I have just pressed SEND.
By pressing SEND, I have emailed off the completed book to my agent and editor. It will now be sent to the copyeditor who, amongst other things, will be checking for grammar and spelling mistakes that I've missed but, more importantly, will be ensuring that everything I've written makes sense.
She will be checking facts and figures and timelines, scouring her notes on the other books to make sure I haven't contradicted myself... A good copyeditor in invaluable, and I have a great one.
It's done. I wrote the two Scapegrace chapters that I'd left until last. Oh, and I ALSO included the winner of the Die Horribly competition...
It took me until last night to pick a winner. I was sent 30 finalists out of everyone who entered. Of those 30, I quickly whittled it down to 15. Then, not so quickly, down to 10. Then it took me ages to narrow it down to 5. Then 3.
There were some great entries. Lots of funny reasons why people reckoned they should be the reader I pick to kill horribly in the book. But I needed something specific. I needed something that would fit in with what I'd written. And there was only one reader who fit PERFECTLY.
So congratulations to Lewis Holmes, from the UK. You shall have the distinct honour of being Horribly Killed in The Dying of the Light.
Lewis' death was the last thing I had to write. Now it's all over. Sure, I'll be sent the copyeditor's notes to approve, and there'll be a little more fiddling around between now and printing time, but...
... but it's over. I have finished writing Skulduggery Pleasant.
I think I need to lie down now.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4,942 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 4401 – 4600 of 4942 Newer› Newest»Oh yeah Dragona, I walked in on her torturing Zaf a day or two ago...
((yes you did. Then you acted all big an hard. Then ran away.))
*keeps waiting outside the shield*
Um..what next...Um...where?
Good morning, afternoon, evening, or other time of day, Blogland.
((I had to leave Silente, we both know who wins in a fight))
Hello Sir!
*keeps walking around each step wobblyer than the last*
It gets tiring. And the idea of never aging..
*smiles*
When I was a kid i though it'd be good. I wanted it.. Then I hit 10 and it seemed less cool. O decided it'd be bad. Then on my twelfth birthday...
*shudders*
Yeah. Now its just so...tiring.
*nearly collapses*
*managed to stay up*
((hey Sir!))
Greetings, Ms. Asahina, Ms. Tempest, Mr. Soul, Mr. Pine, and whoever lurks in the wings.
(Hey Sir!)
*folds arms*
Silente, you can just put down the shield and get arrested. I won't harm you as long as you cooperate.
*Pops up next to Dragona, presumably out of his shadow*
Mind if I punch her once for good measure? Also because it's just what we do?
No, Blake. It's what you do. If you attempt to hurt her I will shoot you. We're going to make this as clean as possible and I don't need you fucking things up.
Blake! answer the question where will we have it!
*eyes turn black, goes into her shadow, comes out of his, grabs him by the ear and drags him back through the shadow to the house and sits him down again, eyes turn back to deep blue*
Because shooting a necromancer always works...
Ah well if you insist.
*Creates a chair of darkness and sulks in it*
Umm... by the lake maybe...?
*Twiddles his thumbs*
This isn't about being arrested. If it was i'd have just ran. It's about time. Everyone was a time. No one can live forever. It'd be too boring. I pity the man who lasts forever.
*is considerably paler that usual*
*eyes are failing to focus*
*keeps up the shield anyway*
And I have no desire to endure much more of this.
*gestures weakly to self*
This living death. It's time.
*smiles and sighs legs giving way*
*the ground below her is scorched to moment ur touches the shield*
Screw this shit.
*fixes on breather helmet*
*raises hand, which starts glowing blue* *puts an energy barrier around herself*
*steps into Silente's shield, and despite the energy barrier her armour begins to smoke*
*lifts Silente up and carries her out of the shield*
((Dragona..the sheild is like a second skin...you can't just lift me out of it..))
(Ah, I presumed it was like a bubble. ^^)
(Scrap what I said before, then, about carrying you out)
Silente, you can't keep going on like this. Stop the shield. *puts armoured hand on her shoulder, which starts smoking*
*Tuts*
Well, that's a rather selfish view.
By the lake with the waterfall! great idea! :D *kisses him* You're amazing.
Ok um... what else...lol?
Who's gonna be the guy who talks and sheet? the bible guy? minister?
*shrugs the hand off*
No. It's fine.
