But these last few signings have been interesting. I've met quite a few people who have made me stop and think about my role and my responsibilities an an author. This isn't something I wanted. I didn't write these books to be famous or to be listened to— I wrote them to write them. That's it. By my reckoning, I shouldn't have any responsibilities towards any of you. I just write books that you happen to read. Why should I care about you beyond you reading my work and giving me your money?
But of course, I do care. Quite by accident, I assure you. This was not planned. I've met a few of you, I know a few of you, and I've heard from even more of you. I read your comments and your tweets and your letters. Some of you have stories to tell, and I end up listening.
These past few months, since The Maleficent Seven has been released, I've met a lot of new people. I met a girl who thanked me for mentioning the fact that Tanith once had a thing with Aurora Jane— and she thanked me again for not making a big deal out of it. I met a girl with selective mutism who, by the end of our encounter, was chatting away and grilling me about plot details. Then I met a girl who thanked me for Clarabelle.
I smiled and told her how much I loved writing that character. The girl nodded, smiled, told me again how much she loved Clarabelle. Then she told me she had mental health issues, and sometimes she found it hard to separate what was real from what wasn't, and she loved Clarabelle because she saw in her a person who was different from others but who was loved, and accepted, and allowed to thrive.
And I looked at this girl and I didn't know what to say. I came up with Clarabelle because I needed a certain kind of warmth and a certain kind of quirkiness. Never in a million years did I think that someone out there would relate to her.
These three girls have all sorts of pressures on them that I can't understand, and all three of them have a handle on it. The Clarabelle fan was getting the help and support she needs. The girl who couldn't speak was speaking, and she even fist-bumped me on her way out. And the Tanith fan was as strong and confident as anyone I'd ever seen. And as each one of these girls walked off, I realised that they were my readers. These girls, and boys and girls and men and women like them all around the world, are my readers, and if I can do anything to help them in any way, even if it's just to raise a smile when they're feeling low, then I have managed to do something that I never thought I'd be capable of. I'd be able to help them.
We all have problems. We all have issues. We all have pressures. If you don't seek the right kind of help, if you don't know where to look or you don't have the friends and family to support you, things can go wrong. But there is help out there. There are people, unlike me, who know what they're talking about. Every country will have its own helplines and websites, sites like SpunOut.ie here in Ireland. Search for them. Find them. And for god's sake use them.
I am now going back to being selfish and egotistical, and absolutely sure that Holly Smale fancies me.
4,972 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 3201 – 3400 of 4972 Newer› Newest»Talk: Cool beans
Talk: Yuk.
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: Death! I didn't know you were still here! *hugs* *hugs a lot* *hugs even more*
Roleplay: We don't need Trip to fly us. We can teleport.
#ChaseForBook9
whos teleporting?
#chaseforbook9
*nods* I wasn't sure if Niccolo was still here or not.
Niccolo.
#ChaseForBook9
ok
#chaseforbook9
Oh, roleplaying...
Well, I'm going then. Got to go to school and stuff. I was fun... saying 'HELLO' to all of you and then getting a response...
BON VOAGE!
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: Bye Duck!
#ChaseForBook9
I'm always here.
*waves* Adios, Duck!
I'm never more than a few seconds away from wherever Aretha happens to be. As a general rule.
#ChaseForBook9
bye duck
#chaseforbook9
Talking: Bye Duck!
Death, you want to talk about it? Or email me? Or... Anything?
#ChaseForBook9
*covers her mouth with her hand to hide a grin*
So anyway, Antarctica?
*doesn't bother to conceal grin*
#ChaseForBook9
to antarctica!
#chaseforbook9
*in perfect unison with Niccolo* What?
#ChaseForBook9
*in perfect unison with Aretha* What?
#ChaseForBook9
Antarctica. You know, the continent at the bottom of the world?
Lots of snow?
my penguin colony is there
#chaseforbook9
I've never been! Always wanted to though.
#ChaseForBook9
i suggest a coat
#chaseforbook9
Yeah, it's kind of really cold there
*sighs* The grinning. That's what we were- you know what? Never mind. *grabs Niccolo's arm* Let's just go.
#ChaseForBook9
*grins more, holds Ari's arm* You can't escape your feeeilings...
#ChaseForBook9
Oh, yeah, you should all bring coats of some sort.
#ChaseForBook9
*takes Niccolo's arm as well*
Dalek? Coming?
*grabs on* yeagh
yeah
I always wear a coat. Even in the desert.
