narrated by one of my absolute favourite authors in the world, Russell Hoban.

]]> http://www.trappedbymonsters.com/2011/12/open-doors/feed/ 0 http://www.trappedbymonsters.com/2011/12/ta-da/ http://www.trappedbymonsters.com/2011/12/ta-da/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:48:07 +0000 David Melling http://www.trappedbymonsters.com/?p=10446

At last! I’ve finally got around to starting my own blog: www.davidmelling.co.uk/blog

Which means as well as posting stuff like this mad eye-balled idiot here on Trapped By Monsters…

I might post stuff like this little chap…

Oh yes, we all have a dark and fluffy side.

Why not let me help you get in touch with yours here…and here.

Look out for my STONKING new picture book and tell your CHUMS to SKIDADDLE down to your local bookshop and get one!

(Well, there’s three words I’m not sure I’ve ever used before – strange I should do so now – can you guess what they are?

Picking a winner was a nightmare. My congratulations and best wishes to runners-up Ajay, Veronica and Ecner for their bloodcurdling and brilliant work, but my favourite was FINE, by Oliver Reid.

Here I am reading it out. Those of a nervous disposition listen at your own risk…

Congratulations, Oliver! Your 5-cd unabridged audiobook of CRAWLERS is on its way to you now. And another big thank you to Holly for running this competition on her awesome blog.

Each year, I run a spooky story writing competition on my website, and this year’s contest attracted over 150 entries – the highest number ever!  The standard of writing – from creepy characters to petrifying plots – was incredible, and I’d like to thank everyone who entered.  However, there can only be one winner, and this year it is…

Cira from Sandycroft CP School!

Many congratulations to Cira!  Her story, Dagger Nails, had suspense, action, and an ending that made me shiver.  You can read it in full below.

Cira’s prize is that she will become a character in one of my future books.  However, while all previous winners have been included in the Scream Street series – those adventures are now complete.  So, Cira will appear in one of the books in my brand new, top secret series – Project FC!  I’ll be in touch soon to tell her all about it.

Now, here’s Dagger Nails, by Cira…

—

The children’s bedrooms were dark and musty as they entered the twilight hour.

Each child was still awake even though it had gone midnight. “Beware he’s coming he’s coming he has razor sharp nails in fact DAGGER nails, if you see hear click clack click clack run away as fast as you cannnnn” the voice faded. Each child was still with fright, the room was silent once more.

The next morning each child met up at the park.

Sylvia, Emily, Corina, Brandon, Keith and Clyde were their names.

They all Started to chatter at the same time.

“Did you hear the voice last”… Emily broke off as Brandon started talking over her.

“Last night was”…

Clyde cut over Brandon, his long blond hair flopping over his brown chocolate drop eyes.

“Everyone calm down lets all talk at different times so we can all be heard” He talked fast like he always did.

Everyone was silent.

“Emily you go first” Clyde urged her

“Well last night I heard a deep voice” Emily didn’t want to carry on.

“Same” Brandon whispered

“This is all I remember, it said he’s coming he’s coming if you hear Click Clack run away”

“I think everyone heard that from the way they were looking at you” Clyde said grimly

“As a matter of face I heard it to”

Suddenly it turned quiet.

Click Clack Click Clack.

Everyone looked down the road.

There HE was.

Clyde turned as white as his t-shirt.

CLICK CLACK CLICK CLACK. HE was coming closer.

HE dug his nails into everyone’s heart blood pouring out like sparkling rubies.

Before Clyde was killed he shouted to a woman watching from her house in fear

“Tell everyone the voice was real” he screamed that was all he could manage before dagger nails thrust his long nails into Clyde’s heart dying his once white t-shirt red.

Clarabelle had been too scared to go out to play with her friends.

She had believed the voice.

It had been getting dark when they called for her. But she hadn’t gone out.

Now she knew she was right not to go out.

She looked at the clock it was 5:30.

She called to her mum

“Mummy please can I go out for a bit want to play at the park”

Ok but be careful I don’t want you to get hurt” Her mum was hinting about the killer.

“Ok mummy I will be back at 6:00”

“No I want you to be back at 10 to 6”

“Ok mummy, see you soon”

Clarabelle walked outside slowly as if she was checking for killers.

Clarabelle reached the park

As she got to the slide she went to go on it and slipped over the side and everything went black.

As Clarabelle slowly became conscious she noticed it was getting dark.

She looked at her watch, it was 5:50

“Oh shoot I’d better run” Clarabelle exclaimed.

Suddenly she stopped running, she had a feeling that she was being watched.

CLICK CLACK

She turned around slowly.

There was Dagger Nails.

Glaring At her she noticed that he had red blood shot eyes.

She ran as fast as she could.

As she reached her house she banged on the door.

Sadly her mum didn’t hear her.

Clarabelle’s mum woke up to a scream, she looked at the clock, it was 6:01 that was when Dagger Nails came out for a victim. She ran down the stairs. She stood in horror. She had locked the front door and had fallen asleep.

She could also see something red on the door step.

She slowly opened the door.

Written on the door step in blood was:

Clarabelle’s mum nearly fainted

Mummy why didn’t you open the door?

I’m delighted to announce the birthday of one of my local independent bookshop Mostly Books. Five years ago yesterday (1st July), they set up shop here in Abingdon and they’ve been nothing short of an inspiration to all book lovers. They were quickly recognised for their talent by winning the New Independent Bookshop  of the Year 2008 and have since been regional finalists in 2010, 2011. Mark and Nicki have been inceredibly supportive to me and other authors, not just locally but really, nationwide. They go out of their way to make everyone feel at home. No doubt they’ve experienced ups and downs and no doubt continue to face challenges along with everyone else but they couldn’t be a more welcoming couple, along with their wonderful staff and they deserve all the success that they have achieved.

Hard work yes, but a genuine passion for books. You couldn’t ask for more.

Happy Birthday Mostly Books!

It’s not often that I sell my artwork. I guess I’m thinking that one day I’ll have some kind of retrospective exhibition that will ease me into retirement. Meanwhile, 95% of my pictures are stored, rather too messily for my liking, in my loft. But there are exceptions to the rule. I was invited by angels and urchins, a London based parent’s magazine to contribute to an auction of original illustrations with all proceeds going to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Well, I couldn’t think of a better reason and this is my offering. They asked me to do the Douglas character from my recent picture book series so I decided to paint the image used for the front cover of Hugless Douglas. If you’d like to make a bid for this  then please go here or click on Auctions at the top to view the other illustrations on offer.

Hurry, the deadline is 6pm Wednesday 29th June!

Authors For Japan is auctioning off signed books, manuscript critiques, character opportunities and much, much more – all donated by some of your favourite authors.

My package – listed as number 169 on the site – can win you a FULL SET of signed Scream Street books (I originally donated 3 books before my publisher, Walker Books, emailed to say they would complete the set by providing the other 8!), PLUS signed Scream Street posters and bookmarks, AND your chance to become a character in one of the books in my new, top secret series, Project FC!

At the time of writing, bidding stands at £80 – but I know we can do better.  So, log on to http://bit.ly/ezotpq and take a look.

Even if you can’t bid, please help raise awareness of the project by telling all your friends, posting details on Facebook, or tweeting about the auction on Twitter.