You are a refreshing wind of creative joy in an otherwise dark and vapid time/space of the US right now. Thank you Tom for fun and imagination: they are sorely needed. 🙏
It gets worse every day. My few consolations are my clowder, books, your Substack posts, your books, your mutual love of felines, and classic movies. Thank you.
i am a fan of all things wales/scotland/ireland/england (wish there was a name for that region that didn’t erase two to three entire countries). your humor is an exceptional exemplar of the entire area and i appreciate that you share with us.
Pretty sure scarecrows are the ghosts of ancient farmers of the land, even if they are in get-ups of a modern day. I hope these make-do princes will always survive the ages. Yours are each exceptional examples and thoroughly enjoyed.
It’s amazing! I never ever realised that scarecrows were really people in disguises that they could throw off in a minute. Obviously not when there were any crows about. I wonder if there’s any laws against impersonating a scarecrow? I should have guessed really, when I look at some of my friend’s husbands I can see that they are mid transition. No not that! From human to scarecrow doltish reader.
I'm still trying to decide whether these characters actually existed or whether you built them around those fantastic scarecrows. Either way, bloody brilliant pairings. I woke up in a bad mood. Now I feel cheerful, so thanks!
I read the Story of John Meets “ Train Boy” over morning coffee here in -30C weather in northern Canada. In this tale ( and I will read the others later) there is a deep drone almost subterranean. Tom can hear it and its evident in his prose. Beautifully described and moving to the point where I will think about this piece as reading it has changed the way I view life. “Is this all there is before death.” Indeed. A true artist would say it and a true artist would remember it and share. Thank you Tom.
I loved your scarecrow stories. I am a fine art photographer and photographed scarecrows in Eastern Europe for thirty years. Truly, each one has a secret story!
You are a refreshing wind of creative joy in an otherwise dark and vapid time/space of the US right now. Thank you Tom for fun and imagination: they are sorely needed. 🙏
Ditto!
Thank you both. I hate to think how worrying everything must be over there right now.
It's terrifying and depressing. This story was a bright spot this morning.
It gets worse every day. My few consolations are my clowder, books, your Substack posts, your books, your mutual love of felines, and classic movies. Thank you.
Sitting on my verandah this Morning on a mid Auckland NZ summer . Chuckling away at your stories about your pals ..SO GOOD !! thanks Tom .
Thanks Eleanor!
Your little free tales here bring so much... cozy oddness? odd coziness? into my life. Plus DAD AND HIS ART, and Mum's, and the animals.
Thank you!
i am a fan of all things wales/scotland/ireland/england (wish there was a name for that region that didn’t erase two to three entire countries). your humor is an exceptional exemplar of the entire area and i appreciate that you share with us.
Thank you!
Your friends are so much more interesting than mine.
Pished ma chaps laughing.
Best review I’ve had in 2025. Thanks Hector!
Pretty sure scarecrows are the ghosts of ancient farmers of the land, even if they are in get-ups of a modern day. I hope these make-do princes will always survive the ages. Yours are each exceptional examples and thoroughly enjoyed.
Just found your stuff totally randomly on Substack, and have just had to buy one of your books.
Hurray! This is one of the reasons I love this site.
It’s amazing! I never ever realised that scarecrows were really people in disguises that they could throw off in a minute. Obviously not when there were any crows about. I wonder if there’s any laws against impersonating a scarecrow? I should have guessed really, when I look at some of my friend’s husbands I can see that they are mid transition. No not that! From human to scarecrow doltish reader.
I'm still trying to decide whether these characters actually existed or whether you built them around those fantastic scarecrows. Either way, bloody brilliant pairings. I woke up in a bad mood. Now I feel cheerful, so thanks!
Thanks Frances! That’s really nice to hear.
I read the Story of John Meets “ Train Boy” over morning coffee here in -30C weather in northern Canada. In this tale ( and I will read the others later) there is a deep drone almost subterranean. Tom can hear it and its evident in his prose. Beautifully described and moving to the point where I will think about this piece as reading it has changed the way I view life. “Is this all there is before death.” Indeed. A true artist would say it and a true artist would remember it and share. Thank you Tom.
Thanks Tom, these properly made me laugh! I've met them all at one time or another. Darren's a bit of a live wire.
Thanks Becca!
I loved your scarecrow stories. I am a fine art photographer and photographed scarecrows in Eastern Europe for thirty years. Truly, each one has a secret story!
They definitely do! Thanks Annette.
This writer is Dostoyevsky come back to us. Bravo. Top Marks.
Made me chuckle and spill my tea...
Cheers Cate!
Wonderful, thank you for this! How imaginative and delightful this was to read, this rainy afternoon in April.
Thanks Nadine! Glad you enjoyed it.