Live Event with Darren Humphries - 23rd of March 2012 at 7.30 pm

[Kath]

But for fantastic literary fiction try Stormwreck That book really turned me on the Darren's potential as a writer. I'd like to know if he will ever go down that darker route again?

[Lorraine]

Hi to everyone who's just joined. Instructions are in the first post, and if you have any questions about Darren himself, please do so :)

[Darren]

Hi Mews, Hi Rosemary.

Having a good time so far so don't mess it up OK? :0)

[Darren]

Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "*roots around in Darren's back pocket*

Ewwwwww. Crusty tissue. Oh you meant that figuratively, eh?"

Thank goodness you weren't mooching around in the front pockets again.

[Angel]

Sorry, I am probably jumping in with something that is not up to where the discussion is - though my excuse is I have flu and my brain isn't up to much and I am also not used to this forum. But before I give up and go to bed my 48 yr old husband and 13 year old son are hounding me to tell you how much they both love the sword in the tree and the great rock and roll doomsday tour. Keep em coming -we haven't found many books that span the interests of everyone in the family. We've downloaded a couple more and now everyone is fighting over the kindles!

[Lorraine]

Hi Angel and warm warm welcome to you :)

[Kath]

Hi Angel - I'm suffering from flu too so I feel your pain. Do try the UNDEAD series - they are really something.

[Darren]

Ignite wrote: "But for fantastic literary fiction try Stormwreck That book really turned me on the Darren's potential as a writer. I'd like to know if he will ever go down that darker route again?"

I have no current plans to go down that route again at present, but then I don't have any plans not to go down that route again.

In fact, I do have one thing that's on the back-back-back burner that has the potential to get a little dark.

[Kath]

Oh, keep it simmering for me then!

[Lorraine]

Ignite wrote: "Oh, keep it simmering for me then!"


And me !

[eastwood (do you feel lucky punk,well do ya)]

Can you handle all these women,or do you need assistance darren ?

[Kath]

Right, is there any of you in Agent Ward. (Hope so because he's lovely - in a seriously destructive way!)

[Lorraine]

Here's one of mine: Do you encourage your children to be creative? Are you actively trying to get them into writing (well obviously just child number 1 for now)?

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

I can't wait for more Agent Ward, and are we going to have more Balrek? Please??

[Darren]

Angel wrote: "Sorry, I am probably jumping in with something that is not up to where the discussion is - though my excuse is I have flu and my brain isn't up to much and I am also not used to this forum. But be..."

Angel thank you so much for your kind words and I do hope that you feel much better soon. This flu seems to be all around the forum so gas masks on folks.

It is comments like that one that make the effort it takes to put a book on Amazon worthwhile. This forum allows so much great interaction like that and it is only good for the writer. I love this forum and Patti and Simon are at least demi-gods for sorting it out.

I do hope that the other books don't let you down.

[Emma]

I have a secret crush on Agent Ward so hoping there is some of Darren in him!!!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

HI Darren! Seems that the release of Star Wars in 77 had a huge effect on a number of "creatives" over the years - how would you say it has affected your work? and has any fantasy/scifi film really had the same influence generally since?

[Joo]

A random one from me as it was a surprise to read it in a novel, but have you been to / know Caerphilly & Pontypridd, or did you just pick it from sticking a pin in a map

[Kath]

We've all got a crush on Ward - except Darren, Simon and Eastwood, obviously.

[Darren]

eastwood (go ahead make my day) wrote: "Can you handle all these women,or do you need assistance darren ?"

Eastwood, good of you to arrive and up the testosterone levels a bit. Come in, sit down and get stuck in... no put her down.

Some people are just too literal.

[Darren]

Ignite wrote: "Right, is there any of you in Agent Ward. (Hope so because he's lovely - in a seriously destructive way!)"

I wrote him so there must be some of me in him right?

I wish.

The sarky bit is all me. I refer you also to Ekran in An Orc Not Like Others. All of the bravery, intelligence, strong moral code and ability to charm the pants off women are all the things that I would like to have.

[Lorraine]

Ignite wrote: "We've all got a crush on Ward - except Darren, Simon and Eastwood, obviously."

I don't actually, mine was on the sidekick (the fact that he comes from a rich family was obviously a very very important thing for me)

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Well you seem to have charmed a load of the women on here.

[Kath]

You couldn't write them if you didn't have them. Must read 'Orc'.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Ignite wrote: "You couldn't write them if you didn't have them. Must read 'Orc'."

Its great Ignite. I loved it.

[Kath]

He knows what I'll do if I read it. I'm incorrigable.

[Maureen (Mews)]

'Orc' was fantastic Ignite. I am sure you will like it too ;-)

[Darren]

Rosemary wrote: "HI Darren! Seems that the release of Star Wars in 77 had a huge effect on a number of "creatives" over the years - how would you say it has affected your work? and has any fantasy/scifi film really..."

