Waiting for your book to be released is always an interesting time for a writer. But behind all the excitement and the impatience and the work, there is one question — one ever-present question — that shouts louder than any of the others.
"Will they like this one?"
Because what if they don't? What if this book is the book where they finally realise you're not a writer? Or that your best work is behind you? What if the enthusiasm you have grown accustomed to finally runs out?
It's a possibility. I started my career with Skulduggery Pleasant, a series that ran for nine books with one spin-off and one short story collection. That's how I got my readers, and my readers have a genuine love for those characters and that world. That's what I'm used to. That love and enthusiasm is now what I expect whenever I release a book.
But Demon Road is different. Demon Road is new.
It doesn't have the advantage of being part of a long-running series. It's part of a trilogy, yes, but it's the FIRST part.
There is an unwritten rule in publishing. It's not a particularly nice rule, but it's an understandable one. This unwritten rule states that your second series will not reach the heights of the first series — at least not at first. Given time, it will gather its own fans and its own readers and it might even surpass the first, but upon its release it will flounder when compared to the heights previously scaled. My publishers told me about this rule years ago. I have had a lot of time to absorb it.
And I'm okay with it.
I think Demon Road is a good book. Of course I do, I wrote it. I think it will gather its own fans. A lot of these will be Skulduggery readers. Some won't be. Regardless, it was written to stand apart, to begin a new adventure, to introduce new characters and a new world, and it will rise or fall on its own merits.
This, to me, is the essence of writing. Each new book is a brand new lie, and each new lie brings an age-old truth. If a writer is lucky, he'll get multiple opportunities to tell these lies to an audience that is willing to give him the chance. Nobody wants to read a book they don't enjoy. Everyone wants the book they're reading to be the book that changes their life forever.
I've been very lucky in the past, and I reckon I'm ready for what's to come.
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«Oldest ‹Older 4801 – 4989 of 4989I was just... admiring the quality of your clothes. Yes. >.>
@Aquila: XD Why, thank you.
(Hear hear
I love you <3 that ded is more suited to you although I would've added awesome and sexy and amazing... *looks offended* of course I mean me lol nah ko baby :) )
Welcome. ^^
Aquila: You realise a mangifying glass at night wouldn't do much?
Me: Shhhh...
Swirl: But she's right. Though, maybe if we add a laser pointer...
Me: You two know full well I didn't mean to burn her!
Aquila: Oh, do we?
Swirl: We know nothing. >.>
Me: -frowns-
I won't be here... So I don't think I can, unless I make a couple other people admins of the blog too, so they could shut it down if necessary.
( *raises hand* I will do what's necessary if you wish :P )
I would, but I won't volunteer since you don't know me that well.
(I would also recommend, Fabi, that you would change the settings somewhat so you have to be signed in to a Google account in order to publish a comment. Although it may or may not work, I believe it would still be worth doing.)
Hi there Sophia. ^^
Good idea, Sophia.
(Hello, Aquila. Hello, Grant.)
Getting ME3 to work is a pain.
Hello!
Can't sleep. .-.
Not really here. Seeking sleep.
@Star
Step 1: Snuggle up to your blankets
There is no step 2.
@Star
Step 3: open window for fresh air
Step 4: get more blankets to snuggle into as it just got colder
Step 5: realise nobody's on
Step 6: put some maths videos on in the hbackground
Step 7: drift off to sleep
(I'm here, kinda...)
I haven't really left, either... just ran out of things to say.. ^^
*foot is super pins-and-needles numb*
OW. OWOWOW. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE IT. >.<
What are you two up to?
Hopeymoth! *cuddles*
Nothing much anymore, so I'm starting to notice I'm tired. ^^
Lavender: Rub your leg to make the blood flow better?
Nothing much? Aww, do something fun or you'll fall asleep :|
Kassyworm. ^.^ *cuddles back*
I tried but I feel it more when I do that. :P
It's okay now though, I just left it alone in a better position and it got back to normal. :P
Well I've been talking to Fera until now, but he's off to sleep so I hadn't found something new to do, yet.
