Tommy Donbavand - Tommy v Cancer: One Man's Battle Against The Big C - Book Review

On Thursday, 10th of March 2016, I returned home from a hospital appointment and broke the news to my wife and children. I had throat cancer. Stage four. Inoperable.

Desperately needing some way to make sense of my situation, I set up a blog to chart my battle against the disease. I hoped it would allow me to understand more about this thing inside me, and what I would have to go through in terms of treatment to try to eradicate it. I also thought it might help other people who found themselves in similar circumstances.

I should warn you that parts of this book do not make for easy reading. I kept my promise to be honest, and wrote many of the blog entries when I was depressed and scared, certain I wouldn't live to see another dawn. I convinced myself that I would quickly perish, leaving my wife and two sons - then aged 9 and 17 - alone, and with no-one to protect them or provide for them.

I wouldn't get to see them grow up, develop into young men, and eventually have children of their own. The prospect terrified me.

For those of you who followed my blog and read the posts as I uploaded them, you haven't seen everything. This book contains plenty of new content, including updates from when I was either in hospital or simply too ill to write. I also explain how I'm coping now, and the ways in which my life has changed forever.

I really do have the utmost admiration for Tommy Donbovand. Faced with stage 4 unoperable cancer, the author wrote about his journey battling this illness through his BLOG. This has now been compiled into a book, but with additional and new content.

I was really shocked and saddened to hear that Tommy was ill. I have read a range of Tommy's books over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed the humour in each and everyone. Amazingly, he was still able to retain and capture this in his writing whilst undergoing treatment and writing his blog. 

This book really does give us an insight into Tommy's life and mind. He shares many personal feelings and thoughts throughout the different stages from finding out he has cancer, the treatments and the really cruel side effects. The rawness and the honesty were truly remarkable. It was very hard and upsetting to read at times, with many a tear shed but equally, in the face of adversity, Tommy's amazing resilience and sense of humour would also shine through and bring an unexpected smile.

This is a unique book by an amazing author. I have never read a book like this before - I was really moved and inspired by Tommy and his fight with cancer. I have recommended this already to family and friends. If you would like to read this then it can only be purchased from AMAZON.

Thank you Tommy for your sharing this chapter of your life with us. I really do wish you all the best for the future.

Tommy Donbavand -Scream Street Blog Tour - The Final Frontier

To celebrate the publication of Flame of the Dragon - the 13th and final book in the Scream Street series - Tommy Donbavand has written a brand newScream Street story! Shiver of the Phantom will be released in 13 separate parts on 13 separate blogs between 19th October and Halloween itself!

This is the third chapter from the exclusive story 'Scream Street'. The next part of the story will be posted on Barry Hutchison's web 

Chapter Three

The Story

Resus blinked, unsure what to say for a second. “You’re writing a novel?”

Cleo nodded.

“Really?”

“Yes, I’m writing a novel,” said Cleo. “Can I have it back now, please?”

Resus released his grip on the notebook. “How long have you been writing a novel?”

Cleo shrugged. “A few weeks.”

Resus turned to Luke. “And you knew about it?”

“Yep,” said Luke. “Cleo wanted to speak to Samuel Skipstone and get some advice about writing, so she’s been coming here every day after school to chat with him.”

“So, what’s with the magic spell and those things attacking us?” Resus asked. 

“Sorry about that,” Cleo mumbled. “Mr Skipstone said I had to find a way to bring my characters to life. I couldn’t find a way to do it by writing, so I bought a spell from Everwell’s. I didn’t realize it would work on all the characters in the room.”

Resus sat on Luke’s bed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were writing a book?” he asked.

Cleo blushed slightly beneath her bandages. “I wanted to,” she said. “I just thought you might laugh at me.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” said Resus. “I think it’s a great idea.”

“You mean it?”

“Of course,” said Resus. “I couldn’t do anything like that, but you’re good at all that writing stuff at school.”

Cleo smiled as she smoothed out the pages of her notebook. “I am enjoying writing it,” she admitted.

“What’s it about?” Resus asked.

“Don’t look at me,” said Luke, sitting on the bed beside the vampire. “I get sent out of the room when she discusses it with Mr Skipstone.”

Cleo paused for a moment. “Promise you won’t laugh?”

Luke and Resus both nodded.

“OK,” said Cleo. She took a deep breath. “It’s about a girl called Balsa, who meets a boy at school. His name is Woodhead, and Balsa is convinced that there’s something unusual about him. His skin is really cold, he doesn’t have a pulse and when he goes out in the sunshine, maggots burst out of his skin and crawl all over him.”

“So he’s a zombie?” said Resus.

“He is, but Balsa doesn’t know that for certain at the start,” said Cleo. “It’s only when he sinks his teeth into her leg that she realizes the truth.”

“What’s the book called?” asked Luke.

Cleo opened her notebook to the first page to display the title. “Thigh Bite.”

Resus grinned and began to chuckle.

“You said you wouldn’t laugh at me.” Cleo scowled.

“I’m not laughing at you,” Resus insisted. “I’m laughing at the story. It’s really clever.”

“You mean it?” asked Cleo with a smile. “Thanks.”

Resus picked up the game controller and restarted his zombie attack. “It’s all right,” he said, eyes fixed on the advancing undead. “I always thought— Ow!”

The vampire cried out in pain as a model ship exploded against his head.