That's right: I now officially hate steps - and I don't mean the manufactured boy/girl/whatever-H-was pop band of five or six years ago. No, I hate the concrete going up and down from one level to another kind.Last night started well enough. I popped round to a friend's house and spent a very pleasant hour or so chatting - but then it was time to go home. I stepped out into the dark, icy wasteland that was my friend's front garden and gingerly made my way along the frosty path. All was well until I reached a step down to the gate, and then my feet slid from beneath me.For a split-second, I found I could fly. I lay, horizontal, in the air, gazing up in wonder at the blanket of stars above. Then, gravity - the swine - kicked in. I landed hard on the garden path, the small of my back hitting the edge of the step full on. A bolt of pain shot up and down my back like lightning made of tiny hedgehogs and every molecule of breath was squeezed from my lungs.I remained still for a minute or two, partly so I could gather the courage to try and stand, but also while I pondered just how much surgery would be required to piece my shattered spine back together. They'd surely have to use so many pins that I wouldn't be able to walk past the freezer without being fastened to the door like some life-sized fridge magnet.I eventually scambled back to my feet and inched my way to the car and home, where I spent the entire night in restless agony. Bizarrely - there isn't a single bruise to show as evidence for when I take the weather to court and sue the pants off it. If weather wore pants, that is. And they'd probably be made of clouds and absolutely worthless as compensation.Maybe I should sue the Steps instead...Tommy

The first review for a Scream Street book other than SS1: Fang of the Vampire has appeared on amazon.co.uk. It's for SS4: Flesh of the Zombie, and here's what the reviewer had to say...***** Another brilliant book!The Scream Street series has really captured my 10 year old sons imagination. He literally devoured all of the books in this series within days and his face lit up when he talked about the story and the characters.My son is a very reluctant reader and very few books inspire him to read but the Scream Street series has done this and has left me astounded.My son has been onto the web site, he knows exactly how many books will be in the series and when they will be published and he even asked me to contact the author to ask him to "hurry up" with the next book and can he write more!As a parent, I cant wish for anything better!You can read the review in situ here: http://ping.fm/8CtsfHow chuffed am I? That's exactly the sort of reader I set out to reach. In response - I promise I'll write as many Scream Street books as my publishers will let me!Tommy

It's a double celebration here in the Donbavand household today. Not only is it my birthday (I'm 41), but it's also a year to the day since I started this blog.And how will my blog and I be spending the day? Working on all things Scream Street! Great fun!Tommy