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| Fforde Fflash Archive |
| This is the archived press release page, for items more than six months old. To see new Fflashes and updatements to my site, go to the What's New? page. |
| 11th April 06 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Latest reprint bulletin: The Eyre Affair (UK paperback, 31st edition) 3000 copies, 167,550 in circulation. Lost in a Good Book (UK paperback, 17th edition) 3000 copies, 103,150 in circulation. The Well of Lost Plots (UK paperback, 8th edition) 2000 copies, 80,100 in circulation The Big Over Easy (Export paperback) 2000 copies, 14,000 in circulation. Lost in a Good Book (Export paperback) 3000 copies, 17,000 in circulation. | |
| 11th Mar 06 | +++ Fforde News Fflash Latest Reprint Bulletin: The Eyre Affair (Export Edition) is now on its 5th edition, with an extra 2000 copies meaning 13,500 of this edition in circulation. | |
| 22nd Feb 06 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Big Over Easy appears in paperback. Not for general consumption in the UK where it is released in June, but for the export market. Cover is the same image as the hardback but slightly rejigged for the smaller cover. There were 11,000 copies of the diddy 'A' Format printed and the ISBN is: 0-340-8356-9. | |
| 22nd Jan 06 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The 2007 VCE (Victoria, Australia) Literature panels have chosen this title once again to be on the VCE Literature Text list for 2007.It is also on for 2006. 2007 will see this title being on the list for the third year in a row. Which basically means that it is available as an 'approved' title for teaching in Victoria - hoorah! | |
| 3rd Jan 06 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Latest reprint bulletin:Lost in a Good Book enters its 16th reprint in the UK. An extra 3000 copies which means we have 100,150 in print. The Well of Lost Plots enters its 7th print run with an extra 2500 copies so 78,100 copies in print. The Eyre Affair is now on its 30th edition, with an extra 4000 copies meaning 164,550 copies in print. Hoorah! | |
| 1st Dec 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Come the new year there will be another Fforde charity auction of bits and bobs related to me and my books. Lists of lots will be published ahead of time, although this year we will have several identical lots, so more people have a chance of winning stuff. There will be at least twenty copies of the TN1 1st edtion with upper case signature - part of a consignment I signed in 2001 and have remained at Hodder. There are also quite a few proofs of TN4 and TN2 up for grabs - plus other stuff. Stay tuned! | |
| 1st Dec 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Now for sale at Goliath Merchandising: All my books, in paperback. They are marginally cheaper than the high street, and have the dubious distinction of carrying not only a dedication to your own order, but a freebie giveaway postcard, a 'Welcome to Swindon' bookmark (while stocks last; got to get rid of these somehow) and a special internet-sales-only Goliath inky stamp. For more details, click HERE | |
| 28th Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: COMING SOON: Paperback copies of my books (US and UK) are to be available from my website, with an option to have it dedicated how you want. A freebie postcard will be included with each book as well as a moniker. Price will be RRP, plus postage. Hardbacks of any description or unusual collector's items will not be available. | |
| 28th Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The jolly bunch from the 'Storyman' thing turned up to record me for one of their wednesday evening slots in a new series to be broadcast on Radio4 next year. Andrew Clover was the interviwer and a rollicking time was had by all. More details to follow. | |
| 28th Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Hodder 'A Format' export edition of Something Rotten has just entered its third printing of 2000 copies, which mean there are 14,000 copies of this particular edition in print. 'Export Edition' means Canada, New Zealand, Australia, SA, export markets and international airport bookshops. | |
| 10th Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The boxed set of the first four Thursday Next books has just been printed - 5000 initial sets. I have one and it seems to be on sale at Amazon, without picture. This is something I have often thought about in jest - I imagine Thursday will be quite chuffed, although knowing her, she won't show it. | |
