Sooo, it appears I have reverted to my lazy blog habits that I hoped to break by revamping this website. Tsk. Trouble is, things move so slowly in the world of writing that I’m lucky if I have one new interesting thing to tell you per month. Otherwise I’d be forced to subject you to my rambling opinions on politics, religion, life, the universe and everything. You don’t want that.
Where I’m at: I’m a quarter of the way through The Iron Jackal, but I’ve stopped it for a little bit. I went on holiday for a week, and when I came back I decided I wanted to revise the first quarter of the book and make sure it was all as good as I could get it before I moved on.
I find that the further you get through a series, the more the need for recapping becomes a problem. How much do you need to remind the reader of what happened before? How much do you need to tell new readers to prevent them being lost? The Ketty Jay books are intended to be standalones, but the characters have still changed a lot from book to book, due to the things that have happened to them (otherwise it’d be like a Thundercats episode where everything ends up exactly the same as it began, and we fade out on everyone laughing at Snarf: poor little thing, I bet he was crying inside). Anyway, it’s a tricky balance to strike, so I’m going to do some editorial work on it before I continue.
By the way, this is something I always advise aspiring writers not to do. It’s better to finish the book and then edit it afterwards. But hey, I’ve been writing professionally for 15 years now, and that makes me a cranky old hand at this game; I get to do what I like 
I’m in talks with Scholastic about doing another two books for them, which may or may not be a continuation of the Malice and Havoc stories. And speaking of Scholastic, I just got contacted by their US division who look to have resurrected the long-rumoured Pandemonium graphic novel project. We have an artist, Cassandra Diaz, who has a very dreamy, ethereal style that should suit the story nicely. I’ve seen some sample pages and they’re very cool. We also have a new editor with a background in graphic novels who’s working on it closely. So it looks like, after 5-odd years, it’s pushing forward, which I’m very excited about. Told you the writing game was slow!
I’ve had preliminary story meetings about All Fall Down, and we’re going to be getting on with that as soon as everyone gets their heads straight after the film festival in Cannes.
In other news, I bought an iMac and it’s the greatest thing in the world. I am now officially PC-free, which means I don’t have to spend every third Sunday reinstalling Windows. Awesome.
INFORMATION ABOUT RELEASE DATES!!!!
(I put that in bold capitals, see, ’cause I want you to pay attention)
I notice that about 50% of the posts I get on here are asking when a certain book is going to be released in a certain country. Several times I’ve replied, only to have more people ask me the same question again because they haven’t bothered reading the thread before they posted.
So here’s the thing. I’ll update you when I can, but if you want to know release dates, look on Amazon for your particular country. If the release date is changed in any country but the UK, nobody tells me unless I specifically ask. Usually I find out about it from Amazon myself.
As a general rule, Canada and Australia (and maybe NZ) have the same release dates as the UK. If it’s released in the UK a long time before your country, go buy it from The Book Depository which, since it has free shipping internationally, is probably no more expensive than buying it at home.
Everyone in the US waiting for Havoc, (release date is currently October in the US) just order it from England instead. It’s out now. I’ll make it easy: Click here. It costs six quid, which is about nine dollars. If you don’t have a credit card, ask your parents super nicely if they can buy it for you. There. Done. And while you’re there, you might as well pick up Retribution Falls too
Seriously, you don’t need to wait for publishers in your home country to put out a book these days. When I was a kid it required an Indiana Jones-esque quest to find a book that wasn’t published in my country, or one that was out of print. Nowadays it’s a doddle.
Right, that’s my sales thing done. I’m off to eat Animal Crackers.
Pandemonium!!
That’s brilliant news and man, her drawings are beautiful! *_*
That post made me happy. Also, yay for the film-deal.
Wow, her work looks amazing!
I’m so excited for Pandemonium, I read so many comics that the thought of one written by you makes me squeal with girlish glee. I was worried it’d been scrapped forever! How are we supposed to wait now we’ve seen those gorgeous drawings?
That post made me happy also.
Ooh, Pandemonium! Squee
I finished Havoc on Thursday, and I must say, it is fantastic as usual. You have a real knack for getting the way that teenagers act. Trying not to spoil anything for anyone who happens to scroll, I really think that the way you handled Seth and Kady at the end was far better than most teen novels would have done it.
And if you do write another Malice/Havoc story, perhaps you could provide more information as to how to find those tricksy tickets. Malice seems a lot more fun than working at a call centre.