#ChaseForBook9
*raises eyebrows* Don't need one, I'm used to the cold
ill just survive the cold like normal
#chaseforbook9
Right then. *teleports everyone*
#ChaseForBook9
ARGH! My eye!
#ChaseForBook9
what is it trip?
#chaseforbook9
*sighs* What have you done now, Trip?
#ChaseForBook9
*they appear on a snowy plane with nothing but white everywhere- the ground and sky. Currently they are in the middle of a snowstorm, having landed next to a small house*
*blinks*
Wow... It is really cold. Let's just get this over with. *walks forward a few steps, scanning the ground for the portal's symbol*
Snow got in my eye. I'm fine.
#ChaseForBook9
small house? *knocks on door*
*Sighs and climbs Bloglandian tree* *Hangs upside down*
*laughs at Trip*
I can't find that stupid portal... *touches the ground and searches for it, discovering that it's several feet away*
Right. *points in a random direction*
I'll be back in a second.
ok adra, ill explore this house.* door creaks open*
*Face starts going red* Wooow... Head spin...
trip come and see this * enters house*
#chaseforbook9
Talking: Want to join us, Death?
#ChaseForBook9
Talkin': I'm cool here, thanks anyway.
Fiiiine. *trudges inside house*
#ChaseForBook9
Talkin': School starts soon. I can't promise anything from this point on.
*follows the ghost of a trail about fifty feet to the left, crossing her arms against the harsh wind*
Good lord...
*arrives at the circle, and notices a tiny penguin waddle towards the circle and freezes, watching it in wonder. The penguin waddles towards the center of the circle, and in the middle-
Shatters. The penguin imploded on itself, becoming a bloodied heap on the snow*
*covers up her mouth and carefully walks over*
Oh my God..
*shields her face against the harsh wind and stops right before the portal, getting on her knees*
What the hell...
*slices her hand open again and drips the blood onto the portal, reciting the incantation as it lights up, then dies*
Talking: And what exactly do you mean by that?
#ChaseForBook9
adra, can you save the penguin.
#chaseforbook9
Talking: Wait, what? 'dies' as in... What, exactly?
#ChaseForBook9
*into the earpiece*I don't know, Dalek... How'd you even know that???
I... I don't know. It's very much dead, Dalek...
Talk: the light from the portal after it lit up, it died back down... Sorry :P
yes adra? *runs over*
#chaseforbook9
Talkin': I'm happy over here. I'm leaving soon too...
Talking: Yeah!
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: Death, please, before you go... What did you mean by that?
#ChaseForBook9
Talkin': Oh, that's what you're talking about. I mean I can't promise you that I will be back on, that I'll reply to emails... That I'll talk...
Talking: *nods* Ok, good. *hugs* Remember that you're amazing.
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: I mean, good that you only can't promise you'll be back tonight.
#ChaseForBook9
*glances around and stuffs her things back into her bag and walks around the penguin a few times, examining it, before walking back in the direction she came in*
Talking: School is on. Bye.
*looks around the house, finds nothing unusual*
#ChaseForBook9
the fire has logs on trip. that means someone has been here recently.!
#chaseforbook9
Talk: Bye Rose *hugs*
RP: *stops*
...Fuck
Yeah, so what. Someone lives in the house, I don't see what's so special.
#ChaseForBook9
detective instinct trip. who would live here, why and where are they?
#chaseforbook9
Talking: Goodbye, Death.
Aretha and I must go now, sorry. We should be back in an hour and a half to two hours.
Roleplay: *teleports everyone out of Antarctica, then teleports away with Aretha*
#ChaseForBook9
*laughs, overhearing their conversation* If only they knew....
*turns around and goes back the way she came* I'll get back there eventually
Talk: Bye you two!
*appears next to the others*
Hey. So, um... I got lost in the snow.. And something backfired
*catches up to Adra* What do you mean? If only we knew what?
I'm not deaf you know.
#ChaseForBook9
*ignores Trip and takes out her sketch pad, furiously scribbling*
You don't have an ounce of respect for me do you?
#ChaseForBook9
*holds up her finger* Shh. I'm thinking.
Thinking about what?
*stands there quietly.*
#ChaseForBook9
Gotta go bye
#chasefirbook9
Talk: Bye, Dalek!
RP: *pauses, looking at the picture from different angles, before sketching more on it*
Talking: Bye Dalek!
