Friday, August 26, 2011

Short Stories


Hello, my Minions.

Can you feel it? Can you? The 1st of September is approaching. According to that wonderful Countdown Clock on the Skulduggery website, there is- at the time of posting- FIVE days, TEN hours, and FOUR minutes. Of course, by the time you read this, the time to wait will be even shorter- and growing shorter every moment.

(Unless you’re re-reading this at some stage AFTER the 1st, in which case, yayyy it’s already out! Woot!)

Ahem.

All of you folks who came to the Edinburgh event have been fantastic, I have to say. I wasn’t OVERLY worried that someone would release spoilers, but the chance for someone to say the wrong thing or give the wrong hint (coughSwindlercough) was always there, lurking around the edges of every Blog and Facebook comment. So, my thanks to you, my Minions, for remaining loyal and true, and allowing your fellow readers the same chance you had to experience Death Bringer without ANY spoilers.

I have seven days until my tour begins, so I’m trying to cram as many things into this coming week as possible. I enjoy every tour when I’m out there, and it’s a great chance for me to meet the people from this Blog and the Facebook page and the Forums, so that always makes me smile. The downside of touring is the travelling, the hotels, the airports, the car rides, and the fact that you have to put your life on hold for a few weeks.

It’s like a holiday, without the relaxation or the parties.

But hey, it’s fun nonetheless.

This coming Wednesday is the official Skulduggery launch, in Eason’s Bookshop in Dublin. I have no idea what to expect. Most book launches are relatively quiet affairs, attended by friends and family, with a few other writers turning up to wish you well. When I was told that Dave from Eason was planning a launch, however, I got a chill. Because Dave... Dave doesn’t DO quiet.

The only thing I know about it is that there will be readers there, whom I BELIEVE have already entered a competition (I sincerely don’t know anything about it).  Apparently, he’s also planned a “surprise”. Oh dear God. I’ll keep you informed as best I can.

Now then, when we brought out the new paperback editions, I didn’t want you guys to buy a SECOND copy of a book you already owned just because they had (admittedly awesome) new covers. I knew there were some lunatics out there who would buy the new editions just for Tom’s artwork, so I wrote a few short stories just to give them something extra. Of course, THEN the problem became how to make those stories available to the people who DIDN’T feel the need to have multiple copies of the same book. You know- relatively SANE people.

So now, at last, two of the short stories that have previously appeared in the new paperbacks are now available on the website at skulduggerypleasant.co.uk, as well as being available on iBooks and Kindle, for the very reasonable price of NOTHING AT ALL. I love when things are free, because it means EVERYONE can afford it, and you don’t have to worry about loose change in your pocket. The Lost Art of World Domination takes place after Skulduggery Pleasant, and Gold, Babies and the Brothers Muldoon takes place after Playing With Fire. The other short stories will be released over the next few months.

And I’m going to go now, because I have things to do. Things! To do!

Ahem.

1,974 comments:

  1. 7 DAYS TILL I MEET DEREK LANDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY *dances* *like this http://www.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/846640_o.gif *

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, thanks for doing the short stories for free Derek! :D
    And I'm very, very sorry to say, but unfortunately, Mortal Coil has been pushed down to my 3rd favourite book by Mark Walden with H.I.V.E Aftershock, and in second, Time Riders by Alex Scarrow.
    And Derek, a question. What is your favourite type of tree?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesomesauce! :)

    This means I can have the short stories on the iPad too!

    I CAN'T WAIT FOR DEATHBRINGER!

    Sadly, I'll have to borrow Bryony's, because I want to have all paperbacks (now I've started a collection, I might as well finish it :P).

    Ah well. I CAN'T WAIT ANYHOW.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just downloading them both ^^

    still doing this - http://www.gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs/846640_o.gif

    and hi kal!

    @Quinn - because its the best dance ^^

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh. I did not know this. I'm slightly ashamed of myself.
    *rushes to the Kindle store*

    ReplyDelete
  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  7. i cannot wait for death bringer now!! will it have a short story in death bringer?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am soo happy I waited to buy the books I have the short stories!! The sad thing is the day Death Bringer is OFFICIALLY out I am in school then off the next day... My school is messed up... Really, and truely

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes!! I cannot wait till death bringer me and my friend are so excited!
    Oh and Thanks Derek for making the short stories free! =D
    *goes off to get the short stories on iBooks*

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can't wait for it to finally come out. And Derek, put a hold on your stuff- come and chat to us here, please! I haven't chatted to you properly yet :)

    Hey all!

