Tom Nicoll
About Author
Tom Nicoll has been writing since he was at school, where he enjoyed trying to fit in as much silliness into his essays as he could possibly get away with. He is also a big comedy, TV and movie nerd.
Tom lives just outside Edinburgh with his wife, daughter and a cat that thinks it's a dog. THERE'S A DRAGON IN MY DINNER is his first book for children.
Interview
LEVEL UP
MAY 2019
STRIPES PUBLISHING
LEVEL UP is a fast-paced video gaming space adventure, perfect for enticing both reluctant and developing readers (girls and boys) aged 7+ to keep turning the pages!
Flo is obsessed with gaming - but ending up inside her favourite game, together with her best friend Max, wasn't quite what she'd planned. Now she has to find a way for them to get back into the real world and - since they're being chased by armies of soldiers - soon!
We asked author TOM NICOLL to tell us more about LEVEL UP:
Q: You've written for different ages, but what do you enjoy about writing young fiction series like Level Up and your earlier series, There's a Dragon in My Toilet?
A: They're a lot of fun to write and I love the challenges they present. With young fiction you don't really have a lot of words to play with - Level Up for example is about 16,000 and the Dragon books would usually fall between 12-14,000.
What it means, though, is that the stories really have to hit the ground running and every word has to justify its place. With series fiction you're also able to explore the characters more and see how they react in different scenarios.
Writing the same story over and over again would be pretty dull, so with each new book the real fun comes from figuring out how to keep things fresh and interesting, but still familiar enough for fans of the series.
Q: Was there anything specific that sparked the idea, to take two children - Flo and Max - inside a computer game?
A: Being a big gamer I had wanted to write a book about games for a while and after being encouraged from a number of school visits where I realised how excited kids were about them, I pitched a book to my editor. I described it as a bit like Honey I Shrunk the Kids meeting Tron for a beer with Wreck-It Ralph. And also Quantum Leap is there.
Despite my mostly outdated film and TV comps, my editor liked the idea. The main thing that sparked the idea though was wanting to write a series where each book could be wildly different. With there being so many different kinds of games I quickly realised that each book could be about being trapped inside a different one.
Q: How did you decide to build this world - and what were the challenges?
A: I suppose one of the advantages with this series in general is that building the worlds is quite easy in some respects. Flo and Max are trapped in what should be recognisable genres of games, so while it's normally a bad idea to fill your books with cliches, in this series it's actually a necessity.
So Level Up is lovingly packed full of video game tropes. Space Sims, Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Games and Shoot-em-up's in particular - space battles, super soldiers etc. The challenge in each of the stories is finding something wrong in each of those worlds that Flo and Max have to fix before they can leave.
Q: You a gamer yourself - but did you still need to 'research' other kinds of games in order to write these books?
A: I'd definitely consider myself a gamer, and have been for almost 30 years now! I wouldn't say I'm an obsessive, though I probably was when I was Flo's age. I don't have as much time to play as I used to so these days I prefer games I can dip in and out of or that won't take very long to complete. If I see a game advertising 100s of hours of play time I'll probably just give it a miss to be honest.
But of course when it came to writing the books, I take them very seriously so extra *cough* research was definitely required. I'm not sure why you put research in inverted commas there by the way. I want to make it perfectly clear that I was certainly not enjoying myself while doing all my *cough* research.
Q: ...And if so, what was your favourite bit of 'research'?
A: Probably all the time I got to waste playing Elite: Dangerous, No Man's Sky and Halo.
Q: It's great to see a girl and a woman taking lead, techy roles in your story - why did you decide to make the characters, Flo and Captain Morretta, female?
A: I had written two series with a boy as the main character and really wanted to write one with a girl as the lead. When I got the idea for this series I knew pretty much from the beginning that the main gamer was going to be a girl.
Unfortunately, Games and Tech have been considered by some in the past, and sadly continue to be thought of in some circles, as being for boys. I've never really understood where this idea came from as it was never my experience growing up. Most girls I knew played games. My daughter and her friends play games. My wife plays games on her phone. My Mum, from what I can deduce from all those facebook requests I'm continually blocking, plays games.
I wanted Flo to be as good at games as her Mum was at tech. Captain Moretta wasn't as deliberate a decision though. It just made sense to me that she was a woman.
Q: Which supporting characters in Level Up did you most enjoy writing?
