50267 words written... and Valkyrie and Skulduggery are barely in it.
This doesn't mean, of course, that they won't be taking their usual starring roles in Book 8. Of course they will. But I've had to approach this one in a slightly different way than normal.
Because this book is about, essentially, total war, I've had to think long and hard about how the different sides would fight— such as what tactics they would use in both the short and long term. It means I can't chop and change sequences like I usually would. If they're written, then they've been written for a very specific reason, and I can't mess about with that. So I figured the best way to write about these military actions is to write them FIRST. Write the skirmishes and the battles and the politics and the arguments, and get it all down on the page. Then, once I have the military aspect taken care of, I go back and write my usual Skul & Val stuff around and on top of it all.
It's an interesting way of working, to willingly ignore your main characters for large chunks of writing time. I sincerely hope it works...
Oh, and sometime in February I shall announce the title. I've had this title in mind for YEARS. Some of the early alternatives were:
Skulduggery Pleasant: The Billingsworth Continuum.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Behind Gold Eyes.
Skulduggery Pleasant: It's War, Baby.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Revenge of the Screaminator.
Skulduggery Pleasant: When Warlocks Attack.
Skulduggery Pleasant: A Very Nice Picnic.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Brain-Puncher.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Gut-Eater.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Skulduggery Goes Camping.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Things Get Nasty.
Skulduggery Pleasant: People Gonna Die.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Readers Gonna Cry.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Horace.
And amazingly, the actual title is better than ANY of those! I know, right?
People Gonna Die = Very Yes xD
ReplyDeleteI love it!
So excited to see it.
(Also greetings from the forums, this is my first time on the blog)
Derek
ReplyDeleteDEREK! PLEASE ANSWER ME!
ReplyDeleteFOURTH
ReplyDeletePlease! I'm only 10. Do a child a favour. Please you are my IDOL! I have been waiting for hours to talk to you
ReplyDeletePlease Derek. If you are looking at this Please tell me.
ReplyDeleteDerek
Derek
Derek
Near the top!
ReplyDeleteYay for book 8!!!!!!!!!!
Catch the leprechaun on Twitter guys
ReplyDeleteHORACE????????????? *giggles*
ReplyDeleteYou must be enjoying youreself.
ReplyDeletewatching me beg...
Horace... HORACE HORACE HORACE. I LOVE HORACE ( Meaning the Latin author, by the way.)
ReplyDeleteLo, there Derek!!! *hands skulcake* I was skulking around the blog... With ninja skills
Deffo know my favourites. Horace, A very Nice Picnic, Skulduggery Goes Camping...
ReplyDeleteThose would just be the best...
Derek! Youre killing me man! I have to o to bed! Please!
ReplyDeleteOk Derek. Thanks alot. I have to go. Bye.
ReplyDeleteI cant be mad at tHE golden god.
pleeehehehehehhese
*gasp* 12th comment! Usually I'm in the hundreds. Keeping this page open all day like a weird obsessive stalker was totally worth it!
ReplyDeleteCannot wait for book 8. Does sound like a strange way of writing - but if it works why not!
ReplyDeleteWhen are you announcing the tour dates? Especially MK in April. Need to know so I can book time off work if necessary. Not going to miss you this time!!!
Tickets arrived in the post today for 20th Feb event in London. :D Exciting :)
Ok derek if you got ANY of that then Email me at: stiltskinbrave@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteI feel important.
bye!
Horace, I vote Horace. And a new focus? Colour me excited (: Excited to see how the war develops, please tell me Skul or Val have a go at politicians?
ReplyDelete*pokes the Doctor-Derek in the eye*
ReplyDeleteYou're still my favourite :D
Oh GOD, can you please! call it "It's war, Baby" or "People gonna die" or (even better) "Readers Gonna Cry" ? I think I would just love the book because of its title, regardless of how the book is (and of course i will also love it because of the story, just because you can't write bad books :D )
ReplyDeleteI like these titles...they are epic...I think they would all suit the inner workings of the story completely (as if I knew what the inner workings of the story were)
ReplyDeleteHaters gonna hate... There ya go. Winner title there.
