Books with author Pam Brown

The classic story of seven children with a longing to be on stage: the inspiration for actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen AtkinsIn the town of Fenchester, seven resourceful children are yearning to be famous. One day, they come across a disused chapel, and an idea is formed. With a lick of paint and the addition of a beautiful curtain (which, however much they try, won't "swish" as stage curtains ought), the chapel becomes a theatre - and The Blue Door Theatre Company is formed.The children go from strength to strength, writing, directing and acting in their own plays. But their schooldays are numbered, and their parents want them to pack it in and train for sensible jobs. It seems that The Blue Door Theatre Company will have to go the way of all childhood dreams. But with a bit of luck, and the help of some influential friends, perhaps this is not the end, but only the beginning of their adventures in show business...

The third book in the Blue Door series, which starts with The Swish of the Curtain, the classic story which inspired actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen Atkins“I wanted to act before I read this book, and afterwards there was no stopping me” Maggie Smith'How do you think you'll like the Academy?''Like it!' cried Lyn. 'I love it already. I'd not have missed it for the world. This has been the happiest day of my life.'At the Actors' Guild in London, the Blue Door Theatre Company are throwing themselves into anything that will bring the dreams of their own theatre to life - touring the country with the Guild's summer productions, working behind the scenes at local theatrical companies, even taking walk-on parts between classes.But just as plans for their own beloved Blue Door seem almost within their grasp, a disaster threatens to destroy one career for good...Pamela Brown (1924–1989) was a British writer, actor then television producer. She was just fourteen when she started writing her first book, and the town of Fenchester in the book is inspired by her home town of Colchester. During the Second World War, she went to live in Wales, so The Swish of the Curtain was not published until 1941, when she was sixteen. She used the earnings from the books to train at RADA, and became an actor and a producer of children's television programmes.

The frontier West in America in the 1870s was rough, largely ruled by the gun, and demanded courage and a rawhide spirit to survive. Cattle still grazed on empty range. Indians roamed free and often fought to preserve their way of life. The Llano Kid had been raised in Kentucky amongst his Cherokee kin before riding west to Texas, following the death of his Irish father and Cherokee mother. A half-breed, as folks often called Indians of mixed race, Llano is no pilgrim in this tough unfamiliar land. Though he is not without obstacles. Attempts to bully Llano only serve to prepare him with more of what he'd learned from his savvy immigrant father. Not only intelligence, a common trait among the Cherokee, but also bravery and good sense help Llano to survive where the odds stack up against him. Readers of all walks of life will enjoy following young Llano through the rugged Pecos hills to the parched desert sands of south Texas as he comes of age, carries his load, stands up to trouble, and earns the respect he comes to deserve. Look for more Llano Kid adventures from this author to come!

The second book in the Blue Door series, following on from The Swish of the Curtain, the classic story which inspired actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen AtkinsWith the rest of the Blue Door Theatre Company in London training to be actors, poor Maddy has been left all alone in the little town of Fenchester. She longs to follow the others to the big city, but she is 12 years old, and she has maths homework to do.However, Maddy has never let a bit of schoolwork come between her and her dreams. When she finds that a famous Dutch film director is in town, she leaps at the opportunity: she will be a film star. But stardom isn't an easy life (in spite of the personal dressing room and the lovely costumes) and there are setbacks and difficulties along the way. But with such a stubborn and talented leading lady as Maddy, surely even Mrs Potter-Smith and the headmistress can't stop the show from going on?Maddy Alone is the second book in the Blue Door series, following on from the classic of children's literature The Swish of the Curtain.

If you're thinking of travelling around Scotland, then this book might be just the thing. Equally, if you're just going to the loo, it's good for that too (as in to read...)This book has it all* - geology, (just what is a nunatak? - the answer is inside), it has humour, considered opinions about the youth of today, considered opinions about Scottish-themed tea towels, about Scottish fudge and about tourists. If it didn't have swearwords, it might even have a foreword written by Bear Grylls, but it does so it doesn't.From Edinburgh to Fort William, then along the Great Glen to Inverness and the NC 500. Round the top and down the sides, it's a travelogue. (Not sure why I'm saying that now...)* It doesn't have a foreword by Bear Grylls.