I guess I'll just go back to colouring. ^^
What are you up to, Hopey? Got anything fun planned?
Ah, I see, Johanna. (Did I spell that right?)
Yes, you did. ^^
Jojo should be easier, or Jo. Both is fine. ^^
*should probably eat breakfast, but is also considering more sleep :P and talking here while people are still on*
Or also coloring like Aquila is doing. I've still got printed pages that I haven't colored in yet, and I just got an idea for color scheme.
Now I need to see if I have the right colors... But that can be done later.
How about you, Kas? :)
Jojo- *is auto corrected to Kiki :P* is a nice nickname.
And to clarify, my last comment was kinda half in response to Kas and half just me thinking out loud. ^.^' I don't have anything really planned for today and I'm just talking here for the moment.
Thanks, Lavender. :)
And, Kiki sounds like a name for a parrot or so. ^^
Parrots are mean.
@Johanna Aw, I like your name. Johanna does sound pleasant.
@Hopeymoth I'm sleepy, will sleep soon. Just not now. You should sleep while you can :P
I always think of Kiki's Delivery Service when I hear that name. :P
And speaking of nicknames, you could call me Lav(or Hope, even though it's not part of my display name at the moment) if you like. :)
By the way...
I'm just wondering, have you noticed the 'prove you're not a robot' box under the comment box? It's been so long I keep forgetting what newer(or anyone who came on recently, who hasn't been around in a while) people might think of it. Cause just to clarify, you don't need to click it. It's been doing weird things since earlier this year and it was actually kinda funny to see how it kept changing the way to prove you're not a robot. :P And now it's just a check box to click, but you don't have to do it every time.
It's morning for me already though. :P
But maybe I will after breakfast, which I will go eat now cause I'm getting hungry.
If you go to sleep before I get back, I hope you sleep well. *hugs* :) Same to you, Aquila. *hugs too*
I noticed it's no use, and added it to the list. ^^
Cause how many of you do take that short notice at the top seriously? The 'your comment might take a moment to be displayed' thing?
What if it takes two moments???
0.0
Don't scare me like that!
-curls up under blanket-
Mustn't take two moments, mustn't..
;P
I must go to sleep, now. And you must too, Jo. Good night!
(Night, Hopey! Have a good day!)
I mean, you don't have to. But it's late.
I usually wouldn't have to, but today.. yeah. ^^
Night all. ^^
-leaves hug for Lav-
(Actually, can I call you Lila? ;P Lavender makes me think of purple, purple makes be think of lila (German word for it) and lilac, and it's shorter than Lavender and I kinda like the sound better than Lav... (sorry, random late night thought ^^))
Lila's a nice name. ^.^ Of course I don't mind! And purple /is/ my favorite color, so yay. :) Lila's good. *nodsnods*
Sleep well you two! *hugs* :)
*now has to go do that house job(by that, she means chore) she was assigned*
*leaves hugs and cookies for the next person/people on and poofs*
(Should be sleeping
But I have a really bad tummy which is keepin me awake and there's no medicine here to ease the pain -_-)
I have air conditioning now, otherwise I'd be in your boat of unable to sleep. I'm not sure how Zaf is, she said she hit 91*F today.
Dynamite?
Dynamite.
...
I think that if the ball is to continue, someone else will have to supply the blog.
Sorry.
I can create a blog if people want, though I will shut it down if it turns into a fight or people make rude/inappropriate comments.
Just if people want
*hugs Fabi*
ger Bruadar Cadail said...
thanks, and Helloooo!
i'm not really sure just how enthusiastic to be without coming off as creepy.
*laughs hysterically*
Yeah no. You're not too enthusiastic. Once you surpassed me, /then/ it might be getting close to creepy.
