Posted on July 14, 2008 - by MG
“The Joshua Files – Invisible City” Summer Book Tour
Well, today was the last date of my summer book tour. In honour of the tour’s end I’ve compiled some of the best photos with Animoto.
We (Kirstie from Scholastic and I) visited Borders Milton Keynes, which is a beast of a store – huge! You could spend hours there. Very interesting, intelligent questions from students at four different secondary schools in the MK area. Including two I’ve never been asked before – “How did you set about writing about Josh losing his dad?” and “Are you going to be a series writer.” (I thought for a moment the questioner had said ‘Are you going to be a serious writer?’ – a question which I’d have had no idea how to answer!
Some tour stats – 9 towns/cities, 9 bookstores, children from 23 schools, over 1000 school children…phew. Including my old primary school Beaver Road in Didsbury, Manchester. Thanks to the teachers, librarians, booksellers and children who made it all possible. Thanks also to the publicity department at Scholastic Children’s Books!
Thank goodness it was spread out…I’m a teeny bit tired now. Tomorrow it’s back to the manuscripts. Two now…the second draft of Book 2 (with helpful notes from Editor) and beginning Act 2 of Book 3.
Next stop Edinburgh Book Festival at the end of August. No rest for the wicked and luckily I’m a workaholic so I’m bloody mad for it, like.
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The MG Harris Blog
Website of MG Harris, author of the children's book series "The Joshua Files".Information for school visits and events.
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Twitter (RealMGHarris)
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July 17, 2008
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wow you have been busy. has the Joshua files
been very successful in sales
so
far! I assume its done well if
you have another contract. So has the tour been fun? Mailed from my new iPod
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July 18, 2008
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Mailed from your iPod? Wow, I didn’t know they could do that… Coolio!
Tour was lots of fun, thanks! And as for sales – pretty good…Invisible City is the best-selling UK children’s fiction debut this year.
And I don’t have another contract…yet…it has been mooted. I’m writing book 3 anyway, let’s see if I can finish it before signing a contract!
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July 18, 2008
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I thought I’d pop by your blog to congratulate you on writing such a fab book. I’ve just finished reading ‘Invisible City’ and I’m hooked. When will the next book by published? I’m impatient to read it (no pressure LOL). Joshua is now real and alive in my head and I want to know what happens to him next.
My kids (4 & 6) have just enjoyed the music to the video of your book tour. They asked me to turn up the volume and were jamming along with a plastic trumpet and bongo drums! – I kid you not! Was that a Dalek I saw you cuddling?
So now you know Joshua’s story is being read by 31 year old Mums as well as children. I shall be passing it on to my husband next! Thanks for the enjoyable read. I shall save your blog to my ‘regular reads’.
Kat
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July 18, 2008
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Wow, what a lovely comment, thanks! Josh is very much real and alive in my head too now, as I write book 3. He’s an intense young man and his life is never easy…
Also editing book 2. We’re on the final draft I think. But I still don’t know the title…although should know soon.
I was cuddling a Dalek, yes, in Waterstones Norwich. It was an old skool Dalek too…
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July 18, 2008
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“Invisible City is the best-selling UK children’s fiction debut this year.”
I thought i would do a blackberry style post, your starting a trend MG)
Fantastic! Congratulations!
Can’t wait for the next book. I’ll be sure to pick up any othet titles you write too.
Lukas
(Yee iPods can do that!
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July 20, 2008
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Sooo glad you discarded the old title, Mas. I was gonna say (you know me!), but only just managed to stay out of it. Glad my natural reticence took over lol
I’ll come up with one, don’t worry lol.
Did you see the documentary on the crystal skulls – fascinating. Surely, you’re going to integrate them in your stuff!! Oops, don’t be presumptive, Es. lol.
Told you: as the young boy said ‘It’s immense’, and every now and then I check it’s still on the shelves in Waterstones and WH Smith.
Here’s to the full set ending up on the shelves. And in film!
You’re gonna be big… x
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July 21, 2008
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Ah but Es, you still haven’t read it have you…?
Thanks for all the good wishes and support though. Crystal skulls and Atlantis would indeed be the one obvious way to go…hmmmm.
A hint – this story is more about Josh than it is about the Maya and 2012. And between book 1 and 2012 he is going to have a lot going on…family mysteries to solve, difficult relationships to reconcile, and a lot of growing up to do. So actually, books 2 and 3 aren’t very Mayan-flavoured. They are more personal and more adventure/conspiracy thriller…but book 4 certainly will be, very much back in the world of the ancient Maya…
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July 21, 2008
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You know I don’t dare read it. I’ve read the first chapter, and it’s enough to know I’d better not go any further – Peter and Scholastic are two brilliant parts of your team, and with their working with a brill writer like yourself, I know I just can’t become a ‘normal’ reader. It would affect my own stuff, for sure.
I learned an important lesson about characterisation at Liitopia, and I hope solvey can confirm I’ve improved in that direction, so whatever you do with Joshua is fine by me, and I’m sure by everyone else. Never stray too far from Joshua, of course, but never stray too far from the Mayan mystery and the legacy they have provided, even if it’s just a hint – I think I’m trying to say ‘don’t waste it’. But I’m sure it’s all covered, and I may not actually be giving you great advice! Just ignore me if I’m talking rot lol
Keep doing what you’re doing. You’ve done it all so well so far.
