Book birthday

With Twitter
Reply
With ADN

Though pre-orders have already been sent and one review’s already up on a blog, today’s the official publication day of The Ragged Man – five hundred pages of what your life’s missing. So hooray for me! ;0)

62 thoughts on “Book birthday”

  5. Book Birthday

    Congrats. I’m waiting for mine to be shipped still. By the way…..I saw an unedited copy on Ebay.uk for sale. How could they sell something that was supposed to be special from you to them? Bastards!!! Anyway, I have rather a stupid question. I ordered mine from the UK, as I’ve done before with one other book from you, the question is; Is there any difference between the U.S. version and the U.K. version? We don’t exactly speak the Queens language here…… More of a distorted booze and brawl version…..

    1. Re: Book Birthday

      It’s bloggers and other reviewers selling promotional copies, something they see a a perk of the job. Frankly I think they should bother to read the book before selling it on for a profit, but I can’t kill them all. Some, sure, but…

      No real difference betwee the US and UK versions, I suspect it’s just amending the spelling and putting in little dragons at scene breaks, but Pyr take the finished MS from Gollancz to ensure they’re selling the same edition.

      1. Re: Book Birthday

        Got it. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to purchase both. I can tell you the Cover Art is different.
        Now onto the map…Did you spill a cup of tea and outline it? It worked for me when I spilled a cup of coffee. actually a very nice map. Now to drop some poppy seeds, and name the cities….
        Again Congratulations on the launch.

          1. Re: Book Birthday

            Got it this morning. 100 pages in. Should be done by Monday, then I’ll give you my review. I won’t be a spoiler. Hell, I may even be honest.

  6. Book Birthday

    Congrats. I’m waiting for mine to be shipped still. By the way…..I saw an unedited copy on Ebay.uk for sale. How could they sell something that was supposed to be special from you to them? Bastards!!! Anyway, I have rather a stupid question. I ordered mine from the UK, as I’ve done before with one other book from you, the question is; Is there any difference between the U.S. version and the U.K. version? We don’t exactly speak the Queens language here…… More of a distorted booze and brawl version…..

    1. Re: Book Birthday

      It’s bloggers and other reviewers selling promotional copies, something they see a a perk of the job. Frankly I think they should bother to read the book before selling it on for a profit, but I can’t kill them all. Some, sure, but…

      No real difference betwee the US and UK versions, I suspect it’s just amending the spelling and putting in little dragons at scene breaks, but Pyr take the finished MS from Gollancz to ensure they’re selling the same edition.

      1. Re: Book Birthday

        Got it. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to purchase both. I can tell you the Cover Art is different.
        Now onto the map…Did you spill a cup of tea and outline it? It worked for me when I spilled a cup of coffee. actually a very nice map. Now to drop some poppy seeds, and name the cities….
        Again Congratulations on the launch.

          1. Re: Book Birthday

            Got it this morning. 100 pages in. Should be done by Monday, then I’ll give you my review. I won’t be a spoiler. Hell, I may even be honest.

  7. Whats missing.

    Congratulations on the publication of The Ragged Man. I have been eagerly awaiting your fourth addition to the series. All you books have been fine additions to the Fantasy genre. My only problem is that I cant seem to be able to buy an ebook version for my kindle from Amazon. It seems only available for the UK site but not the north american site. Not sure who I should talk to since Amazon has been unhelpful.

    Hope I can enjoy your book soon.
    Cheers

      1. Re: Whats missing.

        Thats the one I’ve been checking, even called Amazon asking why its telling me: “This title is not available for customers from: Canada”. They say its the publisher.

  8. Whats missing.

    Congratulations on the publication of The Ragged Man. I have been eagerly awaiting your fourth addition to the series. All you books have been fine additions to the Fantasy genre. My only problem is that I cant seem to be able to buy an ebook version for my kindle from Amazon. It seems only available for the UK site but not the north american site. Not sure who I should talk to since Amazon has been unhelpful.

    Hope I can enjoy your book soon.
    Cheers

      1. Re: Whats missing.

        Thats the one I’ve been checking, even called Amazon asking why its telling me: “This title is not available for customers from: Canada”. They say its the publisher.

  9. Ragged Man

    OK I finished The Ragged Man. WOW! As always a constant of surprises I never would have expected. That’s some brainstorm you got there Tom.
    I had to read the last chapter 5 times it was so spellbinding. Bottom line is that this series is an absolute Must Read for any fantasy addict. The only problem is now I have to wait another year for “The Dusk Watchman”. Maybe I’ll be one of the lucky few to included in next years “Shiny Event”. Once again I Loved It. Congratulations on the book and the new castle.

