50267 words written... and Valkyrie and Skulduggery are barely in it.
This doesn't mean, of course, that they won't be taking their usual starring roles in Book 8. Of course they will. But I've had to approach this one in a slightly different way than normal.
Because this book is about, essentially, total war, I've had to think long and hard about how the different sides would fight— such as what tactics they would use in both the short and long term. It means I can't chop and change sequences like I usually would. If they're written, then they've been written for a very specific reason, and I can't mess about with that. So I figured the best way to write about these military actions is to write them FIRST. Write the skirmishes and the battles and the politics and the arguments, and get it all down on the page. Then, once I have the military aspect taken care of, I go back and write my usual Skul & Val stuff around and on top of it all.
It's an interesting way of working, to willingly ignore your main characters for large chunks of writing time. I sincerely hope it works...
Oh, and sometime in February I shall announce the title. I've had this title in mind for YEARS. Some of the early alternatives were:
Skulduggery Pleasant: The Billingsworth Continuum.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Behind Gold Eyes.
Skulduggery Pleasant: It's War, Baby.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Revenge of the Screaminator.
Skulduggery Pleasant: When Warlocks Attack.
Skulduggery Pleasant: A Very Nice Picnic.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Brain-Puncher.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Gut-Eater.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Skulduggery Goes Camping.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Things Get Nasty.
Skulduggery Pleasant: People Gonna Die.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Readers Gonna Cry.
Skulduggery Pleasant: Horace.
And amazingly, the actual title is better than ANY of those! I know, right?
Posts
About Derek
- Derek Landy
- Derek Landy writes the Skulduggery Pleasant series because getting a proper job is so overrated.
4,943 comments:
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I know, Willow. I know.
I read the dedication for KOTW and it was to the publishers and I though- give a hint to the American publishers to publish the rest of the books!
What's up, Nix? And hi.
Yup, well their is an american version it's not well known, but none of them have skulduggery or valkyrie in the front, so if I'm going to purchase the books I want the characters on the front, so I buy them online.
But ya it's so stupid, it makes me wish I myself could shoot fireballs at the publisher's buildings.
Hey guys.
I'm both here and not here at the same time.
Hi Eden. :)
REALLY??? Wh- never mind. I know why, but how do you know????
Okay, Eden.
What does the book cover look like then?
Hey Willow! I'm doing fine. Just left a comment under this Skuttlebuggia thing, though I'm still not quite sure what it is... Would anyone who knows mind explaining it to me? It sounds fun!
Well Hope, for example, the first book in the US version is just plain red with a sceptre in the front, and the faceless ones all it is, is green with dark crystals, so the US version is a no-go.
And Aretha i am lost in that also
Hi Aretha!
I have no idea either... We might need to ask L. ^_^ :P
And I agree. It does sound fun.
Aretha where is this interview?
And guys seriously we gotta protest against HC like really obviously Derek cant help us I mean he can prove there are a lot of Ameriminions in Blogland but....we gotta go mental on HC or we no meet Derek
Ooohhh. Thoooossee. Yeah, I've seen those before...
Although the publishers allowed a better cover e-version that actually have Skul and Val on the front. Not sure if it's in paper though.
I have the first three ebooks, so I know.
I agree Zaf, I think Derek's Ameriminions should start doing something. I would totally start something, I'm quite feisty and persistent, so I'd actually love doing it! lol
Lav the edition I have of Playing With Fire does have Skul and Val on it. Its the one with weird pages
And no Hope, if we buy the US version of he book we get no characters on the front :(
Yeah, Zaf! We should!
Willow I sent them 2 letters i sent one in September and its Febuary and i have no reply so i sent another send them emails and letters go off on them
New MC chapter! *was desperate to post one becasue the pageviews are decreasing... Badly...*
What do you mean by weird pages, Zaf?
That sucks...
*really should catch up on reading the MC blog*
Part of it decreasing is probably cause there's so many posts... And people are busy...
The pages well like its hard cover and the page ends are just like frayed i guess its on purpose though
I really should do that, but it's need to take a lot more people for them to consider doing something.
I think it could be. I've seen other books with frayed page ends. It makes them look kinda old fashioned.
Lunch was called 20 minutes ago... I think I should go eat now.
