TAMBOW

Hi Charles,
I read the entire book and it was a treasure from page one, just delightful. It's well crafted, has a lively rhythm to it and I felt I was watching a movie the entire time, never getting trapped in the words. Wombi and Tambow's adventures were believable and they are adorable. As an observation, your book cover made me think the content was non-fiction, definitely not an enchanting story about two wombats. My only creative suggestion is that you might wish to explore a cover that will entice your targeted audience.

My three grandchildren are looking forward to the sequels as well.

I've made room for you on my shelf, with pleasure.

Rick

Hi Charles! Well, a first for me. I've never read a book about a wombat. I found it very appealing and awfully cute. At first I thought that wombat stories might appeal only to the very young, but you've set up a classic animal story, the odyssey home. Even the word "wombat" has an appeal to children. Well done! Your book cuts both ways. Older children will read it for themselves, yet this is a great book to read to younger children as well. The all-appealing wombat! Your beginning is wonderful. I think you have something here and would be surprised if you couldn't find a publisher for this soon. Good luck with this book and your writing. Long live wombats!

Michael
The Last Coming Out Story

Dear Charles, I once had the great privilege of having a brief conversation with Richard Adams. I’m certain he’d admire this, and though he’d surely see you as a competitor, he’s far too nice a man to feel the envy someone else might. Like Adams, you make animals talk like people while still having them act in a way that accords with their species, with the result that they are always more intriguing than people and often better behaved.

Your younger readers will not only greatly enjoy the highly compelling story and the rich characterization, but also have a rare opportunity to read English prose at its finest--again I’m reminded of Adams. Besides being a keen observer of nature, you’re also a gifted craftsman: I admire how skillfully the narrative is constructed--opening with the escape is a very smart move--and how the physical description is unfailingly vivid, concise, and brisk.

I also admire the wonderful humor, on the part of both the animals and the narrator--the anagrams are a surprise and a treat. Your younger readers who still play with toys will see how much more fun it is to play with words.

I’m so happy I’ve had this chance to see animals being themselves and the English language being used so brilliantly. On my shelf. Maria, The Pharaoh’s Cat

This is delightful and a lot of fun for kids. A great idea to have a wombat as the main character. Very enjoyable.

Tambow.
Chapter 1 - Tambow's exurberance is lovely. I was thoroughly enjoying the story until 'earlier that day'. The flashback didn't work for me and I think younger readers could well be confused by it. It might be an idea to follow the normal course of a time line eg: passage with the travelling circus, poor Wombi telling Tanbow she's been kept in cages all her life, which I think, would make their escape more dramatic and sympathetic children, hoping like mad, they remain free. Add to this the tension of Albert, and the rest of the circus men giving chase, and resultant relief when they fall face first in the bog. Just my opinion.
Chapter 2 - Tambow's curiosity on seeing the lizard was amusing, a laugh out loud moment. Wombi is so patient with him. Wambot's, Tanbow's father, sad demise had comedic overtones, which was very nicely done and so sweet Tanbow thinks he's a shooting star.
Chapter 3 - Tambow learns freedom has a price and there are many dangers. Loved the portrayal of the sly fox who suddenly goes from confident hunting mode to polite deceit before slinking away with no breakfast.
This is an extremely entertaining read for both young confident readers and those whose parents read to them. Lots of good messages in the prose for both young and adult readers. The writing is fluid and Tambow and Wombi are enchanting characters.

Nanty - Chrys!

First paragraph, "young wombats" is too generalized. Keep a laser focus on the subject and put things in terms of him. Break up the paragraph at the point where Wombi appears. "jolting" brought to my mind electricity so to prevent that awkwardness, try another adjective.

This is great fun and absolutely perfectly pitched for your target audience. The only thing I thought was that it would have been more fun to have Tambow escape on his own - the hole being too small for his mum. I think that this would have provided even more opportunities for unusual happenings and so on, and also a quest for him to return after a while, and a parallel story of how his mum was coping without him.

Still, that's just my thoughts. I enjoyed it anyway, perfectly executed. Likely shelve you at shelf change time. It's hard to pull off writing for this age group without being too simple or patronising - you've managed it perfectly.
Cariad
STONES.