BUT WELCOME PERSON I ASSUME IS STRUAN
*keeps reading his name as Brandi Carlile and then freaking out and then realizing it's not Brandi Carlile and why the f would it Brandi Carlile that makes no sense*
*and then freaking out again BECAUSE CINCERT THIS WEEKEND!!!!*
(*has slept like ten hours and is still tired..*)
HOLY CARP FISH I JUST HAD A REALLY COOL BUT REALLY SCARY DREAM THAT ENDED WITH A WOMAN STABBING MY MOM (dream mom wasn't real mom) IN THE BACK AND CUTTING OPEN MY FOREHEAD TO PUT SOMETHING INSIDE. BUT HOLY CARP GISH THAT WAS THE FREAKIEST THING EVER. Except the was no blood, WHICH I'm actually really grateful for. DREAM ME IS AN IDIOT BECAUSE SHE DIDNT RUN AWAY AND SHE COULD HAVE TRIED. ;~;
But I think it had to be part of the plot of my dream, which by the way, is really cool, but I won't say more about it unless people want to know. OMLI THOUGH I ACTUALLY LITERALLY FELT LIKE SOMETHING HAPPENED TO MY FOREHEAD WHEN I WOKE UP. IT TICKLES. DX
Oh, by the way, ISNT THE OWL CUTE?? :D
*using the picture for something and thought it'd be fun to have it as a profile pic*
Good morning Lila. Maybe you facepalmed while asleep? ^^
(Building site outside the house is at it again and it's hard to sleep when your whole house vibrates.)
Aw. *hugs Aquila* At least they don't do it at night?
And no, cause at least during the last part of my dream, I could feel my real body and I think that's one reason I couldn't move by the time she found me(tried to hide in plain sight; does NOT help -_-') is because my sleeping form was affecting my dream self. I think I flinched though.
That could also be why I feel like something literally happened to my forehead.
OH AND IN MY DREAM, I HAD DREAMS(possibly? Either I forgot but my dream self remembered or my dream already gave me that information since the beginning) ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE AND WE WERE MEANT TO WORK TOGETHER AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH MY MOM BEFORE THAT WOMAN CAME AND YEAH.
ALSO- Good morning to you! ^.^
God, they'd be as good as dead would they try at night. XD
We used to even have laws not to be noisy during times like Sunday midday. And even though they no longer apply, people themselves insist on quiet times.
Should they try at night, they'd easily get 20 or more people calling the police on them. XD
Also, I tend to have very strange dreams as well. Don't worry too much about yours. ^^
@Lav: As your dreams are influenced by your memories and sensations and what's on your mind at the moment, that makes sense. :)
Not really here. About to head back into the hell that is college.
Star, maybe taking some chocolate along would help?
At least for me, it's ridiculous how much chocolate helps... ^^
Good luck, Star! *hugs*
Wow, that's interesting, Aq. But yeah, if that's the case, they /would/ be dead. XP
It was a really cool dream before that last moment though...
*should probably write it down somewhere and use it as a story idea sometime*
Except it was really vague on /what/ we were supposed to be. Like, kids with super powers? Or a rag-tag group of experiments that escaped from the lab? This woman needed something from me, or I'd have been dead too, so ??? Why??
Oops. Sorry, Aquila, I have to go!
*hugs*
May be on later this evening, but I don't know yet. Bye! *hugs*
... still makes more sense than dreaming a group of bank robbers chose your house as base and use your brother's room to plan the escape vehicle...
Off for a moment. Will be back. ^^
Oh, in that case. - hugs back and leaves, too- ^^
(+only has one lecture today *
*doesnt have to go in till later*
*still has bad tummy ^)
Back for now. ^^
Maybe putting something warm on your stomach will help? And some teas seem to help, too.
- off again, this time for longer-
Hello.
hello :)
(-is here-)
*may be here*
*distant and msd*
Hai.
Birds are confusing.
*laughs cause she just remembered her picture and that's actually half of what she's talking about*
Eetzooocuuuuute. XP
Hey Lav.
*waves*
Hi Gem. :) How are you?
I'm ok. Just watching stuff.
I want to write something but i don't know what...i just love to write. I have writers block for my fanfic and i had it when i tried to write a book...
Just write something random then. Like anything, even if it's boring and normal.
I've been writing about the things going on in my life and how I feel about it, so even if no one reads it or it's not something exciting, I'm still writing, and that can still count. :)
I try to write a diary but i never keep it up for long...
