G U E S T B O O K
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| First Name (only please): | Jeffrey | |
| Age | 11 | |
| location | Jackson | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Dear Sam
I really like Tim Defender Of The Earth. I hope you write second one. I`m a big fan of yours. your fan Jeffrey -Hi Jeffrey, Thanks so much for your lovely message! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed Tim, and it's very kind of you to write and tell me so. Right now all my stories are standalones - self-contained books. So (and if this comes as a disappointment to you, I'm sorry!) I've got no plans to write a second Tim book. But if you liked Tim, I hope you might like my other books, too! The Black Tattoo has been out for a while now: that one's full of swordfights, flying kung fu, vomiting bats, the end of the universe, and other fun stuff like that. And my new book, Crawlers, comes out this April: that one's a horror story! For the latest on what I'm up to, keep an eye on my homepage, address below. Thanks again for your kind words, Jeffrey. Very best wishes to you from here in London, Sam www.samenthoven.com | |
| DATE | Tuesday, February 2nd 2010 - 11:36:09 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Matthew | |
| Age | 13 | |
| location | market bosworth | |
Comments and/or questions: |
why is the black tattoo called the black tattoo
-Hi Matthew, You'll find the answer to this question and more at the Black Tat website, specifically here: www.theblacktattoo.com/blurb.html ...and here: www.theblacktattoo.com/qanda.html All best, Sam www.samenthoven.com | |
| DATE | Friday, January 29th 2010 - 04:01:27 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Ethan | |
| Age | 10 | |
| location | fruit valley washington | |
Comments and/or questions: |
how did u get the idea for all the demons in hell?
-Hi Ethan, The ideas for the demons in The Black Tattoo came the same way I get all my ideas. I don't wait for ideas: I make them come to me, by asking myself questions, and the main question - particularly in the demons' case! - is, simply, What would be fun? I love monsters. I love thinking about them; I love writing about them. So the demons in Hell in Black Tat were all about having as many different monsters as I possibly could! There was another element to it, in that I wanted to include a large percentage of demons who were monstrous, talking/flying/whatever versions of animals that can be found on Earth. The idea was that a certain person (being careful of spoilers here!) might have used those demons as inspiration for... another of his little creative projects. :D Anyway: the main thing is, don't wait for ideas. Think instead about what you would love; what would make you excited. That's the best way to start any big endeavour, particularly a creative one. All best wishes to you from here in London, Sam www.samenthoven.com | |
| DATE | Friday, October 23rd 2009 - 06:01:10 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Derek | |
| Age | 9 | |
| location | Hackney | |
Comments and/or questions: |
ME AGAIN! Why did it take you 5 years to write The black tattoo? And how is it fun?!
-Hi Derek! Hope you enjoyed the talk today: I've written a silly blog post about it over at www.trappedbymonsters.com Why did Black Tat take five years? That's how long it took me to get the book written and polished into the best shape I possibly could. The polishing was what took the longest (you can find out more at www.theblacktattoo.com) Black Tat was a big project for me, no doubt about it. But like any big project, if you break it down into manageable chunks (small steps towards your goal), and you do them, and keep doing them, because you want it, and love it, and believe in what you're doing, then you can get there. If you approach it like that, you can achieve anything you want. Some of writing Black Tat was definitely fun. I was excited about the story. I had to be, because most of the process of writing it was work. But I did it, I'm proud of it, and when people write in and tell me they enjoy reading the book, that makes me very, very happy. :D I'll answer your other question below.... | |
| DATE | Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 07:19:42 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Derek | |
| Age | 9 | |
| location | Hackney | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Was at Pizza Express on 22/10/09 (wooodberrydown). Got your autograph. Just want to ask how you became quite famous. Has anyone inspired you???
