I have just pressed SEND.
By pressing SEND, I have emailed off the completed book to my agent and editor. It will now be sent to the copyeditor who, amongst other things, will be checking for grammar and spelling mistakes that I've missed but, more importantly, will be ensuring that everything I've written makes sense.
She will be checking facts and figures and timelines, scouring her notes on the other books to make sure I haven't contradicted myself... A good copyeditor in invaluable, and I have a great one.
It's done. I wrote the two Scapegrace chapters that I'd left until last. Oh, and I ALSO included the winner of the Die Horribly competition...
It took me until last night to pick a winner. I was sent 30 finalists out of everyone who entered. Of those 30, I quickly whittled it down to 15. Then, not so quickly, down to 10. Then it took me ages to narrow it down to 5. Then 3.
There were some great entries. Lots of funny reasons why people reckoned they should be the reader I pick to kill horribly in the book. But I needed something specific. I needed something that would fit in with what I'd written. And there was only one reader who fit PERFECTLY.
So congratulations to Lewis Holmes, from the UK. You shall have the distinct honour of being Horribly Killed in The Dying of the Light.
Lewis' death was the last thing I had to write. Now it's all over. Sure, I'll be sent the copyeditor's notes to approve, and there'll be a little more fiddling around between now and printing time, but...
... but it's over. I have finished writing Skulduggery Pleasant.
I think I need to lie down now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4,942 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 4001 – 4200 of 4942 Newer› Newest»I believe I'm being referred to as Masky. As for why I attack..well...I'm not even sure myself.
*looks around*
*nods and focuses back on Aro and Alexis*
Alexis: You realize that you will have to be questioned by one of the Elders? I also wish to inform you that, since you have no idea why you attacked her, you could be ever so kind to think of a sigil that could work.
Aro: Lexi-
Alexis: Oh shut up, Aro! Only Lorcan can call me Lexi.
A sigil that could do what?
Alexis: Help with the memory lane trip.
I hope you realise a more formal interrogation would yield better results.
Alexis: Shush it.
Aro: Formal? What fun is that...
Oh you mean calm down Zaffy. Well thats quite simple. To being her mind back to the present is slightly more complex but still doable. Fetch me some paper and a pencil. I'll draw the sigils foe you accurately sized!
Don't let her draw any sigil.
Aro: I know if one lies to me.
Alexis: *gets her the things she needs*
Seriously? Have you ever interrogated anyone before? If your suspect suggests something - don't do it.
*smiles*
*nods eyeing the sharpness of the pencil*
*starts drawing a reasonably small sigil*
*its not very complex*
*finishes drawing it and taps it*
*it slowly lights up and immediately calms everyone in the room*
*gets a different piece of paper*
*chews on the pencils tip, thinking*
*nods and starts drawing quite a big sigil*
*hums to herself while drawing*
*grabs the paper with sigils on and tears them up*
I told you.
Aro: Get out. You have no idea what you're doing and I don't even know who the hell you are.
(I know that you said calm and I beared that in mind when I chose the reaction because a normal Keating would have shot you by now. :P)
I have to go now. Bye!
(Well, just one last thing)
*tilts head at Aro*
I clearly know more about interrogation than you do. By the way you're going, you'll be dead by the end of the questioning. As for who I am, does it really matter whether you know me or not? I mean, I just stopped those bloody sigils. Which you approved. That was a foolish decision. I don't think you're fit to be interrogating her.
(NOW bye!)
*starts redrawing them*
*absently says* that's not a safe thing to do Sophia. Ripping up an active sigil is dangerous. Sigil 101. Deactivate then destroy.
*throws a replica of the first copy out*
*its deactivated*
*starts again on the bigger sigil*
*goes back to humming and drawing*
((bye Dragona!))
Hello.
((hey Amethyst!))
Hello Silente. How are you?
((fine thankyou. How are you yourself?))