    ReplyDelete
  11. DEREK! YOU BETTER ANSWER ME THIS TIME, OKAY! I GOT IN EARLY! XDDD

    At the BROMLEY signing, how long are you staying for? I am gonna be bringing EVERYTHING SP-ish of mine for you to sign, so I hope you might have enough time for that o_o; Please respond!

    P.S. Becky Allaker, Olivia Spring, Dayna Hiscock, Christian, Matthew and other are accompanying me to this signing do prepare for wrist ache, mmkay?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hii hellboy!!

    Yaay I got the short story but I shall read it later!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yah! Free short stories! Thanks Derek! I was actually going to get all the other paperbacks (I am not a fully sane person) but now I don't have to! Yah! *does snoopy happy dance*

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hey Ayesha and Aquila!

    ...where is everyone else o.O

    ReplyDelete
  15. Probably on the chat. im on iPod so I can't go on chat!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dragona, Nicolette, Iris and Kal are on chat.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Aquila, can you please drag them over here so we can chat too ;) Ayesha and me are on iPods and cant go there...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I told them before you asked me to. =P
    ^^

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Hellboy! I decided that my skill on Battlefield Bad Company 2 would be better served being a medic. And I did my first camp :P
    I was on Port Valnez or whatever, and I was in a house, crouched on the landing, looking at the stairs coming up, and the M-Com thing in the room next door. Loads of enemies came up and I shot them all, but yet they were never able to kill me.
    All my stats were for the match:

    Kills - 46
    Deaths - 0

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thought of everything. Cheers xD

    You know what's annoying?

    I put my preferences in for next year's subject choices, and there's not enough room for me to do German next year -__- :(

    And I can't continue it in year 11 without doing any of it in year 10 (next year). So these next two terms are my last.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh, hey Dragona. Yeah, good kill.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds like your ways of choosing subjects are even more complicated than ours... 0o

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm not sure, Aquila. See, we have some set subjects that we have to learn, and then as we get older we get more freedom in our choices. So next year, more lessons are cut and replaced with three that we have chosen out of about six. I chose Art, German and Tech, my reserve being Computing, but too many people put in for German -__-

    ReplyDelete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. @Aquila - its so messed up its not even funny. I got to choose 2 subjects for years 10 and 11.

    but I'm just going to quit my bitching now :P its ooooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr

    ReplyDelete
  26. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  27. We have to learn English, starting at our fifth year at school.
    In year 7 you decide on Latin or French (the languages you can choose depend on your school) and in year 9 on either Spanish or more science lessons.
    In year 11 you get to choose again, but with quite complicated rules, so I won't get into that. But it's the only time you can drop subjects.

    ReplyDelete
  28. hey NJ and ayesha!
    and Hellboy

    @Aquila - Latin is only done in posh schools. you do french (some schools also do german and spanish) up till yr 10 (age 14) when you choose

    sorry, have to go!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey NJ, hey Venice.


    Aquila... I think you win the complicated subject choice game ;) *hands over gummibearchen (that's...correct, right? There are some umlauts missing, I know)*

    ReplyDelete
  30. It is right. Gummibärchen are all gummy bears, Goldbären are the ones made by Haribo. ^^

    Hellboy, it's not that complicated... then again, what I wrote only goes for one of our three different kinds of public schools...

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hey Kal! Nope, I'm right here XD



    See, Aquila, i knew something was wrong about the spelling... We had some from a friend of our German teacher's, who makes them the way they are in Germany.

    ReplyDelete
  32. ...erm.
    I thought you can get Haribos everywhere...
    ...they should be the same on your side of the planet as on mine...
    0o

    *shrugs*

    ReplyDelete
  33. Well, Aquila, that's what my German teacher said *shrug* Yet again, this IS the teacher that always purposely tricks you in class by saying "And dem is the proper word, riiiiiigggght?" *silence* "NO! It's der!" -__-

    ReplyDelete
  34. *is so glad that she's dropping German next year*

    Nothing against the language. But the teacher was awful.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Quinn!

    *hugs NJ back*


    *hits Hellboy's teacher* The fact dem is a form of there DOESN'T mean it's no proper word!
    *glares*

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hey Quinn *hugs*
    Hey Hellboy *hugs*
    how are you both??

