Skype Visit with Royal School in Winnipeg

It all went royally!


In other words, no one fell asleep. Well, at least that I could see on the web cam, that is...

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*Next stop on the Hunchback Assignments Half Hour Virtual World Tour Extravaganza: Schenectady, NY

Hunchback Australia Arrives

Yay, my copies of The Hunchback Assignments have arrived from Australia! They look downright cool! Only a week and a day until the book is released Down Under.

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A Peek @ Hunchback II Canuck Cover

This it what it'll look like...mostly. Still a bit more work to be done.
Love the crazy steampunk hand...

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Hunchback Worldwide Virtual Tour stop #3!

Yep, today I visited 42°54′22″N 74°34′19″W! Can you believe it! It was the 3rd stop in The Hunchback Assignments Half Hour Virtual Tour of the World! I took the SKYPE train to the Canajoharie Library and Arkell Museum and spoke to 100 grade five students (or fifth grade students) from Canajoharie Middle School. As you can see they kept the library dark so that the students could close their eyes and be lulled into a sleep as I told them stories of assassins, goth queens, and steam powered monstrous creations. I recommend a Google street view of the library, it looks like a very cool place. The students followed up with brilliant questions and we all talked about how much we love Iron Maiden. Err, maybe that was just me talking.

Then I stepped into a time/space/Skype continuum and ended up back in my office with a cup of tea. It's the magic of science!


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P.S. Next stop...Winnipeg--again!!!!

Greystone School Launch

Had an absolutely wonderful time launching The Hunchback Assignments at nearby Greystone School. 500 students! Forced to listen to me! It was especially fun because it was the first time I played the "book" trailer live and they applauded.

Thanks Greystone!

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PS: Here's the trailer one more time:

Miami Book Fair!!!

Well, last Friday I plopped myself on a plane and ended up in Miami for the Miami Book Fair (actually it was a bit of a longer trip than that, as I first flew to Colorado then on to Miami, but I thought I'd skip telling you every detail...you know what kind of snacks I had, the amount of turbulence, did I fasten my seatbelt, did I read magazines etc..). We landed. I was eager to learn more about Miami (this being my first trip), but was pretty sure I already knew most everything from watching Miami Vice (it's like CSI: Miami, but everyone dresses better) and Dexter. As my cab pulled up to the Hyatt I saw a crowd of people dressed to the max (tuxedo suits, fancy suits, fancy dresses) and thought "I am soooo underdressed for this festival." Turns out they were all people waiting for Donald Trump to arrive. Oh!

The next morning I went to the festival site. It was like going to the future. They even have bus thingys that fly through the air. Or at least drive up above the streets. There were tents, and books, and tents, and people, and corn on the cob and books. Did I mention it was 27 degrees! (err, that's 80 F).

First I had a "speak off" with Al Gore. He talked about Global warming and ways to save the world and I talked about myself. Exciting, eh?

Next I went to the "artist's room" and ate as much dainty food as possible. Then off to my panel on "boys reading." See there really was a panel! It wasn't all an elaborate joke planned by my "friends." I shared the stage with myself, Reade Scott Whinnem, and Frank McKinney. We expertly entertained the audience. First Reade scared the bejickles out of them with his excellent book The Pricker Boy. Then I "steampunked" them with The Hunchback Assignments , then Frank brought them back to reality (well if you consider Megalodons in the present day reality) with Dead Fred, Flying Lunchboxes, and the Good Luck Circle. They were great to do a panel with, but I found myself very jealous of both of them. I mean Reade, how cool is that for a name? It's almost like a command. Reade my book! And Frank looks a little like David Lee Roth. I always wanted to look like David Lee Roth! Anyway this blog isn't about me (wait a sec--maybe it is).

I did get to meet the "Whatcha Reading Now Group!" (this photo and the next one are courtesy of Mark Safra Photography) Do they know how to dress, or what?

Next Frank, Reade, and I signed books. See the lives of superstar authors...aren't they exciting?


I did later get to visit with my fellow author Alex Flinn. Alas, I forgot to get a pic of her. I would "doctor" one, but that would be wrong. Plus there's a rule about only doctoring one photo per blog post. Isn't there? Hey go see Beastly when it comes out as a movie (but Reade the book first, err, I mean read the book first).