-sighs and tries to brainstorm-
Same. *nods* I know how that feels, but if you have an urge to write, the best(and worst) thing is that you can write about anything. Which makes it harder to choose, but easy if you just think of something random and go with it wherever it leads you. :)
*is stuck trying to fill in this owl coloring sheet*
My aunt suggested using one of my photocopies(in case I wanted to redo it if I mess up) to create a colorful owl. That's not a bad idea, actually... Hmm.
( *cuddles gemmy tightly* )
I love owls...i'm like obsessed with them. A bag, 3 necklases, phone case, photos holding them, a blanket, 4 owl plush toys and 2 wooden owls. Oh and a key ring.
Oh and a diary that my mum got me. And a colourful colouring sheet i did.
I coloured the small bits in different shades of one colour so from far away it looks really plain but up close you can see the different shades and colours which made me happy.
Wow. :O AREN'T THEY CUTE THOUGH? XD But it wasn't until I started looking through pictures that I realized how cute they are. :P they possibly just became my second favorite animal. :P
Hi K.
Sorry, I have to go again. See ya later!
Bye Lav!
-hugs Keiron tightly-
Ok. I have an idea. And i'm going to try and write a book again.
Do people want another blog for the ball/after party?
Yes please Dugglyn.
http://requiemballparty.blogspot.com/
Or on my profile!
I don't know why I'm sad . . .
*curls up in duvet and cries*
But for the record, Gemma, I started keeping a diary recently, and I don't try to keep to a specific schedule with it. I just talk to it when I need someone to talk to but don't want to botehr anyone, or if I want to talk about an issue but can't share the issue with a real person, and it's just really good for talking to.
It can feel a bit lonely, though, becasue you never get a response in return.
OMG WE'LL GET WIFI AT SCHOOL
C:
*has just been stargazing*
AND I LEARNED AND FOUND FOUR NEW CONSTELLATIONS LIKE IM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW. :D
*before recently, only knew the shapes for several yet could only find the constellations for Orion and Ursa Major(aka Big Dipper)*
I found Cygnus(the swan), Perseus, one called Cassiopeia(is easy to notice if you know what it looks like), and Pegasus(which is HUGE)! :D
Nice, Star.
we already have wifi at school :P
Hi there, for a bit. ^^
Lila: Orion and Cassiopeia are my favourites. :3
hey aquila ^_^
HI GUYS!
@Aquila: *hugs* You're awesome. XP Cassiopeia is becoming a favorite of mine. It's such a simple shape, but still pretty; and Orion was the first one I found due to his three star belt. :D
Hi Fera. ^^
Also, I now own a dirndl. I'm gonna treasure it and hardly ever wear it. >.>
(Cause there's only two occassions a year I can wear it on, round where I am. :P ^^ )
-hugs Lila back-
Hey, have you ever heard the jokes about that 'sword' not being quite that? ;P
hey, how's you? :)
Nope. :P Haven't had any friends who like the stars as much as I do; either that or they're not the kind who makes jokes like that.
AND, my friends who were both are no longer near me, so I don't know what they'd say anymore.
Lila, you know what that means, right?
You're gonna need this -gives a small box of cookies-. Go and hunt some friends. >.>
I'm fine Fera, thanks. ^^ You?
Besides, we haven't seen each other in a long time, so they might not even be interested in stars anymore.
... I'm living abroad. In Japan. And still didn't learn the language. I don't think I can make many friends that way... But the ones I do have aren't like that. Unless I just don't know what they're saying.
I am ok as well i suppose ^_^
@Lav: :) :) :) :)
@Fera: We don't. :( Well, we do now. Only for sixth formers. <3
I'm just wasteing time till Uni basically. Is it weird to think that my life will only begin when i go to Uni?
I feel as if i haven't really been living yet...
I have a friend who'd love to live in Japan. She's a proper translator for Japanese and French, currently looking for work. :)
Admittedly, if you can't talk to them it should be more difficult to make friends... will you be there for long?
umm, studying psychology
*hugs Starar* Nice! I'm happy for you! :D
*hugs Gem*
One doesn't live until they make the most of the present.
