I'm sitting in my hotel room in... where am I? Melbourne? Adelaide? Wherever. Anyway, here I sit, tapping away at my laptop, about to go to bed and I figured I'd drop by and say hi.
So, y'know... hi.
The tour continues to go well. In fact, it's going great. Brilliantly. The response has been incredible, with so much energy and enthusiasm at each event. Signing queues have been massive, which is slightly less cool, because I just don't have the time to chat to each person as much as I'd like to, or even sign all of their books in some cases. Next time I'm over I'm going to INSIST that more time is left for signing. Some of these Minions-with-funny-accents go through an awful lot to get to me- some have been driving for 7 hours, some have even FLOWN in... The least I can do is have a chat and sign whatever they have. Sometimes that's just not possible, but I try my best.
I've met so many people from this Blog and the Forums and the Facebook pages (and the old Bebo page! Which I must reactivate... maybe... The Bebo page was DAUNTING because of the amount of comments and emails I'd have to answer every time I logged in... Every time I opened the Bebo page I'd spend HOURS there... no such thing as a quick dip in and out...)
Where was I? Oh yes, meeting a load of people I've only seen online. That's pretty cool, to be honest. I had no idea, for example, that Nixion or Calamity were Australian (well, maybe I did have an idea once, but I'd totally forgotten it). It's always so weird when I meet people and realise I know them from somewhere online- it's like we're old friends, and yet we've never met...
Another nice thing about being on tour is the amount of hyperventilating teenage girls who arrive in front of me. I swear, if Teenage Me ever found out what Adult Me is confronted with every day on tour, he'd be so insanely jealous... You're all hysterically funny and quite, quite odd.
When I get home I'll post pictures of some of the cool stuff I've been given (really, you'll have to see them to understand the coolness of some of your fellow Minions), but suffice it to say that I'm really glad I only packed half a suitcase worth of stuff- because I'll be going home with a LOT more than I came with.
Right then, just a few things before I go... According to the Facebook page, some stores in the UK and Ireland have already released KOTW. Naughty, naughty stores. On its OFFICIAL release date I'll put up a special Spoiler blog where you can discuss it here openly, but until then, please keep doing what you're doing and don't spoil it for the others. I'm very grateful to you all for the restraint you've shown so far.
Because of the fact that some schools are back early, some of the Irish times have been changed.
Thursday 30th August
Public Signing: Easons, Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge, TIME CHANGE FROM 12 noon to 2PM start.
Friday 31st August
Public Signing: Dubray Books, Market Cross Shopping Centre, Kilkenny, TIME CHANGE FROM 2PM TO 4PM start.
And one last thing- the competition winners from, ahem, last year. Yes yes, it's taken me ages to send you your books, but now you're also going to get a signed KOTW too, so, like, yay...! But I need you to send your names and addresses to us again, because SOME of you, hilariously, decided not to include your real name the last time, and instead insisted that the books be sent to your online taken name... which would have confused the nice people who deliver the parcels. Also, I know that at least one of you have changed addresses since winning, so we're gonna need an update.
So, send your real name, and your real address (and also your online name so I'll know who you are) to this email:
kids.marketing@harpercollins.co.uk.
It's the only email address they could find that wasn't being used for anything else... Sorry...
EDIT:
Here's the list of winners, in case you've forgotten.
Miss Arianna Dark
Skulduggeryaddict
Octaboona
Asteria Wing
The BookNommer
Necros
Andrew
Silke Gronau
Lauren Longbottom
Mar-Chu
Valkyrie V
Kallista
Thalia
Posts
4,893 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 2001 – 2200 of 4893 Newer› Newest»*wonders where Fay's comment went*
I commented on it, if you're still here.
Hello?
(Hello.)
-I walk up to Tanya, a smile on my face-
How are you, fine lady?
(Hello, Tyde!
Are you new?
I'm asking this because this is relevant to Tanya's response.)
(Also are you male or female? What about your character?
Tanya is female, I am male.)
(I'm a male in real life, and my character is male. Also, apologies for the gender mess up.)
And i am not new to this blog, however my character is.
(Okay. Should I still give Tyde Silente's welcome?)
*approaches Tyde, a hand outstretched to him*
(Hold on, who's your character? I'm very confused.)