| 10th Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Goliath Corporation, in its magnanimous benovelence, have generously allowed the public to buy even more quality products from their clothing outlets. Two more designs from the trough of merchandising: A much overdue Specops-17 and a Toast T-shirt. For more details, please click HERE. | |
| 3rd Nov 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Fforde enters popular culture! Adherents to notorious Welsh-hater Anne Robinson and her inexplicably popular 'Weakest Link' TV show on the Wednesday 2nd November 2005 will have noticed Fforde's books turning up as one of the questions: "In Jasper Fforde's 2005 novel, The Big Over Easy, what is the name of the central character?" The contestant sadly did not know, so Ms Robinson told them it was Humpty Dumpty. My thanks to Dave Collins who furnished the details. ++++ | |
| 29th Oct 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The Goliath Corporation, as part of a long term commitment to ensure that everyone wears their clothes, have had to reluctantly reduce prices. You can take advantage of this enforced level of generosity by taking a look at the new pricing structure. (It's pretty simple: all T-shirts down from £15 to £10; mugs and hats stay the same.) For more details, please click HERE. | |
| 19th Oct 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Latest reprint bulletin:Lost in a Good Book enters its 15th reprint in the UK, with 97,150 copies in print, Something Rotten enters its 5th print run with 48,500 copies in print. The Eyre Affair is now on its 28th edition, with 155,550 copies in print. Hoorah! | |
| 30th Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Lost in a Good Book enters its 14th reprint in the UK, with 92,150 copies in print. Hoorah! | |
| 27th Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:We have opened an image bank, part of an ongoing library idea entitled Ffotographica.com. I will add to the pictures as and when. You can find it by clicking Here | |
| 27th Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Due to the extraordinary success of the 2005 Fforde Ffestival there are plans afoot to hold another one in 2007. The oh-so-capable Phil and Sarah are co-ordinating once more, and have set up a website where you can leave feedback about the '05 Ffiesta.Fforde Ffiesta 2007 Website | |
| 22nd Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:DTV, the German publishers, have concluded negotiations with Fforde and the German language edition of Something Rotten will be published by them next year. Notice to collector's of the German books: The trade Paperback is now released for TNs 1&2. The only difference aside from the copyright page is the the word 'Galleria' instead of 'DTV' on the spine. | |
| 22nd Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Italians to read The Eyre Affair and Lost in a Good Book in their native tongue. Marcos Y Marcos, the noted quality publisher has bought the rights for the first two books in the Thursday Next series. MYM is a hardback publisher, so hardback it is, with the paperbacks appearing the year after, but from a different imprint. | |
| 17th Sept 05 | +++ Last minute Fforde News Fflash:Fforde Ffestival events to be streamed live from Swindon this afternoon! Subject to technicalities. Click HERE +++ | |
| 17th Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Goliath lowers prices, shock horror. Yes folks, in a devastating move, Goliath will be reducing costs for merchandise sold at the Fforde Ffiesta on the weekend of 17th to 18th September 2005. All T-shirts at £10 each, caps at £8 +++ | |
| 17th Sept 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Merchandising news: NCD T-shirts and caps now in stock. See Goliath Merchandising for details.+++ | |
| 20th August 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The UK edition of The Big Over Easy entered its fourth printing today. +++ | |
| 17th August 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The Welsh edition of The Big Issue will be publishing my short story entitled "We Are All Alike" in its September 19th issue. I waived my fee as is right and proper, so if anyone out there also buys a copy we can ensure that this not-for-profit organisation has a few more beans in its coffers. If anyone has trouble getting a copy they can be ordered via post (for a small extra fee) by emailing: cathryn@bigissuecymru.fsnet.co.uk +++ | |
| 14th August 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:UK editions of The Big Over Easy have just entered their 3rd reprint in the B Format hardback. +++ | |
| 13th August 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:German Publishers DTV have bought Something Rotten. The Big Over Easy and Something Rotten will also be published in Russian. +++ | |