Thanks for the link to The Book Depository – I’m in the US for 10 weeks over the summer and was angsting about not being able to get BLC until I return, but now I should be able to get my grubby little mitts on a copy.
This is exciting — perhaps I should break my fear of oceans and long waiting times and pick up Retribution Falls… It’s a shame that the NorthWest US only sells Poison, The Haunting, and Storm Thief (and that I have 2 out of 3).
And who said we didn’t like listening to you ramble?
Read Havoc today, absolutely loved it
the Queen of Cats was totally… uh, badass seems to be the only word I can feel emulates her sufficiently. Odd question though, did you intend for Justin to be a closeted gay? His constant denial of “man-love” to Seth set off alarm bells for me… he seemed very keen to assert how Very Heterosexual he was, which amused me.
And welcome to the Apple club! Only downside to Macs is the lack of games available for them… Other than that I’d never go back.
Exciting news about Pandemonium! Can’t wait to see what you guys do, Cassandra’s work is awesome.
Glad to see you blogging again, always interested in hearing what you have to say. The Internet wants to hear your thoughts
Ah, but that’s why you have Boot Camp: so you can run Windows on your Mac if you want to play PC games. They thought of everything, see!
Plus, Justin’s not gay, and he’d punch your lights out if you suggested anything of the sort
Blogging more than once a month? That’s just crazy talk. Still, I’m glad to hear that things seem to be going well for you in the publishing world, even if it is moving at an abominably slow pace.
Oddly enough, I know exactly what you mean about always wanting to stop a little ways in to edit/revise/completely redo; but (un)luckily, I’m still a newbie in the writing department, so I’m trying keep to that “write all, then kill it” rule.
Yes, I discovered the Book Depository a tiny bit back when I finally got time to book shop. It is one of the most wonderful sights I’ve ever laid eyes on.
I’ve heard a lot of great things about Macs (and I actually work on them during the summer) but still haven’t bought one. I’d love to grab an iMac- and just might if this summer proves profitable- but they’re so friggin’ expensive.
Ah well, you don’t have to read me the evils of PCs. (My laptop’s dying on me in a foreign country. May it burn in endless agony when it finally goes.)
Good luck with all these upcoming plans and writing “The Iron Jackal.” I can’t read “Retribution Falls” till I get back to the States, but I’m looking forward to its sequel already. =)
Since I am too impatient to wait until Oct. for the publication of Havoc, and my begging for it over the internet failed, I shall wait until June for our trip to Europe. This is plan C its pretty fool-proof. But who knows? I hope Ripon will carry it.
Just got Havoc in the mail from The Book Depository yesterday, and finished it today. I absolutely loved it! Great job as usual. I hope you continue to write more in the Malice series. A good idea for it would be a prequel, more about Malice’s origins. About what happened leading up to Tall Jake and his dominance. Can’t wait for a Malice movie!
I’m still reading Havoc (damn work keeps getting the way of my reading!) So if the series isn’t done then you must keep writing! Malice and Havoc are awesome!
Just started reading Retribution Falls and am enjoying it immensely. Ta. Glad to hear of the other books in the series, will be picking them up too. Sky pirates, anything with sky pirates and I’m hooked. Ever considered an RPG based on the books?
“Ah, it’s so comforting getting back to the world of the Ketty Jay. Like shucking on an old overcoat and finding a dog-end and half a pack of Polos in the pockets.”
I’d worry if that happened. I don’t smoke. In fact last time something like that did happen it was a purple ruby that glowed and a VERY irate fairy in a bottle.
Still dealing with the fallout from that one.
Hey chris cant wait for the rest of the retribution falls books to come out. Oh an di was wondering if you had any other new books coming out.
Hi my names Ellie and my friends name is Ella. We have read Malice and it is the BEST BOOK WE HAVE EVER READ! We are already half way through Havoc and it is brilliant! YOU HAVE GOT TO DO MORE BOOKS LIKE THAT PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also is there anywhere is the UK that you are doing book signing because we are big fans! Also is there a movie coming out???????? Also YOU NEED TO DO MORE BOOKS I NO WE HAVE ALREADY SAID IT BUT HAY HO WE DONT CARE WE LOVE YOU! Please please please please pleaseeeee reply we are begging you and please try and answer all are questions!
