This year is the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who. To celebrate, Puffin Books asked eleven different authors to take a Doctor and write a story. When I was asked, I said I'd only do it if I could write for the tenth or eleventh incarnation. Puffin gave me Ten. I was a happy bunny.
It was such a joy to write this character. As you all know, I've been a fan of the show since I was a kid, and David Tennant holds joint top-spot with Matt Smith as my favourite Doctor. In my opinion, it was Tennant's era when the Doctor's love of dialogue really came out— that quick-fire patter that he does so well — and it was an absolute pleasure to channel that.
The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage will be released as an e-book on October 23rd (my birthday! Skulduggery's deathday!) and then it, along with the other stories, will be collected into a PHYSICAL book which will be out near the end of November.
There will be a video released in a week or two where I talk more about it, but in the meantime, here's a link to a snippet (which explains where the somewhat old-fashioned title comes from...)
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/interactive/2013/oct/01/doctor-who-mystery-haunted-cottage-derek-landy-extract
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«Oldest ‹Older 2801 – 3000 of 4966 Newer› Newest»*turns the horse around and digs his heels sharply into the side and the horse bucks, his feet splaying back and hitting the Mycroft- tower*
Sherlock: *mumbles* What am I doing...? *stands on the rafter, trying not to look down*
------Sebastian whips the gun-laden duffle bag around and it slams into Sherlock's stomach. He doubles over, gasping, and Sebastian grabs his arm, flips him over his him, and smashes him into a wooden beam.----------
Your move, sugarplum.
*mutters* Gah, now I'm starting to SOUND like him . . .
Adra: *swings her sword at Hamlet*
☂Dude, get off the freaking horse XD☂
*actor is very fat and doesn't fall over*
*gets off the fat actor*
*stands in a classic fencing stance*
*swings majestically down, the pole going in a circle* *twirls it around*
*stays in the stance*
Your move.
☂No idea what the fuck to do now XD☂
Sherlock: *gasps and gets up again* That was not nice... *holds his sword* *thinks* Why didn't I get a better weapon?
[Almost blocks the blow, but the sword grazes his wrist, sending his own sword crashing to the floor]
((um... Msd.))
#ChaseForBook9
Well, Sherlock?
*kicks him*
It's an awful long way to fall. You fall from this height, you die. Because that's what people DO!
*people look up when they hear him shout the last word*
*crowd attention is divided between the duel on stage and the duel in the rafters*
Actually, I take that back. My move.
*stabs Moriarty*
My apologies.
*wrestles with Sherlock for the sword*
Sherlock: *punches Seb in the face* I won't fall!
*directed at Moran*
You are really sounding like your master, aren't you?
---------The crowd is in a flurry of panic now. Some are shouting in shock and horror at the life-and-death struggle on stage, others are shouting critiscism and helpful comments up at the rafters. A fire begins blazing at one end of the room, and people begin to panic.------------
*directed at Moriarty*
Oh, and by the way, if you start feeling a little bit woozy, that just means it's working.
Hello.
Sherlock: *shouts at the crowd* SHUT UP! This is not helpful at all!! *punches Seb again*
Huh. How quaint. *stabs at Mycroft*
Adra: *swings again*
*stumbles back, rubbing bloody nose*
Ah!
*clenches fist and leaps forward, struggling to force Sherlock off the beam*
No! I WON'T be beaten!
*shouts down at Mycroft*
I sound NOTHING like my boss!
*looks back at Sherlock*
The flirting's over, Sherlock, Daddy's had enough now!
☂Hey, Dragona!☂
☂Two life or death battles happening here, so, uh, if I accidentally ignore you, I'm sorry :(☂
*people begin running out of the way of the fire, and out from under Sebastian and Sherlock's struggling forms*
Sherlock: You DO sound like your master. *tries not to step back*
*blocks the pole with handle of sword*
The sleeping potion should start working soon. Just thought you should know, in case you didn't like sleeping on the floor.
*resists facepalming at Seb's comment*
*throws punch*
*knees Sherlock in the stomach*
You can't win, Sherlock! I'm taller, stronger, more muscular, and blonder than you! There is no way you can beat me!
