When Tom Wilkins started writing a book about his life, he thought he'd be writing about fun stuff, like birdwatching or messing about in the woods. Not finding his grandad dead, his mother going mad, or his increasing obsession with the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. He's been spending so much time with mad people he's starting to fear he might be going a bit mad himself. Set in Horsforth, Leeds in 1980, Tom Tit and the Maniacs tells the story of a ten-year-old boy trying to come to terms with death, madness and the fact that the threat from the Yorkshire Ripper is getting ever closer to home. 'Connors is that valuable commodity; an author who can both make you laugh out loud, and play a power-chord with your heartstrings. Tom Tit... is a wondrous novel.' Nathan O'Hagan 'Wry, quirky, splendid. I expected nothing less from the author of Stickleback.' Michael Yates 'Mark Connors is a witty, challenging and bold writer. It's hard to shake off his memorable, defiant characters. Always an enjoyable read!' Helen Mort