Patrick Ness's Blog, page 5

Working, working...

Gosh, it's been a busy year, hasn't it?  I've been away from home for something like 61 nights this year so far, have heard the flight safety briefing 28 times (in several languages) and have been to three different continents.  No wonder I get so sleepy.

But I'm working, I'm working.  Nearly done with the first draft of my next book (out next year some time, all things being well), been working hard on the A Monster Calls movie script as we lead up to shooting (wow!), as well as other movie work, which has been a nice surprise.  So it's not like I'm earning my keep.

In the meantime, I've also been doing events, including this week in Glasgow:  First on Wednesday night at Waterstones Braehead in Glasgow at 630pm.  Book your tickets here.  The next day, I'm doing an Authors Live event for the wonderful Scottish Booktrust, open for schools to log-in and watch.

Then on 24 June, I'm doing the City of Stories Event as part of the FLY Festival in Norwich.  Slightly confusingly, there are two separate allocations of tickets.  There are a few left from the Festival itself (try them first here), and then there are a bunch for different seats available from Norwich Playhouse here.  Try both to get the best seat.

The next day, 25 June, I'm with the Norfolk Children's Book Centre, doing a schools event at 1.30, then an evening event open for anybody at 7pm, in Aylsham.  Their website is here, but email Marilyn Brocklehurst for details. 

Greetings to the new commenters, more soon...

Sakura medal and events soon!

Just found out (from a commenter on the comments page!) that A Monster Calls has won the Sakura Medal, voted on by schools in Japan.  Which is awesome!

I've got a couple events coming up very soon:  On 11 June, I'm first doing an event at Waterstones Braehead in Glasgow at 630pm.  Book your tickets here.  The next day, I'm doing an Authors Live event for the wonderful Scottish Booktrust, open for schools to log-in and watch.

Then on 24 June, I'm doing the City of Stories Event as part of the FLY Festival in Norwich.  Slightly confusingly, there are two separate allocations of tickets.  There are a few left from the Festival itself (try them first here), and then there are a bunch for different seats available from Norwich Playhouse here.  Try both to get the best seat.

The next day, 25 June, I'm with the Norfolk Children's Book Centre, doing a schools event at 1.30, then an evening event open for anybody at 7pm, in Aylsham.  Their website is here, but email Marilyn Brocklehurst for details. 

Then of course in July, there's YALC!  Come to YALC in London.  Details here.  TONS of interesting stuff.

URGENT! SHORT NOTICE! Open Casting Calls for A Monster Calls in the UK starting TOMORROW!

Are you a male actor between 10-13 in the UK? Do you know one? They're holding open auditions for Conor in A Monster Calls this week.

It's very short notice: Manchester TOMORROW, then Bristol on Thursday and London on Friday. Please go to my Twitter feed for all details, follow all instructions, and good luck! 

Rolling Stone's Best Ever YA Books

Rolling Stone magazine have picked The Knife of Never Letting Go as one of the Best Ever YA Books.  Which is quite nifty.  It's a really wide-ranging list, too, not all the usual suspects.  Check it out.

In the meantime, don't forget I've got upcoming events!  Yes, I do!  On 11 June, I'm first doing an event at Waterstones Braehead in Glasgow at 630pm.  Book your tickets here.  The next day, I'm doing an Authors Live event for the wonderful Scottish Booktrust, open for schools to log-in and watch.

Then on 24 June, I'm doing the City of Stories Event as part of the FLY Festival in Norwich.  Slightly confusingly, there are two separate allocations of tickets.  There are a few left from the Festival itself (try them first here), and then there are a bunch for different seats available from Norwich Playhouse here.  Try both to get the best seat.

The next day, 25 June, I'm with the Norfolk Children's Book Centre, doing a schools event at 1.30, then an evening event open for anybody at 7pm, in Aylsham.  Their website is here, but email Marilyn Brocklehurst for details. 

Then of course in July, there's YALC!  Come to YALC in London.  Details here.  TONS of interesting stuff.

I'm working on events for Dublin and a few in August, so stay tuned!

Upcoming events - Norway, Norwich, Glasgow...

Next week, I'm at the Lillehammer Book Festival, doing a number of events, so hope to see some Norwegian readers there.  My grandfather immigrated to the US from Norway, so I've got roots.

On 11 June, I'm first doing an event at Waterstones Braehead in Glasgow at 630pm.  Book your tickets here.  The next day, I'm doing an Authors Live event for the wonderful Scottish Booktrust, open for schools to log-in and watch.

Then on 24 June, I'm doing the City of Stories Event as part of the FLY Festival in Norwich.  Slightly confusingly, there are two separate allocations of tickets.  There are a few left from the Festival itself (try them first here), and then there are a bunch for different seats available from Norwich Playhouse here.  Try both to get the best seat.

The next day, 25 June, I'm with the Norfolk Children's Book Centre, doing a schools event at 1.30, then an evening event open for anybody at 7pm, in Aylsham.  Their website is here, but email Marilyn Brocklehurst for details. 

