Archive for the ‘joshua files’ Category

Posted on November 18, 2008 - by MG

A competition to win a bound proof of ICE SHOCK…with a twist

That doesn’t mean you get a twist of lemon with the bound proof of ICE SHOCK, btw.

It means there’s a twist in the competition; a twist that I’m only telling you guys here on mgharris.net

Firstly though - the competition. I announced this over on themgharris.com - you can read the full story there.

The basics are - you have to take the deciphered message of the code in INVISIBLE CITY and discover the single word that Josh has buried within the text. The code was a replacement code that over one hundred readers correctly deciphered. But what most people haven’t known until now is that there’s a second code.

And what I haven’t told anyone else yet - is that this word is a Very Important Clue in the Alternate Reality Game (ARG) that we’ll be launching along with ICE SHOCK.

So even if you don’t win the bound proof of ICE SHOCK - you can still crack the clue and be ready for the ARG.

One more thing - the method that you need to use to decipher this clue is also used by Josh in ICE SHOCK to crack a very cryptic message about his destiny…

Posted on November 16, 2008 - by MG

Help me to decide what to blog pre-ICE SHOCK

Check out the poll on the right-hand sidebar - you can help me decide what to poll in the run-up to the publication of ICE SHOCK (March 2nd).

My life in the next few months will consist mainly of:

1. Doing my bit in developing and testing the ARG (it has a name but right now I’m not telling…)

2. A few school visits (so far four scheduled for Jan and Feb)

3. Getting involved in pre-launch publicity -don’t know exactly what yet, my agent and I will be having a meeting with Scholastic’s publicity team to brainstorm ideas.

4. Meeting my new editor and getting thoughts started re the edit of ZERO MOMENT

It’s three-and-a-half months to go, but I sense that time will pass quickly.

OK so, in that time, what would you guys like me to blog about? If the above four things plus the usual randomness is enough, go for choice #5.

Oh and…you can pick TWO things from the list.

Posted on November 13, 2008 - by MG

Intriguing announcement at the new-and-improved MGHarris.net

A screenshot of the ICE SHOCK video, which plays a part in a Secret New Thing for “Joshua Files”.

Well I’ve got me new website design and I’m delighted with it!

Readers, I have been SO busy with stuff…so much to write about Bill Heine’s book launch party, the Oxford heat of the Kids Lit Quiz, but most of all working on the Alternate Reality Game we’re developing to co-launch with ICE SHOCK.

That’s right, I said Alternate Reality Game - ARG! Conceptually, our game is a cross between Lonelygirl15 and The Beast.

But! It’s a secret. So don’t tell, okay?

Thanks to David for the upgrade to the latest version of Wordpress and for helping me to configure and to Liam McKay of Woothemes for his custom design work in modifying his Papercut theme.

Posted on October 31, 2008 - by MG

mgharris.net is getting a makeover!

Here’s a sneak peek of my new website design, which is being done by Liam McKay of Woothemes.

We’ve gone for a jungly/Mayan/codex/grunge theme.

See how those elements naturally work together?!

I guess we’ll have to close the site down while my technical team i.e. Him Indoors/Beloved Husband uploads the latest Wordpress software and puts all the blog photos through an auto-resize program and installs the new theme files while I look on helplessly and admiringly.

I hope you all like the new site. In the meantime I am thinking up ICE SHOCK-related snippets to feed you in the run-up to publication date.

The competition for bound proofs is a GO, by the way. Scholastic have kindly offered SIX proofs of ICE SHOCK to give away. And I have come up with an idea. We’ll be making the announcement on themgharris.com by the middle of next week and contacting school libraries and reading clubs too…

Posted on October 25, 2008 - by MG

Bound proofs of ICE SHOCK are here…

Finally, the bound proofs are here. I’m saving one for the auction of promises at my daughter’s school and the others are being passed around some eager friends and family.

Might also give one away as a prize for a competition here and on themgharris.com

But what should the competition be…? Send in your suggestions.

What would YOU do for a Klondike bar bound proof?

Posted on October 23, 2008 - by MG

Just Write for Kids

Back from Australia and it was straight down the A34 to Chichester for a reunion from Mia and Joss, the two kids who appeared with me on BBC Radio 4’s go4it.

Becky, (Mia and Joss’s mum) runs Just Write for Kids, a children’s weekend writing club. Cool, huh? What a terrific idea.

About fifty budding young authors aged 6-14 packed into a cute little nursery school to talk Joshua Files with me. I hope I didn’t come across too dazed after the lengthy plane flights of the day before!

Posted on October 8, 2008 - by MG

Perth before the moisture burns off

Reclaiming the lake in Claremont, Perth.

Every time I’ve been to Perth, WA, this lake - which is visible from the flat we stay in - is nothing more than a muddy puddle from which bleached old tree stumps emerge, like ancient bones.