There's this Pokémon game on my DS and I think it's basically a tribute to how pedantic and perfectionist I am. :P
I've had it for several years. It's the only game on my DS I actually still play, because I haven't been into my DS for years. I only play it a few times a year, really, generally when I go away. And on it, I'm trying to obtain all the Pokémon on my Pokédex before defeating the Pokémon League. And I don't even think it's actually POSSIBLE. I'd have to do a load of trading.
But, yeah. For the past, like, four years I've just been going around trying to evolve Pokémon so I can get more. And, seriously, I've been doing this for years. And so, yeah, I just evolve Pokémon now, which basically means I keep battling with them and making them go up levels until they do. And the thing is, I've developed so many superstitions regarding evolving Pokémon. Just things I started doing a few years ago, and now I'm fifteen and it seems ridiculous, these things I started doing, but I just play along anyway. I believe a Pokémon won't evolve if it reaches the level where it would evolve and then it faints before you finish the battle (because, like, they only evolve after you finish the battles, and if they've fainted, they won't evolve and you can't battle with them anymore), and I believe this will screw up its evolution so it won't evolve ever and you'll have to get another version of the Pokémon and try again.
So if a Pokémon goes up a level, I immediately put it away, and if it faints before the end of the battle I switch my DS off and pick up before I last saved.
And I believe that Pokémon won't evolve if they have exp. shares which make them collect exp. points quicker and so go up levels faster.
And I believe that it will screw up their chances of evolving and you'll have to start from square one if you put them in a PC box for any amount of time.
And I'm too scared to battle with my siblings over the Nintendo wifi thing in case it screws it up.
And of course I won't trade them.
And I also get a bit worried in case they won't evolve if I use them too much or not enough, although I don't often act on that.
And -
and there's just so much time in my life put into this crappy game that isn't even good and I don't even like playing, because people's brains can be a bit OCD at times and mine is no exception.
And sometimes I'm playing this game, and I don't even know why because I don't even like it but I'm doing it anyway because the drive to complete is just too strong.
Why am I playing this game?
What will I get out of it?
Pretty much nothing.
I won't even get much of a sense of satisfaction.
I don't even get enjoyment from playing it.
Why am I . . . ?
Why . . . ?
*doesn't even know*
Not really here, I'm just running out of places to talk without feeling bad about it. XD
(But of course I keep talking, because I like talking and I'm selfish.)
I'm fine, too :)
Hello Star.
Hello, Amethyst. :)
((*wonders where Zaf went*))
((hey star! How are you?))
((im surrounded by cats...))
((I'm ready to hurt someone. Star knows why I'm not budging because I'm to incensed to speak.))
Aro: *sighs* Right and Mevolent would leave an idiot in charge..
Hello Zafira.
((ph..if you want we can pause?))
*finishes the bigger sigil*
*its really more like a collage of sigils*
*hands that sheet of paper over too*
*starts flipping the pencil up and down*
*catches it point towards the floor and rams it deep into the ground*
*looks up*
Anything else? Autograph, drawing, autographed drawing..
*hands Silente a blank paper*
Autographed drawing?
Aro: No. I want to know exactly what this will do for her
Well. The first sigil I drew will calm her down. Like I said, thats easy. The second one, well that's compliced. Firstly it'll access her mind, the activates part two which clears her mind of basically everything. Part three will make her brain more perceptive of whats happening around her. The final part will basically make her calmer, just to be safe.
*nods*
*leans against a wall*
It works within 5 seconds. Quick and hassle free.
*smiles*
Aro: I can handle the mental part but calming her is what I needed. Thank you.
Your welcome. What now? More questions? More sigils?
*starts hopping from foot to foot*
Race? What now ey?
I have to go now. I don't know if I will return...
Aro: We shall take you to see it work. *nods as two Cleaves come and shackle Silente and then lead her to the medical bay* *the rooom where Zaf is has Jekyll in it and Zaf who is finally knocked out, still in her Elder robes*
Jekyll: Good. I can't touch her until you calm her. I need her willing to cooperate. Make the masked one draw the calming sigil.
((bye Amethyst!))