#ChaseForBook9
*runs in, looks around* *poofs into dragon to keep warm*
Hi! What are you all doing, and why is it so... cold and snowy... That's not exactly typical for Blogland.
Is Trip okay? Last I saw, he was dead and people were going to the AFTERLIFE to find him! How did it go, what's happened since I was gone? Is everyone alright now?? Tell me what's happened. *hugs everyone randomly*
Bye
TRIP!!! YOU'RE NOT DEAD ANY MORE!! *supermegapickleponytacklehugsofdoom*
Arra.... OMG.
http://anamelessattempttoestablishsomeorder.blogspot.com/
We documented everything... This should catch you up lol
*hugs back* Yeah! I'm alive again! Where've you been? We have so much to catch up on! We should go to the bar and leave Snooty McGrumpynuts here.
#ChaseForBook9
We beat Alistair!
#ChaseForBook9
*glares at Trip* If I remember correctly, you stood outside a door
Well yeah, but I helped with the plan sort of?
#ChaseForBook9
*turns away back to the pad and paper*
*murmurs to herself* But how could it have...
Thanks.. wbd
gotta go... blah. bye! *hugs everyone*
Talk: Bye! *hugs*
Okay....
RP: *stands up*, keeping the drawn rune on the floor, and walks around it*
Hmmm... There's something different about it
About what?
Talking: Bye Arra!
#ChaseForBook9
*frowns and points to the rune*
When we were in Antarctica, I found my circle in the snow... But seconds before, a penguin walked into it, and... Imploded on itself. It was dead.
And I don't know what happened to make the portal so different
The earth is still pissed?
#ChaseForBook9
*frowns*
No, look. It's not the earth... It's hard to explain... Let's just say that it's the closest thing I have to a god, without it being a god....
No, something's gone wrong...
Maybe someone else is opening your portals and using them to follow you around? That might change them in some way.
#ChaseForBook9
*frowns* Perhaps... But that was the fourth one I've closed... *shrugs* there is always that chance.
But that's a slim chance. I tend to put my enemies in jail
I tend to put my enemies underground. *laughs* Just kidding, same here.
#ChaseForBook9
*frowns and looks back at the paper, picking it up* I don't understand it... I'd have to take another look at it sometime. Perhaps the area around it, you know? Maybe the energy is different
*Em sits facing out the window in her room assigned at the Sanctuary, thinking*
*a shadowy hand slinks up behind her and grabs her hair pulling her head back. She whimpers in pain as she's staring at Deacon*
Deacon: Thinking about him again are we? You know that he would be disgusted at you, letting yourself become to weak. How could he ever love someone like you?
*Deacon lets go of her hair*
Em: *whispers* stop it please, that's not true.
Deacon: Well then stop thinking it Emerald. I can hear all of your thoughts. I can hear his voice too. And you and I know that he would put you out of your misery.
Em: He loved me...
Deacon: It's all lies my dear. You know it deep down. He loved someone who was strong. And you? You're pathetic. Death will eventually get you and even then he wouldn't look at you in the afterlife.
*they both watch the sun set. Em's tears running down her face*
*Deacon places a kiss on her head and he dissipates with the shadows*
Deacon: Sleep well Emerald.
Talk: Ouch. Facebook, Em.
Talking: Yeah, wow...
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: That bastard... I'll get him some day.
#ChaseForBook9
Talk: *nods*
RP: *gets down on her knees in front of the paper, looking at it* You little bugger...
What is it? *floats so can see paper*
#ChaseForBook9
*sits on her bed, trying to calm down her tears*
*looks at the phone.*
*Arguing with herself whether she should dial Adra or not*
*points at it* I really just want to burn that motherfucker. It's gotten me nowhere
*energy fire appears in hand* Just say the word.
#ChaseForBook9
*punches the wall, Deacon's words resonating in her head*
*picks up her phone and presses 1 for Adra*
*tries not to smile* No... No, that won't be needed... I want to, but I can't...
I wonder...
*energy fire dissipates, looks sad that won't be burning things*
#ChaseForBook9
*hears her phone ring* *picks up*
Talk to me..
*energy fire dissipates, looks sad that won't be burning things*
#ChaseForBook9
*she lets a sob escape before taking a deep breath to calm her breathing and get her words out*
He... he was...
Deacon was here.
I'll be right there, Em, stay with me on the time...
*off the phone, to Trip* We've gotta go... Can you take me to the Sanctuary?
*hugs Adra* Sure. *energy coats them and they rocket towards the sanctuary*
#ChaseForBook9
*as they fly* I'm guessing it was Deacon?