Might be back after, unless I gotta help finish painting first.
Alright hope, if you don't get back on, bye :)
Okay honestly I feel like I'll never go to a signing as in PHYSICALLY because ill be at one via Skype but to actually get my other SP books signed...i can only dream
The only reason I have one signed is because I sent one to Derek I figure the wait is worth even one signed book that and we already did a letter back to Derek from our December one so I decided to add my book xD
Okay lemme rephrase
I WILL have one signed
Sorry it is rather late im a bit out of it
Well if Derek did a signing anywhere near my area, I'd be their in a heartbeat.
I get the strange feeling though that if Derek wrote some romance book, the US would accept it. I should threaten the publisher's with my krav maga moves! :P
I was gonna threaten to spoon them
If Derek was anywhere near my state i'd be there in a heartbeat
I'd miss drama to meet him I wish they'd send him on an epic tour of America i mean come on we Ameriminions are awesome
Yes, yes we are Zaf, they just need a good krav maga beating for me to convince 'em hehe....i have no idea if you know what krav maga is, since I keep using the words
I heard Derek mention it a few times so I think its a type of fighting since he is into self defense so im pretty sure thats what it is
Willow- you take Krav Maga? That's awesome! I do too! What level are you? I'm taking my level three test sometime in the near future, but my goal in three years is to take and hopefully pass the instructor test. (I can't take it till I'm 18)
YAY EXCITEMENT BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!!!!!
Ya it is a martial arts, but more military style. Never got to finish my training though cause i tripped over something, and my leg was elevated in the air supported by the pad I tripped over and a guy fell right on top of my elevated leg and I tored tendons and ligaments in my knee. And I didn't listen to the doctor and went back once I felt better, but it was the worst thing to do, so sadly I was never able to finish it.
Aretha, i was a level 4 when I wasn't able to finish training anymore
I put in the previous comment why I had to stop
I cant train martial arts because I am blind as a bat if my glasses break yeah i can SEE but on my right side not as good so watching an intructor is hard for me even in dancing
Yeah I'd love to learn but at 15 i doubt i could even begin
*is back*
I have a little more than half an hour before they start painting. Hi! :)
I fail at martial arts. XD
Ouch, that must really have hurt, Willow...
IF ALL AMERIMINIONS SEND LETTERS AND EMAILS TO HARPER COLLINS MAYBE THEY'LL RECONSIDER PUBLISHING THE REST OF THE SERIES.
Ahem...
;P
Oh and I wont kill off Zaf in MC because i figured Derek must have killed Zaf violently so.. I shall spare her inevitable pain
Ooh... Wow, that sounds awful- I'm so sorry...
Yeah, Krav is officially listed as a martial art, but there's really nothing artsy about it at all- the only philosophy we follow is retsef (did I spell this right? It means 'finish it') and it's basically just street fighting.
Seriously, though- I'm so sorry, Willow.
I have bad eyesight also, but I was able to see without them during class.
And yes Hope it did, but I got far along enough, their was a total of 6 levels and I was level 4 so it wasn't to bad, I might be a bit rusty on the moves since I haven't done it in a while, but I still remember, and hope we do need to gather recruitments to write to harpercollins :P
It's fine Aretha I was only 2 levels away from he top so I learned a good deal, so I didn't feel bad about it, I was glad that I learned all that did learn.
Aloha!
I'm done performing for the week!
This one was tough...but I seem to be still in one piece.
I dunno what it'll take honestly to get him over here I mean I need to SOB? Im willingly to go in front of HC to get him over here I am willing to litterally get on my hands and knees and beg someone in a higher powe
Wow, Willow- that's impressive! Very impressive. *bows head in appreciation*
Zaf, there's always time to learn if you want to- I just started, like two years ago, and I only started ballroom dancing two months ago. And I can't wait to collab with you for MC!
Hey Fabi!!
Plus what did disappoint me a little is that the instructor was planning on me testing for level 5 early and he was going to offer me up an instructor job their because according to him, I was the fastest learner, quick in the moves, plus I was the strongest in strength in the class and he was surprised cause I'm a slim person.
Haha no need to bow Aretha, but thanks.
And yes you can learn Zaf!
