#andrewsmith

[librarycomic]

The Size of the Truth by Andrew Smith. Simon & Schuster, 2020. 9781534419568. 288pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781534419568?partnerid=34778&p_bt

On Thanksgiving, when he was four, Sam fell into an abandoned well in Blue Creek, TX. He couldn't really remember what happened when he fell, but now he can. It involves a talking armadillo, and it's pretty weird.

Now Sam is eleven and starting the eighth grade. (He should be in sixth but he skipped a few grades.) James Jenkins, the eight grader who kinda caused Sam to fall into the well, looks like a murderer. Sam has scary dreams about him. He's destined to be a high school football star, and he's in Sam's homeroom.

This is a book about survival camping, mini-golf, defying parental expectations, and an unlikely friendship involving cooking. It's a strange and wonderful story with a heartwarming ending involving both mac and cheese and ballet. It's one of my favorite tween novels ever.  

[thebookishaustin]

New Book Review: Bye, Bye Blue Creek

Image from publisher’s website

Bye, Bye Blue Creek by Andrew Smith

Release: October 13, 2020

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books (for YR)

*I received a free, digital ARC of this title from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions contained within this review are my own.* 

I’m incredibly biased when it comes to books by Andrew Smith. I had the opportunity to meet him a few years ago (out of the kindness of his heart, we had a three hour coffee house chat) as well as attend a couple of his author events. I think, at this point, I have read every single one of his books (minus one short story collection he’s featured in). I am delighted to be able to review his newest book - Bye, Bye Blue Creek!

This newest book is a continuation of Sam Abernathy’s pre-Stand-Off middle grade adventures that started with The Size of the Truth (2019; you can read my review here). Sam is a few weeks away from heading off to Pine Mountain (his new boarding school), where he will be a twelve-year-old freshman (the horror) away from his family (the freedom and terror). However, he has to find a way to say good-bye to his friends, come to terms with his claustrophobia, and handle the creepy new family that moved into Blue Creek’s infamous haunted house! What kind of shenanigans will he get into before he’s off to school!? 

Just as with The Size of the Truth, you’ll see similarly feelings reflected in this review. Abernathy is adorably naive, yet also sophisticated for a twelve-year-old. He has high hopes, big dreams, and wants to break out of the expectations people have put upon him. Can’t we all relate similarly on a base level? Sam continues to show us how wonderful it is to grow up and discover while simultaneously having fun, learning new skills, and ultimately, standing up for oneself in times of change. 

If you’re in the mood for some hilariously weird growing up stories, check out the Sam Abernathy series. This installment is receiving 4-out-of-5 Awesome Austin Points and will leave your heart warm with innocence, humor, and ultimate truths about life. Bye, Bye Blue Creek comes out on October 13, 2020 so watch out for it at your local bookstores!

[that-one-kinky-fish]

my grasshopper jungle playlist on spotify :DD

[tartantardis]

When Andrew Smith’s book came Full Circle

(This was an article from the Rutherglen Reformer, the paper I edited from 2012-2015. One of the happiest times of my working life. On January 14 2015, we ran this feature, as local man Andrew Smith’s novelisation of Full Circle, written whilst he lived in the town, was released as an audiobook. Being me, a simple chat with one person wasn’t enough - so I got commissioning editor Michael Stevens and reader Matthew Waterhouse to give me a wee extra line too! Andrew is one of the nicest people I’ve met - someone I originally interviewed for the paper, and is now one of my best mates. So he featured in the Reformer a lot, especially with Big Finish stuff!)

A book written by a Rutherglen man in 1982 is being given a release as an audio book.

Former Stonelaw High pupil Andrew Smith novelised his Doctor Who story Full Circle, being published two years after his adventure had been shown on television.

In the days before commercial DVD and video releases, the books were the only way for Doctor Who fans to revisit old stories and have a permanent record of them.

Andy wrote the novelisation while staying at his old home in Eskdale Drive.

He said: “I was approached and asked to give my permission for Terrance Dicks to do it, and I said, ‘No! I’d like to do it, please,’ and that was it. I was asked to deliver 40,000 words and I cracked on with it.

