Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Aimless...

Hello there,

It is I, your humble Golden God, here to brighten up your day with another one of my electrifying entries into this accursed Blog-thing. I'm not entirely sure what I'm going to write about, however. Ever since I finished the book I've been kind of... aimless.

Not ENTIRELY aimless, of course. I did have things to do once I'd finished- other bits and pieces of writing to finish off. But I've finished those now, and so I'm back to being a little bit lost as to what to do.

I've been visiting a few schools- which is something I don't get to do a whole lot of anymore during my official tours. When you're a writer starting off, school events are ALL you do, because you need to reach as many people as possible and get them interested in your books. But once you reach a certain level of awesomeness, visiting individual schools is not really the best use of your limited time. So bigger school events are planned, where multiple schools come to a theatre or hall, and a lot more public signings are scheduled. By this stage, it's all about meeting the readers, and making it easier for the readers to meet you.

But throughout the year I tend to visit schools in and around Dublin, organised by teachers or librarians or parents. It's all about "this person knows that person who knows my cousin's friend", and that's how they get in touch. I can't do an awful lot of these smaller school visits, because I don't have the time, but for some reason I've been visiting a school a week for the past month or two. Which is, I admit, NOT the best use of my time when I have deadlines as tight as my deadlines have been. But hey.

So, the week before last I was at a school in Lusk. Last week I was at a school in Swords. And this afternoon I was at a school in Sutton. Next week I'll be at a school somewhere in Cork and then- THEN- I'll stop. No more. I need a break. I've got my Australia/NZ tour in August, my Ireland/UK tour in September, and before all that I think I have to pop over to LA for a bit. I need a BREAK! I need to do normal things! I need to stop signing autographs!

Ah, the life of a tortured artist...

Oh, and before I go, something you MAY be interested in. This Friday I will be posting again. Why, you ask? What could I possibly have to post mere days after THIS wonderful entry?

Oh not much. I don't expect there to be much writing involved, actually. Just a single image, perhaps. A single, solitary image appearing on the accursed Blog, sometime on Friday... What could it be? Something to do with the new book? Some kind of image to do with the new book?

It's a mystery, that's what it is. I guess you'll just have to check the Blog on Friday to find out.

4,874 comments:

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Lynxia Lost said...

They are. All of them but in a different language. Like Rätsel is German for Riddles. Mort is French for Death. And so on.

Lavender Hope said...

Like I said, that's a cool idea.

Lynxia Lost said...

Thanks. I got bored in Maths and I doodles, I drew a Grim Reaper, then I thought 'If he was a person, what would he be like?' and then I carried the idea round, added a plot and a bad guy and - BOOM! - Patchwork was born.

Lynxia Lost said...

*doodled

Lavender Hope said...

Interesting way to start a story.

Nixion Strange said...

I just make em up

Lynxia Lost said...

Yeah, I know. I got the idea of One For You when I woke up one morning and forgot what day it was. Then I added a plot and - ta da - a story. Easy.

Nixion Strange said...

I found this file on my old computer, full of some of my old ideas. This was the start of one of them:


Fred sipped his wine and watched his forty inch plasma TV, sitting in his padded chair inside his huge manor, wearing the finest of suits... Except instead of wine, it was apple juice. And the forty inch plasma TV was a potable TV, the size of his head, which was unnaturally small. And he was sitting in a fold out chair, in an empty warehouse, wearing shorts and a sweat stained Hawaiian shirt. The TV was barely getting a signal, and the apple juice had past its best before date a few years ago. Yep, this was the life.

Lavender Hope said...

You have interesting ways to make a story.

I either make them up, or have a really cool dream I want to finish.

Lynxia Lost said...

Wow, that's really good Nix!

Lynxia Lost said...

Inspiration comes to me in the strangest of places. :)

Lavender Hope said...

You want to read something of mine I tried to write when I was 12?
Caution: it has a lot of grammar, and maybe spelling, mistakes.

Lynxia Lost said...

Sure Lav!

Nixion Strange said...

The be Fene Lav

Lavender Hope said...

Before, I remember thinking it was good. Now it just sounds silly. And some parts don't really make sense... Anyway, here it is.

