Spill the Ink

This is the proof of Robin Jarvis’ new book publishing...

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:43:25 -0400

This is the proof of Robin Jarvis’ new book publishing next Spring. It is totally amazing and one of the best books HCCB has published (in my opinion). I can’t recommend it enough. Gripping, sinister, vivid and totally engrossing. It’s got it all.

Join the Seuss Readaloud for fantastic prizes!!

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:08:00 -0400

Join the Seuss Readaloud for fantastic prizes!!:

We’re running a Seuss-tastic competition to win a family trip to Universal Studios, Florida plus loads of Seuss goodies. Check out the link to find out how!

Meet the authors of The Familiars!

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 06:18:00 -0400

On a beautiful summer afternoon in Los Angeles, Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson, authors of the upcoming novel, THE FAMILIARS, met in a private poolside cabana in the world famous Chateau Marmont hotel on the Sunset Strip to talk about their book. After settling in and ordering two expensive cocktails and a plate of crab cakes, the hotel maitre d’ approached and explained that the pool and cabanas were for guest only and asked them to leave promptly. Andrew and Adam returned to their windowless office where they conducted this interview.

Adam: First, we’d just like to say how excited we are to be doing this interview for all of our friends in the UK and Australia.

Andrew: I didn’t realize you had friends in the UK or Australia.

Adam: I don’t. But I’m looking forward to having some very soon.

Andrew: Tell me something that our readers would be surprised to learn about you.

Adam: Actually, I’m a pretty good disco dancer. I wouldn’t come in first on “Britain’s Got Talent,” but I wouldn’t get three X’s, either.

Okay, Andrew, what surprises do you have in store?

Andrew: People in my college dorm called me Forrest Gump because of my savant-like ping pong playing ability.

Adam: They also called you Forrest Gump because of your love of chocolates and your simpleton nature.

Andrew: Give people a snapshot of a day in the life of 13-year-old Adam.

Adam: Wake up 20 minutes before school started, rush to get ready, not combing my incredibly long, curly hair. Go to homeroom and stare longingly at cute girl sitting in neighboring desk, go to English class and stare longingly at cute girl sitting in neighboring class, go to science class and stare longingly… well, you get the idea. Swim practice, walk home, during walk home dream of being superhero, play Rygar on Nintendo (not letting younger twin brothers play), family dinner, homework done speedily, read Piers Anthony novel until I fell asleep.

As a storyteller, what would you say some of your earliest influences were?

Andrew: Certainly “Star Wars.” It was the first movie I ever saw (during its re-release in theaters). I was obsessed with all the action figures and I used to play figure shows all the time making up stories.

Adam: But didn’t you also spend your lunch hours watching soap operas with your mom?

Andrew: True. My best friend can still remember the day when we were 4 or 5 and he came over for lunch. “Sesame Street” was on, and at noon, my mom switched the channel to the sound of “These are the Days of Our Lives.”

Alright, let’s talk about the FAMILIARS. That morning, when you asked me if I knew what a familiar was, what were you thinking?

Adam: Well, I had a feeling you wouldn’t know what a familiar was, but once I explained it to you I knew you would agree there would be a wonderful story to tell about the animal companions to witches or wizards. I had been fascinated with familiars ever since I was a kid, playing Dungeons and Dragons and dreaming that if I had a pet, it would be magical.

Would you like to tell people a little about our writing process?

Andrew: Well, we sit in a room together from 9 to 5 and I type (which I’m doing right now as Adam is sitting across from me). We write every page, sentence, and word together, arguing and debating every comma and semi-colon. We do an outline first, but leave most of the details to the writing.

Do you want to talk about the Familiars movie?

Adam: Soon after we sold the manuscript to HarperCollins, Sony Animation purchased the film rights and hired us to adapt the screenplay, which is very unusual for authors to get the opportunity to do. But since we were screenwriters first, we were afforded the wonderful chance to be so involved in the process. One of the real treats has been getting to work with Sam Raimi (director of Spider-Man), who has been producing the film. His passion for the project has been extremely flattering and humbling, seeing how we are such huge fans of his work.