*winks at Jekyll*
The masked one. I like it. Much more sinister than Masky.
*nods*
*looks pointedly at the shackles*
I'll draw as soon as I'm able.
Aro: *keeps one shackle on her* Go on then.
*grabs the pencil from earlier out of her pocket*
*she yanked it our of the ground before they left*
Where should I draw it? Wall, floor, roof, on the cleavers helmets? Engraved in your face. It can go anywhere.
*hurmphs*
It will always be Masky!!!!
((Hi people!!! How be's yous!!!????))
Alexis: Do it on the wrist band she has on. And do not act sarcastic, it will gain no favour in your fate.
((Zaffy fine.))
*a cool mist rolls into the room*
*the mist solidifies*
*it is Dugglyn the wild banshee ninja*
Hello Masky.
*Turns to everyone else*
Hello all ye all.
((hey Dugglyn! I'm fine thanks! You?))
Whatever you say mam!
*grins and walks over to Zaf*
*starts acting serious*
*gently takes Zaf's arm and slips one hand under the wrist band, to secure it and make sure she's not stabbing Zaf*
*is completely silent while drawing a slightly modified version of the calming sigil*
*it will only target Zaf, no one else, so as not to waste energy*
*taps the sigil, activating it, and steps away*
*Turns into mist again*
*leaves*
Bye all! I have business to take care of. Be back later!
((I'm good!))
*wakes up much calmer* What?
Jekyll: Grand Mage, I need to heal you.
Go on...
Jekyll: *works on her wounds, not too pleased with the nails*
*smiles*
*starts calculating the likelihood of being able to escape*
*eyes the cleavers*
*eyes the distance to the door*
Aro: *takes Silente back to her cell*
*goes with him*
*when at cell*
So what happens now? She's healed. Then what?
((Brb food
I just had an amazingly interesting conversation about the difficulty of finding reflective things in the dark.
I also spent three hours sculpting.
Woo, go social life!
Just kidding, you guys ARE my social life. No pressure.
Also, herrow!
Aro: We'll see.
((hey trip! I've decided to buy a hair dryer!))
We'll see? God I miss Alexis! At least she gave straight answers!
*leans on the wall*
Come on. Give me a hint at least!
((That's probably wise if your hair goes past your shoulders. But didn't you just have one lying around the house? It just seems like the kind of thing people keep in their loft/basement/other_area_used_by_people_to_store_stuff_they_don't_commonly_use at least, if not in the bathroom.))
((Not for my hair! For art!))
Alexis: I'm here. And no- I do not know what will happen.
((As in, to dry it faster?))
i bet you're loving it, loving it,
i bet you're loving it, loving it,
i bet when you were just a child,
you always got too much attention 💓
Yoy don't? Oh perfect. So, what do you think the chances of me walking free from all this is?
*looks at both of them*
I'd probably be betting against myself here..if I had anything worth betting with that is.
((as in, to melt crayons and candles as well as make certain effects in ink or water colour paints ))
*cough* contact an insanely powerful battlemage to help get you free *cough*
Also, hey Mara, who wrote that? It's good.
Alexis: If Zaf feels merciful, yes. I don't know honestly. Jekyll is healing her.
((I can't tell if that's emo or awesome. Eh, what's to say it can't be both right?))
((But that's pretty damn artistic, considering the most artsy I get is augmenting and painting miniatures or teaching myself to sculpt badly. Are you doing art GCSE or something?))
hiii trip *hugs*
tich sings it (:
Hello, everyone!
Zaffy is a very merciful person..hmm..
*ponders that*
Maybe there's a small chance then. Maybe..
*shrugs*
Either way I'm sure it'll be a blast! Hopefully not a literal blast though!
Alexis: She'll be awake soon.
((i will be soon. Hopefully I'll be better at GCSE stage then i am now. I'm not much good at art except for drawing..thats about it. However melting crayons is easy and putting silhouettes on isn't that hard..))
People in my class are disturbing
She will? Oh okay then..
