The Hunchback Books Arrive

Lo and behold the day has finally arrived. Mr. Fed Ex pulled up and lugged a box of books into my house. The excitement was palpable. It was like Christmas and Halloween in August. Gosh, what could my publisher have sent me? My author's copies of my latest book? Could it be? With a snicker snack the tape on the box was cut and voila (that's French for "Woo hoo")--the contents were revealed. Yes, 20 little copies of the Canadian version of The Hunchback Assignments all in paper over board, just like I was told they would be. They looked so orderly, so neat, so tidy, so ready to leap out at the world. This is my fourteenth book to be published and it's still just as much fun to open the box and peruse through the books. I was especially impressed by their spines. Look, a floating evil head on the spine. If that won't sell books, I'll eat my top hat!



Now to put them on my shelves and to send them off to the people I owe copies to. Oh, and to sit back and wait for the American version to arrive...

Art

Odd Victorian Factoid # 26: Bicycle Craze Emancipates Women!

Odd Victorian Factoid#26

With the invention of the pneumatic tire, bicycles became especially popular in the 1890's (a time that is often referred to as "bicycle craze"). Women especially enjoyed the bicycle because it gave them freedom to move about on their own and, because corsets and ankle length skirts were not great bicycling clothing, they switched to more liberating bloomers (shocking, eh!).

Art

Jolted Study Guide--Made by students!

Just received a wonderful package from a teacher at Macneil School in Regina.



As their teacher explained to me: "My grade seven students read your new book "Jolted" and really enjoyed it. As an assignment for your book, they studied novel studies produced and published for various other novels, and in pairs, or alone, they produced novel study guides for your book "Jolted". Our teacher librarian, and myself, then chose the best novel study, and rewarded the pair of students with a meal at MacDonalds, but the icing on the cake was the promise that I would send a copy of this novel study to you. (We also put copies of all of these novel studies in our school library for other students to use when reading your book.)" Wow, the whole study guide is wonderful and what a great project. And oddly enough a meal at Macdonalds is what I get paid when I hand in each one of my novels. If my publisher is particularly happy they will buy me a milkshake, too. I've heard rumours that some authors get paid money, but that can't be true, can it?

Anyway, good work!

Art

is so Ave, Caesar, rock te salutant

has lost his Evil League card. Again.

Floating Evil Heads

A short interview with Doctor Hyde: "Where would we be without villains, I ask ye? Who would watch Star Wars without Darth Vader? Paradise Lost wouldn't even exist. Peter Pan would be a big yawn. You need we villains, admit it!"

Cool New Hunchback/BOOKED documentary

The first portion of the Booked/Hunchback Assignments documentary is out. Yay!





Art

Free Book Giveaway!

Enter to win a free copy of The Hunchback Assignments at the Facebook Fan page. The contest details are in the "discussion" area.

The Hunchback Assignments on Facebook

And in September there'll be a giveaway on my listserv. So sign up today for fun, excitement and adventure... : )

Sign Up Today! You could receive an intermittent (4 times a year) e-mail from Arthur, detailing his authorly adventures. Plus there are prizes! Oh, and news about appearances. Did we mention the prizes?

* required

Email Address: *








Email Marketing by VerticalResponse

Hunchback Assignments Audio Book

Voila! Random House Audio has posted a sample from The Hunchback Assignments audiobook. It's so interesting to hear someone else read my words. Just click here: http://tinyurl.com/myproq). The book is being read by Jayne Entwistle. I will admit that I'd always pictured the book being read my a distinguished gentleman with an English accent, but Entwistle has won me over. Hearing her read this chapter even taught me how to pronounce some of the fancy words I used in the book. Maybe I can hire her to do my book tours. Hmmm.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the whole audiobook (not available until September 22nd). I can officially check "have an audiobook of your work done" off of my list of dreams. Next on the list: "have a great big movie done and live in a solar powered mansion."


Art

Odd Victorian Factoid 25: Screaming Shuttlecocks

Odd Victorian Factoid #25

Modern badminton was "discovered" in the 19th century by British officers in India who watched locals play a game called Poona. In England it became known as "Hit and Scream." But in 1873, at the Badminton House in Gloucestershire, the British version of the game was officially launched and henceforth known as badminton.

Art

Catalogue? Real? Imagined?

Here's a clipping of the Hunchback Assignments being featured in the HarperCollins Canada catalogue. I always enjoy seeing the catalogue because then I can finally go, "whew, they weren't kidding, they are going to publish it." You never know--it might be an elaborate joke, right? Right? Or is the catalogue part of the joke?



If it is a joke they really have done their homework. That's the main page up there. It looks real, doesn't it? I mean there's even an ISBN number and a blurb. Then again...did people land on the moon? Does anyone know for sure...

There are lots of other authors in the catalogue. Including these.




Oh, these look great. Of course I'm a big fan of Susan Juby and of Kenneth Oppel (though they no longer let me in their houses, no matter how long I lurk). And isn't that a lovely cover for John Marsden's new book? How about Barb Haworth-Attard's Haunted? Now that cover creeps me out...in a good way. And Rachna Gilmore's cover makes me crave dilly bars, but like I always crave dilly bars. Mmmm. I'm going to devour that book. And there's also Tish Cohen's new book. Little Black Lies. Intriguing title. It makes me wonder...hmmm...is this really a catalogue? Or are they all in on the prank. Are they laughing now?



Art

Facebook Hunchback Fan Page

Just click the following link and you could become a fabulous fan of

The Hunchback Assignments on Facebook

Junior Library Guild

The Hunchback Assignments is officially a Junior Library Guild selection. This is so cool! And I was only hoping for Lollipop Guild membership! : ) It's especially pleasing to have a book that features the nefarious Clockwork Guild and the suspicious Permanent Association being recognized by a real guild in the real world.

The Junior Library Guild reads about 3000 books and selects 336 to be recommended to various libraries. Read more about the selection process (and see some cool graphics, too) here.

It's a great kick off to the series!


Art

Facebook Fan Page

Just click the following link to become an awesome fan on Facebook. How exciting!

Arthur Slade on Facebook

Book Dumps!

Isn't it funny the things an author gets excited about?

This is what the dump bins (that is the bins that are used to sell books in book stores) will look like in Australia. Very cool! It's like Modo is going to leap out at you if you don't buy the book. Finally, he's in 3D. I am disappointed that no one is going for my idea of a steam-powered, mechanical giant that picks up the customers, shakes out all their money and slides a book into their pocket. Apparently it's tooooo expensive!

Art