Cover Reveal – Sorrowline Thailand edition
- At September 16, 2013
- By Niel
- In Writing
0
Not only is Sorrowline being published in the UK, it’ll be out in Germany next month and Thailand soon after. So I’m delighted to be able to share the Thai variant cover with you!
It’s by Thai artist Gratuaidong and even features a nod to my Northern Promise Award! I’m sure New Writing North will like that!
I can’t wait to have a copy of this and the German edition to put on my shelf next to the UK version. There’s also a Braziliian version to come some time in the future. What do you think? Which is your favourite cover?
Radio Tees Interview
- At September 08, 2013
- By Niel
- In Writing
0
Last week I spent an hour with BBC Radio Tees presenter Bob Fischer on his show. We talked about animation, comics, Doctor Who and writing. Here’s a short clip from the interview when we talked about Sorrowline.
Niel Bushnell Radio Tees Interview from Niel Bushnell on Vimeo.
Jack Morrow and the Grave of Time!
- At May 01, 2013
- By Niel
- In Events/News, News, Writing
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One thing I’ve learned is that things take a long time in publishing! Way back in September 2011 the German publisher Heyne (part of Random House) bought the German rights to Sorrowline and Timesmith. This was my very first book deal – the UK rights sold a few months later. So you can imagine I’ve been keen to see how my work translates into another language. Well, here it is! It’s Sorrowline, but not as we know it! It’s called Jack Morrow und das Grab der Zeit, or Jack Morrow and the Grave of Time. Not only is the title different the cover is too! Take a look:
It’s refreshingly different to the UK edition – I love them both! But what do you think? It’s due out on the 28th October this year and is already listed on the German Amazon site.
Adventures into Blitzpunk!
- At April 29, 2013
- By Niel
- In Writing
0
Labels are always tricky things. As soon as you give something a label you run the risk of pigeon-holing it and limiting its potential This is true with books as much as anything. When Sorrowline was published in January it was recommended for 9-11 year old readers – a label which I feared might put off older readers. As it turns out the book has naturally gravitated towards that slightly older end, and upwards, and I’ve seen it listed in bookshops as a teen novel. This is fine. It’s a good example of the market applying it’s own label. For me I’d hope that Sorrowline will appeal to a broad range of readers, beyond that of a prescribed age range, and I’ve heard anecdotal evidence to that end, which is pleasing. But labels have their uses. When someone ask me what Sorrowline is about I often reply, “it’s a children’s fantasy adventure.” Three labels right there. Three confining statements. But they do help a potential reader decide if they want to know more. If you’re into gritty crime fiction there’s a pretty good chance you’ll have made up your mind about Sorrowline from my brief description, and moved on. Which got me thinking…
Maybe there’s another label I can give Sorrowline, and it’s follow-up, Timesmith. Something that encapsulates all the things I’m trying to do in those stories. Yes, they’re written for children, including the 42 year old child who writes them. Yes, they’re fantasy stories, in so much as they deal with some of the touchstones of folklore and magic (with a small m), but they probably have more in common with science fiction. Yes, they’re adventures. But they’re also about time travel, and World War II, particularly the London Blitz. They’re also about technology, mutated into grotesque new forms, using the engineering of the 1940’s. They’re about secret knowledge and hidden societies, and a way of life that might seem fantastical to us. So I wanted a label that might somehow say all of that with a mental image. At first I was stumped. I knew what I wanted to convey, but not how. Then it came to me quite by accident: Blitzpunk!
If you’re familiar with Steampunk you might already see where I’m going here. There is very little steam in Sorrowline – we’d moved on by the 1940’s – but there is a whole lot more! The war gave us Spitfires, Lancaster Bombers, gas masks, military uniforms, a whole visual encyclopaedia that identifies the era. In part that’s what I’m tapping into, overlaid with Arthurian legends, swords, clockwork and valves! So, for now at least, I’m sticking with Blitzpunk! I think it conjures up the right metal short-cuts!
So if you see me somewhere please do ask me what Sorrowline is about so I can chuckle to myself, roll my eyes and reply haughtily, “Yeah, well, it’s, like, a Blitzpunk novel, you know?” And you can nod and stroke your chin as you step away from me quickly.
Sorrowline Launch
- At February 16, 2013
- By Niel
- In Events/News
0
The day I’d been looking forward to and dreading in equal measure had finally arrived: the launch of my very first book, Sorrowline.
I’ve done my fair share of public speaking before – mostly as part of my day job as an animation director and producer – but this was different, this was my book! This was going to be a public reading of something very personal, and I had no one else to fall back on or blame!
Animation is a team effort, a collaboration with lots of creative people who come together to produce the finished article. Every author has his team too: agent, editor, publisher, family. But for the most part it’s a lonely path to publication. So as I arrived at Waterstones I felt like a singer who had dumped his band and gone solo.