((Gtg, sorry. Dad's taking apart the wi-fi now. Back when I can be))
#ChaseForBook9
Somebody down below: Hey! You sound an awful lot like that terrifying and yet somehow attractive fellow onstage there!
Seb: SHUT UP!
ARGH *stumbles onto the horse, jumping for the audience* MORAN GET A MOVE ON WE NEED TO GO. *tips his hat woozily to Mycroft* see you around, darling
Sherlock: *groans with pain* But I... am the one who is clever. *hits his arm with the sword*
((Adra: bye Fabi!))
*uncloaks behind Moriarty, holding a shotgun to the back of his head*
(Hamlet, your father is taking apart your wi-fi? But I thought he was dead! GASP! Unless . . . HE'S A GHOST!? Hamlet's dad coming back as a ghost. What WILL they think of next?)
*to Moran*
HAIR COLOUR HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ABILITY, SEBASTIAN.
*speeds off*
*looks rather confused*
*looks less confused*
Ah. Yes. You're a robot.
☂Do you guys want to take another crack at Mith before you leave?☂
☂OR KIDNAP HER?☂
☂YOU SHOULD TOTALLY KIDNAP HER☂
*staggers back, bleeding*
AUGH!
*shakes head*
No. Let's finish this!
*wrestles with Sherlock momentarily, then heaves him off into the crowd below*
*salutes*
And you, James.
*catches Sherlock*
Come on. Let's get out.
*grabs time machine*
Where's Mithria?
*sees Mithria in the crowd*
Boss!
*sees Jim running out*
Boss!
*is torn between following Jim and kidnapping Mithria*
☂Wait, since when was Mith in the audience?☂
*scampers down from the rafters and elbows his way through the crowd*
*grabs hold of Mithria*
*She tries to scream but he claps a hand over her mouth*
Shh. No talking. You're coming with the boss and I.
(Mith is somewhere backstage, in a room)
*points shotgun at Annika (or whoever she is)*
Don't move.
Boss!
*rips open duffle bag*
I have the machine! Let's go! Let's just get out of here!
*eyes widen*
PUT HER DOWN. NOW. I COMMAND YOU WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT---
*runs after Moriarty, still talking*
AND HER MAJESTY, AND THE CITIZENS OF ENGLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND, AND --
*points bigger shotgun at Dragona*
My name is Sebastian Moran.
*cocks gun*
And nobody threatens me.
*Jim coughs*
Except for the boss.
Go go go! *jumps in, dragging the other two with him and they disappear*
Sherlock: *runs after Mycroft*
*screams*
FUCK NO!
*grabs his own time machine*
*swings it against Seb's head, knocking him to the floor*
*punches Moriarty in the face*
☂I AM SO CONFUSED☂
Boss, let's get out of here.
*sets the dial for 1922*
☂Please excuse his vulgarity outburst, btw, I just thought it was appropriate for right now.☂
*raises hand and an orange glow appears across Annika's shotgun and it jams*
Nice try.
☂Are you guys still in this time period or have you already left?☂
*rubs head*
OH NO YOU DI-INT!
*slams shotgun into Mycroft's face as he, Moriarty, and Mithria vanish in a burst of green light*
☂Annika is Sebastian Moran.☂
*kicks Mycroft out the doors* OOPS! Get it, Moran!
(Now we have left)
☂Okay, I'm going with the three Ms disappearing.☂
☂Sebastian and Sherlock can maybe team up or something.☂
☂Let's just say that Mycroft dropped his time machine.☂
((Yayayayay so... If Mith has to leave, uh.. Do we wait now? Can I be me again :3?))
*disappears with Moriarty and Mith*
(Okay, I need to go now... Sorry!)
☂I'm not sure if Mith has left or not. Also, you can be you and Moriarty at the same time...☂
(But what about me! I went with Moriarty and Mith too . . . *pouts*)
☂Oh.☂
☂Well, okay.☂
☂BYE MITH!☂
☂☂hugs Mith☂☂
☂So yeah, you can be you, and we can continue this some other time.☂
☂I thought you stayed behind?☂
(But what about Sherly then? Is he now alone? *is confused*)
☂I don't mind either way though.☂
☂So Sherlock can just take Mycroft's time machine.☂
☂Sherly is alone, and he knows where Mycroft's time machine is--lying on the floor where the Ms disappeared.☂
(Okay, what I believe happened was Sebastian sent Mithria and Moriarty to 1922, and he went with them. Sherlock stayed behind, but Mycroft managed to hitch a ride. However, because of a malfunction, the three Ms ended up in the same place in 1922, but Sebastian ended up in a different one.)
