Wow - February already! For the time being all the snow we’ve been getting in England has gone away - and we were getting plenty! Up to 16 inches in the Counties around London. I’ve had to trek to the bottom of the garden to break the ice from off the bird-baths, but apart from that, I’ve learned that working from home can be really great when there is four inches of snow outside!
I have been working on the suggestions for The Charmed Return (Faerie Path book 6) that came to me from the American editors, and the manuscript is back with them again at the moment. I think the book is not due out till January 2011 - which must seem like entire lifetimes away! The thing is, publishers like to have a “finished” book in their hands 12 months before they publish - I’m not really sure why, but it is partly to do with advance publicicty and print-runs and stuff like that. Hopefully, in a few months, I should get a cover I can show you and then some sneak-peeks like I did with The Enchanted Quest.
I have the green light for starting to write Warrior Princess 4 now - so I’m going to be getting down to that from next week. It should take me till about mid-April, so if I’m slow at answering your mails or posting new blogs over the next eight or nine weeks, I apologize in advance.
As the eagle-eyed among you may have noticed, I have a couple of new “Coming soon” books on the Home Page - and I’ve added some new information about Warrior Princess Book 3 (The Emerald Flame) and also more about The Sundered Lands series.
My information at the moment is that The Emerald Flame will be out in October this year. I’m intending to post some sneak-peek stuff for this in the same way I did for book 2 - but it will be a few months before that starts happening.
Some of you will have noticed that Marisa’s Fan Site is down at the moment. I’m hoping this will be sorted out quickly, but for the time being there’s not really anything I can do about it. Sorry.
On the other hand, I have been speaking with a friend of mine - the one who helped me to set up this AllanFrewinJones site in the first place, with the plan of adding a “Picture Gallery” page here. I can post some photos and drawings and paintings of mine here, as well as letting you see alternate books covers for other countries. And I’m also thinking that maybe I could post pictures that you guys create - I think it would be fun to see how you imagine the characters and places in Faerie look. Does that seem like a good idea?
Also, I’m considering adding a “Fan-Fiction” page, which might work a little like the Fan Site - letting you chat among yourselves and post your stories online for other people to read.Thing is, that kind of site really needs a moderator - someone who will regularly check what’s being posted and weed out spam mails and anything else that shouldn’t have gotten in there. I’m not sure I’ll have time to do that, but I’ll have a think about it and let you know what’s what in a little while.
A lot of you guys are asking about the possibility of a Faerie Path book 7.
Here’s the thing: originally I was asked to write three books. These books sold well enough for the publisher to come back to me and ask for three more. So, in answer to fans who are clamouring for book 7, 8, 9 etc - it’s really out of my hands right now. If the word is spreading about The Faerie Path series, and plenty of people are buying the books, then there’s a good chance that the publishers will want more. I know that some of you are already out there spreading the word - and the more you do this, the more likely it is that there will be a 7th and an 8th book.
Amy Havre posted a comment a few days ago, asking for good ideas about how to spread the word. So - why not let us all know your thoughts on this. If you’ve already started telling people, tell us what you’ve done, and also post some ideas about what you think might work. You know the kind of thing: airships flying over New York with BUY THE FAERIE PATH BOOKS! written on the side. That kind of thing! Over to you!
Well, part of the reason is because you know how Twilight became a movie, then Vampire Diaries became a TV series. People started saying that L J Smith stole the Vampire/Werewolf thing. Really, Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight WAY after Vampire Diaries was written. Just saying.
AFJ. What always happens when something becomes popular (vampires, wizards, etc) is that a lot of publishers put out new books about the same subject, and another bunch of publishers will re-release old books on the same subject. Jumping on the bandwagon, this is called - and who can blame them, I guess, for trying to make money off a popular subject? Bottom line is that publishers are in the business to make as much money as they can. People (readers) can have a tendency to jump in with both feet before they know the facts - for instance, Peter Jackson got abuse for calling the 2nd movie of Lord of the Rings “The Two Towers” - because some people thought he was exploiting the terrorist attack on the “Twin Towers” in New York! Yes, people can get things THAT Wrong!
wow. hmmmm FAERIES RULE!!!!!!!!
