Michael Scott's Blog

Revealing Flamel’s immortal secrets on Wikipedia

I do not edit my wiki page.  It is managed by the good people at Flamel’s Immortal Portal and the associated Fan Forum, which is the only official fan site and the one I visit every day.  The Portal and Forum act as a gathering place and discussion ground for fans.  It is moderated of course, and completely child friendly.  It is safe to say that the moderators know as much about the books as I do.

However, with remarkable regularity the moderators must go onto the Wikipedia pages and correct additions and emendations to the pages by readers whose enthusiasm outstrips their knowledge.

The single most changed item has to do with the title characters.  Each book in the series is named after a character.  Some are easy to guess (The Alchemyst is Flamel, for example), but others require a closer reading of the text.  So here, to avoid endless Wikipedia changes, is the (almost) definitive list.The Alchemyst is Nicholas Flamel.

The Magician is Dr John Dee.
The Sorceress is Perenelle Flamel.
The Necromancer is Josh Newman.
The Warlock is Niccolo Machiavelli

The Enchantress is …  I deliberately do not say who the Enchantress is in the text, though there are plenty of clues.   There are three possibles at the end of the book, but, given that The Enchantress is not yet out in certain territories, I’ll not say just yet.

A small thank you – as The Enchantress is published

The Enchantress is published today, six years to the day after the publication of The Alchemyst – and what a six years it has been!

The first Flamel book was published in 2007, which meant that I was writing it throughout 2005 and into early 2006, but I started researching the idea in May 1997, which was when I first wrote the word Alchemyst – with a Y – in my notebook.  I had no idea then that it would take almost sixteen years for the last book in the series to finally reach the shelves.

Writers often talk about books changing their lives.  Not every book changes a writer’s life, but I can say, without doubt or hesitation, that The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel changed mine in so many ways.  The day in 1997 when I walked into Nicholas Flamel’s house in Paris was the start of a journey which has taken me across the world as I researched the mythology behind the series.  It has given me the opportunity to work in some of the great libraries, and allowed me access to many extraordinary and generous people who shared their knowledge of everything from Machu Pichu to parrots, from Alcatraz to auras.

The series has also brought me into contact, both online and in person, with fans across the world, many of whom I now count amongst my friends, and it is a friendship which will last beyond this book series.

Each year, for the past six years, a Flamel book has been published.  And today sees the last one.  The publication of The Enchantress brings to a conclusion this overall story arc.  Over the years, the characters have become very real to me and it is bittersweet to realize that I will not write about some of them again.  But I don’t think I will ever be done with The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel – I am sure I will be revisiting some of the characters in the future and I know that translations of the books will appear over the next several years.)

I am often asked if I had the chance, would I change any of the story – and the answer is, yes, of course.  No book is ever entirely finished.  However, although I might rework certain elements, the overall story remains very much as I conceived it all those years ago.  And the ending, which I first wrote in the Flamel’s house in Paris, remains entirely untouched and is, more or less word-for-word the ending I created more than a decade ago.

This series would not, could not, exist without the extraordinary support of the fabulous team in Delacorte Press who, seven years, ago, committed to a six book series from a writer they had never heard of.

Nor could this series exist without the readers scattered all across the world, who have spent six years journeying with Sophie and Josh (although only two weeks went by for them – but what a two weeks it has been!) towards this conclusion.

So thank you – publishers, booksellers and readers – for helping Mr Flamel and Doctor Dee change my life.

The Official UK Book Trailer for The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst UK 2012 cover

Random House Children's Books, the UK publishers of  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series has released this stunning trailer for The Alchemyst.

In the past few years, book trailers have become more and more sophisticated.  Once, they were simply images of the books with a little flash animation, but nowadays, they are mini-movies with real actors and special effects.  I love this particular trailer because Nicholas looks astonishingly like the Nicholas Flamel in the books.

The trailer is released to coincide with the relaunch of the series in the UK and Ireland with a stunning new cover treatment.  These covers are based off the original USA covers but have been tweaked and enhanced in really interesting and subtle ways.  I'm thrilled with them: they are clean and striking.  I'll post images of the all new covers in a separate blog posting.

Previously, the UK editions came with additional text: selections from the Secret Diaries of Niccolo Machiavelli and these new editions are no different. They include brief biographies of the main characters.

The Official UK Book Trailer for The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst UK 2012 cover

Random House Children’s Books, the UK publishers of  The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series has released this stunning trailer for The Alchemyst.

In the past few years, book trailers have become more and more sophisticated.  Once, they were simply images of the books with a little flash animation, but nowadays, they are mini-movies with real actors and special effects.  I love this particular trailer because Nicholas looks astonishingly like the Nicholas Flamel in the books.

The trailer is released to coincide with the relaunch of the series in the UK and Ireland with a stunning new cover treatment.  These covers are based off the original USA covers but have been tweaked and enhanced in really interesting and subtle ways.  I’m thrilled with them: they are clean and striking.  I’ll post images of the all new covers in a separate blog posting.

Previously, the UK editions came with additional text: selections from the Secret Diaries of Niccolo Machiavelli and these new editions are no different. They include brief biographies of the main characters.

The Thirteen Hallows

[image error]So, October is my month for covers, and we finish it with a great one: The Thirteen Hallows.

This is the new adult horror novel coming from Tor on 6th December, which I've co written with the incredibly talented Colette Freedman.

I wanted to release the official preview of the cover today because (as you will find out) and the finale of The Thirteen Hallows takes place on this very night, Hallowe'en. As you can see the finished cover, with the embossed silver sword looks spectacular.

