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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@Dragona: He's hilarious.
He doesn't understand people and social interaction and friendship and empathy. :P
BECAUSE MOTHS FLUTTER AROUND WHEN I'M SLEEPING AND TBEY WAKE ME UP WHEN THEY CRASH LAND INTO MY FACE AND IT'S NOT NICE. :P
*pats Superman on the head* It's okay. :)
Starfish I was just thinking that he seems clueless and violent XD
@Dragona: Ah, I see. *nods*
Going in ~10 mins.
@Dragona: Yeah. XD
He's very violent. And he doesn't really feel bad when he hurts people.
*doesn't think he's any good at rping* *just likes making characters* *used to have about 50* XD
@Dragona: I'm pretty bad at plotting. Quite good at just making my characters exist though.
Dan is actually trying so hard to patch things up with Nick despite being completely and utterly clueless.
It's actually so awwwwwwwhhh.
*just likes making characters* XD *generally doesn't plot*
Are Dan Dean and Nick like partners in crime? :P
Er I just realised how dark our thing with Steve the toad had become 0_0
@Dragona: We just have a ton of different characters from different story worlds who ub are soft of hanging round together because er stuff (we do have plot behind this). Dean and Sam are from Supernatural, Dan is Cat's original character and Nick is Lizzie's own character. Nick is just this really awesome sixteen-year-old dude who has weird powers and is good with weapons. Everyone lives Nick. He's awwh. And like Dan doesn't get on too well with people coz he's a sociopath and he starts shooting people when he gets mad, but him and Dean are really good buddies. And then Dan and Nick were sort of starting to become buddies (Nick's new) but Dan had a hiss fit last night and then Nick came up to him all innocent-like and Dan told him to go away and Nick tried to be friendly and help him and Dan put a stopadd gun to his forehead and told him to fuck off. And Nick never usually interacts with many humans and so being with all our characters is a bit disorientating for him, but he decided to trust people and then Dan went and almost shot him, and to now he's sort of retreated into himself and Lizzie says he might be er trust any of us again. We're all kinda devastated. :/ Dan might be able to get Nick back though. We'll see. *watching*
@Dragona: Ikr. O_O
*uh
*hissy
*loaded
*never
Erm yeah going to sleep now. Might be back if I can't sleep.
(Yesterday was a great and passionate day
I was kisse like I've never been kissed before *leaves for now*)
Starfish that sounds so cool 0_0
TMI Inky XD
Er apparently there's been some dodgy phone calls pretending to be Microsoft just a warning not to trust them. :)
They were saying that there's been an error in Windows 10 and they need to fix it by having access to your computer. DO NOT TRUST THEM AT ALL IT WAS IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT.
Hello.
(Hey.)
*appears*
(*waves slightly at the bubble*)
-hugs Jai and Star-
I'm kinda happy but kinda not at the same time.
(*hugs gemmy*
At least there's some happiness?)
:) *waves back at Jai*
*nods at what Jai said to Gemma*
(ISHSHAKSOFBSBISKSNWBD *huffs* I'm a centimetre off five foot.)
@Jai: -_- That sucks!!!
Yeah...gtg.
@Gemma: :(
(Bye gemmy
@star yes it does.)
@Jai: You should still be taller than Lizzie htough. I think she's still four foot ten.
I am in someone's apartment, feeding their fish, using their shower, tablet, wi-fi and watching Teen Wolf on tv. This is very 0_0
@Kas: O_O
@Star Is this what drugs feel like?
*TBecause I'm pretty sure you have to be on drugs to make Teen Wolf...
(sorry, got distracted pacing around my bedroom)
(that happens sometimes)
@Kas: *shrugs helplessly* *hasn't taken drugs*
How are you, Star?
@Kas: :) Tired but okay. You?
I'm okay, I guess... Talked to a friend about college, apparently we'll have more time to apply than expected.
@Kas: :) Oh, good.
Deleted comment?
Mine; double post.
(I got up exactly 11:11 :P :D)
@Keiron: Awesome! :)
(do you think that means I have a wish all day hehe : P)
@Keiron: *shrugs helplessly*
(I don't really need to wish for anything... I am happy with life the only thing i could want is a job...))
@Keiron: :) Than wish for that.
(*nods* i wbd ... going for shower then making lunch :P then walking dog)
Had a sports day today. So tired, but it was fun. ^.^
*poofs because kids are still playing dodgeball as an after sport*
Oh yeah, my team won second out of three. :)
@Lav: Oh, awesome. :) :)
yo ^_^
:) Hi Fera.
