Tuesday 30 August 2011

Modern Times


  It's been a while since I've done a proper blog post, so I thought it high time I did one. The push to get THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON into the hands of, well, the world continues at a slow pace. Marketing a product is hard at the best of times, but when it's a book, it's especially hard. The publishing industry is going through a lot of change, like most entertainment mediums. There have been various reports that the EBOOK is going to overrun print in the near future. I wonder sometimes, who does that serve when corporations are pushing a product so hard that will inevitably save them a lot of money and cost the jobs of many people within the publishing industry? From my short experience in selling my first book, people and children in particular, want REAL books...books you can hold, and cherish and put on your shelf and dog ear if you want. I personally hate reading books on screens. I loose that tactile connectivity with the story. An EReader doesn't give me that sensation. It never will. Buy books in the medium you want to read them in, from where ever you want to buy them. If you buy most of your books online, occasionally go to a book store and purchase one from there. Shops have supported the book trade for years. Why should the future change that now?

* The Book Launch went exceedingly well. We had newspaper and television coverage which was a good thing. I never got the chance to talk to everyone. The two hours went so quick and being pulled this way and that there was no chance to see everyone. I want to personally thank all who attended and special shout out to my wife Wendy and our friends for the organisation. I couldn't have done it without you all. Pictures of the event will be arriving soon.

* The sequel to THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON called THE MONSTER IN THE BASEMENT (originally it was 'my' not  'the') will be released 30/01/12 about 11 months before the Mayan calendar ends and we all proceed to oblivion. I will be bunkered down for the next few months finishing the draft and looking a little something like this:



But that's OK. Writing is a crazy game.

* Books! Books! and more Books!

What I'm reading at the moment or have read recently:

Supergods by Grant Morrison
The Autobiography of Charlie Chaplin by funnily enough, Charlie Chaplin
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
Starman Omnibus Volume 1 by James Robinson and Tony Harris
 and other stuff to numerous to mention!

Have a good time always!

Cheers,

John

Tuesday 16 August 2011

INTERVIEW: MRS WELLINGTON FROM 'THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON'


...After I concluded my interview with Mr Wellington, I found his wife tending to her rose garden outside their small, cosy, cottage. Her rose bushes were in full bloom...I had never seen so many different colours of flowers before, so I started off by asking her about the garden...

JOHN: You obviously enjoy gardening Mrs Wellington. How did you manage to grow so many different varieties of roses? I’ve never seen some of the colours you have here. They seem almost impossible... 

MRS WELLINGTON: Other than my husband, magic and my patron, the Moon Goddess, gardening is the number one joy of my life. I have cultivated and grown these roses for a number of decades now. I use the petals in many magic potions, depending on which ones I need. I have hybrids and varieties of roses that have never been seen by the world at large. Some of my plants do not even come from this world, or so I am told. 

JOHN: Did you always want a life of adventure? You seem quite content to stay at home...(Mrs Wellington contemplates her answer for a moment. She seems lost in a sad world until her reply...)

MRS WELLINGTON: If I am to answer truthfully, I must so no, I did not. But two events changed the course of my life and for that I am grateful. 

JOHN: And what were those events? 

MRS WELLINGTON: I would tell you John, but you seem to be more interested in Facebook at the moment. Shall we continue at another time of your convenience? (...I was talking to a friend on Facebook. I see Mrs Wellington doesn’t miss anything...) 

JOHN: Sorry, Mrs Wellington. Modern conveniences can be annoying sometimes (I say, blushing). You were saying?

MRS WELLINGTON: Firstly, when I was a young girl many years ago and the Moon Goddess chose me to become her magical ward on Earth. I could not refuse her call to magic and the patronage she was willing to convey on me. When the call comes and your life must change forever, you mustn’t refuse. And of course, the day I laid eyes on my husband. He was so young and dashing and full of magic. How could I refuse? Thus, my life of adventure began.

JOHN: What’s the scariest monster you’ve ever faced? 

MRS WELLINGTON: You have to be careful with any monster you face. I do, however, have a particular loathing for any creature that has any connection to snakes and spiders. The undead weary me as well. I nearly gave up my life of adventure after our honeymoon. 

JOHN: That would be the Haitian adventure Mr Wellington told me about? 

MRS WELLINGTON: Yes, zombies on your honeymoon is not the most pleasant experience, I can tell you. 