This is so sweet and my nephews would love it. It makes a nice change to read a kid's book that is not full of sci fy stuff. Backed for it's originality and freshness.
Brainy

What a nice way to bring children's attention to a little known -- at least little known in the USA -- animal. FEL "The Final Cruise."

Tambow,
A great read for children - 4 years and upwards I should think. What happens in the end??!!
Kit

TAMBOW

Dear Charles,
This is a gorgeous book for children. I've not read anything about wombats for a long while and their characters are fantastic - especially Tambow who is always in trouble and getting into some fantastic adventures. I pity his poor suffering mother.
I was sorry atthe end of chapter 6 when Tambow's mother is caught in a gin trap - horrors - and you've left me dangling - What will happen? It will end well of course as this is a children's book with at least 2 more to follow. Beautiful and delightful book and I am pleased to have this on my shelf. I've also given you full stars as the concept is wonderful.
Faith
THE CROSSING

Dear Charles, I love your darling story about the wombats - what an adventure - to get back home. :) May all of the books in your series be as charming as this one. :) Your pitch is excellent, so set the hook for me to read your book. :) When you use short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, it makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing your book. :) Could you please take a moment to back my TWO memoir books? Thanks. :) Love, Susie :)

This is information from authonomy (so beware of any other untrue information you may receive that is spam & not quotes of authonomy):
"When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved"
"Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs."

Charles, this is delightful. I once had the chance to cuddle a wombat, and I was reminded of snuggly little Jewel as I read this. You've the charm of a classic talking animal tale, with wombats that remain properly wombatty. The names are specially clever - it's the sort of word game that children are delighted to figure out for themselves.

One tiny nitpick: you have "canon" for cannon.

Shelved.

This is really nice, Charles. Pitch is good. Not my usual type read gut the book has a nice feel to it. Writing is competent and the story sound great. Only read a 4 chapters but I think it will do well here. Best of luck with it. On my shelf. best of luck with it Charles.

John Harold McCoy - Bramwell Valley

Hi Charles,
As Lizzi says below, this is Disney cartoon stuff and the kind that will attract young readers everywhere. - shelved

I love the gentle humour in this. Writing convincing animal speech and personality isn't easy but you do it very well.

Good luck with this

John Booth (Shaddowdon)

This is one of the sweetest books on here. It made me go 'awe' a couple times aloud.
this would be a great movie, like the incredible journey, which would go down in history as a classic.
You really do a wonderful job at giving life to these creatures.
Backed
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

Hi Charles,
Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to my promised read! This is a sweet story, and an unusual choice for an MC. Wombats are awesome. I think there would be real opportunities to take advantage of the zoo-going crowds, or even animal awareness groups (I'm thinking about your platform). I saw that you selected YA for this book, but I think it fits firmly in the middle grade reader years. You're in Canada, correct? You should try the Andrea Brown Agency. Also, I didn't feel that the middle section of backstory was necessary in chapter one. Essentially, you are stopping the forward movement of the story to fill us in, and I think the "fill in" could easily be woven succinctly into the chase. The info about the elephant didn't seem relevant to the wombat's current situation. If it becomes important later on, we could always be filled in at that point, when it seems most relevant to what's happening in the story.

Just some random thoughts. =) SHELVED.

~Cheri

This is fun. That little Tambow just can't sit still. I think my six year old would love this, she can't sit still either. Although in most stories you run away to the curcus not away from it. On my shelf. C.P

I knew from the first couple of pages that Tambow would be a book to read to my grandchildren. Even the name 'wombat' would make them smile, and you've given Wombi and Tambow such appealing characters as well. The world is their oyster when they escape and provides enormous scope for your imagination to create their adventures. Well done for both the idea and the writing, which are set at exactly the right level for your target audience. Backed for myself and all the little people in my family.
Only one suggestion; I would prefer to see a little more about the nature of their journey and a flavour of their adventures along the way in your long pitch, perhaps in place of the long quote that I'll read later anyway. All the best.

This is really a fairy story with talking animals instead of fairies. A wombat is certainly a very attractive character and I believe some children will love this, it is certainly well written. Backed
BADD

Will come back for a thorough read sometime.
Best wishes
Sue

BACKING because Jane Alexander did and I trust her instincts. She's rather brilliant at finding good reads. Those pitches look perfect as well. Think you can make it to the Ed's desk.

