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:

  1. IT'S THE COVER I KNOW THE FRINT IS DONE!!
    I KNOW IT!!

    BTW I HAVE A QUESTION I HAVE BEEN MEANING TO ASK YOU FOR AGAED MR LANDY!!
    OH OH AND I GOT THE BATTLE PACK OF CARDS. EPICANESS

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  2. Your caps lock button skills are impressive...

    Eh, just kidding. You can type however you want, no skin off my nose.

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  3. Right, my question:
    Murder Rose is name, is it like something really genious you did deliberately, or accidentally??

    Murder Rose
    Murderous
    Get it??
    If so, you know, answer the question, Please??
    Somewhere I will actually see it??
    Like, on the next post??
    Like say '@NJ: It was done on purpose.' or '@NJ: It was by accident but well done for pointing it out' Y'know? Please?
    Pretty Please??

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  4. *7th. By the way, cannot wait to see the print Oh Golden God.

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  5. HEY SNOOGY!!
    Long Time no speak!!
    *hugs*
    How're you??

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  6. hey NJ *hugs* I'm good thanks how are you?

    *Finishes reading post* WOOOAAAAAH
    METHINKS COVER ART YAAYYAYAYAYAYAYYAY

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  7. I must got to bed now :( Hope to see y'all soon!

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  8. WOOOOOOOOOT!!
    *grins and dances both badly and madly*
    Now I have more reason to look forward to Friday! :D

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  9. Dereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
    Hullo! :3

    Cool, visiting schools, huh?
    I wish you could visit MY school... It's at my house 8-]
    I'd give you a kitten!
    We have kittens to spare...
    And dude, you need to come to the States!
    The states are AWESOME!
    And yes, I DID just call you dude... well, in a way, I did, anyway.
    Saying dude was more another way of saying, "seriously..." Yeah, you probably knew that. But maybe I DID call you dude. That would be interesting, wouldn't it?
    By the way, the next time you're kind of lost, and you need something to do, I suggest converting a boring squirt gun into an epic steampunk invention 8]
    Kinda like this [scroll down a touch]

    http://spg-unitedtowrite.blogspot.com/2012/05/nearly-pointless-post.html#comment-form


    It's great fun, honestly. And when you finish, there's not much you can do but squee excessively and jump around into everyone's faces saying, "ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL???!!!!"
    Also great fun 8]

    CAN'T WAIT TIL FRIDAY!

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  10. I'm grand, thanks! And rather ecstatic, after discovering this next blog post in two days time... :D
    How're you?

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  11. Front cover? YAAASSSSSS!!!!!!!!


    AT last! Very excited!

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  12. Woohoo! I can't wait to see the cover. :D (Well, I will have to wait, obviously. But... you know.)

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  13. 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    DEREK LANDY



    OMGG IN SEPTEMBER PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE COME TO CLARE! I'M BEGGING YOU!!!!!

    *gets down on knees and begs*

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  14. Darn it. I was going to demand you come to BEA in June and sign my book but you've made me feel guilty for even thinking of asking you to do MORE autographs and book events so I won't ask...or demand. Enjoy your break while it lasts because it will end xD. Also this mysterious image appearing on Friday will it have a skeleton on it? ;).

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  15. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH I'M SO EXCITED! :D ABOUT LIKE NOTHING!

    ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE HIGHEST UP I'VE GOTTEN SO FAR


    SO YAY



    AND YOU'RE TOURING IRELAND IN SEPTEMBER!


    YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

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  16. Hi Rose! I hope he does! :)
    And, you've reminded me...

    *coughs*
    A message to the Golden God.
    There are crazy-awesome people in the North of Wales who worship you, too, Derek! Honestly! So, you could always come visit some time, y'know... ;D

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  17. That. Is. So. AWESOME!!! Can't wait to see what the 'mystery' is :P though I think I have a pretty good idea :P

    I cant believe I missed so many awesome ppl :(

    hi awesome people who are still on! *waves and hands them all cookies*
    how r u all?