 But in October - spring in Australia - look! Blue water and everything.

It’s wonderful to meet up with my siblings and  nephews/niece. Australia always freaks me out because you travel for so darn long to wind up in a country full of English-speaking people who live in nice bungalows with front gardens and eat fish and chips by the sea.

I shouldn’t be posting to my blog, I should be trying to sleep. A touch of insomnia from a bit-of-a-cough and I have to get up in 90 minutes to drive ‘down south’ to Smith Beach.

A very interesting guy called Daniel introduced me to a jazz recording of a pianist named Jan Johansson, a wonderful album called Jazz Pa Ryska.

Hmm, I thought. I’ll use that.

Meanwhile have been thinking a little about ZERO MOMENT. I typed the last sentence a few days ago but now need to do a good polish before anyone is allowed to read it. Anyone means two people right now; my agent and my husband. And then my new editor.

I keep getting the feeling that it might be quite good. But then again it might not be. At this stage, I can’t tell.

Meanwhile, check out the awesome Jan Johansson. Died in 1967, very sadly. Daniel gave me the CD. I’m taking it right back to my daughter’s jazz piano teacher…

Posted on September 29, 2008 - by MG

Completion Anxiety Provokes Muffin Humour

I’ve been all the way through the desk editor’s comments on the proofs of ICE SHOCK. The ms is covered with handwritten new bits and changes. I only have ten very minor points to address from the proof reader.

Then it’s type up my list of page changes and down to the post office with it.

Meanwhile, the last chapter of Joshua 3 (current title ZERO MOMENT) is planned, a quarter-written and waiting to be finished.

I could do both things today. So why can’t I even get started?

Completion anxiety. (Hey, it’s a real thing…)

I’m not normally a big procrastinator but as I hurtle towards the finish line, time and again, mentally, the brakes scream into action and I slam to a halt.

Today, instead of working, I want to do something else. For example, spend the day thinking about muffin based-humour. (Hey, it’s a real thing.)

Here are my favourite bits of muffin-based humour.

1. The Muffin-Top episode of Seinfeld.

2. Ross Noble, standup comedian, talks about finding human faces in muffin tops.

3. Bob Kelso and the muffin (Scrubs)

Later today I’ll put a photo of my Starbucks muffin on this post. I’ll try to get one with a face.

“Now there IS a face. Next muffin.”

Posted on September 29, 2008 - by MG

Completion Anxiety Provokes Muffin Humour

I’ve been all the way through the desk editor’s comments on the proofs of ICE SHOCK. The ms is covered with handwritten new bits and changes. I only have ten very minor points to address from the proof reader.

Then it’s type up my list of page changes and down to the post office with it.

Meanwhile, the last chapter of Joshua 3 (current title ZERO MOMENT) is planned, a quarter-written and waiting to be finished.

I could do both things today. So why can’t I even get started?

Completion anxiety. (Hey, it’s a real thing…)

I’m not normally a big procrastinator but as I hurtle towards the finish line, time and again, mentally, the brakes scream into action and I slam to a halt.

Today, instead of working, I want to do something else. For example, spend the day thinking about muffin based-humour. (Hey, it’s a real thing.)

Here are my favourite bits of muffin-based humour.

1. The Muffin-Top episode of Seinfeld.

2. Ross Noble, standup comedian, talks about finding human faces in muffin tops.

3. Bob Kelso and the muffin (Scrubs)

Later today I’ll put a photo of my Starbucks muffin on this post. I’ll try to get one with a face.

“Now there IS a face. Next muffin.”

Posted on September 18, 2008 - by MG

ICE SHOCK - the cover and new blurb!

Well here is is - although if you ever check out themgharris.com you’ve already seen it.

I’m pretty darn impressed. To move from black to red for the J symbol is so simple but it hadn’t occurred to me…and the new lettering for the title ICE SHOCK is kewl. With the neon yellow slipcover too - I think this is going to look fantastic. I can’t wait to catch my first glimpse of the completed package.

In keeping with the red-and-yellow colour theme, I have ordered my new BlackBerry Pearl in red. And when I upgrade to the new iPod nano, I think it will be yellow. I have a red one now - it was one of the original nanos, but a special edition when everyone did red gadgets to support charity. I have a red laptop too.

Glory glory Man United…

Ooh..Jessica my desk editor and I rewote the blurb together. Here’s what will be replacing the one on the cover shown here:

Josh thought the worst was over – but it hasn’t even started…

Josh is even more certain now that his father’s death was no accident – and he’s starting to wonder if he can really trust his closest allies. When he learns of a secret buried within the Ix Codex, he must journey back to the secret Mexican city of Ek Naab. Shocking news awaits him about the mysterious Bracelet of Itzamna. Did Josh’s dad really take it? And where is it now?

Josh has no idea what’s waiting for him…