“I remember it was delayed by a Writers Guild writers’ strike that I participated in. I’m not sure how long that held things up, maybe for a month or two. The book came out in 1982.

“At that time, the novelisations were the only way people could revisit the older stories as you couldn’t go out and buy them on video. I always liked a book to be faithful to the TV programme, so, because I had a video recording of Full Circle, I would watch the scene and try to put some of the things the actors brought to the screen into the novel, such as in an early scene where the Doctor picks up a book and flicks through it as he speaks.

“I also added a couple of new scenes, which added to the atmosphere.”

The CD and download release is performed by actor Matthew Waterhouse, who played Adric, a companion to Tom Baker and Peter Davison’s Doctors on TV.

Andy said: “It was first mentioned a few years ago, and Michael Stevens, the commissioning editor of the audio range, said he’d very much like to do an audio version of Full Circle. I said, ‘Yes, I’d love you to,’ and all I had to do after that was to sign the contract!

“I’ve not heard it yet, but I’m sure Matthew has done a great job.”

Michael Stevens, the range editor for BBC Audio, said: “Full Circle is a welcome addition to BBC Audio’s range of titles based on classic Doctor Who adventures.

“Andrew Smith wrote the TV serial, which starred Tom Baker, in 1980, and he then went on to novelise it for Target Books in 1982.

“Now that novelisation has been realised as an audiobook with a reading by Matthew Waterhouse, who played the Doctor’s new companion Adric in the TV version.

“The reading is further enhanced with some stirring music and sound design, to illustrate the Doctor’s adventure on the planet Alzarius with its menacing Marshmen.”

Matthew - who, like Andrew, was a fan of the show before working on it - added: “I love doing the audiobooks. They are the one chance an actor gets in the context of DW to do something (kind of ) virtuosic! Every actor likes to show off, so it’s great fun to get to ‘play’ all the characters! I did the Fifth Doctor a while ago, so it’s been terrific to do the Fourth!

“Full Circle is a very enjoyable example of the Target books, because Andrew adds a great deal of background to the TV episodes, and also gets nearer, I think, to his undiluted ‘vision’ of the piece.

“Recording audiobooks, we work very fast. Full Circle was recorded in a single day. I came into the studio having read the book a few times and come up with a few voices and some ideas for a variety of paces, so by the time I was sitting in the studio it was really just a matter of reading and reading and reading until the final page, with a few coffee breaks and a lunch break to recharge batteries. Almost the whole thing is a first take. I find the pressure exhilarating.

“In the seventies I bought all the Target books as they came out, but I gave this up once I was cast on the grounds it would be rather naff and embarrassing for me to read novelisations of programmes I was in! One of the nice things about the audiobooks is I finally have an excuse to read them - and get paid for it!”

[penelopecat]

I almost didn’t walk today, but I persevered. I’m happy about that, both for my health and because I got to listen to the next episode of this story. I realized that part of what makes this episode feel different is not just that Fraser Hines isn’t playing the Doctor as well as Jamie, but that it’s rare to get a story of the Troughton Doctor without Jamie. And I know he’ll return eventually, but it’s fun seeing this Doctor away from that friendship. Of course, he befriends another Scot in this story, but she’s a woman, and there also seems to be more to her than initially appears… #thismakesmehappy #bigfinishproductions #doctorwho #bigfinishdoctorwho #bbcdoctorwho #doctorwho_bbca #doctorwhoaudios #audiobook #audiobooks #seconddoctor #seconddoctoradventures #beyondwargames #michaeltroughton #jonculshaw #wrathoftheicewarriors #icewarriors #andrewsmith https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUUkJprW81/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[hizokucycles]

Reposted from @artofandrewsmith Softbike . . . . . . . . . . . #andrewsmith #artofandrewsmith #art #artist #drawing #painting #cycling #biking #cyclist #bike #bicycle #fixedgear #hizokucycles Visit Hizokucycles.com for all types of bike gear. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUWsRjrrB-E/?utm_medium=tumblr

[elrefugiodelabuenamusica]

King (2015)

Artista: Years & Years (Reino Unido)