Chapter 1
The Book

"Hurry up, Lizzy", I said. "We're gonna be late!"
"All right, I'm trying", she said catching up to me. This was our first day of school, and I didn't want to be late for speech. Lizzy and I are sisters, twins actually, and we go to speech together. But we're not in the same class.We used to be in the same class every year, but this year, we weren't. Oh, did I mention we're in sixth grade? Yep we are, now lets get back to Lizzy and I.
"Wow" we at the same time."What is it?" Lizzy asked. "Whose is it? Where did it come from?"
"Ok" I said." One, stop asking any more questions about it, two, I don't know whose it is or where it came from, and three, it looks like a book wrapped in brown paper". She looked at me blankly.
"You know, like the paper bags at markets." "Oh", said Lizzy looking down. I started running when her head was still down. When I stoped to look back, she was still looking down so I waited a moment. When she finaly looked up, she started looking for me.
"Hey!" she yelled. "Not fair!"
"Hay is for horses" I giggled.

Eve the ROCK said...

Mort is that cute little lemur in Madagascar that keeps touching King Julian's feet!!!

Funny, Nix :D

Sure Lav!

Lynxia Lost said...

It's good Lav, intriguing.

Lavender Hope said...

You're usually around 12 in sixth grade.

Lynxia Lost said...

No, Mort is the main Character in Patchwork. (Never seen Madagascar.)

Eve the ROCK said...

Hay is for horses!!!!!!!!

Lynxia Lost said...

12? In year 6? :O

Here, in Yr. 6, you're round 10-11.

Eve the ROCK said...

I was eleven for most of year 6

Yeah, but now I keep picturing Mort as a cute lemur :P

Eve the ROCK said...

I was eleven until September that is

Lynxia Lost said...

Mort is not a lemur!!! He is, quite literally, the embody-ment of Death!!

Lavender Hope said...

I remember when I first typed this, I had most of the plot figured out.

Yeah, our country's schools are a little different.

Lavender Hope said...

I still remember the plot though.

Lynxia Lost said...

Yeah, aren't you in nursery (kindergarten?) until, like, 6 or 7? When here we start school, at 4.

Lavender Hope said...

It's gotten so hot in my room all of a sudden. Usually, my room's cold, but now I need a fan!

Eve the ROCK said...

Dinner bye!

Lynxia Lost said...

It's cloudy here and fairly cool! Yay!!! It was baking last week. I hated it!

Lynxia Lost said...

Bye Eve!

Lavender Hope said...

That's right. Kindergarteners start at around 6. Then it's first grade and so on. We call years, grades.

Lavender Hope said...

Bye Eve!

I think our weather switched for a few days. When you said it was sunny and hot, here it was rainy and warm. I think our weather switched back.

Lynxia Lost said...

Oh right. We're doing To Kill A Mockingbird in English and it said Scout could read and write by 6 and we were all like 'Who can't by 6?' and our teacher tried to explain it to us.

Nixion Strange said...

Bye Eve

Lavender Hope said...

Yeah. Although, there is a preschool even before kindergarten. It's optional though. I went to one when I was 4-5. Then I moved and started kindergarten at 6.

Lynxia Lost said...

That's a bit confusing Lav.
We just have...
Nursery 0-4
Reception 4-5
Yr. 1 5-6
2 6-7
3 7-8
4 8-9
5 9-10
6 10-11

High school

7 11-12
8 12-13
9 13-14
10 14-15
11 15-16

then it's either college or sixth form which is know as years 12 and 13

12 16-17
13 17-18

Simple.

Nixion Strange said...

what to write...

Lynxia Lost said...

WTB!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaase Nix? Pwetty pwease!!?

Nixion Strange said...

I'm not sure if that's going to work
*sigh*
Fine. Don't hate me when I ruin it

Nixion Strange said...

MSD
I bet it's msd

Lavender Hope said...

You won't ruin it. Besides, it was getting good!

Lynxia Lost said...

Yay! WTB!! *hugs Nix* Yay! Thank you!! *is now jumping while hugging Nix making him jump too*

Nixion Strange said...

*is jumping*
Ugh... I'm not the jumping type

And why does everyone like it so much? There was about 300 words, now everyone wants to read it?

