Comments on Halfhead: What Next?

I don't think I will pursue writing any more. Mr. ...

2008-07-12T10:12:00.000+01:00

I don't think I will pursue writing any more. Mr. Stuart makes it sound like Hell.

Maybe you have to write about 'magical little boys and girls, in a place called 'Hogwarts', to make writing for a living seem like Heaven?
:)

I too noticed Heather's bowls and also that the lo...

2008-06-09T21:11:00.000+01:00

I too noticed Heather's bowls and also that the lovely Fife town of Methil had been rendered even more chemically noxious -- Methyl.
The only thing worth writing is what shouts inside your head and batters at the inside of your ribs. One of the reasons people don't go on so much about 'the new Val McDermid' is that I'm not so easy to pigeonhole, because I've done such different things. Go forth and do what the hell you want. On the evidence of my backlist, HarperCollins are pretty good at holding their breath, crossing their fingers then getting right behind what you come up with.
Be not a jessie.

Worry not about the picking of nits, Alison. Every...

2008-06-09T17:02:00.000+01:00

Worry not about the picking of nits, Alison. Everything that gets caught now can be fixed when the paperback comes out. Which is nice.

Anyway, maybe Heather has special magical bowls that do more than just get filled with soup and Corn Flakes (though not at the same time, obviously - that would just be wrong). You can get special clenching bowls from John Lewis, but you have to order them in advance.

Have just read book the fifth over a gloriously si...

2008-06-09T15:26:00.000+01:00

Have just read book the fifth over a gloriously sick weekend - my word, your imagination was working overtime on the Dark Side, oh great bearded one. Loving every minute of course - how come such a really disturbing subject can still make me laugh? I blame you. There is a teeny typo though, that may cause really unfortunate misunderstanding - poor Heather's bowls clench at one point. Now there's a thing you don't see every day...

Sorry for being a nit picker. I love you, honest I do. And I got a signed copy, which is fab.

I always saw you as a song and dance man with your...

2008-06-06T16:09:00.000+01:00

I always saw you as a song and dance man with your hand up the arse of a puppet.

I think that's more than we need to know about your personal fantasy world, Grant...

*shudder*

I always saw you as a song and dance man with your...

2008-06-05T18:03:00.000+01:00

I always saw you as a song and dance man with your hand up the arse of a puppet. Britain's Got Talent is calling, Stuart.

Nearly everybody has, Paul. All you have to do is ...

2008-06-05T16:35:00.000+01:00

Nearly everybody has, Paul. All you have to do is write a crime novel set in Scotland and sooner or later some journalist is going to trot out that dusty old comparison.

But I've said it before and I'll say it again: we don't need a new Ian Rankin, because happily the one we have isn't going anywhere.

I didn't know he was up to 7 standalones though. I did enjoy the thrillers he wrote as Jack Harvey, so I'll maybe look the other ones up.

John Rickards is right, do other books and do a Lo...

2008-06-05T12:44:00.000+01:00

John Rickards is right, do other books and do a Logan book when you want. Given how popular the Logan books are, there will be demand for further books.

As for the next "Ian Rankin", Alex Gray and Caro Ramsay have both been compared to Ian as the Glasgow equivalents to Rankin's Edinburgh.

You can do whatever you like....So long as include...

2008-06-05T09:51:00.000+01:00

You can do whatever you like....

So long as includes writing more books. ;D

StuartDon't forget Ian Rankin has published 16 Reb...

2008-06-05T09:25:00.000+01:00

Stuart

Don't forget Ian Rankin has published 16 Rebus books, 7 standalones (plus another due October) and 3 short story collections.

On that basis you probably need to think about another standalone or a short story collection.

And I reckon I could make a pretty decent plumber....

2008-06-04T14:36:00.000+01:00

And I reckon I could make a pretty decent plumber. Better sparky though, I've got a lot more experience of that. And only been electrocuted eight or nine times.

I can set mobile phones off from 50 feet.

"Oh dear, oh dear, you are having a bit of a tantr...

2008-06-04T14:35:00.000+01:00

"Oh dear, oh dear, you are having a bit of a tantrum today."

Tantrum? TANTRUM? No, Janet, this is a grump - different thing entirely. With grumps you don't normally lie on the floor and drum your feet and fists on the carpet. Unless you really want to, that is.

If your future does not excite you - change it. Li...

2008-06-04T11:14:00.000+01:00

If your future does not excite you - change it. Life is too short.

Give Logan, and yourself, a break. You must feel ...

2008-06-04T11:08:00.000+01:00

Give Logan, and yourself, a break. You must feel the urge to break out of Aberdeen by now?

You've made your base, now go and do something completely different and amaze us all!

You can always return home later.

Tambo is so right. Once you have a following, the...

2008-06-04T07:57:00.000+01:00

Tambo is so right. Once you have a following, the readers will read anything you write, be it a standalone or two, or more of the series. The world is yours Mr Stuart!

Linda

I believe that you should write whatever makes you...

2008-06-04T03:56:00.000+01:00

I believe that you should write whatever makes you happy. Life is too short to write what makes you miserable.

You're a brilliant writer. Wherever you go, readers will follow.

well.... are you a good plumber?i reckon a prequel...

2008-06-03T23:02:00.000+01:00

well.... are you a good plumber?

i reckon a prequel - the mastrick monster or a stand alone featuring an existing character (fit happened to spanky?)

How about turning the whole thing on it's heid and write from the point of view of the baddie?

might be a good vent for a that angst i'm sensing?

fit aboot grendel v the flea-infested chihuahuas? I'd read it!

go on get back in touch wi yer sci-fi roots.....

Oh dear, oh dear, you are having a bit of a tantru...

2008-06-03T22:49:00.000+01:00

Oh dear, oh dear, you are having a bit of a tantrum today.

I agree with everyone else, if you're getting a bit cheesed off with Logan & Co., write about something else for a while. I'm sure you have other ideas on the backburner.

The counter argument to continuing the series excl...

2008-06-03T19:51:00.000+01:00

The counter argument to continuing the series exclusively comes from Michael Connelly and Laura Lippman. When I heard Mike last time, he was asked why he wrote standalones if the series did so much better, and his answer was that the standalones sold better than the series books. I don't know about Laura's sales figures, but her standalone books seem to generate more buzz, and it was the last one that got her on the NY Times bestseller list.

At least throw out the option of alternating, the way Laura does. It keeps a series fresh, allows you some room for experimentation. My argument is that once you have a ton of books, it's hard for people to decide to start or know where to start. A standalone is a natural entry point for enticing new readers who haven't tried the series yet.

I mean, write what interests you. We're all just hoping it isn't toothless grannies with flea-infested chihuahuas.

You say that, but we all know you like an older la...

2008-06-03T18:24:00.000+01:00

You say that, but we all know you like an older lady with an itchy dog stroking your sporran, you filth-monger, you...

In all seriousness, no one's going to strong-arm you into doing more Logan books. There's a certain amount of "we want what sells", but after six books your destiny is really more or less in your own hands. Do other things and come back to Logan as/if/when you want because you want to.

"flea-infested chihuahua"God, I hope that's not an...

2008-06-03T18:08:00.000+01:00

"flea-infested chihuahua"

God, I hope that's not an euphemism...

I'm sure you'll come up with something interesting...

2008-06-03T15:35:00.000+01:00

I'm sure you'll come up with something interesting - maybe more Logan books, or some stand-alones, or, hey, what about graphic novels?

Maybe you just need a little break to see what really strokes yer sporran. And here's hoping it's not that toothless granny with the flea-infested chihuahua.