How true that is. Book 3 - the infamously long-to-wait-for Factotum - has been a process all its own, with its own momentum, its own surprises. It is frightening and wonderful to go out in the story on a hunch that it is the correct direction and have it rewarded with an unexpected unfolding of whole unforeseen and richer moments in the tale.
One of the hardest things has been facing the finish the text, fear fear fear; is this story good enough? Does it do what it needs to do? Will folks like it? The great thing is that now it is not even 18 months to release folks, so hang in there.
A recent high point was when Katie - a fellow metaphoric citizen of the Half-Continent - sent through images of a costume she has been working on. I won't tell you who it is of, 'cause you ought to know...
(c) Copyright Katie/ Spacetart 2008+9. Used with permission.
I could not help but ask Katie how it works as a functional piece of clothing to which she responded:
"As a functional piece of clothing, I'm not really sure. For me, it was fine, since I was at work and didn't have a huge range of movement,but for the actual characters, I'm not sure how it would stand up to the whirling fighting movements without the benefit of spandex/lycra.Though you can't see it, the sleeves do tie on like it's said in the book, so that wouldn't be an issue, but around the inseam, it might be a problem. The stomacher actually worked well, and stayed on fine with the ties. I have new respect for the seamstresses of the clave if they have to paint that diamond pattern, and even more if they have to quilt or sew them together."
My thoughts on that last statement are that the cloth comes dyed that way by request - still, it'd be a heck of a job for the dye house then and prodigiously expensive to boot. You can see the rest of the images of her astonishing creation and Katie's comments on them here! Thank you, Katie!
Next bit o' niceness (my how that word has change in meaning!) is this piece of superb well, I suppose you might call it "fan art" (somehow that does not seem to cut it with me) from our own curiousmouth - and again I shall leave you to figure who the two figures are...(c) Copyright Katie/ Spacetart 2008+9. Used with permission.
(c) Copyright Curiousmouth 2008+9. Used with permission.
Thank you all so much for another excellent blogging year, you all make writing and creating better, "funner", a bit more real; I hope I might do the same for you sometimes.
New Year's Resolution: to get the Varificon up and running fully - there are too many genuinely excellent new words in there, I think a couple might make it in to Book 3. I am hoping it might become a corporate cooperative dictionary we can all dip into, so help yourselves peoples (with proper credit of course).
Welcome to 2009!
On with the new year!
25 comments:
Lucky me, I get first comment.
Happy New Year Master Cornish, hope you had a good one.
It would be great if some of our Varificon words get into Factotum. (*Sigh* such a long time to wait)
Jackle (to be jackled)- (v) to be inveigled into something without being aware of it.
Eg. "he was jackled into the matter before he realised what was happening."
Factotum will be here before we know it. I've become convinced time is unravelling as I grow older. I was scheduling the coming year and all the appointments, release dates, and expectations seemed to fill the pages. It's scarry.
Happy New Year! Maranatha!
Well, it's 2009 Anoo Domini now and I don't feel any different.
My compliments to the artists here featured and my sympathies to Mr. Cornish in his Herculean labor.
Verificon words in Factotum? Oh, please say 'tis so!
Welcome back Anna.
fingra: a scroll made from the tattered remnants of an ancient map. Fingra are usually extremely delicate so one must transport them in cases and read them while they are on stands.
-Ben.
Ben- Thanks. I feel really welcomed home after this!
Wow! You have fan costumes, fan art -- and now you're on the shortlist for the Cybils! Congratulations!
Happy 2009 everyone! This will be a good year, I just know it.
Moddeb: a sticky substance made from mud and different kinds of dung that is dabbed onto something to make it become stiff and hard. Is very useful in building shelters because it makes simple grass huts much more sturdy and waterproof. Can also be spelled "mauddeb" or "moddaub."
I can't imagine how difficult it is to tie up a series. Perhaps you'll have to write a fourth book? I'd be okay with that...
For more fancy words, just look at the word verifications that come up as you comment on blogger, such as the one listed below:
Herthrai - long winding path deviating from a main route that eventually loops back, much like a bypass.
Good luck with the writing and a happy new year!
It´s the waitng that is a killer. The thing I want to find out the most is Rossamunds reaction to his ols masters, why they have kept things hidden from him, and Europe´s reaction. Although it seems like she doesn´t care if he is a monster or not, but at least she must be curious. (biting my nails, taping my foot, pulling my hair......waiting...)
Happy New Year Master Cornish and troupe. I'm an old fan but new blogger. I was probably the first person that bought Foundling in Brisbane. I was in a small bookshop in West End that also has coffee/cake back in 2006 and saw the owner opening a box and getting Foundling out. Decided that it might be a good read over my coffee and got it. I'm sure I was the first one on that bookshop and they gave me a voucher for 10% off of my next purchase if I reviewed the book, which I did (and I can't remember which book I picked, but I'm sure I got my discount). True to that first fuzzy feeling I got when reading Foundling, I went to the same bookshop (I'm all for supporting small bookshops over big chains), got Lamplighter and read the first chapter there over a skinny latte. Not disappointed at all... Can't wait for Factotum!