Well, I just spread the word about the Faerie Path series on my MySpace. I put it up as a bullentin with a catchy title and I’m going to put it as my blog too. A lot of people read the bullentins, especially those with catchy phrases, so that might help spread the word.
Just a thought.
XOXO,
Jazzie
AFJ. Jazzie - that’s really great!
wow i am learning so much about how books are published and all that cool stuff
the faerie path is amazing its great i could hardly find any teen books i liked then i found the fairy path a year or so ago i love fairies so its really great
how to spread the word
or make faerie path banner type things and post it make a youtube fan slide show video ect
draw fan art and post it on deviant art
AFJ. All good ideas, Kayla - another way is to post reviews on the big booksellers pages - like Amazon.com etc.
Hello i’m new here and i think its an awesome idea oh and i know this was ages ago that ya’ll were talking about this but i read it and i would like to say this: if there will be movies about the faerie path series then i would like to be MOSTLY Hopie because i’ve always wanted to be a doctor since i was 6. Then, cordelia because of the animals. Then, Zara because of the music because I myself play the flute and i’ve always thought of me being her to I just don’t have blonde hair. Finally, Rathina she has dark hair like i do and she is kinda of bad at first and i can relate to that a little. Either of them would be fine with but mostly Hopie because she is a healer. Also now to talk about the colors of the sisters.
Eden: Black (it always seem for her to wear black in the books)
Hopie: Brown (said when she was seen with her husband Brython)
Sancha: White (as mr.jones said but scared to wear so)
Cordelia: Green (like mr.jones said)
Zara: Blue (she always choose something blue in the books)
Rathina: Red (look good on dark haired people in my opinion)
Tania: Orange (on all the covers she’s wearing a light orange dress)
Oh and mr.jones i’m am so glad you made this series when i first saw the book in a bookstore and read the back i knew right then that it would be a book that i would LOVE to read and and so i bought all the ones they had at the store at that time. anyway mr.jones when i read them i can’t put them down not even at school (i read every chance i get at school) also when i’m reading i get into them like i’m actual there at that moment when i’m reading you i thank because very few authors can pull me into their stories plus i myself wish i was living in the world of faerie so i can escape everything i hate and things that make me sad. But your books give me hope. i love them so much that i always want more of it like her past, EVERYTHING. Also, I wish i was just like Tania so i could travel to another WONDERFUL WORLD. i would also love to have a faerie wedding they sound so cool. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR.JONES for creating this wonderful world in your books.
AFJ. Hello there Evangeline! Thanks so much for your comments about how much you like the Faerie Path books, and for sharing your thoughts about the Princesses.
Hi! and your welcome mr.jones
my favorite is Hopie because of course like i said she is a healer and i want to be a doctor myself
oh and mr.jones could you plz guess when the 6th book would be published?
AFJ. Evangeline - yes, I like Hopie - she reminds me of my wife, Claudia - but then, so does Cordelia. But Claudia wants to be Eden!
My guess for book 6 would be 1st February 2011. But don’t hold me to it!
cool to your wife who wants to be Eden.
and mr.jones since you like Hopie and your wife remindes you of her is that why you want to be Lord Brython? and i won’t hold you to the date of the release date for the book.
Oh one last thing do you think that in the future all the sisters that are not married will be?
AFJ. Evangeline - quite right with the Hopie/Brython thing. But if Claudia is Eden, that makes me Valentyne…I hope I don’t look that old. Regarding the other princesses - as people are Immortal in Faerie, I would hope that all of those who wish to be married will have the time to find a suitable partner, so, yes.
Your not old mr.jones but you do get cool skills in the mystic arts.
Also I hope that princess Rathina and Sancha get married they love.
I have a question i didn’t fully understand this in the book, what is Eden’s gift like the other princesses?
Eden- ?
Hopie- vast knowledge of herbs and healing others.
Sancha- can move any object with her mind without touching it and can read the text of other soul books and mortal books.
Cordelia- Able to talk to animals.
Zara- can weave enchantment into her music.
Rathina- immune to the touch of Isenmort.