Lynxia Lost said...

Because it's original and amazing! *is still jumping*

Lavender Hope said...

I ditto Lynx!

Nixion Strange said...

original? Hardly. Heaps have used the Blogland idea, and it could be counted as a fan-fic still, seeing most characters have powers out of SP. And only one character was created by me...

Nixion Strange said...

and I always thought it was my worst writing...

Lavender Hope said...

No, Nix! We like it! Please keep going with it!

Lynxia Lost said...

No! Don't say that!! It's brilliant even if you can't see it! *is still jumping with Nix*

Lynxia Lost said...

Published now I have to go! bye1 *hugs*

Lavender Hope said...

I'm going too now. Bye!

Zathract Mist said...

Hello...?

Dancing Fire (Directioner!!!!!) said...

hello:)

Dancing Fire (Directioner!!!!!) said...

oh, i need to go again
*sigh. been driven mad right now*

Zathract Mist said...

Oh. Bye, Fire...

Zathract Mist said...

Wonderful...

Nixion Strange said...

gotta go, if anyone's here
Bye

Zathract Mist said...

*curses*

Bye Nix.

Nixion Strange said...

Back again

Zathract Mist said...

Finally! Someone!

Hi Nix!

Zathract Mist said...

Uh...

Zathract Mist said...

...Right...

Nixion Strange said...

Internet keeps failing, sorry

Eve the ROCK said...

That made it all worthwhile

I <3 Pitbull!!!

Zathract Mist said...

Oh, good, you're both here.

Hi!

Zathract Mist said...

You entering the comp?

Eve the ROCK said...

Hi Mist! Hi Nixiono!

Zathract Mist said...

Yay! You must show me when you've finished!

I finished about an hour ago. And I even made a cover! How's yours going?

Eve the ROCK said...

Hi Calamity!

Nixion Strange said...

Hi Cal

Hi Eve

Yep for moi with the comp

MSD

Nixion Strange said...

I haven't started mine... I got no ideas

Eve the ROCK said...

Can I read it?


Oh, mine....I've just started mine. About 126 words or something

Zathract Mist said...

Hi Cal!

Okay, Nix. You'll have to show us your finished one too!

Sure, you can read mine. No stealing ideas though (not that it's actually any good of course)!.

Eve the ROCK said...

Here's an idea!

MLAAAAAA!

Zathract Mist said...

That's good. You'll get there. :)

I'll probably end up changing mine a few more times yet, though. Still have 9 days before they're due.

Eve the ROCK said...

No, I don't steal ideas. People steal ideas from me. And I don't even tell them my idea. They just pluck it out of my head and use it and show me and so I can't use my own idea.

Zathract Mist said...

*shakes head*

People these days are utterly evil.

Unapplicable. said...

I think the best part is that there are ten winners which potentially means that quite a few of us have an insanely good chance of winning.

Eve the ROCK said...

Not as evil as the lights.

The lights are demon energy.

Eve the ROCK said...

....Not insanely....

Eve the ROCK said...

It hurts when I swallow.

Zathract Mist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zathract Mist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zathract Mist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nixion Strange said...

211 words for moi, but I'm not going to post it until I've got it perfect

Eve the ROCK said...

Done! Prett-y cool, Mist :)

Eve the ROCK said...

Okay nix

Zathract Mist said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Zathract Mist said...

And now to delete all of them...

Zathract Mist said...

Thanks Eve. :D

Unapplicable. said...

Got to go - bye!

Nixion Strange said...

Bye Cal

Nixion Strange said...

I'm going to write like ten of them, pick the best and put that one in the comp (cause you can only puy one in)

Zathract Mist said...

Bye Cal!

I think I'm just happy with mine. I was originally going to write a few and choose, but that didn't happen.

Octa said...

Hey ho!

Writing competition. Just sent in my entry.

But I'm worried because I'm 9 words over the limit so I hope they don't disqualify me.

Secondly just after sending it in I had an epica idea which I can't use now.

Feel free to not use it :P

I was going to make Sadistica a POOODLE.

Eve the ROCK said...

Bye Calamity!

I've got my idea, and I'm pretty sure it's working out good, but if it turns out to be a disgrace to the lights, I'll scrap it and start another.

