Archive for the ‘getting published’ Category

Posted on August 25, 2008 - by MG

MG and Editor

MG and EditorOriginally uploaded by mgharris

Here she is, Elv Moody of Scholastic, editor of INVISIBLE CITY and ICE SHOCK.

We’re in the bookshop tent at the Edinburgh book festival, a little while after my event. Hopefully I’ll receive copies of photos taken at the signing by Don the Headteacher at the Aberdeen-based International school whose pupils queued so politely.

I don’t think we look too bad considering that I was tired and hung-over from the partying of the night before. And Elv had a poorly eye.

Anywho. I enjoyed Edinburgh so much, esp hanging out with the Scholastic crew.

Ooh and I was able to tell the audience that finally, the title of Joshua 2 is indeed ICE SHOCK (sorry Es, but it will make sense when you read it and it’s inspired by a famous Doctor Who adventure – EARTHSHOCK).

And the glowy slipcover will be neon yellow…!
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Posted on July 27, 2008 - by MG

Coolness from Dressler – get ready for ‘Geheimakte Joshua’

I’ve been waiting with great excitement to let you all see the coolness that is in store from the German publisher of “Joshua Files” – Cecile Dressler Verlag.

Number one is this awesome Webplayer for “Geheimakte Joshua“. Btw the German title is actually cooler than the English one – because ‘Geheimakte’ translates as ‘secret files’ not just ‘files’. Oooh, mysterious – good choice, Frank! See the advantages of a fusional language?

The ‘Geheimakte Joshua’ webplayer features an interview with me – dubbed by me auf Deutsch (someone else translated the words), a sample chapter and a terrific little book trailer. I show this to kids when I do book visits – they love it!

The second thing is a lovely little online tool you can use to customise a bookmark of ‘Geheimakte Joshua’ and print it out!

Here’s a bookmark I made earlier - with a little message from me and the Ek Naab hieroglyph stamp.

Finally, if you are seriously keen – the Dressler autumn 2008 catalogue, Joshua themed and with four pages devoted to our little book.

Crumbs I’m excited.

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.

Posted on June 24, 2008 - by MG

Author Tour Report 3: Gorgeous Thing – the cover of ‘Invisible City’

Author Tour Report 3: Gorgeous Thing – the cover of ‘Invisible City’Originally uploaded by mgharris
My editor Elv said it best, I believe…it is a gorgeous thing. And nothing to do with me…except very indirectly as the author of the story which inspired this artistic vision of Andrew Briscombe from Scholastic.I’ve visited a school every day for the past three days of my author tour…photos to follow when I get home. A big talking point is always the cover, which the young readers adore, but also teachers including one Headteacher and an award-winning librarian…Now a couple of reviewers have been a bit sniffy about the cover, whilst being perfectly lovely about the novel itself. That’s okay…its success in attracting readers might lend the impression that it’s what such reviewers have decided is simply a ‘marketing gimmick’. Not that there’s anything wrong with that…to quote a famous Seinfeld episode…

But in fact, as I’ve discussed with almost 400 school students in the past three days…the jacket of Joshua Files is a genius tactile intrepretation of some key facets of the story.

Allow me, Umberto Eco-like, to offer a semiotic analysis of this remarkable piece of packaging:

1. ‘Invisible City’ features a mysterious ancient Mayan book whose cover is deadly to touch…hence the removable cover in dangerous-looking neon orange.
2. The J symbol denotes the Maya…in a highly subtle way. Mayan ruins impress immediately with their terraced temples of stone rising from the jungle…the parallel lines of architecture. Hence the lines of the J symbol. And when you slide the slipcover across the J, white lines appear next to the black ones…steps in shade and light.
3. The J also represents hieroglyphic writing. It is in fact a glyph – symbolizing Josh.
Umberto would have had said something much cleverer and brought in some eclectic references from art history and maybe quoted Deleuze…but, yanno.

At a school in Romiley, Stockport today, a year 11 boy showed me up for the slow-witted, former Rubiks wannabe I am. He finished the cube 60 seconds before me, in true Rubiks-kid fashion, hardly even glancing at the cube as he whooshed the pieces into place. By comparison I was staring at the cube, slowly turning it much as a caveman might handle a one-for-all TV remote.

Nice going pal, but as we say in Mexico…’Como me ves, te veras.’ (as I am, you one day will be)
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Posted on June 23, 2008 - by MG

Author Tour Report 2: School Visits

Author Tour Report 2: School VisitsOriginally uploaded by mgharris

Copies of “Invisible City” on display in a school in Dulwich. Check out the groovy Mexican masks on the wall behind!

I’ve been doing school visits in Dulwich Hamlet Primary, St Joseph’s Primary in Headington and later today, Manchester. Before I spoke to any audiences of young readers, I wondered how I was going to modify my speaking style. Years of addressing scientists and business people might not be ideal preparation, after all. The BBC staff at go4it were really great with the kids, had them laughing and joking. And I’m conscious of the fact that I’m used to bring rather direct and serious…

I used to try to get a laugh from scientists etc. At least one, to get things going. Science humour, yanno… So anyway, I decided basically to talk to the kids as I did the scientists but without the jokes and with a bit of gentle quizzing.

Yes that’s probably a bit teacherish but they sure seem to enjoy getting the answers right and BOY are they smart. The mix of archaeology, personal journey and 2012 eschatology does seem to fascinate them, thank goodness. And out of over 500 kids seen to date, no-one has ever asked me the one question that everybody said I’d be asked…how much money do I make?

I think it’s brilliant that they aren’t asking. Not that there’s anything wrong with the question but if young people are interested in making money I’d rather point them in a stack of other directions…like starting a business.

This emailed from a train passing through Stoke-on-Trent.

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