2012 saw me jetting around the world yet again, meeting lots of lovely Minions, some of which laughed, some of which blathered, some of which stared, and some of which hyperventilated and cried tears of unbridled joy. I expected nothing less.
It saw another Skulduggery book reach number one in the Bestseller chart, despite a few bookshops releasing it early and risking my wrath (which is terrible and frightening. Honest it us. You can ask anyone).
It was also a year of writing and looming deadlines. I started the year without a single word of KOTW written, but within three months or so I had a finished manuscript that is probably my favourite of anything I've produced so far. Then The Maleficent Seven turned out to be 20,000 words longer than I had anticipated, so when November came I was still writing the damn thing, instead of starting Book 8 like I'd planned. The good news, of course, is that TMS turned out to be a whole heap of fun, and I have a feeling you'll like it when it's released in... in... oh God, when is it released? March? I think?
The whole thing started, by the way, because of the speed you lot raced through Deathbringer. After a year of hyping yourselves up and building excitement, the book was released and suddenly you had another year to wait for the next one. And for some reason I began to feel guilty about that, so I decided to release something small between KOTW and Book 8, and Tanith's little adventure was born.
Book 8 is progressing well, you'll be happy to know. 25,000 words so far, which is roughly a fifth of KOTW. I don't know how long the new one will end up being, but it'll PROBABLY be fairly substantial. There's a whole lot of war to get through, after all.
Of course, while 2012 brought with it great surprises and good news, it also provided no news at all on the movie front... at least no news that I can talk about. I've been writing the script myself (and it is AWESOME) and I'd have liked to be able to announce some kind of film deal before the end of the year. But things move slowly in Hollywood, and things move even slower because I'm extra-cautious after what happened with Warner Bros (still awesome people, by the way). So just be patient, and eventually I'll have something to say. Good things come to those who wait.
(Well actually, good things come to those who work really hard to make those things happen, but whatever.)
But as the year draws to a close, I like to remember the things that I've enjoyed.
2012, after all, brought us these guys
And this...
... this...
... this...
... that...
Oooh and this slice of awesomeness...
And it brought us Haywire...
... and so more of Gina Carano...
... which is ALWAYS a good thing...
And it had Ronda Rousey defending her Strikeforce title...
AND moving to the UFC...
And 2012 gave us Michelle Jenneke, for which I am eternally grateful...
... and my dear beloved Jenna...
Further words about Jenna, I think, need not be spoken.
... I'm also thanking YOU, the many silent Minions out there who read this Blog but don't comment. Whenever I talk about how proud I am of the Skulduggery readers, I don't just mean the readers I know. I mean you, too.
So, thank you for everything, and I hope you all have an amazing 2013.
Posts
4,920 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 801 – 1000 of 4920 Newer› Newest»Kessie:
Congrats! Yes, I think I've run into her.
Hi Val!
New Years Eve here, Kes.
Great ded kes. The Year of the Skeleton. Doesn't sound lively.
Eh. Two hours qualifies, doesn't it? And if it doesn't, it should.
Thanks, Thrust!
It really was great. The first ded in 2013 for me.
I thought 2014 would be Year of the Skeleton. That's when book 9 comes out.
...
I almost cried at the thought just now. Not kidding.
Same here. I'm fairly certain I'm on the same Timezone as you, Thrust.
I kind of wish that L. had gotten first ded of 2013, though.
We are. But let's pretend we're on the same one as Val, for now. It makes us look less naughty.
Val, I cried at the end of KotW, not because of the book, but because there are now only two left. *dies*
And take it up with Eden.
All I felt was relief, Val knows why.
Gtg, enjoying the Phantom too much to look down!
Fair enough, Thrust.
I have no clue why I'm even awake. I'm going to stay til it's New Years for Val. Fun.
Now you're all making me really sad.
Bye Fabi!
Heheh. Yes, I'm probably going to drop unconscious.
Y'all read my post, ya hear?
I'm good at staying up.
I'm betting that I'm the only Minion whi was literally crying with joy for half an hour or so after I got KotW. And I had had my fingers crossed all day. And when I opened the mail I spent about a minute hyperventilating that it was probably here before even opening it. And then when I opened it I gave a really loud, high-pitched scream. And then I had a *censored* project to finish before I could even start reading it...
*goes off to read Thrust's post*
I couldn't get over the fact that the corner of the jacket was torn.
Kestrel, you weren't the only one to cry about getting KOTW.
I ordered it three months in advance, and on the day it was supposed to arrive my order got cancelled.