Tania- Able to step into both worlds. (is that her only gift?)
allan-no valentyne as i recall looks ancient. you are still young=D. which character do you think your cat is allan????? hey! so does this mean that since eden had an arranged marrige,,,,,,,,is she in love with valentyne? or ………. what???? =O =O
AFJ. Evangeline - Eden’s gift is the power to become one of the very best adepts in the Mystic Arts that Faerie has ever known - second only to Oberon himself. And yes, Tania’s gift is the ability to move between the worlds without using the Mystic Arts at all.
Daniela - our cat Siouxsie thinks she’s Queen Titania, I think, the way she insists on sitting on a huge soft cusion on my work chair when I’m meant to be working. I have to sit on a box, instead!
Eden’s marriage to Valentyne wasn’t actually “arranged” in the real sense of the word - she chose to marry him because she had a great respect for him - and becasue she wanted to be close to him and learn more about the Mystic Arts from him. I don’t think they ever had a very “romantic” relationship, but I do think she loves him…in her way. (I don’t think Eden has ever really had romantic feelings for anyone…she’s too serious for that, somehow…)
LOL about the cat thing. Mr. Jones I think that Eden really does love Valentyne because when he was sick she REALLY didn’t want to be apart from him and didn’t want him to “leave” her. Also, Mr. Jones, I remember just now that sometime during the 3rd book that she could sense Tania when she step into Faerie and she couldn’t feel Rathina cause she was looking for her beyond not in the castle. Did she use the Mystic Arts to do that or not? (confused)
Finally, I wonder mr. jones was I close to the favorite colors of the princesses?
allan- oh how cute! =D ohhhhhh…… hmmmm thank you for ansering my question=D and now i have another =) (i was taught to ask questions) if you had wings would you give them up for immortality???
Mr. Jones, who REALLY runs your home? You, your wife, or your cat?
AFJ. Evangeline - Eden’s sensing and searching involved her using the Mystic Arts, yes. And the colours were pretty much spot on - except that I think Tania prefers lilac to orange.
Daniela - Hmmm., Wings for immortality, huh? Well, no, I’d keep the wings. I don’t want to be immortal all on my own - I don’t want to outlive everyone I know - that would be really hard. Imagine you might get married - your partner will die, if you have kids, they’d die - your grandkids would die, your great-grandkids would die - and you’d be stuck there, still alive and not feeling like you want to love anyone because you know they’ll get old and die on you! Yuck!
Addie. Who runs the home? The Cat first, Claudia second and me last. Just the way it should be!
i wanna fly instead of out living everyone. i had a dream i could fly once and it felt so cool! =D
cats head of the house =D lol!
i had the weidest dream last night…. i bought a green hamster….. should i be concerned?? =/
Why should your house be runnned by a cat?
Then, mr.jones why does the person (is that a real person) on the cover of the books always have the same dress on and its orange well rather light orange.
Finally, since people in faerie are immortal does that mean that King Oberon and Queen Titania will be the King and Queen forever never their children?
Harrumph, the write always gets the short end of the stick.
AFJ.Daniela - your dream hamster sounds very eco-friendly, so I don’t think you need to worry - it can hide in grass and up trees!
Evangeline - cats have always run the houses where I live - I don’t know why - cats are like that, I guess. Yes, it is a real person on the cover, although I haven’t been able to find out her name - and I guess the people taking the pictures liked that colour best??
Addie - I don’t really mind what end of the stick I get so long as I can carry on writing.
Thats a weird way to live in my opinion. Then, mr. jones you didn’t answer my question about King Oberon and Queen Titania if they would rule forever and not their daughters because Faerie is an immortal realm. ????
AFJ. You’re probably right, Evangeline - it is weird - but then spending all day writing about Faerie is probably pretty weird too. And oh, sorry for missing out your other question. Yes, Oberon and Titania will rule Faerie forever - unless something happens to either of them.
so that means eden’s next then. hmmm allan whos your favorite princess character of the farie path- eden sancha hopie cordelia zara rathina or tania?
Mr.Jones writing about faerie is not weird its awesome and the best books ever well after Twilight saga (no offense mr.jones really) and i’m glad you made this series so never say its weird cause i know for sure you have alot of other fans who think the same too. Oh yeah is the 6th book going to be the last one or is there going to be a 7th book?
