Pants on fire

Yes, I lied when I said I’d start blogging more often, though not deliberately, so maybe you’ll forgive me. If there’s anybody still here, that is. I could hardly blame you for wandering off to find something more interesting. Anyone there? Anyone? (Listens to sound of tumbleweed).

Excuses then. Australian-flavoured jet-lag (a week and a half of actually feeling sea-sick rather than tired). A (splendid) trip to Gen-Con in Indianapolis, during which Marc Gascoigne and I set the world to rights AND planned my next few tomes for the Black Library. You’re going to love what I’m going to do over the next year or so.

Then, of course, there was Ravenor Rogue. It went to bed at about noon today, after a long, ugly battle. I’m very proud of it, and I think the effort was worthwhile, though I’m aware that its a) late b) fifteen thousand words longer than it should have been, and c) kept me from blogging. And, you know, sleeping and things.

I hope you’ll all enjoy it. Though it’s not the last Ravenor book I intend to write, it’s the last one for a little bit. It ends off the story cycle about Molotch, Slyte and everything else that has played out through the first two books. It also has a lot of continuity threads tied back into the Eisenhorn stuff. It is, I’d like to think, a rip-snorting adventure, but it was a devil to write because of the need to keep track of all those threads. It’s got BIG action, gribbly monsters, treachery, deceit, intrigue, more action, heartbreak, romance, shocks, twists, “I don’t fething believe he just did that’ moments, and a cast of villains as cool if not cooler than the good guys. And did I mention the gribbly monsters? They’re monsters, AND they’re gribbly.

Perhaps the most interesting thing it does is it manages to make Ravenor and Ravenor Returned better. By that I mean once you’ve read Rogue, the sheer scale of the story told in the three book is revealed. Minor, apparently dead-end plot lines and characters from the first two books suddenly become important again. It’s satisfying, that’s what it is. My hope is readers will say “Oh, wait a minute, now I see why that matters!” and then “Now I see what the writer fellow is up to!” and then “Bloody hell, that’s cool!”

Either that, or I’m tired and need a lie down.

What else? Well, my daughter Jess just got her GCSE results back, and it turns out she’s got a bigger brain than the Mekon. I cannot even begin to brag too much about her. I told Andy (Lanning) how well she’d done and he said (I quote) “so, what’s she hoping to do when she leaves school, then? Apart from ruling the world?”

Speaking of Andy, he and I MAY be doing some more stuff for Marvel, and we’ve just started work on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre comic for Wildstorm. I kid you not. They’ve got the franchise, and they asked us because... well, I don’t know why. I don’t even watch horror films. So I watched TCM, loved it, then watched the modern remake, loved that too, and I thought “why not?” What appealed was the total lack of supernatural elements. We’re writing it in a documentary ’true crime’ style, and New Line apparently loves the first script. I think the fact that Andy and I are horror film virgins means we’re coming at it at a successfully oblique angle. I am shocked at our capacity to think of disgracefully horrible things to do to people. More on that in later posts.

What else? Well, due to Rogue, Double Eagle 2 has slipped back a bit. There’ll be another Gaunt first. I’ll also be able to tell you what my next two books are going to be... soon. They are departures for me. I think you’ll get as excited as I am about them when I spill the beans. In 40K terms, however, BL just told me that my Iron Snakes novel will be released next year, late spring, I think. That’s the Iron Snakes SPACE MARINES. Marco suggested they market it simply with the line “Dan does Space marines at last”, though I pointed out that some of you are filthy minded ninkers and might take that the wrong way.

What else? Oh, Watford. Hello Watford! Are you ready to rock? I said, are you ready to- What? Oh, well, then we’ll wait for you. In your own time. No rush.

If you ARE ready to rock, come to Watford Games Workshop store on Saturday the 9th of September from one thirty. You’ll get me, Graham McNeill AND Jim Swallow, in in one big signing frenzy love-in, plus a talk with slides, and tea and cakes, fireworks, and also dancing girls. Okay, I might have lied about some of those details, but still... Abnett, McNeill, Swallow. What more could you possibly ask for? I mean, how much better does Watford get? Even on a saturday? We’ll see you there.

Thinking about it, there may not actually be any dancing girls, but Graham may dance. If he doesn’t, I will. If I don’t, Jim will. To summarise, then, Jim’s dancing. Come and watch. And point.

