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.
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4,942 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1201 – 1400 of 4942 Newer› Newest»*you could try coming out of them for a minute or so.*
*just to test it out*
*baby step*
[I have always been rather rebellious against asterisks, when I'm not trying to pretend to be someone else]
[Sorry that in any way complicates things]
*Okay, heeeere we gooo...*
*...*
*...*
*Nope, nothing*
Hello all ye all!!
Will be distant.
Or perhaps I was...
Still am...
Oh, nevermind...
*come here. I'll show you*
How be's yous?!
Hey Dugglyn!
*if that
Hello, Dugglyn.
*I mean*
*I only sort of understand what is said in asterisks*
*So*
*I'm blind, and deaf, and tasteless*
*Well*
*I mean, I have good taste, I think, but I can't taste things*
I am so tired! I should have gone to bed earlier!
What has been happening in Blogland?
*well look maybe if you escape you can get some senses?*
*start by going from asterisks to pluses*
+like this+
...
I think it was a mistake.
*Goes*
Nothing much has been happening in Blogland. Appart from the Blogland awards. But that's about it really I think..
Samish, are you stuck in **?
*Grrr*
*HNNNNNNNG*
*IIIII*
*HAAAAVE*
*THEEEEE-*
*POOOOOW-*
*Owowowow!*
*Gah! How am I hurting!? I don't even have a body!*
*I think I sprained a...*
*Wait, is this what a sprained... Something feels like?*
*I don't really have a point of reference*
Adra? Come back!
*sigh*
I wish she would stick around more. I barely know her at all.
The Blogland awards?
*Samish. Come on*
*you can do this*
*to the pluses instead*
*CAREFULLY*
Am I missing something?
*Oh*
*Did Adra leave?*
*That's sad, I really like her*
*She seems nice*
*I mean, so does everyone else in Blogland, but still*
Yes The Blogland Awards Dugglyn. Awards for Bloglandians by Bloglandians.
(About the Blogland awards)
Yes, Samish everyone is nice but not as nice me!!!!!!;-););)):-:-)_/!:
http://bloglandawardspart2.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/how-this-thing-works.html
That's a vague explanation Dugglyn.
*What?*
*I'm sorry, I can't hear anyone outside of asterisks!*
*Right, CAREFULLY...*
*Hnnnnng....*
*HNNNNNNNNNG.......*
*.........*
*Phew*
*Nope*
*Not happening*
*I think I saw an asterisk stretch, there, but then again, I can't actually see things, so probably not*
When do the awards happen? What awards are there? How do you nominate people?
*try half asterisk half plus?+
+then half plus half line-
-then half line half apostrophy'
'Then half apostrophy half nothing
Then full nothing Samish.
*ok, be right back. Going to check out that website*
*Woah*
*Woah*
*No*
*Silente*
*You never, EVER, go full nothing*
*I was under the impression that it was a crime*
*But then again, I have no idea how stuff works, so whatever*
http://bloglandawardspart2.blogspot.co.uk/
There are 5 pages full of the awards we are going to be voting for. We're still in the nominating phase. It explains it in each category.
*Sam! You heard me when I was in nothingness!*
*WHAT*
*WHAT*
*WHAT IS THIS WIZARDY*
*WIZARDRY*
*WIZZARDY*
*WHATEVER*
*you heard me when I went into full nothing!+
+you manages to hear me somehow!-
-your learning!'
'Even if it is gradual!
You did it before!
*...*
*Aaaaand nope, not that time*
*Guess I can't be aware of it*
*ah maybe another time then*
*baby steps I suppose+
+baby steps but you'll get there+
+eventually-
*Bleh*
*Mayyyybe*
*I hope so*
*so do I*
*well either way+
+it could take time+
+like a lot of time-
-but that's better then nothing-
*...*
*Yeah*
*Sooooo*
*what to do now*
*I have no ideas+
+that's annoying+
*...*
*Hey*
*Silente?*
*yes sam-i-am?*
*What's music like?*
*well.. its hard to describe*
*each different track of music is different*
*like each voice is different*
*Oh*
*...*
*What's hearing like, then?*
*can't you hear my voice?*
*even if your deaf you can hear silence*
*No*
*I just sort of UNDERSTAND everything in asterisks*
*Like*
*It isn't like a voice goes into my ear, because I don't have ears*
*It just... Is, in my head(though I don't have a head)*
*Like 50-foot-tall burning letters, they exist, and they are VERY hard to ignore*
Ok, I am back! Thank you Silente! I only have one more question, is it just for the Golden God's blog?
