YOU ARE THE HERO - Putting out the call

I am so close to finishing the manuscript for YOU ARE THE HERO that you could say I'm at paragraph 395 (to use a gamebook analogy). I have interviewed a great many people about Fighting Fantasy and their experiences of it - and they've had some great stories to tell - but there are still a significant number of creators I have not been able to contact*, despite having trawled the Internet, and called in all manner of favours.

So, if anyone could help me in tracking down and contacting any of the following, I would greatly appreciate it. But time is, as they say, of the essence...

Emmanuel (original cover artist on The Citadel of Chaos)
Malcolm Barter (interior artists for The Forest of Doom)
Duncan Smith (illustrator of Scorpion Swamp)
Gary Ward & Edward Crosby (interior artists for Caverns of the Snow Witch)
Tim Sell (illustrator of House of Hell)
Steve Jackson US (of Steve Jackson Games and writer of Scorpion Swamp)**
Bob Harvey (artist)
Andrew Chapman (writer)
Geoffrey Senior (artist)
Kevin Bulmer (artist)
Bill Houston (artist)
Brian Bolland (artist)
Declan Considine (artist)
David Martin (artist)
Gary Mayes (artist)
Dave Carson (artist)
Martin Allen (writer)
Jim Bambra (writer)
Stephen Hand (writer)***
Keith P Phillips (writer)
Simon Dewey (cover artist on The Adventures of Goldhawk series)
Pete Tamlyn (co-writer of the Advanced Fighting Fantasy series)
Carl Sargent (writer)
Nik Williams (artist)
Chris Moore (cover illustrator for the Wizard Books edition of Starship Traveller)
Richard Corben and R Courtney (cover artists of some of the US editions of FF gamebooks)
Clarecraft (who made a range of Fighting Fantasy figurines)
Richard Scrivener (Puffin commissioning editor on the FF series towards the end of Puffin's tenure)

I know that seems like I lot, but I can assure you I have already interviewed a lot more for the book!

Feel free to pass this on to anyone who you think might be able to help.

* Or who have not returned my calls, if you know what I mean.

** Every time I contact Steve Jackson Games, they seem to think I'm trying to contact Steve Jackson UK (whom I know), despite me repeating repeatedly that this is not the case.

*** I'm really keen to talk to Stephen Hand.

Avent and Monie

As long time readers of this blog will know, from time to time I like to post bits and pieces here about other writers. Usually they're novelists or comic strip writers but today I'd like to plug a couple of comedy sketch writers who just happen to perform their own work.

I went to school with Graham Avent and Jon Monie back in the Eighties. They were known for their comedy sketches even then. I remember one classic spoof of Anneka Rice's Treasure Hunt where Jon (in his sixth former suit and a long blonde wig) tried to find any sign of greenery after several years of building work at the school.

'At King Edward's School at Bath,

Try to find a blade of grass.'

The two of them even performed a sketch show at the Theatre Royal Bath and went on to win This Morning's Young Comedy Writer and Performer Award in 1993* whilst both of them were studying at University.

Fast forward eighteen years and Avent and Monie a back, thanks to the wonders of YouTube. They've recorded a number of 15 seconds sketches for BBC 3's search for new(!) comedy talent - appropriately named Funny in 15. Their sketch 'The Drop' is up on the BBC 3 website** but there are a host of others that you can review via their website or YouTube channel.

The one I really can't stop laughing at is their newest sketch 'Librarians in Love' - which probably says a lot more about me and my puerile sense of humour than I would like.

Anyway, go and check them out for yourself. You can read more about the duo in this piece by the Wiltshire Times.

* Which happens to be the year my first book, Spellbreaker, was published.

** And is a darn sight better than most on there - including the ones by the 'professional' comedians.

Super X-Treme Mega History Heroes!

C L Werner on the BL blog

Me old mucker Clint Werner's guest blogging on the Black Library website at the moment, talking about being the go-to guy for the villains and about his burgeoning Grey Seer Thanquol series.

You can check it out for yourself here (and you really should).

Rob Sanders

I first met Rob Sanders a couple of years ago now at Games Day. (Don't know what Games Day is? Then click here.) The first story of his I read was Cold Light of Day which appeared in Inferno! magazine #40 - and very good it was too.

Well Rob's now a fully-fledged novelist. His first novel, Redemption Corps is available now, and he's busy at work on his second. And he has his own blog (of course). To find out more, follow this link.

Writing's easy...

All you have to do is stare at a blank piece of paper until your forehead bleeds. Or so says Tony Jordan, screenwriter.

I don't know what it is about the last couple of months, but a fair few authors have been struggling to produce the goods of late.