ReplyDeletenot that anyone WOULD hate
Derek I cried at those titles oh god. I can just imagine the whole of book 8 being a really serene camping trip in the Mournes.
ReplyDeleteASIDE FROM HILARIOUS TITLES- DO YOU ENJOY STABBING ME IN THE HEART WITH A SHATTERPROOF RULER? LITERALLY I CANNOT TAKE THE EMOTIONAL PAIN, DEREK.
THE /FEELS/
Flaring, do not mention the feels...the feels have been attacking me for a while now...so many different feels...
ReplyDeleteHEY EVERYBODY
ReplyDelete*jumps on table*
*throws skulcakes to everyone*
PARTAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
SKULCAKES! PARTY! I SHOULD BE IN BED NOW!
ReplyDelete???? Alright, whatever floats yer boat... *eats skulcakes and jumps off a cliff into water*
ReplyDeleteTHE FEELS JUST GET WORSE AND WORSE.
ReplyDeleteBY BOOK NINE WE WILL ALL BE DEAD, OR WORSE.
FORCED TO LIVE AND RE-READ ALL THE BOOKS UNTIL OUR HEARTS IMPLODE.
*runs out into the fields around my house, naked and screaming*
*but mainly naked*
I hope I get to kill Zaf.. (love ya girl, but seriously... The irony of it all)
ReplyDeletehaha the titles are amazing
ReplyDeletei actually like 'behind gold eyes'
[Scowls]
ReplyDeleteCan't stay for the party.
Mrow
Bye!!!
[Waves like a maniac]
FLARING, NO, NOT THE FEELS! They are already killing me...I keep imagining Skul's family and how cute certain people would have been together if they hadn't died and what could have been and all the torture it ends up with...
ReplyDeleteHe left guys!
ReplyDelete...I think I'll flee to the safety of my duvet covers now, where I will be safe from everything but the feels...
ReplyDeleteOkay yea im on Twitter but like i feel the poor Bloglandians are left out
ReplyDeleteNOOO! the one night i dont check the blog, the mighty derik posts!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Skulduggery Goes Camping".
ReplyDeleteOh my God, I would laugh so hard...
He went on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI vote for anything with Sparkles in the title. Like "Skulduggery Pleasant: When Sparkles Attack." Hey, is Derek still on here? I've never gotten into the top 50 comments before.
ReplyDeleteHORACE??? REALLY??? but lol 4 a very nice picnic...
ReplyDeletehell, son, it's got a certain ring to it, I'll say that.
ReplyDeleteBut Brain-Puncher was so poetic!
ReplyDeleteAnd Skulduggery Goes Camping makes me imagine beautiful Earl Oliver Hurst drawings. Such a tease.
Or if not Sparkles, then something with Peanut Butter. Or Daywalkers. Or Harald 'Bluetooth' King of Denmark who lived a very long time ago and which Bluetooth is named after.
ReplyDeleteSprecking of which, is Skulduggery team Zombie or Team Unicorn?
ReplyDeleteI can go on like this for a LOOOOOOOOOOOONG time.
ReplyDeleteAnd tell me, what is it with the murderous cutlery? Sporks are evil!
ReplyDeleteyep, i think i love ALL the names... derik if you read this, MAKE THEM ALL BOOKS!!!! please :) (never forget the power of the please)
ReplyDeleteOI! DEREK! DON'T IGNORE US!
ReplyDeleteI need to arrange to meet you! Like, it has to happen! Sometime soon! Also, you said you would meet up with me, not just at a signing. I'm flying halfway around the world for 18 hours. So we need to arrange an actual meeting!!!
Also, if it makes things easier, you COULD Skype me... I swear I won't tell anyone what your name thingy is. Anyway, mine is your.worst.nightmare98
ReplyDelete*sigh* no one that talks to me is on.... oh well, just have to be crazy by my self
ReplyDeleteYou know, Derek, if you read this, know that I have some sense. As much as I like your books, I don't really feel like going out of my way to meet you. Just, no. I think I shall have French Fries for dinner now. Yup, it's only dinner time where I live. Mind flip.