Other than you're real name, what were you called in the past, Tyde?
Also, hi. Also, I actually know who your author is, because you commented before. You didn't even dedicate.
*looks at him pointedly*
I'm just wondering if I know you or not, because I didn't recognize your name either...
*adds*
If you want to keep that comment thing a secret, I can delete this and start over.
(Silente isn't here, but Tanya can do a similar greeting.)
(Hello, Hope. Email in 5.)
Hi Tia. Okay.
(...
Why
I mean
What
How?
So...
I look at a name in my email.
Let's say that name is Lavender Hope.
It isn't, but let's use Hope as an example.
And when I type said name into my email search, it corrects said name, not Hope's but someone else's, into what I can only assume is their given name.
Like... how?)
*facepalms because she always messes up your and you're*
*smacks her head again for good measure*
Okay then... I have no idea. What was the name that popped up?
(Oh, never mind, it's from an email that was sent to multiple people, so the names got messed up and put together in the search bar.
I feel stupid now :/)
Ah. Haha, don't feel bad, I'd probably do that too. :P
LIKE WHO ARE YOU.... ARE YOU TANYA OR SILENTE OR WHAT.. I REFERRED TO YOU AS A FEMALE AND YOURE LIKE "OH NO, IM NOT FEMALE IM SOMEONE ELSE" BUT I CANT FIND A MALE IN YOUR NAME SO IM REALLY FUCKING CONFUSED..
(:D
Tyde?
So, how are you, Hope?)
(Silente is Jai's character.
I am Kas, Tanya and Tia are my characters.)
*laughs*
Wow, Tyde. You seem very confused. XD
Tia, you should have introduced yourself better!
*laughs again*
I'm okay. Sort of. Trying not to think too much of the part of me that's not okay, but it happens sometimes... Still, I'm okay for now. :)
SO WHO DO I CALL YOU....
@Tyde: I call him Tia because that was in his display name the first time I met him and for some reason I don't really like calling people by their given name here unless that was what they had as their display name first.
*takes a breath because she said that all at once*
(*hugs Hope*
Stay strong.)
(I am Kas.
The character Tyde is approaching is Tanya. I control said character.)
(okay thank you for clearing that up)
-I reach my gloved hand out to grasp Tanya's-
It's a pleasure to meet you.
(Ah, Nexus, I've missed your presence... *hugs*)
*laughs again*
I'm finding this conversation to be very funny. XD
*hugs back, her smile dimming slightly*
I'm trying...
(Rose, are you referring to me?)
(*hugs Danni*
And I've missed your presence. I'm glad you're back :)
Nexus?
*still doesn't know that name*
Okay then, I'm officially meeting you for the first time. Hi, Tyde. :)
*hugs Death*
Hey you, too.
*now is her turn to be confused*
*lunges forward and tackles Tyde to the ground, pinning him there*
(Oops my bad, i used to have a character with the last name Nexus, carry on)
(Who else, Beach Ball?)
(Kas, I'm still not too sure about that choice, but hey....)
-I waver my hand, using kinesis to send Tanya away from me, as I draw my blade from its scabbard-
(Oh shit, you were referring to me! I've missed you too, Rose. *hugs*)
*Hugs Lav back and looks over her shoulder at Tanya*
Go easy on him. Too far an I'll make you suffer.
Hi Lav.
(*poofs*)
*gasps*
SERIOUSLY???
*looks at Tyde with new perception*
DLYAN/KAI/FELIX/BEACHBALL/ANDALLTHEOTHERNAMESIKEEPFORGETTING????
*tacklehugs Tyde, not caring that he changed his name yet again*
WHY DIDNT YOU TELL MEEEEE??????
(OMFG I THOUGHT YOU KNEW LAV, HIIIIIIIIII)
D:
I MISSED YOU TOO!!!!!
*hugs him tight*
Bye Tia...?
(Alright, now that I've blown your cover, I have a floor to mop.
And yes, I know it's midnight.
And no, I'm not stoned.
And that was kind of a lie. I'm a little high. My meds do that.)
SERIOUSLY???? Again, SERIOUSLY?!?!
OF COURSE I DIDNT KNOW!!! IVE ONLY BEEN BACK A MONTH AGO AND HADNT SEEN YOU SINCE!!!