Sorry, wbd. Doing stuff.
me too. i came here to say hi though :) *hugs*
@Fera: :) *hugs back*
Dammit. Lizzie really doesn't think Nick's gonna just get over this.
Dammit Dan why did you have to kick the puppy.
( W(hy)Tf did he kick a puppy, kill him! )
@Keiron: Not a literal puppy, a metaphorical puppy, aka Nick.
And he didn't really kick him, he put a gun to his head and told him to fuck off.
And now Nick's sort of never gonna trust anyone again unless we can find the metaphorical dog biscuits, but no one knows what they are and Lizzie doesn't think it will be an instant thing.
(Ah... ok then... still not okai...
*mumbles about puppy kickers...*
*mumbles more about an anime he watched where they killed a puppy and I wanted to kill them*
*angrily grumbles about offal people even though he's basically a psychopath at times*)
@Keiron: :( :(
(If they want to harm something take on something that can harm them back, see how much they like it then ... :/ :P
ehhe i'm not insane I promise I just like hurting bad people, like Dexter the serial killer, serial killer :P )
(*groans and flops into ma chair in that rundown old shack in the corner that has boarded up holes in*)
@Keiron: :) I don't think you're insane.
:) Hey Jai.
Sorry, poofed to play LOTR Top Trumps.
Decided to make Top Trumps cards of our WhatsApp roleplay.
:)
(YEh I like not being insane :P
Hey Jai
sorry I poofed wbd)
@Keiron: :) :)
Star, you still hanging around?
OMG IENI HI!!!!!!!!!
Please say you're still here
STARRY!!!!<3333 *ninjaeroplanetacklehugs*
How are you dude??? How did GCSEs go? (omg I can't believe we're both about to start year 12??)
OMG HI IENI!!!
(even though I just said that five seconds ago XD)
GCSEs went . . . uh . . . well apparently they went pretty well. :) You?
And OMG IKR I swear we're both still fourteen. :P
I'm good thanks! :)
How're you? :)
*laughs*
Remember in year 9 when we'd both come home and go and here and a lot of days it was just me, you and Luci. Makes me smile :)
Well, I got 8 A*s and 4 As, so I think I'm allowed to be fairly happy with them xD
What subjects are you doing at A level again?
@Ieni: Yes. :) :) :) :)
And then Merlin came on and we'd all vanish at the same time and appear together exactly an hour later. XD
OMG WOW
I got 4 A*s 7 As and 1 B. :)
Maths and science, I think. :)
YES and then we'd be like "the feels" or something over a certain character. And sometimes Mara would be on talking about 1D or Little Mix or something.
OOH THAT'S GREAT DUDE!! :)
I'm doing maths, history (best subject ever), chemistry and either biology or physics :)
@Ieni: XD Yes that's exactly it. XD
:) Thank you. :)
Omg same as my friend Catherine!!!
Okay, well, because I've researched this, university-courses-wise, physics is more useful. Physics is also harder than biology. Also, physics involves a lot of mahts, and for biology you have to do a lot of memorisation (whereas for physics and chemistry you have to do more calculation). Biology is better if you want to become a doctor or a vet though.
:P You might already know all of that, but yeah.
Haha, yeah I do know all of that. I've been thinking about it for the last 9 months and I still have no idea. A /baby/ could have been born in that time.
I'm home alone this evening and I have No idea what to do?? Normally I skype internet friends but people are p quiet this evening? I've got FOB on, but
@Ieni: :( Aww.
Catherine took biology, but she wants to be a vet and she got an A* in biology and an A in physics soooooooo.
:) Fall Out Boy is good.
Ermmmmmmmmmm
Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Ermmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Read a book?
Haha, I got an A* in physics and an A in biology.
I've done loads of reading already today, though. I'm reading this book called '1000 years of annoying the French' and it's all about the relationship between England and France for the past 1000 years and it's real interesting :)
@Ieni: :P
I got an A* in both. *snaps fingers in Z formation, which I can't do irl because I can't snap my fingers irl*
Ooh. :) Sounds cool.
Haha, I can snap my fingers, but I look quite lame whenever I attempt the clicky thing.
My A*s were maths, physics, english lit, further maths, I.T, music, history, french and my As were english language, chemistry, biology and R.S.
Should I tidy up my house to do something nice for my mum??
@Ieni: Everyone can snap their fingers. :(
I can't be bothered to practise though. XD
Maybe take physics then?
Erm
if you want??
(sorry that was more like a rhetorical question)
But what if I want to go into something medical related in 2 years??? Wow, I hate making decisions more complicated than what pizza to order, and I'm vegetarian so the choices are quite limited for that.
