The Judge is Judging

For years I was a judge and made regular judgements on a whole variety of subjects, but I am finding judging my writing competition much harder than any case that came before me in the courts. I can't comment on the individual stories (and I don't know who wrote what, as Iseult has removed the names) but I can say that the standard is unbelievably high. I didn't realise there were so many talented scribes out there. Of course, only the best people read my books. I am blown away by the range of stories, the imagination of plots and how the Kingdom of Animals is interpreted in each entry. No two stories are the same. It is going to be really tough to pick one of these as the winner.

Time is UP!

The deadline has passed and my first (and possibly last) great competition has closed. The entries are all in (and if anyone tries to enter now, tough) and it is time for the judging to commence. There will be much cogitation and deliberation over the next few days. Good luck to every one who entered. I look forward to reading your stories!

18 More Days and Counting

Just a reminder to any considering entering my brilliant competition that the closing date is fast approaching. Some people seem to be hesitant that their writing will not be good enough or that I will judge them harshly. NONSENSE! Why I am looking for is first and foremost a good story, and a strong understanding of The Kingdom of Animals. If you have that, it doesn't matter if you can't spell or if your sentence structure is a bit out there. Of course, if you have that AND a great story, you will probably win! Remember, writing is easy. Write about what you love, with passion, and believe in your story. That way, I'll probably love it too!

And for those of you who haven't heard about my competition (where have you been living?) - I'm looking for a short story set in the Kingdom of Animals (but with original characters, which means not ones you've read about in my books) of no more than 2000 words. The closing date is 23rd July. The winner will be notified within two weeks. The prize winning story will be published (with illustration by Iseult) with my new book RAINBOW AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIFE, due out in August. Entry is free, so what have you to lose? Email me your entry at mungojudd@hotmail.com.

Terms and conditions: Entry to the competition is free. Friends and relatives to Mungo are allowed enter. Nodpot points may be gained from entering, but only if you are a member of the Disresponsible Nodpots. Winners will be notified before August 14th 2007. Entries are likely to be illustrated. All entrants must agree to allow Mungo publish their stories in whatever way he sees fit. Mungo's decision is final.

#3 - Hughes & Hughes - Dundalk

Iseult posing with my books

Leaf and Mango - new titles in Hughes & Hughes

More news of my books being spotted while out and about. Dundalk seems to be well and truly stocked with copies of both my first and second novel on display not only in Easons but also in Hughes & Hughes.

Thanks Iseult for sending in the photos. Maybe one day you will have your own books on display in these book shops too.

#2 Easons in the Marshes - Dundalk

Pinky posing with a copy of Leaf in Easons
Mango is also on display

My roving fans sent me in these recent pictures taken on a visit to Easons in the Marshes Shopping Centre in Dundalk. Not only do they have copies of Mango, the Unlucky Monkey, but they also still have copies of my first book, Leaf in Search of Ramune. Both, I am reliably informed, were on the shelves (9+ readers section) and also on separate display stands (as pictured).

So, where else have you seen my books?

Thanks, Pinky, for sending in the images and information.

Mungs xx

#1 Waterstones in Scotch Hall, Drogheda

Look what Iseult spotted in Waterstones in Drogheda today when shopping with her mum. That's right - Mango the Unlucky Monkey! She was clever enough to snap a photo and send it into me. Where have you spotted Mango or my first novel, Leaf? Let me know!

MY EXCITING NEW PROJECT!

Summer is here and everyone is out and about, including me. With the longer evenings, and holidays and everything, loads of people are going into bookshops and taking books abroad. This put in mind for an exciting new project -

HOW FAR CAN MY BOOKS TRAVEL THIS SUMMER!

Before the end of the summer, I want to see pictures of my books abroad on holiday or in bookshops around the world. What I want you to do - my loyal Mungobots - is bring your books with you the next time you are out and about and snap a photo of them. Email me the photo and the location, and I will post it on the blog. The best picture at the end of the summer will earn a fantastic mystery prize for the person who snapped it.

So get out your cameras, your mobiles and any other photographic devices you might have and start shooting!

Mungs xxx

Technical Problem

A few months ago my good friends Mango and Tottie made a trailer for my first novel, Leaf. In lieu of the recent excitement about Dean Koontz's trailer competition for The Good Guy and Darren Shan's trailer for his new book, I decided I would load my trailer on to youtube and post it on my blog.

Sounds like a good idea, right?