*but even the deaf can here silence*
*and when you read the letters somewhere there's a quite voice in your head*
*basically nonexistent but it exists*
Yes Dugglyn it is. Sorry. You gonna nominate for it?
*But I don't read stuff*
*Because I don't have eyes, either*
*And I've never heard anything before, so there CAN'T be a voice in my head, because I don't know what one sounds like*
*so...what should we do?*
*maybe you do have eyes*
*and ears*
*maybe you have the whole body thing*
*but your floating around unaware*
*simply because you haven't been told*
*or something*
Maybe, I am pretty new but I do know a lot of people here.
*Dunno*
*Maybe*
*I mean, everything before Blogland is a bit of a haze*
*I think I just went about and described things, like other people use asterisks in Blogland*
Ugh, I have to get up! I will be back soon, that is all I know!
Well nominations are probably closing on Monday I think, so you have some time to decide :-)
Bye then Dugglyn!
*look its only me and you on now*
*come out of the asterisks*
*comes visit the none-stuck-in-asterisky world*
*its fun*
*oh btw Dugglyns leaving*
*Oh, bye, Dugglyn! I like your name!*
*I caaaan't*
*hey if you had a body, what would you want it to be like?*
*yes I realise you haven't seen a body before*
*but female or male, tan or pale, young or old?*
*what colour hair?*
*etc*
*Uh*
*Well*
*I dunno*
*That's sort of why I picked the name Sam (not really having a gender and all)*
I am back!!!!
*what would you think if I said I know someone who could help you into a body?*
*like a solid body*
*for you and you alone*
*in the not asterisk world*
*would you say yes?*
*...*
*Well*
*...*
*That's...*
*I dunno*
*Who are they?*
Hey Dugglyn, that was quick!
*dugglyns back*
*Oh hi Dugglyn!*
*did you all cry in my absence?*
*I bet you did!*
*his names Friendship Manuel*
*he's very kind*
*he could guide you into a real body*
*but, you know, it'd help if you said what sort of body you'd want to have*
*I just had to clean my room and luckily, for once, it wasn't to messy!*
*I dunno*
*Wouldn't that be stealing a body?*
*And no, not really, Dugglyn, but that's because I don't have eyes*
*no its not*
*I'm a resourceful person*
*I know someone who makes bodies*
*I don't know why he does*
*but he does*
*I can't say his name though*
*ok, if you don't have eyes not crying is acceptable*
*what about Silente, did you cry?*
*That sounds really sketchy*
*No offense*
*I wept until my heart was just a raw mes and my eye were sunken red lids Dugglyn*
*which I definatly not a lie*
*Samish, are going to get a body, like Thrasher and Scapegrace?*
*oh, I am glad, Silente!*
*I know it does but you'd be surprised*
*he's quite kind*
*its not his fault*
*its a job*
*I've seen the bodies he's made*
*some are actually pretty ho- I mean cool*
*they just need a consciousness to guide them*
*why can't you tell us/Samish the person's name?*
*Yeah*
*Why not?*
*personal safety*
*the person doesn't like to be known*
*I'm fairly certain I'm the only person he knows*
*but that's a different story altogether*
*Oh*
*That's sad*
*If I had a body, I'd meet everybody!*
*just a random idea....*
*has anyone played truth or dare on the blog?*
*it seems like it would be fun!*
*Samish, even though you are not in a body you still are meating people, like me or Silente!*
*I've heard of it being played once*
*but only once*
*I have wanted to play it before but I've left it*
*plus Sam needs a body!*
