Tatto For You

Well, 2008 has come and nigh gone again (indeed, it is gone!) and all the while I have been wrestling through some book I am supposed to write *rolls eyes* ;P The previous two books of the Monster-Blood Tattoo series so far has been a distinct journey and this third is now different - as another author once said you never learn how to write your next book, just the one you are currently working on. How true that is. Book 3 - the infamously long-to-wait-for Factotum - has been a process all its own, with its own momentum, its own surprises. It is frightening and wonderful to go out in the story on a hunch that it is the correct direction and have it rewarded with an unexpected unfolding of whole unforeseen and richer moments in the tale. One of the hardest things has been facing the finish the text, fear fear fear; is this story good enough? Does it do what it needs to do? Will folks like it? The great thing is that now it is not even 18 months to release folks, so hang in there. A re...

Merry Jesus-birthday! Bless you one and all, may this be an excellent day for you - and congratulations on reaching over 80 comments ! (I knew you could do it... I certainly gave you a read hot go by taking so long to post) And welcome back Anna from your African adventure - hope all went well. Bumper issue post coming soon.

It is about time I answer Pearlius ' question: "About how old is Europe? She looks either a very tired young woman or a good looking old woman." I have always thought of the Branden Rose as about 29, as we currently know her, more in the line of a tired, world-weary young(ish) woman who has seen and done about as much as there is to see and do in the Half-Continent. I have to admit I think I overdid the careworn-ness of her portrait in Lamplighter , just a touch too haggard perhaps - ah well, live and learn. Pearlius was also wondering: "...does Europe have any heroic, awesome scar that she can show off?" I reckon she would have the scars, yes, but would be unlikely to show away with them... not her style I am thinking. (Perhaps if you asked nicely..?) I have been over to the Monster-Blood Cult on FaceBook started by Patrick Brooks. I have not said hello yet (on account that I do not have a Bookface account :) but perhaps folks from our neck of the woods coul...

I tell you, the navel issue has been baking my noodle for a few years now, but I am of the notion that our hero would possess an ompholic dent that would pass enough as a navel. With the often more rudimentary delivery of babies in the Half-Continent I am thinking that there would be such a variety of quality of "belly-buttons" that Rossamünd's little dent would not look too out of place. As to theroid (or therian or theraphim ) for monster but teratologist for monster-hunter (thank you, master portals ): ~ " thera " and " teratos " are both Attic words for monster, so it is simply the use of different root words that accounts for this variation. More-over, it is common in both Attic and the English language (and therefore Brandenard too) that "t" and " th "are exchanged with each other in the development of a word, especially " th " being shortened to "t". How's that for some answers? BTW, ompholasceps...

Hello, hello, long time no post... Here is some happy news to put up - I just learnt today that Monster-blood Tattoo 2, Lamplighter has been shortlisted in the 2008 Aurealis Awards in the Best Young Adult Long Fiction category AND to add to that the fantasy series, The Sorcerer’s Tower (being Thorn Castle , Giant’s Lair , Black Crypt & Wizardry Crag ) written by the eminent Ian Irvine and illustrated by yours truly, has also been shortlisted in the Best Children’s (8-12 years) Illustrated Work/Picture Book category. Thank you very much the goodly folks and Aurealis! ... and to all of you too!