(Hm... maybe I'm here for another 10 mins, but that's not sure...)
☂Btw, I'm going to go to, because I have work :p☂
☂LOVE YOU GUYS! This was fun <3☂
☂☂too☂☂
☂Okay, I'm good with that, Anni☂
(We used the Moriarty-Machine to do it, and it is now with Sebastian. The Mycroft-Machine is still on the stage of the Globe Theater, where Sherlock could use it, but he doesn't know what year we went to.)
Now to find a way to travel back in time... anyone have a spare time machine?
☂No, the Mycroft-Machine is on the floor because he used it to hit Seb, remember?☂
((Yeah what Anni said))
Dragona, we already were in the past, ithink))
(This also works out well because I need to leave and do real-world stuff in the real world. Sebastian's lost, so that's perfect. This was REALLY AWESOME guys! I got to play as Moriarty earlier, and I got to be Sebastian here, and that's just SUPER COOL, so thank you everyone!)
(Adra, Dragona, we were, just now, in 1566, I believe. But now Mycroft, Mithria, Moriarty, and Sebastian are in 1922.)
(Goodbye everyone!)
((Ugh bye all who have just left))
Hmmm... *looks at two pairs of clothes* crop top and skirt, or jeans and still a freaking cute shirt?
*puts on the crop top and skirt*
*sighs* the things I do for fashion. *goes outside* HELL ITS COLD. *puts on a jacket* mmm jacket
Hm... I dunno. Your preference. I hate jeans, personally, but that's just me.
#ChaseForBook9
Oh, ok then, nevermind.
I also wouldn't wear a skirt unless I had spandex or something of the sort underneath it. As a general rule, I don't wear anything I wouldn't be comfortable fighting for my life in.
#ChaseForBook9
Hello *Kicks rock*
Ed! *hugs*
Yeah this isn't enjoyable. But- I MUST
Yeah duh. Skirt. Scort. *nods* I know I have to fight people often. I don't exactly uh- yeah
IN ANY CASE *points* It's a long skirt
I know I said I was leaving, but it's hard to leave blogland.
Isn't it, though? People always come back
Anyway, what have I missed?
Edward!!! *tacklehugs* I'm so happy to see you!! How are you?
#ChaseForBook9
Hello Aretha. I am fine thanks, yourself?
Not a whole bunch, actually.
It's cold
ah
I'm well, I think. Glad to have you back, at least.
It's not that cold. I guess I'm not wearing a skirt, though.
#ChaseForBook9
I don't like being cold
I love the cold
IM AN ICE CUBE.
Must. RESIST. *wraps herself in a blanket*
RELEIF
*Relief
Um... *thinks* *runs inside, then runs back outside with a heavy cloak and drapes it around Adra* That should help a bit.
#ChaseForBook9
*Creates vortex to ancient greece* Sunshine anyone?
*nestles in the cloak, lifting the hood over her* *grins, only her teeth seen from under the hood*
*makes a clapping motion* rawr
Ooh... Adra, you love Greece, don't you?
#ChaseForBook9
*sighs* I do love Greece... *grabs Ari's arm* Come on! We like, never hang out
*Walks through* The temple of Poseidon
In...?
Athens, 3000 bc I think
...
Did Athens exist that long ago?
(I think so)
Huh. So it is. Interesting.
*Walks down steps and dissappears into a market, portal closing*
*looks around* *puts the cloak in her bag*
I got 348 conkers. My brother got 440, and my sister got 504. :)
Last week, my brother got 364 and my sister got 304. I wasn't there.
#ChaseForBookNine
*Walks up to stall and looks at various items for sale* Hello there.
Hello Star
Uh, star..?
