Saturday, June 30, 2012

Winners and Release Dates

For those of you who don't know, we recently ran a writing competition on the Skulduggery website, where I supplied the first 50 words of a story and left it to others to come up with the next 450. The ten winners were supposed to be announced last week, but it took my publishers longer than expected to cope with the massive response... Ah, those silly publishers. When will they learn?

I was sent a little over 30 entries and it was not easy narrowing them down. As usual, the standard of writing was very high- and not just with the winners, either. A lot of the entries made me laugh, and that's always a good starting-off point, but the major point of interest for me was watching where you took the story. I gave the villain an outrageous name- Sadistica Tortura- and sat back and let the fun begin. There were some lovely ideas in there, some lovely moments and some fantastic lines. You should all be proud- especially those of you who managed to stick to the word count (ahem).


I managed to take a few days off last week, but seeing as how I have about five weeks before I head off on tour, I need to start working again. August is pretty much wiped off my calendar as far as writing goes, so I'm going to have to get an early start on Book Eight. Which is scary, because it only seems like a few weeks ago that I finished Book Seven. I'm not going to talk about Book Eight AT ALL until a few months from now, once you've absorbed KOTW into your bloodstream, but it feels kind of weird to be tying up all of these stories that I've been telling since 2007. Best not dwell, methinks...

Oh, and as for KOTW release dates, those lucky scamps in Australia/New Zealand will be getting the new book ever-so-slightly ahead of anyone else... My tour there starts on August 8th, and my publishers want the books on the shelves at LEAST one week before that- maybe even two. For the UK and Ireland, we're looking at a release date of August 30th, I think.

Of course, the Minions-who-speak-funny know by now how much I detest spoilers, and you've all been fantastic at not ruining the books for other people. I shall expect this to continue (shakes fist in a threatening manner...)

For all you Ameriminions, still no news on getting the newer books released over there, my apologies. I have some positive news for the Germinions, however, as my German publishers are planning to catch up to the English-language releases. More news on that when I have it.


Oh, and Irish readers will be able to take a break from the football final on Sunday night to tune into Celebrity Mastermind on TV3, where I shall be showing off my amazing brain power on national TV. Hells yeah.


And now, a picture.



4,806 comments:

  1. Wow, really slow responses.

    DEREK, FLETCHER RENN IS MINE I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!
    FAN FIC AND EVERYTHING!!
    You can read it of you want.
    NJ Macerick and Skye Rancour's FanFic
    Yeah.

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  2. Wait, its only 1month until KotW released in Aus! Hellyeah!

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  3. I am so Jealous you all get it earlier!!

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  4. There better be yetis in it derek!

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  5. I agree!
    As soon as I seen them, I thought, OMG EVIL YETIS- AWESOME!!

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  6. I'm glad we'll be getting the book in August! That's awesome.

    The fact that the winners of the competition all seemed to have not stuck to the wordcount was a little sad, as I know a lot of people who entered and agonised (and had to cut out some great stuff) over their own wordcounts. I think if they'd known the rules weren't actually rigid dealbreakers they'd have been happy, but ah well. I can't wait to finish reading all of the ten winners! I wish we know who made it to the final 30, too... :D

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  7. its going to be so co-Wait that cat is playing a game!!!?

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  8. I'll watch Celebrity Mastermind :D Yay :) *eats ham sandwich*
    DEREK! Funny story- I have been looking around for a horse- yes, yes, I love horses- And I found one- He LOVES to jump, He is black and has a white stripe down his face, four white socks, very friendly- HERE IS THE BEST BIT- His name is Skulduggery!!!!!! :D Hahaha! Whenever I went to visit, I nearly DIED when the man told me his name was Skulduggery- turns out he is named after the WORD skulduggery and not the Skeleton.... Oh, well, now he's a skeleton :P hehe :P

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  9. I think there are slower responses 'cus everyone might be on holidays?? :P hehe, I have wifi when I go on holidays! :D YAY! Also, I'll be away on my birthday :)

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  10. I have a toy turtle called Shellduggery, a toy Dinosaur called Chinasaur and a toy penguin called Nefarian Penguine... and I'm getting a horse called Skulduggery.... :D YAY SP RELATED NAMES WOOPWOOP!! :D

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  11. NJ: IKR?! :D Can't wait to bring him home!! :D
    Willow: Hi!! :D

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  12. NJ: IKR?! :D Can't wait to bring him home!! :D
    Willow: Hi!! :D

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  13. It posted twice.... IT'S A SIGN!!! ... Sowwy..

