My brother is a personal trainer in Newcastle. This morning he was training a British Asian client from Darras Hall area. Her neighbour knocked on her door this morning and said, "Just to let you know, the Conservatives won. So we won't have to put up with you lot much longer."
Sometimes readers are a bit embarrassed to say that they borrow our books from libraries rather than buy them. DON'T BE! At the current rate of 30.5p Public Lending Right we get for each time someone borrows our books, that's more than we get for a book sale in most cases!
GOOD OMENS. SEASON 3. CONFIRMED!
You’ve been asking, and we are happy to say: Aziraphale and Crowley return for the ineffable third and final season of Good Omens!
CAN WE HEAR A WAHOO?
I'd like to think Nordic food storage huts (stabbur) like this one inspired the legend of Baba Yaga. Still love Terry Pratchett's version, Mrs Gogol's hut which wades through the Genua swamps on duck legs.
The small child tells me Game Dev Barbie rescued Princess Jasmine from Jafar and ‘they’re escaping on a grumpy reindeer to get married’. This is the Christmas movie I never knew I needed.
One of my favourite quotes from Terry Pratchett. I enjoy thinking of myself as growing more chronologically gifted rather than older.
"I do note with interest that old women in my books become young women on the covers… this is discrimination against the chronologically gifted."
@hodlonaut
@La__Cuen
I certainly don't think that. There are many reasons people chose to vote the way they did. But it appears some eejits think they were voting for ethnic cleansing.
Being named on a Discworld book beside
@rhipratchett
&
@PaulKidby
is beyond my wildest dreams. Channelling the voices of our favourite characters together has been a joy. There’s pathos, bathos, wit and wisdom. It’s silly, it’s serious, and written with pure love
#TiffanyAching
Thread: So, I've been spending a lot of time in bookshops signing
#KnightsAndBikes
, and I've noticed something that reeeeaaally bothers me. Lots of adults are stopping boys from reading books with female protagonists!
I find it quite wonderful that Seattle was saved by ladies of negotiable affection, and that Sir Terry brought the fiscal relationship between seamstresses and the city into his books.
I'm OBSESSED with this pic of me and Santa from 1977. It's art. Just look at:
1 His death stare
2 The odd, shabby suit
3a The foam beard
3b Worn OVER his nose
4 The bleak, black grotto
5 Scabby onion sacks of presents
6 The pincer grip on my wrist
7 The oblivious joy on my face
Our daughter turns 4 this week and I’ve just received this incredibly beautiful package in the mail. A quilt made of clothes from the first few years of her life that
@asianastroboy
and I commissioned from . A joyous, fun filled celebratory rainbow 🌈
My greatest achievement in life is not screaming this news to the world every day since
@rhipratchett
and I started work on this book. Working on a book related to the series that made me want to be a writer, with my dearest sister-from-another-mister, has been a dream come true.
BIG NEWS! Grab your frying pans and start practicing your hard stare, there’s witching afoot! Delighted to be collaborating with
@GabrielleKent
,
@PaulKidby
and
@PuffinBooks
to bring this in-world guide to aspiring witches everywhere. Updates soon!
Seamstresses would pay a sewing machine tax of $10.00 a week, which afforded them the freedom to go about their business without interference from the police. This effectively taxed prostitution and kept the city afloat in hard times.
When investigators were sent out to look into the matter, they discovered that not one of over 2,700 seamstresses actually owned a sewing machine and were, in fact, sex workers. Or in Discworld terms, ladies of negotiable affection.
This references a real census carried out in Seattle in the late 1800s in which the city council was stunned to discover over 2,700 seamstresses operating in one small area of the city.
I don’t normally post pics of the wee bear, but she’s very excited about her first lengha and wants to wish all a joyous Diwali full of love and light 🪔
Reading about kick ass girls having awesome adventures, solving mysteries, and saving the world teaches boys to see girls in a different light to the ones they see screaming at rubber spiders in toy adverts. Let boys read the stories they want to read. Books are for everyone!
It is noted in Men at Arms that when the Ankh-Morpork Guild of Merchants carried out a survey of tradespeople in the dock areas they found 987 women who listed ‘seamstress’ as their profession, yet only two needles.
Horrible landmark moment today -the 6yo and her best mate's joint first-hand obvious experience of racism. A classmate wouldn't let them join a group game as it was 'white skin only'. She's now wondering why someone doesn't like her skin colour. Bloody educate your kids, people!
As the city council was in debt, and business was booming for the seamstresses, an agreement was reached between the “seamstresses” and the city council.
When I became a Discworld fan in the 80s I could never have dreamed that one day I’d write a book set in that world and it would fit on my shelf between my own books and those of the man who made me want to write. And with my BFF
@rhipratchett
as co-author. How is this real life?