    ReplyDelete
  37. My teacher's a bit horrible, too, Quinn. We had a really good one last year, Frau Callen, and I'm not sure what happened to her. She just..disappeared....

    ReplyDelete
  38. http://dragonapine.blogspot.com/2011/08/hive-fanfic.html



    New post on my blog. Please go read everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  39. And yes, they sound quite similar. =P
    ^^

    *wonders wether to worry about herself replacing German words with English ones*
    *decides to better not think about it*

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi Hellboy! Hello Kallista! Hola Aquila! Greetings Ayesha! Salutations NJ!

    I'm good, ta :)

    How are all of you?

    *hugs all*

    ReplyDelete
  41. I Gtg for 10-15 mins be back soon Byee for now!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Hey Kal *hugs*
    Hey Ayesha *hugs*
    Hey Dragona *hugs*
    How are you all??

    ReplyDelete
  43. @Hellboy: My teacher is nice, as a person. Slightly weird but nice (most of the time). But she's SO BORING. GAH.

    Then again, the French teacher I have for next year isn't great either.

    @Dragona: I'll read it later. *master of procrastination*

    ReplyDelete
  44. http://dragonapine.blogspot.com/2011/08/hive-fanfic.html


    Please go read, it's the first part of another series of my fanfics.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Geez, Aquila O.O :P It 'twas only an example ;)

    I'm good thanks, NJ!

    Now all I have to do is try and get over the fact that I said geez earlier on in this comment. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  46. YOU SAID GEEZ?! :o



    THAT'S A CRIME AGAINST THE LAW OF... BEAVERS!

    *Beaver police come and take Hellboy away*

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oooh! Speaking of new things!

    Here's the start of a Harry Potter fanfic that Bryony and I are working on!

    The first part (the only one up, so far) is written by her :D

    http://thatrandomhpfanfic.blogspot.com/

    You can read it if you want to. Or don't. I don't really mind.

    Sorry about all the AVPM quotes on the blog, btw. I was slightly hyper.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Quinn, if you read mine, I'll read yours :P

    ReplyDelete
  49. Haha, Quinn, I read that earlier. It sounds epic, cept...Snape? *visible shudder of utter disgust* He's just...and he's so...and...and...

    He's like that Necromancer in SP who's name I have forgotten from lack of reading it. The one that's thin and annoying and says stupid things. Prave? Craven? Argh...

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hello! Finally! I'm here!

    Today has been a productive day! Finally!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Hi Octa! There's the first part of the HIVE fanfic on my blog :D


    http://dragonapine.blogspot.com/2011/08/hive-fanfic.html

    ReplyDelete
  52. This morning was spent doing yet more of my maths/reading Paper Towns. I've now read 3 of John Green's books. Then after lunch I managed to write another poem at last.

    Now I'm here.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Will go read it. I haven't posted the poem on my blog yet as I may still edit it a little.

    ReplyDelete
  54. OH MY GOD I CAN ACTUALLY POST ON THE FRONT PAGE!!! IT'S A MIRACLE!!!!
    Ahem.
    Sorry.
    Woohoo! 5 days till death bringer! My sister promised me she'd take me as soon as the store opened so I'm guranteed to get it STRAIGHT AWAY!
    WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
    That is all...
    Unless I come back later and post more....
    Highly likely.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi Octa! Congratulations!

    @Dragona: Wait til the next part to find out about the snail. And on the title, yes, I know. Not my fault. *goes back to reading*

    @Hellboy: Glad you liked it! I don't get Bryony's fascination with Snape either. Which is why Ari doesn't get it :P

    ReplyDelete
  56. Oh, hello all! You don't know me but...well, yeah.

    ReplyDelete
  57. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Quinn! Hellboy! Dragona! NJ!

    *glomps*

    Am I missing anyone else? The latest comments have all been posted by you. If there is anyone else on who just hasn't commented for a while then greetings to you too!

    ReplyDelete
  59. Hi Octa!

    I know it was just an example, Hellboy. =P
    Just couldn't resist...
    Oh, I'd love to meet a German teacher...
    *grins*
    ... I'd SO confuse them talking Swabian with them.. Hehe.. ^^

    ReplyDelete
  60. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  61. Aww, what? You've read Paper Towns? Is it good? (hi, btw)

    God I'm tired..forgive me all if I have to leave suddenly.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Hi there Skulprox! *gives her a cookie* How do you do?

