The cover is finished! The cover is finished! Are you ready to see it? Are you??
Well, unfortunately I don’t ACTUALLY have it, but I’ve been assured that it’s finished and that it’s brilliant, and that I’ll be able to show you all tomorrow.
Ahem.
The cynical among you may begin to suspect that all of this is the result of bad planning and borderline incompetence on my part, as I had promised to reveal the cover oh, maybe two weeks ago.
However- the nice and the kind and the generous among you might recognise this as a cunning way of drawing out the mystery and building the excitement, and regard all these delays and missed deadlines purely as brilliant marketing on my part.
It is, of course, entirely up to you to decide which of these kinds of people you are- cynical and suspicious (boo!) or nice and lovely and so very pretty (yay!).
So, while we wait for the cover to be revealed tomorrow, I now have a Blog post to fill, and I want to mention a book I’m reading which I think is brilliant. It’s called Divergent, and it’s by Veronica Roth, a new American writer. I’ve read the first hundred pages here- http://browseinside.harperteen.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780062024022 - and I absolutely love it so far. It’s set in a Dystopian future- because those are ALWAYS the best kind- where the population splits itself into Factions according to their personality traits. People are always telling me I must read The Hunger Games- and I will, I swear I will- but Divergent grabbed me from the first paragraph, and now I’m pretty much helpless.
Aside from the great idea at its centre, this book is REALLY well written. I make no apologies for the fact that I’m a snob when it comes to the quality of writing- no matter how wonderful the premise, I simply can’t read it if the words don’t flow like they should or the characters aren’t genuine. I reckon I’ve improved as a writer since the first Skulduggery, and the later books are much better written than the first one (even if the first one remains my absolute favourite), but Miss Roth seems to have bypassed that awkward debut-writer stage completely. If she’s this good now, how good is she going to be in five books’ time? Scary good, is the answer.
If you’re looking for something new to read, click the link above and try it out.
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634 comments:
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Oh mu God first comment :D
Anyways, you just have to read the Hunger Games they are briliant :D
Love em almost as much as Skulduggery but Skulduggery wins!
Can't wait for the nexxt one aswell, your brill!! =P
Sorry Chatterbox, first belongs to MEH!
This is the first time I've been high on the post list.
Hi MR DEREK!
Hey Derek, have you ever played Professor Layton? Great game!
Yo Rach!
Cool Derek!
i wanna see the cover oh well guess i have to wait til tomarrow CANT WAIT XDDDDDD
Within top 10?
Yay! ^^
*starts reading the post*
^^
YAY im going to read the link and get the book if u agree it must be good
OMG derek you're going to read the hunger game you do know they are ALMOST (but not quite) amazing as your books let us know what you think of them derek!!!!
I'm reading Divergent now. I'll probably buy a copy, because the first few pages seem very good.
(I'm on page 11.)
lol guys.
"nice and lovely and so very pretty (yay!)."
i am one of those!
15th! I'm actually on the first page! 1st time ever!
"It is, of course, entirely up to you to decide which of these kinds of people you are- cynical and suspicious (boo!) or nice and lovely and so very pretty (yay!)."
Very subtle. ^^
. Hey Derek what did you call vals sister? Please call her Alison cos it's a pretty name!
You NEED to read the Hunger Games - I think you'd love it. There's a lot of violence in it, by the way. But they're SUCH good books - I just had to read the others :P
Not as good as Skulduggery, though...obviously... :D
lol aquila :) yes master derek is very subtle in his ways
Hi Niall!
A bit of competion derek!
Can't wait till the cover! And I'm the cunning, pretty and nice and lovely (yay!) lol:L
*waits for the cover*
That book sounds cool Derek. And yes, you definitely should read the Hunger Games. It is a lovely book.
Derek.......................................................................................................
Me and Olivia are going to beat you with sticks when we see you.
Seriously.
I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW, I HAVE TO GO OUT MOST OF THE DAY *sobs*
But, aside from that, I can see you're feeling better XD. Always good, m'dear!
And I have a headache and can't think of what to put :C
BYE LOVVIE!