After that I saw an angel. I was going to make a joke about this being a photo of my editor, but that would be an obvious attempt to suck up to the higher powers. Though the angel does have a remarkable resemblance to my publicist. Oh, and my mom. And my first grade teacher. And my agent. Really!

The next morning I was on a plane and flew back to the mystical city of Saskatoon (via Chicago). I won't bore you with the details about that, but boy was I ever thankful to have an iPod touch stuffed with a few movies and audiobooks. Whew!




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P.S. Frank McKinney is also a superstar Real Estate guy when he's not being a superstar author. Check out this video of him:
Now that I've watched it, I was a little disappointed that he didn't rise from the grave or jump through the air with a motorcycle during the reading. There was probably some kind of "liability insurance" thingy, I bet. People are so sensitive about other people shooting flames from their hands.

Hunchback Worldwide Virtual Tour stop #2!

The Hunchback Assignments Half Hour Virtual Visit Tour (AKA as HAHH!) steamed it's way to Beaverlodge School in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Ah, home to the mighty Bluebombers, wheat fields, and incredibly intelligent students.

I read. I pontificated. I burbled. I extrapolated.


Of course, I discussed The Hunchback Assignments. And threw all the Victorian factoids I could at them. The class listened intently. See here's proof:
And we ended it all by singing "God Save The Queen." Err, well maybe I just hummed a few bars quietly to myself. Once again another free signed book and bookmarks were received by the class. Three cheers!



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P.S. There are still a few spots left on the HAHH! Worldwide tour. Just read about the contest and enter!
P.P.S Next--Canajoharie Library, Canajoharie, NY, United States.

The Official Hunchback Assignments Movie Trailer

I'm extremely pleased with this. It was done by My Next Demo. I highly recommend the company!




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Hunchback Worldwide Virtual Tour Begins!

The Hunchback Assignments Half Hour Virtual Visit Tour (AKA as HAHH!) started today at Cosgrove Middle School in Spencerport, NY. Using Steam Kinetic Yabbering Protocol Engines (AKA Skype) I was able to communicate directly with the students even though I was standing 3134 KM's away (1947 Miles) in Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

The presentation consisted of an introduction to my latest tome, The Hunchback Assignments, and some percolating pieces of information about Victorians and their inventions and oddities (read the bit about Thomas Crapper, really he's a hero for the ages). The classroom also won a free signed book and some groovy postcards. The students had many questions, including what was my favourite pie (pumpkin--well steampumpkin, if you must know) and what was my favourite book (Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury). When all was done we said fair thee well and I caught the first high speed Skype dirigible home.




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P.S. Any teachers and librarians out there--let it be known that there are still a few spots left on the HAHH! Worldwide tour. Just read about the contest and enter!
P.P.S Tomorrow--Beaverlodge School, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
P.P.P.S. Thanks to the staff at Cosgrove. They deserve the invisible medal of Victorian grooviness for helping to organize the event! The medal is a keeper. Uh, I already sent one for each of you. The reason you haven't seen it, is that it's invisible. Wear it proudly!

Miami Festival!!

Well in a week, I'll be off to the Miami International Book Fair to talk about The Hunchback Assignments. I'm looking forward to my "fun in the sun" tour (sadly, I'm really only there for about 36 hours). It looks like a high of 29 C (84F) there and here in Saskatoon it'll be 2 C (35F). So slightly warmer in Miami! The event is on Saturday, Nov. 14, 1:30 p.m., Auditorium Pavilion C. I'll be sharing the stage with Reade Scott Whinnem and Frank McKinney.
So be prepared for laughs and frights and frights and chuckles. As you can see I'm listed as "no image available." The weird thing is that I actually look like that blue image.

Hey, the event is free! Come one! Come all! We can talk about hockey. Maybe even the Florida Panthers...





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The French Hunchback edition

Just got word that my French publisher, JC Lattès, will be releasing The Hunchback Assignments in February, 2010. The cover will be the same as the American cover, except, of course, titles and words will be in French. The series will be published under a different name in France: LES AGENTS DE MR. SOCRATES with the subtitle LA CONFRERIE DE L'HORLOGE. Alas my French is rusty (I took it in school a million years ago), but babelfish helped me out. It's The Agents of Mr. Socrates: The Brotherhood of the Clock. Curious, eh? I wish I could have sat in on that meeting to know all the reasons for the name change. I assume it will mean massive sales!

If only I could somehow find my way there when they launch the book.

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BOOKED video #5