Nick Arnold's Blog

Cold chilly November fog wraps itself around the coast and hangs heavy on the wide cold river as I sit in front of my computer and write another installment of my diary … As I type I shiver and wonder if you’re wondering what I’ve been doing for the past six months. So what have I been doing for the past six months? I wonder … Aha - GOOD QUESTION!

Well, writing for one thing. If you happen to surf your way to this website in a few months time and look in the Library you’ll see what I’ve been working on … There’s a new Horrible Science book called Evil Inventions, a Blood, Bones and Body Bits Jigsaw Book and two great new Horrible Science handbooks which are designed not only give you the Horrible details but show you how to be a Horrible Scientist in your own right!

But of course that’s not all! Then there are the events - as regular readers will know I’m always dashing off here there and everywhere to present Horrible Science shows. The entire summer at Kew Gardens in London was full of Horrible Science events and I was there at the start and the end of it all. Here’s me about to be eaten up by a giant pitcher plant at the wonderful Climbers and Creepers Hall at Kew …

Every year Cramlington Community High School in Northumberland puts on a fantastic Horrible Science Fair for the entire community and this year was one of the best ever. Would you like to see a Horrible Science Fair in your school? If so, why not ask your Head Teacher? The idea is that the children make and draw and design horrible exhibits and invite their families to see what they’ve been doing. It’s a load of fun and I might even come along to see what’s going on!

In September Horrible Science artist Tony de Saulles and myself went on tour. We did some fantastic events in Newcastle and Aberdeen - and if you came to see us you’ll know all about them!

But it’s not all been fun and games. Back in January, Devon County Council announced that they planned to close 12 libraries including my local library at Appledore. All over the county people were shocked and upset and in Appledore we set up Friends of Appledore Library to keep our local Library open.

Soon we had over 300 members and we quickly raised money to brighten up the Library and knocked on every door in town to ask people what they thought about losing it. If it wasn’t for libraries I wouldn’t love books and so I wouldn’t be an author - so battling to save Appledore Library and the others is my way of saying “THANKS” to these wonderful places. You can see a picture of Appledore Library at the end of this diary entry - just so you know what I’m talking ahout …

Devon County Council are due to make a decision on November 28 and I’ll tell you what they say soon. Let’s hope they listen to all the people who love libraries and want to keep them open and especially the 400 children who depend on Appledore Library for help with their homework and books to read in their holidays! And there’s another good reason to keep Appledore Library - next year I’m planning a book festival to be based on … you guessed it - the Library! But I’ll tell you more about that another time - happy reading!

Have I got news for you!

Have I got news for you?

Oh yes, so I have … but you better hurry up and read it otherwise I might forget it again. For one thing I can tell you the result of the campaign I’ve been waging to save Appledore Library in Devon from closing …

If you’ve been reading my adventures in date order you’ll know that the local Council was planning to close down this village Library and I’ve been making speeches and knocking on doors and being interviewed on TV and generally making a nuisance of myself in a bid to keep it open. I think there is nothing more important for an author to do than give children the right to read and learn - and that means writing books but it also means giving children the chance to read them. Anyway I won’t keep you in suspense any more … WE WON! Here’s me shaking hands with one of the top Councillors in front of the Council offices.

Mind you, if that’s not enough I’ve finished writing two Horrible Handbooks full of eyepopping experiments and I’ve been to Mexico. I think I must have been one of the first British authors to present an event in Mexico City and what a fantastic place it is! And here’s me giving it my all as I do my BIG conference speech …

Well, after all that I wonder what 2007 will bring? Hopefully the same as it brings you - Health, Wealth and Happiness, I hope! Anyway you can find out the Horrible Truth for yourself by reading the next episode of my adventures - out soon on this website!

“Hi!” to all you Horrible Science fans who have been e-mailing me all month – and “Hi” if you haven’t. As ever it’s been busy, busy, busy for me in my haunted house by the sea … so before we go on here’s a chilling picture to get you in the mood …

No, thanks for asking I haven’t seen a ghost yet (and being science-minded I’m not too sure if ghosts exist) but lots of strange things have been going on in my house as I write more Horrible Handbooks full of really nasty experiments to try at home. I mean what the heck is that wickedly weird green thing at the end of this column?

Well, here’s a clue - it’s an alien egg and you can find out how to make your own in Freaky Food out later this year. Meanwhile I’ve been working on ideas for new Horrible Handbooks on the body and the brain - so get set for more revolting revealations.