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  18. BTW DEREK, FIVE PEOPLE IN MY CLASS ARE ON HERE, AND ABOUT TWENTY MORE ARE FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



    BUT ESPECIALLY ME, KOMODO AND WILLOW!!!!

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  19. Hey Derek, I have a question (big surprise right :P)

    I know your super busy with your tours and whatnot, the price of being as awesomely epic as you are, but when do you think you'll be able to come to the United States?

    P.S.
    I posted this on the first page in hopes that you might answer it on friday :D

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  20. Hii Kallista! *glomps*
    Hii Raven! *glomps*
    I'm grand, thanks. How're you?

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  21. Hiiii Taia! *hugs back*
    im great, am excited that Derek posted again

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  22. Me too!
    And Friday'll be even better than usual, this week.
    I have an awesome afternoon of laughter and little else, and then I get a 'Mystery surprise' from Derek.
    I am very excited. *nods*

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  23. same here :D
    i wonder what the 'mystery' will be

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  24. Me too.
    Surely not a cover design for a certain book. P:
    Maybe it'll be some random photograph of a ninja snail. Or a turtle. Or... Something...

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  25. Or a ninja snail turtle. *nods* Bet it'll be that.

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  26. that would make for an interesting photo, wouldnt it? :P

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  27. *nods* That'd make sense, Rose.
    Maybe The Golden God is writing a new book. About a ninja snail turtle. That'd be cool. And of course, there's a front cover image. P:

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  28. I've gotta go, too.

    Byeee!! *hugs whoever's still here*

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  29. I'm back. After a good few months, I'm back on this blog. Hi gais ^_^

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  30. Nothing...Just approving comments on my blog..

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  31. May I ask one question? Who here is actually Irish? Not counting me, of course.

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  32. Not meh. Though derek Landy makes great books! I just hope he reads my blog one day.

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  33. Oh well. Bye bye now. I might come back to this blog some other time. Doubt it though.

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  34. Derek, we all know what that image is >8) You can fool no one. Well, except my cat, who is sleeping. But other than that -- NO ONE.

    Now I'm excited for Friday. It'll be something to look forward to after Power of the Pen states.

    Hope you stop aimlessly wandering from school to school and chill out soon.

    -Thalia

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  35. DUDE I THINK DEREK LANDY MIGHT PUT THE COVER TO THE KINGDOM OF THE WICKED ON FRIDAY!!!! GREAT BLOGGING MATERIAL FOR MEH BLOG!

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  36. I never knew that....WHY DIDNT YOU TELL MEH!!!?!?!?

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  37. FOR ALL THE SKULDUGGERY FANS IF YOU GO TO http://www.skulduggerypleasant.co.uk/avatar.php YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN SKULLDUGGERY PHOTO FOR YOUR BLOGGER PROFILE!

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  38. srry for disappearing, forgot i had this window open :P

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  39. Hi Derek!!! I feel so random asking but uhm ok my friends and I are curious very curious. If a person had the symbol that permanetly binds your magic how long would it take for them to age? Again I know you must be like half asleep cursing the Blog but hey inquiring minds want to know.

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  40. Derek! Hi, I'm Eve J, please come to Adelaide!!!!! I really want to meet you!

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  41. I wonder how the cover's going to look...

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  42. my guess is that its going to be as awesome as the others :D (course thats not a big surprise :P)

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  43. I think its going to be....Dark Red.
    or Green. *nods*

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  44. Oh, and IF you come to South Australia (please?) can you sign anything we give you? A Skulduggery Pleasant book? A hat? A poster? A puppy?

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  45. Hi Raven! Hi Editor's Article!

    Can't stay I'm afraid. SCHOOL.

    Sayonara!

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  46. Derek!!! If your going to LA, can you visit Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada? I told the Librarians at my High School to get the books and there's not once a SP book that has been on the shelves for more than 24 hours! It's, like, only a three hour plane ride from there

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  47. Yea! COME TO VANCOOOVA! british columbia....

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  48. And please give us another chance for a create-a-character competition. I know how I need to do it now....

