Monday 6 January 2014

Deadline!

I love this cartoon from the New Yorker. In fact I find it so apt I had it framed and put on the wall of my office just above my monitor.


These are deadline days! 

For that reason I’m taking a break from this blog so I can concentrate on finishing The Madagaskar Plan.

I’ll be back in the (late) spring, hopefully with the book submitted, and some new entries about the research trips I made for Book 2. These have taken me to three continents – from huge, remote dams in the United States, to a decaying Nazi hotel complex in Germany, synagogues and a ferris wheel in Vienna, and of course south of the equator to Madagascar itself.

In the meantime I hope everyone has a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year... 

21 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you too, Guy.

    Good idea to take a break and good luck with finishing the book. Can't wait to read it.

    best wishes

    Ron

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  2. Hope you miss those deadline crushing rolling things! LOL!! Type faster! LOL!

    All the best with book 2 - the more you drip feed us with little titbits about it the more I WANT! LOL! Roll on Christmas! :-)

    Take care
    x

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  3. Do you know the New Yorker deadline cartoon with the writer and grim reaper? That's a funny one too! Though my all-time favourite remains the two psychiatrists who pass in a corridor. One says 'Good Morning' to the other; the caption reads: 'What did he mean by that?' :-)

    Hope the writing is going well.

    D

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  4. Ferris wheel? Vienna? Is there a Harry Lime connection?

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    1. C - more a reference than a connection... but well spotted!

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  5. Featuring 'Afrika Reich' again on the thrillers4u website. Looking to give it a serious boost sometime over the next two months... Would appreciate talking our plans over with you.
    regards
    mike

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  6. Mike - thanks for your comment. It's always helpful to have a boost! Will send you an email.

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  7. This evening I finished The Afrika Reich, and although I 99% approve I thought the final twist was one too far and it felted tacked on. This is a trend I've noticed of late in books: publishers adding an open ending to get a sequel, and I assume generate more cash.
    Having said that, I will certainly be downloading the new book when it comes out. I thought all the stuff with the autobahn was clever, crazy and scarily convincing. Looking forward to where the road takes us next, Mr Saville.

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  8. Greg - thanks for your comment and apologies for not replying sooner (I've been busy writing). Glad to hear you enjoyed the book - though I have to say the ending/final twist was never tacked on. Actually I had a lot of Book 2 planned before I finished the original - so the ending of the first book grew out of plot needs in the second.

    Glad too that your enjoyed the autobahn strand. Hope you enjoy the next book.

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    1. Thankd for taking the time to reply, it's really great to interact with authors. Very interesting about the ending; I shall look at it in a different light from now on. Keep at the writing. Looking forward to book 2 asap!

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  9. Just finished the book. Strange coincidence, but I'm travelling through the States at the moment, and passed through Las Cruces about 24 hours ago!
    Absolutely loved it, I have to say. I spent my university career in Glasgow studying the rise and fall of the SS, and thought it fascinating to see what could have been in Africa. I particularly liked how Hochburg was a well written and in-depth character, with a convincing back story, rather than just the bland and stereotypical 'Herr Flick' style villain, which is, sadly, seen so often in many works of fiction featuring the Third Reich.
    I am very much looking forward to the second book!

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    1. Smarchy - thanks for your comment and taking the time to write, especially since you're on the road. How strange you've just passed through Las Cruces - I hope that Patrick's sections had an added resonance for you.

      It's always interesting to hear the responses from people who know the subject well. I'm glad you enjoyed. I'm also pleased you liked how Hochburg was characterised. I worked hard to make him a complex, well-rounded Nazi... there's more of this in Book 2. I've also tried to do something similar with the main villain of the follow up ie Globus (see previous blog entry) which is all the more difficult/sensitive given he's a real character and responsible for terrible things.

      Thanks again for your comment, and I hope you enjoy Book 2 as much.

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  10. Very late spring I'd say, Mr Saville... Are you finished yet?

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  11. Hi. It's been ages since yr last posting. Any update on when the book will be out? Have you finished it yet. Sorry to ratch but can't wait for Part II! Can't wait to here more abt the research trips too.

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    1. Rob - still no publication date (as of Jul 2014). Lots of stuff going on behind the scenes with various publishers. Will post full details as soon as I have them. And will be back blogging soon.

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    2. tell yr publisher to get their arse in gear! ;) look forward to details as and when R

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  12. Long time no hear! Or speak! Or whatever. LOL

    Saw the new cover on FB. Love it. But when is it coming out? Any idea yet or is it a secret? Any chance for Christmas? Am away on holiday and want to read it on the beach

    Can't wait to read it

    Louise

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    1. Louise - hello! Glad you like the cover. I'm afraid the book won't be out for this Christmas (2014). The current plan is for a summer 2015 release. More details when I have them.

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  13. Finished AR at the week. Fantastic book! But you want to pull your finger out and get 2 done. Do you know Jack Hayes Maddox series? You should give them a try you'd like them. Maddox reminded me a lot of Cole.

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    1. Ed - glad you enjoyed the book and thanks for taking the time to tell me. You may be pleased to hear that Book 2 is now finished and has entered the production process for a release next summer (see above comment to Louise). I haven't heard of Jack Hayes Maddox, but will certainly look him up.

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