OMFGGGG
AND THATS WHY I WAS ASKING IF I KNEW YOU OR NOT!!!
And hey you! You left without dedicating that page the other day!
Also, I KNOW YOUR REAL NAME. MWAHAHA. >:D
*isn't even going to do anything about it, all it is is that she knows*
Bye Death!
*hugs, wondering why she's mopping a floor at midnight*
*realizes she herself did something similar not long ago at ten at night*
Huh.
*a faint glow emanates from the perimeter of Adra's lab as he activates the sigils he drew- now no one will be able to enter without permission* *walks through Blogland towards the clearing, stopping in front of Trip's bar to smirk at the posted "law" against murder* *leaves the notice perfectly intact, but burns a response into the grass, large enough to be seen from the other side of the lake* *"THERE IS NO LAW"* *continues to walk towards the clearing, waiting for something interesting to happen*
(They won't let me mop.
That means I've got nothing to do except stare at the walls that look a little like they're melting...)
*returns*
*levels her revolver at Tyde*
Bringing a knife to a gunfight, I see.
Hi Al!
*waves*
*turns her attention back to Tyde*
Now that the surprise is out of the way, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN???
Wb both of you!
*hugs Death again*
That's a bit mean that they won't let you, but it also gives you time to come here, right? Unless that gets you in trouble... Then I suggest not getting into trouble...
*Thankyoucaptainobvious*
(IVE BEEN A LITTLE DEPRESSED BUT AYY IM BACK UP AND IM HAPPY, WBU??!)
-I laugh at Tanya-
This is how you repay a gentleman?
I'm not sure if you're aware, but the armour that I am currently poised in is quite bulletproof.
*happens across Tanya and Tyde, and stands relatively near them to observe*
I'm glad you're happy now! :D
I've basically been on an emotional roller coaster for a while now, but atm, IM HAPPY TO SEE YOU AGAIN!!! :D
And I'm going to be distant starting now so might not reply for a few minutes.
(ME TOO OMGGG)
(Hey, Danni! Glad you're back. :)
Oh, good.
*fires all six bullets at him before charging him with her daggers*
-I bring my blade up against her daggers, kneeing her in the stomach-
*launches herself back, away from his attack*
:D
Also... I mean, I know it was two years ago, but I want to apologize for every mean thing I've ever said to you. Since I left, I couldn't help thinking about it sometimes, and I'm really sorry for how I've acted towards you in the past.
But I'm happy that I'm able to tell you now.
*hugs him*
And unfortunately with that, I have to go. But I'll be back soon. See you guys later! :)
*poofs*
(Bye, Hope!)
I'm a wreck
*gently hugs Noelle* I'm sorry...
Exactly twenty minutes. I am good.
*grins*
*grin fades to a small worried frown as she hugs Noelle*
...
>.< I'm sorry
*doesn't know what else to say- just hugs her*
*hugs her again*
It's okay... Everyone feels that way sometimes, but things can always change...
*her voice trails off as she wonders where she was going with this*
...
*decides to keep hugging Noelle without speaking*
*wonders if it's a good idea to stay up past midnight so she could see Derek's new post*
*mumbles*
And maybe, hopefully, though not possibly get first for once...
I would say something about how depression sucks and trying to commit is bad and don't ever do it again, but then I'd be a hypocrite...
Noelle. I remember seeing you when I was a bubby Bloglandian. You were always on at my nigh times and I always wanted to meet you.
And then I did.
Do you know what happened afterwards?
My dreams crashed.
Yeah.
They were destroyed.
Because my expectations were no where as near as amazing it was to actually meet you.
Then we kinda became friends and the whole July Incident and shit hit the fan and you despised me for a while and I despised you.
But do you know what, Noelle?
You really want to know?
Obviously you do because you're reading this.
I never lost that awe that I got when I first met you. Every time I talk to you or I see one of your comments, I'm reminded of how truly amazing you are.
But you don't seem to see it...
I wish you could see how amazing and truly wonderful you are to me.
To everyone.
I would also like to point out that I don't despise Noelle anymore. I haven't since just after the Incident when I was able to let my ego aside and see her point of view.
