Friday, 6 May 2022

The Evolution of a Signature!

I saw a recent post in the Fantasy-Faction Facebook group where a reader had found a hardback copy of Prince of Thorns in a charity shop. He was very happy, and deservedly so, since on ebay the same thing is this much! 

BUT ... he was worried, because the signature didn't look like the signature he'd seen online. Did he have a ~£300 signed copy, or a copy spoiled by some fraudster, and that might be worth as little as £15?

To cut to the chase - it was real. My signature has ... simplified over the years. It appears to be heading towards a flat line.


I've blogged about this before, but here's a fuller accounting of the evolution. The biggest change came during the first few years. When you're signing 300 signatures, and later 500, or even a 1,000 in one batch ... you rapidly come to the conclusion that letters are really an optional extra, and if the line wiggles vaguely in the direction of them, that's fine, people will work it out.

Here's an example of my signature from every year, starting at 2011 and reaching 2022.



And a more detailed take on how it looked by 2014:



So, there you have it. Not the best of signatures, not the worst, but it's mine and I'm owning it. And, apparently, owning it can make you a little richer!






Monday, 2 May 2022

The new SFPBO champion!

The 7th annual Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off is over!

After 11 months of hard labour by ten wonderful blogs, 300 books were whittled down to 10 finalists and then to 1 champion. 

And here it is!


And again, in the traditional pose, flanked by the historic SPFBO owls and with the magnificent SPFBO Selfie-Stick award at its feet.



And here we have our champion with her hallowed award!


 


Please check out the finalists' score-board. It was the tightest contest we've ever had and there will be something you'll enjoy here.

And if you have a self-published fantasy book of your own, the next contest - the 8th annual SPFBO, opens its doors to contestants in 12 days. Take a look!




Tuesday, 26 April 2022

The Girl And The Moon has risen!

The Girl And The Moon has risen in the west - in America to be precise ... and Canada.

Two more days before its light bathes us in the UK (28th April).


If you've been waiting to read them all in one go ... stop waiting.

Here are some handy links for the lazy - but do try to get along to a bookshop!

Amazon UK
Amazon US
Super cheap signed UK copy from Forbidden Planet (£12.99 + p&p)
Signed and numbered UK edition + art print from Anderida Books
Signed US copy from VJ Books

If you've been reading along as we go - very many thanks. There's a catch-up at the start of the book to refresh your memory of the story so far.

Here's how the Books of the Ice and Ancestor overlap!


This is - and it amazes me to say it - my 15th published book!

You can totally enjoy The Girl And The Moon having only read the two other books in the trilogy. Enthusiastic 5* reviews on Goodreads show this to be true.
There are, however, subtle and not so subtle call outs to all of my other books. So, if you're a Lawrenceologist, go to it!



What's next?

Hopefully you'll be pleased to know that I have a book deal with my usual publishers (Voyager and Ace) for another trilogy, to be published in 2023,2024, and 2025!

This will be something completely new, and since I'm about a third of the way through the last book, I expect to have all three written before the first one goes on sale (as I usually do).

My publishers, beta reader, and test readers are all really excited about this one!

The first entry is called The Book That Wouldn't Burn, and the setting is a vast, ancient library.






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Tuesday, 19 April 2022

New Moons!

 I spent quite a while in a back office at Forbidden Planet today. The mounds of books that greeted me were both heartening and daunting!

But kept company by the fearless Jay who supplied coffee and book-lugging services, I prevailed. I signed every last one of them.

This wasn't even all of them!

   here's more!!


plus - I signed examples of all my other books - ALL!



You can, while stocks last, get a signed copy of The Girl And The Moon from Forbidden Planet for a jaw-droppingly cheap £12.99

These books will by shipped out to all the UK stores, plus you can order online:
              

It was great of Forbidden Planet to support me by ordering so much stock - so please support them by buying it!




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Saturday, 9 April 2022

The Moon has landed ... kinda.

 I have my author copies of The Girl And The Moon. Bathe in their reflected glory!






In the US you can get signed copies from VJ Books.

In the UK Anderida Books will list a signed and numbered special edition on their site around the 19th of April.

In the UK you can get signed copies from Forbidden Planet.



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Wednesday, 9 March 2022

Lottery for Ukraine - The Red Queen's War vs Russia's War.

Contest Closed - Winners notified - £1550 raised!

Don't let the lack of a prize stop you contributing.

Like most people, I'm in mourning over the invasion of Ukraine.

Seeing the refugees up stakes and leave their homes is particularly affecting, since I know there will be many families, like mine who can't do that. I imagine trying to get my profoundly disabled youngest daughter, Celyn (18 today) across a war torn country, leaving behind vital medical equipment and access to all the services she needs.

I've donated to the Red Cross / Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Ukraine, to aid refugees and others still suffering within the country.

In order to encourage/remind others to do the same I'm putting up copy #997 of The Red Queen's War special edition omnibus.

Each "lottery ticket" is £5 and you "purchase" them by donating to the Ukraine appeal:

https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/ukraine-crisis-appeal

Just make a donation and forward the acknowledgement email to me at empire_of_thorns@yahoo.co.uk and you're in the draw with as many chances as you have tickets.

I'll also throw in a free signed book of some description as an additional prize for every £250 we manage to raise collectively.

Amount raised = £1550

(prize pot = omnibus + 6 other signed books)

Winners


Adrian C - omnibus heading to the furthest away place possible!

Joanne Foxton

Jack Cropper

Kat Brotton

Rae

Matt D

Chris C

Here's the main prize:













Monday, 28 February 2022