Do look forward to your comments on my book when you get a chance. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

Charles, Tambow, et al, are really appealing - I love them - although I'd like to know what age group you're aiming for. I think the early 1900s is not something that YA will be particularly drawn to these days - although I may be talking out of my arse. I think you have some engaging animal characters here. Lovely, entertaining stuff for adults, although I have my reservations about young ones, maybe it's just ageless, really! Shelved.

I love it when people think animals can talk. It's so out of my comfort zone to read this kind of stuff.

This is a lovely tale, carefully crafted. Animal stories aren't really my favoured reading but you drew me into this and it felt real, which is no mean feat. One tiny suggestion - at the very beginning, maybe say 'his mother, Wombi' just to clarify. We can work it out for ourselves but it makes the reader stall a little at that all important meeting of your characters.
I like the relationship between the two wombats and think you have pitched this well for a younger audience (I'm imagining 9-11?) as there are baddies but they just get muddy, rather than drown horrifically!
Loved the bit about poor Wambot going into orbit.
Can't help but see TheatreGirl's review below (no matter how hard I try not to read usually) - and I agree. This would make a lovely Disney/Pixar movie...
Truly, very charming....off to look at pictures of wombats now!
Backed
Jane
(Walker)

You write with the mind of a grandfather and the eyes of a child. This enchanting, skilfully-written story, with delightful little characters and a nail-biting plot, is an absolute winner. Not only will children everywhere love it, but so will the adults who read it at bedtime. Backed with pleasure. Best wishes, Tony.

Incredibly cute introduction to Tambow and his mother. Entertaining feed of the back-story with the elephant and other animals in the circus. (Tambow following a few paces behind, was about to follow ... maybe delete the 'following and add a comma instead?) 'I'm duck!' LOL. Jeez, the story of his father, I shouldn't be laughing so much. Wombats are just plain gorgeous anyway, and this delightful story of a young, accident-prone one is guaranteed to enchant children and parents alike. Skilfully and aptly written ... backed.

Charles - nice, easy reading that I'm sure kids will love. Endearing characters, silly names ('Tuskany', tsk, tsk). Shelved.

Tambow and Wombi - what a pair of loveable rogues! Writing an adventure with dull old humans leave you open to far more criticism as everybody wants to see themselves as the main character. These little scamps can be loved by all. The circus must be a scary place for such little entertainers.

I currently teach 7 and 8 year old and I could easily picture myself with your book in hand for our read at the end of the day. 30 pairs of enthralled eyes and an eagerness to know what happens to them next. Get it published my man and I will demand my school buy a copy!

Pete

Enchanting and cute as heck. Kids and young adults, not to mention their parents, will love this. These two cute wombats will have their adventures. Once this is published, it might even become a movie or a television show. After all, they have the documentary, "Meerkat Manor," on one of the documentary channels here in the States, so why not a fictional tale about two cute wombats?

To the writing: You capture the light, slightly-in-peril tone perfectly that is just right for young readers. It teaches them to overcome relationships and to listen to their parents. You don't give the wombats too much human intelligence, yet they are smart enough to outfox humans with a little help from Mother Nature. You have given Tambow and Wombi distinct personalities, with dialogue to match each. And your sentences are short and lively, not going into too much background detail (which would only slow the tale down). Perfect. And shelved.

This is just the kind of book to get young readers interested. Having children of my own, I find it difficult to find books for them -- most young adult fiction is focused on hormonal and awkward teens, and vampires, sorcerers and anything stereotypically horrifying.
You go from that on the upper end to Dr. Seuss and picture books for 1st graders on the lower end. This is the kind of work they should print these days for the inbetweeners... like my boy.

I will back this
Bryan Coyle
"The Wisdom of the Wolf"

This is really sweet. I wouldn't think twice about reading it to my grandchildren and enjoying it myself.
Happy to shelve
Best wishes
Sue

What a delightful story. This can't fail to appeal to the young and to those who read it to them. Sad end to Wambot but I had to smile! The wombats endear themselves immediately and their adventure is charmingly told. Good stories for children seem to be a bit in short supply on this site and this is one I'm happy to shelve. Margaret.