Right now, I’m off to recharge in the clone banks stasis tubes with Alizabeth Bequin and a copy of the Fortean Times. I will blog again, and I promise, this time, it will be soon and it will be regular. Honestly. Behold, not even a hint of combusting underwear.

PS - could we all try not to use words like ‘w*nker’ on this board? Oh sh*t, I just typed ‘w*nker’. Oh sh*t, I just typed ‘sh*t’ AND ‘w*nker’. Oh feth it all. Anyway, just asking. Please, folks? There are kids around. And ‘wronger’ is a word if I say it is.

Speaking of Conflux

Conflux - in Canberra, Australia - is a slightly better excuse for not blogging frequently. Not only the trip away but the rush to get work up to date before I left.

It was a good trip, and I enjoyed it very much, even though I seemed to lose about two days of my life somewhere in the long hauls there and back (I mean two days more than the long journeys themselves. Time zones - go figure). And I seemed to suffer not so much from jet lag as season lag (it was winter there). And don't get me started on the parrots. That's just odd.

I'd always wanted to go to Australia, and a week's round trip to the Capital Territory probably wasn't the best way of fulfilling that ambition, but it was fine. If nothing else, it convinced me that I had to go back. The city is great, in a curious 'not a city at all' type way, but I can attest it boasts a frankly humbling art gallery and the best war memorial I've ever seen (a war memorial doesn't sound much like a great visitors' attraction, I know, but it was something else). Best of all, it was meeting people. Australian creators are great, enthusiastic and inspirational, whether they work in comcis, in art, or in the current rennaissance of Australian genre writing. And the fans are terrific.

So time out here for a word of thanks to all - especially Matt Farrer and Donna Hanson. Amd apologies - if any are necessary - to David Quinn for that conversation about Galactus, macademia nuts and his, uh, mother.

Glimpsed the Australian Deal Or No Deal while I was out there. That's just even wronger than the parrots. I mean, no banker?

Call This A Blog?

I know, I know... I'm going to have stern words with myself. My posts here have been less than, you know, regular of late.

There's no excuse. "I"m really, really busy" is not an excuse that washes. Other authors manage to write blogs agogo and still meet their deadlines. At Conflux this last weekend, I met and chatted to the lovely Trudi Canavan. We talked knitting and art (not in that order). Anyway, it turns out that she writes - I dunno - forty seven and a half bazillion blogs each day and still finds time to compose novels. I felt very inadequate (one post a month is kinda blog-phobic). Anyway, Trudi, if you're reading this, I'm trying this your way - blogging at the start of the day before I write instead of writing and then being too tired to bother blogging.

Mail Call

Thanks to everyone who's contacted me via the website email, and apologies for the delay in responding. Due to a technical hitch, I can't seem to get replies out to you. So thanks to Gumersindo Pradas, David Stringfield, Carlton Jones, Nick Staiano, Stefan Furuskog, Sheldon Davidson, Christian Geeraerts, Kaiserjez, Joshua Carter and Piers Hawkins for their kind comments and suggestions. Christian - I don't have author photos, but I'll find something to sign. To Dennis, who is a Darkblade fan, can I point you in the direction of the complete comic book series, which is where the story ran originally. Mike and I plan to do five novels in total. To Richard Collison, I'm sorry my website sucked for you so much. To Matthew Churchill - see you in Birmingham. To Darren Johnson-Smith - I'll check out your site and get back to you. Thanks. If I've missed anybody off this, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

In answer to the general questions I've been getting:
1. The next Ravenor is called Ravenor Rogue.
2. The Horus heresy isn't a trilogy. The first three book interlock to set the series up. There will be more. I will do more.
3. I'm tempted at some point to do some 'young Gaunt' novels set during his cadetship with the Hyrkans. If anybody thinks that's a good idea.
4. The Black Library probably wouldn't be too keen on getting unsolicted Gaunt's Ghosts novel proposals from anyone else at this time.
5. Yes, I do my own research. Thanks for noticing that I do research.
6. I don't know when my books are scheduled to come out in Spain, but the Spanish publisher's website would be a good place to start.
7.I have no plans to write more Eisenhorn exactly, but I do have a slight desire to. So maybe he'll show up again, in a new book of his own, or stomping through someone else's series in a guest-star type way. Certainly, all Eisenhorn fans should check out Ravenor Rogue when it appears, as there are particularly strong Eisenhornian (is that a word? It is now) connections.
8. 'Eisenhornian' is probably better than 'Eisenhorny'.