Ok, this is a BIG giveaway - ALL SIX of my novels, signed!
The Gooniesque videogame based KNIGHTS AND BIKES series
PLUS
the ALFIE BLOOM adventure series
PLUS
A FREE VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISIT to a school/library of your choice!
Retweet and Follow by 6pm GMT Monday 26/10/20 for entry!
Being announced as co-author of a Discworld related book is wild! It appeared instantly on the Discworld Wiki. I suddenly have a stub in the L-Space wiki. People are discussing on Reddit. 7 novels into my writing career and I’ve never experienced even a fraction of this before.
In case you don't know this site, is brilliant for warnings on potential triggers in film, books, tv. It used to be just animal deaths in film, but has expanded to many triggers in a range of media. some warnings even tell you exactly which minutes to skip
Why are we so protective of boys' masculinity? It isn’t nearly as fragile as some adults think. I’ve seen boys with dolls or happily wearing bright pink trainers and it’s adults who react negatively rather than other kids.
YES! This is what I keep yelling about. Boys are cool reading about girl protagonists. It's often adults buying the books that have a problem with it. Books featuring girls won't emasculate your sons!
"There is peer shaming as well, but it starts with and is supported by adults."
Thank you to all of the wonderful Discworld fans who turned up to celebrate Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch at the British Library. This book was written with love, for you. Also thanks to all who pointed out that we appear to be the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus! 😂
First book published at 40, plus a games industry Woman of the Year award. Now writing fourth and fifth books at 42 and just gave birth to the child I thought I'd never have. Keep on pushing, age ain't nothing but a number!
... you know what? For the kids in the back and for everyone who is worried they're out of time, can those of you kicked ass post-30 please raise a hand?
Actual comments made during editing:
Please don't bathos my pathos!
It's all about bees!
Could the sausage pig be less phallic?
There can never be too much tea and biscuits!
Are there too many references to Nanny's knickers?
Thanks for the laughs,
@rhipratchett
!
#TiffanyAching
Being named on a Discworld book beside
@rhipratchett
&
@PaulKidby
is beyond my wildest dreams. Channelling the voices of our favourite characters together has been a joy. There’s pathos, bathos, wit and wisdom. It’s silly, it’s serious, and written with pure love
#TiffanyAching
A beautiful thread from my sister witch and comrade in arms, weilding a pen mightier than any sword.
I echo everything she says here, and also thank
@asianastroboy
for his support.
And to Rhi's dad, the man who created the world we got to explore together. Thank you
#GNU
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch. Stepping onto Discworld for the 1st time front-of-house has been daunting (it's why I chose the golden hare as my signature stamp) but I had the best fellow witch I could ask for in co-writer
@GabrielleKent
❤️🧙🏻♀️1/5
'Well, if he’s going to take liberties like that I hope he’s a woman,’ said Glenda. ‘Pepe is … Pepe,’ said Madame calmly. ‘And there is no changing him, as it were, or her. Labels are such unhelpful things, I feel.’
Terry Pratchett - Unseen Academicals
This is just unreal. Today has been A LOT. Thank you, Discworld fans. You've bought the book, now we really hope you like what we've done with Sir Terry's incredible world and characters.
I loudly shouted WOOOAAAH and scared the cats when I saw this. A triple
#1
in our categories… I’m particularly delighted that it’s being listed under personal health for Young Adults. Nanny Ogg would be please. Thanks so much, everyone. Going to have a little cry now.
I've heard boys ask for a copy of K&B, to be told 'That's for girls' It’s not just my book, I’ve heard that The Worst Witch and
@JamesNichols
Apprentice Witch are girls books. Why are parents who are happy for girls to read Harry Potter scared of their sons reading about witches?
My first convo with Rhi went something like...
Me: Wow, you're Rhianna Pratchett!
Rhi, with slightly suspicious eyebrow: Yes
Me: I LOVE your PCZone reviews
Rhi: Oh, thanks! You look like Evil WIllow
Friendship sealed. It was another 3 months before I connected the last name 😳
Being a part of Pratchett world is giving me a real taste of what it must be like to be a celeb author. All the intense interest in
#TiffanyAching
's book, and someone has even researched and crafted an LSpace wiki page for me 🤯 Thank you, whoever you are!
My daughter and 7 nieces & nephews are mixed race, White, Mauritian, Chinese. First thing my nephew picked up on was two brown characters on the Knights and Bikes 3 cover. I hadn't appreciated he NEVER sees that! Thanks
@_KnightsOf
for ignoring those who said brown doesn't sell!
Looking forward to signing books in Ankh-Morpork this weekend! Well, near enough...
@rhipratchett
and I will be at Travelling Man, York, from 2pm on Saturday! Please share this info with any Discworld lovers who might like to pop along for a chat and a signed and stamped book!