Álbum: Communion

Año: 2015

Géneros: Dance-pop, Synth-pop, House

Compositores: Michael Thomas Goldsworthy, Mark Ralph, Andrew Smith, Oliver Alexander Thornton

Sellos: Polydor Records, Interscope Records

Dirección del vídeo: Nadia

Letra

I caught you watching me under the light Can I realign? They say it’s easy to leave you behind I don’t wanna try Cut cover, take that test Hold courage to your chest Don’t wanna wait for you Don’t wanna have to lose all that I've compromised To feel another high I’ve got to keep it down tonight And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I was a king under your control And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I wanna feel like you've let me go So let me go Don’t you remember how I used to like being on the line? I dreamed you dreamed of me calling out my name Is it worth the price? Cut cover, take that test Hold courage to your chest Don’t wanna wait for you Don’t wanna have to lose all that I've compromised To feel another high I’ve got to keep it down tonight And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I was a king under your control And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I wanna feel like you've let me go I had to break myself to carry on No love and no admission Take this from me tonight Oh-oh, let's fight Oh-oh-oh, let's fight Oh-oh, let's fight Oh-oh-oh And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I was a king under your control And, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh I wanna feel like you’ve let me go So let me go Let go, let go, let go of everything Let go, let go, let go of everything Let go, let go, let go of everything Let go, let go, let go of everything

[andrewsmithuk]

Custom sized chopping available upon request. Take a look at these lovely 7 and 12 inch double sided chopping boards. #cuttingboards #choppingboards #butchersblocks #chopboard #andrewsmith #cheshire #madeinengland (at Knutsford) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHYNVSjy3O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[esme-rpworld-blog]

     Uno de sus amigos lo había invitado a tomar unas cervezas a su casa aquella noche, por lo que luego de tomarse un rápido baño se dirigió al lugar a pie. Aún le dolía el pómulo derecho por el golpe que había recibido horas antes. Siempre que terminaba borracho en algún bar de la ciudad, no encontraba mayor diversión que agarrarse a golpes con cualquiera lo suficiente mal humorado como para seguirle la corriente.

     Entró a la casa sin golpear, sintiendo las risas escandalosas de sus amigos del otro lado de la puerta. Una docena de latas de cerveza vacías yacían en el suelo junto al sofá, donde todos se hallaban reunidos, observando un partido de fútbol. Andrew los saludó a todos con una fuerte palmada en el hombro y se sentó a un lado de Michael, el dueño de la casa, que inmediatamente le tendió una cerveza.

     Llevaba apenas tomada la mitad de su contenido cuando Teresa, la novia de Michael, entró en la sala de estar. Llevaba una bandeja de galletas recién horneadas y su semblante era serio pero sereno, sin un rastro de maquillaje. Andrew la observó mientras se acercaba a ellos y dejaba la bandeja sobre la mesa, deseando alejarse rápidamente de allí, pero el fuerte agarre de Michael la mantuvo en el lugar.

     La chica intentó zafarse, pero su novio la atrajo hacia sí, obligándola a sentarse sobre su regazo. Las manos de éste recorrieron sus piernas sin una pizca de delicadeza, riéndose mientras los demás decían cosas sin sentido. Andrew aún estaba muy sobrio para ignorar aquello, por lo que se puso en pie de inmediato. “Eh... Teresa, ¿me traes un vaso de agua?”

@melanchxoly

[cincylibraryteen]

CANNOT WAIT for Andrew Smith’s new book, Rabbit & Robot!!!

Orbiting space while the world burns, and psychotic/ philosophical A.I. ...and waffles! 

