Michael Scott

The Official UK Book Trailer for The Alchemyst

2011-11-22T18:52:37Z

The Alchemyst UK 2012 cover

Random House Children’s Books, the UK publishers of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series has released this stunning trailer for The Alchemyst.

In the past few years, book trailers have become more and more sophisticated. Once, they were simply images of the books with a little flash animation, but nowadays, they are mini-movies with real actors and special effects. I love this particular trailer because Nicholas looks astonishingly like the Nicholas Flamel in the books.

The trailer is released to coincide with the relaunch of the series in the UK and Ireland with a stunning new cover treatment. These covers are based off the original USA covers but have been tweaked and enhanced in really interesting and subtle ways. I’m thrilled with them: they are clean and striking. I’ll post images of the all new covers in a separate blog posting.

Previously, the UK editions came with additional text: selections from the Secret Diaries of Niccolo Machiavelli and these new editions are no different. They include brief biographies of the main characters.

The Thirteen Hallows

2011-10-31T21:41:23Z

So, October is my month for covers, and we finish it with a great one: The Thirteen Hallows.

This is the new adult horror novel coming from Tor on 6th December, which I’ve co written with the incredibly talented Colette Freedman.

I wanted to release the official preview of the cover today because (as you will find out) and the finale of The Thirteen Hallows takes place on this very night, Hallowe’en. As you can see the finished cover, with the embossed silver sword looks spectacular.

This is a horror story based around the thirteen ancient hallowed objects of Britain. Like a lot of my work it is rooted in mythology – indeed, I first wrote about the thirteen hallows of Britain in 1995 in a novel entitled The Hallows. The other huge influence on this work is the poem The New Jerusalem by William Blake in 1808.

The poem was put to music by Sir William Parry in 1916 and has become one of the great English hymns, Jerusalem. There are many different recordings and it is usually sung at Royal Weddings, although I am not sure if people actually know what the words mean. (Though they will give you a clue to the story.)

Tor are making available a couple of ARCS Advanced Reading Copies to two lucky winners, and have just released a great book trailer.

The book will be in a shops on the 6th December.

Announcing The Enchantress Cover

2011-10-05T18:30:29Z

The Enchantress {The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel}

So October is obviously my month for covers. Last week I released Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas cover, which is coming in November. Today, I am delighted to give you all a very early look at the last cover in The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series: The Enchantress.

I’ve published many books over the years and, in the main, I’ve been fairly lucky with my covers. But I have to say, the covers to this series, created by Michael Wagner, are breath-taking. The care and attention to detail in the imagery is fabulous and by now, you will know that each item, every icon and all the symbols relate to the story. The fans have had a lot of fun deciphering the symbols, and there’s a full breakdown on the official fan forum.

The Warlock was printed on a gold paper – and if you’re reading the series, you’ll know why. So, it should come as no surprise when you discover that this will be on silver foil. And if you can’t guess who the Enchantress is by now, you’ve not been paying attention.

Next month will see the new UK covers – which are fabulous.

Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas

2011-09-26T21:06:28Z

Billy the Kid and Vampyres of Vegas ebook by Michael Scott

I’ve kept you waiting long enough. This is the latest lost story from the Flamel series, Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas. I thought you might like to see the official press release.

Random House Children’s Books will release the second ebook original from New York Times bestselling author Michael Scott, it was announced today. The e-original is entitled BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers / $1.99) and will be available November 22, 2011 wherever ebooks are sold.

This story about the famed 19th-century American outlaw is available exclusively in digital format and is the newest addition to Scott’s series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, which is based on individuals from history, folklore, and legend. This ebook original is a short story that will fascinate fans and whet their appetites for the last and final book in the six-part series, The Enchantress, available May 2012.

In BILLY THE KID AND THE VAMPYRES OF VEGAS, Michael Scott, @flamelauthor, offers the tale of Billy the Kid and Scathach’s first meeting, and their joint battle against the unseen yet deadly vampyres who control the city of Las Vegas.

Michael Scott’s first ebook original, The Death of Joan of Arc: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, was published in August 2010.

For more information about Michael Scott and the series, visit the all-new website at SecretsOfNicholasFlamel.com, or Facebook at Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel.

Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, eBooks, and apps, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, Kids @ Random (Randomhouse.com/kids) offers an array of activities, games and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.

Why Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas?

2011-09-26T21:10:34Z

So, I’m sure you’ve read the announcement today about of the new short story, Billy the Kid and the Vampyres of Vegas which will be published online on the 22^nd November as part of The Lost Tales series.

Although the series is called The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, neither Nicholas nor Perenelle are the most popular characters. Sophie and Josh score fairly highly with the fans, but the three most popular characters are Scathach, Billy, and Machiavelli. I get more mail for these three than all the rest combined. So, when I decided to do a new story in the series, it was clear that it had to feature the fan favorites.

The structure of the Flamel books means that each episode takes place over a day or two. The action in the entire six book series takes place over one week. But because all the characters have had full and interesting lives before they appear in this story, it means that I can (and will) go back into their histories to tell some of the stories they allude to or hint at in the text.

This was a fun story to do. Its just over 15,000 words and takes place about two years before the events in The Alchemyst. And, just as the title suggests, it features Billy the Kid, the vampyres of Vegas and Scathach. Yes, I do know that Billy tells Machiavelli that he has never met Scathach.

Now, you’ll find out why.

Something Wicked this Way Comes

2011-09-25T19:12:43Z

Something Wicked this Way Comes

(and yes, I have stolen that wonderful title from the extraordinary Ray Bradbury and if you haven’t read it: you should!). He, of course, borrowed it from William Shakespeare.

I’ve been counting down to something special which I’ll announce here tomorrow, the 27th September at 2.00 GMT, 9.00 EST.

It is Flamel related, (and no, it is not the movie…).

So, 24 hours and counting…

Once lost, now found. It’s coming soon…

2011-09-18T16:07:32Z

104 days, 16 hours, 43 minutes, 33 seconds ago

Return to us soon and all will be revealed.

Click here to tweet this secret.

“We are living in a magical age.” Barnes and Noble interview

2011-06-11T18:17:43Z

A few days ago I was interviewed by Barnes and Noble as part of the Warlock Tour. We spoke about mythology, history, world folklore and the possibility of a Scáthach spin off.

Follow @flamelauthor

Barnes and Noble, West Jordan, UT – Stop 9 on The Warlock Book Tour

2011-06-06T21:08:02Z

Barnes and Noble, West Jordan, UT

For the next stop on the Warlock book tour I will be signing copies of the book at 6pm on June 7 at the West Jordan Barnes and Noble, Utah 84084.

Follow B&N on Twitter @BNBuzz and on Facebook on here. Tweet me @flamelauthor if you are calling in.

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Powell’s Books, Portland, OR – Stop 8 on The Warlock Book Tour

2011-06-05T21:13:01Z

Powells Books at Cedar Hills Crossing

Today, I will be in Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing at 4pm discussing the Warlock. I’ll also be signing, reading and doing a Q-and-A.

Visiting Powell’s is always fun so I hope you can join me.

Follow Powell’s on Twitter @Powells, on Facebook, and on Tumblr

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