Well if you come up with anything email me I'm going to bed before I end up falling asleep reading
When KOTW was released i read it one night and i litterally fell asleep reading i was up so late
Then Derek woke me up MLK Day... He did!
Night Blogland
Hi Fabi!
*tacklehugs while throwing confetti*
Congrats!!! You made it in one piece! How was it??? Besides tough.
I'm practically blind without my glasses... It's worse that I have to take them off if I perform cause I have no idea how I'm doing... Dancing and singing.
Speaking of that...
Goodnight Zaf!
That sucks Hope, it really does. My sis is lucky, she has perfect vision
I'm not one for pranks, but... *grins* I just played a really scary one.
And man, it was a good prank.
Bye Zaf!
Oh yeah. I'm going to start learning a dance today. For the upcoming Chinese/lunar new year. The Koreans celebrate it more than the solar new year.
It's cool though, cause we get to wear traditional clothes. :)
And I have to record a song for the celebration party with my friend and maybe her brothers. I don't think I've ever heard them sing! It'll be hilarious! XP
Hi Ari, Lav!
Monday: I had three numbers, so it was really tiring.
Tuesday: A bit easier, but I don't think trio was as dramatic as it could have been.
Wednesday: Last-minute absence of a soloist led to me improvising onstage to fill time for a quick-changer.
Thursday: Definitely the best performance. Actually, two performances, two dances in each, but it's basically just a change of scarves. They both were Lyrical-Contemporary, which is my fave/best style of dance.
That was probably more than you want/needed to know.
Night, Zaf!
Hi Val!
What did you do???? You didn't pull a prank on Gilbert, did you???
Okay, I'm not THAT blind. It's just soooo blurry... I'm really nearsighted.
What kind of prank, Val? [Raises eyebrow]
Sounds interesting, Val- what did you pull?
Lav- I never knew that about the lunar new year. When is it?
Yes, Val, what prank?
Ya I'm pretty nearsighted myself
I'm a bit nearsighted, but not enough to need glasses, except possibly when I learn to drive.
I myself do need glasses. i've thought about getting contacts, but nah. The only way I'd get contacts is if I was in a movie :P
Wow. That does sound tiring.
I like the lyrical contemporary style of dancing too. :) Wednesday sounds like it was difficult, but I'm sure you did good!
Again, congrats, Fabi! :D
My mom won't let me get contacts! D: I'd only use then for performances anyway... But they'd sure help!
It's on Febuary 10th, Aretha. I'm pretty sure. Almost positive.
Really? why won't she let you?
Thanks, Lav.
Yeah, it's awesome! I don't know if there will be a video, but maybe I can show you.
No, but the prank involves Gilbert...
Basically, I have a ton of people over right now. It's Bob's sister Kim's birthday party, so there's a bit more than twenty people. And I've had to give a tour of my room many times.
Of course, when I get to the windows, I start talking about Gilbert.
And about 16 of the 20 or so people have heard of him.
All the women are terrified, and then all the guys are making jokes, but they were all creeped out nonetheless.
But I wasn't going to stand for the joking.
I had to get back at them.
I have a cape. I do. It goes with my dad's Darth Vader costume. It's black, has a giant hood, and it's floor length.
So with the help of my sister and my step-cousin (I think that's what she is) I snuck through the house to the back door, holding my cape, and got outside.
I crept around to the front, careful not to be seen, then put on my cape, pulling the hood down over my face, and, being sure to be quiet, stepped out of covering.
Now, my door is mostly a window. And it leads to the dining room, where everyone was sitting.
So I walked up the stairs, very slowly, and stood there.
A few people gave a little scream, then when everyone was looking around, I taped the glass four times with my nail.
Oh my God, it was hilarious.
Everyone was shouting, "IT'S HIM!"
So then I came in and explained that they all got their lesson for joking about it.
Not to mention I also scared the irritating six year old. Year, I told him I was scary.
Needless to say, it was pretty freaking brilliant.
I'd like to see it, Fabi! :)
Cause she says I'll be irresponsible... And that I don't need them anyway...
*crosses arms and sticks tongue out in her mom's general direction*
Lol that is pretty good Val
[Darth Vader voice]
The force is strong with this one.