Charles
This is so well written...I enjoyed it enormously.........But I did wonder at the age of your ideal catchment audience..........dispersed the lingering night mist !!! ..... Is not really 'child speak'......But I think this is more my ignorance of the genre and in no way a reflection on your writing......

I once attended a seminar hosted by Michael Morpurgo, the celebrated childrens author.....he said....'if a wod can be done without, then do without it, children skim' I saw no words you could do without,,,,, but I'm not a child......

Fabulous read....shelved

Delightful. Reminds me a little bit of Bambi, except thank goodness, cute little Tambow's mother isn't shot by hunters. A think children will gravitate toward a young character, wombat that he is, who's fresh out in the world, learning about it's harshness and joys.

This is a most delightful story, Charles. There's something about your writing that just draws one in and makes it all a great experience. You are an excellent story-teller and I love your wombats. Right from the start, Tambow is catching and holding my interest, with Wombi occasionally trying to pretend that he isn't there! Whatever about the youngsters, I thoroughly enjoyed your story and if it had been available a few years back I would certainly have enjoyed reading it to my children. Backed with pleasure - Phil Rowan (Weimar Vibes)

This is a fish out of water story - or should I say wombats out of the cage story. After their escape, they don't know the rules of their new world - and that's the fun of it. Tambow is a likable Wombat because of his innocent ways. Entertaining. Backed.

Hi Charles,

Have read first 3 chapters of Tombow. Ooh, cute! Crying out for illustrations as well.

Don’t change anything. Shelved.

Andrew Thorn (Killjoy)

This is a cool story. You've created great characters in Tambow
and his mum. It works well. personifying wombats is fine for me,
cos I don't know their natural behaviour anyway. Becuse it's realatively
short you could easily have illustrations.. pity Authonomy doesn't upload them.
Wishing you all the best with this..................shelved..........Mikey .....The Free

Dear Charles, I once had the great privilege of having a brief conversation with Richard Adams. I’m certain he’d admire this, and though he’d surely see you as a competitor, he’s far too nice a man to feel the envy someone else might. Like Adams, you make animals talk like people while still having them act in a way that accords with their species, with the result that they are always more intriguing than people and often better behaved.

Your younger readers will not only greatly enjoy the highly compelling story and the rich characterization, but also have a rare opportunity to read English prose at its finest--again I’m reminded of Adams. Besides being a keen observer of nature, you’re also a gifted craftsman: I admire how skillfully the narrative is constructed--opening with the escape is a very smart move--and how the physical description is unfailingly vivid, concise, and brisk.

I also admire the wonderful humor, on the part of both the animals and the narrator--the anagrams are a surprise and a treat. Your younger readers who still play with toys will see how much more fun it is to play with words.

I’m so happy I’ve had this chance to see animals being themselves and the English language being used so brilliantly. On my shelf. Maria, The Pharaoh’s Cat

Charles,
As the father of a six-year-old daughter, I can easily endorse this wonderful story. I love Tambow's lines when Wombi falls over on him during that wagon crash: "Gerroff! Gerroff!" Sooo much fun. Your writing is splendid. I hope we'll be able to buy this one in a store soon.
Shelved.
Mark

Comments on Chapters 1-2...

A nice story for children. The wombat's voice seemed appropriately "child-like" - if that's the right term - and the mother was not too stupid for an "adult", which is a change for a lot of children's books. It might be worth breaking the chapters up for young readers, though perhaps that's a consequence of trying to load this up onto Authonomy?

Typo?: "Canon" instead of "cannon" in chapter 2.

Overall, a good beginning to what promises to be an enjoyable adventure, so I'll give it a run on my shelf.

Regards,

TomW

Charles,

Great fun! Love the innocence of Tambow and the steadfastness of Wombi. Thank God for mothers! This is sure to be a great romp and I can imagine all the adventures they will get caught up in - until they get to the sea - which I think you mention is where the next book takes place. Shelved. CW

Hello Charles,

A fascinating story of man and animal told as the adventure of wise mother Wombi and the listless child wombat Tambow. It brings to mind Jack London's White fang and Call of the Wild. An usual story I must say, but one that is a welcome break from the familiar premises or stories we have here. It is well written, hilarious and descriptive; a story that can appeal to all age groups. Rightly backed.

All the best.