This Saturday at 2 pm at our York Store, we are having the amazing Rhianna Pratchett and Gabrielle Kent for a signing of their new book Tiffany Aching’s Guide To Being A Witch!
#terrypratchett
#booksigning
#york
I don’t think publishers should specify reading age bands. A suggested lower age can be useful as a guide, but an upper age, e.g. 9-12 can stop parents buying books young teens might love and make them feel embarrassed reading it. Just suggest 9+ etc. even adults read them.
Rushing to get the girleen through the school door in time this morning and passed two mums talking books. One said, "I have all the Discworld books, and.."
It took every fibre of my being not to run back yelling, DO YOU LIKE THE WITCHES? I WROTE A TIE-IN WITH RHIANNA PRATCHETT!
Having a huge crisis of confidence with my writing career right now. Publishing is a weird, trend-driven, celeb obsessed, risk-averse and surprisingly political beast. Shout out to all the indies trying to be different! Fellow writers, how do you keep sailing on?
I’ve had young lads tell me how much they love
@cathycassidyxx
and
@redbreastedbird
, yet other boys are being robbed of the same opportunity to find books they love. It’s sad to see, and I can only hope that these boys are not put off reading by adults making decisions for them.
The most gut wrenching line from my last Alfie Bloom royalties statement. Yes, through traditional publishing models 512 sales really can result in only £8.06 for the author. Just under 1.6p per copy.
#RealityOfBeingPublished
I don't normally like posting pics of myself but just found this gorgeous pic
@asianastroboy
took of me in Mauritius a couple of days after our Hindu wedding ceremony. Wearing my wedding jewellery to dinner and feeling exceptionally happy. We celebrate 10 years married on Sunday
I'm having to re-read all Discworld novels at the moment, and there's so much good in those books. It may be a flat world on a giant space turtle's back, but the wisdom, humanity, and the political, religious and social commentary is so pertinent. The world needs Pratchett wisdom
She may have only played a small part in Equal Rites, but
@PaulKidby
’s glorious illustration of Hilta Goatfounder for Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch has
@rhipratchett
and I wishing she had a novel of her own ❤️
I'm wondering if it's a little odd that I bought this dress, not because I thought I'd look good in it, but because I thought it would make me look like an Imperial officer/Sith.
[THREAD] Thinking more about this and the fact that every kids author I know get the odd low star review from adult readers because they predicted the ending or managed to guess big reveals. Well, adult readers, this isn't a bad thing and doesn't mean a book is poorly written...
Imagine if kids wrote reviews complaining that adult books read like they were written for adults. How ridiculous would that be ?
Yes, adult reviewers who tear down kids books for being written for kids, feel the full force of my passive aggression and weep!
The beautifully tranquil Totoro has been available for one day on Netflix and our toddler is already on her third viewing. Proof that kids don’t need frenetic action, a big bad, and lots of peril to fall completely in love with a film.
Popped in to sign some copies of Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch for the lovely folks at
@drakebookshop
in Stockton today. They also have these wonderful vouchers for families without the disposable income for books, prepaid by customers ♥️
I’ve witnessed publishers making covers far too dark and creepy in relation to the content in order to trick boys into reading them, and girls tell me they enjoyed those books but nearly didn’t read them because they thought they were spooky books.
During my last book launch I found out our third round of IVF had failed and had to put on a happy mask. So it's incredible to be able to dedicate
#KnightsAndBikes
to my daughter, Ashoka. Especially as it's for a publisher committed to making
#DiverseBooks
for kids like her.
.
@PuffinBooks
has signed Tiffany Aching’s Guide To Being A Witch by
@rhipratchett
and
@GabrielleKent
, an illustrated and practical guide to being a witch in Discworld.
Read here:
Just has a flashback to the time I asked a Waterstones bookseller where their graphic novels were. She gave me a long, funny look then escorted me to the erotica section 😳
What's that, Indira Varma of Game of Thrones, Obi-Wan, and soon Doctor Who (and my mother in law's fave, Bride and Prejudice) reading words written by me and my BFF? Again, HOW IS THIS REALITY?! Also honoured that
@rhipratchett
chose my Letice Earwig notes to read. Magnificently!
Exciting news, Tiffany Aching’s Guide is also an audiobook! Indira Varma, narrator of the TA series, gives a fab performance, with Steven Cree returning to voice the Feegles. It’s out tomorrow, and you can get your audio copy here:
PLUS a cameo role by...
Writers, filmmakers… stop giving your villains facial scars. Watching a series, Dark, and four of what seem to be villains have heavily scarred faces or a cleft lip. It’s such a lazy, damaging trope snd I can’t believe it’s still heavily used.
