Unnatural History

Monstrous Missions - The Terrible Lizards are unleashed!

2012-01-29T01:18:00.000Z

This arrived in the post today.

This is my third Doctor Who publication and my first novel, or chapter book if you prefer, featuring the Eleventh Doctor (as portrayed by Matt Smith), Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill).

It's been some time in the making (for one reason or another) and it's great to see it in print at long last. It wasn't an easy task, writing the book, but I had a great time putting words into the Doctor's mouth and putting the Ponds through the wringer.

Monstrous Missions, which collects my story Terrible Lizards along with Gary Russell's Horror of the Space Snakes, is officially released on Thursday 2 February but you can buy it from Amazon now. Here's the blurb from the back of the book.

In TERRIBLE LIZARDS, the Doctor and his companions join a group of explorers on a Victorian tramp steamer in the Florida Everglades. The explorers are searching for the Fountain of Youth, but neither they nor the treasure they seek are quite what they seem!

And in HORROR OF THE SPACE SNAKES, people are mysteriously disappearing on Moonbase Laika. They return with strange bite marks and no idea where they have been. Can the Doctor get to the bottom of what's going on?

Monstrous Missions is one of six such 2-in-1 titles, the others are:

Book 1 - Heart of Stone/Death Riders

Book 2 - The Good, the Bad and the Alien/System Wipe

Book 3 - Alien Adventures

Book 4 - Sightseeing in Space

Book 6 - Step Back in Time

Friday the 13th... Unlucky for some

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000Z

Yes, I know it's not Friday the 13th today, but last Friday (which was the 13th) the shortlists for The Kitschies 2011 were announced*.

Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein was put forward for consideration by my publishers but it wasn't to be this time, although fellow steampunk author** Lavie Tidhar did make the shortlist for Best Novel - the coveted Red Tentacle - for Osama: A Novel.

The winners of the Red Tentacle, the Golden Tentacle (for best newcomer) and Inky Tentacle (for best cover artist) will be announced on Friday 3 February at the SFX Weekender***.

However, all is not lost as far as Anno Frankenstein is concerned! Oh no!

You see the Tor.com 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards are now taking votes, until until 11:59 PM Friday, 20 January.

Notice the word 'Readers' in the title? That's right, it means that you the book buying (and presumably reading) public get to choose. Basically it's a popularity contest but one that Anno Frankenstein, with the right backing, might just have a shot at.

So whaddya say? Simply click this link and in the comments section after the blog post about the awards, type the title of the novel (Anno Frankenstein), the author's name (Jonathan Green), and if you want to the name of the publisher (Abaddon Books) as well.

And it's not just Anno Frankenstein that's eligible. In the Best Short Fiction category, I have a couple of stories published by Black Library that were both published last year, the 40K story But Dust in the Wind and the Warhammer tale Sir Dagobert's Last Battle.

So, what are you waiting for? If you vote for me I'll be eternally grateful. ;-)

* Provoking no end of Internet interest such as here, here and on the Guardian website here.

** He'll hate me for saying that.

*** Good luck, Lavie!

2012 - The Year of the Gamebook?

2012-01-11T00:01:00.002Z

The Tin Man over at Tin Man Games, believes that 2012 might well be the year of the Gamebook. Here's why.

Vote for Temple of the Spider God

2012-01-04T23:42:00.002Z

Thanks to everyone who nominated Temple of the Spider God for the 2011 Best App Ever Awards. Thanks to your sterling efforts, my first digital gamebook has been shortlisted in the Best Dice Game category.

So now it's up to you to go and vote! You can do so very simply by following this link or clicking on the button in the right-hand side bar. So over to you again...

Pax Britannia - 'Best Ongoing Series'

2011-12-15T23:47:00.000Z

Over at The Eloquent Page, Pablo Cheesecake has posted his review of 2011, in which he lists his favourite novel for each month and a couple of other categories.

And whaddya know? Pax Britannia has taken the 'Best Ongoing Series' title! As I posted earlier on Facebook...

Happy. With. That.

'Best Ongoing Series'

Red-Handed - the result!

2011-12-13T13:01:00.001Z

Red-Handed, the first part of Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow, has been downloaded and read by... God knows how many people, who have, I'm pleased to say, loved it!

They've loved it so much that they've gone online in their droves and voted for how they want my latest Ulysses Quicksilver novel to continue.

Voting closed on Sunday. The votes have now been counted and verified and the result is... Well you'll just have to follow this link to find out!

Time's Arrow - Who Lives? Who Dies? YOU Decide!

2011-12-11T11:07:00.001Z

Voting closes today to decide the fate of Ulysses Quicksilver in the latest Pax Britannia novel Time's Arrow.

Part 1 Red-Handed has been out for a couple of months now and fans have been reading of the British Agent of the Crown's latest exploits, then going online and voting for how they would like the story to continue in Part 2 Black Swan.

So if you've not yet voted, don't delay! Ulysses Quicksilver's fate lies in your hands!

Black Library - Last Shipping Dates

2011-12-09T10:26:00.001Z

Black Library have announced their last shipping dates before Christmas.

They're also offering free shipping on orders over £10. So if you're looking to buy a Loved One one of my Warhammer or Warhammer 40K novels or short stories for a bit of festive cheer, now is the perfect time to order. (You only need to order one of my Print on Demand titles to receive free shipping.) And of course there are eBooks too - which don't cost anything to post. Marvellous!

Here's the entirety of the JG catalogue currently available from Black Library.

Print on Demand titles

The Armageddon Omnibus

Iron Hands

Daemonifuge (my comic strip Ephrael von Stern - Sister of Sigmar is reprinted within)

Ebooks

The Dead and the Damned (my first Warhammer 'novel')

Hammer & Bolter #9 (featuring my short story Sir Dagobert's Last Battle)

The Relic (Black Templars short story)

But Dust in the Wind (Imperial Fists short story)

The A to Z of Christmas

2011-12-04T21:31:00.001Z

The A to Z of Christmas is now well underway over at TheChrismologist.com. Don't forget to check it out every day (of the working week) for the next update.

In the meantime, if you've not checked it out already, here's what you've missed so far.

A is for Angels

B is for Baubles

C is for Cards, Cake and Candy Canes

D is for Dom and Danny Do Christmas and Doctor Who

E is for Elf

F is for Figgy Pudding

Gamebook Adventure on the GMS Magazine Podcast

2011-12-02T00:03:00.000Z

As anybody who's dropped by the blog in the last week will know, last Saturday I attended Dragonmeet with Neil Rennison - the Tin Man's mortal minion - to promote Gamebook Adventures and Temple of the Spider God in particular.

Whilst we were there, we were both interviewed for the G*M*S Magazine Podcast which is now live over here. You can hear Neil and I talking between around 33 and 39 minutes (me for rather longer than I recalled doing so).

It's a great podcast all round and I'll definitely be checking out future editions.

Dragonmeet - Saturday 26 November

2011-11-25T12:05:00.004Z

I shall be appearing at Dragonmeet tomorrow (Saturday 26 November), as the guest of Tin Man Games.

The event runs from 10.00am, at Kensington Town Hall, and I'm planning to be there for the whole day.

Fighting Fantasy's Warlock is going to be around as will Graham Bottley of Arion Games, publisher of Second Edition Advanced Fighting Fantasy. And Cubicle 7 will be selling my Pax Britannia books.

I'm on the 'Fiction and the Games Industry' panel with my esteemed colleagues Sarah Newton and Iain Lowson, starting at 1.30pm, whilst m'colleague James Wallis will be interviewing Ian Livingstone OBE, from 11.00am - 12.00pm with a Q&A session afterwards.