| 18 July 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The Welsh edition of Big Issue has asked Fforde to submit a short story for one of its August editions. This will likely be something called 'The Man with No Face' (not to be confused with the Mel Gibson movie of the same name) and will be the second short story of Fforde's to appear in print. Fuller details will follow. +++ | |
| 18 July 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:UK editions of The Eyre Affair have just entered their 27th reprint. +++ | |
| 14 July 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:As if by magic, the UK hardback edition of The Big Over Easy entered its second printing - a week after release. There were another 3000 printed, bringing the number in circulation to 20,500. At the same time the 'B' format paperback edition of The Eyre Affair entered its 27th printing of another 7,500, making 149,550 copies in circulation. +++ | |
| 27 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Street naming in Swindon has been confirmed, although the roads themselves will not be ready to be officially opened until the contractors have moved out - about a year away. The roads (signs are not up yet) are called: Thursday Street, BradshawAvenue, and Havisham Drive. More names are yet to be confirmed.+++ | |
| 15 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: New item in the menu bar: Charity Auction. After the astonishing success of the Tsunami Appeal with £7980 earned by flogging off a few of my bits and bobs, we thought we'd open a page to bring them all together. Here it is
. Not sure what we're going to auction off next year; probably a complete set of hardbacks with my full signature.+++ | |
| 15 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: First ever foreign sales to start paying royalties! Yes, folks, or volks, it's the German and Austrian readership who have pushed the German-language edition of TN1 and TN2 to the second most read language of the Thursday Next series. The Eyre Affair (out for over a year) has sold nearly 16,000 copies and Lost in a Good Book, (published Sept 2004) nearly 8000. Hoorah! (To any German readers out there: I still don't have a proof copy of TN2. Offers gratefully received)+++ | |
| 15 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Slight reworking of the website this week; two 'special' banners at the head of the page wasn't enough so I added another one. It's all centered now, and various other small changes and smoothing over. If you come across any glitches or dead links, empty images, I'd like to hear from you. [jasper (at) jasperfforde.com]+++ | |
| 15 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Paperback edition of Something Rotten is now available in UK shops. Anyone on the London Tube might have seen an impressive poster campaign going on. I wanted my publicist to fire flaming Guinea-pigs dipped in gasoline across Trafalgar Square to a rousing full orchesteral rendering of The Ride of the Valkyries while distributing leaflets, but they said it was outside their budget. I responded that outraged citizens would be buying my books simply to burn at the sight of all those immollated Guinea-pigs, but they didn't buy it. But you might. Available in the bookshops now!+++ | |
| 3 April 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:Paperback editions of all four books now re-wrappered in matching Mark Thomas artwork - boxed set avalable it is planned, at christmas. +++ | |
| 28 Jan 05 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The Tsunami relief appeal auction raised an astonishing £7980, exceeding our wildest expectations. So many many thanks for your generosity! We will absorb shipping and currency transfer charges ourselves in order to be able to write a cheque for £8000 to the Disasters Emergency Committee. Thank you everyone for bidding - we should do this again next year. You can view how the auction went by clicking HERE+++ | |
| 18 Jan 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:At a recent tally of all books sold, the grand total sales of all editions sold everywhere in all territories is 501,562. So we made the half million mark! Hoorah. My thanks to everyone who has either bought my books or recommended my books to someone else! +++ | |
| 7 Sept 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Latest Hodder news: The Eyre Affair has been reprinted again and is now in its 23rd edition incarnation - a grand total (in this format) of 126,550. Many thanks to those who bought it and the ink manufacturers, without whom my novels would be indistinguishable from drawing pads.+++ | |