Then of course in July, there's YALC!  Come to YALC in London.  Details here.  TONS of interesting stuff.

I'm working on events for Dublin and a few in August, so stay tuned!

London event tomorrow! Norway next week! ...and A Monster Calls casting news!

Kept trying to post this over the weekend, but my hosting server was down.  I'm at the fab indie bookstore Lutyens & Rubenstein tomorrow night in London!  It's at 7pm, tix available here.  Looks like a good crowd, come along!

Next week, I'm in Norway, at the Norsk Litteraturfestival in Lillehammer! It's the country of my people! I'll be only of average height! Do come along, I'm doing several events and am very excited. 

Also VERY excited to confirm that the Monster Calls film is moving along very well indeed. The amazing Felicity Jones is playing the mother and it's only LIAM NEESON PLAYING THE MONSTER! Awesome, yeah? So happy.

That article has a number of small inaccuracies in it, but don't worry, all's well.  I keep being asked about the Chaos Walking films, too.  Let's just say, I know a number of very cool things about that, but I can't say yet.  I will the instant I'm allowed to, I promise

England events starting tomorrow!

I've been away (again) in Budapest and Barcelona (for work), but I'm back in England.  And I'm touring it!  Starting tomorrow with you, Hull.  Come see me! 

Hull, 7 May, 5.30pm - I'm doing the 4th Annual Children's Writing Event at Hull University. All welcome, details here.

York, 8 May, 7pm - An event at Waterstones York. Ticket info here.

Birmingham, 9 May, 1.45pm - Schools event at the fab new Birmingham Library. Selling out quickly, details here.

London, 13 May, 7pm - Rare London event at indie bookstore Lutyens & Rubenstein. Ticket info here.

Lillehammer, Norway, 21-22 May - Several events at the Norsk Litteratur Festival. Come along! My granddad was Norwegian!

Norwich, 24 June, 7.30pm - Norwich Writers Center & FLY Festival event at Norwich Theatre. Slightly confusingly, there are two separate ticket allocations: the one for the Fest is here (only a few left, but try it first) and the rest from the theatre here (tho their website goes up and down a bit).

Greetings to all the new commenters, and as for writing advice, I've got tons of it!  Check out the Writing tab above.  There's a link to a huge set of writing tips I wrote for Booktrust.  More soon.

Hungary events! And all your commenting questions.

Hi, there, I know, I know, I've been away.  It's been a very long time since I've updated, and I'm sorry for that. I'm travelling again from tomorrow to Hungary (see below) but first greetings to all you fantastic new commenters.

I'm sorry I can't answer every question or inquiry; if I did, I'd have no time to write.  There's some nifty stuff there (a Goodreads group is going to do The Crane Wife) and I'm SO thrilled to hear from the students in the South Korean school.  Huge greetings to you.  And no, Michael Gove was not the inspiration for the Mayor.  I don't think Michael Gove is much of an inspiration for anything.  So, thank you!

And I'm going to be in Hungary!  I've got three public events, so do please come along.  On Friday, at 2pm, I'll be at Karoli University. All are welcome.  Late Friday night, I'm doing a late bookstore event at 9.30pm at Ket Eger.  And on Saturday, I'm at the Budapest Book Fair in Millenaris Park from 12-1330 with book signing after.  Hope to see you there!

I've also got a lot of English events coming soon, so check out the entry just below this one!

More events! Budapest! Norway! And UK!

I've got quite a few more public events coming up, all over the place. Starting in Hungary and going all around the houses, including Norway! And Hull! Mostly for the More Than This paperback, but happy to talk about anything.

Budapest, 26 April - I'm going to be at Budapest's 21st International Book Fair on the Saturday. Exact details when I've got 'em!

Hull, 7 May, 5.30pm - I'm doing the 4th Annual Children's Writing Event at Hull University. All welcome, details here.

York, 8 May, 7pm - An event at Waterstones York. Ticket info here.

Birmingham, 9 May, 1.45pm - Schools event at the fab new Birmingham Library. Selling out quickly, details here.

London, 13 May, 7pm - Rare London event at indie bookstore Lutyens & Rubenstein. Ticket info here.

Lillehammer, Norway, 21-22 May - Several events at the Norsk Litteratur Festival. Come along! My granddad was Norwegian!

Norwich, 24 June, 7.30pm - Norwich Writers Center & FLY Festival event at Norwich Theatre. Slightly confusingly, there are two separate ticket allocations: the one for the Fest is here (only a few left, but try it first) and the rest from the theatre here (tho their website goes up and down a bit).

 

 

 

A MONSTER CALLS MOVIE!!!!

I know I haven't updated in a while, but that's because I've been working furiously to finalise all the details on the A MONSTER CALLS MOVIE!!  Yep, that's right, it's going to be a movie!  Directed by (who directed The Orphanage and The Impossible), produced by (who produced Pan's Labyrinth) and written by me.

Shooting starts this fall and if there are open auditions, I'll put that info here.  But yay!  A movie!

Greetings to the new commenters.  I do read them all...