So, maybe I'll see you there...

Why RPGs are good for you

2011-11-15T19:47:00.002Z

And here's how Dungeons and Dragons affected Vin Diesel.

Temple of the Spider God hits New Zealand!

2011-10-27T16:43:00.000+01:00

That's right, my first digital Gamebook Adventure is now available in New Zealand!

It should be reaching the rest of the world within the next 24 hours!

Not long to go now...

The Spider God Cometh...

2011-10-26T00:01:00.000+01:00

Temple of the Spider God is only a few short days away from release so the Tin Man thought it was about time the world learnt a little more of the forthcoming seventh Gamebook Adventure...

Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow - Red-Handed is here!

2011-10-08T10:13:00.000+01:00

Ulysses Quicksilver: agent of the throne, dandy and hero. Heart-broken, battered, mutilated and shot, he’s been driven backwards and forwards in time... but appearing in the middle of a crime scene is never the best way to start your visit to Paris...

Time’s Arrow offers the reader a unique opportunity – to decide the course of this latest Pax Britannia adventure!

In the tradition of Charles Dickens himself, Abaddon Books will be publishing Time’s Arrow in three ebook instalments. At the end of parts one (‘Red-Handed’) and two (‘Black Swan’) readers will be able to vote on how the adventure progresses via the Abaddon Books website at www.abaddonbooks.com. The entire text will then be published in a paperback edition in 2012.

Don’t miss out on the chance to become a part of publishing history. Pre-order Pax Britannia: Time’s Arrow today!

FantasyCon 2011

2011-09-29T09:45:00.001+01:00

First off an apology. I don't usually do these - I get tired of reading posts by writers apologising for not updating their blogs because they've been... er... writing - but today it's not without just cause.

I realise that I owe you a couple of posts - one about Games Day (which was awesome) and one about the House of Fear launch (which was equally awesome). And they will happen, but the thing is I've been rather immersed in my latest project (which is a good thing) and know that my time is limited because this weekend I'm off to Brighton for FantasyCon 2011.

I'll be there from Friday to Sunday, attending various panels that m'colleagues are on, attending The Big Solaris Book Event and the Dark Continents launch, and generally hanging out 'networking' in the bar. I may also stop by the dealers' room... see if there are any good deals to be made, and so forth.

Maybe I'll see some of you there. I you see me first do come over and say hello. Although, having checked out the list of 'professionals' attending the Con, I wonder if they'll actually be anybody else there at all...

Fighting Fantazine #7 - available now!

2011-09-27T15:04:00.000+01:00

Good news, Fighting Fantasy fans. The long-awaited Fighting Fantazine #7 is now available to download for free here.

The new issue features artwork by Nat the Rat and Alexander Ballingall, an extra-long 'mini' FF adventure by Paul Struth, an interview with the author of Midnight Rogue Graeme Davis, and I even get a couple of mentions in the (very) up-to-date News section.

Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow

2011-09-21T00:35:00.002+01:00

The news has gone public at last. Today Abaddon Books announced its plans for Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow - the eighth Ulysses Quicksilver adventure - written by Yours Truly. And the buzz is already building.

Of course I've known about this for a while, but then it was my idea. And it seemed like such a good idea at the time...

But in all seriousness, I'm very excited about this project and can't wait to see how people react to the concept and what they make of Part 1 of Ulysses' French vacation. And as far as I'm aware, this is something of a first in the world of publishing, and one that makes the most of the e-reader revolution.

Just make sure you're along for the ride. It's going to be amazing!

Hive of the Dead is here!

2011-09-05T13:46:00.000+01:00

Yes, it's here at last - the first ever Warhammer 40,000 gamebook!

Hive of the Dead is by C Z Dunn and casts you in the role of an amnesiac Imperial Guardsman at the height of Abaddon's 13th Black Crusade.

Here's some more from the book's blurb:

The forces of Chaos are moving against the Imperium once more, and only YOU can stop them! Face all the horrors of Abaddon’s legions, including Death Guard Chaos Space Marines, the walking dead, and foul warp-spawned daemons. Will you make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of mankind, or will your name be forgotten with the rest?

To order your copy of Hive of the Dead, click here!

The Summer of Steampunk!

2011-08-24T15:16:00.000+01:00

Abaddon Books - publishers of the Pax Britannia series of steampunk novels created by Yours Truly - has announced the Summer of Steampunk and launched an official Facebook page for fans of the series.

You can read more about Abaddon's plans for the next couple of weeks here, and check out the Facebook page here. And then there's news of an exciting new development in genre publishing to come...

Avent and Monie

2011-08-23T09:09:00.001+01:00

As long time readers of this blog will know, from time to time I like to post bits and pieces here about other writers. Usually they're novelists or comic strip writers but today I'd like to plug a couple of comedy sketch writers who just happen to perform their own work.

I went to school with Graham Avent and Jon Monie back in the Eighties. They were known for their comedy sketches even then. I remember one classic spoof of Anneka Rice's Treasure Hunt where Jon (in his sixth former suit and a long blonde wig) tried to find any sign of greenery after several years of building work at the school.

'At King Edward's School at Bath,

Try to find a blade of grass.'

The two of them even performed a sketch show at the Theatre Royal Bath and went on to win This Morning's Young Comedy Writer and Performer Award in 1993* whilst both of them were studying at University.

Fast forward eighteen years and Avent and Monie a back, thanks to the wonders of YouTube. They've recorded a number of 15 seconds sketches for BBC 3's search for new(!) comedy talent - appropriately named Funny in 15. Their sketch 'The Drop' is up on the BBC 3 website** but there are a host of others that you can review via their website or YouTube channel.

The one I really can't stop laughing at is their newest sketch 'Librarians in Love' - which probably says a lot more about me and my puerile sense of humour than I would like.

Anyway, go and check them out for yourself. You can read more about the duo in this piece by the Wiltshire Times.

* Which happens to be the year my first book, Spellbreaker, was published.

** And is a darn sight better than most on there - including the ones by the 'professional' comedians.

JG at Weekend at the Asylum

2011-08-22T23:47:00.001+01:00

Well, some might say it's about time, but I'm off to the Asylum in Lincoln on Saturday 10 September for the United Kingdom Steampunk Convivial.

Weekend at the Asylum is the largest steampunk festival in Europe, attracting more than 1,000 steampunks from across the World, and is taking place this year from 9-11 September 2011.

Special Guests will be Wilf Lunn, Robert Rankin and Fraser Hines, while I'll be there as a visiting author, along with Sam Stone, Toby Frost and Raven Dane.

I'll be in the Exhibition Hall on Saturday from 10.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. so why not pop along to get your Pax Britannia collection signed and pick up the latest titles from Abaddon Books while you're at it. I've even had some special badges made to commemorate the occasion!

I'll also be giving a reading and talking about my work for an hour from 11.00 a.m.*

So hopefully I'll see some of you there. It should be most convivial.

* This is a provisional timing only and you should check again on the day, just in case.

House of Fear - Foyles launch

2011-08-15T15:01:00.000+01:00

You know how I mentioned I've contributed a story to Solaris Books' House of Fear (edited by Jonathan Oliver and out this October)? Well the official Foyles launch has been announced.

It's taking place on 27th September 2011, 6:30pm - 7:30pm, at the Charing Cross Road store. You'll get a taste of the book's collection of new and original fiction and be able to join in the discussion of the ideas behind the writing of said stories with Sarah Pinborough, Christopher Priest, Paul Meloy and others.