(Uh... this is Becky, by the way. Drawing Becky on a different account... You know me :D)
-rides out on one of her magical squirrel pony unicorns
"his name is Jedward!"
Hey Thalia!
Have you ever read my "Awkward moments?"
I commented them, not posted them.
Olleh aliuqA!
Who's on? confusing!
Hi Everisse!
Yes, I have read some of them ^^
^^
Nice Niall. :)
Hi Thalia!
Hi Aquila!
*hugs*
How are you?
Fine. Our weather was fine so I was outside working on my art project. :)
Oh, good. Cause another one happens, like, every friggin day.
Awkward moment 3
Skul and Val are once again sitting around somewhere. And for some reason Skul is human. Just go with it, 'Kay?
SKUL: ...do you smell popcorn?
VAL: Huh? Uh, now that you mention it, yeah. I still have a stuffy nose though.
SKUL: Yeah, me too. Allergies.
VAL: Yeah. They suck.
TANITH: Aw, you two should so go out!
SKUL AND VAL: O_o
TANITH: Fletcher, shouldn't they?
FLETCHER: Yeah!
There is a long, awkward silence, then Skul and Val quickly walk away.
Kay. Replace Val with me, Skul with my best guy friend, Tanith with another friend, and Fletcher with this guy I don't particularly like. And put us in Art class.
... what the HELL is wrong with these people?
That's good. Our weather here was nice today as well, which is extremely odd for where I live.
POP QUIZ!
Are any of you guys doing NaNoWriMo this year?
LOL Ev!
byyyy e
Erm... I don't even know what that is, Niall, so propably not. ^^
Ahh...no Niall. I...don't know what it is.
Bye Sadhbh!
nanowrimo!! i did last year...but i kinda failed it. prob cause my story was something i didnt like...but this year i will WIN!
so yes niall :)
GTG.
Sorry.
Bye Niall!
Bye Niall!
Awesome, there isn't a thousand or so comments. Love Skulduggery and can't wait to see the cover!
Oh, and Derek will you ever begin to release the later books in America? I don't mind buying them over seas from the UK or Australia but I HATE it when my friends have to borrow the books... Makes the pages a bit crinkly.
Cynical? Yes. Suspicious? Perhaps. Intellectual and devious? Oh hell yeah.
Don't worry Derek - I still love ya in spite of you deadline issues. After all, I'm definately NOT a hypocrite.
False alarm.
I thought we had to go away to my grandfather's, but we don't.
Back now.
Well...
I just wanted to go, but since you stay:
What's nanowrimo?
Oh...well, hi again Niall.
Hello Malice and Niall!
NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writers Month.
People take it upon themselves to write 50,000 words of a novel in the month of November.
Yay! I'm reasonably early! Yay for that, but we need the title too Golden God! And yes, Hunger Games = Epic.
National... propably excludes me. ^^
Sounds like fun, though. :)
niall did u do it last year? wat was ur username thing? mine's kingtigerterror...
OMG theres no way on this planet that i could wait until tomorrow Golden God
but i suppose i could suck it up for you
*sulks in corner*
OK OK im fine i can wait one measly day and ill try my best not to have a panic attack in the meantime
IM SOOO EXCITED XD
oh and Golden God are you going to be at some festivle in Dublin City Saturday week?
because if you are I AM SO THERE!!! but i need to know in advance incase i get there and your not there because then i would be quite upset
AGAIN IM SOOO EXCITED XD
BYE EVERYONE XD
i will most definitely be on tomorrow
bye guys :*
"National... propably excludes me. ^^"
Ironically, it's American, so it excludes me too.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/de/node/402579
Bye Dess!
Desswarph! u found us again :)
@Rachel- My username is Niall. With the full stop.
...but now ur gone... bye!
Bye Dess!
Hmmm... might do that. Sounds like fun...
but then again I'll have my final exams next (school) year...
We'll see. :)
This will be my first year.
I have ideas!
Good ideas!
My NaNo will be like Buffy meets Michael Grant's Gone meets Geektastic!