| 19 July 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Something Rotten reprinted a week before it is due to go on sale! Yes, it's true - due to an increased expectation of demand from bookstores, the fourth in the Thursday Next series has been reprinted, bringing the initial UK and Commonwealth circulation figures up to 40,000. +++ | |
| 6 June 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Eyre Affair reaches 22nd printing! Yes, it's true. More copies of my first book are being sold (which is just as well, really) and there are currently 165,000 copies of TN1 in circulation in the UK and almost the same again in the US. Hoorah!+++ | |
| 6 June 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Radnorshire author wins pig. Yes, it was an oink-tastic day for wacky Powys author Jasper Fforde, whose often confusing novel 'The Well of Lost Plots' won the prestigious and 'pighooooee' fizz-related Wodehouse/Bollinger/Everyman award for 'Best Comic Novel 2004'. Accompanied by a Jereboam of Bollinger, Fforde posed for photographs in a pig-pen with champion porker Muriel, a Gloucester Old spot who lives in a field near Winforton with her large family of eight. "I named two characters after pigs in my novels," quipped Fforde, the youthful and very occasionally hilarious Wye Valley penster, "Clarence Oldspot is a journalist and Tamworth is an SO-5 operative, both from TN1." Muriel the pig, asked to comment on Fforde's books, claimed that although she hadn't read the book herself her mother-in-law found them 'interestingly experimental' and that she might "dip" into Fforde's work when she had finished the Updike she was reading. Fforde also wins the complete Everyman editions of PG Wodehouse's novels and a case of vintage Bollinger, but doesn't get to keep Muriel - instead he gets a large fibreglass pig on wheels to keep for a year. "It is an honour and a surpise and a priviledge" he said, "my thanks to the judges, and Everyman, and Bollinger, and Muriel." See picture below.+++ |
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| 27 May 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Eyre Affair becomes set text Down Under. In a bold move that will have teenager's pliant minds corrupted with Ffordian nonsense, the Victorian board of education in Australia is to place The Eyre Affair on the 2005 VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) English text list. Fforde was reported to be 'delighted' by the board's decision. +++ | |
| 14 April 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: One year ago today young Thursday Crowden was born to happy parents Steve and Sam. Everyone at Fforde Grand Central would like to offer young Thursday the very best on her 1st birthday. For more details about the Nextian baby, click HERE. +++ | |
| 14 April 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Tour details sorted out. After a protracted series of delicate negotiations involving top-level executives from Penguin and Hodder, the simultaneous publication of Something Rotten has been resolved: Rather than cloning Fforde at great expense, Hodder have kindly agreed to publish on the 26th July, allowing a full two weeks of Nextian tomfoolery before I am shipped off to the States for the US launch on the 9th. For more details, keep an eye on my appearances page. As soon as I know anything at all, it will be posted. +++ | |
| 10 April 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Thanks to the technologies employed by WorldPay, Goliath merchandising now take credit and debit cards. For all manner of fine T-shirts, caps and mugs, please go to the Goliath online shopping centre (in the US: center). Remember that it is not mandatory to buy Goliath Corporation Merchandising but a recent Goliath-funded study has revealed the dire health risks involved with inconsiderate non-compliance of Goliath sales objectives. +++ | |
| 9 April 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: French publication a huge success; large quantities of food eaten. Fforde recently spent two days with Univers Poche, the French publishers of l'affaire Jane Eyre. Contrary to Fforde's initial expectations, this was a major launch with the book going into a second printing before the publication date due to demand from bookshops and an enthusiastic response from the company's reps. Everyone at Fleuve Noir (the imprint my book is under) was delightful, and my thanks to Beatrice Duval for championing my novel, and Roxane Azimi for her expert translation. +++ | |