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  49. Do we get to see the cover?!?!?! DEREK!!! You waited 8 days, 8 days before putting in a new blog post! 8!

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  50. i gtg, ill try to be back before 5000 :P bye all *hands everyone a cookies*

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  51. Derek, if you're trolling us loyal fans and you end up posting a picture of a cat instead of the cover...
    That will not be a good day for me.

    Not staying! Have to finish a silly essay for a scholarship.

    (>^.^)>*INSERT WITTY COMMENT HERE*<(^.^<)

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  52. Hahaha, Myth, eat typing skills.

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  53. Grrr!
    Not fair you were already logged on to google.

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  54. *Sniggers*
    Hey, Derek, I need where you are going to NZ.
    Flights and stuff like that, ya know. ;)

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  55. Hey Derek. You will finally get to see one of my comments. PLEASE COME TO TIMARU. There isn't much excitement here and I NEED YOU!

    hyio!!

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  56. Wow, my comment didn't make sense.
    *Coughs*
    Okay, where are you going in NZ on your tour? Must know.

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  57. YES DEREK, MYTH AND I NEED YOU! :D

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  58. You know, It feels odd to think that I can say anything right now on this thing and my favourite author in the world will be able to see it.

    Hey Derek! You should give Valkyrie a knife or a stave or something.

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  59. Or a stick.
    She's always wanted one of those.

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  60. Aimless.
    Describes my life.

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  61. THERE IS A PLACE CALLED SWORDS AND A PLACE CALLED CORKS!!? THAT... IS... EPIC!!!!!!
    plus i can wait for friday!!!!! checking the blog will take priority over all else!!!

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  62. Visiting schools in Dublin? Why didn't you come to my school??

    Then again, my school is a horrible place, and Im leaving this year. Yeah, you probably wont want to go there..... You should go to my new school though!

    And, I have tickets for your Dalkey book festival thing!! YAY!

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  63. Visiting schools in Dublin? Why didn't you come to my school??

    Then again, my school is a horrible place, and Im leaving this year. Yeah, you probably wont want to go there..... You should go to my new school though!

    And, I have tickets for your Dalkey book festival thing!! YAY!

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  64. Visiting schools in Dublin? Why didn't you come to my school??

    Then again, my school is a horrible place, and Im leaving this year. Yeah, you probably wont want to go there..... You should go to my new school though!

    And, I have tickets for your Dalkey book festival thing!! YAY!

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  65. Visiting schools in Dublin? Why didn't you come to my school??

    Then again, my school is a horrible place, and Im leaving this year. Yeah, you probably wont want to go there..... You should go to my new school though!

    And, I have tickets for your Dalkey book festival thing!! YAY!

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  66. Oh that sounds awesome! And why do all of my favorite authors live in the UK and never come to where I live in America!?! Someday, I will go to the UK and go stalk my favorite UK authors at their tours.

    BTW If Star Inkbright is reading this, hello from the time bubble ;)

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  67. If Derek goes to America he better get to Pennsylvania! We arent far from New York City!!! We're deprived of all the FUN people

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  68. AWESOME, DEREK!!

    I swear to the Golden God that I will meet him when he comes to AUS!

    Can't stay, I was lucky to get on for five minutes anyway.

    NEED TO SEE THE COVER!!!
    Bye!

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  69. Bye bye casually going to bed, Derek leaving my mind wandering....

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  70. Now I'm super excited.
    Sitting in school doing course selection and I was so bored.

    Now I'm super excited!

    Guten tag alle! I will be distant.

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  71. Nice of Derek to post the day we reached 5000 on his last post.

    Hi guys!

    Distant cause I'm just reading the post now...

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  72. Ok.
    Sweet.

    *hums along to song in head*

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  73. That's so cool Derek! I'll be waiting on Friday! Or would it be Thursday for me...?

    Yeah, done reading. Hi Izz. :)

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  74. Being in the first 200 has its disadvantages. Like having to refresh the page all the time. Although, I guess I've always done that, so... this comment is pretty pointless now.

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  75. Netspace has blocked me.
    I'll go because this is just getting complicated.