And that’s not all – as everyone who eats breakfast cereal or watches TV in the UK will know – Horrible Science is all over Kellogg’s cereals with free CD’s and thanks for your e-mails - I’m glad you like them so much. And yes – I did have loads of fun working on them!

But that’s still not all – now that I’ve saved my local Library from closing I’m organising a book festival. If you live in the south-west of England you might want to write APPLEDORE BOOK FESTIVAL in big letters all over your diary for every day between the 29 September to 7 October this year. It’s all happening (where else?) in Appledore in North Devon and it’s going to be BRILLIANT! I mean just imagine all those top authors wandering around looking lost and maybe turning up at schools in front of crowds of happy kids. Well, that’s the general idea but I’ll tell you more when I can.

Oh yes, and I’ve found the odd moment to finish the Ugly Bugs Jigsaw Book (out next year). If you’ve seen the Dangerous Dinosaurs Jigsaw Book in the shops or Library section of this website you’ll know what to expect (but this one’s even more UGLY!)

And finally a few answers to your e-mails. Some of you have been asking how to get hold of Wild Lives books – well, they’re a little hard to find in the shops. The best place to get them is from your library or perhaps beg your pet adult to get you one from Amazon.co.uk. Thanks also everyone who sent in ideas for new Horrible Science books – yes, Jotham there will be one on scary sea life although maybe not for a year or two. Meanwhile I’m off to explore my haunted attics with my alien egg – who knows something really weird might happen! (Cue for ghostly laughter as Nick disappears.)

Have you ever heard your granny say “I don’t know where the years have gone?” Maybe you’ve asked yourself why time seems to pass faster when you’re having a good time? Well, the time passed fast for me – but what have I been up to and can I even remember or have I been too busy to replace the memory chip in my brain? Well, whilst I’m trying to remember, here’s some pretty May flowers I saw on my travels (sorry readers, I’m not in danger of turning nice - these flowers are really “VICIOUS VEG” and they’re full of “UGLY BUGS”!) …

Mind you, if you live in Lincoln, England and you came to see my Horrible Science show at the Lincoln Festival you’ll have an idea of what else I’ve been doing. A big thanks to a lovely audience – and especially YOU just so long as you laughed at the jokes!

And there’s the brilliant exciting Appledore Book Festival - regular readers of this diary will know that I have set up this book festival to support the local Library and now it’s fully planned - you can find out more about it by visiting the Appledore Book Festival website - just click here to take a look! -

And then I’ve been working on some new books. “So what’s new?” I hear you ask. The answer is that these new books aren’t just horrible – they’re EXTRA-Horrible. The Ugly Bugs Jigsaw Book tells the Horrible tale of a young woodlouse and his desperate attempts to escape the clutches of the deadly woodlouse-eating spider. Here’s me doing some research by a local stream and meeting armies of beastly bugs - and NO, I didn’t fall in the stream or get eaten alive by the spider!

And then there’s the Beastly Body Experiments Book – nice title, huh? There are some really revolting experiments in there such as edible snot and make an inside-out body. I shall be writing a another Horrible Handbook soon all about Brain Experiments to try at home – if you’ve got a brilliant title brainwave why not drop me an e-mail?

And talking about e-mails - I’ve been getting hundreds but can I please, please (look I’m on my knees begging) ask you to put your correct e-mail address on your e-mail otherwise I can’t reply – so here’s a special message to Samuel who wrote in February, Emily from Western Australia, Jacob, Rory, Alex, Shane, Holly, Ashley, Matthew, Fiona, Amy, Caroline and Abbi – don’t give up your dream of becoming a scientist! Yes, I did get your messages and yes I did try to reply! Why not have another go?

And here are some answers to some frequently asked questions you’ve been sending me.

WHERE DO I GET HORRIBLE SCIENCE BOOKS FROM?

You can get Horrible Science books from all good bookshops and some jolly bad bookshops too. If they haven’t got the title you want don’t be shy – ask! The bookshop can probably get it in a day and if they don’t have too many Horrible Science books let me know and I’ll name them and shame them on this website! Mind you, if there’s a friendly adult around they might be persuaded to order books from Amazon for you!

CAN I VISIT YOUR SCHOOL?

