What I did during my 11 month blogvacation…

by Jonathan on October 28th, 2009

Well, a lot of stuff, really.

Mostly I’ve been working on A Hard Death; that’s now done, with Random House putting out the English edition on November 5 of this year, and Harper Collins still figuring out the US release date, Droemer the German date, etc.

I wrote it mostly here in New York, and a bit in my place in Paris. The whole experience was delayed a little because I fell  in love, which was great, but also tumultuous – in the end, a short ride in a fast machine. I emerged from it a little scalded but better for the experience.

My renovation in Paris is nearing the end. And so am I! It’s been a ridiculous experience. I can’t really justify it, either as an expense or as an investment, but it’s really pretty perfect, the ideal place to chill, read, write.

I stripped down the old fireplace, and rebuilt it in a more modern way; you can see it more clearly here:

I left the floors raw, without finish or oil; I really like how they look. We’ll see how well they hold up…

My bed is insanely comfortable; since the place is so tiny, I decided I would spare no expense in fitting it out. I have a Swedish  mattress, topped with a goose down feather bed, linen sheets and a linen and silk coverlet. Please believe me: when I say “insanely comfortable”, I mean just that.

I designed a small desk, and had it built in padauk wood, a beautiful African hardwood that darkens over time. I don’t like the proportions of the desk; when I’ve adjusted it a bit, I’ll post a photo. I’ve also got two chairs, very plain.

I know it’ll probably be too spare for some people – there will be art work going up, but not a lot: I’m going for a “luxury monastic cell” look. Essentially, it’s a more austere version of the bedroom in my loft in New York, where my original design brief was “a TB sanatorium near Prague in the 1930′s”.

And I think I’m getting there…

OK! There you go – an actual real post with content – including photos and at two (find ‘em!) links! I’m making my way back!

Saints be praised! It’s a miracle! Et cetera!

The Blog That Time Forgot

by Jonathan on October 6th, 2009

Well, yes. I have been a little quiet lately: I blame Facebook, plus the nextbook. But I’m back now. I’m not 100% sure I can remember how this works, but I’ll fumble along.

I’ve finished A Hard Death; the book comes out in the UK on November 5, but we’re still working out the US release date. The feeling at Harper was that Precious Blood rather got lost in the onslaught of “Big Books” that come out in the autumn – yer Koontzes and Kings, yer Browns and Balzacs – so though the book could be ready for release in the fall, it’ll more likely appear in winter instead.

Anyway, more about that later. I’ll post some goofy thing about what I’ve been doing for the last 11 months – mostly finishing the renovation of my tiny place in Paris, writing A Hard Death, and keeping the world safe from evil from a secret New York City location (actually a giant bathysphere somewhere below the icy surfaces of the East River, but don’t tell anyone).

OK. I’ll be in touch!

It feels weird to be back, but kinda good…