My last tour, in 2010, was a huge success and every single day I was startled by the reaction. It was exhausting, with an astonishing amount of travel, but so worth it.
When I get back home, I have a little over a week to recover before the Ireland/UK tour kicks off. We're going to be doing something different this year- instead of heading over to the UK for 10 straight days, I'll be heading over for three weekends in a row. The plan is to pack as many signings in as possible on days when none of you will have school or college or work, so hopefully you can come along if you haven't had a chance to before. Again, further details will be available once I have them.
And now for something completely different...
How did you enjoy World Book Day? I know, I know, different countries have World Book Day at different times of the year, and some countries don't have World Book Day at all, so, the very term itself is kind of misleading... but ANYWAY...
I had a very good World Book Day, thank you very much. I was over in London with a bunch of other writers for a huge webcast thingy that was broadcast to three quarters of a million students across Ireland and the UK and, I don't know, possibly elsewhere. We each had five minutes onstage, which isn't a whole lot of time. I ended up talking about my dogs, for some reason. It was manic, but amusing.
Behind the scenes, however, was where the real fun was taking place. Put ten authors in a room, especially authors who write for young people, and after a while things are going to get slightly odd. And when a camera comes out to record interviews? Oh dearie me. I'm sure they'll be posted on worldbookday.com soon enough, so you can watch as responsible adults (such as me) turn into immature kids as we try to make each other laugh. Fun and games galore with Andy Stanton and Steve Cole and Chris Bradford, while Cressida Cowell looked on in astonishment. Eoin Colfer wasn't above having a bit of a lark himself, but Holly Webb and Jeremy Strong did the wise thing and stayed well away from the rest of us. Jacqueline Wilson, meanwhile, must have wondered what the hell was going on.
To end the webcast, we all trotted back onstage to meet The Duchess of Cornwall. I'm completely ignorant about all things royal family-ish, and I may have forgotten to stop chewing gum when I was shaking her hand. But I DID smile and say "pleased to meet you", so that was something, wasn't it? At least I didn't have my hands in my pockets, like Ronan O'Gara did when the Queen met the Irish rugby team.
Which, I have to say, I think is hilariously dim.
Annnnnyway...
I've been on TV quite a lot lately, and it's all thanks to World Book Day, so thank you, World Book Day, for interfering with my writing week. I was on the Alan Titchmarsh Show, which most of you know about, and then I was on Live With Gabby on Channel 5 a few days later, then I was on Elev8 on RTE yesterday, and on Tuesday morning I'll be on Ireland Am on TV3...
Good GOD. I'll be sick of myself, I swear I will.
And I can't even get away from myself in newspapers, either. The Guardian asked me to list my ten favourite villains from YA/children's fiction, and you can see if you agree with me by clicking here http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/mar/01/derek-landy-top-ten?newsfeed=true .
( I didn't include any of MY villains, because obviously mine would be best, and I'm far too modest to proclaim that in a national newspaper.)
Okay, that's enough babbling. It's 2:30 in the afternoon and I haven't eaten anything yet. Must make lunch.
Oh! One last thing! Take a look at this video- http://www.standup.ie/index/ - which promotes standing up to homophobic bullying. I mean, life is hard enough to get through without bullies making things worse, and the only decent thing to do is stand up for your friends when they need you.
And NOW I'm going to make lunch.
Posts
4,809 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1601 – 1800 of 4809 Newer› Newest»YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO PUT HER CHARACTERS IN ANYTHING.
hello??
I lost my Grandfather last August. You'll go through the phase where you'll yell out.
And then the phase where you say no continuously while tears stream down your face.
And then the phase where you kick or punch something.
And then the phase when you think you're okay.
And then the phase I'm at, where you still cry, but the pain is eased a tinge.
Ivy would kick your ass
Just tell me her power and weapon, please.
It's a midlife...
CRISIS!
You're perfect, yes it's true!
But without me, you'e only you,
Your frustrating heart,
You ain't beeldin' enough for two, You're perfect, yes it's true!
But without me, you'e only you,
Your frustrating heart,
It ain't beeldin' enough for two...