*is blinking a lot*
*is pretty much grey*
*eyes are dull*
I'm fine. I'm happy. I-
*falls backwards*
*unconcious*
*shield still up*
*Runs in* *Tackles Sir*
(Hey Adra! How are you?)
(Silente, is there any way to stop the shield?)
Greetings, Ms. Dark.
Hey Dragona! I'm watching Bones :) you?
*Hugs Sir like a koala hugs a tree* *licks his face* Hi!
(I'm watching Doctor Who and trying to figure out a way so Silente WON'T kill herself)
Screw it.
*steps back and throws as much energy as she can against Silente's shield, firing shockwave after shockwave into it*
Won't? Goodness...
*the sigil on my forehead avtivates/deactivates is. However its specific in that only a bare hand can control it. So if you can get a bare hand to touch it yeah. However even when unconcious the shield will scorch and or ash anything that comes into direct contact with it in the space of a milisecond..))
*the shockwaves simply strengthen the shield*
*breathing is shallow*
*Hugs* I missed you, Sir :(
(Well, that's a little bit crap :P)
*thinks quickly*
Hey guys
...
I apologize for my absence, Ms. Dark.
It's okay, Sir- I just hardly see you. *Hugs* *Spots Jubi*
Ahhrhfjgksnsbjxnd
*Leaps at and tackles* I wanted to say hi so many times but whenever I read back here, I always missed you :/ I miss you Jubabbbbb
Okay
I should go now.
*Slithers away*
Good bye, Ms. Dark.
*takes her glove off* *the skin starts burning slightly on her hand*
*hits the sigil as fast as she can, putting up a strong energy barrier around her palm as soon as she's touched it, meaning that only her palm is burned down part way through the muscle*
*hisses in pain and puts her glove back on*
((hey Jubz!))
((@dragona it was made to stop people outside it from deactivating it..))
*breathing is becoming more and more shallow*
ADRA!!!!!! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*
I KNOW! I KEEP MISSING YOU WHENEVER YOU'RE ONN D:
BAII!
SIR!! DRAGONA!!! SILENTE!! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*
HAI
Fuck I shouldn't have done that... *probably needs medical attention*
*the shield gives a pulse before dissolving*
*shivers and starts breathing normally*
*blinks and opens an eye*
*sighs looking at Sophia*
*says in a croaky voice*
Either your dead or it didn't work
*raises hand* Well that's bloody dead, I'm not sure about me. I presume it didn't work since you were nearly dead.
*keeps grumbling at her hand*
By the way, you're under arrest.
*with her remaining hand, moves Silente's hands behind her back and handcuffs her*
((how are you Jubz?))
Erg. Yey. Perfect. Just what I wanted.
*pulls her handcuffed hands free*
*gets up*
*runs as fast as she can, going for the easy way out*
*is running in the direction of the sea facing cliff*
I'm ok, you?
*freezes Silente in stasis*
No. Don't try. I've just probably lost the use of my bloody hand thanks to you. Don't you try and run away.
*pins her down*
((irl fine. In rp...less fine...))
*is pinned*
*waits for the bloody stasis to wear off*
*holds a sphere of blue energy next to Silente's face*
Don't even try and bloody escape. I just saved your bloody life.
[haunts Jubi-bean]
Woooooo I'm a ghost.
Ok guys, who can be the minister for me and Blake's wedding?
Trip is the best man.
Oh god I don't have a maid of honour...
A life I didn't /want/ saving!
*knocks the blue energy aside and runs*
*lifts Silente into the air and suspends her there*
And why not, hm?
[Isn't qualified to be a minister, sorry, Chi]
[I could, um, do flower arrangements or something if you want, though, and I should be able to be there]
I'm glad you might be able to come Fabi :)
Wednesday 4th of June. 9pm London time so 4pm American time by the lake with the waterfall. Dunno what time that is for you but yeah
*struggles in the air*
*screams in frustration tears streaming down her face*
Let me go! What does it matter to you if im arrested or dead! Either way i won't be around anymore!
And yeah, if you want I could ask you and Star to decorate? if you want to help out.
*taps Silente* Um...sorry for interrupting but...would you be my maid of honour...?
*4PM Eastern American time
*1PM Western American time
*and there are others, but I only really know Eastern and Western
Star, would you like to decorate with Fabi? :)
((Hunter: You're trusting Star with responsibility?
Oh, dear.
*looks worried*))
((Star: . . . You're doing really well at being nice to me, you know.