David Stringfield asked me how I write novels. Ah, the easy questions first. I plan them in my head, run a brief pitch past BL to check they like it, then plough straight in, constantly feeding off and adding to a legal pad full of notes and ideas. Every novels gets its own notebook, an ongoing workbook to keep my head straight and stop me from forgetting sudden flashes of inspiration when I'm mid flow. The whole process is organic. I read, rewrite, constantly redraft 'on the hoof', and get my wife, the deadly accurate and persnickety proof reader and editor that she is, to check the manuscript for sense, punctation, spelling and general not being crap. She deserves a great deal more credit than she recieves, especially in that final capacity.

Does that answer the question?

Slocum Lake, anyone?

I'm trying to find a Slocum Lake. I think it's in the US, maybe Canada. You see, I got a fan letter forwarded by the Black Library. It was from "Kevin Skiera, c/o Miss Highsmith, Slocum Lake Road" ... and that was it. No state, no city, no zip, no country.

It was a great letter. Kevin is reading The Guns Of Tanith in his middle school reading class, and the assignment was to write to the author. I'd write back, if I had his address. Can anyone help with a suggestion? Kevin? Miss Highsmith? Anyone who knows Kevin or Miss Highsmith? At the very least, can you tell him from me thanks for the letter, I'm glad you liked the book.

What was that book you were telling us about?

Today's book had better be Magic For Beginners by Kelly Link, seeing as I was singing her praises just the other post. It's short stories, as was her previous book, Stranger Things Happen, and it's great. So great, it's won just about every award going. To call it fantasy is misleading, as it's so many things. It's funny, strange, surprising, observant, sexy, unlike anything else you've ever read and, most importantly, quite brilliantly written. You can tell I like it, can't you? Kelly doesn't need promotion from the likes of me - she's already the toast of the critics. But get it and read it and cheer yourself up. And check out her lovely website at www.kellylink.net.

Post Concussion

What a lovely place Glasgow is, and what a lovely bunch of fans had gathered there for last weekend's Concussion. A splendid and inspirational time was had by me and my Confederates, Marc Gascoigne and George Mann, the men from BL and the recently announced Solaris. My, how we laughed! My, how we evolved jokes and euphemisms that are sadly not in any way fit or legal for public consumption. Awesome line up of people to meet and listen to, but highlights would include the whole Con sitting down to (enthusiastically)watch the new Who live on a big screen, Kelly Link winning a BSFA award (pay attention to this blog for any length of time and you'll discover I love Ms Link's work. In fact, I might put up a link to Link), and discovering what a good sort Stephen Baxter is.

Smofs (that's Secret Masters Of Fandom to the rest of us), I salute you!

Photos from Dan's signing at Forbidden Planet.

Anyone for Concussion?

So... anybody out there going to be at Concussion in Glasgow this weekend? Just wondering.

Gaunted

I've just finished the tenth Gaunt book - The Armour of Contempt - in time to attend Games Day in Paris. That was a fantastic event, the tenth year of French games days, and I had a great day meeting readers of both the English editions and the French translations. I'd like thank everyone who came along, and especially express my thanks to the Gaunt translator Julien, and my host at the Bibliotheque Interdite, Mathieu Saintout, for looking after me and my family. We had a great time and would return without hesitation, any time we were invited. Que brule la galaxie!

Now Gaunt's gaunted again for the while, my time will be taken up with writing the next Ravenor novel. It's called Ravenor Rogue, since you asked. In another thread, Damian asked if Ravenor was going to be a self contained trilogy like Eisenhorn, or an ongoing series. I want it to be be an ongoing, so I'm imagining more than three at this stage. Certainly this third novel will end the first main arc, but it's not the over all end. I'd love it if the 'cases' all lasted for different lengths - one for two or three novels, another over in one self-contained hit and so on. We'll have to see. We'll have to see what you think, too.

Thanks a lot Dept.

I just wanted to thank everyone who came along to the signings yesterday at Forbidden Planet in Shaftsbury Avenue and GW at the Oxford Street Plaza. The turn out was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the feedback. So thank you to Harry, Harry, Harry, Baldrick, Jee, Antonis and everyone else. We must do it again. Thanks too to GW at the Plaza, the very nice people at FP, to Steve Savile and Lindsey Priestley for coming along to keep me company, and to the entire Snyman family for efforts above and beyond the call of duty. As soon as I've got his permission, I'll blog all about Jason's next job. Jason Snyman is a effects animator who has worked on Kong, LotR etc. What he's doing now and what he's about to do are just very very exciting.