A: It has to be Gary. It was fun writing an arrogant, useless space soldier. Though he becomes more sympathetic as the story goes on...
Q: Do you have a favourite bit of kit from Level Up book 1?
A: I'd like to have a go at pulling a rocket jump in a tank...
Q: Are you planning to write more Level Up books, and what have you got planned next for Flo and her friend Max?
A: We've definitely not seen the last of Flo and Max. Book 2 is out later this year and books 3 and 4 are due next year.
The next book is Block and Roll. This time Flo and Max wind up in Blocktopia - a world building game that requires a bit more creativity than Flo is used to, but Max is in his element this time round as they try to help the people of Sublimity build the perfect city. But all may not be as it seems, both inside and outside the city.
Q: If you could escape into a computer game, like your characters, where would you go?
A: I have over 530 hours invested in a game called Rocket League - imagine Soccer played with rocket powered cars - so I'd probably go for that and then I could just play that all day long. Instead of what I do right now which is wish I could play that all day long.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about the kinds of events you're planning around these books?
A: I'm really looking forward to talking to kids about why I love games and books. I'm especially interested in meeting kids who like games but might not be so keen on reading, because to me they're so similar in many ways.
Unlike other kinds of media, games and books are all about immersing you in new worlds and characters, placing you right at the heart of the story. I've enjoyed both for as long as I can remember and so I'm hoping that I'll be able to encourage some kids to put down their controllers for a bit and pick up a book. And who knows, maybe even convince a few to put down their books and try a game. But don't tell my publishers that.
BOYBAND OF THE APOCALYPSE
STRIPES PUBLISHING
JUNE 2017
Everything you have most to fear from boybands is brought hilariously to life in TOM NICOLL's latest novel about a boyband that plans to take over the world!
Including a glance at X-Factor, hairstyles to die for and some very scary girl fandom, BOYBAND OF THE APOCALYPSE follows plucky young hero Sam who must join the boyband, Apocalips, if he is to have any hope of stopping them from destroying the world...
We asked author TOM NICOLL to tell us more about BOYBAND OF THE APOCALYPSE!
Q: Why did you decide to write a book about a boyband - and an evil one at that?
A: It actually came out of another book I had been working on a few years ago. I had some ideas for potential sequels to it and somewhere in there I came up with the title for one of them: 'Boyband of the Apocalypse'. The book didn't get published in the end, but I loved the title so much I knew I had to do something with it.
And as a teenager growing up with a sister who listened to Westlife all the time, it wasn't too hard for me to imagine an evil boyband.
Q: Did you drop in on any boyband concerts as part of your research for this book? You did the research, right?
A: Er... no. I totally meant to but I it um... must have slipped my mind... whoops!
Q: Why did you decide to make Apocalips a boy band and not a girl band?
A: I'm going to have to be careful about how I put this, but I think boy band fans are definitely more... passionate, which is something that Apocalips, the boyband in the book, exploit. To give an example, I still remember the day Robbie Williams left Take That and how big a deal that was.
Oddly enough, I was driving down to Alton Towers with my family that day and then, by some weird coincidence was also driving down to Alton Towers on the day he re-joined Take That fifteen years later. I don't quite know if that means I somehow have control over Robbie Williams' status in Take That. I hope not, I don't think I'd be comfortable with that level of power.
Q: In the story Sam, an ordinary boy, auditions to become a boyband member in order to help save the world - but he can't sing or dance (although he does have a killer haircut!). If you were applying to be in a band, which bit would you struggle the most with?
A: Like Sam I'd definitely struggle with singing the most. I think most people could probably learn to dance enough to get by, but I could practice for the rest of my life and the best I could hope for is to be slightly better than an alley-cat with laryngitis. If I was in a boyband I'd definitely have to be one of the ones that stands at the back and doesn't do much like the guys in Boyzone.
Q: Was the brilliant audition scene inspired by any popular TV show that readers might have seen...? Along with a couple of the characters...?
A: You've rumbled me! Yes of course, it's heavily influenced by HBO's The Wire. Glad you spotted it. Although everyone else seems to think it was inspired by some show called the X-Factor. Because apparently that also has an incredibly mean and vain judge in it too. And he also doesn't get on with one of the other judges even though they keep making television programmes together. But, I mean, obviously that's just coincidence.
Q: How did your characters Sam, his sister Lexi and friend Milo develop?