    Octa! http://thatrandomhpfanfic.blogspot.com/

    @Dragona: YOU LET RAVEN LOSE!?!?!? HOW COULD YOU?

    ReplyDelete
  63. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  64. So, I see I've been completely ignored.
    Oh well.
    Hey, Derek, thought you'd like to know that the countdown clock on the Skulduggery website is slightly innacurate because it occasionally misses out seconds. I know this because I was watching it just now, because I am THAT excited for Death Bringer.

    ReplyDelete
  65. Quinn, could you leave a comment?





    Hi Flame!

    ReplyDelete
  66. Hahah, Aquila...you're just evil...

    ReplyDelete
  67. Oh. I was't ignored. XD
    *Takes cookie and gives you a skulduggery shaped cookie*
    I'm good thanks. How are you?

    ReplyDelete
  68. Hellboy, tell me about it. She's knocked me out with a vase, killed me several times with a cushion and I think something else, too... ^^ she's sooooooooooooo mean :P

    ReplyDelete
  69. I'm not evil...
    ... I just couldn't resist. ^^

    ReplyDelete
  70. Hello angel and skulprox nice to meet you both.
    *shakes hands*

    Hi flame it's been a while how are you?? *hugs*

    ReplyDelete
  71. @Dragona: I will :) Still- HOW COULD YOU?!?!?!?!?

    Hi Flame! Hi Angel!

    @Skulprox: Thanks! *noms cookie gratefully* Are you new here? Or I have I just not met you?

    ReplyDelete
  72. I never killed him on purpose, though...
    Dragona, you missed out on me killing you with the room temperature. Today. ^^

    ReplyDelete
  73. Alright I'm basically falling asleep here.

    Kal went, but if you're reading this, G'night!

    Cya all!

    ReplyDelete
  74. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  75. So...who is your favourite character in any fictional world EVER?
    Random question, but hell I'm just trying to make conversation.

    ReplyDelete
  76. Yes, that's it, you boiled me alive.



    *eats cookie happily* Thanks Flame!

    ReplyDelete
  77. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Skulprox, my favourite character in any book is either Otto Malpense or Raven from HIVE.
    Otto basically has the ability to control electrical objects and has a photographic memory and stuff.
    Raven, she's just a ninja assassin, basically.

    ReplyDelete
  79. My favourite character ever...
    Bartimaeus! ^^

    Bye Hellboy!

    ReplyDelete
  80. @ Angel. Don't worry, I don't really know these guys either. XD
    I'm usually one of those people who posts at around the 1200-th comment.

    ReplyDelete
  81. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  82. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Greetings skulprox, angel and flame!

    I was reading a truly excellent fanfic.

    Bye Hellboy! Paper Towns is really awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  84. Hi angel........ Mine has to be ummmmmmm..... Either Ron weasly, artemis fowl or china sorrows or tanith ( I've allotta faves)

    ReplyDelete
  85. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  86. I'm fine thanks Angel. And btw, I'm Dragona *gives cookie in greeting*


    *gives a cookie to Skulprox, too*

    ReplyDelete
  87. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Octa, could you read and leave a comment on my HIVE fanfic, too?

    ReplyDelete
  89. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  90. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  91. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  92. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  93. My favourite character from any fictional world...wow, this is hard.
    I like a lot of Anime/Manga charaters, and then of course, there's the Skulduggery gang, and then there's Anubis.
    Overall...gah, um...I'm gonna have three. Edward Elric, Anubis (from the Kane Chronicles), and Skulduggery.
    (They're all so cool!)

    ReplyDelete
  94. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  95. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  96. I have long dark brown hair, that's too long for my liking. Really dark brown eyes. Glasses. And I'm 14. And apparently, I type fast.

    ReplyDelete
  97. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  98. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  99. Oh. Right XD I forgot. I'm a girl.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Nah, Angel, just a couple of us.

    I just have to email Octa something and he's not there. Grr...

    Apparently I look like I'm in Uni, but really I'm 14. My hair is a mess today, but I don't think I'm going anywhere, so it's ok :P

    ReplyDelete
  101. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Yeah, I got it. How old are you Flame?

    ReplyDelete
  103. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Lol. I admit they are a bit weird. Mine sucks. At least Aquila and Dragona etc. sound cool.