*hugs Death as well*
*wonders if she'll really be able to stay on for another two or so hours*
(*hugs Lav back*
*is unable to stay on for very much longer seeing as it's 1:30am...*)
You are a good person, Noelle. *nods*
*curls up near Danni*
*whispers* sleep, sleepy.
It kinda stinks how much later it is for you. Derek's going to post at four his time, which is one am my time and 3(?) am your time.
*Curls up by Kas and traces his nose with her fingers*
I don't want to sleep... Not yet... The ghosts will get me.
I don't mjnd if I don't get first comment. I've given up on that long ago.
*an image suddenly pops into her head*
I can totally imagine DEREK getting ready for the next post. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he wrote it already and is just torturing us with the wait...
Gah, DEREK!
*her iPod is still capitalizing his name*
And I'm finding it oddly hilarious. Like it's become an inside joke or something.
Well, we've finally got some sort of warning beforehand, so... I just want to see how close I can actually get. I'm excited, yet I don't want to get my hopes too high...
(Hello?
OMFG I MISSED BLIP HAPPEN WTF!)
Someone's outside.
I'd be amazed if I even get in the top ten comments. :P
(Hello Death. I don't think we've met yet, have we?)
*huggles Death*
That sounds so scary. Either don't move, or close the blinds quickly!
Hi Aria.
*gives her a small greeting wave*
She comments as Memories sometimes or-
*thinks*
Well, I THOUGHT there was at least one more... But either I've forgotten the name or my brain just made it up.
(I got first on the newest post. Don't give up, Danni. It's doable.)
*hugs Danni* sleep...
(Hey, Aria.)
*just had a new thought*
By outside, does that mean outside the HOUSE or just the ROOM...?
Sometimes I think I overthink, but then I'm always assuming the wrong meaning to a certain sentence and I think that's why I started overthinking...
Sorry, ignore me, just thinking out loud...
YOU SO LUCKY KAS. D:
Nix and Eve got theirs already too! And some others who were probably most likely one commenters... I forgot who else got the first comment, but I know there were other old regulars who've gotten first...
(Hey Kas, Lavender ^.^)
How are you today, Aria?
*sinks into a tree*
Oh, also, I AM SO SORRY I FORGOT TO CHECK MY EMAIL AND I REPLIED RECENTLY KAS I AM SO SORRY.
And you TOLD ME YOU WERE GO- oops. Only meant for the first word to be in caps... Anyway, you said you were going to and I just up and forgot and D:
*resists the sudden urge to pat Al the tree*
*laughs*
I have no idea where that came from.
(Hey, Alastair.
Good night, Danni!
Yeah, it annoys me when one commenters get first. They don't deserve it.
Okay, that sounds harsh, I'm sorry. It's just... we stick around and try to make this place work, so, you know, one of us should be getting first.
Yeah, that sounds awful. Sorry. I'll go.
*hugs Tia*
It's okay. There were others who had the same thought.
Mainly the insane(*coughVal/Ivycough*), but still. People agreed.
(Meh.)
Any reason for being meh, Aria?
(I had my advanced Higher Geography Prelim this morning)
*laughs, remembering how crazy and insanely devoted Val was to DEREK and the blog*
Not to mention her first time here was probably the best out of everyone's first time. :P
She beat someone up and threw them into the bushes!
*laughs again*
(Sorry I poofed..)
-I throw knives in Tanya's direction, one of them nicking her arm-
I hope it went well...
Sounds like it'd be hard though. Good job for surviving it! :)
(*hugs Aria*)
*touches her arm, sealing the wound*
*slowly approaches Tyde*
Yes, Tyde. Yes you did. Did you see my comment up there?
*points to her comment under his last one*
-I stand my ground, watching Tanya-
Your skills are quite petty, Tanya, although I do admire your loyalty.
(Hello.)
Bethany: *she unfolds her wings, stretching them out entirely, almost filling the room*
(*Hugs Kas tightly*)
(Yes, Lav.. thanks omg)
Hi Soph.
*waves*
(Hey Tyde, Sophia)
@Tyde: Yeah, so I'm glad I got the chance to apologize.
*smiles and hugs him*
I've already come to think of you as a friend, but I just want to let you know that.
(I HONESTLY DONT REMEMBER YOU BEING MEAN LAV....)
*whispers*
One more hour...