Which familiar would win in a fight: Hedwig (Harry Potter’s owl) or Iago (Jafar’s talking parrot from Aladdin)? It’s bird vs. bird, you got the word.

Andrew: That’s not even a fair match-up. Hedwig would win in a laugher.

If you could have any familiar as a pet, what would it be?

Adam: A tree frog that can see into the future would come in awfully handy. I could make a killing in the stock market and avoid a lot of freeway traffic.

Andrew: We hope to make a trip across the pond soon! In the meantime, you can learn more about us and The Familiars at www.thefamiliars.com, follow us on Twitter (@the_familiars), join our Facebook group, or follow our blog.

Adam: Thanks!

The Familiars: Animal Wizardry is published on 30th September by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Isbn 978-0-00-737177-8.

For a proof reading copy email spilltheink@harpercollins.co.uk

Get familiar with The Familiars! Meet the authors of our new...

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 05:03:44 -0400

Get familiar with The Familiars! Meet the authors of our new comic adventure series, launching October 2010. ]

Check back soon for a guest blog appearance from Adam & Andrew!

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for..."

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:23:46 -0400

“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”

- Madeleine L’Engle

John Green talking about another of his books Paper Towns - he is funny and has a pleasing voice, I'm sure you'll agree.

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:04:00 -0400

John Green talking about another of his books Paper Towns - he is funny and has a pleasing voice, I'm sure you'll agree.

You see this book, it looks very black doesn’t it? The...

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:59:00 -0400

You see this book, it looks very black doesn’t it? The flower with the dropping petal looks like it might be quite symbolic and stand for something. That’s because this book does stand for something and that’s what I’m calling “genius books on our backlist that deserve, DESERVE, to be read by millions of people”. I read this book when I first started at HC, oooo, sometime ago and it has stayed with me; I thought about it for days after I finished it, I still think about it now and that to me is the mark of a good book. I recommend it to everyone, and now I am recommending it to you fellow Spillers of Ink. So get your hands on a copy now, it’s the book you’ve never heard of that you will always wish you’d read.

Purvis's poem

Mon, 24 May 2010 09:45:55 -0400

Whoosh, swirl, swirl, whoosh,

It’s Donald the Angry Fog.

He’s swirling around me

He’s coming to get me

NOOOOOOOOooooooooo….

Swirl, whoosh, whoosh, swirl,

It’s Donald the Angry Fog.

I’m covered in whiteness

And coldness and wetness

NOOOOOOOOooooooooo….

Love from Purvis

and, er… me. What? I was thirsty. There isn’t any...

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:55:23 -0400

and, er… me. What? I was thirsty. There isn’t any gin in there or anything.

Catherine x

Rachel from HarperCollins is remarkably perky after her 4.30am...

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:54:44 -0400

Rachel from HarperCollins is remarkably perky after her 4.30am start.

Sorrel ‘relaxes’ at Glasgow airport, not quite...

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:53:02 -0400

Sorrel ‘relaxes’ at Glasgow airport, not quite believing it’s all over…

Kate just about makes it onto her plane after a BIG glass of...

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:52:24 -0400

Kate just about makes it onto her plane after a BIG glass of wine…

Last lunch in Glasgow, Friday. All events done and dusted!

Mon, 24 May 2010 04:51:11 -0400

Last lunch in Glasgow, Friday. All events done and dusted!

WHUMPH. [Comes to. Rubs eyes. Shakes head.] Lost: a phone charger; a bar of chocolate; a tube of...

Sat, 22 May 2010 08:10:55 -0400

WHUMPH. [Comes to. Rubs eyes. Shakes head.]

Lost: a phone charger; a bar of chocolate; a tube of toothpaste; some fears and inhibitions.

Gained: friendships to cherish; reinforced respect for HarperCollins; contagious enthusiasm from booksellers, librarians and teachers; and a set of alarmingly surreal characters from the crazed minds of freckly-faced children.