You did not! Vaaaaalllllll!!!
I just had a thought...
WHAT IF IT WAS YOUR DAD????
Nix said it looked like Darth Vader and you prank is an excilent example of how your dad could do the same thing.
Hope does have a point.
OMGG YOUR DAD IS STALKING YOOOUUUUUU!!!
*bursts into snorts- trying to stop from laughing*
No, my dad's arm's practically broken from a car crash, he's not getting up to do that.
But Max tried to say it was him too!
ALSO:
http://bringingskulduggerytothemasses.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-gilbert-prank.html
Ouch...
But if it waaas... You said you moved recently, right?
Maybe he had to disguise himself so he can see you safely to the bus stop? That's my reason...
Be right back.
Hey Skul peeps! Would anybody like some delicious new art of Mr. Pleasant? http://fav.me/d5tj0ey http://fav.me/d5tj00o
HULLO!
*grins* I am such a genius.
There does not appear to be a video where I can get at it, though I know that several unofficial ones were filmed. I'll inquire after them with certain classmates' parents.
Hi, Missy!
Indeed.
HELLO VAL! *grins* You are a genius.
HELLO FABI!!
Nice piece of art of skulduggery!
*gasp* my friend brings shame to Derek! Lol she watched an interview of him, and asked if he was gay! 0_0 and I said no, I think he had a girlfriend before (i think, I could be wrong)
Reading up on Remnants... *doesn't say why*
*is back but now has to go again*
Hi Miss! Hi Rachel!
Bye everyone!
Can't copy the link on my phone, sorry. I'm sure your art is awesome.
Uh, oh, Ari. I've got a bad feeling about this.
Bye, Lav!
BYE LAV!!
HELLO OTHER PEOPLE!!
Will be distant, writing an Effie MC chapter.
I am attempting to defy expectations.
Hello Miss Cain!
Distant, reading. Hey Missy!
Wbd, reading, writing and drawing...
http://fav.me/d5tj0ey
http://fav.me/d5tj00o
Aha! Figured out how to make links. See if you can check them out now Fabi!
Also distant, writing, plotting and eating cheese!
This is *probably* going to be a good chapter.
Works-ish.
Cool, Raechel!
Cheese is so yummy!...yes random quote
CHEESE!
[Takes photo of self]
[Not best photo]
[Deletes]
Lol. Yes cheese is good I used to eat it a lot before I became a vegetarian
AWESOME ART, RAECHEL!!
Well I'm gonna go play Archlord to level up my elementalist, then hopefully some sleep, so goodnight and goodbye!
Bye, Willow!
Phone is being wonky, switching to iPod.
Brb.
Bye Willow!!!
OK, Fabi!
Back!
I thought I was going to die just now when an eight year old grabbed me by the wrist and started pulling me towards the evil cat and tried to get me to pet it.
Two fears at once.
1.) Evil cats
2.) Small children
*laughs*
At least Melancholia wasn't there.
SHUSH MISSY I WILL GET YOU
Why did the eight-year-old want you to pet an evil cat?
And you were in no danger of dying...or maybe you were. Depends how evil of a cat...
[laughs]
By 'get' I mean 'kill'. And by 'you' I mean, er, 'you'.
That last part didn't work out quite as well as I'd hoped...
*giggles*
Catch me if you can!!
Because he claimed that the cat, Blue, was really nice.
Kid: Come the cat! She's really nice, you know.
Me: Um, I'd really rather not. She bites. And scratches.
Kid: *grabs my wrist in a death hold* No, really, she's nice!
Me: *stares in horror* Er, no, she's really rather cross with me. I started bothering her earlier, so...
Kid: *rolls eyes* Oh come on, she's super sweet.
Me: *tries not moving and is nearly pulled down the stairs, and therefore forced to follow*
Kid: See, she's nice!
Cat: *narrows eyes at Val*
Me: *glances at cat* I think I'll be going now...
Kid: No! You have to pet her! She only seems mean because she wants love!
Me: She tried to eat my hand.
Kid: Because she wants love!
Me: ...
Sounds like my little sis...
YOUR LIES SHALT NOT DECEIVE ME, BLUE!
*laughs*
Same, Fabi!!!
