All hallows eve

Greetings all. I don't believe in this pagan nonsense of witches and ghosts, but I do respect the eve of the great feast of All Saints. The Feast of All Saints also happens to fall on the 1st of November, which everybody knows is the start of (inter)national novel writing month. (if you don't know about national novel month, how is that rock you were living under?) Anyway, as my fans will know, tomorrow being the 1st of November means that I will be starting my second book in the Leaf series (I'm planning 12/13 books) titled Mango. If there is anything you want to see in Mango, drop me a comment and you never know - I might put it in! (if I don't put it into Mango, the unlucky monkey, I will be sure to put it into one of my other books. Tottie, the demon rabbit slayer perhaps).

Praise for Mango and Tottie

This is just a shout out to my Mungo-Bot, Mango and her best friend Tottie who are working very hard in Dublin on my campaign for Nodpot of the Year! Keep up the great work, girls! There will be prizes for you at my victory party on December 31st.

Are you voting for Mungo?

Are you voting for Mungo?

Blueberry says: 'I'm voting for Mungo, are you?'

Are you voting for Mungo?

Sparkie says: 'Mungo promised to get me a gavel for Marvin if I voted for him, so I guess I will. What is Mungo doing to get you to vote for him?'

I have no intention of being eaten

Just to set the record straight, the rumours following Leppie's endorsement yesterday do not mean he is going to eat me. As far as I am aware, he has never eaten a monkey and has no intention to start. He much prefers dogs. Anyway, Mango and Tottie would beat him up if he did eat me. So no, dear fans and devoted voters, I will not be eaten. I will still be here when the nominations are announced and the week of voting opened (first or second week of December) and I will continue to be here for a very long time to come (what is the point of winning Nodpot of the Year if I am living inside of Leppie's tummy?).

Anyway, rest assured, I'm not going anywhere!

Are you voting for Mungo?

Leppie says: 'When I'm not eating monkeys, I like voting for them, so I am voting for Mungo - are you?'

Leaf in paperback!

It has arrived! Leaf in paperback! It is lovely too. The paper is thicker and whiter and it has a lovely shiny colour cover. Email me to order copies. I hope to have them in time for Christmas!

Are you voting for Mungo?

Miss Monkey says: 'Mungo is so talented. I love Leaf, it is a brilliant book. I would love to vote for him.'

Famous names get you published

Some people have suggested to me that if I added a famous surname to my already fantastic first name, I would get an agent quicker (for example, Celia Ahern). Some else suggested Haughey (as in the late Charlie Haughey) and said I should call myself Charlie's monkey child. Who could resist an author with that name? I don't know, what do you think?

Leaf in Hardback!

It is an exciting day. A new age has dawned. The world will never be the same again. LEAF IS NOW IN HARDBACK!

Thanks to the services of lulu.com, my wonderful work is now available in hardback format and soon, paperback. Just in time for the Christmas market. I haven't set up my storefront on Lulu yet, but you can order through my blog or email me. Hardback is 23.69 (euros) and paperback will be 12.24 euro. Cheap at twice the price. Watch out for Mango, the unlucky monkey in March 2007!

Are you voting for Mungo?

Elliot says: 'I'm voting for Mungo, are you?'

Rejections

Watched the repeat of Turbidy Tonight last night (I know, I've reached a new low) and John Connolly was on. I had never heard of him, but apparently he is the nicest man in crime fiction. Anyway, he got 70 rejections for his first book, but has gone on to become a rich and famous author. I wonder will I go on Turbidy Tonight when I am rich and famous?

Are you voting for Mungo?

Curly says: 'I'm voting for Mungo, are you?'

Mango's Progress

Did some more work on Mango (the book, not the monkey) today. I have most of the plotline worked out and only have to do a little bit more work for the end of the book. It is going great. I think this book is going to be even better than Leaf, if that is possible!

Are you voting for Mungo?

Donnie says: 'I'm voting for Mungo, are you?'

26 days to go

Popped over to Iseult's snore fest and saw that she has started a new boring blog - her nanowrimo blog, even more boring than her *laugh* writing one. She has titled her novel 7 days in hell, I think she is being optimistic to think she can write her book in 7 days. I think 30 days in hell will be a more accurate description of her November experience. Of course, it won't be like that for me. Quite the opposite in fact, I imagine. Can't wait!

Mango, the unlucky monkey

Spent yesterday, last night and this morning writing up the plot for Mango. I am so confident I can beat Iseult, I am tempted to write two books to her one! However, that might upset her (being beaten so badly) so I might just keep to one.

Are you voting for Mungo?

Nobbles says: 'I'm voting for Mungo, are you?'

Changes

Just changed my blog to the new beta version. It seems pretty cool and user friendly. Now, I wonder what changes I can make around here *looks around and rubs paws together*

November is approaching

For the past two years, Iseult has spent the month of November in a crazy scramble of writing, trying to beat her friend Katie to a 50,000 word count and failing miserably each time. Well, I think I could beat her (Iseult) easily, so I think I will write Mango; The Unlucky Monkey (the sequel to Leaf) for November and see if I can beat Iseult to the word goal. I must take out my notebook and do some work on the plot and characters to get me ready for November 1st.