[hexarcanajewellery]

"Birth place of Twin Cities" by Andrew Smith. . . . . #hexarcana #silversmith #jeweller #dailyinspo #inspiration #photographyinspiration #blackandwhitephotography #andrewsmith #noir #avantgarde #shadows #window #cathedral #stone #darkart #goth #gothic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_wCA7TguVU/?igshid=lpnnl58j10xk

[colescorner]

Got some new books today! Got #chainofgold by @cassieclare1 and #StandOff by #andrewsmith #bookstagram #books #newbooks #booklr #thelasthours #shadowhunters https://www.instagram.com/p/B9iRp7gJ8xXi1ih0TvRCNyHb-b1vOlxUertu8o0/?igshid=1jzty4knttq4l

[penelopecat]

Back on the treadmill after a day of feeling under the weather, and back to the new second Doctor adventures! I love how this first episode, at least, feels like the beginning of a Pertwee Doctor and UNIT story, only with the much different Troughton Doctor instead. Even the music feels like a fusion of season six and seven! #thismakesmehappy #bigfinishproductions #doctorwho #bigfinishdoctorwho #bbcdoctorwho #doctorwho_bbca #doctorwhoaudios #audiobook #audiobooks #seconddoctor #seconddoctoradventures #beyondwargames #michaeltroughton #jonculshaw #wrathoftheicewarriors #icewarriors #andrewsmith https://www.instagram.com/p/CgRwIIOrzu3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[irish6605-blog]

@igwealthmanagement #andrewsmith #blendedfamilies #workshop November 25, 3 pm #dogwoodroom #thewellesley @retirementconcepts https://advisor.investorsgroup.com/en/andrew_smith (at The Wellesley) https://www.instagram.com/p/B4Lme7DFaoL/?igshid=9ynf7tuxcxa2

[tartantardis]

The Voord is out...

(I’ve been writing about Big Finish since 2001 one, for my old fanzine, the Finished Product, the Big Finish Companion, and Vortex. And in all that time, I’ve only been to one studio day. Producer David Richardson was kind enough to allow me to come along to the recording of Domain of the Voord, the first story in the Early Adventures range, with Carole Ann Ford and William Russell, which was written by Andrew Smith. Here’s the Rutherglen Reformer story from the time of its release - from September 11, 2014 - almost 18 months after it was recorded!)

Over the last few years, Rutherglen writer Andrew Smith has been revisiting his Doctor Who days.

The former Stonelaw High pupil became the first fan of the BBC series to write for it in 1980, when he sent in a speculative idea that was made into a four-part story for Tom Baker’s final season as the Time Lord.

Andy has since been writing Doctor Who plays for Big Finish Productions, a London-based company who produce audio plays starring the original stars of the series.

Now, the firm have launched a new range of stories, the Early Adventures, recreating the earliest years of Doctor Who, with Andrew having written the first story in the range.  His story, Domain of the Voord, features an alien race which were created by Terry Nation, the man behind the Daleks.

Producer David Richardson said: “They are a monster that have never been back since The Keys of Marinus, yet they have a huge amount of potential for new stories. I’d rather like to bring them back again actually - Andrew has filled in some fascinating backstory, and Terry Nation created a fantastic foe.”

Andy, who retires from the police this week, said: “It just started from an email from David Richardson, saying, ‘We’ve got a new range coming up, the Early Adventures.  I was given a couple of original cast members from the earliest episodes of Doctor Who with Carole Ann Ford and William Russell, and the Voord. I came up with a handful of ideas, one of which involved the TARDIS landing on a ship amidst a massive flotilla, with all these ships travelling across an expanse of ocean, and just took it from there.

“I was doing some research, reading a Doctor Who Magazine article by Jonny Morris on The Keys of Marinus, looking at the history of the Voord in other stories and where they had appeared - one was in an annual story, The Fishmen of Kandalinga, and the other was in Doctor Who Magazine, The World Shapers, where it was revealed they had turned into the Cybermen. I decided pretty quickly I would take no account of that!”

Andrew was delighted to work with the Voord, whose background and genesis were largely left blank by Terry Nation.

“It was great fun to do - the Voord look amazing, although there are a number of questions left unanswered, and some contradictions, about them in their TV story.  For instance, what does a Voord look like?  They have a very striking look, and you want to keep that, but one possibility in Keys of Marinus is that they are wearing protective suits in order to cross the acid sea.  Of course, the look is great, and I wanted to keep that, but that meant coming up with a rationale for why they would look as they do having an acid sea to cross.  So, together with my first pitches, I wrote up a few paragraphs on where I wanted to go with the Voord whatever story idea David favoured.  Listeners will learn what it means to be Voord ...”