    ReplyDelete
  105. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  106. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Aries. But I don't believe in all that nonsense. Why? What's yours?

    ReplyDelete
  108. Well, in my case, my name is actually the name of my OC.
    Aquila is Latin for eagle, Felis for cat.
    ^^

    ReplyDelete
  109. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  110. I think it sounds weird. XD
    But thanks anyway. I'm planning on changing it, so you can take it if you want.

    ReplyDelete
  111. In my case, I just made it up. But one thing, I am a BOY.

    *glares at the people who thought he was a girl when they first met him*

    The funny thing is, I don't even ACT like one...

    ReplyDelete
  112. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  113. My name is my OC's name, but it's also just a cool name.

    Call me Quinn, btw. :)

    ReplyDelete
  114. I'm twelve going on thirteen feburary and my star sign is picses. I started secondary school today:-)

    ReplyDelete
  115. It's the a at the end of your name, really!
    *is glared at*

    ReplyDelete
  116. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  117. OC: original character.

    We made them up and are writing fanfic/stories with them.
    Mine is a shapeshifter. ^^
    But she can only shift into an eagle, a cat or a fox.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Great. ANOTHER person... *sighs*




    Aquila, so would Dragono, Dragonu, Dragone, Dragoni, would any of those have the same ring to it? I don't think so.

    ReplyDelete
  119. I think Dragone would work.
    Sorry, I thought you were a girl too.
    *headdesk*
    @Angel, lol I'm the same. I'm a girl, but I act like a boy. Seriously You can ask my friends.

    ReplyDelete
  120. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  121. Mines my oc aswell. I'm a elemental with a machete and a silver chain hanging from baggy skater chords. 8)

    ReplyDelete
  122. Ayesha, the HIVE fanfic is on my blog.

    http://dragonapine.blogspot.com/2011/08/hive-fanfic.html

    ReplyDelete
  123. I need to read the HIVE series. But there's so many books I need to read, I just don't know where to start XD

    ReplyDelete
  124. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  125. I have 5 OCs.


    One = Dragona Pine - Elemental. Weapon: Twin katanas.

    Two = Hawk - Ninja Adept thing. Weapon: Twin katanas.

    Three = Grindor Blackout - Adept, can create portals. Weapon: Heckler & Koch P30.

    Four = Cabader - Ex-Elemental, died in the second world war and is now a spirit, and therefore indestructible. Weapons : assorted.

    Five = Shark Kalashnikov - Adept, none combat magic. Weapon : 13 guns and a knife.

    ReplyDelete
  126. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  127. Wow. That's a lotta OC's you got there. I had one, but then I got rid of it becaue it was just so rubbish.

    ReplyDelete
  128. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  129. Ah I see.
    Maybe I shuld mke an OC and then change my username to that.

    ReplyDelete
  130. I think I'm most proud of Cabader. I'll give you the link so you know about him, hang on a sec.

    http://dragonapine.blogspot.com/2011/08/cabader.html


    There.

    ReplyDelete
  131. I have Aquila.
    And I have Kohlhaas, but I never made a bio for him. Which will make sense. ^^

    ReplyDelete
  132. I'll shall read it laters dragona!

    Hii flame! *takes chocolate and in her pocket for laters thanks! =D* (I'm fasting)

    Hii angel! I don't think we've met before *offers her a cookie*

    ReplyDelete
  133. @ sorry wrong ting I'm switching between facebook and here

    ReplyDelete
  134. OOOOOOOOOHHHH.
    I don;t have a facebook, and I don't think I'll ever get one.
    I just find i over-rated.

    ReplyDelete
  135. And me, I just had nothing to say...

    ReplyDelete
  136. Flame, now you need a dedication. ^^

    *gives Flame a cookie*

    ReplyDelete
  137. Marshmallows.




























    Monkeys.






















    Bob.




























    Elephants.

    ReplyDelete
  138. So...what do you guys like to do in your spare time? Hobbies, interests etc.

    ReplyDelete
  139. I dedicate this page to everyone who loves writing and enjoys being on this :-)

    ReplyDelete
  140. So, what kinda hobbies/interests do you guys have?

    ReplyDelete
  141. Spare time, I come on here mostly. Erm... I like football, rugby, erm... reading... coming on here... eating giraffes and most of all, saying Bob.

    ReplyDelete