A: At the start of the story, Sam is in a place I think a lot of kids probably are at the age of 13 where they haven't quite figured out what it is they're good at yet. Sam watches Apocalips and can't help but wish he could be as talented as them. But when it falls to him to try to save the world he does eventually discover his real talent, as does his best friend Milo and his little sister Lexi.
I usually have a pretty good idea of my characters beforehand. I might have to flesh them out a bit as I go, but Lexi for example, I always knew she was going to be a ten year old girl crossed with the spirit of B.A. Baracus from the A-Team. Seriously, I pity the fool that crosses Lexi.
Q: What about the fabulous evil quartet, the Heatherstones - how much fun did you have with them?
A: The Heatherstones were ridiculous fun to write. Baddies always are. My editor Katie called them the best villains since Voldemort which is probably my favourite complement about anything, ever.
Q: What do you think of David O'Connell's illustrations for Boyband of the Apocalypse?
A: They're incredible. I literally almost cried when I saw his drafts, I loved them so much. Just the drafts! He got everything spot on and they're full of little details that add so much to the book. He's done a phenomenal job.
Q: A lot of your books, like this one, are very funny. Why do you like to make your readers chuckle?
A: Thanks! There's not a lot that can beat making someone laugh but the truth is I mainly write to make myself laugh. Luckily other people seem to find it funny too so it's worked out well for me.
Q: Do you have a favourite funny moment in your latest story?
A: It was fun coming up with all the weird dance names, like the Haunted Futon and the Sinister Chihuahua, but I think the bit that made me laugh the most wasn't even mine. It's one of David's illustrations - the one where the three judges are shown on stage with their faces on giant screens above them. Except for Dominic Douglas, who is definitely not at all like Louis Walsh (whoever he is), whose top half of his head has been cut off. It's quite a subtle joke but I burst out laughing when I spotted it.
Q: In the everyday world, what makes you laugh the most?
A: I love all kinds of comedy, but these days it's probably my daughter.
Q: Who are your favourite funny writers and funniest book recommendations?
A: I'll always answer Roald Dahl and Terry Pratchett and Sue Townsend for this, but for more recent recommendations I really loved Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford and on a similar science-y theme, The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge was pretty funny too.
Q: What are your top tips for children who like to write funny stories?
A: Don't worry about trying to make other people laugh, just try to write something that you find funny. Humour is so subjective - what one person finds funny someone else might not. But if it at least makes you laugh then there's a good chance it'll make others laugh too.
Q: What kind of music do you like listening to - any boybands in there....?
A: I'm a bit all over the place these days I think. Ben Folds, PJ Harvey, Garbage, The Pierces, Amy MacDonald, Haim and an assortment of 80's power ballads, 90s indie and video game soundtracks. I like listening to jazz a lot now too, especially when reading. It's really relaxing and it lets me pretend I'm sophisticated. No boybands, though I fully expect this situation to change soon as my daughter starts getting into music.
Q: Where do you write and what's your favourite escape from writing?
A: I'm actually in the middle of moving house right now so where I write is kind of in flux. Normally it's at my dining room table with headphones on as my wife watches repeats of Grey's Anatomy in the background. But soon we'll be moving into our new house where I'll have my own office. Soon... yes soon it will be mine! [laughs maniacally]
When I'm not writing my favourite escape right now is to play a video game called Rocket League. It's basically football except with rocket powered cars. I play it online with my friend. We are not very good, but we try.
THERE'S A DRAGON IN MY TOILET
STRIPES PUBLISHING
AUGUST 2016
Meet a very small, and very clever, young dragon who arrives in Eric's life via a Chinese takeaway! THERE'S A DRAGON IN MY TOILET is the latest book in the series, which follows the chaos that having a Mini-Dragon in your life can bring.
In this story, Pan the Mini-Dragon finally gets in touch with his parents who are horrified that he is living with humans and send his aunt and uncle to 'rescue' him. All doesn't go to plan...
The stories are brilliantly illustrated by Sarah Horne and the fun and chaos that Pan brings will make every young reader want a Mini-Dragon in their lives!
We asked author Tom Nicoll to tell us more:
Q: You're a computer programmer by trade, so what took you into writing books for children?