The second book in the Blue Door series, following on from The Swish of the Curtain, the classic story which inspired actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen AtkinsWith the rest of the Blue Door Theatre Company in London training to be actors, poor Maddy has been left all alone in the little town of Fenchester. She longs to follow the others to the big city, but she is 12 years old, and she has maths homework to do.However, Maddy has never let a bit of schoolwork come between her and her dreams. When she finds that a famous Dutch film director is in town, she leaps at the opportunity: she will be a film star. But stardom isn't an easy life (in spite of the personal dressing room and the lovely costumes) and there are setbacks and difficulties along the way. But with such a stubborn and talented leading lady as Maddy, surely even Mrs Potter-Smith and the headmistress can't stop the show from going on?Maddy Alone is the second book in the Blue Door series, following on from the classic of children's literature The Swish of the Curtain.

The classic story of seven children with a longing to be on stage: the inspiration for actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen AtkinsIn the town of Fenchester, seven resourceful children are yearning to be famous. One day, they come across a disused chapel, and an idea is formed. With a lick of paint and the addition of a beautiful curtain (which, however much they try, won't "swish" as stage curtains ought), the chapel becomes a theatre - and The Blue Door Theatre Company is formed.The children go from strength to strength, writing, directing and acting in their own plays. But their schooldays are numbered, and their parents want them to pack it in and train for sensible jobs. It seems that The Blue Door Theatre Company will have to go the way of all childhood dreams. But with a bit of luck, and the help of some influential friends, perhaps this is not the end, but only the beginning of their adventures in show business...

Messages from the Sea is a collection of letters and notes found washed ashore on beaches and bobbing in water, in corked bottles and wax-sealed boxes, carved onto wreckage and in the bellies of sharks. They tell of foundering ships, missing ocean liners and shipwrecked sailors, and contain moving farewells, romantic declarations and intriguing confessions. Some solve the mysteries of lost vessels and crews, while others create new mysteries yet to be solved. Dating from a lost era of seafaring, they demonstrate the brave, lonely and fragile nature of life on the ocean waves. Included among these 100 messages are: a clue to the fate of the missing White Star liner Naronic; a murder confession found in a bottle off the White Cliffs of Dover; an update from John Franklin's lost Arctic expedition; a poem about a newborn baby found inside an 11ft shark; an unlikely apology from fleeing fraudster Violet Charlesworth; evidence for the unnecessary loss of the steamship London with 220 souls; the truth behind the mysterious grave robbery of the Earl of Crawford; and a message from the deck of the sinking Titanic.

A rare excellent illustrated book from the series "People Who Have Helped the World", conceived & edited by Helen Exley. This is an illustrated hardcover published in Great Britain in 1988 about the founder of the Red Cross, Henry Dunant. Dunant's book "A Memory of Solferino", described the horrors of one of the bloodiest battles of the last century, in which he not only nursed the dying, but organized local volunteers to assist. His extremely moving book became the impetus for people throughout the world to help him to found the Red Cross. This organization grew to not only care for the war wounded, but also to aid prisoners of war, missing persons, help in natural disasters, blood donations and first aid. It is now the largest humanitarian movement in the world with members in almost 150 countries and this book on his life will inspire YA readers & adults to find other ways to change the world for the better. A heroic tale.

The fifth and final book in the Blue Door series, which starts with The Swish of the Curtain, the classic story which inspired actors from Maggie Smith to Eileen Atkins.Maddy got up and did her Junior Miss speech, trying not to overdo the comedy. Her American accent was hideous, and very funny, and all the class began to giggle.The whole class clapped when she had finished, and Mr Manyweather roared with laughter.'What a little horror!' he cried. 'I've never seen anything so nauseating, but excellent!'Maddy is on her own again at the Actors' Guild in London, while the others work at the Blue Door Theatre. But she's not entirely alone: she has a new roommate, a new chaperone and an inspiring new teacher, Mr Manyweather, brought in to introduce students to the very different world of television.With these friends, can Maddy survive her first taste of failure - or is she embarking on her greatest acting adventure yet?