Hunter: I know! Aren't I great?
Star: . . .))
Well, I'm American, but west coast, so three hours behind "American time."
It looks like I can come, but I may have to leave early. Depends.
((Star: I'd love to, Chi. :) *hugs*
I'll try and make it nice for you. :)
*glares at Hunter, who's looking doubtful*))
It is my job to ensure peace, Silente. Don't torture anyone else and I will let you go. There's no need for anyone to die. I might not be able to use my bloody hand again, that's the price that I've paid to ensure peace. Survive - and that shall be the price that you have had to pay. As long as you no longer cause trouble I will no longer hunt you down.
*laughs at Star and Hunter*
Hunter, will you and Ez come too?
SORRY
I POOFED
Hi Jubi! will you be coming to me and Blake's wedding? :) everyone is invited.
((@chi i thought Mir was your maid of honor?))
*glares at Sophia*
Let me go. Let me see this decision through. Then i won't hurt anyone ever again.
*stares directly into her eyes*
That's all I ask.
Oooh weddings! sure!!
will there be cake?
I'd love to. Do you have a particular color scheme in mind?
Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaii. [nods]
I can have two and both of you are like my sisters. I can't remember if I asked her already, I think I did but she might not make it.
*Supermegatacklepokes Darth Fabi*
((Star: @Lantern: Cool. O_O))
((Hunter: @Chi: I would like to, but of course, it entirely depends upon Star and whether she can be BOTHERED.
*sighs*
So if I'm not there, it's not my fault.))
Black and blue :)
You can use different shades of blue but yeah.
Black for blake and blue for me. :)
And cause we're at the lake so yeah ^.^
[is a ghosty]
Juuuuubilance Gleeeeee... Do not make the same mistakes I did. Do not fall to the dark side. Remember that you have light in you and you are beautiful.
I hope all of you can come ^.^
And yes of course Jubi there will be cake!
((Hunter: Black and blue are good colours.))
WEDDING?
Both mine and Star's pictures have mainly blue and black in them too :3
I tried, Darth Fabi. I tried.
But I killed so many purple bananas... I'm not sure if I can ever pay for the damage I've done
Chi- CAKE! :D
Okay. :-)
^ the property damage AND emotional damage
Zafira, did you not know? I said a little while ago Blake and I were getting married on the 4th of June.
Hello...
AMETHYST! *supermegatacklehugsofdoom*
hai
Hello amethyst :) Will you be able to make it to me and Blake's wedding?
((Hunter: Star likes blue. And black, but especially blue.
I like black. And blue, but especially black.
This is the difference between . . . her . . . and me.))
((Star: You can always try, Jubi.
You can always be redeemed.
Even the blackest people have light in them.
And even the blackness is beautiful.
*hugs*
No matter if you can forgive yourself, I will always forgive you, because I love you. :)))
JUBILANCE!!! Hello.
Wedding? What time?
If you continue to be evil, there will soon be more than you can pay for, and perhaps it will all explode in your face like it did with me.
If you see the light, and run toward it, you will have little margin for giving up, but if you try, if you believe, you will have the power to reach it, and then the power to do anything.
Do not make the same mistakes I did...!
[Reaches out a ghostly hand with a ghostly sharpie as if to draw a blue mustache on Jubi]
[Of course, it, being ghostly, has no effect]
*Tumbles out of a nearby shadow*
Hullo everyone, I'm back-ish
Sorry I poofed.
*raises gun at Silente* Let me do it. It will be painless.
How are you guys?
((Hunter: I'm fine.
You?))
I'm fine :)
*nods*
If you would.
*closes her eyes and relaxes*
*smiles and nods*
It's at 9pm London time on Wednesday, which would have been an hour and 20 minutes ago your time.
You speak such wisdom, Darth Fabi.
If only it were that easy.
I'm a bit stressed out Amethyst xD
*looks at Silente* Um...you wouldn't help me go dress shopping would you...?
Oh...I don't think I'll be able to make it then...Sorry!
((Hunter: @Amethyst: That's good. *nods*
Don't stress, Chi.
Stress is bad.))
*Randomly rips a tree to shreds*
Blake is slightly bored...
*takes aim at Silente*
Perhaps he should take up a hobby, then.
Nothing will ever be 'that easy.' Not if you don't try. I didn't try, and now look at me. I'm deceased and semi-transparent! D:
True... That must've been horrible...