One question: is it true that Jim Henson Co has the rights of the series? Do you still retain some kind of rights over the script that will allow you some control over the final product. It would be a shame if the movie trashes this beautiful/fearful/incredible world and its inhabitants
Happy New Year! Can't even begin to tell you how devastatingly addicted I am to the books. It will be a long wait for the third.
In the meantime, I'll be busy trying to hook all my readers on MBT.
happy new year!...a few days late
i am deeply impressed by katie's costume. how long did it take to make, in all its various parts?
caliggsp: that inexplicable metal part that is always left over after you take something apart, an engine perchance, and put it back together
OK, back from holiday. Happy new year everyone.
Thats a great costume. It must have been very hard to make.
I´ve posted some pictures from Africa on my Facebook-profile-thing-album, if someone is interested. Not all photos are in it cause I haven´t scanned them in yet (have about 30 left). There is also a photo of me but please close your eyes and click by it (I look like a troll).
I hope all of you had a nice New Year.
Commenting is very slow...makes me sad.
I still want to know why wits have eyebrows. Do they draw them on?
Mikarity: to be charitable only for the purpose of drawing attention for oneself. Example: "Jeff demonstrated his mikarity when he dramatically placed a large wad of money in the collection plate, hoping everyone would see."
aH, i SEE my rival Ben Briddya is back, or was my rival sam hranac?
Bring on 2009! that only means 17 months to wait till Factotum...
I don't like the title, that means "Servant" right?
So the books basically go..
Orphan (Foundling)
Public Commisssion (Lamplighter)
Private Commission (Factotum)
Mr. Cornish.
Do they have land mines in the Haacobin Empire? You know, big ceramic or porclin spheres full of mordants, just waiting for some hulking unterman to step on, and crack open? Which makes me wonder, are there any poisonous potives of the gas variety?
Noelle.
Would mikarity be pronounced MEkarity?
clestero: A member of an enigmatic group of justice-loving men who wears a pale blue domino. Such men often ferret out judicial or government corruption.
-Ben.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! (I know it's a bit late but thats not going to stop me from saying it!)
This year is going to be great! Even better than last year.
New year's resolution: uhhhhh......... learn Italian.
I'm really looking forward to reading book 3 Mr. Cornish and have gotten a couple of people addicted to the series, so keep up the good work!
Hey David!
Thought you might enjoy hearing this.
Over the holidays, my wife and I were in a Borders bookstore. A fellow came in looking for a specific book, to which my wife was able to direct him. He picked it up, delighted that he was able to find a copy, and left to purchase it.
The book was LAMPLIGHTER. He was eager to give it to his children.
Hope all's great and that the infant New Year is treating you well.
Drew Bittner
hey good news, Mr Cornish! my library still has Lamplighter in the new books section, which is a sign of popularity!
[or a sign of slacking off on the part of the circulation people, but we'll be optimistic]
fuless: an intricately decorated baton, carried by performers in parades, often thrown into the crowd at hecklers
Wow-- Katie, that's one crazy awesome costume. It looks great!
I was wondering; how many people here uses DeviantArt? I've seen several people with dA accounts.
Dowspo: A bath of potives used to soften the soles of one's feet.
Thanks so much for the mention!
And I've fallen in love with that pic of Threnody and Rossamund. I hope there's a lot more of Miss Threnody in Factotum.
I've been thinking about getting a deviantart account. I don't scan my stuff very much, but I'm getting my larger pieces photographed for my portfolio soon, so I might be able to post those. Monsters are one of my favorite subjects :)
Pressess: A term of endearment among toothless people. "What a pressess likkle girl!"
Long time no comment. Lucky for me commenting is moving slowly. We need something to argue about, discuss, or get bothered by.
New years resolution ... to learn to hypnotize people by watching 'How To' Youtube videos.
An interesting New Years Resolution Portals. Perhaps you can practice by hypnotizing people into buying MBT. That way you can also support Master Cornish while honing your skills.
OK Portals, here´s one. Hardcover or paperback/pocketbook?
I prefer hardcover, just love the feeling and the smell of the book. I have a thing for books printed in the 19th century, they are so beautiful.
Also i think that a hardcover book is worth saving, paperback just feels like read and throw and don´t last as long as an book with hard covers.
right now I have bookabstinence. I search every bookstore I see, for anything good to read, but comes up with nothing. The books there doesn´t seem interesting enough to buy. sigh...guess it´s dvd time instead.
thank you for posting it up! :D
the character design for calendars looks really fun to cosplay, looks like it took heaps of dedication to make o_o
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