What was that book you were recommending?

This Monday's "what was that book you were recommending?" is Monster of God by David Quammen. Maneaters, in the wild, and in folklore and culture. More of a (great) travelog than I was expecting, but full of extraordinary detail.

What are you doing right now, Clones?

Glad you asked us.

Finishing up Gaunt #10, The Armour of Contempt (my, that’s nasty) and working on a fun project we hope to be able to blog openly about soon. Andy Lanning and us are having great fun finishing up the Nova mini-series for Marvel, the first issue of which launches soon as part of Annihilation.

Writing our first blog, but you knew that.

Out (ish)

Out now...

The big new release in the next few weeks is Horus Rising. Gorgeous cover. For those who don’t know, this is the first of a cycle of novels in which I and other BL scribes tell the mythic backstory of the Warhammer 40K Universe. It’s Warhammer 30k, if you will. Graham McNeill tells me much confusion has been sown by the extract of HR put up on the BL site.

Also out now, Fell Cargo - Warhammer, pirates, the undead, monsters. Most fun I’ve ever had writing a book. I felt like a 20’s pulp writer. In a good way.

Also got to mention Let The Galaxy Burn. Great big doorstop publication from BL, a ‘best of’ their 40k short fiction. I mention it particularly to alert Ravenor/Eisenhorn aficionados to the fact there’s a brand new Patience Kys novella in there. Not quite sure why the book’s not be advertised as containing new stuff. Anyway, I remember last Games Day when I met a nice couple who were big Rav fans, and they had no idea that the Thorn Wishes Talon short story existed and went dashing off to find a copy of What Price Victory. I hope they found one. And I hope they read this tip.

Sightings

Oh, news. It occurs to me there are a few ‘news’ type snippets I can relay. First of all... Dan sightings.

Saturday 25th March, 12.30... Dan (why am I referring to myself in the third person? Am I pretending to be my own secretary?) I will be at Forbidden Planet, London, signing whatever people thrust under my nose. Thanks to FP for the invite. Later the same day, I’ll be at the GW at the Plaza. Times to be confirmed.

Sunday 9th of April... Guest at Paris Games Day. Looking forward to that.

A week later... 15th - 17th April, Glasgow, for Concussion. Marc Gascoigne and myself, back to the location of last year’s splendid World Con.

There’s more lined up for later in the year, including Games Day, of course. Dates as they’re confirmed.

Also

BTW - thanks to all who have visited in the first few days of operation (an incredible number, it seems to me), and thanks to those who posted a comment (Hi, Tim! Hi Xhalax!). Yes, we’re trying to get the message thing fixed and yes, a forum might be a good idea. Let’s get some posting chatter going here first, and find out how often I managed to blog you, bloggees, before we get all overexcited. Clones or no clones, I have deadlines. I might expand or revise stuff in time, to add new features or ideas. Depends what comes up. Oh, and thanks to Si Spurrier for the lovely email and no, Si, it wasn’t me. Which makes the rest of your story even more embarrassing.

ON

Is this thing on?

Hello. Thanks for stopping by. I’m not quite sure what I’m doing yet, but ta for coming along to watch.

For a good while now, I’ve been approached at conventions and games days by, literally, some people, who have asked me why I haven’t got a website. The answer was I never seemed to have the time to get one properly sorted out, even though someone had been kind enough to provide the framework. I wanted it to be, at least, slightly amusing, and I discovered that when you write about yourself in a jolly way, what you’ve written tends to make you cringe about ten minutes later.

For this reason, I finally got someone else to be particularly silly on my behalf. Matt Snyman took photos and borrowed stuff from my workroom and generally made me look like a very odd person (“You mad bugger” Marc Gascoigne, 2006), and all I had to do was put some words into some balloons.

What’s going to happen now? Well, it’s my intention to natter here as often as I get the chance, and to invite you to natter back, comment, and otherwise add your opinions. Some restraint would be welcomed, as there will be children in earshot.

You might have questions. I might have information on latest publications, convention appearances, or something I saw on telly last night. Or something even less specific than that. Like the fact that my daughter Lily came home from school the other day and sang “I need the toilet” to the tune of “We are the Champions”.

Let’s just see what happens.

Just another test

...

testing

1. 2. 3.