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  76. Meaning you're leaving?

    Bye Izz, if you are.

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  77. I'm back!

    I just got rid of the other page so I'm only open on the comment page.

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  78. That's cool.
    I'll just sit around and be distant too.

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  79. Danke Lavender!

    I love your profile pic, it's cool.
    I like anime pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  80. I'm doing an essay now.
    About the film Forrest Gump.

    Have you seen it?

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  81. Y'ello Lorelei!

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  82. Yeah, a little but. And thanks. Found it on google images.

    Hi Molly! Close to what?

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  83. Actually, I think I've seen most of the movie.

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  84. NOOOOOOOOOO I'LL BE IN NEW YORK ON FRIDAY, AWAY FROM THE INTERNET.. >.<

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  85. Do you think you enjoyment is lessened by a lack of knowledge concerning American history?

    Because that's what the essay is supposed to be about.

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  86. Derek, why don't you go to a school HERE? Hmmm? All of us Amerininions are going to DIE if you don't come here! Especially me! I'm already dying from it!!!



    And how about you cancel the LA thing and, oh, I don't know, come to Seattle? Please? PLEASE?!



    ALSO, I am going to Ireland either next April or next June or something like that. My and my mumzy wanted to know if you had an email that we could contact you with so we could meet up with you...



    AND my birthday and Sparky's birthday were not that long ago (April 29 and May 8) so could you PLEASE say a late happy bday to us? Thanks!




    AND I CANT WAIT FOR THE COVER!!!!!!!!

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  87. Hi Ruby! That's not good!

    I'm not really sure what you mean, Izz...

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  88. DEREK!!!!!!!!!!!!




    WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LA? WHEN? ANSWER ME NOW!!!!





    MY MOM IS WILLING TO BUY ME A PLANE TICKET THERE TO MEET YOU!

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  89. *shrugs*
    eh. It's not important.
    Just a very frustrating topic for an essay.

    What are you doing right now? Apart from talking here...

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  90. Reading other blog posts from people I follow. And listening to music.

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  91. Val.

    He can't hear you. No matter how hard you press the buttons he's can only respond if he reads through this page of comments.

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  92. *imagines future Derek reading comment page*

    *waves at future Derek*
    Hey.


    The way we waste our days.....

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  93. LA...

    Okay, when I first read that, I was wondering if he meant Los Angles or some other random city called LA, but I guess it was cause I didn't want to get my hopes up or sound like an idiot.

    If he comes to LA, I SOOOO would like to meet him there!

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  94. I'm just going to PRETEND he can hear me.




    Besides, pretending is better than what I was doing a few minutes ago. I went over to my door and shouted, "HI DEREK LANDY! I KNOW YOU AREN'T THERE BECAUSE YOU DON'T COME TO WASHINGTON BUT I HOPE YOU HEAR MY SHOUTING ANYWAY!" and then I shut the door again.

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  95. I've discovered a website called ebillionairesclub.com and now I've bought a jet, a penthouse in Vienna, a Bentley, a massive ruby and some other stuff.

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  96. Ha, a Bentley. I wonder if it's the same as Skulduggery's...

    Oh. Dinner. BYEEEE!!!!

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  97. That's better than yelling out in the middle of the night for no reason whatsoever and then not remembering whet you were yelling about.

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  98. It is Lav. I made sure of it.

    Servus.

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  99. I'll be gone too soon.
    three more minutes.

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  100. I lied.

    Auf wiedersehen alle!

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  101. Hey Derek, can I make an offer to you?



    If I paid for your plane ticket, could you come here for a while? You just said you needed a break, and even though it isn't exactly a break, you'd only have to deal with my screaming for half an hour before I calmed down and started acting somewhat civilized...

    Just kidding. I wouldn't be civilized. I'm me.

    But seriously. If you ever want to, you know, come and meet the biggest Skulduggery fan in the world I'd be a good person to meet. Really. And Amanda would be a good person to meet, too. She wouldn't even chop your head off like she would most people. Come here! Please! I beg of you!