YAY!
So anyone can do the National writing thing? (You guys type too quick. Can't comment fast enough)
I'll find ideas... hopefully.
But I can write in German! Yay! At least 10 times as many words I'll be able to use! ^^
@Malice- Yeah, pretty much.
You don't even have to make a profile on the site if you don't want to. (Although you probably should...) And your novel doesn't even have to be good!
r u doing the adult one? i do the young folks one for like 18 nd under
I would like to think my novel would be good but it probably won't be ^-^
I'm not sure. I post in the teen section on the forum.
Is there any difference?
Malice- the site advises that your first draft will suck.
Really bad.
Editing is for the other 11 months of the year!
So... you're only allowed to write in November?
Bye .....
77th!
Just pooped in to get that
Byeeee!!!
Bye Isabella!
Hi Octa!
OCTA! hey! *cheesy grin*
Oh dear
*popped! I meant
Aquila, yeah. That;s the fun. You're meant to push yourself and try to get as many words as possible.
Hey Octa!
haha octa pooped?
Never mind.
Hashtag AmusingTypo.
Oh, joy, editing. I hate editing. I should probably look at the website... I feel soooo lazy, though
haha my target was 30,000 last year and i only got about 5000 :/ prob cause i didnt LIKE me story much...
^^
Ok, I might do that nanowrimo...
Just remember me in october, or I might forget it. ^^
Good night all!
@ Octa LOL. Love typos.
ywp.nanowrimo.org is the teen one btw
I have to go for a bit. Bye all!
@Rachel- THAT'S BECAUSE YOU LISTENED TO THE INNER EDITOR! GAH!
You're not meant to listen to them. They're mean.
Good night, Aquila
Bye Aquila and Thalia!
...you knooooow, when I read the first part of this post, I screamed and jumped up, and the words running around in my head were "NO WAY NO WAY NO WAAAAAAY!".
But, alas, then I continued reading.
...and got really quiet...and slumped in my chair.
when I clicked on the link, I read the inside flap thing, and then was...struck by how COOL it looked...
hm...I'm like that. I rate a book by how well the first paragraph rings in my head.
(just have to say, Skulduggery has a excellent opening)
If I'm restless, I put the book back. If I kinda fall into the nearest seat, I take the book.
Like 'City of Bones'.
Honest, that book sucks. In my opinion. Its just not realistic. Its so FAKE. Things happen too quickly. And its even written in second person.
Thats just...disappointing.
And now I shall save up money to buy Divergent so i can feel it in my hands, so I can buy PLaying With Fire in german, and so I can buy more copic markers and shower myself with praise.
@Mar- City of Bones is alright...
I thought City of Bones was written in third person?
It's cliched, yeah, but it's OK. I liked it enough to buy the other two. They get better.
*Runs to check.*
Yup, third person.
Shush Niall. Every book needs a good opening. I was halfway through, and It was enormously BORING.
So i quit.
and my friend who loved the series nearly strangled me. So, I hit her with Mortal Coil.
third person?
oh shoot.
THERE IS NO POINT TO CALL SECOND PERSON SECOND PER-
...oh waaaait. NOW I get why they call it second person.
They never explained that in school. They should.
for some reason present tense books are kinda annoying in some ways to me. i REALLY dont know how. i loved the hunger games but was almost out off reading it for it. its kinda annoyin habit for me
The first one is definitely the worst, to be fair.
I can read anything.
It doesn't mean I'll LIKE everything I read, but I'll give it a go.
is second person when it says "you" ?
Eh. first person is okay, but not my favorite.
But DJ MacHale has mestered first person...
*dreamy gaze*
yeah. but third is deffinitely my favorite, and its my favorite to write in.
Yup.
Most text-based adventures are second person.
same but some stuff just puts me off...
you you you...
I I I...
She She She....
hm.
Friend,
Narcissistic,
and stalker...
I can read in any person. I RP a bit, so even second person doesn't bother me.
I like writing in third person, but sometimes I slip into first.
:)
ach g2g, am getting SO tored for some reason...