But I was hardly alone: I had lots of support on the night. Not only had my wife, children and parents come along, but my agent, Juliet Mushens had made the long trip up into the wilds of the North for the evening, bringing with her a heavy does of cold. Eve Warlow, Andersen’s publicist, also came up from London to cheer me on. And as the room filled up I saw many familiar faces: old friends, work mates, and a healthy peppering of regional authors. New Writing North have encouraged so many of us along the way to publication that we’ve become a sort of unofficial gang, who often appear at each others events. Honestly, it’s great to see such warm support. So you can imagine, with so many people there who knew me, the stakes were high. I really didn’t want to fluff this!

Colin Mulhern is an old friend who happens to have two books of his own on the shelves of Waterstones. Authors Dan Smith and Mari Hannah also turned up to show their support.
The event was a shared launch with fellow Northern Writers Awards alumni, Celia Bryce launching her teen novel, Anthem for Jackson Dawes (Bloomsbury, 2013). Celia had her own supporters there too, so the room was packed! Emergency chairs were hastily summoned out of storage!
The event was hosted by Rebecca Wilkie, Programme Manager for New Writing North, and Celia and I took it in turns to read an extract from our books, and answer questions. I’m relieved to say that in spite of my nerves I think I did OK. It all went over so quickly, and I can barely remember what I babbled on about, but no one heckled or left.
The best part of the night was meeting so many people afterwards wanting to buy my book and have it signed. My signature is a scrawl to behold, and I’m certain it devalues any copy immediately, but it didn’t stop people wanting me to scribble inside their copies. Then, in a whirl of chatter, it was over! We decamped to a nearby pub for a much needed pint or three where I refused to allow my poorly agent to leave for the early night she needed! I was in giddy party mode and no amount of sick friends was going to stop me!
I have to say a massive thank you to the friendly staff at Waterstones Newcastle, and to New Writing North and Andersen Press for pulling it all together. Also thanks to Chris Chatterton for taking most of these pictures. You can see some more on my Facebook page here. (Click the Like button to get future updates.) And for some other views on the event take a look at these two blogs: Robyn’s Nest: Tea with an author and Colin Mulhern: Double Whammy.
So, my first book launch was a success! No one died, I didn’t fall into a tower of books, I didn’t swear, I didn’t spell anyone’s name wrong, and most importantly I didn’t projectile vomit over the front row of the audience. Still, there’s always next time…
Week 4 Highlights
- At January 31, 2013
- By Niel
- In Highlights, Writing
0
Being an author is a bit like being in a war where you can’t quite see over the ridge ahead of you. Sometimes it feels like nothing is happening, other times it’s an adrenaline-fuelled mad rush with everything coming at you all at once. Fortunately no one is shooting at me, so that’s where the analogy breaks down. Here’s what’s been going on:
- I met my book in a shop! On Friday I went to Seven Stories in Newcastle and found two copies on the shelves of their impressive children’s book shop. The staff were very friendly and obviously champion new authors. Pics here.
- A new blog review from a Junior School Librarian in New Zealand! The world is very small these days.
- And another review here who said, “I sat down to read just a few pages and the next thing I knew the afternoon was gone and I’d reached the last page.”
- Then there was the Waterstones launch event on Tuesday night, which I will blog about properly soon. An amazing night!
Sorrowline launch event!
- At January 26, 2013
- By Niel
- In Events/News
0
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Speaking of New Writing North, if you want to enter this year’s Northern Writers Awards you only have a few DAYS to get your entry in. Don’t miss out!!
Week 3 Highlights
- At January 24, 2013
- By Niel
- In Highlights, Writing
0
Is it that time again?? So what’s been the best bits about this week?
- Getting some lovely target-reader reviews from the Discovery Club reading group at Waterstones, Southampton. “I loved it from the first page.” – Zoe 11. Check out the Waterstones Bookseller reviews tab for more.
- And more reviews on the Love Reading 4 Kids website, also from target-age readers.
- Planning for the book launch next Tuesday in Newcastle.
- The Swapit page is still running the Sorrowline competition, and it’s had almost 200 entries so far!
Next week is a biggy. I hope some of you can make it along to the launch on Tuesday night!
Week 2 Highlights
- At January 17, 2013
- By Niel
- In Highlights
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Week 2, and its been a busy one! Here are my highlights!
- Being named Book of the Week by Peter’s Books.
- Being on a Top Ten list!
- Guest-blogging on Swapit!
- Speaking of Swapit you can win a signed copy of Sorrowline as well as pick up 2500 Swapits! Details here!
- Confirming my first school visit! This is a big one for me – I’m really looking forward to it, and I hope to do more soon.
Week 1 Highlights
- At January 10, 2013
- By Niel
- In Highlights
0
Now my countdown to publication has ended I thought I might try a countUP! Here are the highlights of my first week as a published author!
- Publication, obviously! Need I say more?
- Hearing that friends and family are reading Sorrowline. It’s been great to get this early feedback from such enthusiastic supporters.
- Getting my first review! Luckily it was glowing!
- Making a trailer with my buddy, Chris Chatterton. This was great fun. We spent a chilly Saturday morning roaming around graveyards, trying not to look too suspicious. You can see the results below.