Starting the youtube account was easy, but then I got into problems. Iseult recorded the trailer from her sony handycam dvd onto ordinary dvd and opened it in windvd on the laptop. She has successfully captured pictures from movies plenty of times using this programme, and assured me that she could also capture video. However, she found that the 'quickclip' function only works for - you guessed it - quick clips of no more than 30 seconds and it doesn't record sound. This isn't too bad, because we can always loop in the sound for the trailer, but it might cause a problem for later projects. Also, windows movie maker is causing problems with editing the clips together. All in all, the task is proving extremely time consuming if not near impossible.

When things didn't turn out easy, Iseult came crying to me for assistance. Now, I know I can sort it out but I thought I would turn to my friends out there on the world wide web first to see if they have any tips for me. What I want to know is, what is the easiest and/or best way to get clips (with sound) from dvd onto your computer and posted onto youtube. Ideas for editing software would be great too.

Come on fans, there must be one of you out there who is pc savvy.

Mungs xxx

Heavy Weather

The last few days have been so hot and heavy I haven't been able to do anything but lounge on my cup and think about Rainbow (and talk to Miss Monkey too, of course). Then, today, it is so cold and dark, wet and windy, that I just want to curl up with some hot chocolate and snooze. Lesser geniuses than myself would use the weather as a comment on their writing, but my works speak for themselves.

Still no new competition entries.

Mungs xxx

This one is for you Pamela!

Wow! It has been a long time since I last blogged, hasn't it? Well, dear fans (and one dearest fan in particular) I apologise for my long absence. I know that being deprived of my pearls of wisdom must be hard on you all.

First of all, a catch up of what I have been doing over the last few months. Unlike Darren Shan (who I believe is a favourite of Iseult and Valerie), I have not been able to get my nation wide and international tour on track. Iseult was recently visiting in Blackpool and I tried to persuade her to take me along with some of my books to flog them to the Brits, but she didn't agree (weird). So, all plans for a tour with Mango are off. I will, however, have plans for touring later in the year with Rainbow and the Mountain of Life, publishing date 14th August. Watch this blog for further news on this. Also, if you want me to visit your school/bookshop/home, write to me with your idea for the event, how many people will be there and how many books you will want and I'll see if I am free.

The weather has been really nice here for the last few months and Miss Monkey and I have been enjoying it, but time has come for me to work again. I have to get back to writing if I am going to make my publishing date for Rainbow. I plan on starting it this week, so watch this space!

On news of Mango, the Unlucky Monkey, I have had reports coming in that a young boy and his mother are enjoying it greatly. Apparently the idea of a monkey without a tail has captured his imagination (I thought it was a good idea too!). If you have any stories about how much you love my books, let me know and I might report them here!

Anyway, I'm off now. Til next time, Mungo-bots!

Mungs xxx

Exciting News!

I received my first competition entry yesterday. I was dying to read it, but Iseult said I had to wait until the competition closed and then read all of them at the same time (how is that even possible!?) It is very difficult to leave it waiting for me, but I will be strong. I can't wait for the rest to come rolling in.

Mungs xx

Mango the Unlucky Monkey goes NATIONAL!

The weather is tumultuous outside with rain one minute, stone splitting sunshine the next and ever present strong winds. However, I don't have much time to ponder on the atmospheric joys as I am busy planning my touring schedule with Miss Monkey. Next leg of the national tour is Dublin. If any fans out there know of a suitable venue which will still be free for bookings in May, please let me know. Also, if any fans out there would like Mango to be launched in their city, town, village or country - let me know. I might even consider doing it.

Mungs xx

I want to be like Mungo!!! COMPETITION!!!

So you want to be like Mungo? You've read Leaf: In Search of Ramune and were blown away by his wit and imaginative prose. You've seen the pictures of him winning Disresponsible Nodpot of the Year 2006 and you've read about him getting the job done.

But where do you start when you want to follow in your hero's paw prints?

This amazing new competition may just be the leg up you need. How would you like to see your name in print along with Mungo's in his next novel - Rainbow and the Mountain of Life - due out in August 2007? Interested? You should be. Here is the deal. Mungo is going to publish one lucky winner's story at the back of his next book. All you have to do is write a short story set in the Kingdom of Animals, but starring original characters, in the style of Mungo and sent it in. It is that simple! Stories should be no more than 2000 words long and the closing date is 23rd July 2007. Email your stories to mungojudd@hotmail.com. All stories will be read and judged by Mungo.

And remember - WRITING IS EASY!!

Terms and conditions: Entry to the competition is free. Friends and relatives to Mungo are allowed enter. Nodpot points may be gained from entering, but only if you are a member of the Disresponsible Nodpots. Winners will be notified before August 14th 2007. Entries are likely to be illustrated. All entrants must agree to allow Mungo publish their stories in whatever way he sees fit. Mungo's decision is final.