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  14. Hello Caroline!
    Nice to meet you!
    *shakes hand*

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  15. Hello Caroline.
    Nice to meet you.
    How are you?

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  16. Ah not too bad Willow.
    Trying to get my brain moving so I can get writing the rest of my next chapter

    But as always my brain is stalled

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  17. I'm going to have loads of email's soon.Not from the people I want them to be from.

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  18. Why who is stalking you Willow lol

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  19. My extremely annoying cousin. Asking me about girls. -.- . And what they like in a guy. I have no idea, really, I don't. Why does he come to me, with his problems?

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  20. I have to go. Bye! I might be back later. I don't know, but I'll try!

    *Leaves hugs for those who want them*
    *Also leaves a banquet*

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  21. OHMYGOSH DEREK, I'M KIRSTY VAN DER VEER AND YOU CHOSE ME AS ONE OF THE WINNERS, AND I JUST WANNA SAY...
    THANK YOU! AND YAY! AND THANKS AGAIN! AND YAY AGAIN!

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  22. Well then tell him you have no idea cause your not interested in girls.

    Insecure boys always turn to the first girl who has a repertoire with them to try and get an insight. It can get really annoying.

    As I said, just tell him that your not interested in girls so you wouldn't know.

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  23. Hey Em!!
    *hugs*
    Good to see you again!!

    There going to be anymore of your story soon?

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  24. Hey Kirsty!
    Congratulations on Winning!
    I thought your story was Brilliant!
    I though all the top 10 deserved to be there!!

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  25. Heya NJ
    *hugs back*

    I started chapter 6 a few nights ago and I'm still trying to get my brain kickstarted. It is taking me a while.

    I hate when I get like this.

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  26. I know the feeling!!
    Still haven't continued Darkness Follows. Haven't done since about December :/

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  27. Ah now that's a tough run, I was like that, I started this story in 2009 and I didn't start writing again until January of this year.

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  28. Hey NJ Maverick
    Thankyou!!! That really means a lot :) :)

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  29. HEY CASSIDY!!
    Long time no speak, How're you?!?!
    *hugs*

    @Kirsty: No Bother :)

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  30. I agree with Kal!!
    You can use NJ Maverick.
    You can tell by my Name what her chosen Magic is :P
    AD SHE LOVES FLETCHER RENN LIKE I DO :D
    (being bold but oh well, I've put my OC up in the comments on your blog before, you should've gotten the hint :P)

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  31. Thanks for telling the rest of us on the old post guys
    Thanks

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  32. I am Good.
    Leaving rather obvious hints to Derek that my OC should be in the series as Fletcher's Girlfriend/Wife/Mother of his children :P The usual
    :L

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  33. I stuck to 500! I should get a certificate for Person-Who-Doesn't-Go-Over-500-Words!

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  34. Derek:

    Was Kenspeckle an Adept? Just wanted to make sure

    And where in Australia did Fletcher go?



    I'm annoying

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  35. Hi Derek!!!!

    Dang, guess we Ameriminions still deprived well ok. I pre-ordered KOTW so, I'm good. For now.

    I got people to read the books on that link I shared yesterday.

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  36. OOOOH! AND are those monsters in the background...werewolves?????

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  37. I didn't enter.
    I couldn't think of anything good. :/ Also I had exams and stuff
    *mutters* Stupid GCSE's
    Anyway, I probably wouldn't have won anyway *shrugs*

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  38. Kenspeckle was an adept, he had these glowing white hands sometimes

    I think Fletcher went to Queensland (I'm making this up)

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  39. Eve... you just blew my world
    WEREWOLVES, NOT JUST ONE!
    IS SOME GOOD GUY A WEREWOLF? THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!

