This is designed to be a quick reference page for those of you who like your information fast. (Note I didn't promise interesting, just fast!). Here you'll find all sorts of odd details about projects I'm currently working on and other things that take my fancy. As this page is new there isn't a lot here yet. But have no fear I'll be filling in the blanks...and if there's no news for a couple of months then I'll do as Grift taught me: make some up!

---

• December 10th, 1999

  Little Nog: still hoping she'll come home.

  Happy Holidays everyone! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Cool Kwanzaa and an Amazing Aluminiumus (yes, it's about time we took a moment to appreciate our lightweight metallic friend!). Thanks for stopping by. It's been a pretty sad week for me. Little Nog went missing last Wednesday and hasn't come back. The last time I saw her she was streaking across the back field at sunset, not chasing a lizard or anything, just running for the joy of it. I've been waiting in every night, hoping she'll come back. On Sunday, I went to the shelter and adopted a new kitten (named Biggie after the late rapper Biggie Smalls). Biggie is black and white and looks like a Gateway Computer box with legs. She's sleeping on my foot right now. She's lovely, but she's not Little Nog. )-:

  Biggie: Gateway box with legs

• I've run out of bookplates to give away. Sorry if you missed your chance to receive one. )-: Next month I'll be giving away more stuff so please check back.
• So, what are you planning to do for the Millennium? There seems to be quite a bit of pressure to do something exciting and glamorous on New Year's Eve. Me, I'm staying in. I'll probably rent a few movies, build a fire, eat some goodies, and maybe have a glass of Champagne. Whatever happens, I'll be wearing this season's fashion must: sweatpants and a T-shirt. I'm not a big one for parties. It's enough to make Grift weep.
• I think that's all for now. Thank you for stopping by. I wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season and lots of joy and goodness for the New Year. Cheers and Many Thanks, jv.

  November 15th, 1999

• Hi, everyone. Happy Thanksgiving! It's finally getting a bit chilly here in San Diego. I actually built a fire last night...well built being the operative word as it wasn't quite the roaring sucess I'd hoped for. Does the phrase "smoked out of your own living room" mean anything to you?
  

  Signed books! There's just something wonderful about them. I have a small but treasured collection of signed books, by writers as varied as Julia Child, Clive Barker and Buzz Aldrin. As it's getting closer to the Holidays I thought it would be a good idea to give away signed and personalized bookplates for Cavern of Black Ice. That way, you can give a friend or a loved one a signed book. I went out and found the nicest bookplates I could. They're self-adhesive; all you do is strip off the backing and place them on the first inner page of the book. Just drop me a message with your name and address (U.S. residents only) and the name of the person you'd like to give a signed book to and I'll pop a signed and personalized bookplate for Cavern of Black Ice in the post. You'll receive it within a few days, and once you've got the book, that's one less gift to worry about! (-:

• I keep getting messages asking about Nog, Superkitty and Mistress of Tall Trees. She's fully grown now, but still pretty small, and she lives to climb trees. She loves chasing birds, but is a terrible hunter. As soon as she sees a bird she squeaks loudly with excitement, scaring the poor thing off. I think, for the time being, the birdlife of Southern California is safe!
• Now it's time for a little known fact (I've just invented this category so bear with me!). Melli from the Book of Words series is named after the character of Melanie Wilkes from Gone With the Wind. Most of the time she was called Miss Melanie, but Scarlet often called her Melli. I always thought it was a wonderful name, and I had it stored in my head for many years. When it came to naming Lord Maybor's headstrong daughter I knew straight away she would be called Melli.
• I think that's all for now. Thanks for stopping by! Cheers, JV.

   

  November 1st 1999

• Hi, everyone. November here--only 61 days to the next millennium (or as Grift would say 1,464 hours left to stock up on beer before the stores close!). Just a quick update for now; I'll do a proper one later in the month. Also, I'll be posting another giveaway so please check back in a few weeks.
• The winners of the three signed galley copies are:
  • Ken Tsoi of eliancecorp.com

    Anna Henriksson of swipnet.se

    Sonya M. Sipes of hotmail.com

• Quite a few people have be emailing me asking for fantasy recommendations so I thought I'd pass along three of my favorite older series: A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin; a series of four magical books about Ged, the Wizard of Earthsea. One of the all-time classics of epic fantasy. A must read for all fantasy fans. Secondly, The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart; another series of four books, this time telling the tale of Merlin, magician and king's man. A classic retelling of the Arthurian legend, where Merlin emerges as a haunting and unforgettable character. And finally Once and Future King by T.H. White; another Arthur book, but quite a different kettle of fish from The Crystal Cave. This one is brimming with humor and whimsy. A wonderful read. I hope you enjoy all three series.
• I think that's all for now. More to come later in the month! (-: Thanks for stopping by, jv.