*Sam, give me an idea of what you'd like to look like!*
*I can get you a body!*
***meeting***
*yes, maybe after Sam gets a body we could play!*
*Sam getting a body is top priority!*
*I dunno, you're kind of springing this on me!*
*Uh*
*uh*
*I dunno!*
*okay let's go slowly*
*hair, long or short?*
*and what colour?*
*Uh*
*Well*
*Apparently long hair is in style*
*But it seems like it'd get in the way*
*Soooo, short... Ish?*
*As for color... Gah, too many options!*
*I really don't know!*
*shortish hair..*
*types that into a phone*
*colour..how about blonde, brown, black or ginger?*
Silente that was really creepy >.<
What was Chi? Which time was I creepy? I'm creepy a lot you'll have to narrow it down! ;P
*testing one two!*
*what are you testing Dugglyn?*
*Er*
*Look, I dunno!*
*I guess brown? Brown's nice and plain?*
*okay*
*types brown under shortish*
*okay. Now. Tall or short body? Or medium?*
*would you prefer if I just pick one out for you?*
*Mmmmmmeeeeediuuuuummmm....?*
More than once. But it isn't really played anymore.
*types in medium*
*skinny or not?*
*I*
*Medium weight?*
*medium weight? Okay.*
*types medium weight*
*okay so nows a biggie, girl or boy*
*Uh*
*Can we delay this question, a bit...?*
*I don't know what happened but my kindle glitched out.*
*I am here but on my dad's computer*
*okay then*
*age? As in child, teen, twenties, thirties, fourties, older*
*this is in appearance*
*okay then Dugglyn*
*HI Fabi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*
*Iiiii*
*Wait, in appearance?*
*yes*
*as in I look 12*
*but I'm 133*
*what age do you want to appear to be*
*the body will age but what do you want to start as?*
*It would be funny if Sam was a 90 year old in a 2 year old body!*
*actually, that would just be weird!*
*Wait, Fabi's here?*
*Hi, Fabi!*
*Anyways, uhhhhhh...*
*I think Fabi is here...*
*She said something but that doesn't mean she is here!*
Howdy! How are y'all?
Hey Rhydian. How are you? Remnant done his job yet?
*Ok, I should go have breakfast, I will be back later!*
*and hopefully on my kindle!*
Hey Sil! I'm good. No it hasn't. And how are you?
*Bye, Dugglyn!*
Bye Dugglyn!
Hello Sam Ish. I'm Rhydian. Nice to meet you!
*bye dugglyn!*
*I'm waiting Sam...*
I'm fine thank you Rhydian. The remnamts taking its time! I think he's become emotionally attached to you.
*Well*
*I*
*wkjraslkdfjdaskl*
Yes he is...Too bad I'm in a sort of coma, so my ego cannot benefit from this xD :P
*not very helpful Sam*
*Rhydian said hi and nice to meet you*
Good. Your ego's big enough! The remnant will have to do its business eventually..
Yeah...IS anything going on atm? Coz I don't have to leave for a while, so I've got time
Not really. I'm thinking about giving Sam a body but otherwise..
*Oh, hello, Rhydian!*
*Fine! Gosh! Uh...*
*I dunno, 20 something, so that I can have a long time 'till death, but I can still be an adult, or something!*
*Do you have, like, a wheel or something that I could spin?*
Er...Why, is he a ghost or sommat? And alighty then. Anybody up for a rp?
*no sorry*
*types 20 into the phone*
*magic or not?*
*and if yes your surge will be delayed until you've been in the body for about 3 years *
He's sort of just a consciousness. I'll rp.
Oh right then...How'd he manage that then?
And ok...I dunno how to start it though (I am so awkward)
*Oh*
*uh*
*Yes, magic...?*
*I'm noooot really sure how it works, but it sounds interesting, at least*
Do you have any idea what you want to rp about? Just walk in and talk! Best way to start.