@Ieni: :P
And, well, if you want to study medicine at university - it is like THE MOST COMPETITIVE COURSE EVER and your entire CV has to be like medicine-based, apparently. So yeah. Also, chemistry is more important than biology. Furthermore, like I said, you close more doors by not taking physics than you do by not taking biology.
Oh, see, I hate choosing things like that. XD In restaurants we usually have to ask for extra time so I can decide.
Hmm, I guesss so. Anyway, I'm trialling both for a few weeks and then dropping one. Ah, my CV would be like, [history enthusiast].
Do you have any idea what you want to do study if you're going to uni? I don't *cries*.
@Ieni: *nods*
No. :P I barely picked my A levels. XD
I'm sort of hoping I can procrastinate that one for a year though
Anyway, I'm going to go do some cleaning now. Speak later!! :) [hugs]
Bye! :)
:) Bye, Ieni! :)
Here I am thinking wow okay I'm in 12th grade.... Well when I start.
(I'm in second year at college :P
I'm 20 in march :0 *still shockeD* )
(imma be here for a while like post editing a large file.... like it's in the background and if I notice something I want to cut then I'll dissapear)
(Recording is jumpy... doing my tits in ..... *wishes he had money to get a brilliant gaming rig with 3 curved monitors *)
*nods at Keiron*
@Zaf: *doesn't know what that is XD*
(I could literally spend more money on a computer and stuff than a car... :P )
@Keiron: :P
(I know a car I could buy outright insure and stuff for probably £3000 all in... and the computer is like £6000 including graphics card(s) monitor(s) desk ect lol)
@Keiron: O_O O_O Woah
Last year before Uni.
@Zaf: O_O Scary.
( I'll give you specs in a min lol :P
@zaf if I get an A then same because I can skip HND and first year Uni and go into second year )
Oh dear that is scary.
@Keiron: O_O
(:D :P it'd be top of the range though like
monitor = £799.99 x3 = £2400
Graphics card =£671.98 x3 =£2040
Motherboard= £175.26
6 core = Cpu£299.99
16gb Ram £97.14 x2 x4? = 191/ 388
£250 for power supply, £100 case, £200 water cooling, £140 mic £10 mic stand
=£6003.26 roughly lol )
@Keiron: O_O O_O Woah.
( Obv I wanna get an A because that cuts 2 years of study time :D :P
WHat you doing in uni? do you know yet?
@star :P lol ... would you like to know after ces 2015 it dropped from having a one infront of that 6 lol )
@Keiron: XD Obviously.
O_O Woah.
(apparently this year is way harder than last year but last year was like super easy and I'd basically already done it because I did Advanced higher Graphics :P and i've basically done some of this as well so I should have an advantage to getting an A especially because I corrected one of my teachers about scales of things lol .... she was all this is scale 1:250 and I was like but this is an interior view and she said yes and I said shouldn't it be to 50 then? :P hehe)
@Keiron: *nods* Well, I hope you get an A. :) :)
(I also just realized if I get one monitor and one graphics card instead of 3 straight away then it drops to £2743 :D more doable just need to get the other 2 monitors and graphics cards at a later time :P )
?Keiron: :) :) :) :) :)
( i'm just living in optimism land where I get that job I applied for that is £300 per shift :D :P and I can afford that in 10 shifts :P also then could do the october thing easily ... *sighs* I need a blooming job... I want so many things goddamn first world problems )
@Keiron: :P
( I just did a reference to the wild thornberries in this video have you ever seen that ? It was blooming brilliant she could talk to animals :P)
(*melts*)
( Enphilia: *freezes jai enough that she can still function*)
@Keiron: *shakes head*
Hey Jai. :)
(*nods in thanks to Enphilia*
*waves at star*
*hums, debating another new character*)
( You need to see The Wild Thornberrys :D it's smashing hehe :P
Well if you want them then why not? :P I made these up on the spot mostly... Still haven't used half of them)
Bbs Merlin
(I have that on video I think.. Mmm...
Maybe..)
( most likely on vhs if anything... 90's cartoon :P on nickelodeon ? )
(Nah, I have the movie.)
( yeh not on vhs ? :P )
(Dunno.)
(it's the tape thing instead of a dvd :P
also nearly got caught swirling around my kitchen floor in football socks whistling ballerina songs whilst pretending to stab zombies with a real knife lol )
(That.. would have been an interesting situation to be caught in.)
(would be hard to explain :P )
(Yes it would have been.)