ReplyDeletewell, its still early morning here in aus
ReplyDeleteHey, are you bugged yet? How about now? If you're smart you don't have this thing rigged to send you an e-mail every time someone posts a comment... I am in a buggy mood right now. Hey. Hey. Hi. How bout now?
ReplyDeletewell, i say early, but it's nearly 10:30am
ReplyDeleteand i bet no one cares...
ReplyDeleteI'm definitely going out of my way to meet him. I'm leaving from Washington State.
ReplyDeleteIt's 3:23 PM here.
ReplyDeletewhen derik came on his aus tour, HE DIDN'T COME TO TASSIE!!!!! how haert broken was i...
ReplyDeleteI give up. I have MORE IMPORTANT things to do anyway. But another good name would be 'Skulduggery Pleasant: The Greater Snowmen of the Universe." Bye.
ReplyDeleteit's 11:25 pm here. :D
ReplyDelete6:26pm
ReplyDeleteOh, would you look at that. I sparked a time-telling comment chain. 5:26 here. Okay, good-bye for real this time.
ReplyDeletewell, you just said it was dinner time where you are, i said the first actual time
ReplyDeleteSkulduggery Pleasant: When Lunatics Attack!!!
ReplyDelete:Weapons of Sarcasm
:The Rise of Darquesse
might i just say: Skulduggery Pleasant: When Lunatics Attack!!!
ReplyDeleteAKA Skulduggery Pleasant: When Lonleysnow Attacks!!! yes, im saying im a lunatic...
"Skulduggery Pleasant: The Minions Threatened Derek to Put Them In It"
ReplyDeletehehe, I think we're all lunatics here. :D
ReplyDeleteYEP
ReplyDeleteAgreed
ReplyDeleteoh, i just realised, i didn't say this when i came on: HEY ALL
ReplyDeletei always do :) :D :P
ReplyDeleteim bored... hey i know: if you were a super hero, what would your name be??
ReplyDeleteHi to you too. :D
ReplyDeleteBarmy Bookworm!
ReplyDeleteMy powers would be speed reading, useless information and I suppose I could throw the heavier books as weapons. :P
I think that it should be the picnic one... xD
ReplyDeleteI'm personally loving 'It's War, Baby' :P
ReplyDeleteAnd 74th comment? Hell yeah, it's a new high record for me ;D ahaha
*explodes Germany*
ReplyDeleteOMG WHY AM I ONLY SEEING THIS POST NOW?!?!
ReplyDeleteAll those titles are BRILLIANT!!
I really love them all. How can NONE of them be the title?!?!
I don't understand!!
Anyway, OMG THE TITLE IS OUT IN FEBRUARY OMG I AM GETTING SO SO EXCITED!!
Can I just have it now?!
PLEASE!!
It's almost midnight here now! I'm gonna wait 5 more minutes to see if Derek appears before I go to bed. Have to get up for work in the morning. So Derek if you are here, come and say HI. Please. :D
ReplyDeleteP.S. What is your favourite flavour of cake?
Ha! Warlocks! I must say I'm proud of myself for predicting that. Now I just need to read Kingdom of the Wicked again, luckily my brother hasn't read it so I can read it aloud and do the voices in my hopefully not terrible Irish accent.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, Derek, I don't see how you can get much better than "Skulduggery Pleasant: Horace".
ReplyDeleteWell Derek, if you are reading this: I am off to bed, and THANK YOU AGAIN!! For the twitter thing. You are the absolute BEST!!
ReplyDeleteGet your butt on Skype NJ
ReplyDeleteLOL - makes me laugh whenever anyone says that. I can hear it in my head. 'What book do you want for your birthday?"
ReplyDelete"Skulduggery Pleasant: Horace!"
LOL. Excellent. :D
lol, been watching youtube, so when i reloaded the page i got a heap of comments
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm off for the night. Have a good day/morning/evening/night whatever it currently is for you.