He also had the challenge of working on the Early Adventures, in a new format of play - not quite full cast, and not a dramatised reading either - with ‘live’ drama and narration both playing a part in telling the story.

Andrew explained: “It was unusual, but it’s the best of both worlds - you can cover long periods of time quite quickly and there’s licence to explain what’s happening, but if you have got characters interacting, you don’t want to have them describing things, but you can let the listener know where they are and what’s happening by using the narration, and there’s clever ways of doing it. John Dorney, script editor for this series, came up with the helpful pointer that these should sound like the BBC audio soundtracks of the lost stories from the sixties, where narration tends to set up a scene but is otherwise used fairly sparingly.

Having had original Doctor Who stars Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and Lalla Ward performing his previous Big Finish work, Andrew was delighted to have his latest work brought to life by actors who had appeared in the very first episode, broadcast on November 23, 1963, with William Russell as science teacher Ian Chesterton, and Carole Ann Ford as Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter.

Andrew admitted there was a real thrill about writing for people who had been there at the genesis of Doctor Who, and said :“It’s great, with William Russell performing the dialogue for Ian and the Doctor, and Carol doing Susan and Barbara. It was really nice to meet them in the studio - they were fantastic, giving great performances, and were very complimentary about the script. When you are writing something like this for them, it’s lovely to think you’re writing for two people who were there, 50 years ago, right at the very beginning when Doctor Who first started.

“It was quite exciting at the time, as we were in studio last January, just at the start of the anniversary year, and there were discussions about who had been cast to play them in Mark Gatiss’ drama An Adventure in Space and Time.

“It was a delight to bring those characters to life.”

Earlier this year, Andrew had another play released, as part of a critically acclaimed series based on seventies TV hit Survivors.

There was a real surprise on the day of recording of Domain of the Voord, as Andrew soon discovered that he wasn’t the only former Rutherglen resident involved with the play. One of the actors cast, Andrew Dickens, had previously been in the Royal Navy, and had stayed just off Main Street for the best part of a year.

“That was just unbelievable, it’s a very small world.

“We had a really talented guest cast, with Andrew Dickens and Andrew Bone, as well as Daisy Ashford, who was the daughter of Caroline John, who played Jon Pertwee’s companion Liz Shaw, and Geoffrey Beevers, who was one of the actors who played the Master.

“We wanted it to have a feel to it, as it had been performed in the 1960s, so the director Ken Bentley had the actors speaking in RP (Received Pronunciation), rather than using regional accents as we would if it had been written for now.  It really feels like a bit of 60s Doctor Who. For instance you get the Doctor arguing with his companions, and Ian in particular getting annoyed with him. I hope it takes listeners right back to those very earliest days of the show.”

Andrew remembers the second day of recording with amusement, as he was heading to the police Burns Supper afterwards, and attended the session at the Moat Studios wearing his kilt.

He added: “I’ve written a few things for Big Finish in recent years, but I’ve not looked forward to anything like this. This is the one that I really can’t wait to hear - everyone did such a good job on it. I can’t wait to hear that slice of 60s Doctor Who brought back to life.”

Domain of the Voord is available now on CD and for download, from www.bigfinish.com.

[budaallmusic]

Melvin Van Peebles ‎– What The . . . . You Mean I Can't Sing?! #Atlantic 1973 🇺🇸 US Arranged By, Conductor – Harold Wheeler Artwork – #AbdulRahman Backing Vocals – #BarbaraMassey, #RhettaHughes, #TashaThomas Bass – #BobBabbitt (tracks: A1 to B2), #KennyAltman Design [Cover] – #DavidandMarkRubin Drums – #AndrewSmith (tracks: A1 to B2),#TaliJackson Guitar – #BobMann (tracks: A1 to B2), #GeorgeDavis, #JerryFriedman (tracks: A1 to B2), #DavidCohen, #JStephenSoles Keyboards – #ArthurJenkins (tracks: A1 to B2), #HaroldWheeler (tracks: A1 to B2), #ChristieThompson Percussion – #LeopoldoFleming, #WarrenSmith Producer, Music By, Words By – #MelvinVanPeebles https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0yRWfAB6r/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=b6fe7i45vjav