*shifts slightly*
Cool. Guess I'll just..wait...
*starts pacing and jumping around*
*hugs*
I don't think I've ever heard any of their stuff. It's all a bit too upbeat for me. Too much major, not enough minor you know? All my music is either slow and sad or so drowned in synths it's likely to be terminator in disguise.
I do love me my synths.
How are you?
Hey Sam!
((hey Snow! Disturbing? What do you mean?))
Heya, Silente, Trip, Snow, Zaf, Mara, and whoever else is here!
I'M IN HEAVEN NOWWW SO IN LOVEE
LAY YOUR WEAPONS DOWN
AND TURN IT UPPPPP
*comes out* Release her.
((Hey, you're better than me! Just be glad of that.))
Snow! Hey. How so?
((hey Sam!))
*looks up at Zaf*
*stops jumping up and down*
*also stops pacing*
*just watches*
I mean they just say disturbing things... help me
MUSIC IS SO WONDERFUL 💖
Mara, check your email? [hugs]
[probably not here]
Heh, so happy. I love the lyrical side of that kind of music.
Well, when there's more than one sentence to it.
Alexis: But...
Do it. Now.
Alexis: *releases*
Well, I'be always been one to hit hard, fast and first, so maybe you should counter by saying even more disturbing things. Like, in response to someone saying "Mmmmmmm… delicious kittens…" you could say "Yeah, would you like fries with that?"
I dunno, I'm not exactly the zingiest guy on earth.
*continues just watching Zaf*
*waiting for the catch*
*looks briefly at Aro*
*goes back to watching Zaf*
*stalks off*
Aro: She released you...whats wrong with her?!
My thoughts exactly Aro..you did turn the sigil off right? Shes not still calm and mellow? Cause that might explain it..
*trails off*
Wait. I'm free. YES!
*fist pumps*
Whoo!
*grins*
*composes self*
I mean. Er..it was nice to spend this brief time with you? I should probably get out from under your feet..
I TELL HER TO SPEAK UP
TELL HER TO SHOUT OUT
TALK A BIT LOUDER
BE A BIT PROUDER
TELL HER SHE'S BEAUTIFUL
WONDERFUL
EVERYTHING SHE DOESN'T SEEE
mental break-down immanent
Choose one and explain it at more depth. SHIELD VOLCANO: Shield volcanoes get their distinctive, over turned saucer shape from rapid streams of lava that spread easily and then cool, forming smooth, gentle slopes.
THIS IS WHAT I AM DOING.
AND PEOPLE ARE BEING DISTURBING.
HELP
ASDFGHJKLLIQUWRBJVEF
See? That's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. I think the lyric that has the the most self confidence in my entire song library is "Might as well be proud of last place" in a song called Scheumacker the Champaign, which is all about not being down if you lose terribly.
Or maybe it's "I'm Mr. Brightside", but that song is about dealing with a terrible breakup. It would be "L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N" but song is about taking the cards life deals you and making something of them…
Eh, I love it anyway.
"What determines if an eruption will be explosive or non explosive? Explain."
DOES NOT COMPUTEEEEEEEEEE
It's actually really fun to think about the music you listen to in more depth. I get super happy when I listen to my music, even the sad stuff, but it's all grumpy and sad.
Sorry. I'm spewing my thoughts on everyone. I'll be quiet for a while now.
@snow pressure. If the lid of the volcano is solid then pressure builds up making it explode whereas one with an east exit has nothing to cause a pressure build up and so doesn't explode..i think..
**easy exit not east exit
I've Gtg now. It's late. Bye! See y'all real soon guys!
Hello! I'm back!!!!
il qkwjehbf hm,jadsvb,mnf
gasses. apparently gasses. askgqeieafgilu
No!!!!!! Silente!!!!!!! Goodnight!!!
Hello Snow!!!!! How be's yous!!!???
i be brian daed
WATCH OUT FOR THE ZOMBIE CATERPILLARS!!!!!!!!!! THEY GO UP YOUR NOSE AND EAT YOUR BRAINS!!!!!