*is waiting for Sophia to do it already*
*still smiling*
*eyes closed ans body relaxed*
*jumps on his back*
I'm his hobby <3 Ain't that right baby? *kisses his neck*
Oooh wedding!!!!!
*stares at tree* Something is happening I can't explain! Really true, I think I saw the light. I was emailed by Adra and I didn't...I didn't say anything degrading. I spoke calmly and nice and...part of me does want her back.
Maybe this is that feeling called remorse. Or is it longing?
Awww Amethyst, maybe you could make the after party then? it will probs run to after 10.
*fires twice*
*both miss*
*slams her into the ground hard enough to knock her unconscious*
Sorry...I have to meet for a bio project :(
YAY ZAFIRA MAKE UP WITH HER! BE FRIENDS AGAIN! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
Horrible indeed.
[Glares]
You killed me.
4pm Wednesday...I should be around. Hmm...yeah I will be I'll make time so I don't study too much.
*looks stunned* I don't know if she will come back....I mean...I tried I tried...I hope it goes well.
Right... sorry about that...
I didn't mean to!
I hope so Zaffy *hugs her*
shoot
I gotta go.... :(
BYE GUYS!
*Falls on his face from Chio jumping on him*
Of course you are cutie...
Bye Jubi!
*hears the shots*
*feels no impact*
*did she die that quickly?*
*is she finally gone*
*did it work*
*i dont think it wo-*
*is slammed unconscious*
Bye Jubi!
Blake why did you fall?! D: am I too fat for you to hold? ;-;
Of course not! I just wasn't expecting it...
*picks her up and holds her close to his chest*
There, see?
Bye Jubi-bean [ghostlytacklehugs]
Zaf, the best you can do at this point is be patient with her. She'll come back when she's ready. Just remember that probably she wouldn't have emailed you if she wasn't willing to give you a chance.
[I didn't see the email, nor can I read Adra's mind, so I don't know if that's what she meant by it. Just a guess]
*handcuffs Silente again and gives her to the American Sanctuary*
*tells them to put her on suicide watch*
*flexes burned hand* Ha, as if she thought I had lost the use of it. Just a little tissue damage.
*Runs over to Dragona*
High five! :D
*Dramatically holds up his hand*
I am fine, thank you, Blake. *walks past his raised hand*
*hugs Zaf* :)
I'm really happy things are kind of going peacefully between you two. :)
Well done for managing to be calm. :)
((er...so I guess I'm Zaf's problem now..))
*wakes up with a bad headache*
*gets up*
*wonders why she's back in the American Sanctuary*
*she's still handcuffed*
Hello? People?
*Stands there comically for a moment before letting his arms droop to his sides and falling back into a newly formed shadow chair*
What a party pooper...
*Sinks into the darkness, chair and all*
*Resurfaces inside Silente's cell*
So you still want to die eh? Did you forget everything I said last time..?
I'm bored...
*looks at Blake*
Is that why im in a cell?! Urg! Im never trusting Sophia AGAIN!
*punches a wall*
Let me out.
Why are you back?! I swear...
Nobody will be letting you out until you're mentally stable. Sophia did the right thing not killing you, nobody would gain anything from it.
Zafira, she is back because she has committed multiple counts of kidnapping and torture.
*ignores Blake*
Zaf let me out please. They put me in for no reason. Idiots.
Oh yeah that too.
*his fist rockets at Silente's face then stops a mere half inch from it*
What the hell possessed you to do that?
Ello
Hello!
Greetings, Ms. Stormberg.
Woah woah woah! Stop punching her. Someone tell me what is going on?
Baby! *snuggles into Blake's chest as he holds her*
Zafira, I managed to arrest her for kidnapping and torturing numerous people under the disguise of "Masky".
((hey snow!))
*looks at Blake*
Stuff happens. Leave it.
*paces back and forth waiting to be let out*
I have to go now. Bye!
(
*(Bye Amethyst!)
That's why she was arrested from the beginning? *bangs head on wall* Look okay I will figure this out. Write up the reports, I need to make this all offcial and I'll figure out what to do with her.
Zaf Sophia illegally arrested me for a crime I've already been pardoned for. Let me out.
"Stuff happens"?!
You tortured people! Mentally and physically!
*Pulls back again and punches with no intention of stopping again*
No! You already pardoned me for this! Just let me out!
*is pacing faster now*
Blake! You are in my Sanctuary, you will listen to me. Stop abusing the prisoner.