*hands over a few drachma? And buys bread* hmm
*waves to everyone who said hi*
I'm here for just under an hour. Then I leave for an hour, then I'm back for half an hour and then I leave for forty-five minutes. Then I'm back indefinitely. :)
*magically appears in Ancient Greece, because I came through the vortex with you, yeah?*
#ChaseForBookNine
Star! Want some bread?
@Adra: Please?
#ChaseForBookNine
*hAnds her a piece of the bread* Yo, we need to get you some Greek clothes
*Hands Star 100 drachmas*
@Edward and Adra: Thanks! :)
*pockets money and noms bread* Mmmm . . .
Uh. Yeah. Greek clothing. *looks around* *gets distracted*
#ChaseForBookNine
Back! Sorry for vanishing! *takes Adra's arm* Yeah, it's true, we never hang out! But people will probably think we're crazy if we don't get some proper clothes...
#ChaseForBook9
*drags them both into a shop* Alright, ladies- let's go!
*Hands Aretha 100 drachmas* I am going to see what the crowd has gathered for. Meet back at the temple in 1 hour
Sounds good. Don't get yourself killed! *wanders around store, looking for clothes* *smiles awkwardly at the people staring at my tight blue shirt and cargo pants*
#ChaseForBook9
*looks around* *gawks* *picks up a dark blue wrap* *nearly faints* ((agh I can't remember what they're called :( ))
*wanders into crowd as a man in gold speaks to the crowd*
King: It is the time of the year, you must decide on three citizens to take the test of heros.
*Raises arm* Me me me
King: Fine
*looks at clothes* What the hell.
How about someone chooses for me? :)
*sees people staring* *thinks with a Morgan attitude* *doesn't mind so much*
#ChaseForBookNine
(Toga I think Adra)
((Well, no- those are usually for guys, there's a more technical term for the women's clothing))
Star, what color do you want? *goes back and changes into the blue one and buys it* *puts her old clothes away*
*Is taken with two others to bottom of mountain*
King: reach the top and claim the prize. Three challenges await along the way.
Fine *Starts climbing*
@Adra: BLUE!
(You know, the other day in science Miss was handing out lollipop sticks (we put our names on them and tehn she picks out one when she wants someone to answer a question. It stops the same three people answering all the time), and I got a blue one because BLUEEEEEEEEEe, but I actually liked the purple and red ones better. XD)
#ChaseForBookNine
*grins, doing a little twirl, buying a red peony from the vendor outside and pinning it in her hair*
:3 blue. I like lollipops))
Which shade? Light, dark, green blue, green purple etc etc etc
*Reaches flat level littered with sheep*
Ok? Theres the ladder up
*Cyclops wanders into veiw*
Cyclops: Food? *Swings club*
((I don't remember what they're called either...))
*finds a purple thingy and changes into it* Yay! *glances around at people* I should have asked Niccolò to teach me Ancient Greek...
#ChaseForBook9
Deep blue. :)
(My rainbow tree reminds me of swirly lollipops!)
(You know, I always like the blue of the sky that was straight up, the deep blue, but my sister always preferred the blue near the horizon, the light blue. She likes light blue. I like deep blue. :))
(*facepalms at how much I'm rambling*)
(Edward - I'm not near you in the roleplay, so I can't acknowledge your presence there. Sorry)
#ChaseForBookNine
((*points to what Star said* I am also not near you, and I have no idea what you're doing, so yeah... Sorry.))
#ChaseForBook9
I've got it!!! I'm fluent.
*finds one for Star* Voila!
(Thats ok Star) *Throws pebble at Cyclops eye and runs for ladder*
(Thats ok)
*carefully noms on a piece of bread* Veni vidi Vici
Wait
Wrong country
*Walks into dark cave filled with statues**Hissing is heard*
*looks at a sign* oh. Chiton. Epiblema
*Sees medusa reflected in sunglasses and swings sword beheading it* well then *Runs to door at end of maze*
(Sorry, my internet died.)
(Also, may I rant?