I think that’s a winner then.

Done Diddley Done x

Sat, 22 May 2010 05:49:00 -0400

Hi Everyone,

I’m back home in Somerset’s leafy green… relaxing. But excuse me - where is my breakfast? I went downstairs only to find that the kitchen was closed. CLOSED! CLOSED! Whatever has happened? I’m sure that the Mal Maison never close their kitchen, especially not on a saturday morning and I NEED my poached eggs and smoked salmon. It’s ok Kate, calm down, you’re h.o.m.e now and that means you have to start doing things like making breakfast for yourself… :(

It’s extraordinary how quickly I settled into the tour routine and I’m pleased to say that I have no resistance to having my needs met in the way that we did. I know I’ve said it a thousand times over the past few days, but really, you team of Harpercollins lovlies are amazing. I think we’d best keep it quiet though, otherwise other publishing houses are going to be hiring you out for their own tours!

I’m missing everyone already but have you all in my hearts and really really really really really really really look forward to the next tour. I love doing them. I’ve discovered an ability that I never knew I had and I’m oh, so excited to start flexing that muscle.

I hope that Mia didn’t keep Barry awake too much last night and that Kyle wasn’t up too early and that Susie is putting plan - move to Somerset or move to Edinburgh - into action. The Battle is on Barry and there may well be fisty cuffs!

Anyway, I’m off to chill and swim and lunch with my daughter, Jane.

Happy weekend everyone and thank you all for making the first Spill the Ink tour possible. Now all that’s left to say is - we want more! xxx

It's a wrap!

Fri, 21 May 2010 12:12:56 -0400

Tour over. Last event done. The ink has officially been spilled. Off to make the 4 hour train journey home now, so will post a full, post tour analysis tomorrow from my house.

Big thanks, though, to all the lovely people from HarperCollins who made it all possible, and especially to Kate and Sorrel, my trusty tour companions.

Barry x

Oops

Fri, 21 May 2010 06:31:51 -0400

In a dramatic turn of events I find myself separated from the others after missing the train to Glasgow.

Will I ever find them? Will I make it to my final event? Tune in same Bat-time, same Bat-channel tomorrow to find out!

Or a bit later this afternoon.

Barry

By yon bonnie banks...

Fri, 21 May 2010 02:31:26 -0400

Back in Scotland now, home of haggis, Irn Bru, and accents I can comfortably understand. Kate has already mentioned the Birmingham event (brilliant), the hotel (wonderful), and the meet and greet/dinner (both excellent) so that saves me the bother.

My only slight complaint about the hotel is that the free Wi-fi doesn’t seem to work, but that may be because my room is so high up. Poor Catherine is even higher, though, and seems to have been put in the attic. Hope she hasn’t been reading Mr Mumbles recently. The attic scene in that is a bit creepy. I’d hate to give her nightmares.

The week seems to have flown by, although the first event in Hackney feels like a lifetime ago. Just two BIG events to do today, then it’s a long train ride home for me.

Better go get ready for the first event of the day. 180 kids in an Edinburgh primary school. For the first time this week I’m being set loose without a minder from HarperCollins, as poor Geraldine hasn’t been able to make it up to Scotland. Get well soon, Geraldine.

Incidentally, I just heard that while I’ve been off on tour, scientists have created a fully artificial life form. I dunno, you turn your back for five minutes…

Mickey Thompson's poem.

Fri, 21 May 2010 02:28:00 -0400

Mr Farty the messy squid

farted whenever he shouldn’t have did.

He farted loud, he farted long,

it caused a mess and a terrible pong.

It’s all the fault of the kids in Brum,

poor Mr Farty’s parpy bum.

Love from Mickey Thompson

Scottish dogs

Fri, 21 May 2010 02:24:00 -0400

They have very clever dogs in Scotland. Our taxi driver knew a dog called Freud who had just completed an Open University degree!

Sorrel