Signing Events. - Page 9 - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

cocob3an-xx · 2nd August 2008, 05:58 AM

anything planned for Cheltenham soon? would love to see you in town.

Patrick Mahon · 17th December 2008, 10:53 AM

Mark,

How did the signing events go last weekend? Were lots of people getting the books to give as Christmas presents?

Mark Robson · 17th December 2008, 01:50 PM

Events went well, thanks Patrick. It was busy, busy, busy in Milton Keynes. I've yet to put a proper schedule together for next year, but for those who have offered suggestions I can tell you that Waterstones HQ have given me carte blanche to go to whichever stores I want in the country next year. A lot of the suggestions will be followed up.

I'm a bit behind with writing Aurora (am about a third of the way through with only six weeks to the deadline - could be tough to finish on time) but I'm going to work all over Christmas to try to make sure I deliver on time. No rest for the wicked and all that! The light is shining at the end of the tunnel, though. I'm looking forwards to a bit of a break from writing next year. Some idea building time will be good.

Patrick Mahon · 23rd December 2008, 10:32 AM

Sorry to hear that you're going to be working over Christmas - but only sorry for you!

Obviously, from the point of view of your waiting fans, the sooner you get Aurora written, the better...

Hope the launch of Shadow goes well too - I guess it's going to be a busy few weeks for you!

Writers Blocked · 24th December 2008, 10:14 PM

Hope you still have a good christmas. Fortunately, I'm still playing catch-up with your older work, but I can see a time where I'll be chomping at the bit to get new material too!

Which leads me to question time again

Who dictates your deadlines? Surely something like drafting and re-drafting is impossible to predict a schedule for. Or do your publishers simply take an educated guess at how long they think it'll take, and then shorten it by a couple of months? Do you ever see yourself in a position where you can turn around to your publishers and say, "it'll be done when it's done?"

Mark Robson · 29th December 2008, 01:04 PM

The deadlines are written into the contract. This is the time by which you are supposed to submit the first draft. Re-writing takes as long as it takes to get the story the way the publisher wants it. If the publication schedule then has to slip to accommodate the changes, then that is what generally happens. Sometimes an author cannot re-write in a way that the publisher is happy with - this is not good(!) and can result in the book never being published.I've found my publishers to be pretty understanding when I've needed a bit of extra time, but then I work faster (and harder) than most, so they have been on my side pretty much throughout. There will never be a time when I do not have deadlines, but I should be able to negotiate more sensible ones than those I've had for this series in future.

Mark Robson · 17th April 2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cocob3an-xx

anything planned for Cheltenham soon? would love to see you in town.

Coming to Cheltenham next month (May 09) on the final Saturday of the month. I've also booked to come to Bristol (Cribbs Causeway WH Smith) for 3 days at the end of August, which should please at least one regular visitor here!

M@.Price · 22nd April 2009, 09:02 PM

Sounds good to me :P

Mark Robson · 22nd August 2009, 08:27 PM

Signing in WH Smith, Cribbs Causeway next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If anyone is around, please do drop in and say hello. Always nice to see friendly faces at these things.

M@.Price · 23rd August 2009, 05:55 PM

As in Thursday 27th etc. or the week after?
Whichever week it is, I'm fairly sure I'll be able to make it.

Mark Robson · 23rd August 2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M@.Price

As in Thursday 27th etc. or the week after?
Whichever week it is, I'm fairly sure I'll be able to make it.

27th 28th and 29th, Matt. Looking forwards to seeing you again.

M@.Price · 23rd August 2009, 08:55 PM

Great, thanks.

Mark Robson · 5th November 2009, 12:28 PM

Will be in Oxford Waterstones on Saturday 7th November 09. David Melling will be there with me, doing one of his amazing drawings. The attached was us at Abingdon last weekend. Hoping to see lots of folk there. Do come along if you're in the area.

Patrick Mahon · 12th November 2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Robson

Will be in Oxford Waterstones on Saturday 7th November 09. David Melling will be there with me, doing one of his amazing drawings. The attached was us at Abingdon last weekend. Hoping to see lots of folk there. Do come along if you're in the area.

How did it go, Mark? A good event? Sorry I couldn't be there: the children seem to dictate our agenda on Saturdays these days...

dwndrgn · 13th November 2009, 04:34 AM

Love that drawing! Well, who wouldn't love a drawing of a dragon?