A: I've been writing stories since I was at school and while I was at university I spent one summer writing a Terry Pratchett rip-off. But it was when my daughter was born that I changed my focus to children's books and I realised I was much better suited to writing those because you you can make more jokes in children's books. I started writing the Mini-Dragon books about a year ago.
Q: Do you think we take funny books seriously enough?
A: You'll find that a lot of people try to defend writers like Terry Pratchett and Roald Dahl by saying, 'It's not just about the jokes, they cover serious issues too,' but that annoys me because for me, the jokes are a key part of your enjoyment of their work.
Having said that, as much as I enjoy writing about dragons being flushed down the toilet, my books are also about friendship and family. Comedy can ease children into reading about more complicated topics.
Q: So, why a Mini-Dragon?
A: The whole series is a way to recreate the 'buddies' kind of films I was watching in the '80s. There was always a child with an alien as a friend, or a robot friend - there'd be something unusual about them, so I wanted to go back to that, to have two children from different worlds who become friends. That was the starting point for the story.
I'm not sure why I decided to make him a dragon but he was always going to be one. I realised quite quickly that he couldn't be a real size dragon because it would just be too large - and because of the people eating thing - so that's why I decided to shrink it down.
Q: How does Pan end up living with Eric?
A: When Pan's family's cave in China is destroyed by property developers, they need to move further up the mountain but as Pan can't yet fly, they decide to send him to stay with his aunt and uncle in Mexico. Instead he arrives at Eric's house in a Chinese takeaway.
Q: How does a Mini-Dragon end up causing such chaos?
A: Pan is very stubborn but also happens to be quite good at picking up new skills. Unfortunately, every now and again he tries to do something he's not good at and it all goes horribly wrong.
Q: Why did you decide in this story that it was time to meet Pan's parents?
A: Pan was missing his family so it needed to be addressed. And his parents would have been really worried about him as Pan was supposed to be with his aunt and uncle, but never arrived.
When his aunt and uncle come to collect Pan, they turn out to be very strict and not very nice - so it took the focus away from Toby, who is usually the bad guy in these stories.
Q: Mini-Dragons like to think they are very ancient - are they?
A: Yes they take themselves very seriously but every now and again I like to bring them back down to Earth. In the first book, there's a joke about the Encyclopaedia Dragonica, which has lots of dragon facts. It might look ancient, but Eric discovers a '3 for 2' sticker on the back of it. In the latest story, Pan's special 'family code' that only ancient Mini-Dragons have turns out to be his family's email address...
Q: Do you have some favourite Mini-Dragon facts?
A: 1) Dragons are the most intelligent animals ever and they'll eat any human who says otherwise
Although 2) Humans are the number one cause of indigestion among Dragons
And the Dragonian Calendar is the same as ours, except that for leap year they use the extra day to make Double-Christmas!
Q: What's your favourite funny moment in the book?
A: Ah, I can't give it away but it involves flushing and a toilet. I think it's the funniest thing I've ever written....
Q: Do you actually laugh as your write the funny bits?
A: Yes! I want to make myself laugh otherwise it won't be funny for the reader.
Q: What would happen if you had a Mini-Dragon visit for a few days?
A: I think I'd concentrate on keeping the Mini-Dragon and my five year old daughter apart. I wouldn't want her to be led astray! I'd also want to keep an eye out to make sure the Mini-Dragon didn't accidentally burn down the house, and I'd have to hide the prawn crackers, which they love! (that and dirty laundry!)
The most important thing, though, would be to keep him a secret so that the scientists don't find him - that's the biggest danger for Pan in these books.
Q: What did you think of Sarah Horne's illustrations when you saw the first finished book?
A: I was completely blown away, Sarah's illustrations are perfect and they really add to the humour in the story. She completely got all the characters and those like Eric's parents are spot on, just as I had imagined them to be.
Q: Where do you write your books?
A: It's not glamorous. I'm at the kitchen table. I did have an office in the attic but it was just too cold so I abandoned it. I tend to write in the evenings as I'm working full time in computer programming. It takes me about four months to write each book.
Q: What's next for Pan and Eric?
A: Eric and his dad plan a camping trip for just the two of them but along the way, Pan ends up coming as well, and then Toby and his dad, and things get very competition very quickly! It's called 'There's a Dragon in my Pants' so look out for it!
Level Up
There's a Dragon in my Toilet
There's a Dragon in my Backpack!
There's a Dragon in my Dinner!