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  40. Heeeeeeey Derke

    Can I be in book eight?

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  41. Hey Eve and Nixon!!
    And whoever else has come on while I write this! (if any :P)
    How're you all??

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  42. Heeeeeeey Derek

    Can I be in book eight?

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  43. I'm... chosing not to answer for personal reasons...
    How're you doing?

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  44. IF BECKY ISN'T IN KOTW PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEEEE MENTION HER IN BOOK EIGHT!?!?!
    Not even bothered about me. BUT BECKY. OR ANYONE FROM LE GANG. Yeah...

    ALSO, my entry was actually sh*t.

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  45. AAAAAGGGGGGGGRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Evil Minions with funny accents!

    FUNNY ACCENT MINIONS

    WHY U HAVE EARLY RELEASE DATE!??

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  46. BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TO AWESOME FOR YOUR SHOES

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  47. I'll show how awesome my shoe is by throwing it at you!

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  48. Hye, do you people just wait around for a post? You never talk on the old posts, where we all are, but as soon as a new post comes up
    BAM
    you're here

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  49. I am sooooo intelligent

    Am I right, Derek?

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  50. My awesome feild shall disintergrate your shoe (I'm also to awesome for spelling)

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  51. *casually shoves Nix in the lake*
    Evil minions with the funny accents.
    *sulks*

    *ends up laughing*

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  52. SWAMP AUSTRALIA!!!!

    *grins* we just attack the evil Minions with funny accents!

    *has pitch fork and torch*

    ready!!!!

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  53. Oi, mate, we don't have funny accents. Now let me throw a shrip on the barbie and kill you all, you stereotypical bungers

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  54. Bye Cassidy!

    *pushes Eve in lake too* Evil Minions!

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  55. Actually, I was just coming on and seen Derek had posted. It was pure fluke for me.

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  56. Kal!!!!!!!!!!! I have not seen you in... A long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long long time!!

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  57. *is pushed in the lake twice* People say I have an Australian/New Zealand accent. DOUBLE FUNNY ACCENT

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  58. Bye Cassidy!!
    Hope to see you soon!

    I'm back to the blog too. Gonna try and focus on writing!

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  59. What is the difference between a OZ accent and NZ accent?

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  60. *is pushed into lake a third time*

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  61. SOBS BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE ON FACEBOOK WHO SPOILS IT FOR ME AND/OR TELLS ME THERE'S VALDUGGERY IN IT TO MAKE ME SOB MORE.

    anyWAAAAY. I'm so unbelievably amused by the "(shakes fist in threatening manner...)". Like, I will use that for EVERYTHING now. I should totes get it on a T-Shirt.

    ALSO JOE WON. Oh my God his entry made me laugh. He was a total babe and asked permission to use the baguette joke and I'm actually so glad he did, I was bloody sobbing I laughed so hard.

    I'm really looking forward to KOTW, and the tour. I keep getting butterflies really bad. I'm determined to bring you something again this year, only a little more manageable than a giant drawing and floating unicorn, ahem.

    ALLLLSSSOOOOOOOOOOO I have painted some fandom shoes, that I will be wearing to a signing to show you. I HOPE YOU RECOGNISE ME AGAIN, OTHERWISE I'LL FEEL REALLY AWKWARD.


    I'm trying to thing of something else to say but it's not really working for me.

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  62. That's like asking the difference between an Irish accent and an English accent Lynxia

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  63. BECKY DID YOU SEE MY COMMENT? *hopes she didn't*

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  64. *is squished* Why? What's wrong Kal?

    Is there Eve? I could never tell. XP

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  65. There is a HUGE difference between English and Irish.

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  66. I dont have an accent! I seriously dont. My words arent funny...unless you think the Jersey accent....my parents have that. I sound normal! The Irish got an accent!

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  67. Well, to me Zaf, I don't hear any accent with Australians, so...
    *pushes Zaf in the lake*

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  68. To me it's very odd when the American girl at school talks, she makes the rest of us sound so posh. Mine's just a standard English accent. Nothing special.

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  69. Becky, have we met yet??
    I think we have, I can't be sure though!