Tickets are free but have to be booked via the Foyles website here.

Maybe I'll see you there...

The World's First Zombie-Proof House

2011-08-07T07:30:00.003+01:00

The inevitable Zombiepocalypse is no doubt already on its way but we're ready for 'em. If you don't believe me, check this out...

Hi there Fighting Fantasy fans!

2011-07-23T14:36:00.000+01:00

If you pop over to the Laughing Jackal website, you can read an interview with Steve Jackson about Talisman of Death on the PSN.

That Buttery Biscuit Base!

2011-07-19T09:05:00.002+01:00

It know it's an over-used word (mainly by me) but this is awesome!

Now is it just me, or does Greg Wallace look like a resident of Innsmouth when he's grinning in that amphibian way halfway through the video?

Meeting with the Tin Man

2011-07-18T16:40:00.001+01:00

So today, having first spoken eighteen months or so ago, I finally got to meet up with the Tin Man's flesh interface, otherwise known as Neil Rennison. He very kindly made the journey to deepest rural Wiltshire to talk all things Tin Man Games and Gamebook Adventures - Temple of the Spider God in particular.

With our Vitality scores dwindling, we then headed off to the Tale of Spice in nearby Pewsey to continue our various conversations over a middle of the day curry. Business lunches don't get better than this!

Just one wafer thin mint...

Temple of the Spider God is on course for an August release. For more news watch this space or check out the Tin Man's own website here.

Stormslayer - 9 out of 10!

2011-07-08T12:33:00.001+01:00

Jon Oliver kindly directed me towards this review of my Fighting Fantasy adventure gamebook Stormslayer over at Fantasy Book Review.

It's almost wholly positive, except for the bit where the reviewer

says, "The story feels a little lacking in originality at times." What's that supposed to mean? I mean, has he played many meteorology-based gamebooks before?

I am aware that this last comment may come across as a little petty, but it annoys me when reviewers make such sweeping statements without backing them up. What was it about the adventure that lacked originality? Going down a Dwarf mine in a drilling machine and battling a giant golem made of rusted pit props? Exploring the inside of a volcano? Battling the villain aboard a flying brass fish? And if it's so unoriginal, why give it 9 out of 10?

Reading reviews can be a harrowing experience, but if somebody makes a criticism I always try to take it on board, as I am always striving to improve as a writer and if nobody ever comments on your work you're never going to know where you need to up your game.

So, 9 out of 10 - great! Sweeping generalisations without any examples to back them up - a tad annoying.

Until next time...

Steampunk Creators Day at Kew Bridge Steam Museum

2011-06-24T09:27:00.001+01:00

Just a reminder that I will be at the Steampunk Creators Day at Kew Bridge Steam Museum in Brentford tomorrow from 11.00am until around 3.30pm. I will be there selling and signing my Pax Britannia books. I will also be reading from one of my books at 1.00pm with a Q&A session to follow afterwards.

If you're in the area, why not drop by? A number of the steam engines in the Steam Hall will be running during the day and there is the The Greatest Steampunk Exhibition to visit of course.

Maybe I'll see you there...

JG and Pax Britannia on SFX.co.uk

2011-06-19T21:56:00.001+01:00

If you check out the front page of SFX.co.uk right now (as in Sunday night) you'll see that top of the latest articles list (above one about detestable Doctor Who companion Melanie Bush) is an interview with me about The Ulysses Short Story Collection.

Dave Bradley (editor of SFX magazine) conducted the interview with me earlier this week via email and you can read the results here. I don't only talk about writing short stories during the course of the interview; there's also stuff about steampunk, novel writing and eBooks.

I'm very proud of the three stories in the collection - Fruiting Bodies, Vanishing Point and White Rabbit - which were all especially selected by myself, and it would appear that other people are discovering they like them as much as I do. And for 69p you can't really go wrong, can you?

Happy Steampunk Day!

2011-06-14T13:38:00.001+01:00

Yes, it's June 14th which means it's International Steampunk Day!

And to celebrate all things steampunk, why not check out the most recent Pax Britannia releases from Abaddon Books?

More Space Marine action

2011-06-13T23:57:00.000+01:00

Pax Britannia at the Greatest Steampunk Exhibition

2011-06-11T22:49:00.001+01:00

The Greatest Steampunk Exhibition is the largest exhibition of Steampunk art, craft and engineering in the UK. It opened last weekend, on Saturday 4th June, at the Kew Bridge Steam Museum in West London. The includes Steampunk exhibits from all over the world, ranging from paintings and artworks through costumes and fabrics to machines and engines, together with sound installations and short films. Many of the exhibits have been specially created for the exhibition and have never been seen before.

The exhibition is running until Monday 29th August, and visitors to the exhibition will be able to enjoy all the other attractions of the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, including the giant Victorian pumping engines which will be operating most weekends. These will all be complemented by a range of Steampunk books and other products which will be available in the Museum shop during the exhibition.

And I'll be there, as part of a Steampunk creators' day, in a fortnight's time, on Saturday 25th June, selling, signing and reading from my Pax Britannia books, which will be available to buy from the museum bookshop.

So if you live anywhere near Brentford, why not pop along and check it out? More details about the exhibition can be found here.

Space Marine

2011-06-10T20:34:00.000+01:00

The Ulysses Quicksilver Short Story Collection

2011-06-09T20:15:00.001+01:00

Abaddon Books has put out a press release about The Ulysses Quicksilver Short Story Collection that's now available to download for the e-reader of your choice. Here's the blurb from the back:

Dandy, detective and adventurer Ulysses Quicksilver tackles the enemies of the crown in this thrilling collection of three complete short stories drawn from the steampunk Pax Britannia Ulysses Quicksilver novels.

In 'Fruiting Bodies' a gruesome death leads Ulysses and his manservant Nimrod to the glasshouses of Kew, bringing them face to face with the horrors lurking within. A Hallowe'en séance leads our intrepid duo into a close encounter with the world beyond in 'Vanishing Point', whilst in 'White Rabbit' Ulysses journeys into a world of madness and murder, meeting some sinisterly familiar characters along the way.

This collection is the perfect starting point for readers new to the exciting world of Pax Britannia! 'Fruiting Bodies' was first published in the novel 'El Sombra', 'Vanishing Point' was first published in the novel 'Leviathan Rising' and 'White Rabbit' was first published in the novel 'Blood Royal'.

You can read the press release for yourself here.

Just in case you need persuading that you really should get hold of The Ulysses Quicksilver Short Story Collection for yourself, watch the following video:

Research

2011-06-08T22:24:00.003+01:00

Busy researching my latest project. This isn't a commissioned project (not yet anyway) but can you tell what it's about?

RMS Titanic gets its own Haynes Manual

2011-06-08T20:06:00.001+01:00

Having seen this (and the various versions for the Apollo moon lander, USS Enterprise and Dalek) I'd love to see a mock-up cover for one for The Neptune from Leviathan Rising, or the Apollo XIII from Dark Side - or Oddfellow's Sphere, the Jotun-class steam-powered tank Siegfried, the Iron Eagle or the bipedal Stalkers from Anno Frankenstein.

Anyone fancy having a go?

UK Games Expo - done!

2011-06-05T23:49:00.002+01:00

So I'm back from a very busy but rewarding weekend in Birmingham at the UK Games Expo. You can read about my experiences here and here.

JG at the UK Games Expo this weekend

2011-06-03T09:03:00.002+01:00

Just a quick reminder that I'll be at the UK Games Expo in Birmingham this weekend helping to promote Advanced Fighting Fantasy (as well as traditional un-advanced Fighting Fantasy), but I'll also be selling some of my Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia novels at a knock-down price.