Thoughts on the Book Launch

Hello fans. It's me, Mungo, here again to thank you all for coming to the book launch yesterday and being such a great crowd. I hope you enjoy the book. From the early feedback I have received already, it seems to be going down very well. I'm hearing a lot of 'it's better than Leaf!' which is great to hear. As a writer, I am always striving to improve (how can you improve upon perfection!) and it is gratifying when other people notice your improvements.

A good crowd turned out to the book launch. There were almost all the Nodpots (notable absences from Blueberry and Rusty) as well as many of my fans. Geri Valentine gave a lovely talk as did my dearest friend, Miss Monkey. I gave a reading from the book and Pamela read a short passage as well. Unfortunately the humour of her piece was over shadowed by some immature spectator from the back of the room who couldn't stop laughing over the words 'nut cases'. There is always one.

Book sales were good and I sold out my current stock of books, but don't panic fans - more are on their way.

I'm taking a break from writing for a few weeks to promote Mango, the Unlucky Monkey and then I'll be starting into Rainbow and the Mountain of Life in May. See you all at the next book launch (or catch you on the next leg of my nationwide tour)!

Mango the Unlucky Monkey Book Launch

It is hard to believe now that Mungo had never put pen to paper - or paw to keyboard - before January 2006. A retired judge of the toy court and retired actor of the silver screen, Mungo had never even considered writing fiction until he set himself the goal of winning Disresponsible Nodpot of the Year 2006 and realised to get enough points for nomination, he would have to write. Not only did he get enough points and win DNOTY '06, but he was also bitten by the writing bug. Now, a year later, he is proud to release his second book based in the Kingdom of Animals - Mango, the Unlucky Monkey.

Mango contains all the humour, imagination and excitement of Mungo's first book, with new characters and more insight into the Kingdom of Animals and our heroes, Leaf and Rainbow. 'The demand for another book was so strong from my fans,' Mungo says 'How could I refuse?'

How could he refuse indeed? With such salubrious fans as children's author, Geri Valentine, top solicitor, Miss Monkey, accountant to the stars and one time movie actress, Parm and his own campaign managers Mango and Tottie, Mungo knew that he had to write another book.

'I knew that I hadn't told all the tales from the Kingdom of Animals. When I finished Leaf, I knew that Leaf and Rainbow had more adventures ahead of them, and I still haven't finished writing all that needs to be written about them,' Mungo says. 'At first I thought it would be hard writing Mango, because it had such a hard standard to live up to in its predecessor, but I think Mango has lived up to Leaf, if not surpassed it.'

Mango, the Unlucky Monkey was launched today with such guest speakers as Geri Valentine and Miss Monkey, as well as a guest reading from Parm.

Mango, the Unlucky Monkey goes on general release on Monday 23rd April 2007, priced €15. Copies of Mango and Leaf are available from Mungo. Paperback copies of Leaf are priced at €15 while hardback copies are €25.

GOOD NEWS! (at last)

MANGO, THE UNLUCKY MONKEY arrived today, only one month late, so the book launch will finally take place on SUNDAY 22nd APRIL 2007 in Blackrock at 3pm. Remember to bring loads of money with you and come expecting to have a fun time. There will be champagne, readings from the book, guest speakers including children's author GERI VALENTINE and top solicitor MISS MONKEY as well as ME, MUNGO the DNOTY '06.

Want to see your own name in print? Come along to the book launch to learn all about my exciting new writing competition - I WANT TO BE LIKE MUNGO - where you could win the fantastic prize of seeing your story in print alongside my next book RAINBOW AND THE MOUNTAIN OF LIFE, due out August 2007.

See you there - if you're lucky!

Bad News

As most of you already know, Mango was not launched on Easter Monday. Mango was not launched at all. This is because it has been ridiculously delayed in being posted out to me. I am furious and I apologise to all my loyal fans for the delay. I will let you know when the launch date will be as soon as I have more information.

Third time lucky.

Bad News

I have bad news, I'm afraid. The launch date for Mango, the Unlucky Monkey has been put back. It was supposed to be Tuesday 20th March but, due to circumstances beyond my control, it will now be Easter Monday 9th April 2007.

I apologise for the delay, but this is the way it goes in the publishing business. All I can do is assure you that it is worth the wait.

Cover of Mango

Pamela is Great

Today is Pamela is Great day. Pamela is great for many reasons. Here is a poem I wrote, listing a few:-

To Pamela

Pamela, oh so fair,
I love your long silky hair.
The way you laugh is a joy to hear,
Your charming presence to be near
I long to be.
You know the way to care,
You do everything with such flare,
You are to me very dear,
And so I let out this cheer
for you to see!

I hope you like it Pamela, and I'm sorry I didn't see you at the weekend.