This is exactly why it was so much fun to write these books. Girls getting to be hilarious, brave and generally awesome, while supporting each other all the way. And contrary to what ye olde fuddy-duddies believe, boys love reading about girls having adventures too, so let them!
Everything we’re told DOESN’T work in this series is exactly WHY IT DOES
Girls ...
⚔️ fighting monsters
⚔️ telling the funniest jokes
⚔️ being gross
⚔️ leading the adventure
Not to mention the Goose, ghosts, bullies and mystery treasure to find!
👉🏾
As South Asian kids barely exist in UK books, 0.3% representation vs 6.8% population, it would be awesome to see a list of kids and YA books with Asian main characters, or by Asian authors. Please comment with reading recommendations and self promotion and I’ll curate somewhere.
The 5year old
Mum, I’m making notes. What’s your job?
Me: I’m a writer
5yo: No, your job
Me: That’s my job. I write books
5yo: That’s not a job
Me: Yes it is
5yo: Oh. Then you should get a proper job.
I’m thinking of setting her up in business giving harsh but fair career advice
I discovered my 3rd ivf had failed right before I did a reading at my 2nd book launch. That was my last launch, but I faked a smile again while undergoing a miscarriage at a publisher party. Sending love and support to all the women putting on a brave face
Well,
@rhipratchett
is taking her godmothering responsibilities seriously. A blue elephant so that Ashoka embraces whimsy, a series of books about amazing women to inspire her, and a white whale... um, I'm guessing to remind her to pursue revenge to the point of madness.
Tiffany Aching's Guide to Being a Witch is being reprinted due to a demand which surprised everyone! But it is in stock in a few places like
@TravellingManUK
who even have some signed copies. We're aiming to sign in another of their stores sometime soon:
Now that I'm a full time writer (no more boss, woo!) I'll be increasing the number of events and school visits I take on in 2020. If any schools, libraries, events etc would like me to visit to talk reading, writing and geeky stuff, you can find info here
Thank-you, thank-you to everyone who commented on my post below. Your stories helped me make a huge decision. At the end of May I leave my games lecturer role to focus on writing, and my wonderful daughter. I'm scared, exhilarated, and SO very grateful to the people supporting me
I’m finally having my midlife crisis and I’d really love to hear stories from people who took a leap of faith and gave up well paying jobs to peruse much lower paying dreams, and/or to spend more time with family. How did you feel before and after? Would you change anything?
Corbyn can hold his head high. He fought a campaign based on truth, compassion and hope and didn’t stoop low. Sadly, this decade proved lies and stoking fear, paranoia and prejudice wins elections and referendums. Gutter tactics work.
Sending love & hope to everyone hurting today
A bit nervous. I've got a book going out on sub soon and it has no dragons, castles, knights or magic in it. It does, however, have a parrot, a grandma, a lighthouse, a mysterious painting and a sort-of-minotaur.
I have the rights back to my first series, Alfie Bloom! I still have so much love for those books and Alfie fans often ask for more. I'm delighted that I'll be able to put it back out there once permissions for Euan Cook's covers are sorted. If things go well, there may be a 4th!
I haven’t had a launch party in years but it still feels strange to launch a book in these Corona days. The 3rd in the Knights and Bikes series is out on 2nd July. If any schools, bookshops would like a wee virtual visit around that date, drop me a line
My 1st series, Alfie Bloom, of which I'm incredibly proud, went out of print through no fault of its own. Rights have returned and I'm working to re-issue it, but to celebrate Tiffany Aching's Guide launch, I've made bk1 free to all on kindle until Monday:
Bought this cookbook thinking it would be full of simple, quick and thrifty recipes, um, no. What students store raw cacao, agave syrup, goji, fresh vanilla, hempseed oil. Coleslaw ingredients alone would blow a student weekly budget! better following
@BootstrapCook
instead
GIVEAWAY! Fancy signed copies of all three
#AlfieBloom
books, the ones with the swanky cover resigns?
"Middle grade fantasy adventure at its very best, and I can't wait to read the sequel -The Book Zone 4 Boys"
Retweet + follow by 6pm GMT 5th October to enter this tweetdraw.
@rhipratchett
They start out trying to sound as though they're rational, caring feminists, but it always comes down to trans women, toilets and changing rooms. So insidious.
On my way to London for my first ever
@WaterstonesPicc
event, and it’s with
@rhipratchett
and Rob Wilkins too! Though the universe arranged for me drop my phone in the train station loo so that I wouldn’t get too full of myself. Thank you for keeping me grounded, universe.
“They say you don’t find witchcraft, it finds you” 🧙♀️
We just can’t wait for our event with Rhianna Pratchett (
@rhipratchett
) and Gabrielle Kent (
@gabriellekent
), hosted by Rob Wilkins, to celebrate Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch. Tickets here ➡️