Uncle Jim

From 1975-1980 Terry wrote regular stories for the Bucks Free Press, in the format of regular episodes. His pseudonym for this was Uncle Jim, who wrote in the Children's Circle section of the newspaper. He wrote a total of sixty-seven short stories for the paper, several of which are now available online [1].

It is interesting to note that several ideas present in the later novels where being mulled over in these early days; Blackbury is used as a location several times, and there is an equivalent of Bergholt Stuttley Johnson in one tale. There is even an early version of The Carpet People, and a story that has some distinct similarity with the denizens of the Post Office.

Stories that are currently available online

• The Carpet People, episodes 1-4.
• Steam Operated House, complete.
• Thrist Pin, complete.