-Hi again Derek! "Quite famous"? Hee hee hee! I wouldn't even go that far! :D I'm not famous. Most authors aren't. But I am published: my books are in shops and libraries and online, and people can read them if they want. For ten years that was my biggest ambition, and now it's happened. How? Again, no easy answer I'm afraid: I worked for it. I wrote stories. I sent them off to publishers and agents and anywhere else I could think of. I built up a pile of 134 letters saying 'no'. But I kept working on my stories, writing new ones, pushing myself to get better at this job of writing. I kept sending my stuff out. And eventually, one day, someone said 'yes'. Who inspired me? Lots of people! In particular, there were two terrific authors who came to visit my school when I was young: a comics writer called Alan Grant and a poet called Ted Hughes. Both of them absolutely amazed me: they made this ambition of mine seem possible enough for me to decide to give it a serious go. It's my hope that by visiting schools now and speaking to young people such as yourself, I just might -- might -- pass that sort of inspiration on to a new generation. Or, heh, that's what I'm aiming for, anyway! ;) Thanks for your questions, Derek. All best wishes to you, Sam www.samenthoven.com PS: I've just put your excellent questions (and my, um, answers!) up on my blog, at: www.timdefenderoftheearth.com/news Thanks again, Derek! | |
| DATE | Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 07:09:43 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Addison | |
| Age | 10 | |
| location | england | |
Comments and/or questions: |
hi sam.. you came to our school last week and i really enjoyed your vist.......(even though you were a bit crazy =))
I bought the black tattoo and i'm really enjoying it, when is your new book out? thank you so much Addi -Hi Addi! I'm so glad you enjoyed the visit, and are enjoying Black Tat: thanks so much for writing to tell me so! :D The current publication date for the new book, CRAWLERS, is this coming April. There's going to be a special Crawlers website: that should be going live in January (my mate Katie is working on it right now - I'm very excited!!!) The plan - as with the Tim and Black Tat sites - is to have the opening scene of the book be up on the site for anyone to read and try. Keep an eye on my homepage (url below) for the latest. ;) Thanks again for the kind words, Addi. They're very much appreciated. All best wishes to you, Sam www.samenthoven.com | |
| DATE | Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 08:06:31 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Bex | |
| Age | 12 | |
| location | Reading ur books in my bedroom | |
Comments and/or questions: |
hey Sam! You visited the Harwich School and I came to see you. You were really funny- so I brought both of ur books! LOL! U kept saying Buy my books, so I guess u sort of hypnotised me! LOL!
Anyway, I forgot to ask this question- whats it like being an author, cause I wish to be one when I'm older! -Hi Bex! Are you the same Bex as in the message below?? Well, Hi anyway! :D I love being an author. It's my dream job. But like any job, it's not for everyone. Luckily, however, it's an easy one to try: all you have to do is sit down, make up a thrilling story, and write it - it's as simple, and as difficult, as that. The internet is full of thousands of blogs and websites by authors, which may also give you an idea about what being an author is like. For a place to start, try: www.trappedbymonsters.com It's a (quite silly!) joint blog I'm involved in, with seven other authors: all their websites are fabulous, and they're easy to find if you follow the links on the 'authors' page. But nothing will show you what being an author is like as definitely as making the time to give it a go yourself. Whether you find it suits you, or you don't, I wish you the best of luck. Sam PS: Thanks for the kind words! | |
| DATE | Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 05:02:28 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Bex | |
| Age | 12 | |
| location | Essex | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Hey Sam! You came round to my school and I was so happy when you came. I loved your book Tim and the Black Tatoo was cool. I cant wait till ur next book comes out!
-Thanks, Bex! It was a good day, wasn't it? Thanks for listening to me! Best wishes, Sam | |
| DATE | Thursday, September 24th 2009 - 04:53:47 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Becca | |
| Age | 13 | |
| location | isle of wight | |
Comments and/or questions: |
loved it!!!!!! i'm not really into adventure books but this one really changed my mind thanks for the great read XDDDDD p.s. are you writing any new books?????? p.p.s. YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Aw, thank you, Becca! :D I'm so happy you enjoyed the book, but I really appreciate you taking the time to write and tell me so. Am I writing more books? ABSOLUTELY YES! The new one, CRAWLERS, is pretty much finished, and is currently due out in April 2010. My friend Katie WebSphinx is working on a brand new Crawlers website right now. We're hoping that'll go live in January, with the opening chapter of the book up there free to read. Keep an eye on my blog for the latest. ;) Thanks again for your lovely message, Becca. All best wishes to you, Sam www.samenthoven.com | |
| DATE | Friday, September 18th 2009 - 05:04:56 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Deanna | |
| Age | 15 | |
| location | hassenbrook | |
Comments and/or questions: |
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA LOL!