*okay*
*types in magic*
*so twenty, brown shortish hair, medium height and magic.*
*any other details you think are important other than gender?*
*Well, superhero outfit, but I'll work that out myself*
*yeah you can sort clothes yourself*
*okay. Gender?*
*HI!!!! I AM MR. MAN!!!!!!*
*but your Dugglyn..*
Lena: *calls Rhyds* Hello Stranger. We need to talk
Rhyds: About? I am really busy, so please, can you go away?
Lena: I know where the Horseman is you idiot. So if you want me to go, then-
Rhyds: *sighs* Come over then. I'm sure Sil wouldn't mind a good catch up.
Lena: I'm on my way *hangs up and immediately gets into her car*
Hey Dugglyn!
*Okay, so, I'll flip a coi-*
*Or maybe just roll a di-*
*Or-*
*Okay, not having a body is hard*
*Looks like I'm doing this with the ancient method known as...*
*Eenie Meanie Minie Moe*
*is stood under a tree*
*a fedora tipped low*
*wearing a waist coat, normal black skinny jeans and a white shirt*
Hey Remi.
(Remi?)
(*Ernie meanie minie more it is then.*)
((Remi the remnant))
*Lena's black car turns up in Blogland and comes to a stop* *she steps out of the car, moving her light brown hair off her face and her hazel eyes look over at Rhydian* *she walks over to him*
((Why is the remnant called Remi now? Wtf?))
*Right*
*Female-Male*
*Eenie meanie minie moe, catch a tiger by his toe, if he hollers let him go, my mother said to pick the very best one and you are IT!*
*...*
*Crap, I wasn't keeping track*
*Again, with gusto!*
*spot Lena*
LEEEEEEEEENAAAAAAAAAAA!
*runs over and hugs her*
Hello.
((Remi sounds like a shortened version of remnant, its a nickname))
Lena: Hello Miss Tempest...I know you might've missed me but I don't really do hugs *slowly pushes Sil off of herself* I'm here to see Sky
((Fair enough then))
Oh. Right. Yeah. Sorry..
*nods and sighs*
*walks off giving them space*
Lena: Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to see you. But I'm not a hugger
Rhyds: You'll hug me right?
Lena: No thanks Sky.
*Aaaand it landed on female*
*Okay*
*Alright*
*I can jive with that*
*smiles*
Its okay. I can understand that. I'm not much of a hugger either. I'll give you two some space.
*walks to a tree a reasonable distance away*
Rhyds: So lena, what have you got for me?
Lena: What haven't I got for you? *grins*
Rhyds: Less flirting please...I don't care like the other me, the real me. So where's the Horseman?
Lena: Well that's not very nice. He's in Scotland
(*okay. Female.*
*types that in*
*presses send*
*gets a text back*
*he's found a match. Says to pick it up tonight. can you wait until then?*)
*Wait*
*What*
*Already?*
*...*
*Where is he getting these bodies so fast?*
*And how come I have to wait?*
*watches them from a distance*
*she's far enough away that she can't hear using her normal senses*
(*he's made a few before. And he's a fast worker. You have to wait so he can check its okay and get it ready. He's being careful. Only the best for me!*)
Rhyds: OK...So we go to Scotland?
Lena: Basically. We're going to have to try and bargain for my soul. Any ideas what he'd want for a soul as valuable as mine?
Rhyds: I don't know and don't care. I want revenge on him, not to save you.
Lena: You're definitely not Rhydian. Rhydian would care...You're something evil
Rhyds: So let's go to Scotland then *ignoring her*
(OMG I HATE THE REMNANT NOW!!!!!!!! HE /HAS/ TOO SAVE HER!!!! LENIAN!!!)
*Thiiiiiis*
*Is really sketchy*
(KILL THE GOD DAMN REMNANT!)
(UGH HES A DICK!)
*still watching them carefully*
*shifts her weight slightly*
(*its fine Sam.*)
(I WILL I THINK! AND I'LL LAUGH AT HIS PAIN!)