Nope – sorry! If I went to all the schools that wanted me to visit I’d never have a chance to write a book – so it’s only fair to say “no thanks!” to everyone.

Well, that’s it for now – I’m off bug hunting but I’ll be back soon and remember – keep those e-mails coming!

Ok, I hold up my hand – I’m guilty. Guilty of not writing my Diary until now. I wanted to write my Diary in July … and August and last week. But something always happened to stop me. What something? Ah – that would be telling …… and who are these cheeky-chappies?





OK – seeing as you asked …

The cheeky chappies are two writer pals of mine – the two Steves – Skidmore and Barlow (he’s the one with the beard) – are the authors of Mad Myths and many other brilliant books. They came to stay in May and I’m just recovering.

I had to finish Beastly Body Experiments and then write a beastly new book called the Angry Animals Shuffle Puzzle Book and you can guess what’s that’s about. But they’re finished now. Beastly Body Experiments is even more horrible than I expected. My favourite experiment is the one where you can make your own shrunken head – GRUESOME isn’t the word for it but if it proves popular I’ll soon know about it because their will be lots of little brothers and sisters walking about with unusually small heads.

And then there’s the Horrible Science Shows. “Hi!” to all of you who came to see me at Dorchester-on-Thames in June and all 850 of you who packed into the Theatre Royal, York on 9 September.

Yes, I thought York was a great show too (pause for Nick’s head to shrink back to its normal size with the aid of the head-shrinking experiment. And thanks to all of you who e-mailed to say how much you enjoyed the Horrible Science CD’s given away free with the Daily and Sunday Telegraph newspapers!

Oh yes, and I nearly forgot to mention the Appledore Book Festival – of which I’m the Director (posh job title, eh?) It starts on 29 September and features a host of famous authors talking about their books – including Michael Rosen, Vivian French, and not to mention Martin Brown – illustrator of the Horrible Histories and our very own Tony De Saulles, the Horrible Science cartoonist.

So if you live in the south-west of England, why not drag your family to Appledore? You might even see me rushing around and looking harassed!

Now that would be enough for most normal people – but I’m not – as my family keep telling me – so I’ve been up to my neck in relaunching Horrible Science books for next February. That means giving them new covers and updating all the horrible facts and checking them for accuracy. We’re kicking off with six titles including Blood, Bones and Body Bits – is that gory or what?

Wow – that’s almost as grisly as Beastly Body Experiments!

HAPPY NEW GUESS-WHAT?

Did I say “guess what?” Can you guess what a “guess what” is? If you can or even if you can’t then keep reading. And what’s more I’ll tell you what I’m doing with Michael Rosen the new British Children’s Laureate …

No-way, a “guess what” isn’t a year although it could be. And it’s not a day, a life, a wooden leg, a woolly knitted jumper or granny although it could be all of those things. No, a “guess what” is actually whatever you want it to be. That’s the point – this time of year is a time for decisions, for new beginnings, for RESOLUTIONS with capital letters.

Here’s a few of mine:

1. I’m going to read my e-mails when I’ve done the rest of my work for the day (meanwhile keep yours coming and I’ll keep trying to answer them). Oh yes, and I’m going to work well away from the phone.

2. And when I’m working I’m going to write some even more fantastic books than last year.

3. I’m going to have FUN in and out of work

So what was I doing with the Children’s Laureate? Well, Michael Rosen launched the fantastic even better than expected totally exhausting unbelievable Appledore Book Festival and the lady is our Co-ordinator, Carol. By the way a Book Festival is where top authors come to speak about their books and meet their readers and I am lucky enough to be the Director of the Festival I founded in Appledore, England.

And now just because I can’t resist showing you here are some more piccies from the Book Festival that put a smile on everyone’s face …

Here’s me and Mortal Engines author Philip Reeve.

And who’s this? Well, knock me down with a stunned hamster if it isn’t our very own Horrible Science illustrator Tony De Saulles doing a sell-out drawing show!

Well, that’s enough about the festival because right now I’m nibbling my nails with all the work I’ve got to do this year. You can find out what it is by reading the Events section at the end of this diary. And what’s more the Appledore Book Festival is running again from 27 September to 5 October – so I better get on with things! No rest for the Horrible is there?

Why so long, Nick? Why no entry in your diary for eight months and what is that small, furry creature doing sitting on top of the manuscript of your latest book?