that is class mann (Y) nd band is pretty gd (Y) reminds me of errmm watsamajjiggy jet! thats it lol nd i send so many messages cos i have nothing better to do with my life than sit on a computer all day xD :):):):):):):):):):D -Thanks, Deanna! :D Yeah, I love tinkering on t'internet, too. Much better than working! But I'd better get back to it. ;p Sam | |
| DATE | Wednesday, June 10th 2009 - 03:30:17 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Deanna | |
| Age | 15 | |
| location | hassenbook | |
Comments and/or questions: |
it's cool :)
did they really do that? AAAHAHHAHAHA LOL! sorry ima bit hyper :P btw hav u ever thought of doing a competition? for the title of your new book? and do ur band hav a youtube or anything? id like to check em out (y) :) ---Hi Deanna! Wow, two messages from you today! :D I've just answered the one on the Black Tat Guestbook, but I'll answer your questions here, here, if you see what I mean(?!) Yes, absolutely true about chopping my head off. See: www.timdefenderoftheearth.com/news/?p=362 Great idea about the competition. I think I've got the title of the new book sorted now, but I'll definitely keep that in mind for another book down the line. :D As to my band, erm, ok, here's our MySpace: www.myspace.com/sourmashdaddyandhissixtywives But if you use that link I'm not responsible for the consequences!!! :D All best, Sam | |
| DATE | Saturday, June 6th 2009 - 09:32:03 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Deanna | |
| Age | 15 | |
| location | hassen- ah stuff it u no the rest :P | |
Comments and/or questions: |
in that article they spelt your last name wrong they spelt it with an r in it lol
thought id tell you =] x -Hah! Thanks for pointing that out, I hadn't noticed! No worries, people misspell my surname all the time. Like I said, at least the pic didn't cut off my head this time around! :D All best, Sam | |
| DATE | Monday, May 11th 2009 - 11:52:55 AM | |
| First Name (only please): | Georgia | |
| Age | 12/Year 7 | |
| location | Listening to Lady GaGa in bedroom! | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Hi, Sam! You visited my school Cornelius Vermuyden on the 1st May 2009. I was soooo excited to hear an author was coming, since I have been writing stories since I was 5 (they were a bit rubbish back then...) and I wanted to hear about it all from someone who writes for a living. I just want to say that it's great that you tell kids to go for it. You totally inspired me that day and I have two fantastic ideas for some books! Thanks so much, I wish I could be you!
-Georgia, thanks so much for your wonderful message! I get an enormous kick out of visiting schools: speaking to enthusiastic, awesome young people is hugely inspiring to me, so if I've given some of that inspiration back then that makes me very happy! :D Thanks again for your kind words. I wish you the very best of luck. Sam | |
| DATE | Friday, May 1st 2009 - 06:27:18 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | Ricky | |
| Age | 12 | |
| location | hassenbrook | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Thank you for finding the time to visit our school and sign our books your stories are great and come to life in my imagination and seem like this could actually happen, your stories are not far fetched like all the publishers thought and your teachers. I hope your dream of having a shelf as long as your arm filled with your books will soon come true. once again thanks for the visit and I hope you write more books and I hope the one you are working on will get published with a good title.
-Thank /you/, Ricky, for taking the time to write to me, and especially for saying all these kind things about my stories! I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Hassenbrook, and I hope to come back one day soon. Mean time, here's wishing you all the very best with your own dreams and ambitions. Thanks again, Sam PS My brain is fizzing with title thoughts for the new book right now! :D | |
| DATE | Monday, April 27th 2009 - 06:50:19 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | ben | |
| Age | 12 / yr8 | |
| location | in his bedroom | |
Comments and/or questions: |
hi sam sorry i called u tim last time i got mixed up thanks 4 coming to see us at hassenbrook school ur a fantastic reader and writer and i enjoyed every part of what u said today i absolutely love it !!!!
-Aw, thank you, Ben! I had a great time at Hassenbrook, but your kind words are very much appreciated! :D All best wishes to you, Sam | |
| DATE | Friday, April 24th 2009 - 04:21:10 PM | |
| First Name (only please): | ben.w | |
| Age | 12 / yr8 | |
| location | in bed on msn | |
Comments and/or questions: |
hi tim [-um, you mean Sam?? Tim's the giant monster, but don't worry I get this a lot! ;D] i havent read any of ur books and i am going to try and get it from the library [Thanks! :)] are you going to make this story into a film because i think u should cya at mi school hassenbrook 24 april
-Hello Ben, thanks for getting in touch! :D TIM has been optioned by Universal Studios. With the current economic shenanigans a big, spectacular (expensive!) monster movie is a tougher proposition for producers than it might be otherwise, but you never know. EXCITING! -Ahem! 'Scuse me. ;) I'm all set for visiting Hassenbrook, and looking forward to it very much indeed. See you there! :) Sam | |
| DATE | Thursday, April 9th 2009 - 09:13:36 AM | |
| First Name (only please): | Sam | |
| Age | 34 | |
| location | his writing desk | |
Comments and/or questions: |
Who's going to be first in the latest TIM guestbook?
Er, apart from, heh, me? ;) | |
| DATE | Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 12:49:30 PM | |