Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Manimal Abnettism...

... as I said, just the other day. Yes, sometimes I make no sense, even to me.
Black Library Live! went live last Saturday, and a properly fabulous event it was too. I gather it was enough of a resounding success for there to be more in future, so I heartily encourage all of you who didn’t attend to attend next time.
It was a busy and lively event, with lots of signings, talks, readings and seminars, plus games (set up in the marvelous surroundings of Warhammer World) based on settings and characters from the books. In fact, the bustle and energy felt like a good Games Day, but it was still small enough to be informal and fun. There was enough time to talk, to take some time to answer questions and wander off the point and, of course, everything was Black Library specific.
There was a great turn out by BL writers: the mighty Graham, the equally mighty Jim Swallow, the just-as-mighty-as-all-the-other-mighty-ones Sandy Mitchell, Neil “Mister Horus Covers” Roberts, Nick Kyme (wearing his BL editor AND his superstar author hats), Aaron, Richard... yeah, it was great. It was fantastic to be able to preview a couple of chapters of Blood Pact (us BL authors haven’t had the opportunity to do readings since Games Day shifted out of the NIA - the acoustics in the NEC just won’t allow it), and Graham tells me he also really relished the chance of doing a reading. Most of my afternoon was taken up with the serious signing event - me, Graham and Neil in a signing trifecta that lasted almost three hours. It was simply fabby to see Xhalax and Matthew C (where was Big?) plus a lot of other folks who’ve become very welcome and familiar faces from signings these last few years. I think, in the end, what really made it for me was noticing that the BL staff the (Mark, Christian, Nick, Caroline, Mal, Rik, George and the rest - thanks for giving up your Easter Saturday, guys!) were having such a good time. They all had smiles on their faces. They were all really happy with the way things seemed to be going. It was NOT a miserable afternoon spent working on a weekend. I took this as real proof of the event’s success. The only downside, it seemed, was that Anita found it unbearably warm (Anita? Graham? I secretly think Sawney’s an excellent name, BTW).
In summary, if you weren’t there you should have been, and you should make fething sure you’re there next time. If you were there... wasn’t it just a whole heap of good fun?
And so to Manchester and Liverpool next weekend. I’ll be bringing a hunka Blood Pact in case there’s an opportunity for some reading. I’ll be signing. I‘ll be chatty. I’ll be open to your questions, comments and suggestions (ahem - within reason). I’ll be windswept and interesting. Will you be there? Check out the previous blog entry and the BL site for specific timings and details.
So, things you should be doing. You should be reading Matt Farrer’s excellent blog, for starters. It’s a quiet piece of genius. You should be reading [Marvel’s cosmic event written by yours truly and Mister Lanning] War of Kings, because, well, it’s frickin’ excellent is what it is. Buy it for Paul Pelletier’s art alone. The man is touched by the proper spark of comic-stuff, the incandescent material that suffused Kirby, Buscema and Romita Senior.
And you should also be reading... me. It’s just been announced (so, therefore, I can talk about it) that I’ve signed a three book deal with Angry Robot, the new Harper Collins imprint. I will be interleaving these books - original Dan Abnett novels, accept no imitations! - in between my BL commitments (he added hastily, before all the Gaunt fans hyperventilated and collapsed in a swoon). Up first, this autumn, will be Triumff, a swashbuckling tale set on an alternate Earth where the Elizabethan Age never ended and the Industrial Revolution rediscovered magic. Our eponymous hero Rupert Triumff kicks ass and takes names in a lusty yet ill-advised effort to halt a conspiracy to kill her royal majesty Queen Elizabeth XXX.
Trust me, it will be either:
the funniest piece of adventure you’ve ever read, or,
the most adventuresome piece of funny you’ve ever read.

After that, in 2010, brace yourself for Embedded, an extremely hard-edged piece of combat SF that I think you’ll REALLY like.

So I guess that makes me Mister Busy, doesn’t it?

21 comments:

HiWayRobry said...

*zing*
Sounds like a blast!
Sorry I missed it (as usual)

HiWayRobry said...