I was twelve when I saw STAR WARS so I was of course blown away, but I was already a sci fi fan through DOCTOR WHO and the famous BBC 2 sci fi film seasons. I was already watching stuff like SILENT RUNNING, THEM, THIS ISLAND EARTH, all of which had a huge effect on me.

For my writing, the biggest immediate influence was the radio/TV series THE HITCH HIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY. Look at any of the comic fictions that I write and the ghost of Douglas Adams roams through them (probably throwing barbed insults around liberally).

[Lorraine]

Darren, if this helps, you can answer several questions in the same reply :)

Isn't he doing a fab job, everyone?

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Of coursr he is Lorraine. Everything he does is fab.

[eastwood (do you feel lucky punk,well do ya)]

Well it makes a change from kicking a ball about,but will spectate for awhile looks like your busy so enjoy it darren good luck mate.

[Darren]

Joo The Grand Inquisitor wrote: "A random one from me as it was a surprise to read it in a novel, but have you been to / know Caerphilly & Pontypridd, or did you just pick it from sticking a pin in a map"

I needed a place in Wales and I needed a mining area and the research that I did led me to that location. My only forays into Wales have been to Cardiff, though Patti has intentions to change that. What I've seen of it is lovely and TORCHWOOD is set there so I can forgive the country an awful lot.

[Kath]

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "Of coursr he is Lorraine. Everything he does is fab."

How much are you paying her?

My invoice will be in the post!

[Patti (baconater)]

Darren wrote: "Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "*roots around in Darren's back pocket*

Ewwwwww. Crusty tissue. Oh you meant that figuratively, eh?"

Thank goodness you weren't mooching around in the front pockets..."

I was going to mooch there next!

[Darren]

Ignite wrote: "He knows what I'll do if I read it. I'm incorrigable."

Not the word that I usually use.

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Now Patti. Don't distract him when he's trying to concentrate...

[Kath]

Darren wrote: "Ignite wrote: "He knows what I'll do if I read it. I'm incorrigable."

Not the word that I usually use."

Fnar fnar!

[Lorraine]

Darren, please, can you go back to questions 113 and 114 ? Unless I missed your replies lol, it's pretty busy in here !

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, if this helps, you can answer several questions in the same reply :)"

Are you asking me to multitask?

[Sadie]

Darren wrote: "eastwood (go ahead make my day) wrote: "Can you handle all these women,or do you need assistance darren ?"

Eastwood, good of you to arrive and up the testosterone levels a bit. Come in, sit down..."

Is it ok for me to laugh at this? 'Cause I'm just barely containing myself.

[Lorraine]

Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, if this helps, you can answer several questions in the same reply :)"

Are you asking me to multitask?"

Yep can you do that?

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Here's one of mine: Do you encourage your children to be creative? Are you actively trying to get them into writing (well obviously just child number 1 for now)?"

I'm not trying to get child number one into writing because he loathes the whole physical act and until he gets that sorted it will totally turn him off, but he already likes making up stories when he's not playing football, going to football, watching football, playing football games...

I encourage all forms of creativity in both the kids. Anything that might lead them to fame and fortune and the ability to keep me in the manner to which I would like to become accustomed.

[Michael]

Darren, I believe I saw you in Holland and Barrett earlier today buying some cod liver oil tablets.

Did you buy the health magazine that they sell at the counter? I never bother with it myself.

[Jay-me (Janet)]

Sorry I'm late I was & then I


I don't have any questions at the moment.....so just carry on..

[Kath]

Michael wrote: "Darren, I believe I saw you in Holland and Barrett earlier today buying some cod liver oil tablets.

Did you buy the health magazine that they sell at the counter? I never bother with it myself."

Shame. He writes it!

[Sadie]

Michael wrote: "Darren, I believe I saw you in Holland and Barrett earlier today buying some cod liver oil tablets.

Did you buy the health magazine that they sell at the counter? I never bother with it myself."

Michael, I'm pretty sure the restraining order says not within 150 yards.

[[deleted user]]

Jay-me (Janet) ~plum chutney is best~ wrote: "Sorry I'm late I was & then I


I don't have any questions at the moment.....so just carry on.."

Love the smileys Janet! And hi! *waves*

Can't think of any intelligent questions but am enjoying following along...

:0)

[Darren]

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "I can't wait for more Agent Ward, and are we going to have more Balrek? Please??"

Yes, there will be more Balrek. The sequel to An Orc Not Like Others is in the works and the final book in the trilogy is starting to come into focus in my head.

I can say that the original idea was that the stories would take him to the point where he became the new Dark Lord, but I kinda got to like hte big guy and had a word with his agent. Now the story's going off in another direction. He also promised to set his wife on me so I definitely capitulated.

[Darren]

Sadie wrote: "Is it ok for me to laugh at this? 'Cause I'm just barely containing myself. "

I'd appreciate it if you would.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Which authors are you enjoying reading at the moment Darren?