Patrick Ness's Blog, page 37

Monsters US Cover!! Exclusive!

So exclusive, apparently, I need exclamation points!  But, yes, here it is.  The US cover of Monsters of Men.  I think it's pretty excellent and looks great lined up next to the other American covers.  Kudos to Candlewick, my lovely US publishers.

To have a look (and compare and contrast) at the UK cover, take a look here.  As soon as I have other covers from around the world, I'll share them, too.

And hello to the newest commenters:  Jeri, Ghausia, Ronan, James (you can always write me...

LSE event and French release

The panel event last night at the London School of Economics Literature Festival went really well, despite the last-minute withdrawal of our chairman (who also pulled out at the last minute last year; there may be a lesson here), so I ended up chairing.  There were great questions from a number of schools who came and terrific meeting the teenage writing competition entrants afterwards at the reception.  An excellent event.

I've also heard today that the official release date of the French...

One more New Zealand event

I've added one more New Zealand event, in Auckland, to my Australia / New Zealand itinerary, on the evening of 12 March, at a school in Epsom.  Bookings through Jabberwocky Children's Bookstore.  Be great to see you there.

And don't forget if you're in London this week, I'll be appearing at the LSE Literary Festival discussing "The Future of Teen Fiction" with Mark Walden (of H.I.V.E. fame) and Alex Scarrow on Thursday, 11 Feb.  It's free, but you'll need to request a ticket here.

And finally, ...

Me on New Zealand television, Monsters in German and lots more

The "really cool" thing that I referred to as part of my tour of Australia and New Zealand has been confirmed: I'm going to be on TVNZ's Good Morning programme!  What fun, eh, live TV?  I'll be appearing the morning of Thursday, 11 March, and I'll also doing a public event later that day.  I've added both to my Events page and hope to be confirming a Wellington event soon, too.

I can also announce that the German version of Monsters of Men will be called Das brennende Messer ("The Burning...

Twitterview results and more Aust/NZ info

Yesterday's interview on Waterstone's Twitter page @Waterstones was great good fun.  Lots of great questions, and they've laid them all out nicely today on their Facebook page if you'd like to see how it went.

I've also updated some of the Australia/New Zealand schedule, including adding (at last) an event in Wellington, NZ.  There should be more to come for New Zealand, too, so stay tuned!

And a quick hello to the new commenters:  Jesse, Angie, Emma, Emily and Matt (Mr) Bakewell.  Cheers!

Twitterview tomorrow and Australia schedule up!

Just a quick reminder that I'm being interviewed on Waterstone's Twitter @waterstones tomorrow, 1 February at 5pm and the questions are coming from you!  You can log on live and ask questions there, or send questions in advance to tag #patrickness.  Lots of good questions already coming in.  Don't miss out!

And, equally importantly, my Australia Schedule for my visit in Feb/March is up on the Events page.  These are all my public events (I'll also be visiting tons of schools), and booking and ...

Costa Book Awards

I went to the Costa Book Awards Ceremony last night, which was great good fun.  The Ask and the Answer won the Children's Book Award, and the very nice Christopher Reid, from the Poetry Category, won Book of the Year.  Saw lots of celebrities and went home with a big cheque!  Can't complain.  And ended up, too, with a surprisingly good photo of myself in a suit.  A rare sighting indeed.

Don't forget I'm answering your questions on Waterstones Twitter @Waterstones on Monday, 1 February at...

Ask me questions on a Twitter interview!

This could be fun.  On Monday, 1 February, at 5pm (GMT), I'll be taking over I'll be taking over the @waterstones twitter for an hour to answer your questions about The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer, and Monsters of Men. Come online then with what you'd like to ask.  Or you can tweet them in advance, making sure to include tag #patrickness.  See you there!

Tuesday (26 Jan) is the announcement of the Costa Book of the Year, which I'm up for as winner of the Costa Children's...

Waterstone's page!

I've just got my very own Author Page on Waterstones.com.  It's got downloadable chapters and podcasts and a nifty new picture of yours truly.  Check it out.  And maybe buy some books while you're there. 

Busy week ahead (more when I'm allowed to tell you).  The Costa Book of the Year is announced on Tuesday.  A children's book has only won it once, but you never know!

And hello to the new commenters, Jo, Heather (May for UK, Ireland, Aust; Sept for the US), Michelle, LaylaViolet (he's talking ...

LSE Festival - 11 February

In addition to the Arvon Foundation writing course I'll be teaching that I mentioned earlier, I've also added a new appearance to the Events page.  I'll be appearing in London at the LSE Literature Festival on a panel discussing "The Future of Teen Fiction".  It's free, but you will need a ticket.  Hope to see there!

And hello to the new commenters (I can't answer every questions, I'm sorry!):  Skyler, Philippa (good luck with the writing), Sophie (not really, it's usually painful but...