    1. Re: Ragged Man

      Wow, thank you! You hope people react that way to a book, but it’s still a lovely surprise when it actualy happens! Will get Dusk Watchman done as quickly as possible, while still making it a bit surprising perhaps, but I’m afraid it will take a while yet… Hopefully there’ll be short stories published to tide folk over, but no decisions made on that yet. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it!

      1. Re: Ragged Man

        By the way there was one or two possibilities I would love you to toss around in your head….but if posted here it would spoil a little……any way to email you direct?

  10. Ragged Man

    OK I finished The Ragged Man. WOW! As always a constant of surprises I never would have expected. That’s some brainstorm you got there Tom.
    I had to read the last chapter 5 times it was so spellbinding. Bottom line is that this series is an absolute Must Read for any fantasy addict. The only problem is now I have to wait another year for “The Dusk Watchman”. Maybe I’ll be one of the lucky few to included in next years “Shiny Event”. Once again I Loved It. Congratulations on the book and the new castle.

    1. Re: Ragged Man

      Wow, thank you! You hope people react that way to a book, but it’s still a lovely surprise when it actualy happens! Will get Dusk Watchman done as quickly as possible, while still making it a bit surprising perhaps, but I’m afraid it will take a while yet… Hopefully there’ll be short stories published to tide folk over, but no decisions made on that yet. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it!

      1. Re: Ragged Man

        By the way there was one or two possibilities I would love you to toss around in your head….but if posted here it would spoil a little……any way to email you direct?

  11. The Twilight Reign

    Hi Tom

    It must have been last september when I chanced across Stormcaller, I say chanced but it I feel it must have been fate. Fates influence maybe?
    Who knows?

    But upon my encounter with your first book, I quickly bought the other two and embarked upon a long journey with that friendly white eye we know as Isak.

    I just want to say that Ragged Man was epic. It was everything I wanted it to be and more, and your series has inspired to me to start writing again!
    I may not be any good but its all about the fun.

    Keep churning them out pal, cant wait for the next installment.

    P.S Daken? He was one of the most bad-ass characters I know.

    1. Re: The Twilight Reign

      Sweet, that’s what I like to hear!

      Glad you liked Daken too. He looks like my friend Dave Devereux, but fortunately Dave doesn’t act like him or we’d probably not still be friends. Mainly put him in because Isak was having such a shit time of things I wanted someone a bit more fun, childish and rude to write! haven’t quite decided where he’s going in book 5 yet, but he’s already tried to pick a fight with Isak and hit on Zhia…

      1. Re: The Twilight Reign

        Daken isn’t dead?

        Thats is probably the best news I’ve heard in a long time! (don’t quite know what that says about the news I’ve been recieveing lastely but still . . )

        I was quite under the impression that Daken had fallen at the end of Ragged Man. I’m glad he remains as “Mad Axe” as ever, I mean picking a fight with Isak himself? What a guy.

        How is the writing of book 5 going? Being the final chapter in the Twilight Reign, I can imagine that your taking great care.

        Seriously though, Daken being alive. . . has done nothing but amplified my desire for this next book. Excited doesn’t do it justice.

        1. Re: The Twilight Reign

          ;0) He was pretty close, but what he did helped break the assault on that flank and Litania pulled her (badly injured) pet out of danger.

          Book 5 is going slowly as you might imagine, but I realise I’ve done over 50k words which is encouraging. am hoping it’s not going to be as long as Ragged Man either, would be happy if I could do one more the length of Stormcaller, which was 30k shorter than Ragged.

          1. Re: The Twilight Reign

            I like that Litania stepped in and helped her man out, He put in a pretty valiant effort.
            What release date are you hoping for on book 5?
            Yeah I can imagine, it’s the last curtain so you’d be wanting everything just right.
            Seriously Tom, you are doing an amazing job with this series and I’ll be making a serious effort to pick up any other books that you do.
            Speaking of that. . . what are you planning after The Twilight Reign?

            The Names Owen by the way. :)

          2. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Ah, hi Owen!

            On the release date, afraid it’ll be a while. If I get the book done by my delivery deadline, it goes to the publisher June 2011 – and their schedule is usually very tight so I suspect we’d be looking at a Jan/Feb 2012 publication date.