Eve the ROCK said...

Hi Octa!

*smacks forehead* A POODLE! Why didn't I think of that??

Octa said...

Hey Eve!

The real question is why didn't I think of it sooner? :P

Zathract Mist said...

Hi Octa. I'll make SURE not to use it. *nods*

Octa said...

Hi Zath!

Why didn't Derek post details of the competition on his blog?

Eve the ROCK said...

Because its a HarperCollins competition, even if Derek gave us the story-starter.

Zathract Mist said...

He's most likely lazy. Or sleeping. Or working on KINGDOM OF THE WICKED!

Or he forgot.

Eve the ROCK said...

294 words so far....

Zathract Mist said...

Yes, yes, and the HarperColinsAreEntirelyEvilForDoingThisToUsAgain thing.

Eve the ROCK said...

This time you can ask who won though. Or look at the site. :)

Zathract Mist said...

Me thinks Nix disappeared...

Nixion Strange said...

No, just be writing. I did disappear for a while, but I just got back
Hmm... 15 words over...

Zathract Mist said...

Congratulations!

*hands Nix a leaf*

Keep going!

*thinks*

How funny would it be if only Blogland people got in the top ten?

MSD

Lynxia Lost said...

Gah!! It's like the blog doesn't want me here.

STOP DELETING MY COMMENTS!!!!!!

Nixion Strange said...

*takes leaf*
4 words over...

Nixion Strange said...

Hi Lynxia!

Lynxia Lost said...

I'm only here for 5 mins. I think we're near the restaurant now so I might have to go soon.

Nixion Strange said...

1 WORD OVER

Nixion Strange said...

Okay Lynxia...

Zathract Mist said...

Hi Lynxia!

Can we see it when it's 500 Nix?! *is hopeful*

Lynxia Lost said...

Oh, have to go now!! Bye! *hugs all then kisses Nix*

Nixion Strange said...

*kisses Lynxia*
Bye!

Nixion Strange said...

Sure Mist, but I just had to add anotehr word, so this would take a while...

Still MSD

Eve the ROCK said...

Hi Lynxia!

Nix, just take out the word 'flubber.' you know you don't need it.

Lynxia Lost said...

Oh, have to go now!! Bye! *hugs all then kisses Nix*

Nixion Strange said...

500!
Let me just read over it...

Zathract Mist said...

Bye Lynxia!

Okay, Nix. Switching to iPod and still on msd.

Zathract Mist said...

Back and distant for a bit.

Yay!

Nixion Strange said...

So, who wants to read mine? This might not be the one I post, but quite possible

Eve the ROCK said...

I wanna read it!!!!

Nixion Strange said...

Okay, now I added two words again...
Give me a sec

Zathract Mist said...

IDOIDOIDOIDOIDO!

Eve the ROCK said...

Oh, shish, 504 already? Dammit

Nixion Strange said...

anyone still here?

Nixion Strange said...

My internet failed

Nixion Strange said...

never mind, I'm going

Eve the ROCK said...

Bye Nix!

I finished and entered!!

Eve the ROCK said...

Msd

Eve the ROCK said...

I'll go to sleep now

Buh buh

Flame Phoenix (Fawkes)~roleplaying said...

Hello.

I hate you all.

Flame Phoenix (Fawkes)~roleplaying said...

You alll left. AND i just came.


AND I NEED TO WIN THIS SHORT STORY COMPETITION.

Thats why ive made it epic.

Flame Phoenix said...

hello.

Lavender Hope said...

Hello. Wbd.

Star Inkbright said...

Hi people!

I hate Fridays. Nearly all the subjects I do on Fridays are bad subjects and I'm always really busy after school on Fridays.

Star Inkbright said...

Bb in 15

Lavender Hope said...

Hi Star. I gotta go, but I'll bb soon.

bluebird said...

hello?

bluebird said...

any1??

bluebird said...

..

bluebird said...

1st!!

Lavender Hope said...

BLUEEEEE!!!!! *tackle hugs* :D

HIHIHIIHIHI!!!!!! :D

bluebird said...

i dedicate this page to me being back!!!! (if u did not know cause your not here) and to derek, and peeps in blogland- actually no cause ur so rude and NOT HERE :( *sighs*

bluebird said...

hi lav!!! *hugs*

Lavender Hope said...