(Just like
"hey mum.... Umm how's you?"
"wtf are you doing"
"oh you know just killing imaginery zombies whilst skidding about in these socks"
"remember when you said you don't need meds, well we're just round the corner from Dykebar"
"*nods slowly going away* I don't need anything apart from to kill the zombies and become their queen... *runs out door naked biting people*)
(*raises an eyebrow*)
(*is not insane...* :P wbd )
(Totally not insane.)
Tttthhhhunderstorm :) :) :)
('m not here but
:))
(I'm not... *sniggers* okay maybe a little... but where's the fun in normal ? :P)
Hello...
(Helloo Kas :P how be you ?)
it was a bootiful thunderstorm :P
Hey, Keiron and Fera.
I'm mostly okay. Distant, too. Msd.
How are you?
(*hugs Kas*)
*hugs taia*
*hugs Taia-Bear*
You're a good bear. *nods*
*cuddles*
How are you?
(Done editing ... might not be here still :P umm might finish TLSODM )
I DIDN'T DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! :D :D
(thats good Dug :P i'm glad :P)
Hi guyssss
(GEMMMMMMMMMYYYYY *glomps kissing* )
hi gemmmmyyyy :D :) *hugs*
(That awk moment when you keep frantically refreshing hoping for bae to comment again lol.... I swear I have a life... *sniggers*)
@Dugglyn I'm proud. *salutes* *frowns*
Hello, Gemma.
k: you have a bae at least :P *hugs*
(*Hugs F*
*pokes Gemmy* Comment :P hehe or skype or something lol I'm thirsty... for you muhahah I'm not hyper maybe a little does that matter ? maybe ! hehe Lol I love you :P ! *hugs and kisses more * :P )
Con: *is etching a dark sigil about 7ft wide into the grass near the lake*
*once joined a dark energy is released pulsating and flying into his body *
Spriggan: *dainty little girl with dark hair and pink eyes is watching him from a tree branch sitting upside down on it dangling by her ankles*
(*is bored and has crashed not hyper anymore ... is going to watch Hannibal and let my psychopath out* )
Damn, sorry for vanishing :/
@Kas: :) :) :) :) :)
*hugs* You still here..?
*hugs Fera back* :)
(*might not be here, still*)
@DRAGONA IS THE MASS EFFECT POSTER COLLECTION ANY GOOD? AND CAN I HANG THESE LOVELY POSTERS ON MY WALL? BECAUSE CITADEL. AND ARIA. AND ME2 TEAM.
*cuddles Taia* I am. But I must go to sleep. Good night!
Awright, Kas. *huggles* Sleep well! :)
*idk how to tell my auntie to keep it down while reading the bed time story...there's a reason why my siblings go to bed the quickest when i am there. It's because of how calmly strict i am with them. They can feel the rigour but i also keep the tone of my voice really down and low and my movements and aura calm*
Sorry i was posting my pics on my drawing blog ^.^ now battery is dying and watching age of ultron so brb.
(it's kewl.)
*hugs k again*
(*pushes F away* ... *sighs* )
yo what's up?
(Everything that isn't down.)
@Fera: :/
It can't be the worst thing that could happen to them, I guess ?
Hey Gemma! :)
Those are some great cosplay pics..!
Are you alright, K..?
no really, why the sad mood all of a sudden? you were hype. Gem is busy.
taia: Lol far from the worst thing, it's not like she's abusing them lol. I wouldn't let that. but yeah, it's alright ^_^
( I will be fine Taia...
F I was hyper... Now I am meh, Now I watch Hannibal and think about becoming him.)
k: ok, and i know why you have this sudden change of mood...gem'll be here.
k: dexter is cooler :P
@Fera: *nods*
:)
@K: *nods again*
*liked the first season of Hannibal, but never got around to finishing the second*
*aesthetically, though, it's an incredible programme O_O*
*has never thought of becoming a cannibal, mind, not sure it'd be her kind of thing*
(Dexter only kills bad people... Hannibal makes tasty dishes out of anyone... serves up awesomeness... killing any who he so desires.)
(Hannibal eats the rude, doesn't he?)