Grats on the book deal. I'll be seeking out Triumff as soon as it's available in the States! Have to say Embedded sounds more my style, but swash-buckling never hurt anyone (well, you know what I mean)

Rob Rath said...

Dan you have no idea how excited I am about you doing original novels. I've always wondered what they would look like.

Congrats.

Craig said...

Glad you had a good time fell!

Such a shame i couldnt attend, im am actually devastaed to deth

will see you on saturday tho ;)

Dju said...

Yay !
May the gods of translation acknowledge the I-like-to-think-quite-good work I did so far on your books, and let me handle the Angry Robot novels ! ^_^
(I'm not sure we translators have gods as such, but we sure do have a patron saint. I'll burn him a whole crate of candles immediately).

Unknown said...

Q: Dan, when are you coming to Scotland!? and my novels are itching to be signed.

And im gutted that i never manage to make these signings down south, Damn being only 17, having no money and still lacking the ability to drive!

Pack_master said...

Bugger. I feel really bad not being able to join such festivities... :(
Ah, well, GD Germany will come...

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the book deal. As if I didn't have enough juggling of All Things Abnett to do, now original novels to boot? From what I've read elsewhere, this "Embedded" thing sounds very interesting-can't wait.

Matthew F. said...

Hey Dan, thank you very much, that's quite a compliment. I'd better go make some more posts!

ahzakii@yahoo.com said...

Hey Mr Dan, Just wanted to leave a note saying how big a fan I am of your warhammer works..I confess though that here in Malaysia, it's quite irritating being a fan coz your books are difficult to find! Can you imagine the frustration of reading the Ghost's Omnibus 1 and 2 and not finding a single title from the last omnibus anywhere...really hurts. Anyway keep up the greeat work, congrats on your book deal too.

Unknown said...

Guys i have a question.

What book should i read next?
i have...

Descent of angels (the HH book)
Titanicus - one of dans
OR (my least favourite)

Sunset song and the Crucible (for school)

whats your suggestions?!

I just finnished Brothers of the snake, i loved it. Any Sequals around the corner Dan?

Xhalax said...

BL Live! was so much fun!

It was great to see all the authors (I love getting to meet the guys I've not had a chance to terrify into submission).....and it was great to smooze around to speak to you guys on a much more informal basis. Chatting to you and Matthew....I'll start stocking up on tissues now! And discussing the trend of films in recent times in respect to graphic novel based films and the change in how we view the films (i.e downloading) with Jon Sullivan.

Missed Nik though.

And it was great to go to the readings and Q&A sessions (wish I could have gone to more as I'd have liked to have gone to pretty much all of them)....that's what I miss about Games Day since it moved....I remember the first time they they tried the seminars and readings in the NEC (you read from Horus Rising) and I was kinda gutted that it didn't work like it did in the NIA so they stopped it.

I really can't wait for Blood Pact now. The chapters were GREAT. Well I had a good giggle at them...and as always YAY! for more Ban.

Rock on September!

Richard said...

Very interested in Embedded. Can't wait to read it. =)

big said...

Rory- go straight to Titanicus
YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPOINTED

Trust Big

Anonymous said...

@Rory-unless you really need the assignment, then Titanicus is the one you want. Brilliant book.

Unknown said...

Thats the one i chose lads. ive only read the opening pages as ive been bombarded with school work.

Exams in less than a month, actually crapping myself.

Anybook with a person being vaporised by a titan in the opening pages is MY kinda book!

big said...

Moussaka= sounds like a war cry!

Nik said...

Big - haha!

big said...

Definately the new warcry of my Blood Pact Riders
"Men make tough and gird your loins"
"MOUSSAKA"
the men roar a reply with all the steel and venom they can muster
"MOUSSAKA"...hahahahaha

big said...

Amon and Constantin are killing it!
love the idea of the cotinued names in their armour ,cant wait to get back home and read some more.I also love the fact that its set at the time of The Lighting Tower...which as you know impressed the hell out of me.
Keep em comin.....!

Forgotmytea said...

Congrats on the Triumff deal; sounds great, I'm looking forward to the first one already!