Midlife Crisis Cover by Disturbed
'Ivy seems a worthy opponent of Dylan.'?
Dylan, what the f*ck is wrong with you? If Ivy wants someone dead, they f*cking die.
Val specifically said that you weren't to use her character, and as her friend I'm telling you:
STOP F*CKING TRYING, YOU AREN'T UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO USE IVY ANIMOSITY AS A CHARACTER IN ONE OF YOUR STORIES.
Dylan, I've heard all that. I don't need to again. And I'm past all those stages.
You guys know One Direction? The new craze nowadays?
You aren't allowed to use her character under any circumstances and even of you persist, you aren't getting anything out of us.
No, I've never heard of it.
Fine, I won't, mind your language, and please just tell me her POWER AND WEAPON! Screw the story, you guys all have a stick up your butt and are too uptight to live with me making a story with Ivy in it, so I won't.
I hate 1D. They do my head in!
@Zath - Your and Eve's part is on my blog.
Good, no story, no info. End of story.
*keeps walking*
*glares at Silver*
NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL YOU, STOP F*CKING ASKING.
Yay!
I'll read it now.
*stops walking and goes to Lynxia's blog*
people make characters, and put a lot of effort into them
You're not just allowed to go and use them, that's plagurism
They're coming to Sydney, right, and the tickets were sold out in nine seconds.
And two tickets are being sold on eBay, and the price started at $1.00 and is now $20,000. It's crazy.
-Rubs forehead thoroughly-
Please tell me...
Hi Nix! *jumps over and puts apple on head and aims at it with arrow* Keep still and I should hit the apple and not your face.
ummmm
How about i put the apple over on the table, and you can shoot it from there?
Sparky, check your e-mail.
Dyl-pickle, Ivy isn't from the SP world. She has different magci, and can do just about anything
I also have a new power, guys. I got sick of almost everyone being an Elemental, so now I'm Adept, and I didn't simply change, I now have a history of being an Adept.
My power is being able to blast magnificently bright light out of my hands, incinerating anything in sight, depending on the strength of the object. I can also solidify a small range of objects from my memory.
Commented, Lynxia.
Seriously though, since when did Eve and I live together?
Who's blog do we go on when we hit the 5000 limit?
Riiight. You complain about me acting so superior and she can do just about anything? Goodness. You must have a peeve for me, then.
of course you have a really powerful magic Dylan
*rolls eyes*
We go to the next post you idiot. Like always.
IVY ISN'T FROM THE SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT MULTIVERSE. SHE IS A PART OF A WORLD VAL CREATED WHERE THERE ARE ONLY SEVEN SORCERERS WHO CAN DO ALMOST ANYTHING.
she can do just about anything, because she is not in the SP world, but you think you're the best in the SP world
Since I said so Zath, bare in mind it's set nine years from now - anything could happen.
There is no next post until Derek posts another one, or that's as far as I know. Don't call me an idiot, you daft dimbo, I'm vaguely new to the Blogging world.
The older ones Dylan. We move to the older posts.
Mist, email
Mist, email
I'll call you whatever the hell I want and I'm in a very bad mood. We go to PREVIOUS posts, my god. It isn't a difficult concept.
I suppose. Nine years IS a long time...
SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!🐔
Checking them, Nix.
Hi Eve! *hugs*
The best? Nope. Tanith is better, Valkyrie is better, Skulduggery is, Ghastly is, and a whole lot of others are. I just have a certain amount of power, and you're all so screwed up that you need to belittle me and complain and whine like freaking pigs because you got nothing better to FREAKING DO!
EVE!
*tackles and hugs*
Zathract, I feel sorry for you and your grandfather, but I've been through far worse than you.
We have plenty better to do. No one likes you except for *cough*FreakFan*cough* in case you haven't noticed. Do you think everyone stops talking when you're gone or something?
The arguing starts when YOU come online and "screw everything up", Dylan.
Hi Eve
And i remember you once saying that you had once fought Val and Skulduggery, and you said you won
I don't want or need your sympathy, Dylan.
