—He was very kind and________

    I was born and grew up in the small town of Pineville, which I left at the age of sixteen. Twenty years 1 I came back on a visit. I went to see my old friend Tom Clark, who, active as ever, was head of a Reading Club. He was 2 getting ready to welcome a famous writer, who had been invited to come to give a talk on novels at the public library that evening. Since I happened to have read a book or two 3 this famous writer, when Tom asked me to go with him, I gladly 4.

    Tom was going to introduce the writer to the f audience. 5we went to the library a little earlier to welcome him. As the writer hadn't arrived yet, I left Tom and went into the reading room. A large number of people had already been there. I was sorry to find that I didn't know 6person. So I found a seat in the corner and sat quietly waiting.

    When it was just about time for the 7 to begin, I saw Tom standing at the door making a sign for 8 to come out. He looked worried about something, so I got up right away and went to him. He said that he had just had a telephone call from the writer. He had 9 his flight and would not be arriving! While we were considering the problem, Tom suddenly asked me if I would mind giving a talk instead of the writer. I never had time to 10 it when all at once I found I was being pushed back into the reading room to speak to the waiting audience.

—I was born in a small village.

—No, he________

—Yes, I_______.

    I am Steve. I was born and grew up in South Wales. My favourite place to play was out on the hills where my imagination had plenty of space to expand (拓展).

    My family moved out of Wales when I was thirteen. I went to a new school. One of my subjects was

    French. Because I had never learned any French, my teacher told me to sit in the corner and write anything

    I was interested in. That's the time I started writing, just for myself, and I've been writing ever since.

    I have always loved BIG IDEAS, and so I enjoy writing fantastic stories. And I also write horror (恐怖) stories. I think they are like the old fairytales (童话故事), and can teach you important things.

    I am in my forties on the outside, twelve on the inside. I like rock music, Indian and Chinese food, and

    I enjoy drinking. I live in a small village with my wife Mary,ducks,cats, goats,hens and lots of rabbits. If you'd like to find out more about me and hope to buy my books, go to www.sbowkett.freeserve.co.uk.