ReplyDelete:D
thx and byee
ReplyDeletePEOPLE GONNA DIE!
ReplyDeleteI would seriously die of laughter if that was the title of Book 8.
That isn't to say that I'd be surprised, mind you.
I think "Skulduggery Pleasant: Readers Gonna Cry" is going to be the most accurate...
ReplyDeleteBut honestly, the camping one is brilliant.
[11:29:21 AM] Zathract Mist: People Gonna Die!
ReplyDelete[11:29:31 AM] Rachel M: Readers Gonna Cry!
[11:29:37 AM] Zathract Mist: ...Horace.
I don't think anything can top
ReplyDeleteSkulduggery Pleasant: Horace
Those would actually make good chapter titles...
ReplyDeleteokay, gonna go now sooo... bye
ReplyDeleteLol, I would love the Billlingsworth Continuum, or Revenge of the Screaminator. Both considerably mysterious and odd. Extremely suited to Skulduggery in my humble opinion ^_^
ReplyDeleteLol knowing Derek he's gonna be sadistic
ReplyDeleteDEREK
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to mention Mist in one of your books, you should know that Mist is best friends are partner with Nixion, so if you mention one, you've got to mention the other
Oh, and you're awesome.
DEREK DEREK!!!! You better answer! Does Mevolent have a first name? Oh and if he had a wife would he have children?
ReplyDeleteIt's War, Baby *laughs*
ReplyDeleteI love them all...
AND WAAAAAAAAAAAAAR
OH MY GOLDEN GOD WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR
Hullo. :D
*sighs*
ReplyDeleteGtg...
*disappears*
I personally like Skulduggery Pleasant: Horace. It has a nice ring to it. Horace. Hor-ace. horace.
ReplyDeleteHuh.
Well whatever the title is, It's going to be awesomely epic. That's a fact. I'm so excited! :D
Oh. Btw, Hey guys, girls, and creatures of unidentifiable origin! How's life?
ReplyDeleteJust a quick note before bedtime- Val V, when are you coming over? Because I haven't forgotten, don't you fret.
ReplyDelete"People Gonna Die" "Readers Gonna Cry"
ReplyDeleteI like those two consecutively.
DEREK.
DEREK.
DEREK.
DEREK.
ARE YOU HERE? *peeks out from behind bush*
OHMYGOSH DEREK LANDY HI!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDETEK!!!
ReplyDeleteI JUST PRESSED THE REFRESH BUTTON ABOUT 12 TIMES IN ONE MINUTE, JUST IN CASE YOU REPLY.
ReplyDeleteHI HI HI HI HI!!!!!!
DEREK!! Smart one she's coming the beginning of April from what she told me :P around when signings for TMS are
ReplyDeleteGoodnight Derek!
ReplyDeleteKill the bedbugs, and I find that if you roast them well, they taste quite good
Keep that in mind
IT IS NOT PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE FOR ME TO PRESS THE REFRESH BUTTON ANY MORE OFTEN THAN I AM DOING NOW. I LITERALLY PRESS IT AGAIN THE SECOND THE PAGE IS DONE REFRESHING.
ReplyDeleteDEREK! Hi derek! How's life?
ReplyDeleteAretha he's probably gone to bed the bugger ah well
ReplyDeleteDAMN IT DEREK!!! In starting to TALK like you Irish people
But I was so close... T.T
ReplyDeleteI know :( damn it Landy you could have stayed i dont think sleep is that important
ReplyDeleteHiya. . .
ReplyDeleteNoooooooo!
ReplyDelete*sobs*
Derek how could you leave us?
Hi Thrust!
ReplyDelete*sits in tree*
I HAVE RETURNED TO THY TREE
*sighs*
ReplyDeleteHere i was hoping he'd tell me if Mevolent had a first name ah well NEXT TIME
I totally predicted predicted the Readers Gonna Cry title.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Camping one.
It couldn't be Horace, though. I'd just have to stare at it until I realized the word Slughorn wasn't going to appear.
Well, this is depressing...
