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

[Darren]

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."

Never been to Holland but I do like Barrett's Licorice Allsorts.

Fitness and healthy living is something that I try to stay away from. Every time I do some exercise I injure myself.

[Lorraine]

Time's passing quickly, we're still yet to move on to the part dealing more directly with the books, please if you have any more questions about Darren, the Man, submit them now :)

Darren's got a few answers prepared for general questions, maybe he'd like to put them in a post just in case some of the questions are not asked?

[Darren]

Rosemary wrote: "Which authors are you enjoying reading at the moment Darren?"

I am on something of a retro kick at the moment because Arthur C Clarke's back catalogue is coming out on kindle and I've just read Rendezvous With Rama and A Fall of Moondust again. I've also just bought all the Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy books when they were uber cheap the other day, so I can see some of those being reread in the near future.

I really ought to try something new though.

What's good and new at the moment?

[Kath]

Good idea. Tell us the things we didn't know we didn't know.

[Katy]

My question didn't get answered, haha. Don't worry, I know how busy you are, I'm not offended ;) My question was, who has supported you the most with your writing?

[Kath]

He did answer that Katy.

[Darren]

Do you do a lot of planning?

Writing a book is like a journey for me and when I start I know where I’m departing from, what the destination is and some of the stops along the way, but the only way to know what the scenery is going to be like is to ride the train. It’s the only metaphor that I can come up with. Some scenes are planned out, some characters’ arcs are planned out, but the rest comes out of the writing and I discover a lot of it as I go.

Do you do a lot of research?

Where possible I like to keep things as real as I can. If I use real places then I research them and I try to use places that I know. There’s a reason why UNDEAD is based in Oxford and that first case took place around Slough and the South East. When the third book brought in Tunguska, though, I was having to research Russian Railways, lakes and tree spirits. The name of the Russian tree spirit in the third UNDEAD book is real, even if the creature in the books i not. Sadly, NASA turned down my request for a free research trip to the International Space Station.

[Lorraine]

Katy, check post 89 and your wish will be granted girlie x

[Kath]

Katy

My biggest supporter was my wife. Now I have a holy triumvirate of Ignite, Gingerlily and Patti who are triple-handedly bullying me into being a more confident writer.

[Lorraine]

Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

Arrrggghhhh! Nooooo....

[Kath]

NASA are no fun :(

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

I'm fairly sure that I'll have to after I've been cremated.

[Katy]

Thanks everyone! Sorry Darren, for some reason it didn't come up!

[Darren]

Katy wrote: "Thanks everyone! Sorry Darren, for some reason it didn't come up!"

Not a complaint that I've had before...

(*whistles innocently*)

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

I'm fairly sure that I'll have to after I've been cremated."

Thats no excuse! I have to go and lie down now. I've got palpatations!

[Patti (baconater)]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

Don't even joke about that!

[Lorraine]

Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

I'm fairly sure that I'll have to after I've been cremated."

You might find that they like you in Heaven, and they want you to fill up the great library in the sky with lots of new books from you?

[Emma]

Darren wrote: "Katy wrote: "Thanks everyone! Sorry Darren, for some reason it didn't come up!"

Not a complaint that I've had before...

(*whistles innocently*)"

Lol!

[Lorraine]

Katy wrote: "Thanks everyone! Sorry Darren, for some reason it didn't come up!"

Katy, I don't think goodreads can keep up tonight !

[Lorraine]

Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

Don't even joke about that!"

Is that a threat?

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "You might find that they like you in Heaven, and they want you to fill up the great library in the sky with lots of new books from you?"

Are you using the same definition of heaven as me?

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren, do you think you will ever stop writing?"

Don't even joke about that!"

Is that a threat?"

Now now, ladies. If there's going to be any fighting talk at this event then it should be me ... who referees the bout. I'll just order the mud.

[Lorraine]

Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "You might find that they like you in Heaven, and they want you to fill up the great library in the sky with lots of new books from you?"

Are you ..."

I don't know, I saw it in amazon and adopted it... although not sure if I prefer this one or the one where people just happily wander around naked among the clouds...

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

The wandering naked among the clouds will only work if we all get new bodies!

[Darren]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "You might find that they like you in Heaven, and they want you to fill up the great library in the sky with lots of new books from ..."

This is mine from The Great Rock N Roll Doomsday Tour

"It was the view from the windows that fascinated Douglas the most. The office seemed to be at the top of a tall tower, surrounded by a forest of other slender minarets amongst which suspended walkways meandered with no visible means of support. Beyond was a chequerboard of fields and grasslands, forests and lakes. Angels dressed in white strolled together in conversation and laughter. There wasn’t a single taxi in sight or a honking horn to be heard. A group of angels hovered outside the window, waiting for the light to turn green so that they could continue their flight."