Lena: Get in the car then. *shouts over to Sil* Want to come to Scotland with us? Looking for the Headless Horseman
Rhyds: Why is she coming? We don't need her
Lena: She's my friend. And she /can/ help. Plus it's my car, so I decide who comes
*...*
*If you say so*
WOO SCOTLAND'S THE BEST! *spins and randomly has a tartan dress on with bows in her hair doing highland dancing*
Scotland? Sure!
*smiles and jogs over*
I'm game.
*smiles at Remi*
You okay? You look irritated.
((hey Chi!))
((Wb Chi!))
((Hey Rhydian! Can I come? I wanna go home :D))
*watches the car from a tree*
Rhyds: I am...A nocturnal beast is with us
Lena: Ignore that nasty pasty. He's just jealous that you're stronger than him *smiles at Rhydian and gets into the driver's seat as Rhyd's glares at her getting into the passenger's seat*
Yh sure Chi!
Lena: Hey Chione! Want to come? Btw ignore is Remi acts moody, he's always like this
*climbs in the backseat*
Boo hoo Rhydian. Don't forget this nocturnal beast could kick your butt.
*grins*
Oh I don't mind, I can be moody all the time too. We'll get on just fine.
*runs over happily and slips into the back beside Silente*
*claps hands* I'm going home ^.^
They have proper lakes and lochs in Scotland. Like 10x the size of the lake. They're beautiful. And really deep...and kinda creepy. Good place to drown a body though! *glances at Silente*
Lena: OK then. let's go *begins the journey to Scotland* Btw Rhyds, how desperate are you to get out of my good friend there?
Rhyds: very
Lena: Let's say, Rhydian will return to Blogland and you won't. Sound good to you?
Rhyds: *smiles* *the first genuine smile in a long time* *it was sick and twisted and cruel* Fantastic
Yeah. Good place to hide a drained body too.
*glances at Chi*
*talks to Lena and Rhydian*
Then you can do whatever Remnants do when they aren't possessing people.
*watches from somewhere nobody knows because of her new trick: being invisible*
*facepalm* Why did it have to publish twice?
I dedicate to Scotland. My beautiful home country with shortbread and men in kilts and tartan and highland dancing and amazingly beautiful landscapes. Sure it's cold, sure it rains. But I would not have wished to be born in any other country. I am proud to call myself Scottish.
(I'm just gonna time warp it, coz it's a long drive)
*they arrive in Scotland* *Next to loch Ness*
Lena: OK everybody...Get out and look for a bloke on a horse with no head!
*climbs out of the car*
Will do!
*looks around*
Here old headless!
*stays semi near Lena*
*just in case*
*gets off the roof of the car*
*is now visible*
Howdy partners!
Hey Dugglyn!
*rushes out of the car and takes a deep breath, runs out onto the loch, her dress flying behind her*
*dances on the surface, keeping an eye out for the horseman*
*The Headless Horseman comes up to them all* OK...So you all got the bait then?
Lena: What?
Rhyds: Bait? You wanted us to come?
Horseman: Indeed. So there's two things I want...Lena or Rhydian. I want either of you, or both of you. Make your decision now
Do you like my trick?
It comes in very handy!
hey Dugglyn!
*stands in front of them both*
*addressing the horseman*
What. Your not taking them. Either of them.
*stops dancing and looks over to the rest, in the middle of the loch*
*Oh boy*
*...*
*I hope they'll be okay*
*looks at the headless horseman*
Hmm.. this can't be good!
*Rhydian steps forward* Take me...You know, that out all of the universe, I'd want to be near you. Maybe to kill you, but still with you. take me
Lena: NO! If he takes you, he's also taking the real Rhydian
Rhyds: I don't care
*turns invisible*
*walk over to Silente and whispers in her ear*
Why do we want to see him?
*turns to Remi*
No. Neither of you are going, I'm not letting you,
*nods at Remi*
Screw rhydian over anymore than you already have and I'm not letting him.
*nods at the horseman*
Take you.
*nods at Lena*
No ones going with him.
*steps in front of Rhyds*
*still invisible*
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