I'm here! I just got back! HIIII!!!!

bluebird said...

i've missed blogland!!

Lavender Hope said...

Yay! You're back! How have you been???

bluebird said...

hiii! did you leave??

bluebird said...

gdgd u??

Lavender Hope said...

And I missed you! You missed some things, but mostly people. There are a few new ones who've come.

Lavender Hope said...

I've been good. :)

bluebird said...

cool, whats happened???

Star Inkbright said...

BACK!

bluebird said...

hey star *hugs* back!!

bluebird said...

r flame and sparky still together?

Lavender Hope said...

WB, Star!

Well, Lynxia finished her One for You story, I started writing more, and there are new people. But I'm forgetting who came since you left. :P

There's Miss Cain, Sir Reingington, Dancing Fire... A lot. I forget. ^^'

Lavender Hope said...

Oh yeah, and Sparky hasn't been coming on... She will though. She told me she's coming back.

Lavender Hope said...

Just not yet.

bluebird said...

gd :) missed every1

Star Inkbright said...

Sparky isn't coming on at the mo (exams etc., apparently), and Flame doesn't come on much either . . .

Lavender Hope said...

Missed you, too!

Star Inkbright said...

Even me?

My sister came on yesterday, using my account.

Lavender Hope said...

He tried earlier, but no one was were.

Star Inkbright said...

I know Lavender. I saw.

Pity no one was there . . .

Lavender Hope said...

Yeah, I came an hour later.

Lavender Hope said...

So Blue, are you coming back and staying again, or is this a for now thing?

Star Inkbright said...

I came an hour later than I usually do too coz my brother and Dark had swimming lessons:(

Star Inkbright said...

Ditto Lavender.

Lavender Hope said...

Oh. I was wondering where you went. It's almost 6PM there, right?

Star Inkbright said...

OOH!

Sadistica could be a llama!

Lavender Hope said...

*looks at time*
Darn, I gtg in 15 minutes...

Star Inkbright said...

Yep. Quater to six. Fünf Uhr funfundvierzig.

Lavender Hope said...

Funny thought, Star. :P

Star Inkbright said...

Damn indeed:(

Star Inkbright said...

I'm not kidding. In my superllama story, the superllamas are very intelligent amd can talk - though not many of them speak English.

Lavender Hope said...

Well, that would be a very interesting story. Maybe you'll be one of the winners cause it's so unique. And I mean that. :)

Star Inkbright said...

I'm being perfectly serious, here.

Or she could be an octopus person with tentacules etc.

Miss Cain; The Aussie Ninja Stalker said...

hi!!

bluebird said...

sorry g2g :) i am here forevz btw

Star Inkbright said...

No, I won't make her a llama. Too ridiculous. It could be funny but funniness might not be enough. I'm in it to win it here.

Lavender Hope said...

That sounds cool too.

Hey, did you see the new Heroes of Olympus cover??? For the third book? It's awesome!

But of course, not as awesome as the new SP cover. ;) Still really cool though.

Lavender Hope said...

Hi Miss!

Bye Blue! And yay! :D

Star Inkbright said...

Sooooo . . . You're here forever, yet you have to leave here now?

May the fours be with you Blue!

Miss Cain; The Aussie Ninja Stalker said...

are we talking about the awesomeness comp??

Star Inkbright said...

Hi Cain!

Star Inkbright said...

Yes Cain.

No Lavender and anyway in England we have different covers than you do.

Rose Black said...

HI ALL!

Lavender Hope said...

Oh yeah. I remember seeing The Red Pyramid with the UK cover. It looked so much better!

Miss Cain; The Aussie Ninja Stalker said...

i cant think of anything that doesnt envolve Eliza Scorn...

Lavender Hope said...

Hi Rose! :)

Miss Cain; The Aussie Ninja Stalker said...

for the comp

Hi Pink!!

Star Inkbright said...

Hi Pink!

Star Inkbright said...

Thanks Lav:)

Rose Black said...

Anyone here read The Mortal Instruments?

Rose Black said...

brb

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