[Darren]

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "The wandering naked among the clouds will only work if we all get new bodies!"

Can I get Monica Bellucci's?

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Darren wrote: "Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "The wandering naked among the clouds will only work if we all get new bodies!"

Can I get Monica Bellucci's?"

Or Elvira's if you've been extra good.

[Lorraine]

Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Darren wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "You might find that they like you in Heaven, and they want you to fill up the gr..."

TGRNRDT has just gone up a few notches in my tbr list :)
Got to look up a couple of words in the dictionary though !

[Lorraine]

Right, I think that was a fair amount of questions, and now we know a lot more about our Darren (although nothing allowing a little bit of blackmail sadly)...


Before we move on to the next part which goes more into details about Darren’s books, please would you mind taking the time maybe later, for those who haven’t already, and send me an email with your choice (up to three choices actually) for the next live event, among those writers:



<- Stuart Ayris

<- Ian Ayris





<- Mel Comley
Ok the writers don’t know yet, well they might do now ! If you want more information, the thread is there. By all means if you have any comments about the way the events are run we’re happy to get suggestions and ideas too !

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...

[Lorraine]

Sorry for the brief interlude

WE ARE NOW BACK ON


Darren, let's talk about your books...

[Patti (baconater)]

Of all the creatures you've created for your books, which is your favourite and why?

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

My pumpkin has arrived, must fly! Thanks Darren, Lorraine, it's been Epic xxx

[Kath]

Was that the adverts? Should have made a brew.

[Darren]

Rosemary wrote: "My pumpkin has arrived, must fly! Thanks Darren, Lorraine, it's been Epic xxx"

Bye Rosemary.

[Lorraine]

Ignite wrote: "Was that the adverts? Should have made a brew."

No no time Ignite, it's what adverts should be like.Lightning quick!

[Gingerlily - The Full Wild]

Do you have clear pictures in your head of what your characters look like?

[Patti (baconater)]

I would have gone to the lobby and got myself a snack.

[E A M Harris]

Do you think it matters what your characters look like?

[Darren]

Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "Of all the creatures you've created for your books, which is your favourite and why?"

I have a soft spot for Balrek. That's probably a bit unfair since I didn't invent orcs and he's a major character.

The Man From U.N.D.E.A.D. books are a lot of fun since they allow me to come up with all kinds of wierdies.

I'm going to annoy everyone by saying that I am very fond of both the Braindrainers and Skipper Imps from Man From U.N.D.E.A.D. 4.

[Lorraine]

Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "I would have gone to the lobby and got myself a snack."

We can now claim that LIVE EVENTS ARE OFFICIALLY GOOD FOR YOUR WAISTLINE !

[Kath]

Telling us about U.N.D.E.A.D 4 is not annoying. It's comforting to know that there are more!

[Patti (baconater)]

Yes that is annoying, you! When will 4 be out???

[Sadie]

Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "I would have gone to the lobby and got myself a snack."

We can now claim that LIVE EVENTS ARE OFFICIALLY GOOD FOR YOUR WAISTLINE !"

It hasn't stopped me stopped me from devouring half a bag o Cool Original Doritos.

[Darren]

Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "Do you have clear pictures in your head of what your characters look like?"

I know absolutely what my characters look like, but I bet that they're not the same as the ones in your head.

Any book is a partnership between author and reader and the experience of the story is unique to each reader. The job of the author is to do just enough to allow you to build up a convincing image in your head, not completely define what that image is.

I hope that answers EAM's question as well.

[Patti (baconater)]

Chuck some this way Sadie but keep them away from Ignite. She's a bigger Dorito fiend than I am.

[Lorraine]

Sadie wrote: "Lorraine - Spoiler code in the first post wrote: "Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "I would have gone to the lobby and got myself a snack."

We can now claim that LIVE EVENTS ARE OFFICIALLY GOOD FOR..."

uh oh... will put in the statement that the next writer will have to find a way to remedy to our members feeling like snacking in the middle of the event !

[Kath]

I prefer the cheese!

[Darren]

Patti (Perky Pineapple) wrote: "Yes that is annoying, you! When will 4 be out???"

Patti, I'll let you fight that one out with Ignite who said that it's not annoying just one post before yours.

UNDEAD 4 (I don't have even a working title for this one yet) will be out later in the year all being well. The first draft is complete, but needs a lot of work because it's just a little bit different.

[Lorraine]

Em, you there? we're talking about characters, this might be a good time to ask your question girlie x