Aha – so many questions and no answers. I’m not even going to tell you the cat’s name unless you promise to read on …

Oh-all right then – you twisted my arm. The cat’s name is Betty and she now shares my big haunted house in Devon. Betty is normally a good well-behaved cat but then she wakes up and demands that I run outside and let her chase me around the garden. Which I do – much to the delight of the neighbours. She also has a number of horrible habits such as munching flies and drinking from toilets but I expect you’d prefer not to read about that kind of thing.

So what about me – what have I been up to these long, silent months?

Well, it’s funny you asked because I was just about to tell you!

For one thing I’ve been writing Horrible Science books – just look at all those lovely books in the Library section of this website – you click on the egg-timer on the home page. In particular, I’ve written a big gory book about the body entitled The Horrible Science of YOU and Wasted World – all about toxic trash and cruel climate change. And write now, er right now I’m working on a book about how to spot dinosaurs (it’s easy with a pair of time-travel specs).

And then there’s events. Here’s a Learning Support Centre I opened in Barnstaple back in March.

It’s set to be a great place to encourage kids to enjoy reading. In my speech I said that the Centre was like a space capsule that could free young minds and take them to a new world of learning and I hope it does!

And “Hi-ya!” to all of you who came to my shows in Tavistock and Shrewsbury this year (especially if you weren’t the ones throwing rotten turnips at the end. Oh yes, and “Hi-ya!” too if you saw me at the Edinbugh Festival this summer – great wasn’t it? Well, maybe “great” isn’t the word – I think G-R-E-E-A-T! sounds a bit more like it! Here’s me at the Festival …

And the weird looking picture below is a thermal image (that’s me on the right). Basically it’s showing the heat from my body as red or orange – so you can see I was chilling out just then!

And talking about Festivals – my own Book Festival at Appledore is going from strength to strength – although it’s hard work. At the bottom of the page you can see the launch of our brochure in April and that really is a knight in armour on a horse rescuing a damsel in distress from a dragon!

The Appledore Book Festival is due to start on 27 September and I’m actually doing a talk in it on … Vikings – but I’ll tell you more about that next time. So what now?

Well, I’m going to do some more writing … just as soon as I’ve chased Betty around the garden! See-ya!

Ps Don’t forget to e-mail me. I’m getting some great e-mails right now!

Have you ever met a friend for the first time in months and felt that you had so much to tell them that it’s going to take you about six months? That’s me! Read the rest of this diary and I’ll tell you what I’m doing with these soldiers and whether I’ve just been arrested …

Now where was I? Oh yes, I was with a platoon of soldiers from a Devon re-enactment society at the Appledore Book Festival. Yes, once again the Appledore Book Festival hasn’t exceeded all expectations – it chucked away the expectations and soared into space. Everyone loved it – the 4,000+ visitors, the 60+ authors, the loads of publishers, the crowds of seagulls – even I loved it and I was busy having a nervous breakdown! By the way, if you don’t know what I’m talking about you need to gently smack your wrist and read the rest of these diaries. Then you’d know that I have somehow found myself Director of this book festival in deepest Devon.

Here’s me and a bearded giant who doesn’t eat children – he actually writes brilliant books for them instead and he’s called Philip Ardagh – author of Unlikely Exploits and the Eddie Dickens books. Philip opened the Festival this year – so you could say that a giant-sized talent took it to new ahem, heights …

Besides being Director, my contribution to the Festival was to give a talk on my discovery of the battlefield of Cynuit (say Kin-u-it). This is the place where wicked Jarl Ubbi met his evil end and NO, I’m not making all this up. I spent a year of my life looking for the site of this battle that stopped England being conquered by the Vikings. It’s been lost for 1,000 years but in the end I found it and I got on the TV and in all the papers. Here’s what Ubbi didn’t look like …

And now to change the subject without warning - a big word of thanks – I mean “THANKS!” to the Cambridge Science Festival for organising my Xmas Xtravaganza – The Horrible Science of Cambridge and all you hundreds of happy Horrible Science fans who turned up for it.

So what’s the new year got in store? Well, you can see what I’m up to in my diary – but right now it’s raining and cold and dark and about as miserable as a Monday morning can be so I’m not going a million miles from my bed. When it stops raining maybe I’ll go walking or running or cycling – so I’ll finish off with a nice picture of me out and about. Wrap up warm now!