Sorry life happened
Dugglyn, I saw a caterpillar today, and that was all I could think of.
Wait. Did the caterpillars already get to you?! I told them not to get you guys! (Yet!)
No, it wasn't a zombie caterpillar. It was moving pretty fast.
ZAFFY!!!!!! SAMMY!!!!!! ADRAY!!!!!!!! SNOWY!!!!!!! HI!!!!!!! DON'T LET CATERPILLARS NEAR YOUR NOSE!!!!
Zombie Caterpillars move pretty fast and they look like normal caterpillars unless they want to recognized as zombies. They are like remnants! So beware!!!!!
CATERPILLERS? AAARGH! NOT AGAIN, I THOUGHT I FINISHED THEM ALL OFF AT CHERNOBYL!
The light behind your eyes
the light behind your eyes
The light beheaded your eyes
TRIP!!! DON'T KILL THEM!!!! THEY ARE MY MINIONS!!!! MY ZOMBIE CATERPILLARS WON'T ATTACK UNLESS I SAY SO!!!!
**behind
Hehe, beheaded!
*Sighs*
*Takes a deep breath*
*Cuddles Trip, and nibbles on his ear* *Hugs tightly* I mith yew, Twip. *Licks his hair*
*Only came in to say that*
BUT WHAT IF YOU LOSE CONTROL? THEY WILL DESTROY THE PLANET!
Fank wu Adwa. I mwith you too.
*Cuddews* :3
I wuv yew bby. *Nuzzews hees shawdew* we shewd go eyece skatiwn sewn, okey?
Yup!
I wouldn't lose control! Also, if I really need to I have a secret weapon!
*Dies of cuteness overload*
Ewkay Twip. *Hewgs agayn, and weaves*
Tank u Saymmmmmmmmm
*Weaves*
*bewt twips and fawls as she gews*
*Giggews*
*Weaves*
i could sleep
but then again i could blog
what to do
Yup, kid speak IS adorable.
Bye Adra!
A SECRET weapon?
What's the secret?
Is it a swarm of caterpillar-eating aphids that you made in a lab?
Sleep Mara! Don't make the same mistake I did of trying to cram a social life into a jam-packed schedule!
But then I do enjoy you blogging.
Toss a coin!
I can't tell you the secret weapon because then you might kill my minions!
I would recommend sleep, Mara. I love to sleep!
*smirks* you guys are so loopy
Thank you, Zafira!!!!!!!! I AM CRAZY!!!!!!,!!
but i also love little mix
I think you'll find the loop people of loop land would be very offended by that statement Zaf.
Jesus, just imagine me high. I mean, I can make up cartoons that are wacky enough to rival Spongebob SOBER.
I think for the good of humanity I should never, EVER get high.
Yes, I understand that!
I would want to sleep, but I would be happy if you stayed!
Does that majorly effect your decision?
All my friends are very happy I don't like coffee!! They think the world would die! They are right!!
kind of i mean like little mix fetus pictures are circulating around the fandom and if i don't screenshot them now i won't find them again but then again sleeping sounds nice
Oh Jesus, I have a personal rule not to play competitive team sport within half an hour of drinking strong coffee. I might as well be high 'cause I just can't stop laughing maniacally.
Trip if you evervgot high I'd go to England myself and smack sense into you.
OMG OMG LESS THEN A MONTH UNTIL I GO SEE LES MISERABLES ON BROADWAY!!!
Well, you've just got to think about it from a long term perspective, which is best, one night's sleep or pictures of your favourite band drawn as small kids saved to your hard drive?
NOT LISTENING LALALALALALALALA
*explodes happily* DYNAMITE!!!
yeah okay.
little mix are more important
Knew it.
Pay up.
I really wish making bets with myself didn't always end in breaking even.
Omg I love Anthony Stewart Head as Nathan...he sings and he just carries emotions so well I actually get choked up at points by how well he carries the emotions in song...