   

  October 14th, 1999

   

• Hi, everyone. Sorry I'm a bit late with this month's update. I haven't been away or struck down by some horrible blight, I've just been a bit busy writing and catching up on things. Anyway, enough about that. Fall's here (or Autumn as we say in England), my favorite time of year. Oh for trees that lose their leaves and air with a snap of cold in it (we're having a Indian Summer heatwave here in San Diego--it was ninety degrees over the weekend, with those strange hot winds, the Santa Ana's, blowing. It's like being targeted by a giant hair drier whenever you leave the house!).
• For those strange and nutty breed of folk who live to play electronic RPG's (yes, I do count myself amongst them), I have my copy of Final Fantasy VIII firmly in hand. I haven't played it yet, but it's there on my mantelpiece as a reward for when I finish Fortress.
• This month I'm giving away three signed galley copies of Cavern of Black Ice. Last year my publisher Warner Aspect was kind enough to send me a big box of these, and as I was sorting things out in the garage last week I found I had a few spare. Galley copies are sometimes known as Readers Copies, and are produced for promotional purposes before the actual book is published. They're photocopied, not printed, and usually feature the artist's preliminary cover sketch on the softbound cover. All you have to do to get one of these beauties is email me with the words, "I want one of those galley copies." Your name will go in the hat, and the winners will be drawn and posted on November 1st (so quick about it!). <g>
• What else? Photos of the Anaheim Convention. Yes, I did promise these beauties (if beauty is indeed the right word to use in this context!). The roll of film still sits on the mantelpiece (not far from Final Fantasy VIII--it's a pretty small mantelpiece, what with that and the shrunken heads there's no place to put a potted plant), and I promise to get it developed this week.
• I think that's about all. My brother Paul has his new website up and running. There's all sorts of info and neat things about his band Flight; original artwork, free downloads, cool stuff. So drop by and say hi if you have the time. As ever, thanks for stopping by here. I promise not to be late with my updates next month (bad, JV!). Cheers and Many Thanks, JV.

   

  September 1st, 1999

• Hi everyone. Just a short update for now--I was away for a few days, attending an SF convention in Anaheim so I'm a wee bit behind on things. I took my camera and snapped a few shots (one of a lovely lady dressed as a Rockette who told me she was a NASA scientist), and if they turn out halfway decent I'll post them up later in the month. Thanks to everyone who asked about my hand. It's not too bad at all now, though the skin has started to peel horribly (yuck!). I think I was lucky to get off with a few blisters and some scorch marks. I can definitely testify that a full twenty minutes in cold running water can minimize the damage of most common burns (my Mom used to rub salted butter into them!).
• Right, the winners of the signed paperbacks of The Barbed Coil are:
  • Suzie Choi of hotmail.com

    Harri Viisainen of kaakontieto.fi

    Joanne Purcell of hotmail.com

    Sandra Blankenship of connectu.net

    Michael Murck of juno.com

  Sorry, if you're name wasn't pulled from the hat (blame that hat, blame chance--not me! I just close my eyes and click the mouse. I know, I know, not the most technical way of choosing winners, but it's either that or invest in one of those floating ping-pong ball lottery machines). Seriously, though, I do try to be fair, and everyone who enters, regardless of where he or she lives in the world, has the same chance of winning.

• I think that's all for now. Things are pretty quiet here as I'm in the thick of writing Fortress of Grey Ice. I have now seen the finished artwork for the cover--and it's wonderful!! A real clash of swords in the night! I'll post it up as soon as I get the go-ahead. Many thanks to everyone who's sent me messages this past month. I really appreciate your feedback and encouragement. Cheers, JV.

  ---

Archived Newsheets

June-August 99 Newsheet

March-May 99 Newsheet

January-February 99 Newsheet

November-December 98 Newsheet

August-October 98 Newsheet

May-July 98 Newsheet