...
Or something like that. XP *trying to sound wise but fails at remembering quotes*
Gemma: Uni IS a different life. ^^
Little bits of truth in advance:
No matter when you start, you never started early enough with revising for exams. Everyone will tell the new ones so, and yet everyone will start too late.
Lectures in the morning are a great risk, because many people might simply fall asleep.
If your uni isn't tiny, usually no one will care if you attend normal lectures or not. But some profs want you to, so they'll say things that aren't in their notes to make sure people who never come are screwed. ;P
Try to make friends early on to have people to talk to - but I haven't once been sent away if I included myself into a group later. As a rule of thumb, I find people at university are much nicer. :)
so msd
Gone for work now, should be back in... about two hours. ^^
ok, have fun aquila ^_^
Bye Aq! I have to go too, so I'll answer tomorrow(later tonight if you'll be on then)!
Bye guys!
Thank you a lot for that Aquila. It really helped. Usually i do make friends really fast so that'll hopefully not be a problem. I made 2 friends in the queue waiting to see derek and got their facebooks xD
Cya later, thanks again.
Lav, thanks for trying but i am doing nothing with my life right now. I can't be bothered doing anything apart from catching up on tv shows...and i'm not eating anything. All i had to eat today was a breakfast bar and a snack cake thing. I usually eat like a pig but i look like a twig. But when i'm at home i don't eat unless my parents make me something or there are noodles. I'm such a waste of time and space...
-sighs and sinks into the ground and suffocates-
(*watches save me! lollipop*)
gemma: you're not a waste a time or space.
(*hugs gemmy*)
-hugs Chloe tightly back-
-mumbles- Thanks Frank...
(one thing jack always tells me : try and think positive)
I'm trying Chloe and it all revolves around Uni. And that's on Monday...this week is just a waste until then.
you can read and such to make time go faster ^_^ plus next week isn't that far off.
I'm trying to write... but it's not passing time as much as i'd like. I might go back to watching tv 24/7
(I see... hmmm what do you like doing? do that until then?)
how's k?
(when I want to pass time, I get up just dance videos on youtube and copy them)
when i want to pass time i just get up some music i like and dance to it :P
(you're not a waste of space to me baby :( *hugs tightly* I love you, you are amazing and worth everything in the world to me.)
(*waves to K*)
*nods at k*
(*waves to chloe*)
*goes to keep punching walls*
*is in kinda wants to see everyone burn mood*
*but is more angry at self*
(take up yoga, I told you
wanting to see people burn isn't very nice)
*is not in a mood to be told things*
you know what, f*** this, i am going to disappear forever.
(*rolls eyes*
"There once was a little dream."
"No one knows who dreamt it. It really was such a small dream."
"This made the little dream think... 'I don't want to disappear, how can I make people dream me?"
"The little dream thought and thought... And at last had an idea!"
"I will make people come to me...and they will make my world."
The first ALICE was a gallant red one
Wielding a sword in a hand in the Wonderland
Slicing down everything in her way
This new ALICE deep in the woods
Was trapped as a wanted fugitive
If it weren't for the red path she she made
No one would think she even existed
The second ALICE was a fragile blue one
He sang to the world in the wonderland
Filling regions with so many false created notes
This new ALICE was that of a rose
He was shot and killed by a mad man
It left a flower blooming sadly red
The one who was loved was now forgotten
The third ALICE was a little green one
Very cute and dear in the Wonderland
She charmed people to her every beck and call
She made a strange green country
This new ALICE was the country's queen
Taken over by a distorted dream
She was afraid of losing to death
She would forever rule her country
During this two children went into the woods
They had a tea party under rose trees
An invitation from the castle from them was
The trump card of hearts
The fourth ALICE was two siblings
Their couriosity in the wonderland
Going through many different doors
Coming not too long ago in a yellow boat
The stubborn big sister
And smart little brother
Though they were the closest to Alice's Wonderland
They were never woken from their deep dreaming
Forever they wandered in the Wonderland )
(calm down)
am trying to.
but i should really just disappear.