This is a horror story based around the thirteen ancient hallowed objects of Britain. Like a lot of my work it is rooted in mythology – indeed, I first wrote about the thirteen hallows of Britain in 1995 in a novel entitled The Hallows. The other huge influence on this work is the poem The New Jerusalem by William Blake in 1808.

The poem was put to music by Sir William Parry in 1916 and has become one of the great English hymns, Jerusalem. There are many different recordings and it is usually sung at Royal Weddings, although I am not sure if people actually know what the words mean. (Though they will give you a clue to the story.)

Tor are making available a couple of ARCS Advanced Reading Copies to two lucky winners, and have just released a great book trailer.

The book will be in a shops on the 6th December.

The Thirteen Hallows

[image error]So, October is my month for covers, and we finish it with a great one: The Thirteen Hallows.

This is the new adult horror novel coming from Tor on 6th December, which I’ve co written with the incredibly talented Colette Freedman.

I wanted to release the official preview of the cover today because (as you will find out) and the finale of The Thirteen Hallows takes place on this very night, Hallowe’en. As you can see the finished cover, with the embossed silver sword looks spectacular.

This is a horror story based around the thirteen ancient hallowed objects of Britain. Like a lot of my work it is rooted in mythology – indeed, I first wrote about the thirteen hallows of Britain in 1995 in a novel entitled The Hallows. The other huge influence on this work is the poem The New Jerusalem by William Blake in 1808.

The poem was put to music by Sir William Parry in 1916 and has become one of the great English hymns, Jerusalem. There are many different recordings and it is usually sung at Royal Weddings, although I am not sure if people actually know what the words mean. (Though they will give you a clue to the story.)

Tor are making available a couple of ARCS Advanced Reading Copies to two lucky winners, and have just released a great book trailer.

The book will be in a shops on the 6th December.

Announcing The Enchantress Cover

The Enchantress {The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel}

So October is obviously my month for covers. Last week I released Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas cover, which is coming in November. Today, I am delighted to give you all a very early look at the last cover in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series: The Enchantress.

I've published many books over the years and, in the main, I've been fairly lucky with my covers. But I have to say, the covers to this series, created by Michael Wagner, are breath-taking. The care and attention to detail in the imagery is fabulous and by now, you will know that each item, every icon and all the symbols relate to the story. The fans have had a lot of fun deciphering the symbols, and there's a full breakdown on the official fan forum.

The Warlock was printed on a gold paper – and if you're reading the series, you'll know why. So, it should come as no surprise when you discover that this will be on silver foil. And if you can't guess who the Enchantress is by now, you've not been paying attention.

Next month will see the new UK covers – which are fabulous.

Announcing The Enchantress Cover

The Enchantress {The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel}

So October is obviously my month for covers. Last week I released Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas cover, which is coming in November. Today, I am delighted to give you all a very early look at the last cover in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series: The Enchantress.

I’ve published many books over the years and, in the main, I’ve been fairly lucky with my covers. But I have to say, the covers to this series, created by Michael Wagner, are breath-taking. The care and attention to detail in the imagery is fabulous and by now, you will know that each item, every icon and all the symbols relate to the story. The fans have had a lot of fun deciphering the symbols, and there’s a full breakdown on the official fan forum.

The Warlock was printed on a gold paper – and if you’re reading the series, you’ll know why. So, it should come as no surprise when you discover that this will be on silver foil. And if you can’t guess who the Enchantress is by now, you’ve not been paying attention.

Next month will see the new UK covers – which are fabulous.

Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas

Billy the Kid and Vampyres of Vegas ebook by Michael Scott

I've kept you waiting long enough.  This is the latest lost story from the Flamel series, Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas.  I thought you might like to see the official press release.

Random House Children's Books will release the second ebook original from New York Times bestselling author Michael Scott, it was announced today. The e-original is entitled BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers / $1.99) and will be available November 22, 2011 wherever ebooks are sold.

This story about the famed 19th-century American outlaw is available exclusively in digital format and is the newest addition to Scott's series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, which is based on individuals from history, folklore, and legend. This ebook original is a short story that will fascinate fans and whet their appetites for the last and final book in the six-part series, The Enchantress, available May 2012.

In BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS, Michael Scott, @flamelauthor, offers the tale of Billy the Kid and Scathach's first meeting, and their joint battle against the unseen yet deadly vampyres who control the city of Las Vegas.

Michael Scott's first ebook original, The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, was published in August 2010.

For more information about Michael Scott and the series, visit the all-new website at SecretsOfNicholasFlamel.com, or Facebook at Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel.

Random House Children's Books is the world's largest English-language children's trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, eBooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children's Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company's website, Kids @ Random (Randomhouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children's Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas

Billy the Kid and Vampyres of Vegas ebook by Michael Scott

I’ve kept you waiting long enough.  This is the latest lost story from the Flamel series, Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas.  I thought you might like to see the official press release.

Random House Children’s Books will release the second ebook original from New York Times bestselling author Michael Scott, it was announced today. The e-original is entitled BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers / $1.99) and will be available November 22, 2011 wherever ebooks are sold.

This story about the famed 19th-century American outlaw is available exclusively in digital format and is the newest addition to Scott’s series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, which is based on individuals from history, folklore, and legend. This ebook original is a short story that will fascinate fans and whet their appetites for the last and final book in the six-part series, The Enchantress, available May 2012.

In BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS, Michael Scott, @flamelauthor, offers the tale of Billy the Kid and Scathach’s first meeting, and their joint battle against the unseen yet deadly vampyres who control the city of Las Vegas.

Michael Scott’s first ebook original, The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, was published in August 2010.

For more information about Michael Scott and the series, visit the all-new website at SecretsOfNicholasFlamel.com, or Facebook at Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel.

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, eBooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (Randomhouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.