I did release her, and what did she do to be arrested again?
*shows Zaf her Spectre badge* It was a completely legal arrest. Unless you charge her for her crimes I will be forced to take action against her and the American Sanctuary myself. What happened before was not justice. Not for the people she's tortured.
Very well, I will get the necessary documents.
*is punched*
*stumbles back slightly*
*turns to Blake*
Do that again. Beat me. Kill me. Do it.
You take action against me, you may as well kiss your life goodbye. We're on the Supreme Council.
*points gun at Blake* Don't punch her. And especially don't kill her.
(i dedicate this page to the page dedication about page dedications which Silente did) :P
*Grabs her by the throat and slams her against the wall*
They say death is a release, and there is no release for you. Not from this prison. Not from life.
((Ded-ception Dragona <.>))
*tilts head at Zaf* I don't give a shit about any council. I have a job to do. Don't get in my way. Then there will be no need for your Supreme Council to get involved.
*gives Blake a warning shot* Don't harm the bloody prisoner!
*glares at Blake*
Squeeze. Just squeeze. That's all you have to do Blake. That's all I'm asking you to do.
You're in my damn country. Get me the paperwork. Then I'll discuss her fate. I have a protocool to follow.
Then follow it, Grand Mage. Don't pardon her for her crimes.
*goes to get the documents*
And watch Blake. Keep to protocol with your treatment of prisoners.
*Roughly releases his grip on Silente*
I couldn't kill you, that's not who I am any more. But be thankful Dragona is being so persistent and I'm not in the mood to fight her.
*starts writing reports and documents about what occurred during the arrest and about Silente's crimes and her numerous attempts to stop them*
*glares at Blake*
Then I'll do it myself.
*as a blur pulls both of her daggers free plunging one into her chest and slitting her own throat with the other*
*blood spurts everywhere*
*Pops up next to Zaf*
We have a slight problem and are in need of a healer, somebody forgot to take Silente's weapons off her.
*sighs, and shakes head* Go find a healer, go ask Jekyll.
*is quickly bleeding to death*
*painfully pulls herself into a classic vampire pose of arms over chest body straight*
*smiles despite the pain*
*starts making a gurgling noise with each intake of breath*
*collects the paperwork and gives it to Zaf* So what's happened?
*goes to Silente and heals, then turns to Dragona* I don't know yet
*glares at Zaf*
*mutters* let it be. Just let this happen.
*sees Zaf didn't think to take her weapons*
*repeats her earlier move of slitting her throat and stabbing herself in the heart*
*grabs Silente's weapons before she can slash herself and twists them from her grip*
((hey Jazlyn))
Thank you. *looks at Silente* I want her on suicide watch.
*glares at both of them*
*thinks*
*grabs her shoelaces*
*starts fashioning a noose*
((Erm...stuff?))
Tempest!!! *claws at the walls surrounding the rp* I can't get into the rp to save you...
*points her gun at Silente's knee and tears the shoe laces from her grip*
Don't. It's time you faced up to your crimes.
*grabs the shoelaces* I'll revive you if you die.
(She's in the American Sanctuary under arrest for multiple counts of torture and kidnapping)
YOU CAN PULL THROUGH THIS TEMPEST. I KNOW YOU CAN FRIEND
*glares at Sophia*
*moves to the furthest and darkest corner*
*checks what she has left*
*shoes, cloak, mask, clothes, belt..*
*grins. Belt*
*quickly removes her belt*
*wraps it around her neck*
*tightens it until she can't breath*
*waits*
Zafira, the documents I handed you contain the information about her arrest, her crimes and my attempt to stop them.
((Yes, I'm able to. I can mimick any form of magic I have seen or experienced. I know my true name.))
*rips the belt from Silente's grip and shoots her in the knee simultaneously*
*screams of anguish* TEMPEST
*looks at Dragona and says in a mocking tone* Don't harm the prisoner.
...Silente...
Very well. *goes and reads*
*hisses and clutches her knee*
*looks at the bullet wound*
*wonders if she has the nerve to rip herself apart*
*she doesn't have many other choices..*
*simply shows him the Spectre badge* I'm allowed.
*suspends Silente in the air*
Oh how nice, a small piece of metal that shows you're the member of an organization that has given its self jurisdiction over all who break the law.
It means I can legally do whatever it takes to get the job done, Blake. Which involves killing you if you get in my way.
Post a Comment