http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/murder-re-enacted.html

The Graveyard Book just won a literary award, which never gets old, and this one came with a medal, and also with a cheque. I thought, Hm. I have to get myself something with the cheque and I have to do it immediately, otherwise it will simply vanish into the day to day bank account of life, and I will never look at anything and go "Ah, that is the thing I got with my Graveyard Book Award."

ME: Why would anyone want to know what I do all the time?
MATT: Haha I don't know. You usually tell me.
ME: That's true. Why do you want to know?
MATT: I dunno. I enjoy you.

• 09:33 Attention #nanowrimo-ers! Get support & sympathy from 2 top lit agents at London Writers' Club, TONIGHT! tinyurl.com/nz9nh7 #
• 13:41 #londonwritersclub tonight has *changed* venue. It's now at Tibbets (bit.ly/1PCicZ), same time, 7pm start, talk 7:30. #
• 13:45 Ran 4k on treadmill at gym today. Have 10k race on tarmac on Sunday. 10 - 4 = 6. 6 is a worryingly big number. Currently considering panic. #
• 17:02 BBCs "Have Your Say" is debating GB's letter writing. I find it amusing that the people attacking him appear to be largely semi-literate. #
• 22:29 Quite sobering. RT @gmskarka: Publishing numbers--"The Reality of a Times Bestseller": bit.ly/14FkwB. #
• 22:48 On train, heading home from #londonwritersclub. @BlueBirdTail very informative and entertaining. And met some nice people. #

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This morning I managed to turn my neck enough to make it crack for the first time in a week. And my god, it felt *good*.

At this point I can move my head every way but up. That's not bad. Of course being unable to straighten up properly is not doing my shoulders any good. I could do with a week's worth of backrubs. Still, I'm healing up pretty quick, all things considered. I should be able to proudly display the nasty looking incision wound to the world in a few more days. Perhaps it'll even leave a sexy new scar (as if I need any more scars).

Tomorrow I get to go on a trip to Galway. It'll be great to get out of the house. I know convalescence is necessary, but I'm getting some serious cabin fever out here in the sticks. It'll be good to meet some folks and pop into Wired (Which had to delay opening for a day because of parts not arriving). Hopefully, and I must admit it's a big "hopefully" right now, I'll be able to go to Dominicon. I put myself down for a place with the WARPS folks, but if a day or two in Galway takes enough out of me I'll have to stay at home another while.

Either way, I should be back in Cork next week. I quite miss the place right now. I haven't really been home since Gaelcon.

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/half-lifetime.html

The editor at CBS Sunday Morning asked if I had any photos of my son Mike back at the period when I first had the idea for The Graveyard Book - late 1985. I looked. We really didn't have any. I wandered next door and asked Mary (his mum, my former wife and for these last five years my friend and next-door neighbour) if she had any photos from back then. "No," she said. Then, "Do you mean those transparencies? I have them in an envelope somewhere." She vanished and came back with a large manila envelope from a long time ago. "Here."

Half a lifetime ago -- literally -- I was nearly 25, and working for magazines. Henry Fikret, who photographed a lot of the interviews I did, volunteered to take some photos of me and my family, and he did.A week later the envelope arrived, and I realised that everything he shot was on colour transparencies -- like huge slides -- and I was never sure what do with them, other than being fairly sure I couldn't take them down to Boots the Chemist and have prints knocked out. So they stayed in their envelope, and they kept their secrets, and were forgotten.

Yesterday I had the transparencies scanned, and finally got to see lots of pictures I had never actually seen before of Holly as a baby, Mike at the time that I would have watched him riding his tricycle around the graveyard, and me... at exactly half my age: A young journalist who had sold a very small handful of short stories and two non-fiction books, with dreams of writing fiction and comics. At the time I was dressing in grey, but was getting tired of the way that you would buy something grey and take it home and discover that it was a blueish grey or a brownish grey, and wondering if I'd have the same problem if I just started to dress in black.

And half a lifetime on, it seemed like it might be good to put one up here. I checked, and Mary didn't mind. What odd clothes we wore back then. What big glasses. And look, my hair is practically normal.





So long ago, and it went like the blink of an eye.

A few days ago, eliste sent me a link to BrickForge where they build custom lego parts (generally add-ons, equipment, weapons for lego minifigs) and sell them.