So, if you fancy finding out all about the newly revised AFF RPG, drop by the Arion Games stand and, while you're there, why not pick up the PB titles missing from your collection?

I look forward to seeing you on Saturday or Sunday.

PS - If you can't make it up to Birmingham this weekend, I'll also be at the BFS Open Night at the Mug House, Tooley Street in London tonight. So, if you're around, do pop over and say "Hi!"

Fighting Fantasy at the UK Games Expo

2011-05-25T13:59:00.002+01:00

The hotel's booked, the necessary weekend pass has been negotiated, so I can now confirm that I shall be attending this year's UK Games Expo in Birmingham (over the weekend of 4-5 June) helping Graham Bottley of Arion Games promote the Fighting Fantasy brand.

Graham will be there to talk about (and sell) the newly revised edition of the Advanced Fighting Fantasy RPG and between us we'll also have some Fighting Fantasy books to sell. So, if you want to see why people have been raving about the new AFF RPG, or you want to replace your dog-eared copies of Titan and Out of the Pit, or you want me to deface a book for you with my signature, or you just want to chat about the Good Old Days, then why not drop by on Saturday or Sunday and say "Hi!"

Maybe I'll see you there. Until then...

M is for Monster but H is for House of Fear

2011-05-22T12:21:00.000+01:00

When I was a young, aspiring writer, I never seriously considered becoming a horror writer. And yet, last week I sent my story for the House of Fear anthology to Jon Oliver at Solaris and am this week writing another horror story for a new short story collection about phobias. And then, of course, last year my explicit tale of horror Incubus appeared in M is for Monster.

Well, M is for Monster is available for sale again here and I'll sign every copy purchased. And if you need persuading, here's a review of my short story that appears in the collection:

Erotic with a seductively blasphemous undertone from the very outset, Green's sexually charged short throbs with a thick and somewhat unsettling tone of darkness... What gradually transpires is a powerfully unnerving tale of horror, with many unspoken questions left unanswered, creating an altogether more powerful tale. Certainly one of the most atmospheric and unsettling tales in the anthology - and for that, possibly one of the best additions.

But back to the subject of my short story for House of Fear (released in the UK and US this October by Solaris Books). It's called The Doll's House and is my take on the traditional haunted house tale. In it I set out to make a story set in a nondescript Edwardian terrace on a bright sunny day as unsettling as anything set at the witching hour on Halloween. My editor made very few changes and the only alteration I had to make was to add one word. This is almost unheard of, and I like to think it bodes well for how the story's going to be received elsewhere.

That said, it's not a nice story. Not at all. Here's what my editor wrote in his email after reading the story for himself for the first time. "Ooh, that's a right nasty little shocker." And from an editor inured to the ways of horror, that's got to be recommendation enough.

The Behemoth from Bloodbones

2011-05-19T20:58:00.001+01:00

Ace artist Tony Hough's been at it with Photoshop again, this time colouring the Behemoth from my fourth Fighting Fantasy gamebook Bloodbones.

I always loved this particular image. I imagined this sea monster as looking like something drawn in the ocean of some Renaissance map of the world and Tony got the look spot on with his design - and the crow's nest and splintered mast stuck between the leviathan's teeth finished it off nicely.

You can see more of Tony's coloured Bloodbones images here, and don't forget you can buy his artbook Fragments here.

Fright Night

2011-05-18T19:26:00.004+01:00

I loved the original Fright Night when I saw it back in the 80s - especially the guy full of meal worms, or grubs, or whatever it was. Well here's the trailer for the 2011 version staring (among others) our very own David Tennant!

Peter Vincent David Tennant style

The new TJARDIIS from IKEA

2011-05-13T21:23:00.001+01:00

Iron Hands - update

2011-05-06T18:51:00.001+01:00

I know that some of you had a bit of a shock the other day, after following up my post about Iron Hands being made available again, due to it being listed as costing £20.00.

Well the Black Library website has been updated with Iron Hands' new cover and the correct price - £13.99 - which I'm sure you'll agree is much more agreeable.

So, what are you waiting for? With original copies of Iron Hands retailing for up to £60.00 elsewhere order your copy from Black Library's Print on Demand range here.

Iron Hands - available again!

2011-05-04T22:53:00.000+01:00

Iron Hands - my second Warhammer 40,000 novel, first published in 2004 - is available again as part of the Black Library's Print on Demand range.

The book's been given a face lift and you can order it direct from the publisher here. And in case Adrian Smith's fantastic artwork isn't enough to sell it to you, here's the blurb from the back cover:

With Abaddon the Despoiler’s Thirteenth Black Crusade engulfing the galaxy, Iron-Father Gdolkin and his company are pulled away from the defence of Medusa to honour an ancient oath to the Adeptus Mechanicus. A trail of clues leads Gdolkin to a long-lost world, home to an ancient weapon that might turn the tide of war in the Imperium’s favour. But for Gdolkin, the quest is personal, as this mysterious planet might also contain the answer to the oldest mystery of the Iron Hands Chapter... the resting place of the Primarch Ferrus Manus.

It's alive!

2011-05-03T11:31:00.000+01:00

Having evaded border patrols and armed checkpoints, the package finally arrived this morning via covert operative. Now safely secured within the Department Q bunker I can at last reveal to the world the monster I was busy building for around four months between October last and February this year.

And here it is...

I'm really pleased with how the book's turned out and anyone curious to know how Simon Parr's Vitruvian Steamfrank has been used need wonder no longer...

Anno Frankenstein really is a beast of a book. In fact, it's so long that there wasn't any room at the back for an exclusive short story this time. But have no fear, Favoured Son will appear coupled with the eighth Ulysses Quicksilver adventure Time's Arrow (but more on that another time).

All that remains for me to say here is congratulations once again to Adam Sparshott (whose Lego masterpiece earned him a not insignificant role in the book) and if you've not already seen it, here's the promo trailer that should wet your appetite for the adventure to come.

Don't forget, you can pre-order your own copy of Anno Frankenstein here.

Anno Frankenstein - the movie

2011-04-28T00:22:00.001+01:00

Anno Frankenstein caption competition

2011-04-27T16:48:00.000+01:00

A while ago* I ran a mini-competition to choose a motto for the Frankenstein Corps, as featured in the imminently-arriving Anno Frankenstein.

Simon Parr's design for the Corps' logo already has a motto (which translates as 'Waste Not, Want Not') but a number of inventive individuals came up with their own suggestions.

I've now, finally, drawn up a shortlist and I'm giving you a week to vote for the one you like best, via the poll that you'll find at the end of this link. And whoever you choose as the winner will receive the following unique** prize.

So, click on the caption you like best and on 5 May I'll announce the winner - at long, long last.

* Far too long ago, to be honest.

** And it really is unique. Nobody else is going to be receiving one of these Anno Frankenstein puzzles featuring Mark Harrison's cover artwork.

Born of Science... Born of Madness!*

2011-04-27T14:21:00.000+01:00

Just opened up my subscriber copy of Judge Dredd Megazine #310 and stumbled across this...

Colour me pleased! And there's not long to go now!

* Now would that refer to the Promethean Remade on the cover? The book itself? Me?

Genre for Japan update

2011-03-31T09:29:00.001+01:00

Just to remind you that charity auction Genre for Japan is running until midnight BST (GMT +1) on Sunday 3rd April.