| 4 April 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Well, it's finally finished. After 104 working days spread between here and the 4th August last year, Something Rotten has finally been laid to rest, or 'torn from my inky fingers', whichever you find most poetic. More details of the book can be found by clicking HERE. Fforde has taken a rest for the past week and is now gearing himself up for the launch of the next Next and the annual updatement of the website. +++ | |
| 25th Mar 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Lost in a Good Book goes into 9th printing. Yep, it's true - the UK version of LIAGB has now sold 70,000 copies - hoorah! +++ | |
| 23rd Mar 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: ENGLISH AUTHOR POSSIBLY GOING TO AUSTRALIA AFTER ALL. Despite previous news flash, it is entirely possible that Fforde might be going to Australia this year after all - Canada, too. Watch this space for future developments. +++ | |
| 22nd Mar 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: BRITISH AUTHOR 'DELIGHTED AND FLATTERED' WHEN MET BY GROUP OF FORUM STALWARTS. 'It might have been frosty outside but it was sure warm in here!' quipped one-time focus-puller Jasper Fforde yesterday after having spent a very jolly evening being entertained by members of the website's stalwart fforumites. Youthful-looking Jasper Fforde, 31, was in Scranton giving a talk about his latest novel, 'The Well of Lost plots' when he was invited by the dodo-bedecked cake-wielding travellers to spend a few hours at TGI Fridays. Conversation was far-reaching and covered such diverse topics as shoes, ships, ceiling wax, and cabbages and kings. There was also speculation on why the sea was boiling hot, (it isn't) and whether pigs have wings. (They don't) Jasper Fforde, 27, described the evening as 'delightful' and was especially pleased with the entroposcope cake, which, predictably, he hadn't predicted. 'It just came stright out of the blue,' he declared, 'or to be more accurate, Magda's multi-talented hands.' The group, led by the Fforde's official 2004 stalker, Twila Davis-Reed, spent three weeks crossing the most inhospitable terrain to be there, describing the conditions as 'snowy, but fortuantely for us, only outside the vehicle except when Sarah opened the window.' Mr Fforde will be twenty-one next January and didn't find anyone even remotely scary - except himself, which doesn't count. +++ | |
| 18th Mar 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: FFORDE DENIES RUMOUR. Comments on the forum and at talks regarding 'Something Rotten' being the last Thursday Next book has been denied by Mr Fforde. The author told newsmen from the front door of his modest three-room medieval castle yesterday: "I strenously deny that TN4 will be the last Thursday book. Now be off with you before I cast you into the moat, which, as you might have observed, has been stocked with alligators." He then raised the drawbridge and was seen later pacing the battlements, cackling gleefully and muttering something about it not being his fault that he can't spell 'Dalmatian'. Pyschiatrists have been informed. +++ | |
| 11th Feb 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: ENGLISH AUTHOR NOT GOING TO AUSTRALIA THIS YEAR. A shocked hush descended over the packed newsroom as Fforde, speaking through a live satelite link, broke the news to Australia's massed newsmen and TV stations this morning. "I'm sorry," said the author, "but I'm not going to be able to come to Australia this year. Perhaps next year." +++ | |
| 11th Feb 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: ENGLISH AUTHOR TO LAUNCH BOOK IN PARIS. It was announced on the 6th that Univers Poche, the French publishers of L'affair Eyre, have invited the English author to Paris for the 8th April to sign copies and talk to press. Fforde happily agreed, stipulating that he must be allowed to bring his own live-in French Translator (Mari) and then be allowed to visit the Maison de Chocolate on the Champes Elysee. +++ | |
| 11th Feb 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Slight reorganisation of updates and Fforde Fflashes. All the old updates will be in the Old Updates page and the Fforde Fflashes now have a Press Releasepage of their own +++ | |
| 11th Feb 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Noted actress Juliet Stevenson to voice the talking books for Hodder. That's right, folks. Star of stage and screen Juliet Stevenson is to give voice to Thursday for the Hodder talking books. All three novels are to be shortened for the two-cassette book, available at the end of the year. Oddly enough, I have worked with Ms Stevenson on a film called 'The Trial' that we shot in Prague in 1992. I was the focus puller. +++ | |
