Tatto For You

Well, a simple post just to show(off?) my ever-growing stack of notebooks - essentially the Half-Continent right there, growing more and more with every volume. The tags are me marking entries for use in the MBTs: yellow = Book 1, Foundling , pink = Book 2, Lamplighter , green = Book 3, Factotum (see, its nigh March already! September is not that far off at all...) #1 was started about 1992, then one a year until 2000, then from 2000 - 2010 I have gone from 8 notebooks to 34 (that's 2.6 a year, and they have gotten thicker too! - ok, now I AM showing away...) Much of that time I was thinking I was a drawer and here I was filling books with tiny srawlings of madness, not in drawings but in WRITING! Go figure.

I take this brief moment to direct you to a post by ellaquin regarding the name change for the US editions of what will soon be (in the US and Canadia, at least) formerly known as "Monster-Blood Tattoo" (though it shall remain so for us here in the rest of the world). Honestly, it is how I feel, but I am choosing to trust my editor and my publisher that they fathom their market better. I hope the name change does what they hope it will do. The next big question is, what do I name this blog then? Also, I actually went to the Forum the other day and answered some questions - yes, actually answered some questions. May such wonders never cease!

The lovely RandomAlex has done a quick interview with me for the Snapshot project this year, part of the lead up to AUSSIECON 4 68th World Science Fiction Convention September 2 nd - 6 th 2010 - Melbourne, Australia ... being the 4th WorldCon to be held in Australia. I hope to go and thus for me it will be my first world con ever in Australia or out of it. And now for answers! Emma Nicole Reinmuth posits: "Just a theory... Are monsters aware of which humans possess Monster Blood Tattoos without seeing with their own eyes, and does that influence heavily whom they see as a threat? Rossamünd [we can heavily assume] is of monster blood and any action by monsters against him are taken with consideration. Perhaps it's the sense of their blood kin festering under human flesh that really grinds their gears?" Dear E.N.R. , I had not thought of it quite like that, but great late night fancy talk. I reckon it more the sight of cruorpunxis that would warn a monster off an ev...

Well, the final chapter is re-re-re-rewritten and I am now working on the US edit notes for the third draft. Thought I'd take a break to answer a couple of questions from last post. First off the rank, Alyosha asked: When Rossamund is setting out on his adventures, and receives the gift of a fine valise in which to carry his few belongings, he has a strong feeling that whoever made the valise intended good things for it’s owner. What’s more, when he’s packed it and lifts it, he finds it much lighter than he expected considering all that’s inside. On one hand, both of these things could be put down to the excitement of a young man at the start of an adventure. On the other hand, for someone who, at a later point in the story, can feel the pull of the moon even when it’s hidden behind clouds, maybe feelings of that sort have some real weight to them. Is Rossamund ’s valise more than it seems? Indeed it is, sir, well spotted! Indeed, you are the first person to do so (well to tell m...

Just thought I might roll around some notions of what might happen post MBT. I have a sea-story idea rattling about in my head, but want so much to stretch out and explore beyond the Soutlands. Perhaps I might try doing a full tale and pop out a few short stories in the process... As for leers, Sara Charlotta Johansson , well there is one front and centre in the up-and-coming The Corsers' Hinge , we even get to see from his point of view... but I shall not reveal any more. Also, there is a discussion over at the Cult regarding the changing of the series title of the US/Canadian edition, new name, new cover, re-launch of first two books, all rather intriguing. Let us discuss...

Well, just to be different I have not begun the year with a January first wow-wee blog post; I have waited instead until the day before I move house for the 6th time in 10 years. Was it just me, or did the entry into this new year seem a tad low key? Well, here we are, 2010 - the year of Factotum , of The Corser's Hinge , of me thinking about and beginning a new tale: I have a few notions kicking around about what could be told next, certainly it will be set in the Half-Continent (I do not think I have much to say beyond it...) I think maybe some manner of adventure (a nice, contained middle-class kind of adventure, of course) might be in order, something to revive a soul rung a bit thin after 6 years on Rossamund's story. What are you folks thinking might be good for the new annum? BTW: in a fit of ego, whilst checking the spelling of "annum" at The Free Dictionary , I found that they had an entry on me (I couldn't resist!) A little buzz for the ego...

MERRY JESUS-BIRTHDAY ! to all of you, my patient fellow Sundergirdians*, or, as a soul might say in the Half-Continent, "Hale Thisgivingday!" Time is inexorably moving on and not too soon we will be in the actual year of Book 3's publication (if not the month yet). I want to thank you all for a year of great (though, I confess slow) blogging, of the ever excellent exchange between us. My hope is to regain some much needed energy over this festive (festy?) break to stride off in the new year with slightly more constant bloggingness (+ thoughts on a whole new story to embark, Lord willing). As always, we shall see. May this be an excellent time for you all, D.M.Cornish *a citizen of the Half-Continent.