The four Pax Britannia lots have already raised £375.00 but it's not too late if you want a piece of the action. Simply click this link and you'll be taken to the Genre for Japan website where you'll be able to bid on all of them (should you so wish).

And don't forget the Abaddon editorial team - Jon, David and Jenni - are also offering their services to hopeful writers here, and their combined total currently stands at £420.00!

So good luck!

Pax Britannia Lego: The Copernicus

2011-03-27T09:58:00.000+01:00

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

The lunar rover Copernicus from Dark Side.

BY EIGHT A.M., Greenwich Mean Time, Ulysses and his companions had relocated to what appeared to be a scrap yard and were staring up at the bulbous cockpit of a decrepit Lunar Exploration Vehicle. The LEV’s name was still just about visible, etched onto a brass plate, green with verdigris, secured to its hull.

Copernicus

The rover looked like a Pullman carriage with a giant goldfish bowl bolted onto one end and six giant rubber-tyred wheels, each as tall as a man.

Click here to buy your Lego lunar rover Copernicus now!

Pax Britannia Lego: The Sphere

2011-03-26T19:36:00.001Z

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

Oddfellow's Sphere from Dark Side.

And yet, impossible as it might seem, here it sat, squatting upon its claw-footed stand, as tall as a man and half that again, the esoteric machinery limned in a corposant of its own making. But where the device Ulysses had last seen vanish from the bowels of Alexander Oddfellow’s house had been gleaming polished metal, the strange artefact in front of him now appeared much older, its surface crazed with a patina of age, the brass pitted and stained with verdigris.

Click here to buy your Lego Oddfellow's Sphere now!

Pax Britannia Lego: The Phantom

2011-03-26T19:21:00.000Z

You've got four days remaining in which to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit that is only available to buy here.

First up is the Mark IV Rolls Royce Silver Phantom from Unnatural History.

With a screech of tyres the Silver Phantom hared away along Prince Albert Road leaving a cloud of burnt rubber smoke in its wake, as Ulysses sprinted across the road – men, women and children running screaming in disarray all around him – towards the Overground pillar, and after Jago Kane.

Click here to buy your Lego Silver Phantom now!

Genre for Japan update

2011-03-26T18:46:00.000Z

After offering a walk-on part in my next novel Time's Arrow, fellow Pax Britannia author Al Ewing has upped the anti by offering the chance for two of you to appear in his next El Sombra novel Pax Omega. As Al puts it in his own words:

On the block, taking my cue from Jon Green, I’m getting competitive by offering not one but TWO chances to appear in my next Pax Britannia novel, Pax Omega. Snapping one of these up will guarantee a speaking part – you could be fighting alongside El Sombra or Doc Thunder, or against them, or something even more outlandish, but whatever you end
up doing you’re guaranteed at least one line.

You can view Al's items in the Genre for Japan auction here.

So, in response to Al's challenge I too have offered another exclusive item for auction - a poster promoting Anno Frankenstein and featuring the Vetruvian Steamfrank designed by Pye Parr. And to top it all, Pye and I will sign it for you too.

The highest bidder will receive a special promotional poster for the forthcoming “Pax Britannia” novel, ANNO FRANKENSTEIN, signed by both author Jonathan Green & the artist and designer, Simon Parr.
You can view this item here. In the mean time, here a picture of me all merched up, holding the aforementioned poster. Did I mention that there's only ten of these in existence? This really is another money-can't-buy-prize!
And if you're wondering how you go about bidding for these fantastic Pax Britannia prizes, you can find out more here. Don't forget, bidding goes live 09:00 BST (GMT+1) on Monday 28 March!

DC Universe Online

2011-03-26T18:19:00.002Z

I know this has been out for a while now (since November last year) but this still looks very cool. Why can't they make a feature length movie like this?

Vlog 6 - Genre for Japan

2011-03-24T14:55:00.000Z

Win a walk-on part in Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow and help the people of Japan

2011-03-23T15:03:00.000Z

That's right - YOU could win a walk-on part in the eighth Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia adventure Time's Arrow, due to be published in 2012 by Abaddon Books.

All you need to do is visit the Genre for Japan blog and follow the instructions there to bid for Item 56 in their forthcoming auction that's being held to raise money for the work being carried out by the Red Cross in Japan at this time.

Find out more by following this link.

Genre for Japan

2011-03-22T11:05:00.001Z

We’ve all heard the news and seen the horrific pictures coming from Japan in the aftermath of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami – and no doubt we’ve all wondered how to help.

Well the guys and gals* behind Genre for Japan have come up with a way, uniting the comics, science fiction, fantasy and horror communities, to show their generosity to those who need it right now.

They're going to run auctions for genre-themed prizes donated by those in the industry. Some of the prizes already donated include a year’s supply of books from Tor, signed artwork from Solaris Books and editing/critiques from professional authors and editors. And I've made my own small contribution too.

Deadline for prize donations is 25th March with the auction set to begin on 28th March. I'll post more on this in the lead up to the auction but for now, check out Genre for Japan's blog and if you're in a position to donate a prize email them at genreforjapan@gmail.com.

* Including Amanda Rutter of Floor to Ceiling Books and Jenni Hill, ace Abaddon Books editor.

Pax Britannia Lego - available again for a limited time

2011-03-20T13:20:00.001Z

Yes, the Pax Britannia Lego kits are back and available to buy via eBay.

First up there's Oddfellow's Sphere from the climactic scene of Pax Britannia: Dark Side (which, I have to say, has been going down a storm). This kit includes an incredible 8 minifigures (4 goodies and 4 baddies), including the Lego incarnation of PB competition winner Jared Shurin.

Next up there's the lunar rover Copernicus, again from Pax Britannia: Dark Side. This set contains 6 minifigures - Ulysses Quicksilver and Nimrod, in both their normal attire and environment suits, and two alien Selenites.

And then there's the Rolls Royce Mark 4 Silver Phantom, that made its first appearance in the very first PB novel Pax Britannia: Unnatural History. This set has two minifigures - the dashing dandy detective, and Hero of the Empire, Ulysses Quicksilver, and his indefatigable manservant Nimrod.

As with all good Lego kits, you can make a plethora of different models from each of the kits - or why not combine them all in one incredible Pax Britannia-gasm of steampunk-y goodness?

So don't delay and visit eBay today!

The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus (Vol.1) - a new review

2011-03-14T09:45:00.000Z

Tim Cundle of Mass Movement Magazine has let me know that a new review of The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus (Vol.1) is now up on his site.

There are a few inaccuracies in the review (e.g. Queen Victoria is not 160 years old and the Curious Case of the Whitby Mermaid is resolved) but on the whole it's very positive - although implying plagiarism in a review is always going to be contentious.

Anyway, you can read the review here, and you can buy The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus (Vol.1) here, and pre-order the seventh Ulysses Quicksilver adventure Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein here.

Temple of the Spider God

2011-03-12T18:47:00.000Z

I've been sitting on this one for almost a year now (and have had to be somewhat evasive when people have asked me about the possibility online) but I can finally tell the world that I am writing the seventh title in Tin Man Games Gamebook Adventures line.

Temple of the Spider God should be released this July and you can read more via the press release Tin Man Games have put here. I will of course be updating this blog with more news as and well as well. But in the meantime, arachnophobes should do what they can to prepare themselves...

We have a winner! - update

2011-03-04T09:43:00.003Z

It's been almost a fortnight since I announced a winner had been randomly selected to receive nearly a kilo's worth of books, signed by myself, just for joining my forum.

The winner was duly notified by email but I am still haven't heard back from them, nearly two weeks later. I'm going to give the original winner until Monday 7 March to get back to me and if they don't, then I'll be picking a new winner.