Cars really like my sis, even the ones that run away from and/or bite everyone else.
She's the cat-whisperer of the family.
Both my sisters think they're animal-whisperers or something. It's funny to see them try, but also irritating after a while...
My sis is half cat, half Martian.
She AGREES.
*laughs*
I could never get my sisters to agree with me if I said that.
Only if they were on a sugar high or I used some fancy words.
Well, they're her two favorite things to be in pretend games.
Also, I let her call me a glitter ninja, so, yeah...
GLITTER NINJA! XD
I completely just passed out and everyone was talking to me so I woke up and pretended I had been listening.
Skill, guys. Skill.
Skill, indeed.
ASDFGHJKL my shoes are looking awesomer by the minute :D
Miss-Yep. DON'T ask where it came from. Because I will probably tell you. I can't resist explaining things, even if I don't want to.
Val-You'd PASSED OUT?
I'm sure it takes skill. I can never manage to look like I'm paying attention even when I am.
SKULDUGGERY SHOES! XD
I think I might know why Val passed out... *cough*GILBERTANDWHYHEWALKSSOSLOW*cough*
How many hours of sleep did you get, Val?
SKULDUGGERY SHOES FTW!
They'll be AWESOME, Missy!
[Stands]
Nearing the end of my chapter, will be VERY distant.
I've nearly finished one shoe.
Soooooooo close.
Drawing little flames on the laces are so damn hard. They look like orange spots...
I only slept from 1 am to almost seven yesterday...
*is here for about 20 minutes*
Hi guys!
I have paint on my hands...
Hi :) :)
I swear, as soon as all these freaking people have left, I'm curling up and going to sleep.
Hi Saph!
*has read comments and is laughing so much*
Miss-Sounds like it!
Val-Wow, even less sleep than I got! In this case, breaking my record is not a good thing.
Hi, Lav!
Hi Saph!
I stayed up for 39 hours straight last October.
I was waiting for Derek to come on, so...
HI LAV!
HI SAPH!
Once I'm awake, I can't go back to sleep.
*remembers something*
*sulks*
We go back to school in 2 days...
39 hours?!
Whoa. Intense stalking... XD
That's ten less hours to 2 days Val! :O
But I understand the reasoning. ;)
That sucks, Miss...
Ten minutes.
I'm so tired that I'm literally calling my mum if I need to tell her something, even though she's downstairs.
AND SHE NEEDS TO UPDATE NETFLIX SO I CAN WATCH STUFF ASDKJFIKHWFEIHVIWFV
Aaaand it sucks even more, because I'm now in high school -_-
With more homework.
And a scary head of Middle School.
*was reading emails of comments*
*bursts into giggles*
Sasquatch, Val?
Nine hours less, Lav.
I was up at 6:30 AM on a Thursday morning, and didn't go to bed until 9:30 PM the next day.
Val-I won't question the wisdom of that decision.
Missy-I know, right? If someone (Hi, Mom) had to get up at 5:30 AM for an appointment, and forgot that the radio volume was on super-high... Yeah. And I couldn't fall asleep again.
Back-to-school is annoying. [nods]
Yes.
Sasquatch.
If I wake up for 5 minutes or so, I can fall asleep again.
But if I'm up and about, then go back to bed, I won't fall asleep.
YES. BACK TO SCHOOL IS VERY ANNOYING.
I have so much stuff to take this year D:
My back is going to die.
[Grimaces]
I have to go... Bye!
BYE FABI!!
*laughs at the 'Hi Mom' thing*
Way to be subtle. :P
Yeah, Val. I meant about ten hours.
I have no clue where I'm at in school... My mind is where I left it. In first year of high school... If I kept studying, I think I'd be in the third year by now...
I have no idea how other people's school curriculum works.
It's all very confusing...
Bye Fabi!
Three minutes.
Why not use a roller backpack, Miss? I actually had one while I was in the last year of elementary school. Somehow, I kept tripping over it...
And running over people's feet on accident...
Yeah, school's confusing.
Gotta go now. Be back later. Bye!
My school is one of those strict uniform and backpack type of schools.
So I wouldn't be able to take one...
The thing I'm mostly looking forward to is my Japanese class. We've got actual study books thingymajigys and yeah. :D
BYE LAV!!