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  102. I sort of left.... sorry, it's someone's birthday here





    Be back in about half an hour...

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  103. Yay! You're still here!


    So, how are you?

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  104. Good. Listening to the Seussical the Musical album on iTunes. :P

    It's awesome. And SO funny!

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  105. My brother had to be in a version of that musical!


    I was in a Lewis and Clark one... :/

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  106. Cool! It's such a good musical.

    Never heard of a Lewis and Clark musical... ?

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  107. Derek, hi again! Eve Jacko speaking yet again...!

    YOU ARE AMAZING, DEREK!!! I was writing Skulduggery Pleasant all over the class whiteboard!!

    A

    MAZE

    ING!!!

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  108. You know that book comp i entered, for a bit of money?

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  109. Aw. :(

    Then what's the good news?

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  110. THEY WANT TO PUBLISH IT IN A COLECTION OF STORIES!!!!!
    PUBLISH!!!!!!!

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  111. PUBLISH!!!!!!
    THAT WOULD BE HUGE!!!!!

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  112. You know that zombie bus thing? I edited it a lot, at entered that
    I'll have to delete it of my blog, but
    AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

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  113. Hello Derek!

    Lovely to hear from you again, as always. You should pick up a hobby, like stamp collecting :D

    Anyway, It is great to hear that you are visiting schools. I'm sure all of the people were estatic to meet you, as people always are.

    I know the chances are slim, but I have asked my librarian whether she could contact you regarding visiting my school when you tour Australia. That is, if you DO visit schools when you tour Australia. So... If you do get a request, please PLEASE accept! I'd love you to come (Warning - we have a lot of stairs)

    I hope, you know, that Fridays post will, MAYBE, even possibly be the new cover for Kingdom of the Wicked? Maybe? (I hope I'm right - I've been waiting patiently for this! I hope it is fantastic. But then again, Tom Pecival's work is always fantastic. And so is yours)

    Regardless, I hope to see you when you come 'Down Under'. Please don't be preturbed by our peculiar accents. :D

    Thank you again for posting!

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  114. YES!! I loved that one!!!!!!!

    So....will the book be sold in every Australian city...? *coughAdelaidecough*

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  115. It has a limited amout of spots for stories, and this letter was sent 14 days ago, but I only got it today. So they might have run out of spots by now
    And I can't actually afford the book at the moment. I don't want my mum to get it for me, and i don't have enough money. it's $90 apparently...

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  116. *chews lip* Hm. Wouldnt they give you the book for free because your story is in it?

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  117. They've given me a discount so it's $68, but order forms have to be in tomorrow, and they live far away, so it won't get to them in time.

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  118. Ack. Well, why don't you run over there and give it to them instead if waiting for the stupid post people?

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  119. I told you, the limited number of spots. I might be to late, the letter was sent 14 days ago, and I only got it today

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  120. Thir office is in Queensland, they might not get my letter for ages!

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  121. This could be a huge step for me as an author...

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  122. Or it just might be my first fail...

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  123. I'm leaning towards HUGE STEP, Nix

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  124. This is a book made out of collected stories by kids. It might not be that great
    But Eve, what I'm saying is my story might not get in.

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  125. You know, by the way Derek never even mentioned the competition, i think he doesn't read our comments...

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  126. But it will go into your Author's Biography!

    "Dylan C. contributed to a published book when he was merely 15 years old"

    xD



    But Nix, what I'm saying is you have to remain optimistic to the end

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  127. It's hard. I sent an email asking if there are any places left for my story, but they might not reply for a while

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  128. Grah. But they have to put yours in, or the book won't be good, and I won't buy it....

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  129. You'd be willing to spend $90 just to read a 500 words story by me, which you already know the basic jist of?

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  130. If my mum let's me. ($90 for a book? Wow) or maybe I'll just rip the pages out and take them home.

    I'll pay for the pages, of course.

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  131. You know, I think they might just display it on there website...
    But I want a copy

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  132. I dedicate this page to Nix's story! I can't believe my favourite zombie story could be in a published book. CANNOT

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