Hi Mist! I MAY be a bit slow to comment because APPARENTLY I'm doing my homework. *eats live 🐔* hehe. I love my emoji.
Bet you haven't been through worse than me Dylan...
Nix + Eve - Look at newest post on my blog, next bit of story!
Nix, email.
read it
My dad had terminal cancer when I was three, and my mum died in a car crash when I was eight.
We only see a box, by the way Eve, because we're only computers. :(
Congrats, you've brought up something entirely irrelevant to the conversation!
you're just a little arrogant
I feel sorry for you, but you need to tone it down a little
My mum died in a car crash and my dad dies three days later after suffering brain damage. I had to turn off the machine. I have been to around 30 different shrinks and I still wake up wanting to strangle the drunk pillock who crashed into them.
Caelen-> <(-,,-)>
Val-> /o\-=(Uh...)=-
-|-
/ \
And my grandfather died last week, I suffer from depression and anger issues, and I might have terminal cancer when I'm older.
My grandmother died when my mother was 16 because of a dumbass truck driver who SLEPT and crashed into her!
And I've been in hospital six times from suicidal attempts.
Slept? How the hell do you fall asleep driving. I've never got this.
Whoops, he didn't die last week. Typo. It was last year.
Not a very nice history for someone who wants bloody world peace, is it?
i'm not saying i don't feel sorry for you. And different people react to different things in different ways, so others might not have faired as well as others
I'm just saying, try to tone it down. Okay?
It was like 2 in the morning and he was overusing drugs to keep you awake. So they ended up working in reverse and he slept.
Dylan, I got sucked into the 'wrong crowd' after my parents died. I've smoked pot, got addicted done other drugs. Smoked and nearly killed some one. We're all messed up on here. That's why we're here. Because here everyone else has gone through the same or similar things.
Dylan, I got sucked into the 'wrong crowd' after my parents died. I've smoked pot, got addicted done other drugs. Smoked and nearly killed some one. We're all messed up on here. That's why we're here. Because here everyone else has gone through the same or similar things.
My ambitions are my ambitions, they are none of your business, I told you about them, and that's that, you don't need to crush my dreams.
World peace is a selfless objective, and I intend to reach it. If I don't, then hopefully peace will be created in some countries by me, but this is a dog-eat-freaking-dog-world and I'm trying to stop it, because no one else will.
i haven't been throught stuffas worse as you or Lynxia, but that doesn't mean i haven't been through some bad times
Read and commented!
I've used pot too, I've cut myself, abused myself, even used prostitution.
I agree with Nix. No more arguing. We've all done some terrible stuff and seen some terrible stuff so let's try and get along.
Friends closely woven are like amfamily of chosen people. ~ Nelson Mandela.
* a family
-Curls up into ball on hammock and thinks of past-
-Breathes shakily-
*looks at star*
My live hasn't exactly been rainbows and puppies...
Never mind, can we please jus move on
hey Eve, my new story is up
http://nobodyisblogging.blogspot.com.au/
...*chews lip* .....I scraped my knee yesterday?
Nix, we were all around 16 supposedly in the power shots and this is nine years later so we'd be around 25.
cool
25!
Dylan, that hammock had better not be one of mine.
*pulls Dylan out of hammock* *pulls out laptop and put Nyan Cat on* *makes Dylan watch it* Watch the rainbow pooping pop tart cat...
Mist! can we please just make a fresh start? Forget about everything bad that's happened between us all?
I agree with that Nix.
I'm like Val.
I hold grudges.
Like I said, Nix. I'm a bad person.
Mist? Dylan?
Mist!
-Pushes Lynxia away-
:|
Go away, Lynx. Thanks for trying to help, but it's not helping.
That's right, Nixion. Life never gives. Everyone's mind is based on cruelty, to be uncompassionate, to kill, to be labrats and mix with other ones, to kill, to mix, to regenerate, to do horrible things we're ashamed of, because we're all tests. That's all we are, that's all we ever will be, the maker of this maelstrom could be God, we'll never know until we die, but I'm catholic, so I don't believe God did it, but life is horrible to us. The worst things in life come free to us.