David Bishop has this to say on the subject. Nick Kyme's struggles are catalogued here. Chris Wraight's been feeling the pressure too, as has Si Spurrier. Even the mighty Dan Abnett has had his own creative demons to battle of late.

And I'll add my own name to that list. I thought my tenth novel was hard going but as it turns out, that one was a walk in the park compared to number eleven. Soul-destroying is how I'd describe the situation right now.

Writing's hard! :-(

All you budding writers out there, take note

Yesterday's Guardian online published a collection of writers' top tips. Inspired by Elmore Leonard's 10 Rules of Writing, they asked a number of successful authors for their personal dos and don'ts. The list they came up with included get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, then cut and rewrite again – and if all else fails, pray.

You can read all of the writers' top tips by following this link.

Bringing the magic back

Among my various paying gigs, one of the things I'm trying to develop is myself as a children's author. It's where I began and I think it's where my strengths lie.

With that in mind, I am a keen follower of Alex Milway's Mousehunter blog. He posted an interesting piece the other day about magic and children's books. To see what I mean, follow this link to read his post for yourself.

Gav Thorpe on tie-in fiction

As regular readers of this blog will know, I've been following the debate regarding tie-in fiction versus own-world creations for some time now.

However, today I read an interesting piece on this subject by Gav Thorpe, with the benefit of his experience as both a writer of tie-in fiction and the custodian of a franchise universe.

The point which I think he makes particularly well is at the end and concerns the snobbery many people have regarding the merits of tie-in fiction in general. But rather than spoil the surprise, you can read it for yourself here.

The SFX Weekender

So, I drove down to Camber Sands yesterday for the second half of the SFX Weekender (I mean why else would you go to Camber Sands?) and had a great time.

I hooked up with David Moore and Jonathan Oliver of Abaddon/Solaris Books and signed some stock, as well as giving away some Pax Britannia badges, and was interviewed for a forthcoming podcast. I met ace Slaine artist and Preacher cover artist Glenn Fabry (who happens to think he's quite good). I was welcomed by Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers and ran into these interesting-looking fellows...


I listened to China Mieville talk about writing for the YA market (or not as the case may be), I listened to Jon Oliver read from his first novel The Call of Kerberos, I watched the fantastic Moon (starring the even more fantastic Sam Rockwell), I listened to a Q&A session with Toby Whithouse, creator of Being Human, having just watched a sneak preview of tonight's episode, and listened to a panel discuss the various merits, or otherwise, of tie-in and spin-off fiction (or tie-off, as one of the panellists called it).

Tom Baker regaling the crowds

Jon Oliver - lord of all he surveys

Glenn Fabry talks comic special effects budgets

Al Ewing - fellow Abaddon author

The 2000AD stand - Clint Langley and Leigh Gallagher draw for your entertainment

To conclude, here's a list of ten things that I now know as a result of the SFX Weekender that I didn't know 48 hours ago:

1) You can buy a bespoke Dalek for £3,000 but it'll take at least 10 weeks to make.
2) Glenn Fabry's thinking of becoming a teacher.
3) The novelisation of Snakes on a Plane was Black Flame's best-selling title.
4) Tom Baker gets chatted up in Waitrose by ladies of a certain age (that means they're in their 70s, I think).
5) Ianto Jones actor Gareth David-Lloyd was unaware of the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre's version of Torchwood, which they call Torchwool.
6) Cosplay is really just what my 3 year-old calls dressing up (but done by adults).
7) Gareth David-Lloyd would like to play Lion-O in a live-action version of Thundercats.
8) He-Man is camp.
9) Leigh Gallagher can't draw as quickly as Clint Langley.
10) This Christmas will see the release of the first Pax Britannia Ulysses Quicksilver omnibus.

An infinite number of typewriters and some damn fine monkeys can get you a long way, apparently

If, like me, you're a fan of Dan Abnett's books (and if not, why not?) then you may be interested to here that he's given his blog an overhaul and has posted a number of updates (no doubt having got the blogging bug from his stint over at Babel Clash recently).

You can enjoy the fruits of his blogging labours here, and just to wet your appetite, here's the artwork for the cover of Dan's next original novel for Angry Robot Books, entitled Embedded and due for release this September.


He wanted to see for himself what the war on the desert planet was like close-up. So he got himself to the frontline, reporting back live to Earth from inside the head of a G.I. super-soldier. Now the soldier's dead, and he will have to take over the dead man's body and fight his way home. And now he will see for himself what war on this desolate desert planet is really like.

Who's Who?

New Doctor Who show-runner Steven Moffat has revealed who will be writing the first season of the Eleventh Doctor's adventures.

As well as the Moff himself writing six episodes, we can also expect episodes from Chris Chibnall (Torchwood), Toby Whithouse (Being Human - who wrote the 10th Doctor story School Reunion), Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly!), Mark Gatiss (The Unquiet Dead and The Idiot's Lantern) and Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral).