'ello, 'ello! Anyone home?
No one?
Hmm... the oddness...
meep
Hello?
AMETHYST!!!!! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*
HAI
wbd
HELLO JUBI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*tackle hugs back*
HOW GOES IT!!!!
I'M FINE! EXCEPT I'M LEAVING NOW. :( BYE!!!
SORRY!!!
FIRST
I dedicate this page to rainbows, rubber balls, and recycling
just because
[hugs Jubi-bean]
*supermegatacklehugs Fab-Tea*
[is supermegatacklehugged]
[hugs back]
How're you?
Great! I haven't talked to you in aaaggeeesss...
except for like 2 seconds yesterday...
How are YOU?
I'm okay.
Actually, not really. I'm sick.
And I should probably sleep soon...
But other than that, I'm alright.
And yes, it has been aaaaaaaaggggeeeeesssss
Oh nooooo D:
Being sick sucks. -_-
...
*puts on surgical mask*
Just incase... O-O
[laughs]
[fake-coughs dramatically]
I'm falling asleep, sorry... Msd...
GERMSSSSSS! *puts on a second surgical mask*
Okey
Bai in advance :P
[Draws a blue mustache on Jubi's surgical mask]
NO! NOW MY SURGICAL MASK IS INFECTED! *puts on a third*
*puts one on Fabi too*
[Switches surgical mask for Darth Vader mask]
[Uses the Dark Side of the Force to give Jubi another blue mustache]
*Uses the light side of the force to give Fabi a purple banana*
[Holds purple like it's a lightsaber]
[Darth Vader voice]
Apology accepted. Now I will destroy your soul.
[Lasers shoot from the Darth Vader mask]
[One of them hits the banana and it disintegrates]
NOO! BANANAAAA!! *mustache shoots blue light at Fabi/Vader* LET THE LIGHT SIDE CONSUME YOU!
[Something inside Fabi stirs at the sight of this dead banana]
[She remembers who she used to be]
[She used to defend bananas]
[She used to be better than this]
[She doesn't have to be this dark]
[She staggers back, as the blue light penetrates through the Darth Vader mask, turning it to ash]
[Crumples to the floor]
.... Darth Fabi?
*crouches down next to her*
Did... did it work?
*nudges gently*
[Groans]
Jubi-Lance Glee...
I am sorry that we...
Had to be enemies.
[Gasping breath]
If I had been stronger, perhaps. If I had not succumbed to the Dark Side...
Perhaps...
Perhaps then, we could have been sisters.
[One more shuddering breath]
[Dies a tragic death]
This has been a pretty dramatic plot, for twenty comments worth. :-P
I really need to sleep now, as much as I'd love to stay up and haunt your nightmares.
...
[hugs]
I've missed you, Jubi.
Bye for now.
No... Darth Fabi...
NO! *begins to sob over her lifeless form*
*through the haze if tears I see the ashes of the purple banana*
*Something inside me stirs at the sight of it*
*I remember who I used to be*
*I used to be crueler than this*
*I let it consume me*
*And the JUBIOSAURUS IS REBORN*
Oh alright
Nighty-night Fab-tea
*supermegagoodnughttacklehugsofdoom*
Talk to you later :)
Fabi and Jubi, I love you so much. XD
Yeah . . . on a musical front, I always get the sense I could be into such good music if I wasn't into the music I was into . . .
which is a sense that makes no sense coz i'm into great music
rawr :3
Rawr! :)
(Wbd, msd - I need to have breakfast and do word art and stuffs. :/)
Rawr?
aah
sounds delightful
Rawr!
*rawrs*
Starararararawr. <3
#Fabi
Boo..?
*tripple somersaults, flips and cartwheels in*
Hello?
Snow!
Hi there.
I HAVE CHEESECAKE
*is laying in the corner*
*looking beaten up and dead*
*looks at Tempest* *shrugs* too bad I'm not in the roleplay....
*mentally glares at snow*
*she couldn't just play along could she..*
Post a Comment