            As for after the Twilight Reign, am planning a smaller scale world and rather more stand-alone books. First one’s got the working title of Moon’s Artifice, with the series title of Empire of a Hundred Houses, but am struggling to get the plot under control at the moment so who knows what’ll happen!

          3. Re: The Twilight Reign

            2012. . . Well least its something to look forward too! :)
            Empire of a Hundred Houses? Nice title, well consider me the first fan of the series.

            Have you ever read anything from “The View From The Mirror” Series by Ian Irvine? It’s a very good series and i noticed your a fan of reading the genre aswell as writing it. So if you ever see it, you should pick it up.

            If you don’t mind me asking. . . where did you get your inspiration for The Twilight Reign?

          4. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Haven’t read that one, pretty sure I’ve seen it in the shops but wasn’t grabbed by the blurb really. As for inspiration, erm, dunno really! had been annoyed with stories where the weakling farm boy gets lucky at the end rather than coming up with a plausible ending, and a few other things, but the story grew organically really. I had a few basic ideas i wanted, like Isak being an overblown teenager etc, and then just built on a world framework that slowly developed from there.

          5. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Thats fair.
            Ofcourse you should never judge a book by its cover. haha.
            I know what you mean by the farmboy comment, it’s like most Fantasy stories have a set list of things to write by.
            The hero being poor or not quite insync with high society is one of them.

          6. Re: The Twilight Reign

            and obviously, by itself i don’t have a problem with that. but it has to make sense, and a lot of the time it follows convention rather than have its own internal logic.

          7. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Convention is something that should be followed, but only as a guide, I feel too much, that these days Fantasy Novels are all, at grass roots level, the same essential story.
            What the genre needs is something new, not just re-imaginings of something previously thought of.

            Hence why I have been such a fan of your works, I felt your use of Aspects of Gods, was a whole new side to fantasy I hadn’t come across before.

          8. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Well I’m glad to hear it. If you are looking for different things, I’d suggest the Greg Keyes duo, The Waterborn and the Blackgod – i really liked the gods in that one. Also, something a bit different, Tim Powers’ Declare – best and most interesting/different use of angels I’ve ever read. Generally I hate their use in all forms of entertainment as they’re so constrained they’re dull – Supernatural gets about the second prize for at least making theirs interesting, but Declare has angels and demons of a form quite unlike any other i’ve come across.

          9. Re: The Twilight Reign

            The Waterborn and The Blackgod? I’ll make a point of picking them up and Declare.
            I’ve not had much experience with Angels myself, except with Supernatural, like you mentioned, Micheal wanted to use Dean as a vessel, Lucifer taking over Sam. God not caring. Death intervening. Safe to say im excited for the new series. Actually Sam and Dean, remind me of a Game I played once. Devil May Cry 3 (Don’t quite know if you are a gamer, but that’s a great game. Two Half human, half Demon brothers, fighting against each other, slightly reminiscent of supernatural.)
            Anyhow as much as I have enjoyed our chats, I feel I may have hijacked your commenting page.
            If your ever in sunny old Scotland and fancy a pint. Give me a shout.
            Owen :)

  12. The Twilight Reign

    Hi Tom

    It must have been last september when I chanced across Stormcaller, I say chanced but it I feel it must have been fate. Fates influence maybe?
    Who knows?

    But upon my encounter with your first book, I quickly bought the other two and embarked upon a long journey with that friendly white eye we know as Isak.

    I just want to say that Ragged Man was epic. It was everything I wanted it to be and more, and your series has inspired to me to start writing again!
    I may not be any good but its all about the fun.

    Keep churning them out pal, cant wait for the next installment.

    P.S Daken? He was one of the most bad-ass characters I know.

    1. Re: The Twilight Reign

      Sweet, that’s what I like to hear!

      Glad you liked Daken too. He looks like my friend Dave Devereux, but fortunately Dave doesn’t act like him or we’d probably not still be friends. Mainly put him in because Isak was having such a shit time of things I wanted someone a bit more fun, childish and rude to write! haven’t quite decided where he’s going in book 5 yet, but he’s already tried to pick a fight with Isak and hit on Zhia…

      1. Re: The Twilight Reign

        Daken isn’t dead?

        Thats is probably the best news I’ve heard in a long time! (don’t quite know what that says about the news I’ve been recieveing lastely but still . . )

        I was quite under the impression that Daken had fallen at the end of Ragged Man. I’m glad he remains as “Mad Axe” as ever, I mean picking a fight with Isak himself? What a guy.