#ChaseForBook9
*sobbing*
I just... all I wanted was some sleep...
To try and dream... and he...
That bastard!!...
*to Trip* yeah...
*on the phone* Alright Em, calm down, calm down. We'll be there in a few tics.
*smashes through sanctuary door, turning it to splinters. Zooms down the hall and comes to an abrupt stop outside Em's room. Seems worn out.*
All change please!
#ChaseForBook9
*lets go and gently opens Em's door, turning on the light*
...Em?
*waits outside, making sure no one comes in*
#ChaseForBook9
*rushes off her bed and hugs Adra tightly, still crying*
*hugs Em back, shushing her* Hey...It's okay, I'm here now. I'm here, Em...
*grabs her phones and pushes a few buttons before holding it out*
*Adra is now listening to what happened before sunset*
*takes the phone and listens*
Oh, Em... You know he's only saying that to get into your head. *hugs* Chase loved you, Emerald. We all do. And we're going to Deacon
I know. And I know what he says isn't true but every time I try to resist, it's like something eats that fight away and just keeps tunnelling deeper.
*starts scratching the black skin again*
*takes her hand and sits her down in a chair, finding more ointment in a cabinet* I know the feeling, believe it or not... It sucks, so I hear you
*sits and takes deep breaths. Trying not to pull away when Adra starts going near the black skin again*
I'm surprised I'm not being holed up in isolation in case Deacon takes over.
I am a danger.
*looks her in the eye* Is he still in your head, Em? Can you feel him?
*whispers*
All the time...
*takes her head in her hands and looks her in the eyes*
Deacon, you better let go of her, and run. Because when I find you, I will skin you alive. Do you hear me? We're coming for you. If you're not afraid, then you're a fool. Do not underestimate us, because it will be your demise.
*shadows cut Adra from the black skin*
*Em cries out as she jumps back away from Adra*
Oh my god, Adra I'm... i'm so sorry... I....
*looks at the cuts in her skin, and grins, laughing* No no, this is a good thing...
*chuckles* It means he's getting irritated...
Talk: *pokes* Trip, you still there?
*clutches head and screams as pain surges through it from Deacon*
*grabs Em's hand, and draws a rune on it with her marker, drawing a similar one on herself, then one on the other hand. She grabbed Emerald's arm, so the runes were next to each other, and the pain began to flow from Em, into Adra, through her, and into the floor*
*Em's breathing starts to calm down as the pain resides to less then a headache*
Oh god...
*shuts her eyes, and finds her center, allowing the pain to just flow through her and back through the ground*
*it stops*
*breathes out*
I haven't done that in a while..
I'm his leverage Ads, you can't threaten him or hurt him while he has me.
*goes to scratch the black skin but pulls back and balls up her fists*
Damn... itchy... fucking....
*gently puts the ointment on the skin* that's looking pretty bad...
*turns to Em* and I don't believe that. There's always another way- always a loophole
I know they all look bad. Just rotten patches of black around my injuries.
I haven't even checked under my bandages to see if my injuries are healing properly.
It's just really hard trying not to scratch them.
So you're thinking that the black is from the necromancy? I wouldn't be surprised...Magic probably doesn't react well with your blood.
No worries En I have dealt with bad injuries too
All I know is it's Deacon's doing.
And I'm worried that my injuries are infected and I just want to scratch my skin off.
Talk: Hi, Zaf!
RP: Yeah, well don't scratch it. *finishes putting the ointment on her* That should help with the itch a bit... Remember to keep putting this on, alright?
*sighs*
The events at the hospital have been talked about here.
A lot of agents aren't happy that I'm here Adra.
Yeah, well those agents should get their heads out of each other's butts and get over it. This is the safest place for you, Em.
But he was able to get in tonight...
*facepalm* Ari's here, I can FEEL IT
*Frowns*
Em, if you really want to, we can get someone in here to cook up some sigils... Binding sigils, in case. You never know, they might have something else up their sleeves
*holds Alexis and she runs to practice with her knife*
*Em yawns and starts to cry again*
I'm so tired...
*squeezes her shoulder* I can have a Sensitive sit with you... In case he tries to give you bad dreams?
We're not gonna sleep at all tonight.. XD
#ChaseForBook9
Talk: HAh. no.
*shrugs*
I don't even know if I do dream anymore Adra...
Where did Ari and Niccolo go?