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  70. I bet you do Kal. You may not hear it, but I bet you do

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  71. Are you a Northern NJ? Which part?

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  72. I just scrolled up to read it. PFFFFT *hits with newspaper* You srsly win errywhur I hope you know. BUT YOU KNOW ON THE VERY OFF CHANCE THAT HE HAS I WILL CRY SO MUCH.

    Like I will actually drown myself, and the village, IN MY TEARS.

    I hope he kills be off if he does.

    Is that weird

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  73. *spazzes out then drags self out of lake*

    meh....*shadow walks in the tree*

    i call being lookout if Master Derek visits!!!

    *watches for Master Derek*

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  74. Mine's just... Meh. English. Typical English, not posh or chavy just... English.

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  75. I SOUND LIKE A FARMER IF ANY OF Y'ALL WISH TO KNOW.

    I'm from Suffolk in the UK which explains it really

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  76. Em I'm not from NJ my parents are northern NJ I'm from Pennsylvania.

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  77. I used to live in Stoke-on-Trent then moved to the Lake District so mine is just Northern but I don't have a dialect, I don't use any non standard English words unless you count abbreviations.

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  78. There is no standard way of speaking. Everyone has an accent

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  79. @Zaf: I think Em was talking to me :P
    I'm From Northern Ireland, and my Name is NJ :L

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  80. I am not posh though!!! I might like Earl Grey but that doesn't make me posh (people at school think it does!! D:)

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  81. Oh, btw
    NO AUSTRALIAN EVER SAYS G'DAY. EVER

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  82. The Irish is funny....

    Australian: epic

    Brittish: fun to mimick

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  83. Your only up the road from Dublin, we are literally across the border from one another lol that's weird

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  84. *looks at URL bar* The end of the URL is '=true#form'!! True Form! AAAGGGGGHHHRRRRHHHH!!!

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  85. THE IRISH DON'T ACTUALLY SAY "TOP OF THE MORNING TO YOU" WHICH MAKES ME SAD

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  86. I'm Australian so people at my school think I'm a bogan
    Yeah, not many Australians there...

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  87. Australians DO say "mate" a bit, though...

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  88. BECKY. No that's not weird. No I do not win everywhere. I will cry for you. And ded457ewkr,p CW EGYWR. i WILL ALSO PROBABLY SCREAM.

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  89. Hey! Don't mimic the accent!!

    G'day is just weird...

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  90. Okay, mate I'll admit, but never G'day
    Myth, not true

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  91. YOU DO WIN EVERYWHERE. ALL OVAR DA WALLS AND DA FLAWR AND TEH CEILIN

    If like, no-one hears from me after the release of KOTW, you'll know Derek HAS mentioned me, and I have, in fact, died.

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  92. I don't say... I can't remember what people thing English people say but I know I don't wear a suit (very often) or own a pocket watch... Oh wait, I do... DAMN IT!

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  93. Yeah! I have been to Dublin!!
    Ever been in the Gaitey Theatre??

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  94. I WILL KNOW THAT HE MENTIONED YOU AND SPAZ EVERYWHERE.

    I DO NOT WIN EVERYWHERE. SAY THAT TO A MIRROR. Or, you know, draw that symbol and stuff and say it to your reflection? ;D

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  95. *looks outside* Oh... My... Golden... God... It's sunny!!!!!!!!!! Very windy but SUNNY and WARM!!!

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  96. I don't own a pocket watch! :D

    But I drink tea, a lot. C:

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  97. I have a friend with a British accent

    Yeah, we don't say G'day. We say... Hi. Helloooo. Hey. Sup.

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  98. I drink too much tea.
    Once I went through 12 MUGS of tea in one day.

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  99. You have never had tea!!!!!??????
    What? But- How- How can you have never had tea?

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  100. 12? I have one in the morning and one at night or hot chocolate!

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  101. I say, old chap, spiffing day, is it not?

    See, you say that English people aren't actually like that, BUT THEN THERE'S TOM HIDDLESTON, LIFE RUINER.




    I tried to get my Reflection out.

    Twice.