That caused some tears. I was dying for that freaking book, and it didn't come. So I ordered it for 1 day shipping out of the UK, payed $50 for it, and got it.
And I cried with excitement.
Mine is still in perfect mint condition. *grins happily*
And my sister was trying to stroke to stroke on of my copies of the first one, and I flipped out because I'm the only Obe allowed to stroke them. Or touch them. Or go near them. Or breathe on them.
I had to move my books to my new house, and me and my stepsister almost fell over because the box was so heavy...
Val, I had that kind of problem. I had ordered it in flipping July, was supposed to get it two days after it came out, got the order cancelled the day before it was supposed to arrive, paid another five bucks for it to be reordered(my parents wouldn't let me do 1 day shipping), and waited another three weeks.
*laughs*
I have so many books, my whole FAMILY has so many books, I have no clue HOW we would move them all.
American amazon is freaking retarded.
When I e release date in Canada was approaching, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I started asking my mom several times a day to get over with ordering it early, so I would get it as early as possible. Every single day for a month at least. Then when she finally did order it, I still had the urge to ask her to order it.
It's *censored* idiotic. Even though I got 3 Skulduggery books off it for, like, 6 dollars.
I usually use the UK one.
The Tanith novella shipping is about ten dollars more than the actual book, so my parents wouldn't let me order it yet...*bashes head*
And we all know about the Spoilers Post.
Spoilers post?
What do we all know?!?!
*grab kes and shakes her violently*
TELL ME!!!!!!
About it's evil temptingness. I was taking bloody bets with myself about how long I would last against it.
Stop shaking me!
Ohh, I don't get that. Everything about the spoiler post just screams danger. I still haven't looked at it yet.
*stops shaking kes*
I refuse to order the Tanith novella... I'm buying it in Ireland.
I am going to experience the wonderful feeling of walking into a store and buying a book when it comes out.
Thrust, I was on it as soon as I possibly could after finishing the book.
And I know. It's just...so tempting. Like the whole book laid bare for you, you know? I had this feeling that looking at it would make waiting for the book just a bit easier...
Whoa! I wonder if it'll come to the Coles I usually go to when I feel patient.
And all the workers will experience just how insane obsessive American girls act.
Val, I hate you so much.
Join the Val-haters Club, Kes. We have t-shirts.
*laughs*
If he ever comes to America, I AM going to tell Jim that Becky says hi.
We do?! *goes off to find Val-Haters t-shirts*
*him
You lied! I can't find them ANYWHERE!
I sell them Kes. Even though I'm not really part of the club.
I have no clue why.
Yay! How much? *puts on bargaining face*
I am NOT going to make it 'til Three...
*hums Three*
A comment!
Or $500'000
Hmmm. I'll give you a comment. You mean on YOUR Blog?
That's what I meant. But it's ok if you don't want to. I was only joking. I just really like comments.
Here. *tosses t-shirt that says VAL V-HATER on it with a picture of a mushroom and a dolphin on it*
The mushroom and dolphin is their flag. Don't ask why.
Thankee! I commented.
*adds pink babies to t-shirt*
Mushroom and dolphin?
I SAID DON'T ASK WHY!!!
Ooh. Putting babies on it would make sense.
*shrieks* NO BABIES!
It should have babies, and lettuce on it.
Definitely babies. And nice, pink, unicorns.
*falls asleep*
Ah. It would appear that I'm falling asleep. Bye!
One more hour, Kes! You can do it!
Haha, kes! I out stayed awake you! Now I shall victoriously - *falls in a heap, snoring*
[Plays Phantom of the Opera music really loud.]
My sis just interrupted to get my mom for a cheese-related exaggeration she totally didn't have to interrupt the movie for.
Back to Phantom now!!!! XD
Well, someone had to break the silence. XD
Ok, whatever. Bye!!!!
..."There's a whole lot of war to get through, after all."...
THERE'S GONNA BE WAR!!!
*arms flail around in the air*
HELL YEAH.
NEW YEAR AT LAST!!!!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Happy 2013, Val V and Tani and anyone else in the Pacific Time Zone!!!
Time zone buddies! *high fives*
[high fives]
The PHAAAAANTOM OF THE OPERA IS NOW INSIDE MY MIND!!!! XD
Did you watch the Space Needle thingy?
(I did on TV)
No, I watched Phantom.
My neighbors are still just as crazy as in 2012...
XD
We're in unincorporated King County, so it's packed with fireworks.
BOOM!!!!
See?
Oh. It was cool on the Needle, though. There were fireworks that dripped down the sides like ice sickles.