DUCK, IT’S A GIANT FIREWORK! No, I said giant firework not giant duck. If it was a giant duck I would have been running around waving my arms in the air!!! So what was I doing? Was it some horrible science experiment gone horribly wrong? And how is Betty the cat? Well, if you would only stop asking questions for ten seconds I might have a chance to tell you the answers but first you’ve got to promise to …



Well, thanks for reading on. I was just telling you about THE GREAT PANJANDRUM. That’s the top secret name of a top secret weapon from 1944 that we recreated and set off to launch the brilliant brochure of the AWESOME Appledore Book Festival! If you’ve been on Mars for the past three years (or at least not reading the previous entries in my diary) you’ll not know that I am the Director of this fantastic festival in Devon, England. The tickets for this year are selling even faster than Horrible Science books and amongst the big names this year are Michael Morpurgo and Philip Reeve and Peter Lord (who is behind the Wallace and Grommit films) and even a certain Tony De Saulles who you might have heard of if you’ve ever giggled at one of our books. Also there are a lot of adult authors who I won’t bore you with unless you happen to be over 18 in which case you can find out for yourself by visiting appledorebookfestival.co.uk.

Oh yes, and I have been writing new books. For example I’ve written a Horrible Science Dinosaur Spotter’s Guide about what happens when Will D. Beest and Mickey the monkey go time travelling to watch the dinos and then there’s a Horrible Science Shark Spotter’s Guide in which you can find out what happens when Harvey Tucker from Killer Energy goes for a dip with a great white shark – or should that read goes for a RIP!



Then I’ve got some great shows coming up in the next few months – take a look at the Nick’s Diary section of this website for the latest. And this September there are some great new Horrible Science books out such as the brand-new Horrible Science Annual 2010 and this book – I think it’s brilliant but then I would – more interestingly Betty the cat thinks its brilliant too. She’s just read it and she’s doing fine thanks for asking. She just keeps wanting more and more food!



Oh yes, and one other IMPORTANT interesting and JOLLY GOOD bit of news is that this website is going to getting BIGGER and better. There are going to be loads of new downloads and experiments to try and new sections to explore and it’s all going to be happening this year. The only sad bit about all that is that this diary will go (BOO HOO, BLUBBER!) but it will be replaced by a new section called NICK’S NEWS in which you can catch up with everything I’ve been up to and see what I’m doing and what shows are coming up all in one go HORRAY!) Now that’s progress for you!

Until then, HAPPY READING and if your summer holiday involves time travel - don’t get eaten by the dinosaurs!

(aged 28 and a half and if you believe that you’ll believe everything else you’re about to read!)

Welcome to the first entry in my on-line diary - that’s a blog if you want to sound like a cyber-geek. In it Nick Arnold - fairly well-known children’s author (otherwise known as me), will open my heart to the world (well, not literally that would be un-necessarily gory - but in a manner of speaking).

Over the next few years I shall spill the beans, tears and lots of ink and will hold back on nothing that affects me, happens to me, is done by me in my horrible life - so be prepared for rude remarks, gory bits, strong language and a few weird facts. Oh yes, and there’ll be pictures and a few cartoons.

And in the future dates of this diary you can find out what I’ll be up to - so you’ll have an even better idea of what the future has in store for me than I do … So don’t be shy - come and along and meet me at a Nick Arnold event as advertised in this diary. I am sure to greet you like an old friend and I might even pour water on your head and sign a book for you (it’s just a harmless hobby really - I’m talking about pouring water on people’s head not signing books).

Click here to

So now I’ve set out my stall and, wonder and wonders, you’re still reading - let’s get introduced properly …

This is me:

I’m youngish, I’m fair-haired, and I’m good-looking - OK so I wasn’t lying about the fair hair. You can find out my life story in the Nick’s biography section so I won’t say any more about my life here (much of it is too painful to bear much repetition anyway).

And here’s a good mate of mine - Tony De Saulles - he illustrates the Horrible Science books which I write and he’s drawn most of the cartoons for this website - so THANKS Tony! Some people think that Tony and I share a house but this is just an ugly rumour.

The truth is we spend a lot of time e-mailing each other and swapping ideas for grisly Horrible Science cartoons like this one from The Stunning Science of Everything …

So that’s me but what does the future hold? Right now sitting here with my fingers dancing on my computer keyboard I don’t have a clue. But you do - all you have to do is read on … (and when you’ve finished reading come back later because there’s sure to be another diary entry to read soon!)