ReplyDeleteAretha always next time it IS quarter to 2am his time
ReplyDeleteAHHH! DEREK RESPONDED!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be there for eight days somewhere in the time period of March 30th and April 7th. And I DO realise you'll be having signings for the Tanith novella, but...
HAHAHAH LANDY I TOLD YOU!!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I said beginning of April :P Zaffy aint stupid
Val you should totally Skype me one day when you meet him
ReplyDeleteNah not really I'm alrekady meeting him when NJ and Em go in April at Dublin
I might go to a Dublin signing...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh! God you willing to Skype me xD seriously my plan is to terrify Derek i rather meet him in person but i dot mind Skype
ReplyDeleteIt'll be the same one as they're going to if its beginning of April, Zaf.
ReplyDeleteAh right sorry im half asleep got 4hrs of sleep im honestly losing it
ReplyDeleteDamn okay between one of you someone Skype me and find out the date
We don't know the dates yet...
ReplyDeleteYeah i know
ReplyDeleteSorry Zaffy making no sense okay maybe i need to go back sobbing from Les Mes
Zaf's Casual Musical Outburst
ReplyDeleteThere out in the darkness a fugitive running fallen from god
No worries. As a psychopath, I am fully aware of the affects of insanity.
ReplyDeleteNot that you all couldn't tell.
Aah no I was told by Derek i have issues and im disturbed
ReplyDeleteEm plans to get me in trouble again xD i am innocent
Derek said he was concerned for my mental well-being.
ReplyDeleteI feel so special.
I was told off for blowing up Ireland except he technicaly couldnt because my REFLECTION did it
ReplyDeleteThank god he hasnt gotten my letter yet... I had a whole thing on how my reflection blew up Ireland
Hmm KOTW or UK Version of Book 1?
ReplyDeleteOkay before i go
ReplyDeleteDEREK!! I am legit scared to death for Book 8 partly because I'm scared to see who you kill off and what country wins this war...
NIGHT EVERYONE
Well, I believe I am all done stalking Derek's Twitter page for today.
ReplyDeleteDerek, you make it so difficult.
Oh my gosh, when I read that Skul and Val aren't even in it yet and that a war's going on, you completely had me thinking that you were going to have bits of the stories from Mevolent's Collaboration in it!
ReplyDeleteObviously not though. Don't know why I thought that.
Love the titles! XP
Oh yeah, first page!
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't even know what's going on in the series now. Book seven totally changed the way the series was going.
*makes a mental note to ask her mom to buy her the book sometime soon*
I WANNA READ KOTW SO BAD NOW.
He said they were barely in the book.
ReplyDeleteHi Lav
ReplyDeleteDamn you Derek... Damn you...
ReplyDeleteHi Thrust. And oh. Well, yeah, and he said he'd add them more into it later.
ReplyDeleteHi Death!
Sorry, I'll be distant.
I will be eating. Oatmeal. . .
ReplyDeleteI'm very gone... Matt Smith is scolding Rory for dissing the sonic...
ReplyDelete*Fangirls*
Oatmeal sounds good about now.
ReplyDeleteDW... I really should try to watch it.
My mom said maybe!!! :DDD For buying KOTW!!! YAY! I just gotta send a link to it.
Whoa, finally!
ReplyDeleteYou won't be too disappointed.
Ugh. I think it's bad to say I'm in love with this...
ReplyDeletehttp://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A3WN4V2-4x8/UQYPkDbkZsI/AAAAAAAAAPc/iEIA0Sq3ulg/s1600/The+Cone+House+2013-01-24+(06.47.35-932+PM).jpg
*facepalm* Sorry. I don't usually do this, but I had to. as I said...
come on guys i wanna see skulduggery go camping
ReplyDeleteI had a dream once where Skulduggery took me to school on the Knight Bus.
ReplyDeleteHe took me to the wrong school, but it was A school. Or maybe a hospital.
I thought it was a school.
*laughs*
ReplyDeleteThat would be interesting to read about.
What's that, Thrust?
The camping thing. And I was talking about the link.
ReplyDeleteInteresting dream though.