Was the space needle good this year?
I'm in Woodinville right now, rather than Edmonds, but there are still quite a bit of fireworks...
Cool!
My neighbors set off fireworks all the time, but it's technically legal today, so there are Millions more.
I've actually been to Woodinville...
Edmonds I've only heard of.
I'd get my mom to drive me there of Derek were to, say sign books there...
It would be worth getting carsick for. XD
GAH! These fireworks are infernal....
CURSE YOU, WATKINSONS!!!!
You'd think I'd have shut up by now, but no......XD
My apologies to any totally random Watkinsons who may have been offended.
OMG, Fabi!!!! U dedicated to Aunt Abby and her motorcycle? That's hilarious!!!!
Haha. She is the most noteworthy Holmes I have had the pleasure of meeting. XD
Copper tomorrow, Fabi. I'm going to sleep, like most SANE people.XD
Copper?
Oh, I get it! Cu!!!! XD
Happy sleeping!!!! XD
I should probably sleep, too. Night, Val, Tani, anyone else for whom it is night!!!
XD
I'LL BE HERE AFTER BREAKFAST.
"Skuldpedia" Oh you~!<3
I am taking this opportunity to thank you Derek, for making my world a brighter and more enjoyable place during some very "Dark Days" pardon the pun ;)but tiz true. Since my walk to freedom 6 months ago KOTW was released, and I could at last enjoy your books without having to hide in dark corners or stuff pillows in my mouth so my cackles of mirth could not be heard by my then Husband, who whole heartedly disapproved of my addiction to Skulduggery (well I say walk! it was a very hurried affair involving a van my brother and 2 of my 3 children!)
I have read and enjoyed all your books over and over again free to laugh out loud. Your Anti Blogging has inspired me to create my own blogg and to have fun with it once more. So I thank you and wish you a very happy new year and please please hurry up and get something out there on the shelves soon :) no pressure!
*wanders in*
Derek,
Very excited to hear YOU are writing the script to the movie and looked on IMDB and it says that David Yates is directing? So that sounds promising. He at least seemed to convey the HP books to screen without needing to "improve" them. In interviews I keep hearing how the director is going to "improve" Joseph Delaney's books for "Seventh Son" and I'm not even sure I want to see it any more!
I agree with most of your choices for best things of the year... although as a female I'm not so into the hot chicks. : ) I would probably have included some photos of Benedict Cumberbatch, David Tennant and maybe Robert Downey Jr. (Although you had him, so it's all good.) : ) You left out Sherlock for best shows though! If you are a Doctor Who fan surely you watch Sherlock!! (And you write such snappy banter... they have tons of that!)
In fact, I just saw a movie on Amazon with one of the actors from Sherlock that you wrote and it's on its way... I'm quite excited. : ) He'd probably be lovely for any number of parts in the Skulduggery Film-- He seems to be able to play anything, just saw him in "The Town" and he was quite sad where in Sherlock he was a murderous psychopath... of course I'm talking about Andrew Scott who just won the BAFTA.
Anyway, Happy New Year to one of my very favourite authors. I'm still reading KOTW outloud to my daughter so... shhhh no spoilers. : ) But we are enjoying it very, very much. I have to agree that so far it is one of my favourites of your books!
BTW any chance of your books being distributed in America again? I've been buying and donating them to our library, and just had to explain to the local Elementary school that she can buy them on Amazon UK since she says the kids really want them--so there IS a demand. Ours go out from the library all the time. (I work there.) And when our patrons don't have them, other libraries in the state borrow them since they don't get them in regular US distribution (some people aren't good at looking outside the box for stuff.) : (
Take care, and best wishes this year,
Clare
Star? Is you here?
Msd.
Happy New Year Derek. :)
I IS STILL HERE! :)
IN TWO MORE SONGS IT'LL BE ONE ALBUM DOWN, FIVE TO GO ON MY PLAYLIST! :)
GRAMMATICAL MISTAKE!!! IT'S TOO, NOT TO!!!!
. . . Sorry, grammar freak. XD
ANDDDDD IT SHOULD BE 'BOUT, NOT BOUT'!!!! *shakes head*
Going on a bikeride soon, though. :(
I hate bikerides. They awaken my phobia of fainting. I've fainted three times in my life and two of those times were on bikerides.
Ah! Star! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
How's you?