*stares at her clock intensely for a moment, hoping for it to go faster*
Wbd starting now until his new post.
(Hello Lavender.
Hello Tyde.)
Well, maybe I wasn't really mean, but I do know that I wasn't as nice to you as I now feel I should have been...
And I feel really bad whenever I think of some of those times...
But you're back, and I've told you, so it's okay now.
*smiles and hugs him again*
(*sits listening to Fall out Boy in the Library*)
Okay, now I'm starting to worry that my wifi is going to crash as soon as DEREK posts and I won't be able to comment on it... -_-
*hopes for her wifi to keep working*
(That'll probs happen to me too Lavender.
Oh wait no. Shit. I'll be on the bus home by then.)
(Hello, Sophia.)
Petty? Loyal? It's like you don't even know what you're saying.
*moves in to attack, lashing out with the daggers*
@Aria: oh no! D:
-I parry every attack, tapping the sigils in my armour, as I begin throwing discs of energy at Tanya-
*easily evades the discs, as she has no heavy armour or sword weighing her down*
-I stand my ground-
(Gtg, the bell is going to go in a few minutes. See you all when i get home.)
*now wonders if DEREK's going to start teasing us by posting later than four*
D:
*sees people on* *walks away*
*laughs*
Okay, I was not expecting that.
Bye Aria!
Hi Loki/Zaf!
I DEDICATE THIS PAGE TO TYDE STATFORD WHO ALSO HAPPENS TO HAVE SO MANY OTHER NAMES THAT I CANT EVEN REMEMBER THEM ALL.
I may just have to start calling him by his real name instead. ;P
But I won't if he doesn't want me to.
(Hear hear!
Gotta go, cold walk home, bye!)
(What other names did he have?)
Ooh! I also dedicate this page to all the older Bloglandians who I've been close with in the past and have been coming back on lately.
Basically Death, Adra(Noelle), Alastair(for also being Aretha), Zaf, and Emerald.
*hugs them all, even those not on now*
*misses the old days, but is slowly accepting how much everything's changed since then*
I'm cuddling up waiting for Derek to post.-Zaf
Bye Tia!
Let's see... Dylan Silver was his first one. Then Kai Oblivion, then Felix somethingorother, *forgets a few*, Beach Ball(I was here for that one), and I think something to do with penguin assassin. But that one was just like, only for a day or something. Still, he changed from that one to a new one instead of using the name before that.
@Zaf: Yup.
Soph, maybe he knows more than I do, so you could ask him.
I think there was another name starting with H, but I'm vaguely remembering it. I was also here during that one though, but it was sometime around when he had the name Beach Ball.
Oh, and he mentioned having the last name of Nexus or something like that just last page.
15 minutes.-Zaf
*excitement builds up as she starts refreshing the main page*
*tries to keep it down*
*wanders around* -Zaf
Hi. *waves*
Sup, Aquila!
DEREK will be posting in ten minutes hopefully!!! :O
Ooh, yeah! I remembered another of Tyde's names. Jasper. I think that was actually the one he used while I was on. It wasn't H at all...
*facepalms*
Huh, seems I found you lot just in time - to not save the time of going that many posts back. ;P
5 minutes.-Zaf
@Aquila: :P
@Zaf: :O
3 minutes-Zaf
*poofs, preparing to meet everyone on the next post*
*same ad Lav*
-Zaf
Greetings, Blogland. Is anyone on? I have an idea that I wish to brainstorm with somebody.
Nobody appears to be on. Curses. I shall go.
*departs*
There's a new post, Clara.
*hugs Kas :)*
(Sound interesting, BUT NOT LIKE THAT!!!
*hugs Kas back*(
(*Hugs Kas*
Yeah sure, if Jai is up for it then yeah.)
@Jai: OH DEAR.
INNEUENDOS. XD
(Innuendos are brilliant xD
Not that that way WOULDN'T be interesting.
But its highly unlikely.
HEY ARIA!)
"Not that that way WOULDN'T be interesting" Sil. XD
Not as unlikely as you might think. Hunter and Ez can sometimes taking acting/infiltration pretty far. :P
And okay then.
You guys are going to have to remind me where Anna and Jesa are. :/
(xD Star hush! Still unlikely!)