So, all you forum members, watch this space...

Black Library Live and Official Doctor Who book signing at the Doctor Who Experience

2011-03-04T09:42:00.001Z

Two events to check out tomorrow (although probably not both because they're a couple of hundred miles apart).

The first in Black Library Live! which is taking place at Games Workshop's Nottingham HQ. It's an event that celebrates and showcases Black Library's books, audio productions and authors. Available to buy pre-release on the day will be Fall of Damnos, Victories of the Space Marines, Knights of Bretonnia, Age of Darkness, Caledor, Blood Reaver and Garro: Legion of One.

Attendees will also be able to pick up a copy of the limited Black Library Live! 2011 chapbook at the sales stand (as long as stocks last). The event runs from 10.00am until 7.00pm(!), with seminars, signings, and probably some gaming somewhere along the line too. You can find out more about it here.

Secondly is the Official Doctor Who book signing taking place at the Doctor Who Experience at Olympia Two in London tomorrow, between 11.00am and 1.00pm. Justin Richards, Oli Smith and other Doctor Who experts will be there, ready to be grilled on all things intergalactic. My Doctor Who book Terrible Lizards won't be out for a while (more on that later) but I may drop by just the same, so don't forget to bring along your copies of The Horror of Howling Hill and The Official Doctor Who Annual 2010 just in case.

The signings will be held in the café area at the Doctor Who Experience. The signing is a separate event so to enter the Doctor Who Experience you will need to buy tickets, which you can do here.

Anno Frankenstein - feeling the love

2011-03-02T09:12:00.005Z

It seems it's not only me who's getting excited about the forthcoming release of Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein - the guys over at Abaddon Books are too.

Follow this link to read their latest post on the subject and check out what they've got planned for the launch...

Knights of Doom

2011-03-02T09:12:00.001Z

Knights of Doom is the only one of my original three Fighting Fantasy adventure gamebooks never to have been reprinted by Wizard Books. As a result it is rather hard to come by these days. I'll admit that there are a few problems with it, but its still a cracking story and many fans have found much to love about the book in the past.

You are a knight in the land of Ruddlestone. The surrounding countryside is beset by apocalyptic events which only you are capable of resolving. Using your adventuring skills and knowledge of the arcane ways of those you fight against, it is your duty to take on the Knights of Doom.

So, if you're one of those fans, you may be interested to know that a copy has appeared on eBay and its price has recently been knocked down. I cannot emphasise how rather this book is - even I only have the one copy - so, if you're a fan, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Ok... Not this...

2011-02-24T18:54:00.001Z

Pax Britannia Lego - grab it before it's gone!

2011-02-23T11:34:00.001Z

Today's your last chance to get your hands on an exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit. Don't miss this once-in-a-blog's chance and grab yours today, before they're gone!

To buy your Oddfellow's Sphere, Rolls Royce Silver Phantom Mark IV or Copernicus lunar rover, click here.

We have a winner!

2011-02-21T18:58:00.000Z

As many of you are no doubt aware, this weekend I ran a competition on my forum to win nearly a kilo's worth of books, signed by myself.

Well, forty people signed up to my forum, on top of the fifteen who were already members, by 9.00am this morning and this afternoon a winner was selected at random from all fifty-five forum members.

Actually, that's not entirely true. Only fifty-three members qualified. I'm one of them - and so disqualified due to the fact that it would be too weird to sign books to myself - and one's a known spammer.

The winner has been notified by email this afternoon and now I'm just waiting on a reply so that I can send the lucky forum member their books. Who knows, in time maybe I'll be able to post a picture of the happy winner with their prize.

If you didn't win, have no fear - I'm planning another similar competition in a few weeks' time to boost forum membership past 100 after the great response this one garnered.

Blog updates

2011-02-19T15:44:00.001Z

Since I finished my two most recent projects - Pax Britannia: Anno Frankenstein and Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards - I've been catching up with a bit of blog postage, whilst working on various proposals (including the next Ulysses Quicksilver Pax Britannia adventure). And there's been a fair bit going on, actually, so in case you missed the highlights here's a quick round up.

1) Win almost a kilogram of books!

I'm giving away four brand new books in my latest competition. Click here to find out more.

2) Ask me anything*

I'm planning a Q&A for my next Vlog and the questions are already coming in thick and fast. If you'd like to ask me something about my books or my experiences of writing, click here.

3) Curse of the Mummy

Is out in the new large format edition but that's not all... Click here to find out more.

4) The Armageddon Omnibus

Having been out of print for a few years now, my Warhammer 40K novels Crusade for Armageddon and Conquest of Armageddon are available again as part of Black Library's Print on Demand range. You can find out more here.

5) Pax Britannia: Dark Side

You can now download a desktop wallpaper inspired by the Lego version of Pax Britannia: Dark Side. If you think that's something that would enhance your computer experience, click here.

6) Fighting Fantazine #5

The latest issue of the Fighting Fantasy fanzine is out now and features an essay about my most popular gamebook Howl of the Werewolf. Read more about this here.

7) Pax Britannia Lego

Like Lego? Like the steampunk world of Pax Britannia? Then you'll love these Pax Britannia Lego playsets!

* Within reason.

Forum giveaway

2011-02-19T11:36:00.002Z

How would you like to own these four books, all signed by the author - for nothing?

Well, it's easy. All you have to do is register as a member of my new forum here and when we hit 50 members, I'll put everyone's names into a hat and pull out one winner.

That winner will then receive a copy of Howl of the Werewolf, the new edition of Curse of the Mummy, Pax Britannia: Dark Side and the Warhammer 40K short story anthology Victories of the Space Marines, which contains my Imperial Fists' story But Dust in the Wind. And I'll sign them all too.

So what are you waiting for? Don't delay, sign up today!

Ask me anything*

2011-02-17T22:31:00.001Z

Following in the footsteps of some of my other writer acquaintances, I'm going to record a Vlog in which I answer all** your questions about my books and my experiences of writing them.

Got a question about the world of Pax Britannia? Curious as to how to go about writing a gamebook? Wondering what it takes to write a Doctor Who tie-in? Then ask away.

You can post your questions at the end of this post or email me at info@jonathangreenauthor.com. Alternatively you can contact me via Facebook or Twitter @jonathangreen.

So, ask away, and when I've collated enough questions I'll answer them in my next Vlog.

* Well, almost anything.

** Okay, maybe not all, but most.

Guess the book cover

2011-02-17T14:06:00.001Z

Any takers?

How about now?

You got it!

Curse of the Mummy is available now!

Akharis rises from the dead - again!

2011-02-17T10:57:00.001Z

I received my author copies of the latest edition* of Curse of the Mummy today. It looks fantastic in the larger B format and Martin McKenna's image of the undead Akharis is still as powerful as it was sixteen years ago**.

If you've not read it before, you can pick up a copy here. However, even if you have read it before, it's still a must for every FF enthusiast because it contains three original pre-generated characters, namely Zofia of Shazaar, Lucius Arandyce and Sartosa 'Vatos' Lux.

So what are you waiting for? The Desert of Skulls and the Black Pyramid await...

* Actually the third, to the best of my knowledge.

** Sixteen years? Is it really?

Pax Britannia: Dark Side - The Unusual Suspects

2011-02-15T19:55:00.001Z

You can pick up your own copy of Pax Britannia: Dark Side here, and you can buy your own Dark Side Lego set here.