*shrugs*
It was just a thought anyway
Em I had bad dreams thanks to Niccolo for a while but I learned to deal
WEll what about the sigils? I can arrange for those...
*nods slowly, eyes starting to droop close*
Yeah I guess no harm in trying...
*calls in the request* You need to try and get some sleep in the mean time, Em... It's getting late hun
I dunno but Alexis is dying to see him
*crawls up onto the bed and curls up facing the wall*
*Adra hears her winces as her skin rubs off the covers*
*yawns again*
*salutes to Em as the sigil people enter the room* They'll be quiet for you... You look tired enough to sleep with the lights on, right?
Right.
Night, Em!
*walks from the room to find that Trip is gone*
Damn..
*Adra walks outside to see Drew leaning up against the wall*
*stops* How long have you been there?
since you went into the building.
How is she??
Wow.... You didn't have to wait that long.
And she's not good. For the moment, well, she's not crying so that's a plus I suppose... They're putting sigils up in her room. Also, I pissed Deacon off. Bonus.
Who is he?
Talk: That's Drew O'Connor... Deacon's brother? He's helping us out. (this is all on anamelessattempttoestablishsomeorder.blogspot.com/
*shakes head*
Jesus... poor Em.
Anyway, I have something to show you that might cheer you up.
Follow me
*starts to walk into the forest*
Talking: Ok, normally I read every single comment before I tell everybody I'm here, but I'm at a friend's house trying to maintain conversations, and I just can't get through all of these...
So, can somebody please tell me what happened and where everybody is so I can roleplay and update the Nameless Attempt?
#ChaseForBook9
Talking: Um... You saw the penguin and stuff. We got a call from Em, who saw Deacon and basically screwed with her mind saying that Chase hated her etc etc etc... And we came to calm her down... And Drew is now showing me something?
*follows Drew*
*leads Adra to the cave when Deacon first attacked Em*
*Adra starts to get nervous*
*Adra gets nervous, apparently*
Ah ha... I think I know the surprise..
Talking:
Ded to AWESOME F**KING ROLEPLAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And I ded to Aretha for putting in so much effort to document all this madness. Fair play to you Ari!
Talk: *raises glass* hear hear! I would drink to that
Ta-da
*shows Adra, a restrained, gagged, beaten up and struggling Rigor on the cave floor*
Talking: Thanks!! *hugs everyone*
#ChaseForBook9
Alexis: ARI AND COCO!!!!!
*rolls eyes* Didn't see that one coming!
Although I must say I was rather looking forward to seeing Niccolo try to flirt with her.. *laughs and kneels next to Rigor*
Hey, Miss Hellfire.
*teleports in with Niccolo* So, what did I miss?
#ChaseForBook9
*nods to Rigor* You got lucky this time, Niccolo. But SOME DAY Mark my words... YOU WILL FLIRT WITH THE BAD GUY!
*slips a note to Aretha saying: feeling like turning evil yet?*
Alexis) *hugs Niccolo* YAY HI COCO
This one took me a while
*rolls up sleeves to show burns on his arms*
She is definitely her father's daughter and plus she was carrying this as well
*tosses a sword to Adra*
She nearly broke my own sword. Then I really would have been pissed off.
*picks up the sword* Exquisite craftsmanship, I daresay.
*nudges Rigor with the toe of her shoe* Hey, you still awake down there, Dante?
*Rigor growls and struggles against her bonds*
*Drew smirks*
She definitely has Deacon's temper if anything else.
*nods, putting her hand on her own chin* Now here's the good part- how'd you do it?
*reads note* What? Adra, I don't- *sighs* You know what? Forget it.
Can we just focus on the problem at hand?
#ChaseForBook9
*laughs* You know, ever since the moment I've woken up, I've literally been on red alert. You have no idea how great it feels to laugh.
*turns to Rigor* What now, though?
*Drew laughs*
Not fucking easily!
I spotted her just outside the forest perimeter, literally walked up behind her, she turns to face me and shoots fire straight away at me.
We got into a sword fight but she was using her scales as armour so none of my hits were making contact.
Then I lost my temper and shifted, literally tearing most of her scales off her arm and just throwing her around like a ragdoll.
It was quite fun.
And plus I poured about a galleon of water from a stream down her throat so that took the fire out of her belly so she was easier to restrain.
Am I not involved in this? Ok
Sounds like you had fun, then
Talking: Of course you can be involved in this! I wasn't involved until, like, two seconds ago! Don't be ridiculous!
#ChaseForBook9
I'm exhausted!
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