:) night guys
*falls asleap in middle of blogland*
*Pokes sleeping Rachel.*
Wake up.
Oh, so Haymithch is go-
*bursts into laughter*
*rolls around on the floor*
*laughs some more*
I have never read a second person book or txt or anything of the type. It sounds annoying with all the 'you's though
*whilst still sleeping she crawls down a rabbit hole to sleep*
right i g2g properly now :) night!
Good night Rachel. Man, I forget that its night in some places. It 4:30 and sunny where i am
*stares at Malice*
its...4:30? where the heck are you?
Its 4:37 here!
My location is classified... No, JK. I'm in Indiana here in USA
Not many people write second person BOOKS, but yeah, RPs.
ah. Ohio here.
Tis almost ten at night here.
yeah tos 20 to 10 night here in inverness (scotland!) :)
i like to write 1st person best :)
*falls dead asleap in bunny hole not to awake til tomorrow*
Ohio! I love Ohio. Sooooo much more exciting than Indy. Ten at night? I'm not a night owl, I'll be half dead when its 10 here...
Hi/Bye Kallista.
COHEED AND CAMBRIA ARE AMAZING !!!11!!oneone!!1exclamationmark!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abJYXY3mPjs
NAH! Idiana is much more exciting then us in Ohio!
OMG OMG OMG IDEAAAAAAA!
OMFA!
ACOUSTIC!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkCYGghg1uY&feature=related
@ Mar What's the idea?
*giggles*
I can't tell yooooooooooooooou!
Awwwwww! Why not?
because its idea type three!
A lesson on my ideas.
Idea Type One- A good type of idea that is brilliant.
Idea Type Two- a mad, genius, scary Idea that will most likely include the bashing of the people with frypans.
Idea Type Three- a mysterious Idea that only I know about...he he he...
Okay. Class dismissed.
I must now leave.
Goodbyes.
and...part idea type two...
bye Niall!
Bye Niall! I like idea type two... as long as I'm not the one being bashed
Desswarph- as far as I know, I'm not involved in any festival on Saturday week! The only festivals I have this month is Brighton and Wicklow. Sorry!
Malice- I hope we can start releasing the whole series in America. We're trying some things out, and if they work, they might raise Skulduggery's profile, and then all will be right with the world!
And now I must go, for The Mentalist is on.
OMG! You, the Golden God, actually responded. Heheheh! Excuse me as I go into the Cone of Silence to express myself...
*OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG! Derek Landy just answered me! My life is now complete!*
Well, I hope that happens. I think I speak for every American fan when I say I really, really, hope they get released. ^-^ Yeah, I handled that well, I think
Derek, may I just say, you have an a beautiful taste in Books.
Maaan. I want that book SO BAD right now. ;A;
TO AMAZON~!
I am impressed - however the cone of silence? isn't that from that movie... er... get smart
*jumps up*
*squeals*
WAAAAAA?! MY FIREND CALLS AND DEREK COMES?!?
TY! I'LL CALL YOU BACK!
sorry about not blogging for so long... i may have forgotten my password for a couple of days and had some trouble logging on... awkward (kind of like the time i forgot my door key)
gd to know nothings changed... everyone has just left the moment i get on....
Cone of Silence is the Cone of Silence, no matter where is from... But, yeah, it's one Get Smart. They also have it on that show Breaking In. Good show, pretty funny.
And yay, my first blogger friend who lives in the next state over!
Ah!
Can't stay, sorry, but could either of you check out meh blog?
Will do Everisse
I'm so happy you brought up Divergent. I've been trying to find people who have read it because it looks so amazing. It's on my list of books to read. I'm so excited ^_____^
DEREK THIS IS IRRELEVANT TO THIS BLOG I ADMIT, BUT YOU NEED TO FORCE WARNIER BROTHERS TO HURRY UP AND MAKE SKULLDUGGARY PLEASANT CUZ IM BECOMING TO OLD TO PLAY STEFANIE, FROM JULIETTE X
*wanders back in*
Yo. I'm supposed to be doing homework, or editing my story, but I'm not ;P
(I really hope someone is on)
No? Ok...