A few minutes ago I came across a cheap 3D printer on the Internets - the CupCake CNC. 3D printing from your desktop (in ABS plastic (yes, the stuff they make Lego out of)) for €500.

Instant business idea. Anyone any good with CAD?

Whew. Busy busy busy. Essays have once again caught up with me. :)

It's days like this I miss being a carnie. I'm looking out the window at the blue sky, and wishing I was in the dry inland outback where the warm breezes blow eucalyptus oil through the air and the car throws up red dust in your wake. No air-con, no airfreshener, just an open window and rock and roll on the radio, on the way to the next gig. Sleeping under the stars in a swag, up at dawn and brown from working outside all day.

So, anyone reckon that there’s a book in a girl quitting her job and deciding to travel all around and inland Australia on a motor bike?

*paws at window and pines*

Where would you rather be today?

• 07:15 RT @ditlev: @jonnynexus your mail will return, being copied over right now. status.uk2.net // Thanks! 1st question had me LOLing! #
• 07:20 Apparently, losing every customer's email for a weekend and not bothering to tell them was actually a planned event: status.uk2.net/ #
• 13:06 Today is T-7 and counting. Seven days until my baby, Game Night, is released into the wild. bit.ly/3RD7D1 #
• 13:10 Finally remembered to pay in advance for London Writers' Club and save myself £5. Anyone else coming? bit.ly/n8OPu #
• 17:45 At least Gordon Brown handwrites his own condolence letters. That's probably more than any other national leader does. And he is part blind. #
• 17:46 Donald Rumsfeld didn't even sign his. He had a machine. I'm no fan of Brown, but I think this round of critism is really unfair. #
• 19:00 Just noticed that the *dog* owned by some new friends of ours has more followers than me. I am a social networking failure. #

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http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/for-those-who-read-this-blog-for.html

(Serena Altschul and some author in July, sitting on the trampoline after two days of interviews. None of which, oddly enough, were done on the trampoline.)

Mr. Neil,

I DVR'd yesterday's installment of Sunday Morning and after zipping through it back and forth multiple times cannot seem to find you, though the description indicated the correct episode. Was it bumped to next week? Have you been sucked into an alternate Neil-less universe?

A concerned reader,
Mary

I'm afraid it was bumped by the Fort Hood Massacre.

I checked: The profile CBS did of me is apparently still going out, probably some time in December, although no-one seems certain when. I was told that we could help ensure that it is broadcast (and possibly make it come out sooner than December) if CBS think people would actually like to see it. Which means that if you do want to see it, you can help the process along if you write or email CBS and (politely) tell them so:

ADDRESS:
CBS News Sunday Morning
Box O (for Osgood)
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

E-MAIL: sundays@cbsnews.com

...
Dear Neil Gaiman, I ask for half-a-moment of your time (I would not presume to ask for more). This Spring 2010 I am teaching a Topics in Literature class on YOU at Winona State University (Eng 225: Neil Gaiman). Easy enough to select representative novel (American Gods), short stories (Fragile Things), children and YA (Graveyard Book), but here's the rub: I will likely only assign one Sandman graphic novel to students. I have been debating which is most representative, most worthy of inclusion, most amenable to class discussion and student scholarship. Then I thought I'd ask you. I know you suggest above that, for questions of this sort, we consider you a dead author, but I know you're not. When I came to a similar impasse about which of Ursula Le Guin's works to include in another class, she actually replied and offered her input. I extend the same offer to you: which of the Sandman volumes would you like to see on the syllabus?
Thank you for your time,
Nicholas Ozment, English Instructor
WSU

It's a hard one. I think if I were teaching I'd either go for Season of Mists or Fables and Reflections, because both of them have stuff to teach -- those nice chewy bits that people can like or dislike, argue with or discuss. I know a lot of teachers like to teach Dream Country because a) Midsummer Night's Dream won awards, and b) it's short and c) it has a script in the back. Your call. And good luck.

...

I mentioned recently that there were some beautiful new Polish and Russian book covers for my books that I'd seen at signings, which got me thinking. The International Cover gallery on this website is incredibly out of date.

It's at http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Neil's_Work/International_Covers.