If there are 13 episodes in total, I would guess that as well as the Moff's episodes we can expect two two-parters, probably by Chibnall and Whithouse. And news already leaked from the set/the new DW trailer suggests the return of River Song and the Weeping Angels and something about Vampires...

The spring can't come soon enough!

Geronimo!

Currently reading...

It has not escaped my notice that other authors frequently post an update as to whatever it is that's currently distracting them from the job in hand, in terms of reading material, music and gaming.

Well, currently I am reading Blood Pact* by Dan Abnett. It's the twelfth book in the astonishing successful - and damn fine! - Gaunt's Ghost series and, let me tell you, it doesn't disappoint. About a third of the way through but progress has been slow today due to me writing my own stuff - namely White Rabbit. (But more on that another time.)

You can find out more about Gaunt's Ghosts and Blood Pact here, and listen to Dan himself talking about the experience of writing the book here...



* I had a tot up the other day and I think that Blood Pact is the 61st Black Library novel I've read - out of the hundreds they've published...

Dan Abnett talking Blood Pact and the Horus Heresy

Aaron Dembski-Bowden on writing for the Horus Heresy series

As fans of Warhammer 40K and the Black Library will undoubtedly know, the Horus Heresy series of books has finally put down in print the cataclysmic events of the 31st millennium that ultimately led to half the Space Marine Legions falling to Chaos and one hell of a galactic civil war.

Some of you may also have already heard the name Aaron Dembski-Bowden mentioned before. He is the new infant terrible of the Black Library writing team and has already earned himself the honour of joining the elite group of writers who have been tasked with making the legendary events of the Horus Heresy reality.

Here he talks about attending his first Horus Heresy writers' meeting. But be warned - it's typical Aaron. In other words it's both funny and filthy!

Dan Abnett speaks - again!

Links to two Dan Abnett interviews today. First off there's this one at the Literary Project, where he talks about writing in general, and then there's this one at 2000AD Review, where he specifically talks about the comic strip Kingdom that he created with Richard Elson. Both are worth a read.

Robert Holdstock

I was very sorry to hear the news of Robert Holdstock's passing, as are many of my fellow fantasy writers and fans of great literature all around the world.

Mythago Wood is one of the best fantasy novels I have read. Ever.

He will be sadly missed.

Fighting Fantasy at GamesFest 4

Just to report that I had a brilliant time on Saturday at GamesFest 4, a one-day convention encompassing RPG’s, Board Games, CCG’s, War Games, Comics, Books, Film & Video gaming.The organisers' aim was to create an informal event that enabled the enthusiast and casual gamer to sample the best the hobby has to offer, and they certainly achieved that. I got to speak to all sorts of people for a decent amount of time that is much harder these days at an event such as Games Day.

JG defacing another copy of Stormslayer

One of those people was Jervis Johnson, Games Workshop games designing legend. I also got to catch up with the guys from the Black Library, including Nick Kyme, Alex Davis, Graham McNeill and James Swallow. (Apologies to Richard Williams and Gav Thorpe for not managing to chat to them.)

One legend meets another - Graham McNeill gets his copy of Warlock signed by Steve Jackson himself

But the real reason I was there was as part of the team from Fighting Fantasy, which included Nick Sidwell from Wizard Books and another legend - Steve Jackson himself! It was great to see all these other luminaries of the business queuing to have their original copies of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain signed by Steve and tell him that that one book was the reason why they are doing what they do today. (And the same goes for me.)

Jonathan Green, Steve Jackson and Jamie Fry

I was also a great pleasure to meet so many fans myself and sign multiple copies of Stormslayer, Bloodbones and Howl of the Werewolf. But the biggest shout has to go out to Jamie Fry of www.fightingfantasycollector.co.uk. He turned up with a bag full of books for me to sign, including an original Puffin edition of Curse of the Mummy, which he tells me now it quite a desirable item these days! The man is a legend himself!

So, all in all, a great day was had by all and all that remains is to thank Nick for inviting me along and the GamesFest organisers for a very well organised con. Here's the GamesFest 5!

Events occuring this weekend

Not events that I'll be attending, but ones featuring writing friends of mine.

First up there's Dan Abnett's tour of the Chaos Wastes (also known as Scotland). Click on the poster below to check details.


And then on Sunday 18 October 2009 at 5.30pm, Steve Jackson will be attending the Cheltenham Literature Festival and offering those Fighting Fantasy fans in attendance a unique opportunity to participate in an exciting audio Fighting Fantasy adventure. To find out more, click here.

Dr Johnson tells it how it is

"Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labour; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it."
Samuel Johnson (1709-84)