    Neither time worked.

    BUT PFFT NOPE YOU WIN MORE THAN ME

    I DON'T EVEN WIN I'M JUST SORT OF "alright"

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  102. We, in N.I, 'S'craic way ye'
    Yup. That's more the Culchies than anything :P

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  103. Only 12? The most I've had is...27...In 14 hours....

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  104. Only once, a long time ago NJ

    Hmmm, has anyone see my Sanctuary ID Last time I had it, Zaf was tackling m... Oh sh*t!

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  105. I don't say spiffing.

    Tom Hiddleston... Genius!!

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  106. I'm really British. It hurts. I'm so eccentric. And I drink so much tea I'm surprised I haven't actually liquefied INTO tea. I probably bleed tea.

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  107. Oh, and Crocodile Dundee... He is not anything like Australians

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  108. I have hit chocolate on special occasions

    No one in Adelaide drinks tea. Not that I've seen. Just coffee

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  109. Yeah... I'mma tea Addict.
    I don't drink Coffee.
    :P
    Also I was bored, Home Alone, and just really wanted to drink a lot of Tea :P

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  110. ....

    Omg at fireworks my Elders were there. We got bored waiting and endong up doing an epic light up sword battle. I failed....then they killed me and were spazzing cuz the Grand Mage was 'dead'

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  111. I actually say all the stereotypical British things just because.

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  112. Have you got any red back spiders, non-Aussies?

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  113. I tried coffee once and gagged, I hated it XD

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  114. Zaf have you got my Sanctuary ID? Just checking all places, i've lost it.

    Now I understand why you aren't after me anymore. Can't be after me and needing me if you've been killed

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  115. I say splendid a lot and apothecary rather than chemist but I'm trying to stop that. I get a lot of odd looks...

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  116. I went to see Blood Brothers @ the Gaitey Last year. It was SO good

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  117. Oh my god! I had pepper on tomatoes, couldn't taste a thing! I had to add HEAPS of pepper!

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  118. Zaf's dead?
    So... do I get my third of Ireland?

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  119. I lived xD they brought me to Nye (seriously this freakishly tall person we call Nye)

    I dunno I think I do have it. Maybe I'll feed it to the Derek-lizard

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  120. My word I love in a lucky country.

    What be happening here?

    (Forgive me if I say something a little strange, it's twenty to one in the morning, I woke up five minutes ago and couldn't go to sleep, so I came here)

    How is everyone?

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  121. The Olympia is my theatre of choice for concerts NJ.

    I knew you had it Zaf!!! Give me it back.

    (note to self: cut down that bloody tree)

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  122. It's a forest Em, you know that right?

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  123. SSSPPPPPPAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    *tackle hugs* I have not seen you in the longest time!!!!!!11

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  124. HEY SPARKY!!
    Haven't seen you in AGES
    HOW BE YOU?

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  125. SPARKYYYYY. *tackles*
    HELLO!
    I've not talked to you in...5evr.

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  126. Why a forest? Bloody trees.

    Zaf I want that ID now!

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  127. There are so many people on right now it's UNREAL!!
    And Awesome (obviously)

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  128. I'm getting a little tired of these games Zaf. And constantly looking over my shoulder cause of your bloody temple.
    Stop playing me about necromancer

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  129. DAMN!!
    I JUST missed out on 1st :(
    Haven't been first in AGES :'(
    Oh well
    CONGRATULATIONS!!

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  130. I'm good!

    Lu!

    *hugs*

    Kal!

    *hugs her too*

    It's been quite a while. I hope everyone has been well during my absence.

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  131. Nup, Blogland pretty much killed itself while you were gone...

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  132. *sticks hand out to Sparky*

    I don't think we've been introduced at all, I've heard so much about you.
    I'm Emerald

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  133. Nope!!!

    *continues to sit in tree*

    hmmm *pets Derek-lizard here boy you hungry?

    *feeds Derek-lizard Em's I.D*

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  134. What about this 'Healing Day' thing I read, hmm?

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  135. Yeah, that pretty much happened when you got back Sparky

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  136. Everything got better in blogland on Healing Day. C:

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