And though I get a lot of foreign editions in, and will at some point head down to the basement and rummage around and scan some (this week's mail brought the two-volume Japanese edition of Anansi Boys, on the cover of which Fat Charlie is not only Very White, but also Very Thin, and the complex Chinese - ie. Taiwan and Hong Kong - edition of The Graveyard Book) I thought that blog readers, being, as you are, all over the world, might be a better resource for knowing where to look for foreign covers.

Was your basement finished when you purchased your home or did you have it finished for your basement library? If you finished it yourself, how difficult was it? Also, I thought I saw a dehumidifier in one of the Photosynth pictures. Do you need one because of the books?

I'm asking because we have a full unfinished basement that we would like to have finished. We are running out of room for our books also. I don't think we don't have as many as you do though. :)

Any other suggestions for such a project would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
C.

No, when we got here the basement had a clay floor that puddled when it rained. We hired some nice builders and spent a lot of money finishing it, putting in drainage tiles, underfloor heating and all. There's a dehumidifier there in the summer and a humidifier in the winter, because after the first few years I noticed that binding glue and leather book covers were both cracking and flaking. There's now the equivalent of a large house in basement rooms beneath this house, filled with books and CDs and suchlike stuff.

And finally, a few photos from the China trip, taken by Ian Ford (or in one case, on his camera). Ian's a travel guide who now lives in China who helped organise my travels, and came along with me for part of the journey.

Amanda and I in the silk clothes that my publisher had given us as a thank you for coming, and because they are terrific.

I'm holding the Galaxy Award for this year, given to the foreign author most popular with Chinese reader-voters. This was my second year of winning it, so I have retired from the competition and said that they have to find a new favourite foreign author now.

• 15:40 [blog] My Writer's Confidence t-Shirt explained: bit.ly/G2qaK #
• 17:03 Damn. Adding things to my website, but the narrow column design means I can't fit in any of my banner ads, like: bit.ly/4zsRoe #
• 17:04 Added a load of pictures and questions to my website's FAQ section: bit.ly/PbYHT #
• 18:03 The geniuses at UK2.net appear to have nuked all my imap email. Nice. #totalsenseofhumourfailure #

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Renee: I know whatever with them. We got each other.

• 09:29 Yeh! My new Writer's Confidence T-Shirt just arrived! Pics to follow. #
• 13:21 My Writer's Confidence t-shirt: twitpic.com/oh1vb #
• 13:28 Might make more sense if I show it to you upside down: bit.ly/2Yi2sk #

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http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/final-reminder-for-bookshops.html

A quick reminder (as I was just asked) that today is the day that the bookshop Graveyard Book party reports have to be in to Harper Collins. By 9 pm PST.

http://files.harpercollins.com/Mktg/HarperChildrens/PDF/GraveyardContest_rules.pdf are the rules and info for those who lost them.

Hi Mr. Gaiman,

I was disappointed today to read you won't be part of the judging for The Graveyard Book contests. My not-wealthy, middle-of-nowhere bookstore just sent in its entry, and something we're concerned about is the fairness of judging.

For example, independent bookstores like Powell's (I'm sure you know) easily have enough money and are in a convenient enough location to ask you to come at one time or another. Against stores like that, who were able to put more money into their parties, we stand little chance.

I don't think that it's a lost cause for us; we were very creative. I'm just nervous to know you won't be judging. Can you tell me whether you think the judges will take things like size and location of bookstores into account? It would make me sleep a little easier until the results are announced.

Tusen takk,
Allison

Well, per the rules, the judging is based on:

(i) Overall creativity of the Party, as demonstrated by the invitations, signage, decorations, activities, entertainment, and refreshments.
(ii) Customer attendance and response (i.e., enthusiasm, costumes, participation).
(iii) Ability to capture and represent the spirit of The Graveyard Book.
...specifically to reward creativity, and not the ability to outspend other shops. (That was also why the party had to actually be at the bookshop, and not at another location.)

I asked my editor, Elise Howard, and she said,

Gosh, yes. Here's what we think is happening. We are looking at all the entries. On Monday, we'll send you the best 11, from which you will choose the Grand Prize Winner. The rest will get the first-prize package. So the short answer is that you ARE helping to choose.

The longer answer is that we will be very fair and will consider creativity, which includes work done with available resources, along with pure execution. (Don't you think? We haven't done anything yet; still waiting for more entries to come in.)

...which means that

a) I was wrong and will be the ultimate judge, from the shortlist. (Damn.)

and

b) everyone's on a level playing field.