The link... uh.. it's for my new story thing... which I talk about in great shallowness on my all-new blog post.
ReplyDeletehttp://shockerlocker-turn-back-now.blogspot.ca/
Didn't make sense at all...
ReplyDeleteIt would be interesting to read about Skulduggery going camping and I was asking about the link. Not the dream.
I wanted to force myself to write a story so I spoiled everyone into telling me they were excited for a new story.
ReplyDeleteWhether they're honest or not, I think whatever anyone says about the pic would make me write it.
and I understood. Are you in love with the pic too?
ReplyDeleteI know... I know...
WHO WOULDN'T BE?!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Im 159
ReplyDeleteBravo.
ReplyDeleteHi Ally!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's cool, Thrust!
Is the first pic supposed to be a video? Cause I can't tell on my iPod and my battery's about to die.
I think I'm going to charge it now, but I'll have to leave too. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteBye!
Bye lav!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to you question...
Heloooo anyone home???
ReplyDelete*realizes that it's been an hour since the las comment*
ReplyDeleteJUBI!!! hi
ReplyDelete*Realizes it's been ten minutes*
ReplyDeleteTwenty!
ReplyDeleteOk, this is where Shai leaves.
Pointless!
There are so many better things I could be doing than sitting here reloading the page every 60 seconds, like actually writing for the MC again. Or annoying Fabi.
*Grins*
That sounds fun, actually.
*Goes to annoy Fabi*
I'll be back of I get bored again.
*if
ReplyDeleteWho are you BC?
ReplyDeleteOh, NOW somebody's here!
ReplyDeleteIt's Shai.
I'm actually trying-ish to get back to the MC!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm bugging Fabi, so wbd.
Hi! Horace? I'm not even going to ask...
ReplyDeleteI KNEW the Warlocks would come back! I have this list of things that could go wrong in the next SP book, and the Warlocks are heading that list :)
Something funny happened today. I was talking with this new girl in class. Then I opened up my computer. She saw the desktop background (Val and Skul) and went 'Oh, that's from Skulduggery Pleasant, isn't it?'
I hugged her :)
Hi!!!
ReplyDelete(is Shai)
Hug her for me!!
ReplyDeleteHiya Shai!
ReplyDeleteSorry Shai, mental blank...
ReplyDeleteWhat is your taken name again?
*Facepalm*
I'm a douchè!
Ok! *hugs Fabi*
ReplyDeleteShe says hi. She can't come on now, she has one more piece to perform, then finale, then she'll get her makeup off, then hopefully she can come and say hi in person.
Hi Shai! Hi Death! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteShaida Neverlyss
ReplyDeleteHi Saph! *hugs*
ReplyDeleteYay!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Fabi! She sounds like an amazing dancer
ReplyDeleteThat's right!!!!!
ReplyDelete*Facepalm*
I couldn't remember!!!
*Sticks head in cold water*
Damn school in three days...
Yep, she is. Definitely!
ReplyDeleteI'll tell her you said that, but she's already backstage, so it won't really be until after she's already rocked the house.
Brb, going to watch.
Two minutes.
It's ok.
ReplyDeleteSHE DID GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, back.
Bye Shai! Wish I was there. See you in a minute :) Msd, dinner soon
ReplyDeleteOh, you're back :)
ReplyDeleteI wish you were here, too.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the dances are only a couple minutes long.
ReplyDeleteThey take ages to learn, though.
I used to do dance, but I stopped a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteOk, I have to line up for finale. I was only in one dance near the beginning of this one, and I did a sort of ehh job, but I have to bow anyway... How annoying!
ReplyDeleteSee you later-ish!
Cool! I'll interrogate you about it in a bit!
ReplyDeleteGtg, dinner
ReplyDelete[Sighs in relief]
ReplyDeleteI didn't fail!
I'm distant if you didn't notice!
ReplyDelete*Starts singing and spinning because bored*
Distant, wiping off disgusting make-up.
ReplyDelete*Superepictacklehugs Fabi*
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS FABI-O!!
Yeah, I dislike make-up too!
ReplyDelete