JOHN: But you survived, obviously...Did your life change after that experience?

MRS WELLINGTON: Well, yes. That was the moment I realised there are a great more strangeness in the world, than I had anticipated. Under the beds of children, in the black forests of many nations, lie dark things that want to come out at night and hurt innocent people. I knew it was the mission Mr Wellington and I were given; to help those in most need. 

JOHN: That would seem like a burden to most people? 

MRS WELLINGTON: It is in a way, John, but one I happily accept. 

JOHN: Thank you for your time Mrs Wellington. (..Before I left the cottage, Mrs Wellington presented me with the bluest roses I had ever seen in my life. She told me they never die and were created to help those in most need ( I didn’t really understand what she meant by that, but I gladly accepted the gift). She wished me luck in my writing career and said she would cast a spell of good fortune for me and my family. I thanked her and hoped to see them both again one day...)  

Monday 15 August 2011

INTERVIEW: MR WELLINGTON from THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON


...Recently I sat down with the cast of my new book ‘THE SPIRIT OF THE MOON.’ First to be interviewed was the ever charming and amiable, Mr Wellington. I flew to Great Britain and visited him and his wife in their cottage at an undisclosed location in the English countryside. This interview takes place in his study...

JOHN: Thanks for taking the time to speak to me, Mr Wellington.

MR WELLINGTON: My pleasure, old boy. Did you have a safe journey?

JOHN: Yes, although the flight from Australia takes too long. But not to worry.
(Mr Wellington takes out a pipe and lights the tobacco. He takes a puff and the smoke has a sweet, alluring smell.)

MR WELLINGTON: Hmmph, well, that’s the problem with machines. They are too slow compared with magic. My wife and I have definitely learnt the art of ‘disappearing’ from venue to venue very well.

JOHN: And that leads me onto my first question...when did you first learn to use magic?

MR WELLINGTON: Interesting question, that one. My family come from a long line of ‘Magical’ people...warlocks, wizards, shamans and such. When I became of age at about thirteen...

JOHN: What year was this?

MR WELLINGTON: Good lord! We’re talking late eighteenth century? Hard to remember dates when you’ve lived for this long. Time becomes irrelevant. As I was saying at the age of thirteen, you are put through an initiation of sort, a trial you might say, that puts you on the path from becoming a Master to a fully fledged Mr Magician.

JOHN: Do you remember what happened?

MR WELLINGTON: Like it was yesterday. My Father, a stern, old Magician, sent me into a cave. I walked and walked through the cave, pitch black until I came to an opening on the other side. I didn’t realise at the time, but I was in the Northlands of the old gods. I had a rollicking good adventure and earned my magical stripes, that’s for sure. Maybe there is a book in it for you John? What do you say? Up for a commission?

JOHN: Sounds like an interesting story. How about ‘Mr Wellington and the Gods of the North’ as a title?

(At this point, Mrs Wellington brings in a pot of raspberry tea. Mr Wellington kisses her on the hand as he thanks her. She leaves the room.)

JOHN: You and Mrs Wellington have been married for quite some time and shared many adventures. Can you relate your first adventure together?

MR WELLINGTON: Certainly. I will say it was absolutely extraordinary! We were on our honeymoon in Haiti. I wanted to take my new wife somewhere exotic, somewhere beautiful. Which it all was, of course. But what I forgot to mention to Mrs Wellington was the trouble the islanders were having with the Scorpion God and his Voodoo Queen. Imagine trying to outwit a scorpion god and a horde of hungry zombies whilst fighting the dark incantations of the Voodoo Queen. It was quite a thrill, I assure you.  We learnt a great deal from that first adventure and cemented our futures together as Magical adventures.

JOHN: You certainly have had many adventures in your life. What advice would you give to any child who wanted to follow in your footsteps and have their own magical adventures?

MR WELLINGTON: I would certainly caution against rushing into magic. It is certainly not an art that you can rush into willy nilly. There are things to consider on the magical path. It can be dangerous and exhausting and it’s not for everyone. I will say however it has changed my life for the better. I have seen and done things never thought possible. Talking with Gods and Devils, other worlds...extraordinary! If you must follow my path, do it with caution. And have a jolly good time with it too.

JOHN: Thank you for your time Mr Wellington. It’s been an honour.

MR WELLINGTON: Any excuse to talk, old boy. Thank you.