STUPID FUCKING GOOGLE+ WHO I HATE BECAUSE MANY REASONS KEEP TRYING TO UPDATE MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ARGHHHHHHHHHH I'VE TOLD THEM A BILLION TIMES, I DON'T WANT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO HAVE A GOOGLE+ PAGE!!!!!!!!!! I'M HAPPY AS I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Also - @Adra: Yay! Thanks! *gets changed* *wanders around trying to look like I'm going somewhere*
#ChaseForBookNine
*hugs Star*
*hands her a Snickers*
@Adra: *hugs* Thanks. :)
*tries to eat Snickers without people staring at it going WTF*
*hopes none of them are severely allergic to nuts or summat*
#ChaseForBookNine
back in 10
K Ed-
*pulls Ari from the store* Right. Athens. Where do you all want to go to first?
((I've been to Athens before... It's HUGEnzbahajahavz))
((Ugg I missed Ari))
@Adra: Somewhere. I'm happy to just walk. :)
(Walking equals stories being made up, so I'm happy to do it. It's why I pace around in circles.)
#ChaseForBookNine
(*waves at Zaf* Hey! We're in Athens. I'n't Ari still here?)
(Um, yeah - I'm going in like five minutes. :/ Sorry.)
#ChaseForBookNine
*pulls them both along* Well, let's just explore, then!
Okay star... :/
((No physical way to go near you im in 1516 and it seems she disappeared....:/ ah well ill sit back and watch im not involved in this plot))
*glances around*
Wait
I'm alone here
(@Zaf: Sorry, but you weren't here, sooo . . . Plus, we're not involved in yours. :)
Andddd now I have to go. :/)
#ChaseForBookNine
((Yeah I'll just be bored all day don't worry I'm always bored so it wont matter nobody wants me there anyway))
Bye Star-
*sits at a fountain, watching people*
((Uh, if you want to start a pity party, no one has dug you in this hole- it was all you. If you don't wanna be bored, then quit whining and just appear- no one is stopping you?))
*pets a stray kitten*
((Why is it everytime im not home Ari comes on then i get home she poofs now i cant do shit because typical i cant join in any plot because nobody would want me as anyone else so i fuck it bye guys nice knowing you i have better things to do then sit here and get ignored because you guys wont be done until god knows when! Enjoy knowing you drove me away))
((Riiiiiiggghhhttt..))
*eats another piece of bread* Yummy yummy
*stands up, shying away from the sun and walking inside a pottery shop, buying a small one, which is intricately carved and formed))
((Oh and one last note- I'm the only other one here, so...))
*tucks the pottery away and heads for the gardens*
Back
Hi Ed
....
Damn
()what the hell is in my treeehouse a sheep or chicken?!
*Walks up to Adra covered in blood holding a golden trident* I won it on mount Olympus
Hello Zaf, feel free to join the roleplay
Why are you colored in blood?!!
((Oops))
The blood isnt mine, its a hydras
...
You should wash that off- you'll get arrested.
Hell, I probably will too
It kind of stained and *Holds up body of hydra* It was the kings pet apparently
EDWARD GET THAT THING AWAY BEFORE WE'RE SEEN
*Throws body through a window* It never existed
...
I'd get a new toga
Or chiton
((Theres. A. Chicken. In. My. Treehouse.))
*Throws money at shopkeeper* I will buy the store
(Zaf, What chicken?)
((*backs away* Oops. I think I did that. Maybe. I don't remember. Probably))
Ed- *shakes her head sadly*
*Is thrown out of store into cicle of guards* Oops?
Ed! *runs up to him* CAN YOU NOT GET ARESTED?!? *glares at the guards*
*ARRESTED
*Guards draw swords and whack ed over head**is taken away*
Ed! *curses in Greek* *chases after him, trying to reason with the guards, saying he was just a naive Celt*
((I highly suggest going on Adra.))
*Guards turn and mention something about a hydra and he is placed in a dungeon beneath the minotaur maze*
Ugh! *continues to walk after them* Edward, of all the times to get arrested- NOW?
((I'm doing homework but I think I can pause..))
Going now for an hour,bye
*sighs* dammit. *leaves the cell block and goes outside*
Good morning, afternoon, or evening to you, Blogland.
No, it turns out I can stay
Sir! *hugs* ((we're in 3000BC Athens.. join us!!))
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