My schools okay I guess. We came back earlier than everyone else though *pouts*
I usually don't purposefully stay up for ages, but once I wake up I can't ge back to sleep, and I ALWAYS have these horrible nightmares...
Bye Lav! Missy, our Japanese teacher is so funny :D
I've met the high school Japanese teacher a couple of times, but I'm not certain if she will be the teacher I have...
I like my primary school Japanese teacher. And I was one of the favourite students, because everyone else always mucked about.
Gtg, bye
BYE SAPH!
First?
YAY!
I ded this page to Maroon 5, to the MC, to MAHU, and to Mycroft and his umbrella.
Oh my god, all those began with the letter M.
So this page is also dedded to the letter M.
HI EMBER!
*celebrates*
I'VE FINISHED ONE SHOE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello Miss. cain wherre are u from
Hi Brad!
I'm an Aussie :D
AGH TESTS D:
Hi everyone :) *hugs*
Hi! I have a break! Sort of.
Oh my gosh, this is a hard dance to learn... It's so confuuuusssingggg.
Hi Mara! And everyone else!
Msd, but if I do, I'll be back.
HI MARA!!
HI LAV!!
I FINISHED ONE OF THE SHOOOOOOOOOOOES!!!!! :D
Hi Lav! Hi Missy! :D
Shoes? What kind of shoes...? :P
YAY FOR YOU, MISS!
*watches dance teacher face with music*
Wwwwhhhaaaaaa!!! It's so faaaasssttt!!! D:
*dance
Not face...
My Skulduggery shoes :D
What dance are you learning, Lav??
Gotta go. Bye!
BYE LAV!!
SKULDUGGERY SHOES. HOW AWESOME! :D
Bye Lav! *hugs* :(
Oh my Golden God, it's freezing! >.<
Here it's hot...
But I refuse to leave the comfort of my room, so I'm only guessing.
My head hurts... :(
I don't think I slept very well...
Oh well. :)
For anyone that's interested (I bet nobody is xD) I finally wrote a really crappy beginning to my Skuttlebuggia fic - www.skuttlebugsassemble.blogspot.co.uk
HIYA L!!
Ooooooh. The beginning!! *goes to read*
Yeah, but Missy, you live in Aus! It's really warm there! :D I think. Is it? In Ireland it's bloody freezing all the time.
Hey Luci! Hope you feel better soon! :( I'll go read it! :)
*is back again*
I'll just be popping in and out during this. So I'm not going to say bye. Sorry if I actually have to leave and don't say bye though.
I'm not sure completely what you mean, Miss, but it's kind of like J-pop dancing mixed with a bit of-
*looks up to see people practicing*
Nah. It's like J-pop dancing.
OH MY GOD
IT'S ALREADY GOT PENGUINS :D
WB Lav!
J-pop dancing.
The best way to describe everything XD
I read it, L!
Although, I guess I reread it on the blog. I read it on here first. You gave us a bit to read.
Anyway it's good. :)
Hello. :)
Ah, its fine. Just sleep deprivation, again:P
I NEED TO CONVINCE MY MUM TO LET ME BUY THIS BOOK I FOUNDDDD
I need more books...
Yeah, Miss. But that's cause the teacher's Japanese. Although, she was a ballet performer and she also knows jazz... Maybe it's a mix of jazz too... Just a hint.
ANOTHER ONE? :P
Is it SP, or a different book?
Wbd. I should practice...
Hey guys! I shall be dissapearing soon...
Hi Mel!
HEYA MEL!!
Hows everyone today then? :)
I'm good!!
It's a Skulduggery book... BUT SUPER RARE
And I found it.
If I can buy it, I'll tell you what it is c:
If I can't, then I'll keep it quiet until I can buy it!;3
I found a proof copy of PJ, too... I sort of wanna buy it a lot. XD
A SUPER RARE SKULDUGGERY BOOK!!
AWESOOOOOOOME!!
And, thanks for reading it, guys. I know it's really bad, so I really, really appreciate it. :3 *hugs everyone*
That's cool, L!!!
I'm grand, Mel! :)
But this dance is so complicated... And the music is fast!
But I can probably get it by the 10th. We have about... A week?
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