From Ellie age 12 & Ella age 12
P.S we are 12 ! and we love you! xoxo
Hi its ellie and ella again one more thing! I just wanted to say (this is ellie speaking) i love malice sooo much that i have read it twice FACT! AND DONT YOU FORGET IT! luv u! xx
hi ellie and ella AGIAN !!!!!!!!!!
(ella) ellie got me into mailce i thought it would be rubbish but it is not it is FAB soo goood. me and ellie have known each other since year 2 and ellie first read malice in year 6 (2009) but she was reading it again in english, so i said what is that and she started talking about it. For hours on end we talk about it, now you might think us as malice freaks but there you go thats the way it is. lol! we have even done the ritcial! twig, cat hair, fether,our hair,tear AND FIRE lol we have not been taken away just yet
please reply, can you do book signing in the UK????? (we live in kent by the way) xx
You did the ritual, huh? Well I guess you guys are done for, then. Good luck in Malice
I’ll post on the website if I’m doing any signings. I don’t do many, to be honest, because I like staying locked up in my spidery tower on a crag overhanging a creepy lake full of mutant crocodiles.
Cheers for all the book-love, everyone <3
hey are any of your books being turned into a movie any time soon? it would be interesting if retribution falls or the haunting of alaizabel cray became a movie
hey chris please try and make malice and havoc into films pleasee!
I wish it was that easy! IF it were up to me, all my books would be made into movies. But since I don’t have $100 million-per-book lying around, it really depends on those pesky folks who make movies
ATM Malice is being developed by a movie company, but it’s a long way from being made yet. Another producer is buying up the option to develop Alaizabel, although the deal seems to have been dragging on since 1976 so I’ve no idea what’s going on with that.
When will havoc come out dude do you know also just got done reading malice great book will there be a third or you dont know yet??????????? let me know please
when did havoc come out????? if it is
hey i get the book havoc out anywhere in chicago IL.
you rock
you arnt on this alot are you??????????????
I’ve been on holiday, to a wonderful place where the Internet couldn’t reach me with its horrible sparking circuity fingers.
Glad you liked Malice. Havoc out October in the US, already out in the UK. Still don’t know if there will be a third one; I’m talking to Scholastic UK about it.
i didnt like malice i loved it i think you should make a third so it can be a trilogy so its more likly to a movie and make the charts on the rating list like lord of the rings or some other trilogy’s it could put your books higher
my birthday is in october
you sould so its a trilogy ratings might go up on the book. and mabye it might help out with the movie.
i repeated my self
lol
what city do you live in ?????????
i bet i am annoying you lol
i realy luv malice and havoc i am really scared cuz couldnt find a book like malice and really want to plz plz plz pzl plz pzl make a movie of it and another simalr book one that has comics and love with kady and seth was great by the way and i luv the most the monsters and all the avertars in it so i am begging /im on my nees/ u todo that for me and prob alote of people will want a movie and book like malice plzplzlzplzpplz
is Havoc ever coming out in Canada cuz im starting to get….. pissed off
Amazon.ca says October 1st. So it’s October 1st.
my birthday is october 1 i guess i will get it for a birthday.
Hi Chris,hope u r well and doing fine.i have a question as im a bit confused about the the Ebook release date of The Black Lung Captain.i saw on the Orion books site that they have mentioned the following –
The Black Lung Captain (eBook) - July 2010 - £12.98
on the same page they have provided 2 links,one for Waterstones,the other for Amazon (UK) where one can buy the Ebook,but when i searched on both sites only paperback and Hardback editions are available.Here is the link –
http://www.orionbooks.co.uk/authors/wooding-chris
Also they have listed August as the month for the release of the
Braided Path Trilogy(all 3 books) in Ebook format,again all three dont show up as ebooks on both Waterstones or Amazon(UK).
Can u please clarify if the information posted on the Orionbooks site is correct or not as i want to buy all the above mentioned as ebooks.Thanks.
Hi Jon,
I expect it’s because they haven’t officially been released yet, but I’ll try and get some clarification from Orion for you. Perhaps you could check back in a few days on The Black Lung Captain and see if it’s available, since it’s not out till tomorrow.
thanks for the quick reply Chris,i will def check back ,cant wait to read The Black Lung Captain,hope the ebook gets released tomorrow as well.Cheers!
Hi Chris,just bought the ebook from Waterstones and am very happy to have finally got it,even though it cost me more than the paperback lol .
Also for your info the ebook is still not available at Amazon(both US & UK).
So you think there will be a third.?? mabye
i love malice