| 29th Jan 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: FFORDE MADE MAYOR OF SWINDON FOR AN HOUR. At the Swindon Civic centre on the 26th January, presiding Swindon Mayor Mr Derek Benfield welcomed Fforde to Swindon, thanked him for writing about the town and bestowed upon him the honour of wearing the mayoral robes for a photocall. Fforde was delighted and accepted the offer gratefully, posing for pictures and generally wondering if he hadn't fallen into one of his own books. The meeting closed with Fforde proclaiming a 'Lola Vavoom' national holiday, the establishment of Swindon as an independent City-State within Swindon and for the language of the town to be Welsh. All proclamations were wisely rejected, and the afternoon finished with some excellent carrot cake. "The finest," announced Fforde, "that I have ever tasted." Pictures will be posted at a later date.+++ | |
| 17th Jan 04 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Publicity at Hodder have arranged an exclusive Jasper Fforde Day in SWINDON to coincide with the paperback publication of Well of Lost Plots on Monday, January 26th. Lots of other Thursday Next activity planned for the town. More details to be posted as and when on my Appearances Page+++ | |
| 23rd Dec 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: GERMAN LANGUAGE VERSION OF TN-1 PUBLISHED. Yes, it's here. German Publishing Giant DTV have published the German language edition of The Eyre Affair which is titled: Der Fall Jane Eyre. (Translated: The Jane Eyre Case. Pronounciation: 'Der falle Jane Eyre') It has a natty orange cover and will be featured on my updated bookshelf when it comes to the Fforde website annual makeover in March. For a link to the German publisher site, click HERE +++ | |
| 23rd Dec 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: FFORDE STREAMLINES SIGNATURE FOR 04 AND BEYOND. In a packed newsroom yesterday Fforde announced that he would not be signing any more books in uppercase from January 1st. This was from the advice of his writing remedial teacher who thinks he is far too old to write in capitals. The reporters, who were slightly annoyed as they were led to believe that this press conference would be about Fforde's reported association with a gorilla, began to ask questions about the sightings of Fforde with the reported primate. 'I'm sorry,' said Fforde, getting up to leave, 'but I am not going to answer questions about me and Mel - I mean, Mrs Bradshaw.' +++ | |
| 23rd Dec 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: FFORDE LOSES HAMMER, FINDS IT AGAIN. The Fforde household was rocked by a new hammer controversy Tuesday when Fforde mislaid the rubber-handled Stanley model D-5. Fforde, who was up a stepladder at the time, was reported to use a sharp oath and accuse an unnamed person of removing it. This drama was soon dispelled by Miss Roberts who suggested Fforde 'look where he last left it'. The hammer was soon recovered but the unnamed person who moved it from the piano to the windowsill has not owned up. +++ | |
| 18th Dec 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: SIMULTANEOUS PUBLICATION FOR BOOK 4. At last! Penguin and Hodder have agreed to the simultaneous publication of Thursday Next IV Something Rotten for August 1st 2004. This will give US readers two publications in one year (three if you count TN-2 paperback) and put everyone on track for future global publications. This is excellent news and very welcome to all concerned, especially me as I get another month to finish it. +++ | |
| 17th Dec 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: EXTRA DOG STAYS AT FFORDE/ROBERTS HOUSE DURING CHRISTMAS. Following the news that Mr and Mrs Roberts are spending Christmas in Spain, they decided to leave Jumbul, their five-year-old crossbreed, with their daughter and her boyfriend on Wednesday. "Of course, we were delighted," said Mari Roberts in an interview yesterday, "We've had jumbul stay with us before and he usually behaves himself, as long as he's not outside when the postman arrives." The Fforde/Roberts resident dog Milly was also overjoyed and explained through an interpreter that Jumbul was more than welcome to stay as long as he had a seperate supper-dish, left all her sticks well alone and didn't expect to sleep under the owner's bed, which she said, was "kinda special". Other household pets were less than exuberant about the visitor. Rollo the cat let it be known through his lawyers that he hadn't ruled out litigation and certainly wasn't happy to share the spot in front of the fire that is now legally his due to the landmark "Milly V Rollo Hearth Rights" case heard in the Brecon appellant court in January. +++ | |
