If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

We may as well consider this to be a placeholder post, as I have plenty of thoughts bouncing around in my thick skull right now but no time to let them all loose in a sensible fashion until after an assignment is done, but I wanted to point out this article from the UK about what is happening with kids who just want to play football (soccer) for fun, and then I wanted to point to the Canadian Soccer Association's page about their new program called Wellness to World Cup, which attempts to deal with some of these very issues.

More soon. I'd been thinking about these very things (among others) before I read this, but it brings it all to the forefront for me.

Labels: soccer, sports

Martin has really gone to town on this, which I've greatly appreciated. Every time I think he's done, he sends along another sketch he's done, inspired by something else he's read in Napier's Bones. It's been quite thrilling to open all the new emails and see what he's sent this time.

This gryphon sketch was the last one he sent. There are others, but they are works that will be appearing in the hardcover, which, as usual, can be ordered here, although only until January 2. And because they're appearing in the book, I'd like to save that experience for the people who get that version.

Labels: art, ChiZine Publications, Napier's Bones, publishing

Here's another sketch by Martin Springett, from the scene in the book that takes place in the Ballachuan Hazelwood on Seil Island in Scotland. We ended up opting not to go with this one as the frontispiece, although it was a close decision in the end.

Out of all the things we did when Jo and I went to Scotland for research, visiting this tiny island and this small forested nature preserve was my very favorite. It's a magical place, and a fine introduction to how people in the UK treat public and private access to land. We parked down below an old church (a church that also hosts a scene in the novel), then walked down a private drive and up over some wooden steps that had been placed so people could safely scale a barbed wire fence. Then we walked through farmland before coming to a very old forest, ancient trees covered in hundreds of types of lichen. Magic!

Labels: art, ChiZine Publications, Napier's Bones, publishing

Martin Springett really went to town with his drawings inspired by his reading of Napier's Bones, and I'm very much enjoying sharing them here. Some of you may have attended the reading I gave in Calgary, of a scene that takes place in London, alongside and then atop the Thames (yes, atop). This drawing, a quick rough sketch, was one of two Martin did from that scene, and it just delights me to see a scene I wrote come to life like this.

As usual, you can buy the limited edition hardcover here. Remember that you have to do so by January 2, 2011. As well, if all you want is the trade paperback without Martin's very cool artwork, you can pre-order it online from all of the major book retailers.

Finally, I've been advised that ARCs of the book (Advance Review Copies) have gone out today. I'll be interested to see how quickly reviews start to pop up.

Labels: art, ChiZine Publications, Napier's Bones, publishing

As mentioned in the previous post, Martin Springett has done some interior art for the limited edition hardcover of Napier's Bones. The one I'm bringing to you today is series of rough sketches he did as he worked on some concepts he would ultimately reject for the book, although the numbers flowing from Jenna's hair is something he latched onto for some other art he did later in the process.

Remember, you only have until January 2, 2011 to order the book. Order it here.

Labels: art, ChiZine Publications, Napier's Bones, publishing

The final colour version of the frontispiece for the limited edition hardcover came to me via email today and I have to say that it is absolutely, unbelievable gorgeous! The artist is Martin Springett, probably best-known for having done the covers for the original editions of Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry. Over the next week or so I'm going to share with you all some of the sketches and ideas that Martin came up with while reading Napier's Bones. These are shared with Martin's permission, and all are preliminary sketches. I will of course save the final image for those people lucky enough to get their hands on one of the 150 signed and numbered hardcover editions.

Addendum, added December 3: Brett has written to correct a factual error. The hardcover is not limited to 150 copies, but is instead limited to however many are purchased between now and January 2. At the moment, that is not a number approaching 150, so start shaking the trees and convincing your friends and neighbours that purchasing this edition of Napier's Bones is a good idea.

Labels: art, Napier's Bones