Finally, i hope noting happens to the King and Queen of faerie. also if they are rulers forever that means that all their daughters will be princesses forever:?:
AFJ. You’re right of course, Evangeline - I didn’t really mean the books were weird, just the fact that I get to spend my time writing them for a living - it’s my dream come true - weird in that way, okay? The 6th book is the last one I have planned for now - but I won’t yet say for definite that there’s absolutely no chance of another book.
Daniela - I like Hopie best - she reminds me of my wife Claudia. Claudia, on the other hand, likes Eden best.
Yes, that is better that way. Then, i guess well wait and see then right? Finally, is the princesses going to be the pricesses forever since King Oberon and Queen Titania are ruler forever (unless someting happens)
:?:
NO DONT STOP WRITTING!!!!!!! besides hopie and eden
AFJ. Evangeline - yes, the princesses will stay princesses - but I remember one of them saying that they prefered it that way - princesses get to have adventures and fun, while Queens would need to worry about their realm all the time. Oh - but I guess one or more of the princesses could marry the king of a different realm, and go be queen over there. I hadn’t thought of that.
Well mr.jones that is an awesome idea about the princesses but i think your right about wanting to be princesses rather than queens because i think since there is 7 sisters that they would miss each other since it probably be far away.
Then, mr. jones i know one way you could advertise your books be a commerical or in bookstores have this BIG sign that “CHECK OUT THE FAERIE PATH SERIES” of course put like things at the bottom that say things like “full of adventures and romance” things like that that discribe the books (of course don’t give the book away)
ya i’d rather be a princess then a queen,
AFJ. Evangeline - yes, that’s a nice idea for advertising the books at point-of-sale. Someone else has suggested t-shirts.
That would be so cool to Faerie Path T-shirts!! but what would they look like and say mr.jones?
oh ya i forgot to say this…. i actually made a t-shirt showing the front cover page of the first book! it was not easy at all…..
AFJ. regarding possible t-shirts - it was a fan’s suggestion - I haven’t even thought about what could go on them yet!
go on the faerir boards
faerie sorry typo
LoL!
sorry mr.jones- guess what i found out that my sister owns one of your warrior princess books and i’m going to read them when i’m done with the faerie path books (which includes the 6th book)
AFJ. You could always read one of them before book 6 comes out? It would fill the gap, maybe?
Well mr.jones i’m trying to finish this other series called the Charlie Bone series, which i’m only on the fifth book out of how knows how many. So i’ll be reading those but if i finish those then maybe i start the warrior princess series. How many books are there mr.jones?
AFJ. There are two Warrior Princess books out so far - the third is due out in October, and the fourth some time next year (I haven’t finished writing it yet.)
hope you finish warrior princess 4 =D i brought my pet mouse to school today =D everyone wanted to touch him. i had to get rid of him cuz it got loose last week and my gran told me to throw him away in the dumpster near school, but i couldnt so he was in my avid class the rest of the day (told my teacher if it was ok and she said yes) and during avid we found a home for him =D
Oh ok because my sister seems to love the books, so i think i’m going to too. I have another question, in the end of the fifth book of faerie path when Tania was visiting the Dream Weaver how did the he know what she want to lose in order to save faerie because it said she was willing to lose her love for Edric not lose her memory of every being a princess of Faerie. That part was very confusing for me.
AFJ. Evangeline - here’s the thing: Tania thought that the most important thing in her whole life was Edric, okay? So she assumed the deepest wish of her heart would be to be with him. But the Divine Harper could see right into her heart and knew that something actually mattered more to her - that the deepest wish of her heart was to be Princess Tania of Faerie, and not just ordinary Anita Palmer of Camden Town. You see, she didn’t know that, but the Divine Harper did. Does that make sense to you now?
You said that she just wanted to be Princess Tania and not just ordinary Anita Palmer of Camden Town. Then why did the Divine Harper made her go back to Camden if she wanted to be Princess Tania and why didn’t he just erase her memory of being Anita instead?
(still confused)
yup it does =D so good bye mortal world hello faerie! =D
AFJ. Evangeline - I think maybe I didn’t explain what happens to people who go to the Divine Harper for help well enough in the book. Oberon went there - and the price he had to pay was the wings. Tania went to him and the price she had to pay was the dearest wish of her heart - and that was to be Princess Tania. So, the Divine Harper got his payment by taking that from her.