Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Back in Trouble
Well, I've done in my back, haven't I? (And am feeling in the mood for a whinge.) Sat on the floor to screw together a little nest of tables and when I went to get up I turned into a victim of the Spanish Inquisition. Since then, I've been hobbling round like a centenarian and complaining bitterly. Off to the osteopath this morning in the hope of a miracle. I'll let you know if I get one.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Trees
Although I'm probably the least hearty individual on the planet, I do try to take a walk with Jacks each morning (when it isn't raining) in a rather nice public garden a couple of miles from our home. This morning while we were en route, the road was blocked by a massive JCB scraping at something over a low hedge. As we waited for it to finish, the driver turned the arm on a hedgerow tree and pushed it over, then manoeuvred to take out a second tree.
Jacks, who gets very emotional about these things, burst into tears. Both trees looked perfectly healthy and since they were growing in the hedgerow itself they were clearly in nobody's way.
It did occur to me that since we're now apparently living in a world where existing forest cover is unable to cope with the amount of carbon we're pumping into the atmosphere, it might make sense for Governments to enact legislation forbidding the uprooting of trees without a special (costly, difficult to get) permit. As the Tesco ads keep telling us, every little helps.
Jacks, who gets very emotional about these things, burst into tears. Both trees looked perfectly healthy and since they were growing in the hedgerow itself they were clearly in nobody's way.
It did occur to me that since we're now apparently living in a world where existing forest cover is unable to cope with the amount of carbon we're pumping into the atmosphere, it might make sense for Governments to enact legislation forbidding the uprooting of trees without a special (costly, difficult to get) permit. As the Tesco ads keep telling us, every little helps.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Expanding Universe
About a year ago, my agent and I had the bright idea of expanding the Faerie Wars universe into graphic novels. This wasn't a question of converting Faerie Wars into a graphic novel (although that could happen yet) but rather examining the lives of certain characters from the mainstream novels in graphic form.
Well, it now looks as if it's going to happen. Bloomsbury, who publish the mainstream books, are putting a toe in the water with a picaresque story about Brimstone when he was a boy. No further details beyond that at the moment, but the full story will appear on the main Web site as soon as I have information on publication date, artist and final format.
Well, it now looks as if it's going to happen. Bloomsbury, who publish the mainstream books, are putting a toe in the water with a picaresque story about Brimstone when he was a boy. No further details beyond that at the moment, but the full story will appear on the main Web site as soon as I have information on publication date, artist and final format.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Edinburgh
Feeling a bit smug today: I've just been invited back to speak at the Edinburgh International Book Festival this year. I've been a couple of times before and loved it. Edinburgh's an attractive and manageable city and the book festival is just one part of the much wider Edinburgh Festival which ensures there's something of interest going on day and night.
As an invited author you get to pontificate on just about anything you like to an enthusiastic audience (mostly kids, in my case) then sign copies of your books for readers and collectors. My agent advised me years ago to sign books on every possible occasion, since once you do, nobody can send them back.
I'll let you know more details when the programme solidifies.
As an invited author you get to pontificate on just about anything you like to an enthusiastic audience (mostly kids, in my case) then sign copies of your books for readers and collectors. My agent advised me years ago to sign books on every possible occasion, since once you do, nobody can send them back.
I'll let you know more details when the programme solidifies.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Happy Yule
Friends in tonight and a quiet day tomorrow, God willing. Have a lovely Christmas with lots of pressies and do your best to over-indulge in food and drink. I certainly plan to.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Shadow Realm
Did I mention that when any book I'm writing passes the 10,000 word mark, it usually goes the distance? Well, 'Shadow Realm' (working title of my new one) just hit 11,000 this morning and it's gathering speed. It's an altogether darker vision than anything in the 'Faerie Wars' series. Be interesting to see if anybody wants it.
Meanwhile, the final copy-edit of 'Faerie Lord' went through yesterday with a revised glossary, so that one is on target for an Autumn, 2007 publication in the States. My German publisher, DTV, is excited about it as well.
It's been a busy run-up to Christmas. On top of the 'Faerie Lord' approvals for Bloomsbury, I've been having discussions with my editor at Faber about something very special: 'The Wizard's Apprentice,' a non-fiction investigation which Faber will announce with the words 'There are REAL WIZARDS working REAL MAGIC hidden in the world today. There are secret schools of wizardry across the globe... and you can learn the basics of their magic from this handbook.'
They've created a fabulous cover and publication is planned for next summer, around June or July. Can't wait. Can't wait for Christmas either. Have a good one.
Meanwhile, the final copy-edit of 'Faerie Lord' went through yesterday with a revised glossary, so that one is on target for an Autumn, 2007 publication in the States. My German publisher, DTV, is excited about it as well.
It's been a busy run-up to Christmas. On top of the 'Faerie Lord' approvals for Bloomsbury, I've been having discussions with my editor at Faber about something very special: 'The Wizard's Apprentice,' a non-fiction investigation which Faber will announce with the words 'There are REAL WIZARDS working REAL MAGIC hidden in the world today. There are secret schools of wizardry across the globe... and you can learn the basics of their magic from this handbook.'
They've created a fabulous cover and publication is planned for next summer, around June or July. Can't wait. Can't wait for Christmas either. Have a good one.
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