February Releases - Curse of the Mummy and The Armageddon Omnibus

2011-02-15T00:01:00.000Z

The latest large-format edition of Curse of the Mummy (my third Fighting Fantasy gamebook) is now out from Wizard Books. You can pick up your copy here.

Also out this month, is The Armageddon Omnibus, published by the Black Library as part of their Print on Demand range. I've known about this for a while, of course, but now the rest of the world does too - and apparently that news it going down a storm in certain quarters.

Crusade for Armageddon, the story of the Black Templars of the Solemnus Crusade and their search for the murderer of their Chapter World Morkrull Grimskar, was my first Warhammer 40K novel and was published back in 2003. It was followed two years later by a sequel, Conquest of Armageddon, which threw Chaos and another Space Marine chapter into the mix, along with Imperial Stormtroopers and Armageddon Ork Hunters.

And having been out of print for five or six years, both books are now available again, together for the first time, as The Armageddon Omnibus.

But even better than that is the fact that collected along with the two Black Templar Armageddon novels are the short stories Sanctuary (which only ever appeared in Inferno! magazine #38) and The Relic (which first saw print in Legends of the Space Marines).

But even better than that, is the fact that the omnibus contains some brand new, original content. Yes, you heard me right - brand new, original content. A History of the Most Honourable and Holy Solemnus Crusade charts the Black Templars' journey from their Chapter World to the war-torn shores of Armageddon, and everything in between.

So, what are you waiting for? In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war - and it's available as Print on Demand!

Howl of the Werewolf - the Fighting Fantasy fans favourite gamebook!

2011-02-14T12:19:00.000Z

The long-awaited Fighting Fantazine #5 is here and includes a fantastic cover by Natalie Gingerboom, an interview with one of my favourite (and most under-used FF artists) John Sibbick, the massive amateur adventure Bones of the Banished, news of the revised Advanced Fighting Fantasy range, and the readers' poll to find out the most popular Fighting Fantasy gamebook.

It's that last part that I'd particularly like to draw your attention to here.

Seventy different gamebooks feature in the readers' poll and mine are ranked as follows:

45= - Curse of the Mummy

31= - Knights of Doom

31= - Night of the Necromancer

30 - Spellbreaker

23= - Bloodbones

23= - Stormslayer

1 - Howl of the Werewolf

Yes, you read that right - Howl of the Werewolf topped the survey with an overall score of 84.6% (Plot 85.8%, Gameplay 82.5%, Atmosphere 88.3%, Illustrations 81.7%). I have to say that I am utterly thrilled (needless to say) but should also mention that without Martin McKenna's fantastic illustrations, I doubt Howl would have placed so high, so thank you to him.

It must have been a mammoth task collating all of the votes and working out the rankings so I would also like to extend my thanks to Alexander Ballingall and his team over on the Fighting Fantazine for all their hard work.

You can download Fighting Fantazine #5 from here, and, best of all, it's free!

Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards

2011-02-14T09:53:00.001Z

I've had two Deadline Days in as many weeks (which was weird) but I've kept the second project pretty hush-hush - that is until now, as my editor has said I'm now free to tell the world about Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards!

A few years ago now I was delighted to receive a commission for my first Doctor Who book, a gamebook featuring the Tenth Doctor (as portrayed by David Tennant) entitled The Horror of Howling Hill. Well, three years on I was given the opportunity to write for the Eleventh Doctor (Matt's Smith's incarnation). But this time, it wasn't a gamebook, rather a chapter book - in other words a short novel for younger readers.

The brief for this new range of books asked that the subject matter be particularly appealing to boys. As I sat down with my jotter I started off by asking myself the question, 'What won't they be able to do on telly, due to budgetary restraints?' I came up with, filming in the Caribbean on an actual sailing ship, and dinosaurs - lots of dinosaurs. (The image of a million TARDISes also popped into my head but I couldn't work out how to fit that one into the story, so I'm putting that idea on the back-burner for now.)

So I sat down and wrote my pitch. It featured pirates, specifically Blackbeard, and a search for the Fountain of Youth in the Florida Everglades. Two topics appealing to boys. Pirates of the Caribbean meets Jurassic Park. How could it fail?

Imagine my surprise when my editor got back to me to say that they loved the idea but the pirates clashed too much with something they were doing for Series 6. Since then, of course, I've seen the pictures of the filming of a pirate epic in St Austell. Fortunately dinosaurs still seemed to be fair game.

Anyway, a nip here, a tuck there, a change of period and a few other details, and Time and Tide became Terrible Lizards. I sent off the finished manuscript last week and now anxiously await my editor's comments.

Do you like this?

And this?

And these?

And him?

And her?

And, of course, him?

Then you'll love the forthcoming Terrible Lizards!

Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards will be published this September, back-to-back with The Web in Space. And I, for one, can't wait!

Pax Britannia Lego - available now!

2011-02-13T22:57:00.001Z

Nothing says 'I love you' like an original and exclusive Pax Britannia Lego kit. So, just in time for Valentine's Day, I'm pleased to be able to announce that three such kits are now available to buy via eBay.

As with all good Lego kits, you can make a plethora of different models from each of the kits - or why not combine them all in one incredible Pax Britannia-gasm of steampunk-y goodness?

So don't delay and visit eBay today!

Jonathan Green at the SFX Weekender 2

2011-02-01T15:43:00.000Z

Just a quick update about the SFX Weekender 2, taking place this Friday and Saturday at Pontins Holiday Park, Camber Sands.

I will be there from lunchtime Friday until about lunchtime Sunday - signing at the Abaddon Books stand and suchlike - but on the Saturday afternoon, from 2.00 - 3.00pm, I and m'colleagues Rebecca Levene, Scott Andrews and Al Ewing will be hosting the Abaddon Pub Hour in the Queen Victoria Bar.

Maybe we'll see you there...

Pax Britannia Lego

2011-01-13T22:42:00.000Z

As long time readers of this blog will know, I have a certain fondness for Lego and recently ran a competition challenging Pax Britannia fans to create a steampunk Lego scene inspired by the forthcoming Anno Frankenstein.

Well now I've gone one better, by creating some original Pax Britannia Lego kits inspired by already published books in the series. So far there's Ulysses Quicksilver's Rolls Royce Mark 4 Silver Phantom, the lunar rover Copernicus (from Dark Side) and Oddfellow's Sphere (from the climax of the same book).

The Silver Phantom

The Copernicus

Oddfellow's Sphere

If you think you'd like to own one of these kits yourself, drop me a line via info@jonathangreenauthor.com.

The Cat in the Fez anyone?

2011-01-12T10:56:00.002Z

Buy it here.

Bogus, Dude. Daleks!

2011-01-11T22:13:00.002Z

Definition of a Wholigan

2011-01-10T18:57:00.003Z

Are you a Wholigan? Follow this link to find out if you are.

I didn't think I was, but then again, maybe I am.

New Forum Added

2011-01-10T09:13:00.001Z

If you're a regular follower of this blog, or new to the site today, I know what you're probably thinking right about now, and that is, "Where can I chat with other like-minded individuals about the works of author Jonathan Green?"

Well, have no fear, for you can now visit the official Jonathan Green, Author forum by clicking on this link (or the one in the sidebar to the right).

As well as discussing everything from Fighting Fantasy gamebooks to the latest Pax Britannia release, over on the forum you'll also find news on event appearances and book signings. There will also be exclusive competitions for forum members from time to time, so why not register today? It only takes a minute and doesn't cost a thing.

Maybe I'll see you over there some time soon.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T00:01:00.000Z

How to survive a Zombie Apocalpyse during the most wonderful time of the year

2010-12-23T07:46:00.002Z

Primeval is coming...

