Sean Gibson > Recent Status Updates

I just realized it's Mystery Week here on GR! Let's celebrate--we'll give free Kindle or PDF copies of The Strange Task Before Me to everyone who lists their favorite mystery book (or books) below in the comments this week.

I know it's paradoxically harder to get reading time right now despite the fact that we're all home all the time. Hang in there, and raise your hand if you need a kind word, my friends.

Harry's inspired me to use my time sheltering at home to improve my Quidditch skills. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-qOrBEAQ_5/

This just in: I suck at Quidditch.

Reviewing line edits from my publisher for The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True and spending most of the time thinking, "I am one hilarious big-nosed bastard. I'm like a Nic Cage-level National Treasure. I would so swoon if I met me."

On December 15, you, too, can swoon and compare me to the finest actor of his generation. Or at least the most absurdly crazy.

Rereading with my son...

Filch is so wonderfully Dickensian. And Ron is such a dick to him. But I'm still going to laugh when Ron says stuff because it's a YA book and everyone needs to chill about overreacting to every perceived slight and alleged example of an author's heinous personal philosophy being displayed by their characters in books where elves want socks and willow trees beat the shit out of cars.

“WITH THE NAZIS ON THE RUN, THE RANKS OF defective twins—now swelled by the majority of their siblings—turned toward Nova Godói.”

Yeah, that about sums up where we’re at.

You guys doing okay? There's a lot happening. If you're anything like me, forced time at home has led to much LESS reading/writing time (thanks to juggling kids and work full time, and the line between home and work blurring to the point of non-existence).

This WILL get better. But, in the meantime, hang in there, stay safe, and listen to smart doctors and science people, please.

And read when you can!

Damn. Pendergast's about to go cut a dude.

Not unlike real life, so much drama, heartache, and consternation could be avoided if people would just say their thought bubbles out loud.

Though we WOULD miss out on some unintentional comedy if that happened.

It's very surreal reading this during a global pandemic. Though I guess you can say that about anything that's not about a global pandemic.

Ah, some delicious 60s comic comfort food; perfect for a pandemic.

Sometimes you gotta make your own fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmPYF...

Those of you who have kids may be familiar with the very weird phenomenon of kids watching people open blind bags on Youtube. We're now contributing to that phenomenon in our own unique way.

I'd like to write a review of this at some point if the world would just stop apocalypsing for five minutes, please and thank you.

Pendergast, looking like me senior year of high school: getting beat up by a 15-year-old.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9t2oKsgK...

I heard from a credible source that reading books inoculates against COVID-19. And, since you're stuck inside, you probably need more books to read.

So, what the heck--let's give some books away. If you want a PDF or Kindle version of any of the crap here (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...), just comment below and I'll message you. We'll keep it going through Friday.

Tell your peeps!

Annoying ask: for reasons unknown to the powers that be, a bunch of reviews of The Camelot Shadow recently disappeared from GR. If yours was one of them, I'd be grateful if you wouldn't mind reposting it (or at least rating the book again). Even if you hated it. Though hopefully you didn't. Because it's just as lemony fresh as ever. And so am I, because I sprayed Pledge all over myself this morning.

I think we all know the answer to the question, "Are you working this case in an official capacity, Mr. Pendergast?"

Because the answer has never been yes.

It's time for another go-round with Pendergast and company, which means it's also time to put on my food metaphor hat.

(Incidentally, said hat is very sticky and makes me look a bit like a giant rhubarb. In case you were wondering.)

You ever get that feeling where you're anxious about how things are going to wrap up because you feel like there aren't enough pages left in the book to bring things to a close? Yeah, that's me right now.

Fun fact: During his funeral, Henry Irving spent 3 hours and 47 minutes awkwardly soliloquizing about his own magnificence while Bram Stoker fawningly took notes. It was only when the presiding minister pointedly cleared his throat that Irving took up a dramatic pose of repose and, with a final heavenward gaze, fully up and died so they could get on with the proceedings.

Fun fact: due to a misprint, the first edition of Dracula saw the heroes finish the Count with a "steak" to the heart. The typo was subsequently corrected, but not before an enterprising butcher had established a successful marketing campaign around garlic-marinated T-bones that he pitched to the public as "state-of-the-art vampire home defense systems." He retired a wealthy man.

You just know Romeo owns every Dashboard Confessional album.

Fun fact: woke Victorians shouted down Stoker at public readings because, in their words, "YOU'RE NOT A VAMPIRE! IT'S NOT YOUR STORY TO TELL! YOU'RE TOO TAN TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE TREATED LIKE A BLOOD-SUCKING CREATURE OF THE NIGHT!"

I will never not be a sucker for a big, epic fantasy battle.

This is, perhaps, the most insightful tidbit yet: that ol' Bram would laugh heartily at the entirety of the literary analysis in this book, having written Dracula for the sole purpose of selling a bunch of copies and making a shit ton of money.

I think Marc Silvestri felt about drawing backgrounds how modern politicians and pretty much everyone engaged in public discourse feel about facts: they're optional window dressing, and, frankly, we're better off without them.

I don't think anything would make Skal happier than to find proof that once upon a time Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker appreciated each other's strength* while Henry Irving watched and told Stoker he was an inadequate lover.

*By which I mean rode the midnight train to pound town.

For those who missed it, we've got a confirmed release date for The Part About the Dragon Was (Mostly) True: December 15. If you love Pratchett-esque comedic fantasy, well, this will be an exceedingly poor substitute. But, it has multiple poop jokes in it. Add it to your TBR...IF YOU DARE.

In the meantime, maybe we should do a The Chronicle of Heloise & Grimple giveaway. What say you, friends?

I absolutely love the art in this book. I'm still only like 67% sure I know what's happening in the story, but I do know I'm mildly terrified of Maika.

I still can't decide if I'm frightened or turned on at the thought of the "searing caress" of this guy's thermal hands: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6A2PqihSAE/

I might just be hungry. I'm going to go make some eggs.