Es
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July 22, 2008
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Hey maybe Indy style mayan mysteries? XD
I know you know alot about Maya etc. so maybe you could have links in to their culture structures and other artifacts. And maybe reasons for unknown mysteries…although you’ve already done the codexes. Just some randon thoughts on a random post. he he
Lukas
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July 23, 2008
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Well there’s more coming on the codex…don’t you want to know what the Ix Codex actually says? Or who wrote it and why? And why it’s written in ‘code’? Or why Madison burgled Josh’s house and stole a book…and why Josh’s dad took the Bracelet of Itzamna and what actually happened to him…? Or who Madison really works for…and how the heck can the world be saved from the Galactic Superwave of 2012? To say nothing of…but I’ve said enough!
It goes way beyond the Mayans…I can tell you that…As for bringing in all the other ‘world mysteries’, well I will a bit but I’m trying to avoid doing a Stargate. I mean I love Stargate but they’ve done crystal skulls and Atlantis and Ancient Egyptian gods…so I try to steer clear.
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July 23, 2008
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Ha! I love surprises. One day I’ll get to read it all in ‘mental peace’ and it won’t be what I expected – whatever that turns out to be!
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July 25, 2008
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congrats on the end of your first book tour! why didn’t u tell me? i feel so left out! and what is waterstones? i hear so much about it on this website but i dont know what it is! you have to tell me! so when r u goin to do the Oz book tour? all my friends have read the book and say that they would love to meet you. Please organize a tour to Oz! that would be so sweet! you could come to my school JTC! it is the best school in perth so u cant miss it! another thing, i dont know if a should be publicly mentioning this… but when r u goin to write that “psychic” book? have been sooo lookin forward to that! ok, thats all i have to say…
)
BYE! your da best!
(ps. i love this site! im payin $40 every two months to play World of Warcraft but i still pend most of my time on your site now! you have to expand! make some audiobook podcasts! or post some photos of lilia and josie! or just email them to me! they r just suggestions though…
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July 25, 2008
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Hey Raph! Waterstones is an awesome book chain in the UK and they have been brilliant about supporting my book (mind you so have WHSmith’s and Borders). Booksellers rule.
I would love to to a book tour of Oz. Write to Scholastic Australia and tell them you and your mates want me to come over!
The ‘psychic’ book is ‘Jaguar’s Realm’ and I finished the manuscript last year. My publishers are right now deciding whether to make me an offer… If you click on the link to ‘Jaguar’s Realm’ you can read all my posts about that. I remember I read the opening chapter to Ali when we were in Switzerland last year.
Audio podcasts – my agent is the expert on those. He wanted me to do a podcast too. But what would I podcast about? If you have any ideas… I will email you some cool photos of your cousins… LOVE YOU RAPH XXX
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July 25, 2008
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well… u could do a podcast explaining the characters and the in-depth meanings in your books… or u could just make audio blogs… people could dl when they r at school and listen to them on their Ipods. as for writing to scholastic, what would i write on the envelope? i really have no idea!
i gotta make one some day!)
(this bloging business is really fun… its like an inconvenient version of MSN
U ROCK!
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July 25, 2008
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oh! i almost forgot! u have to mail me and ali the manuscript for ‘Jaguar’s Realm’! ali never mentioned it to me… im gonna get her for that! but shes on at a sleepover with her friend so i will have to w8 to get my revenge…
so yeah… if your publisher will let you it would be greatly appreciated!
WUV U PITA!
i promise!)
(ps. if ur publisher doesn’t let you i will understand. secrecy and all that… but rest assured that we will not get in and publish it before u do
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July 26, 2008
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Raphie – you really made my day yesterday with your blog comments – thanks!
I’ll think about the podcast idea, I promise. I suspect no-one would listen except you. However, Raph, it would be worth doing it just for you and Ali.
If you and your friends want to write to Scholastic Australia to get them to bring me on book tour:
Scholastic Australia Pty Limited Head Office
PO Box 579
Gosford NSW 2250
LOL. I like the idea.
Re ‘Jaguar’s Realm’ – I dunno that I want you to read it draft form. It’ll be so much better with some editorial input. I’ll think about that too… But thank you for asking!
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July 27, 2008
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HI guys! you all rock! keep on posting your comments! they make my day!
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July 27, 2008
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hi auntie pita! i know how to post things under your name! hahahahahahahahahaha! but i promise i wont do it again!
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July 27, 2008
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hi pita! howz it goin? cant keep of this website! seriously! your gonna have to pay me back for all the money im spending on my WoW subscription!
kk, gotta go to church now!
HAVE A GOOD DAY!
(ps. i posted those comments under your name… i didn’t post anything bad at all and those two posts are the only ones a have ever done.)
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July 27, 2008
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hehehehehehe. you deleted my posts under your name! how could u?
LOL
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July 27, 2008
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I didn’t delete them…because you don’t know my login id you can’t post under my name. So it came up as a comment that needed to be approved. I’ve let them through now…with one little change…
Naughty Raphie, smack YOU!
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July 27, 2008
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LOL! i deserve that. SMACK ME!