Ben Aaronovitch's Blog, page 13

Czech Covers

The Czech Cover.... I think.

I think it's fair to say that this is the most batshit insane covers so far, good, but totally batshit insane.

Body Work Issue #2 Out on Wednesday

"GILDED YOUTH"Issue #2 of Body Work
Out on Wednesday afternoon at all good comic book stores, at least it better be...

Also available on pre-order at Forbidden Planet.

Also also available for Indle from Amazon UK, Amazon US and Amazon Germany

And not forgetting Comixology!

Body Work Issue #2 Pre-Orders

AVAILABLE NOW
Forbidden Planet, shop of a thousand surprises, is now offering pre-orders on Issue #2 of the Body Work comic. The webpage is here.
NEXT SPRING!Meanwhile Titan has ordered  a second story from Andrew, Lee, Luis and I - first issue to be released in Spring 2016.
Titled NIGHT WITCH it's set between Foxglove Summer and upcoming The Hanging Tree. It will be five issues long with a bound trade to follow at the end of the run. 
A third five issue story has also been agreed but we don't have a title for that one yet. This will probably feature a different artist so Lee can have a rest.

Fingerhut-Sommer - German Release August 21st 2015

Fingerhut-Sommer
Der fünfte Band: Schwarzer Humor trifft auf schwarze Magie

Obwohl sich Police Constable Peter Grant schon unwohl fühlt, wenn er Londons Skyline auch nur ein paar Kilometer weit hinter sich lässt, wird er jetzt in die tiefste Provinz geschickt: in einen kleinen Ort in Herefordshire - wo sich Fuchs, Hase und der Dorfpolizist Gute Nacht sagen. Aber es werden zwei Kinder vermisst, und ihr Verschwinden erfolgte womöglich unter magischen Umständen. Also muss Peter notgedrungen sein angestammtes Biotop verlassen. Mit der Flusstochter Beverley Brook begibt er sich mutig nach Westen, hinein ins ländliche England ...
The DTV page is here...

The Swedish Itinerary

Wednesday 5th August

19.00: English Bookshop, Uppsala
A reading and signing at the English Bookshop, Uppsala.


Thursday 6th August

17:00: SF-Bokhandeln
Panel and signing at SF-Bokhandeln (the SF Bookstore) in Stockholm.

Friday 7th August

21:00: Klostersalen: Guest of Honour interview.
Ben Aaronovitch, Marianna Leikomaa

Saturday 8th August

13.00: Klostersalen, panel: Telling stories in different media.
 Ben Aaronovitch, Jessica Elgenstierna (mod), Alexander Hallberg, Thomas Årnfelt, Tobias Bodlund A discussion about the differences and similarities of storytelling and of telling stories in books, games, comics and TV.

15.00: Jupiter: Kaffeklatsch med Ben Aaronovitch 
Limited number of participants. Sign up sheet in Registration.


19.00: Klostersalen, panel: Point of view 
Ben Aaronovitch, Linnéa Anglemark, Eva Holmquist, Flemming Rasch (mod), Johan Frick, Marcus Olausson How does the choice of point of view influence the reading and writing of a story? Why is a certain pov chosen? What effects are intended? What are the advantages and disadvantages for the reader and writer? Are there any special pov:s in genre literature, e g to tell a story from the point of view of an alien, or when you have to invent and present an imagined world?


Sunday 9th August

11.00: Jupiter, Group discussion: Mixing your genres for fun and profit.

13.00, Klostersalen: Animating locations.
Ben Aaronovitch, Kristina Hård, Jenny Milewski, Johan Jönsson (mod)
Many authors write about a place that they and perhaps also the readers know well, but although it is a common place it is given a “soul” or a specific personality. How do you as author give an ordinary place these properties?
Will some places work better than others - London is often used? Are there any places that are harder/impossible to animate? Do you have any examples of successful animations? Examples in addition to the participating authors: Neil Gaiman, Paul Cornell, Nene Ormes.

16.00, Klostersalen, panel: Three authors, three countries, three cultures.
Madeline Ashby, Ben Aaronovitch, Kristina Hård, Patrik Centerwall (mod) What is it like to be an author in Canada, UK and Sweden? How do the conditions differ, especially for writers of sf and fantasy? How is genre literature looked upon in the different countries? Is it becoming more or less appreciated, by the public and critics?

BODY WORK ISSUE #2 - OUT AUGUST 19TH

The Too British Song

I wrote this in response to all the reviews, both positive and negative, that felt that Rivers of London (aka Midnight Riot) was a 'little bit too British'.

The British Song
(With apologies to Alanis Morisette)

I chose a young man to be my hero
He’s a stoical lad who doesn’t complain
It’s about making a joke of your own pain
It’s about being the one who has to know
And isn’t it quite British… don’t you think?

Chorus
It’s like expecting rain on a sunny day
It’s about taking joy in the things that you say
It’s knowing from the start that the joke’s on you
And who would’ve thought… it’s British

He can insult you without having to try
He’ll apologise too without knowing why.
He’ll go his whole damn life without starting a fight.
But if you push him too far, it’s true
You won’t find it so nice
And isn’t it so British… don’t you think?

Chorus

Well the world is more than what you used to
When you think everything’s the same as your own neighbourhood
And the world is much bigger place
And it doesn’t owe you an explanation for the things you
Don’t understand.

It’s doing the job without making a fuss
It’s being good friends without having to gush
It’s about leaving people alone even if they are quite odd
It’s about winning a race
And not thanking god.
And isn’t it quite British …don’t you think
A little too British…and, yeah, I really don’t think…

Chorus

Body Work: Some Reviews

Selected Reviews
(Gosh I wonder what my selection criteria might be)

Kate MacDonald likes it - hurrah!

 Dean Fuller thinks Issue#1 is a strong start.

John Freeman is happy to report that the comic measures up mightily!

Fangirlnation things Body Work succeeds on all counts...

Karcossa thinks Issue#1 is a great first issue...

Al No thinks it's derivative and Betsey Chevron is put of by the use of the words "They say..." on the first page...

What I Did On MY Weekend.....

Apart from writing of course.

Friday

Note Foxglove Icing On Friday I went to Leominster Library, which despite looking on the outside like a young offender's institution turned out to be lovely and airy on the inside. Plus they provided me with an enormous spread including coffee and walnut cake.


Having consumed tremendous amount of sandwiches and cake it was fat and happy Ben that did his little Q&A with a small but friendly crowd.


Sunday

I went to YALC at Olympia where I did a panel with famous authors Melinda Salisbury, Amy Alward, Sally Green and Frances Hardinge.



We had a slightly larger turn out then in Leominster (all those top writers I think) but I couldn't help noticing that the larger the crowd the fewer the questions - curious eh?


After that it was my off to table too sign - to my surprise there was both a queue and my first ever sighting of Rivers of London cosplay - Lesley May and the Faceless Man I believe.


So after my signing session I went for a tour of the event with a friend and then home to feed the hungry word processor.

The Hanging Tree Cover