Does that help reassure you?

PS -- Widgett's Graveyard Book Dessert competition winners have been announced over at http://www.needcoffee.com/2009/11/06/graveyard-book-dessert-challenge-winners/.

This one had NOTHING to do with me at all. But lor' the winning desserts look tasty...

I have a concept for a new novel about which I am very very excited indeed. However, I do need to finish my current novel before working on this one, but it has spurred me on to complete this.

Not sure of the genre - kind of (very) dark thriller, I think.

Working title - "Sins"

:)

"hannah, i wanna kiss you all the time. i'll kiss you in the morning when we just woke up and you have morning breath... i'll kiss you after you eat italian and have garlic breath... i'll kiss you when you have mexican food breath... i'll kiss you all the time."

The "V" reboot is *awesome*. Morena Baccarin (sp?) is *awesome*.

I *do* think that the series would be better if everyone played the characters they play in other shows, though... When an alien civilisation led by a tantric hooker comes to take over the Earth, it can only be saved by a fertility doctor and an agent on loan from NTAC. Can they survive the brain-wiped serial killer hidden in their midst? And what is the secret that the vampire-slaying school principal is hiding? More importantly, can the fertility doctor's son resist the call of one of the alien's Kryptonian physiognomy?

I'm going to go and watch the 80s miniseries again and drown in my own froth.

I am currently doing a work placement in a cosmetic insitute. My boss was away, and I was at the reception desk when the phone rang, not knowing it was her calling.

Me: Good morning, Wellness Eastgate, Victoria L. speaking.
Her: Oh, how very lovely said!

It's just a little thing, but it made me smile. :)

And the next day:

Her: Miss L., is there any cream or any other product you'd like to try?
Me: Uhm... I don't know, uh... might have to look through them again...
Her: You don't have to decide now, but I'd like to give you one.
Me: ...seriously? O_O
Her: Yes, for your efforts. You've really done a lot. :)
Me: *speechless* ...uhm...uh... thank you!^^

She's so awesome! =D

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/11/note-to-self-nights-are-for-sleeping.html

Still trying to get back onto a diurnal schedule. (And, I should add, failing.)
And, of course, although I posted it before, it bears repeating that you can watch the film that Steven-Charles Jaffe made of the "Dark and Silly Night" comic Gahan and I did for art spiegelman and Francoise Mouly's Little Lit at the New Yorker site, or here:



And if I'd been here for Hallowe'en I would have posted it here then. Which reminds me, The Graveyard Book party season is over. Over thirty independent bookshops had Graveyard Book parties (The ABA's Bookselling This Week reports on thirteen of the parties -- and the shops -- at http://news.bookweb.org/7149.html.) The very best one of all will get me in their shop doing a signing in December and, looking at these thirteen, I am very glad I am not any kind of a judge for the awards.

My only hope is that the shop that wins will be somewhere warm. But most of the places on the party map will be just as cold by December as my house. (Vague and only climate-based relief that HarperCollins said No to Alaska in the rules mingles with vague and selfish disappointment that they also said No to Hawaii.)

It looks like the CBS Sunday Morning profile on me is going out this Sunday, the 8th, 9:00-10:30 AM, ET. According to this website:

Correspondent Serena Altschul visits author Neil Gaiman -- the tender-hearted master of the macabre -- whose books, including Coraline and The Graveyard Book have topped best-seller lists for 25 years.

.. which left me wanting to go "I am NOT a tender-hearted master of the macabre, I am in fact VERY SCARY INDEED," but I suspect I would convince nobody.

Thrilled to see that Odd and the Frost Giants was listed as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of 2009. While I was in China The Graveyard Book was listed as one of the ALA's teens top ten for 2009 as well, an award voted on by over 11,000 teens. (And I made it onto the list with lots of other good people.)

Also, Fragile Things was awarded the French 2010 Les Grands Prix de l’Imaginaire Award for translated short fiction. My thanks to the judges, but mostly to the translator, who in this case is the incredibly talented Michel Pagel. If I ever look good, do well, sell books or am popular in a foreign country, it's because of the translators, and they never get enough thanks or acclaim. And I think I'll post the cover here, because I never have.

You're welcome. I think this link has everything for sale in the auction: http://shop.ebay.co.uk/scrawldog/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686