2010-12-20T15:26:00.000Z

Doctor Who meets Star Wars

2010-12-20T11:25:00.001Z

Gingerbread TARDIS

2010-12-18T07:56:00.001Z

Does exactly what it says on the tin...

Christmas shopping ideas

2010-12-13T10:55:00.001Z

If you're still finalising Christmas presents, remember it's not too late to buy your loved ones (or yourself!) something from my book store.

If it's steampunk action and adventure that they're into, try my Pax Britannia books.

If they love gamebooks and fantasy adventures, try my Fighting Fantasy gamebooks.

If it's Doctor Who or Star Wars, try these, and remember that you can have a Clone Wars story, written by me, personalised.

If it's non-fiction they enjoy, try Match Wits with the Kids, or one of my Miscellanies.

And if its the grim darkness of the far future where there is only war, or the grim darkness of a quasi-Medieval world that gets them buzzing, then try one of my Black Library novels.

Super X-Treme Mega History Heroes!

2010-12-10T14:50:00.001Z

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Ebenezer Scrooge and Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol

2010-12-10T00:22:00.000Z

Join the campaign to make Ebenezer's Carol No. 1 this Christmas here!

Vote Pax Britannia for Steampunk book of the year!

2010-12-08T22:42:00.001Z

Steampunk.com has launched its search for the 'Steampunk Book of 2010'. All that you have to do to nominate a book (or books) is leave their names, one per line, in a comment on this post at Steampunk.com. But what to nominate...?

Well, technically four Pax Britannia books (all of which qualify) were published in 2010 - Blood Royal, Al Ewing's Gods of Manhattan, Dark Side and The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus. But, according to the rules of the competition, technically any Pax Britannia book so far published would qualify.

So, if anyone feels like sharing the love for the alternate steampunk universe of Pax Britannia, go for it! And just let me know here.

Let's make Ebenezer's Carol No.1 this Christmas!

2010-12-08T11:43:00.001Z

The plan:

To get Ebenezer's Carol, by The Men That Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing, to No. 1 in time for Christmas. A proper steampunk Christmas song for Christmas No. 1!

What we need to do to achieve this:

1) For Ebenezer's Carol to chart it needs to sell roughly 8,000 copies. The single needs be downloaded as a single, and not as part of the A Very Steampunk Christmas EP. It's available now from iTunes, eMusic and Amazon.

2) So, forward this message to all your friends (be they steampunks or otherwise) but remind them that they must buy the song by itself for it to get into the singles chart.

3) Blog about this, post a link on your Facebook page, Tweet about it, but most importantly - buy the single Ebenezer's Carol!

4) Arrange events themed around this, call the local press, use your contacts - whatever you've got - and we could really make this happen!

This is a chance for steampunk fans to really make themselves heard and make a difference for the future of Christmas. The fate of Ebenezer's Carol and Christmas music itself is in your hands! Let's make Christmas 2010 a Very Merry Steampunk Christmas!

Wondering what to get the Steampunk in your life this Christmas? Well wonder no more...

2010-12-08T08:59:00.002Z

What do you get the steampunk in your life this Christmas? Why, some exclusive Pax Britannia merchandise - that's what!

You can buy beermats emblazoned with the motto "Feel Better With Dr Feelgood's Tonic

Stout"

Dark Side notebooks

Dark Side mousemats

And even a Pax Britannia T-shirt* bearing the motto "Action and Adventure in a New Age of Steam!"

Just visit the Pax Britannia Christmas store here.

* Only available in large, I'm afraid.

Cowboys & Aliens

2010-12-02T09:28:00.001Z

James Bond and Harrison Ford go toe-to-toe with ET. I, for one, cannot wait...

Request for reviewers

2010-11-29T10:22:00.000Z

Both The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus (Vol.1) and Pax Britannia: Dark Side are selling well at the moment (very well, in fact) so how those of you who've already read these awesome tomes post some reviews on Amazon (or whatever your book site of choice happens to be)?

If you do, you will earn my eternal gratitude. (Which is no small thing if the long-anticipated Zombiepocalypse* finally gets here.) And please let me know - either via this blog or by emailing me at info@jonathangreenauthor.com.

Cheers!

* That's a copyrighted term, by the way, copyright Jonathan Green 2010 - just now.

Gaze into the face of Dredd

2010-11-26T21:18:00.002Z

The first official photo of Karl Urban's Judge Dredd from the set of the new Dredd movie, courtesy of 2000AD artist Jock.

Sublime...

2010-11-25T22:38:00.001Z

Unnatural History

Monstrous Missions - The Terrible Lizards are unleashed!

Friday the 13th... Unlucky for some

2012 - The Year of the Gamebook?

Vote for Temple of the Spider God

Pax Britannia - 'Best Ongoing Series'

Red-Handed - the result!

Time's Arrow - Who Lives? Who Dies? YOU Decide!

Black Library - Last Shipping Dates

The A to Z of Christmas

Gamebook Adventure on the G*M*S Magazine Podcast

Dragonmeet - Saturday 26 November

Why RPGs are good for you

Temple of the Spider God hits New Zealand!

The Spider God Cometh...

Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow - Red-Handed is here!

FantasyCon 2011

Fighting Fantazine #7 - available now!

Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow

Hive of the Dead is here!

The Summer of Steampunk!

Avent and Monie

JG at Weekend at the Asylum

House of Fear - Foyles launch

The World's First Zombie-Proof House

Hi there Fighting Fantasy fans!

That Buttery Biscuit Base!

Meeting with the Tin Man

Stormslayer - 9 out of 10!

Steampunk Creators Day at Kew Bridge Steam Museum

JG and Pax Britannia on SFX.co.uk

Happy Steampunk Day!

More Space Marine action

Pax Britannia at the Greatest Steampunk Exhibition

Space Marine

The Ulysses Quicksilver Short Story Collection

Research

RMS Titanic gets its own Haynes Manual

UK Games Expo - done!

JG at the UK Games Expo this weekend

Fighting Fantasy at the UK Games Expo

M is for Monster but H is for House of Fear

The Behemoth from Bloodbones

Fright Night

The new TJARDIIS from IKEA

Iron Hands - update

Iron Hands - available again!

It's alive!

Anno Frankenstein - the movie

Anno Frankenstein caption competition

Born of Science... Born of Madness!*

Genre for Japan update

Pax Britannia Lego: The Copernicus

Pax Britannia Lego: The Sphere

Pax Britannia Lego: The Phantom

Genre for Japan update

DC Universe Online

Vlog 6 - Genre for Japan

Win a walk-on part in Pax Britannia: Time's Arrow and help the people of Japan

Genre for Japan

Pax Britannia Lego - available again for a limited time

The Ulysses Quicksilver Omnibus (Vol.1) - a new review

Temple of the Spider God

We have a winner! - update

Black Library Live and Official Doctor Who book signing at the Doctor Who Experience

Anno Frankenstein - feeling the love

Knights of Doom

Ok... Not this...

Pax Britannia Lego - grab it before it's gone!

We have a winner!

Blog updates

Forum giveaway

Ask me anything*

Guess the book cover

Akharis rises from the dead - again!

Pax Britannia: Dark Side - The Unusual Suspects

February Releases - Curse of the Mummy and The Armageddon Omnibus

Howl of the Werewolf - the Fighting Fantasy fans favourite gamebook!

Doctor Who: Terrible Lizards

Pax Britannia Lego - available now!

Gamebook Adventure on the GMS Magazine Podcast