Here's a song for all of yews.
new leaf! new begining
I hold grudges but this is Blogland. If we have divides here what hope do we have? We need to stick together. If this war happens we're screwed. Dylan could help Dragona and Aquila. I hold grudges but listen. We shouldn't here. This is all we have. Without here Zath, you would never have met Eve. Sparky would never have met Flame. I wouldn't have met any of you. re you throwing all of this away?
Biscuit anyone? *holds out biscuits*
Am I throwing all this away?
*laughs darkly*
If that's what it comes to.
...
*realizes what i just said*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAWcs5H-qgQ&ob=av3e
*stares at Mist*
Thanks Star. I should be a politician. I can lie and keep a straight face and make speeches.
*talks quietly*
I didn't mean that...
-Sits sadly in grass and rests head on tree stump-
-Tear rolls down face-
*sits with feet in the lake* If we don't have here, where do we have?
My life is so screwed.
Prostitution.
Drugs.
Pot.
Beating people.
Suicidal attempts
Dying.
Lost.
Rogue.
Dead.
*looks out at lake* Blogland is so pretty.
My life...
-More tears roll down my face-
*walks slowly in tree-house again and barricades self in room*
Come on Dylan. *sits Dylan under tree* I'm not judging you. I kind of hate holding grudges in Blogland - it feels wrong so have a biccy. Pwease?
Oh Golden God, star don't say that...
-Looks at Lynxia with impossibly blue eyes-
-Turns away-
-Holds legs up to chest and watches sun set-
*growls*
The sun's already set.
Mist, come back out. It's still daylight.
*leaves biscuits by Dylan*
*turns to everyone else*
Make up and play nice until I get back in 10 mins.
(Golden God, I sounded like my mother...)
If a conversation doesn't start I swear I'll pull a David Draiman.
-Raises head softly-
Shut up, Zathract.
-Said that calmly-
*exits tree house*
Make me.
No? No conversation?
*head pops back in before going to hoover* I said play nice...
Fine.
-Starts playing small guitar with small engraving of wolf on it-
SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAK TOOOO MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
-Starts singing-
-Is a good...ish singer, so don't insult me-
And then Stupify or Voices or The Animal kicks in.
Mist, keep talking. Dylan, be nice.
-Gestures vaguely to Eve with hand as if to agree-
*hits tree again*
I NEED TO GO AND EAT.
AGAIN.
AS I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, THAT IS HOW WE SURVIVE.
WE EAT.
I MUST GO AND DO THAT NOW.
NO ONE LEAVE.
Except Dylan. *waves hand* You can go whenever.
*vanishes*
You know what would make us all feel better? If we all watched the trailer for Smiley.
-Closes eyes as more tears come-
-Sings-
I never had someone to tuck me in at ni-iigh-ight.
I've never had the only chance of freedom.
The one person who makes me feel sa-aa-fe is gone.
Please stay with me-ee... forever.
-Sings-
Tell me if I'm wrong...
Tell me if I'm right...
Tell me if it's a sin to cry at night...
Or yell for you in the daylight...
Or if you see me when I lie in the grass and watch the clouds.
Dylan. Smiley. Trailer. YouTube. Now.
I have to go.
Bye Dylan
Adventure Time!
C'mon, grab your friends,
We'll go to very distant Lands With Jake the Dog, And Finn the Human,
The Adventures'll never end,
It's Adventure Time!
Bye Dylan
I don't like fish fingers. Smiley.
i just recently found out Adventure Time is pretty dark...
You want dark? I have one word for you. Smiley.
i never thought it was dark...
one of the main characters is a yellow dog, for crying out loud
and no, im not watching Smilely
Ooh, dark. I'll watch in when I get back.
I'll be five more mins.
Bye whoever left, sorry about how I was acting before.
well, no, it's not dark, but the creaters have some pretty dark stuff that they've hidden, trying to cover it with comedy
Ugh. Fine, Nix. I just thought it would make you smile, for obvious reasons. It's that nuts.
