08 Apr Tom Palmer – the Nation’s Favourite Author
Written by Oliver R – Year 7 Student Reporter,
edited by Mrs Nguyen
It was the afternoon of Friday 11th February when years 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Finham Multi Academy Trust (M.A.T) met Tom Palmer virtually for 30 minutes/each year group.
Tom is a children’s author who writes stories about football, history or family. He writes both fiction and non-fiction.
Luckily, the audience was given the chance to ask Tom questions about his work…
YEAR 7
Who is your role model? Who do you look up to?
My wife!
When you are down, what books do you read to make you feel better?
When I am down, I love action books!
At what age did you start writing books?
When I was young, I started writing so that I could feel better as my Dad was very ill. When I was 21, my Dad died. In school I struggled with reading. Once I got into reading, I found it easy to write.
Which one of your own books is your favourite?
Armistice Runner
What is your favourite book from another author?
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë or Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
YEARS 8 and 9
How many books have you had published?
54
Are you currently writing a book?
I actually just finished writing a book today!
When do you write best? Do you find that you have a writing routine?
I try to write in the morning as it yields the best results
What type of student were you at school?
I struggled in school and did not do very well. I got into reading quite late at the age of 17 or 18.
What are your plans for the future?
Continue writing, especially books about history as I consider it as a responsibility, a duty.
Our reflection
Keethana -Year 9
It was inspiration to meet an author as big as Tom and have him answer all our questions. Tom shared many interesting stories.
Hesna – Year 8
I find it fascinating to find out that the stories Tom has written were based on real stories [history books] and all about the struggles many went through that may have been forgotten “they gave a sense of what the real world was like”. I was really touched by what Tom had spoken about.
Rylan –Year 9
Tom is really down to earth as he went through so much and knows what it is like to have troubled times.
Oliver – Year 7
Tom taught me to use bad experiences to drive you to achieve good.
About his books
Tom has many distinct reasons for authoring various books about anything. But the most important would-be Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog books.
Tom shared with us the story behind the book Armistice Runner: Tom’s daughter is a fell and cross-country runner (as Tom is). Tom wanted the story to come from the point of view of a girl like his daughter and the other keen children who enjoy running cross country and on the fells. Knowing that many cross-country and fallen runners went to fight in the First World War, the story started there.
D-Day Dog story started with Finn – the dog. In real life Tom and his family do have a dog named Finn. Tom reflected:” The story is about Jack – a boy who loves learning about wars and loves his dog. On a school trip to France – Jack finds out dogs were used in World War 2 and that some of them died.”
We thoroughly enjoyed all stories Tom shared with us.
One thing we surely know that Tom’s books will become more popular to many of us for our reading choice.
We thank Mrs Gater (from Lyng Hall School), Miss O’Toole (from Finham Park Multi Academy Trust), Miss Van Wyk and Mrs Nguyen for providing us with this opportunity to meet Tom (even virtually).
Wednesday 06th April 2022
Tom’s reflection on reading our write-up:
“It’s great. Thank you. Very nice to read. Thanks for a lovely experience.”