Sorry I disappeared - I was just demolishing a chocolate croissant, which I can confirm was exceptionally tasty *nods*
I agree with Clare. The Sherlock series is awesome. DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE PARTICIPATE IN THE WRITING OF THE SCRIPT!!!! Although I think you learned your lesson the last time. Am I the only one who desperately wants to read the failed script? I imagine it would have been hilarious, in a horrible, terrible, ugly way.
Is there any way we'll ever get to see it? Or perhaps in one of your blogs you could post some of the more horrendous scenes. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?
With a cherry on top? Or if you don't like cherries, maybe a strawberrie? A plum? A grape?
Never mind...
From your latest oh-so-slightly-insane minion.
...Hello?
HI IENI!!! HI SCÁTH!!!
Meh. This chocolate croissant wouldn't happen to be anything like a pain au chocolat, would it? :)
*chocoalte
I thinkles.
*chocolate
*facepalm*
Blimey
It's 2013.
Good Lord
Ah, yeah. I think that's the er technical name.
Clover! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
How's you?
And Happy New Years peoples:)
I hate peeling potatoes -_- I can cope with anything else, JUST NOT THOSE GODAMN POTATOES!
Charismaaaa!!!!!!! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I can tell 2013 is going to start awfully but get better as it goes along *nods*
Ieeeeeeni!!! *Hugs* Yeah, it's going to start pretty bad methinks, but will get better!!
And ... *jumps up and down* I found out that there is going to be an Emily The Strange movie!! YEEEES!!!
You know when someone else looks at you when you're fangirling about a fandom that they're not in and they're giving you a strange look?
Well, that's the look I've got on right now;)
Po-tate-os
Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.
*grins* Sorry, that was totally called for:P
HOW ARE YOU ALL, MY DEARS?
HI CHARISMA!
2013 DID start awfully. It started with me being soaked in split champagne!!! *laughs*
It started well for me :)
I was reading Percy Jackson and didn't even realise it was a new year:P
I'm good Luce! Heeeya Star!!
Ieni, the Emily The Strange books are great!!
I was watching that yesterday, Scáth. For the first time.
. . . Oh yes, you knew that . . .
Good morning everyone!
Kill 'em if you ask me *nods*
I'm good, thanks! You?
And in the next load of days I won't be on much, because of my orchestra courses :)
If they're so great, why have I never heard of them? ;P
Ah...my PJ obsessed friend wants me to read those...
I REFUSE!
*Makes a hole in the ground and sits there and sulks*
Omg, Star XD That was...epically clever. What happened?
Morning, Em! *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs* How's you?
Msd.
AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EM!
I had such an odd dream last night. First I went on holiday to Australia, then I remembered that if I was in Aus I might as well might Aussiminions, then I redefined my dream and then I was meeting Eve and then I think I was going to meet Zath, and then my dream shifted somewhere along the line and Hunter was flying all these people to saftey in this flying van only then it exploded a bit and they crash-landed of the coast of Japan, only it was bigger and kind of where India is and they were outside this factory place. And there was all this radiation. I was like no no no they'll die from that and so like I was making up a story I adjusted it so Hunter could form this big saftey bubble over them. Only Sid's grandma from Ice Age 4 turned out to be working for the evil guys situated in Japan, and she was going to destroy all the flying-vehicle people, and HUnter had to stop them but he couldn't coz he needed to s=carrying on forming the saftey bubble and BE in the saftey bubble, so he went outside of it and was holding his breath and I was really worried about him, then he poured this green stuff all over the saftey bubble before the now-evil grandma could get there and then . . . then I woke up.
:/
Erm...that was ONE weird dream *nods*
And the signs saying the name of the street in Aus were really cool. Red fancy font. Which I know I've dreamt about before.
OH and before the Aus thing, I was trying to collect all these things, only they were all behind this different gates that signifyed different countries. So I got all theseones using my passport but I didn't know if my passport would let me o into Ireland coz it wasn't part of the UK, only my mum told me to try because there was this special Light thing in Ireland. And then I got into Ireland (yay!) but there was a really long queue to get near the Light thing so I gave up coz it turned out the Light thing wasn't that important.
Happy New Year Leni!
So we're a day into 2013, hows everyone??
And Ireland closed before I could get near Light *nods*
Well, Ieni, me and my mum were sitting on the sofa, only when she got up to stand in the middle of the room for the toast she flipped the blanket, and it knocked my drink of champagne and it split all over me. :/
good morning, Pinch Punch First day of the month (And year) no returns
*frowns mystifyedly at Chloe* Hi.
Hey Star
Straw Chloe. :)
Staw????