I know. :P
Ugh, I feel like I'm using an analytical engine.
BOO!
*not here yet, soonish*
OOH, CAN I ADD ON FROM MY DEDICATION EARLIER???
Hi Trip. :)
Yes, Lav. :) :)
Herrow Lav.
And no, there are rules about this sort of thing. Rules that everyone totally knows and obeys. Right guys?
Hey Star. How are ye?
(Hello, Trip.)
((Hello.))
(Herrow Tia. How are ye?)
(Trip I want some copyrights!
Okay, so the company has not used their copyright since 2001. I want to either:
1. Get the copyright for myself.
2. Make them do something with the copyright.
How do I proceed?)
(Hey Nic! It's been a while. How are you holding up?)
(Hello, Nic.
I'm... okay. How are you?)
((Nic can I have a hug from you? It IS my birthday today.-Zaf
((Better than I expected. How are you?
Hello Niccolo. :)
Hey, Nic! Remember me? Probably not, but hi!
So one person says yes, the other says no? Which one is it?
((Happy birthday, Zafira. *briefly hugs Zafira, then walks a few paces away again*))
(You have to buy the rights to the intellectual property off them. Weakening of copyright is not a foolproof method of obtaining copyright, as ultimately there are no clear cut guidelines as to quite how it works. That's sort of why it's so dangerous to companies.)
(So, for option one, go to them ad express an interest in obtaining the rights to the intellectual property. You will then probably have to go through a long negotiation process and pay a rather high price for it.)
(And for option two, you should try and lobby it using the fanbase to demonstrate to them that they will be able to make profit off the back off using the intellectual property again.)
((Hello, Star, Tanya, and Lavender. I do remember you.))
Thanks, Nic!! That made me even happier!-Zaf
(I was joking Lav, of course ye can :P)
(Oh, I'm fine, considering Adra and all. I worry sometimes, you know?)
((Happy birthday Zaf. *hugs and streamers and balloons fall from the sky*))
Thank you!!!!
-Zaf
Yay, I'm remembered. :)
How are you, Trip?
*doesnt ask everyone else because-*
...
Never mind. So how is everyone? And for some of you, again.
((Yes, I understand.))
(Hey Trip! *tacklehugs*
Hey Jai *squishes her in a hug*
Hi Niccolo)
Jesa - *Cuddles up to Annabelle in her cave*
*Yawns and stretches out her front paws*
Question, Trip and Nic/Al/Ari, did you guys see my last dedication?
(1. The price they set in 2007 was $250,000, which shows you that they're ready to dump it as the copyright is practically worthless.
Really, I'm looking for something like making a point that if they're not using the copyright, they should give it to someone who will.
So either they hand it over, or use it. Both are a win for me.
But I can't just buy it.
Fact is, they'll never use it, and they never wanted it.)
(*Is tacklehugged* Herrow Ariadne. How are ye?)
I'm fine thank ye. Yourself?
((Good, good. What've you been up to, besides being oppressed by Alistair?))
(Did you get anything for your birthday, Zaffy?)
((Hello, Ariadne.
Yes, Lavender, I read it.))
(I'm bored, Trip. You?)
(*is squashed*
* smiles and pats Arias back, focusing on breathing*)
Annabelle: *smiles as best a wolf can*
*rests her head on Jesa's front paws*
(I did not, no Lav. Why?)
(Frankly if you think they don't care for it then you could try and use it. If you really don't think they'll come after you then you can try it. But you would have no legal defence if they turned up and said they were suing you for it. Also, I wouldn't suggest selling whatever you make, because then they can claim that as damages in legal proceedings.)
(I would also like to go on record that none of this is legal advice and any damages you sustain as a result of what I say are your own responsibility. My suggestion is that you obtain the rights legally or do nothing at all.)
(Sorry. Internet was protesting.)
*is in her bunker, painting her model of the Midnight Hotel*
(Fine, doing homework. I have a method of relieving your boredom, f you're interested.)
((I cannot recall doing anything as of late aside from being oppressed.
If you would like to roleplay, Ariadne, I can do so with you; if memory serves, both of our characters are in Trip's bar.))
(They don't care, but yeah, they're a big company. It's just... how do you obtain copyrights if you prove the company isn't and won't be using them? They're not making money off the copyright.)
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