(Um, not that that is a good reason to kill somebody, I'm just, y'know :P)
k: exactly. However badass or smart hannibal might be, he's also kind of pathetic if you think about it. He just goes around, killing people without any reason or purpose. He doesn't have any big plans for the future, he kinda sees what's in front of him and not the bigger picture. WHEREAS dexter does serve a purpose and he does have an ideal image of the bigger picture. Everything has more meaning to it when it serves a an ideal. On top of that he manages to be a somewhat good person while being horrible. decter for the win imo :P
(Hannibal eats whoever he pleases really... as long as they taste good :P
F... meh killing for the sake of food... is done everyday ... as good a purpose as any ... I could solve world hunger by killing the annoying... hence not needing to feed them, then feed the hungry with them ... )
*in his mind, his purpose/reason is fine dining, I suppose*
*and maybe also making cannibal puns, probably*
*Hannibal is still a psychiatrist, and since he's so well renowned, he's probably helped a lot of people with their lives in that sense?*
*idk*
*admittedly has never seen Dexter, so... :P*
k: but hannibal does it for his own enjoyment, whereas he is a billionaire and could afford food easily.
taia: dexter only kills people who have committed heinous crimes.
(he's not a billionaire... and there is nothing quite like killing preparing and then eating your own meal... just tastes better)
*um, always thought it was a thing where he kills & eats anyone who is rude to him?*
*plus he hosts dinner parties and whatnot and then OTHER people are also enjoying his food*
*meanwhile you're sort of sitting there wincing because DEar god don't eat that*
( do normal people wince? ...
I smile usually... wonder how it tastes... :P He cooked a meal I really want to try, it's actually illegal because of the inhumane way it is made ...)
@Fera: *would say that is better, but...
Idk, I don't really think there is much right in killing people anyway, so... I dunno*
*thinks Will Graham is probably the best of them because he's a sunshine puppy harvester/nurturer and not a serial killer at all, probably??*
Wait, Dexter as in Dexter Vex or...?
@Keiron: Um, idk, I think I often winced but I always managed to watched Hannibal whilst eating ridiculously meat-filled snacks, so I dunno*
((Emily Scholz – Other Side Of The Screen Lyrics
I’ve been here day in, day out
Never spoken out loud
What I never knew
Is that you would be here too
So I took my short steps
And I breathed my deep breaths
I did it cuz of you
Cuz you would see me through
Did I make it clear that I love you
From the other side of the screen?
Did I try enough to convince you
Of what I really mean?
But now I see
You all are here for me
How did things turn out this way?
I’m living my dream each day
Giving what I can
And learning who I am
And now I look around me
And friends are all that I see
And everywhere I go
I hope that my heart shows
Did I say enough that I love you
From the other side of the screen?
Do I seem sincere when I thank you?
Cuz I mean just what I mean
But now I see
You all are here
And now I see
You all are really here, yeah
And now I see You all are here with me
I’ve been here day in, day out
Said I love you out loud
What I never knew Is that you would be here, too )
Also, I just realized how I just randomly said I didn't die and left XD
Loops!
I went to camp with all the other people in my grade next year from my school and I was terrified.
But basically
I DIDNT DIE AT CAMP AND OMLI IT WAS FUN BUT NOW I DON'T FEEL WELL BECAUSE I ATE TOO MUCH CANDY AND GOT KINDA FAR SICK AND CRAMPYNESS UGH.
YEAH, BUT IT WAS GREAT AND
*frowns*
The problem with talking in all caps is I can't make it double caps. Like, I want my voice to get louder but my typing voice can't.
....
Or can it?
OMLI PEOPLE ARE NIIIIICCCCEEEEE AND LIKE I THINK I'VE KINDA JOINED THIS FRIEND GROUP ALREADY, I ALREADY KNEW THIS KNE GIRL BUT I MET THE PTHER 3. AND THEY'RE WEIRD AND FUNNY AND COOL TOOOOO AND I LIKE PDOPLE TH34333333!!!!!
..my cat was attacking the cat tree and she rolled off.
OMLI XD
(no Dug... It's a show... called Dexter... he kills serial killers)
Ah Kay, that makes more sense!!
Sorry
I know
I can ded at any time bt
I WANT IT
( I really wanna try that dish ! ugh I forget the name)
Nice lyrics, Fera. :)
*hugs Dugglyn*
I'm glad camp was fun and also that you survived !!!!! :)
XD
Also v good about nice people and friend groups and yes !!!
XD poor cat :P
(did you ever listen to ffdp btw Taia... ? hehe I know I gave it to you when I was depressed because the videos are depressing but the music is still good imo even if no longer depressed...)
@K: That was that playlist mix thing, right?
No. :( I was actually thinking of it the other day and was like 'next time I'm on the computer I should listen to that', but I haven't used the computer for a while still, so.. No.
Still have it saved though, so, eventually. *nods* :) ^^
(Um, unless it's not that, in which case I'm going to feel a bit stupid :P)
(It is that :P)
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