If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

This is the poster that Eileen has won (give or take any last-minute tweaks that Martin performs). It is also the colour frontispiece art for the limited hardcover edition.

Labels: art, Napier's Bones, publishing, writing

On Facebook I had recently made some noises about having some sort of contest so that somebody could win some cool Napier's Bones-related swag, but I had to put my brain to the grindstone to figure out exactly how I wanted to do this. That's all done now, and it's time to start this contest.

But first, let me announce what you can win:

First Prize - A signed, limited edition hardcover of Napier's Bones. This glorious edition contains a colour frontispiece and some internal black and white art by Martin Springett, as well as signatures by me, Martin, cover artist Erik Mohr, and book designer Corey Beep.

Second Prize - A trade paperback copy of Napier's Bones, signed by me.

Third Prize - A poster for Napier's Bones of Martin's colour frontispiece, signed by Martin and by me.

I will handle the mailing costs to anywhere in the world, but am not responsible for our respective postal services doing Something Stupid.

Contest Rules

In conjunction with the mathematical fantasy nature of the novel, I want you to pick a number, anywhere from (and including) 0 (Zero) to 2011 (two thousand eleven). You may then post that number in one of three places:

- on my blog, in the comments for this contest announcement. Please make sure you've left your email address or else check back on February 23rd for the announcement.

- on my Facebook page, in the comments of this Note

- on Twitter. If using Twitter, you must use the hashtag #napiersbones, in order for me to be able to find your entry. Simply type your number and the hashtag, ie

2012 #napiersbones

(note that I chose a number outside of the range)

Speaking of Twitter, you can follow me there @derrylm. Nothing extraordinarily scintillating, but as events for the book begin to unfold, I suspect I will be able to update there more frequently.

I have already chosen and tucked away the three winning numbers. They were randomly generated, so no prior knowledge of my life or anal habits or OCDs will be of benefit.

Entries will be accepted until February 22/2011.

Anyone can enter, except for employees of ChiZine Publications and their immediate families, as well as my own immediate family, and that of my wife.

You are allowed one entry per format. One for the blog, one for Facebook, one for Twitter. Make sure you choose a different number for each place. If by some bizarre set of circumstances someone actually tries to spoof this contest with bots, I reserve the right to shut it down early.

If the number is not chosen, the closest guess will be the winner. If two or more are potential winners, I will draw the winner's name from a hat. Guesses equidistant from the right number will qualify, whether they are higher or lower, excepting those numbers that fall out of the range.

Spread the word! The more the merrier, and the odds are better than the lotto.

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

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

Here it is, folks, the cover art for my novel, Napier's Bones. It's designed by Erik Mohr, who I suspect is largely responsible for the singular and snappy, sharp look of all of ChiZine Publications' titles. I'm pleased, I am; it's nice to have something that will not only stand out from the crowd, but that doesn't easily fit into any of these categories.

Labels: art, cover art, Napier's Bones, writing

Dismantling, cutting up, and generally hacking books into new shapes and forms can be really quite splendid.

Labels: art, books

This is the week the packing starts in earnest, but I needed to put this up, via Biomes. It's a 3D tour of Picasso's painting Guernica, a painting I first saw as the cover for a social studies textbook when I was in school, an image that so captivated me I went to find out what I could about it.

The tour does an excellent job of opening up a dense work, especially for people who can't wrap their heads around Picasso's style. And while it would have been nice to pause on each element and take time to explain it, the music is perhaps a more aesthetically pleasing choice.

Labels: art