Tom was possibly left as newborn in a box at the door of an adoption home in 1967.
He has got an adopted dad and a step-dad, but has never met his real dad.
Tom’s best job – before being an author – was a milkman. He delivered milk for nine years.
He once scored two goals direct from the corner flag in the same game. It was very windy.
Tom did not read a book by himself until he was seventeen.
In 1990 Tom wrecked his knee while playing for Bulmershe College in Reading. He didn’t warm up and has regretted it ever since.
He was the UK’s 1997 Bookseller of the Year.
He met his wife in the Sahara Desert.
Tom has been to watch over 500 Leeds United games, with Leeds winning 307. He once went for twenty-one years without missing a home game. His wife has been ten times, with Leeds winning every time.
Tom once met George Best in a London pub. Tom wanted to borrow his newspaper to find out the football scores. George kindly obliged.