        How is the writing of book 5 going? Being the final chapter in the Twilight Reign, I can imagine that your taking great care.

        Seriously though, Daken being alive. . . has done nothing but amplified my desire for this next book. Excited doesn’t do it justice.

        1. Re: The Twilight Reign

          ;0) He was pretty close, but what he did helped break the assault on that flank and Litania pulled her (badly injured) pet out of danger.

          Book 5 is going slowly as you might imagine, but I realise I’ve done over 50k words which is encouraging. am hoping it’s not going to be as long as Ragged Man either, would be happy if I could do one more the length of Stormcaller, which was 30k shorter than Ragged.

          1. Re: The Twilight Reign

            I like that Litania stepped in and helped her man out, He put in a pretty valiant effort.
            What release date are you hoping for on book 5?
            Yeah I can imagine, it’s the last curtain so you’d be wanting everything just right.
            Seriously Tom, you are doing an amazing job with this series and I’ll be making a serious effort to pick up any other books that you do.
            Speaking of that. . . what are you planning after The Twilight Reign?

            The Names Owen by the way. :)

          2. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Ah, hi Owen!

            On the release date, afraid it’ll be a while. If I get the book done by my delivery deadline, it goes to the publisher June 2011 – and their schedule is usually very tight so I suspect we’d be looking at a Jan/Feb 2012 publication date.

            As for after the Twilight Reign, am planning a smaller scale world and rather more stand-alone books. First one’s got the working title of Moon’s Artifice, with the series title of Empire of a Hundred Houses, but am struggling to get the plot under control at the moment so who knows what’ll happen!

          3. Re: The Twilight Reign

            2012. . . Well least its something to look forward too! :)
            Empire of a Hundred Houses? Nice title, well consider me the first fan of the series.

            Have you ever read anything from “The View From The Mirror” Series by Ian Irvine? It’s a very good series and i noticed your a fan of reading the genre aswell as writing it. So if you ever see it, you should pick it up.

            If you don’t mind me asking. . . where did you get your inspiration for The Twilight Reign?

          4. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Haven’t read that one, pretty sure I’ve seen it in the shops but wasn’t grabbed by the blurb really. As for inspiration, erm, dunno really! had been annoyed with stories where the weakling farm boy gets lucky at the end rather than coming up with a plausible ending, and a few other things, but the story grew organically really. I had a few basic ideas i wanted, like Isak being an overblown teenager etc, and then just built on a world framework that slowly developed from there.

          5. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Thats fair.
            Ofcourse you should never judge a book by its cover. haha.
            I know what you mean by the farmboy comment, it’s like most Fantasy stories have a set list of things to write by.
            The hero being poor or not quite insync with high society is one of them.

          6. Re: The Twilight Reign

            and obviously, by itself i don’t have a problem with that. but it has to make sense, and a lot of the time it follows convention rather than have its own internal logic.

          7. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Convention is something that should be followed, but only as a guide, I feel too much, that these days Fantasy Novels are all, at grass roots level, the same essential story.
            What the genre needs is something new, not just re-imaginings of something previously thought of.

            Hence why I have been such a fan of your works, I felt your use of Aspects of Gods, was a whole new side to fantasy I hadn’t come across before.

          8. Re: The Twilight Reign

            Well I’m glad to hear it. If you are looking for different things, I’d suggest the Greg Keyes duo, The Waterborn and the Blackgod – i really liked the gods in that one. Also, something a bit different, Tim Powers’ Declare – best and most interesting/different use of angels I’ve ever read. Generally I hate their use in all forms of entertainment as they’re so constrained they’re dull – Supernatural gets about the second prize for at least making theirs interesting, but Declare has angels and demons of a form quite unlike any other i’ve come across.

          9. Re: The Twilight Reign

            The Waterborn and The Blackgod? I’ll make a point of picking them up and Declare.
            I’ve not had much experience with Angels myself, except with Supernatural, like you mentioned, Micheal wanted to use Dean as a vessel, Lucifer taking over Sam. God not caring. Death intervening. Safe to say im excited for the new series. Actually Sam and Dean, remind me of a Game I played once. Devil May Cry 3 (Don’t quite know if you are a gamer, but that’s a great game. Two Half human, half Demon brothers, fighting against each other, slightly reminiscent of supernatural.)
            Anyhow as much as I have enjoyed our chats, I feel I may have hijacked your commenting page.
            If your ever in sunny old Scotland and fancy a pint. Give me a shout.
            Owen :)

Leave a Reply