(don't get your panties in a twist mister
this is a happy place)
sure
*ghosts*
(Jack! *glomps and kisses repeatedly*)
( *dittos jack*)
*is glomped and kisses Chloe*
*nods a hello to keiron*
i don't know what i am feeling, but this is perhaps a new level of hate even for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnrvTeSswqU
the weirdest song O.o)
(hate for what?
hate is a powerful
but love conquers all *clings to jack like a koala* have ou seen my new profile?)
then why is it that there's more hate than love? that love fades away so quickly and is replaced by hate and stays for longer? And i have no idea. I don't know. I hate, but i don't know what. It's powerful though.
Love does conquer all *hugs Chloe* hehe, koala!!!!!
I has, awwwww
i feel like i could lift a mountain.
(its true jack sweetie ^.^ I am forever your sneezing puppy
well love between me and jack hasn't, and will not fade away)
( lifting a mountain is boring ... destroy the mountain, make that mountain a rock ...)
I am becoming adrenaline itself. this...is amazing.
Hehe, sneezing puppy XD
Aye Chloe, never fade
"Love can start a war, and end one
Make a man, or break one"
Its the most powerful
(you haven't experienced tru love then)
I know. It would be better to destroy it. But feeling all the effort that comes with lifting it is would be astonishing.
(that was to fera btw
Jack, you are my soulmate)
Back again. ^^
I've experienced both sides. Perhaps, both are equal. I just haven't experienced a love strong than my hate.
And Chloe, you are mine
( I guessed Chloe because I have... :P <3 -hugs Gemmy Jam Jar :D:P )
(Welcomes Aq ^.^
well you have ages to discover true love
*kisses jack*)
(awww that's so cute K!^.^)
this kind of hate is fun too. idk which i prefer tbh.
hey aquila.
Hello aquila
*kisses Chloe*
but perhaps i would like to experience true love too.
-blinks- Now what did I walk into? 0o
Gemma: You're doing EXACTLY what I did before uni, in the free time. Look at it that way: Might be the last time in your life you are ABSOLUTELY FREE to do NOTHING AT ALL. It's better than a holiday. Enjoy it while it lasts. :)
On the topic of hate... er... I never hated anyone or anything. I have no idea how to hate. The strongest kind of dislike I know is 'I never want to see that person again'. ^^
(rp Jack penguin?
I don't get how hate is fun
when I feel hate I feel terrible)
How can hate be stronger than love? Hehe, you are mistaken if you think hate is stronger
(*kisses jack* that's amore)
Aquila: a huge monologue about me and my feelings :P I unfortunately know very well how to hate. I wish i could be the person i was 5-7 years ago.
*kisses Chloe* with the moon in thesky.... Hehe, sure rp
am trying. but it's so hard.
Well, just stop it?
I used to be pretty into physical fighting when I was younger, kicking and hitting and scratching. Then I realised I didn't want to be like that, and stopped.
It works. -shrugs-
(hehe I had so much fun when we were singing and dancing that in public ^.^)
*leads Ed to a bar*
( I know I can't hate Gemma for long... I've tried b4, when around her it's impossible for more than a minute... even then it's just mild annoyance that she thinks I don't deserve her normally)
it's not that easy to hold back such strong feelings ^_^ when i love though...I do forget about hate.
As did I Chloe ^.^ *sighs happily*
Ed: *gets them drinks and finds a table*
(I kick and punch things...I do kung fu
but I don't do it because I feel hate... I just do it because ive always been a physical person
I danced for eight years)
It's easy to hold back hate, you just let it burn away at the back rather rthhan focusing on it
Fera, maybe do something productive with it, then? I'm fairly sure hitting the wall won't do any good, but when I'm angry I clean like at no other time. XD
not for me. you're speaking as if i were you, and i am not. My personality, events in my life are very different from yours ^_^
(five weeks sweetheart)
*follows and smiles* thank you honey
aquila: bad idea, as i might break things :P
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