Anyway, hope the event went well!

Any news on the Dragon Orb series being published over here?

2nd August 2008, 05:58 AM	#121 (permalink)
cocob3an-xx Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 24	Re: Signing Events. anything planned for Cheltenham soon? would love to see you in town.

17th December 2008, 10:53 AM	#122 (permalink)
Patrick Mahon Would-be author Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 524	Re: Signing Events. Mark, How did the signing events go last weekend? Were lots of people getting the books to give as Christmas presents?

17th December 2008, 01:50 PM	#123 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 2,186	Re: Signing Events. Events went well, thanks Patrick. It was busy, busy, busy in Milton Keynes. I've yet to put a proper schedule together for next year, but for those who have offered suggestions I can tell you that Waterstones HQ have given me carte blanche to go to whichever stores I want in the country next year. A lot of the suggestions will be followed up. I'm a bit behind with writing Aurora (am about a third of the way through with only six weeks to the deadline - could be tough to finish on time) but I'm going to work all over Christmas to try to make sure I deliver on time. No rest for the wicked and all that! The light is shining at the end of the tunnel, though. I'm looking forwards to a bit of a break from writing next year. Some idea building time will be good.

23rd December 2008, 10:32 AM	#124 (permalink)
Patrick Mahon Would-be author Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Buckinghamshire Posts: 524	Re: Signing Events. Sorry to hear that you're going to be working over Christmas - but only sorry for you! Obviously, from the point of view of your waiting fans, the sooner you get Aurora written, the better... Hope the launch of Shadow goes well too - I guess it's going to be a busy few weeks for you!

24th December 2008, 10:14 PM	#125 (permalink)
Writers Blocked Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 127	Re: Signing Events. Hope you still have a good christmas. Fortunately, I'm still playing catch-up with your older work, but I can see a time where I'll be chomping at the bit to get new material too! Which leads me to question time again Who dictates your deadlines? Surely something like drafting and re-drafting is impossible to predict a schedule for. Or do your publishers simply take an educated guess at how long they think it'll take, and then shorten it by a couple of months? Do you ever see yourself in a position where you can turn around to your publishers and say, "it'll be done when it's done?"

29th December 2008, 01:04 PM	#126 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 2,186	Re: Signing Events. The deadlines are written into the contract. This is the time by which you are supposed to submit the first draft. Re-writing takes as long as it takes to get the story the way the publisher wants it. If the publication schedule then has to slip to accommodate the changes, then that is what generally happens. Sometimes an author cannot re-write in a way that the publisher is happy with - this is not good(!) and can result in the book never being published.I've found my publishers to be pretty understanding when I've needed a bit of extra time, but then I work faster (and harder) than most, so they have been on my side pretty much throughout. There will never be a time when I do not have deadlines, but I should be able to negotiate more sensible ones than those I've had for this series in future.

22nd April 2009, 09:02 PM	#128 (permalink)
M@.Price Young Trainee Author Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 87	Re: Signing Events. Sounds good to me :P

22nd August 2009, 08:27 PM	#129 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 2,186	Re: Signing Events. Signing in WH Smith, Cribbs Causeway next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If anyone is around, please do drop in and say hello. Always nice to see friendly faces at these things.

23rd August 2009, 05:55 PM	#130 (permalink)
M@.Price Young Trainee Author Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 87	Re: Signing Events. As in Thursday 27th etc. or the week after? Whichever week it is, I'm fairly sure I'll be able to make it.

23rd August 2009, 08:55 PM	#132 (permalink)
M@.Price Young Trainee Author Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bristol Posts: 87	Re: Signing Events. Great, thanks.

5th November 2009, 12:28 PM	#133 (permalink)
Mark Robson Dragon Writer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 2,186	Re: Signing Events. Will be in Oxford Waterstones on Saturday 7th November 09. David Melling will be there with me, doing one of his amazing drawings. The attached was us at Abingdon last weekend. Hoping to see lots of folk there. Do come along if you're in the area. Attached Thumbnails

13th November 2009, 04:34 AM	#135 (permalink)
dwndrgn Fierce Vowelless One Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,823	Re: Signing Events. Love that drawing! Well, who wouldn't love a drawing of a dragon? Anyway, hope the event went well! Any news on the Dragon Orb series being published over here?

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