Cockasnook Books
‘Tom Gibbons’
Margaret Swift
Tom Gibbons — Margaret Swift
Introduction: Tom Gibbons lives with his old grandad in a small village, an arrangement that suits them both very well. The only problem – whether Tom realises it or not – is that it can't go on for much longer.
What will happen to Tom when his grandad dies? Is he set to lose everything that matters to him: not just his grandad, but also his home, his place at school and his dog? Tom faces seemingly insurmountable challenges in dealing with the social services and the police, but fortunately he has more friends than he realises. In outwitting those who deal unfairly with him, Tom can emerge a stronger person: a young man.
The book Tom Gibbons is about youth and age, living and dying, human love and animal affection.
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The novel Tom Gibbons is set in the village of Clapton (south-west of Crewkerne, Somerset), where Margaret Swift’s parents lived until 1999, and contains vivid descriptions of the familial house Brooklands, the village and the locality. The old grandfather featured in the book is a faithful portrait of Margaret’s father Edgar, who was well known in the village (and formerly throughout the West of England as star racing cyclist). Various other local people and institutions are portrayed (in particular those who were helpful and supportive to Edgar when he became very old) but the main protagonist, the eponymous Tom Gibbons, a sixteen-year-old boy, is a fictitious character.
Tom, who has been brought up by his grandfather, comes back from school camp to find the house deserted. Even the dog Nicky is not there (he is at the kennels, ‘Eldorado’ in the book, ‘Ponderosa’ in real life – Clapton and Wayford likewise becoming ‘Clapford’ and ‘Wayton’, and Crewkerne ‘Crewminster’), and we begin to worry what will happen to Tom when his grandad dies – which he inevitably does, halfway through the book. But as well as being about living and dying, the book is a gripping adventure story about the power of friendship, human love – and animal affection. Tom faces problems with school, the social services and the police, but with the support of his friends progresses towards an optimistic conclusion.
At Cockasnook Books, we regard it as singularly appropriate that Tom Gibbons should be launched in Clapton at the Village Hall, which is situated at the rear of the house Brooklands. We are taking the opportunity presented by the size of the hall to extend our remit to that of Book Fair, in order to put Clapton truly on the map, and in association with Dr Stephen Manning of CheckPoint Press have lined up a spectrum of writers (and artists) to display their work and give short presentations. For a list of contributors please consult the programme of events.
CLAPTON BOOK FAIR - SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER 2009
CLAPTON VILLAGE HALL, Clapton, Nr Crewkerne, TA18 8PS
everyone welcome – free entry, refreshments available
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS | |
| 11.30am | Doors open to the general public |
| 12.00pm | Robert Swift of Cockasnook Books will welcome everyone and present the young persons’ novel TOM GIBBONS by Margaret Swift, explaining its association with the locality: with the villages of Clapton and Wayford, the house Brooklands and his grandfather Edgar. Also to be launched is the fantasy novel A SPELL FOR IRRESISTIBLE CHARM, the second book in Margaret Swift’s fantasy trilogy AMARANTH. |
| 12.10pm - 12.20pm | Robert will introduce Dr Stephen Manning of CheckPoint Press, Achill Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland, who will discuss ‘The Problems of Writers & Publishers in the Modern World’. |
| 12.30pm | MARGARET SWIFT will answer questions about the novel TOM GIBBONS and discuss her work writing novels and fantasy fiction for young people. |
| 12.45pm | DR STEPHEN MANNING will offer a colourful presentation on his book THE COLOUR OF TRUTH. |
| 1.00pm | SANDRA LEAN of the University of Stirling will talk about her research and how she came to write her book NO SMOKE: THE SHOCKING TRUTH ABOUT BRITISH JUSTICE. |
| 1.15pm | ANNE MOSSCROP, Clapton’s resident writer, will discuss her forthcoming book WEATHER PERMITTING: LETTERS FROM THE ARCTIC about her work among the Canadian Inuit. |
| 1.30pm | Novelist and diving enthusiast STEVE TURLEY will present his popular adventure novel VERTICAL DESCENT. |
| Other writers and artists will be in attendance, including Bristol artist LESLEY LAWRENCE, who has prepared the delightful artwork for the covers of Margaret Swift’s AMARANTH trilogy. | |
| 2.00pm | Close |