*goes back to homework*
*prods Thalia with her pencil*
oi. Is there any homework I should be concerned about?
Because I'm listening to a really good Metal Remix of a song I just listened to, and I don't want to move.
*whispers to Kallista*
I'm actually still here ^^
No, Mar, just the science notes.
Oh, and study the stems.
Phew. Then I'm good.
*flops in chair*
*grins*
I reeeeeally want this video game...but the newest version has only been released in Japan, I probably don't have the correct gaming platform, and its probably gory and bloody so my parents wont let me get it.
They wouldnt even let me get a Final Fantasy game...cuz of the rating...
*blinks*
oh shoot.
stupid stems.
ewwwww...freak...
*type type*
he can smell...BLOOD TYPES?!?!?! THATS JUST WEIRD!
*thrashes around*
*hides behind THalia*
shhhhh! I'm not here!
*looks at her homework*
Yes! Done with science! On to the math I don't even know how to do!
*holds up giant sign that says "MAR'S HERE!" with an arrow pointing to Mar*
yay! my Dad just got back from a conference in washington DC!
he flew on a private jet!
Math? what'ya doing in Math?
*squeals*
*shoves Charon infront of the creep instead*
DINNER!
Quadratic functions. I know how to do them, just not what was actually asked of us in this assignment...
http://yourealllatefortea.blogspot.com/2011/05/trivial-things-part-one.html
ah. I loath fractions.
I missed the first part of the unit in fourth grade, and then Math just went downhill...I got my first F that year on a test...
....Quadratic FUNCTIONS, not fractions xD
Math just sucks in general. Doesn't compute well with me
Hi Malice!
*waves*
Yeah, math sucks sometimes. My teacher is quite funny, though.
Brb. I need to ingest some dinner so I can finish my math.
*Terminator voice*
I will be back.
*fades into the shadows*
*sighs*
ooooh.
...well lesson learned, don't trust my eyes. they're screwy.
*whispers*
and, if you stay cross eyes for long enough, they WILL stay in the position.
a note of warning.
...n-not that i-i would k-know...
*looks shiftily around*
*fades back out of shadows*
I'm back~
hi!
Hi!
'Lo there! Working on a new crackfic, as per the request of a one Malice Page!
Luv you guys, but can't stay!
I'll post when I am finished!
DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!DEREK!!!!!!
WHAT IS THE FRIKEN NAME OF THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!
could you ummm release it by ummm tomorrow persay for my birthday????/
Just out of curiosity there you know being total obsessed fan and such........RAMBLING!!
Aww...hi/bye Ev!
Hi Skulgirl!
oh wait technically in England its my brithday but in the US its not....strange
OLO Thalia
OLO Kallista
Kallista!
*squeezes her in a hug*
Hi!
*screams*
ITS ITS ITS ITS THE ZOMBIE HORDE! RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE!
*makes a mad dash for the door*
its good to see you too just saying gonna be on and off cus i REALLY need to finish and work on a project for LA and dinner is soon
OLO Mar!
Kallista! Part one of Trivial Things is up!
http://yourealllatefortea.blogspot.com/2011/05/trivial-things-part-one.html
NICE Kallista!
FOR AMERICA!
FOR AMERICA
FIOR AMERICA
HUZZAH!!!
Huzzah! *wonders why she is huzzah-ing*
LIZZY!
*tackles her in a hug*
Hi!
Hey Thalia! *glomps*
My friend Mir sent me a picture of Netherlands today...he has Fletcher hair...
OLO Lizzy!
Squeeee~! i want to see! can you post pics?
olo Skulgirl!
http://yourealllatefortea.blogspot.com/2011/05/hetalia-netherlands.html
^^
YOUR LATE FOR TEA!!! LOL March Hare :3
Yes! I absolutely LOVE Alice in Wonderland!
OMG!!! THANK YOU!!! have you seen the one with Johnny Depp??? That is my absolute most FAVORITE movie besides Harry Potter :D I know a LOT about it :)
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