Bubble
You said hay! *laughs*
BANANASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
Sorry, bit disconnected. Deciding on a Meaning Of Life vid for my playlist.
thats ok
(forgive me Im not so good at this sort of thing)
Fruit??????
Msd. :(
CHEESE!
:(
mouse
HAAPPYY NEEWW YEEAARR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The mice in our house started nibbling on my sister's chocolate bar she got for Christmas whilst we were watching LOTR yesterday.
She was pretty annoyed and upset . . .
CAT!!!!
Happy new year Jubi!
HI JUBI!!!!!!!
Happy New Year Jubi!!
Chase says he hopes you all had a good night and happy new year!
TOM
HI STAR!!
HI EM!!
HI CHLOE!!
HI TO ANYONE ELSE WHO IS HERE!!
This person has spelt pyscho as phscho, psycho, and physcho. :/
WTH?
I didn't know if I wanted to come on or not, but yeah. Here I am.
Hi.
And for the third time, Happy New Year! :)
Oops, I almost typed yeah instead of year. :P
Tell Chase I hope he did too. :)
JERRY!
*loaughs at how I have six tabs that all say 'Distu...'
Oh wow Star... xD
IM GONNA GO TO FLORIDA!!! :D
THAT'S AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lucky, I wish I went on holidays like that
MAYBE YOU'LL SEE KES AND SIR. :)
Haha! Yeah... I don't know bout that... xP
I've never been out of Europe. But some places in Europe are awesome, so . . . :)
Ive only been out of europe once
last year when i went skiing at lake placid in america
The only time I've been to Europe was when I went to Italy since I have a bunch of family there :) It's really awesome :D
And the only other holidays i have had out of the uk is going to disney paris twice , when i was 5 and when i was 7,
Never mind. I have to go anyway.
Hope everyone had/is having a good New Year's Day.
Bye then.
Never been to Italy. It was our lifetime goal to go there for a few years, though.
I've been to Greece (can't rememeber it), Portugal, Switzerland (and lived there), Holland (and lived THERE), Germany, France, Wales, England (duh, I live there), Belgium, and, uhhhhh . . . Think that's it. :)
Byii Lavender
:( FOURS LAV!!!!!!!!
i go to blackpool and haven caravan parks mostly
Bye Lavender!!
I have red stains on my hand because I helped my friend dye her hair with kool-aid yesterday... UUGH IT WON'T COME OUTTTT
Now I look like I have a really bad rash on my hands...
SLAUGHTERHOUSE!!!
Erm... HI EVE!!
HI Eve!
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! *attacks Evil Eve*
Sorry I poofed last night.
Wbd... Packing :)
IM HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO!!!!!
from shrek
*sighs*
Should I pick the one with blurry images behind it and . . . I like the font of it; or should I pick the one with a really cool rainy background that is good except the words usually appear on the screen a little late; or should I pick the one that has a slightly-hard-to0read fancy white font that has each word individually appearing in places - very awesome, but makes it hard to read?
g2g now byii
Gtg now, fours! :(
SO C'MON C'MON AND DANCE WITH ME BABY! *dances around room*
BYE STAR! BYE CHLOE! HI MARA!
Hi Jubi! *tacklehugs*
Hey guys! Happy new year! Im actually optimistic about 2013 because 1. We are all still alive and 2. Its sunny in scotland on the first day of the year!
*gets tackle hugged*
HI MEL!!
DON'T SPOIL THE HAPPINESS OF NEW YEARS!!
;D
Hi Mel! *tacklehugs*
It's kinda sunny here too but I'll probably get wetter later... :P
It's really rainy down on the east coast of the U.S......
wbvvvd :P
*it'll
Yeah well something wrong is going on cause all the weather people are saying it should be raining and dark outside O_o
Wbd... Cleaning my room and singing 1D :3
Ha ok I need to get ready and part of that is tidying my room aswell :D
I am back from my Lyric Rampage!
Hey eve!
Hey Frosty!
Ohh I need to ded dont I, ok then
I dedicate this page to 2013 and everyone having a 100 times better year than 2012 and also to the sun shining more in countrys like scotland and well just generally everywhere... ohh and also to chocolate penguins because they are epic :D
No you should have dedded to 2013 year of the skeleton.
Well I didnt I dedicated it to chocolate penguins amung other things
*sings* FLORIDA FLORIDA FLORRIIDDAAA!!! YAY!!
HI PEOPLE!
I didn't faint. :)
And after watching about fifteen Meaning Of Life videos, I now have the song alomst memorised. :/
HELLO???????????
HI STAR!! WBD....
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