Janvier (Flash of the Sun)

Charles, what a gorgeous, sweet, adorable story, brilliantly written. Would like to kiss those little wombats. Imagine what children would think. On second thoughts, blast the brats. Everyone will be beguiled by it. A great achievement. Backed.
Lynn

Charles-

Oh this is fresh! A story about wombats? I love this - a great way to introduce a not-so-well-know animal to children of all ages. Charming, utterly charming.

The humor you infuse into the dialogue is very well done. I love the way you have Tambow talk out of his nose. (At first I thought it was a typo, but when I read on, I realized that it's how kids really do talk through their noses when their hurt or stopped up! Very creative.)

I love this. Shelved with pleasure!

Kim

Hi Charles,

Aw, this is a lovely story that I think the kids will love. Great opening. I loved your vivid descriptions; I could see the wombats running across the moor. Great characterisation and dialogue. Tambow is wonderful and very likeable.

Very well written. So far, I have enjoyed what I’ve read.

Shelved!

Shinzy :)

I like this storyline, and cant help wonder what made you chose wombats for your bid for freedom. I have read two chapters and find myself caught up in the escape. It’s a long way to Oz. Although not many characters have been introduced yet, I have a feeling that is about to change. It has an easy flowing pace and an endearing touch of humour I am sure kids will become caught up in. Backed!

Would appreciate your thoughts on “Princess Sheeba.” She too escapes the hand off man.

Good pace to the story, wonderfully engaging characters. A few times I felt you could have showed the action, rather than just describing it. (Example: when the poacher stepped on the trap, have a loud clang! and the poacher yelling rather than simply saying he stepped on one of his own traps.) I enjoyed it and will shelve it when a space opens up!

This is a lovely, gentle story, wombats are such appealing creatures at the best of times, but the moment tambow ends up upside down in one corner of his cage we love him immediately. he acts like a child of three, excited about the world but with no sense of responsibility, and you bring that across beautifully. his antics made me outwardly smile, which not many books manage! (don't get me wrong, i do smile often when reading - just on the inside!) below are a few things i picked up in reading the first three chapters.

it's a good start - introducing tambow and his mother's characters and setting up their relationship nicely, then moving quickly on to the drama of their escape. you then go back to the morning before and i found myself wanting to skip this and go back to tambow and wambi running away. i didn't want that interruption before i found out how they got away from the men chasing them. perhaps you could consider how important it is that the whole circus is introduced at this point. if a child has read the blurb at the back of the book they will know they escaped from a circus, so it depends whether this is going to come up again later in the book (sorry, i've only had time to read 3 chapters so far) as to whether it needs to be in there so soon.
the other thing i wondered about was location - reading about wombats one immediately assumes it's set in australia. when they talked about moors i began to doubt that, then came the bog and the lizard, so i was thinking perhaps america? then elderberry bushes and foxes, so we were back to england. i could be showing my ignorance here and there might be such a place, but it might just be worth qualifying where it is in some way (could wombi over hear one of the men say the name of it as they are unloaded from the ship or something like that?) and perhaps getting in a bit sooner the fact that they are not in australia so the reader doesn't have to shift points of view.
i hope this is helpful.
best wishes and best of luck with it. tambow is adorable and deserves to go far!
eva

Other that a few out of place words IE obsession (perhaps a bit large for the audience) instead of interest. I think my kids would have loved this when they wer 6 to 10 ish. Sadly they are not that anymore. I love your characters and voice.
I am shelving this

Aw, this is the cutest book. Tambow is a beautiful character - and I'm sure that is the first time I have said that of a wombat! This book is just so appealing and the adventures that Tambow faces, and the thoughts back to circus life are just lovely. I found myself constantly going 'aah' - Tambow and Wombi snuggled up close to the stream at the end of Chapter 2... bless them. OK, I'm getting far too slushy now! Shelved.

Hello Daddy! Well, of course I have read this book and know the story inside and out. Tambow is part of my life and I think it would be so amazing if other children (and adults) could also enjoy the wonderful adventures of Tambow. This is such a special book, and not only because it was written by my father! Now that I have my own children I realise how lovely Tambow is in comparison to so many other childrens books out there. It is so exciting that you are sharing Tambow with the world and I hope for all the little children out there that Tambow hits the shelves one day for everyone to enjoy. Your loving daughter xxx