I can't watch YouTube on this...
Are you on your iPod?
Back. *is now not in pyjamas and has cup of Cravendale milk*
School Laptop
Hi Star
does anyone here watch adventure time?
Seen a bit of it.
Ah yeah. Our school blocks YouTube.
*walks back in seething with suppressed rage*
Too late.
I am beyond angry.
The position I am currently in...
Are you okay, Mist...?
*shakes head*
No.
I've just found out something terrible.
My hands hurt from clenching them too hard.
uh, Mist? You okay buddy?
what's wrong?
.......what happened?
Mist? *picks up biscuits* Biscuit?
*climbs to the top of treehouse roof and yells*
THERE IS NO CHOCOLATE IN THE HOUSE!!!
well, there's no chocolate in my house either
*slowly starts to smile*
*quickly frowns when mist sees* thats terrible.
I'm allergic to something they put in most chocolate so we rarely get any.
You don't understand.
I practically go mental if I don't have enough sugar in a day.
And I haven't had sugar for the past two days.
That's why I've been screaming and yelling so much lately.
so, anyway
In adventure Time there's this guy called the ice king. H gets all his house powers from his crown?
Follow me so far?
*offers biscuit covered in sugar*
.....* gives chocolate*
Will be distant, am writing part 4...
1
everyone follow me?
No, I'm not kidding. I need to find some kind of sugar or I'll end up smashing the laptop.
*looks at Lynxia*
...*** **** **!
Um...
Any fruit in the house?
no one cares, so never mind...
NO FRUIT, ONLY RICE!
*rampages around in rage*
THE STUPID TELEVISION SCREAMING STUPID CRICKET SCORES THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT!
Zath, what did you say to me. Behind all the stars?
I follow you, nix.
*tentatively pats Mist*
STUPID INTERNET NOT LOADING!
STUPID DISTURBED NOT RELEASING A NEW ALBUM!
STUPID FLOODS FOR EXISTING!
STUPID CANCER!
STUPID JACKETS!
STUPID E-
I SAID "GOD DAMN IT"!
I have to go now bye
NO SHOPS ARE OPEN AND WE WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL TO GO!
WE MOVED HERE YESTERDAY!
And he always catures princesess
*calms*
Bye Eve.
SUPID DYMOCKS!
You guys had better be on tomorrow.
Bye Eve
Bye Eve! *hugs*
Zath. Calm. Now. Calm. Or I'll have to hurt you. Calm. I don't wanna do that. Calm. I sound stupid. Calm.
Dedicate already
I'm back
Oh, right, forgot. Um...
Dedication...
a) Zath finding some sugar before he explodes.
b) Derek
c) All of my friends. Robin, Sparky, Eve, Nix, Zath, Flame, Star, you know who you are...
d) The followers of my blog
e) NYAN CAT!!!
WB Eve.
What's WB? Warner bros? Why bunnies? WELL I DON'T KNOW WHY THE BUNNIES, OKAY????
Eve's back! Yay!
*turns around and sees brother eating chocolate*
...What...the HELL? YOU ******** ************* ***** ****** GIVE ME THE ****** ******* OF ********** OR I'LL ***** **********, ********** **** NOW!
*takes chocolate*
He hid a huge stash in his bag!
✌
The bastard.
WB means Welcome Back.
Eve, I dedicated three pages to you but I still need to do one more...
Bye, Star.
Hehe. Hi Mist! I got it straight after I published my madness.
What is the meaning of this madness?
Okay, you guys really need to watch Jake and Amir.
Hehe. You will never overtake me, Mist!
Eve, what is the scariest movie you have EVER seen?
AND HAVE YOU SEEN THE ORPHAN?!
*is sitting under tree writing* Ha ha ha...
Eve?
I recommend this ep, but beware of some lighthearted swearing. Some.
http://m.collegehumor.com/#/video/6705025/jake-and-amir-traffic
Scariest movie....hmm. I'll think about it. Haven't seen the orphan.
Well what's one of the scariest them? I want to watch a really freaky trailer.
*then
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