| 11th Oct 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: GOLIATH MERCHANDISING DIVISION OPENS TO FANFARE AND GLITTERING CELEBRITY-ONLY PARTY. It's here at last! The Goliath Merchandising site! At present we have five tee-shirts, a cap and some Goliath mugs - we will increase the range of products depending on the amount of interest shown. All t-shirts are screen-printed, the mugs dishwasher safe and the caps actually cover your head. Well, the top bit anyway. Alas, credit card transactions cost an arm and a leg to set up, so we will introduce this at a later date. To offset any negative publicity about Fforde wallowing at the trough of merchandising, be aware that this website costs to maintain, and all those freebie postcards (9000 this year alone) and other stuff come out of the coffers here at Fforde towers. Right, excuses over. Remember: Goliath. For all you'll ever spend. +++ | |
| 20th Aug 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash:The Well of Lost Plots has been longlisted for the WHSmith Book Awards in the Fiction category. Hurrah! Each longlist comprises 10 titles and these will be sent to a judging panel 'consisting of a celebrity and members of the public' who will reduce the list to a shortlist of five titles by mid-December. The public will then vote for their favourite titles in January and February, when the shortlists are launched and promoted in-store. +++ | |
| 19th Aug 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Concerned that many US readers are purchasing UK copies over the internet, Fforde has added a bonus chapter to the USA edition of The Well of Lost Plots. The TN3 hardback will be available in the USA in March 2004, a few weeks after the paperback launch of Lost in a Good Book. The TN3 'Bonus chapter' is primarily about WordStorms in the bookworld and takes us, for the first time, on to one of the many Storycode engine floors of Text Grand Central. The rest of the book has been modified slightly to include more about mispeling vyruses, a man with a misrelated construction problem called Wyatt and other bits and bobs. +++ | |
| 19th Aug 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Under the increased pressure of emails, Fforde has reluctantly decided that he cannot answer every single one personally. Apologising to his supporters, Fforde commented that: 'Just recently the burden has dramatically increased. It was answer emails or write books. I trust readers would go for the latter, given the choice'. Sitting down to finish TN4 tentatively titled "Untitled Thursday Next Book number four" he added that he did not want people to stop writing with all their comments and observations, all of which are much appreciated - just that he could not hope to answer them all. He then disappeared into his office, put on his favourite 'Hits from the 80s' 8-Track cartridge and muttering something about how Lorna Doone was 'crumpet'. Reporter: Lydia Startright, Toad News. +++ | |
| 21st July 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Talk of Nextian T shirts has reached such fever pitch that a Forrumian subcommitee has been formed to find out exactly what, if anything, he is going to do about it. In a grilling series of emailed questions, Fforde confessed that: "...Well, they are in the pipeline at present and will be purchasable from my website as soon as we get all the designs sorted out. Initially this will be as four one-colour designs (SpecOps-27, Goliath Corporation and two others as yet undecided). Price is as yet unknown but will, I hope, allow us to recoup some the costs of the giveaway postcards and the hosting of the websites. We are also proposing a certain amount of each sale to go towards the Usk House Day Hospice. So they're not going to be super-bargains, but won't be me plunging my snout deep into the avaricious trough of merchandising, either..." He then flew up to Aberdeen where he is going to give a talk at Ottakar's tonight. +++ | |
| 15th July 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Ben Tymens, (AKA PoetScientistDrinker on the forum) has produced an excellent forum guide to help newbies (and oldbies) get to grips with all the dazzling new features that the forum now boasts. You can read the guide which is here and I'm very grateful to him for doing it. +++ | |
| 14th July 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: WOLP hits the bestseller lists at number ten for the week ending 12th July 2003, was ranked number 8 on Amazon last Friday and is also 'Book of The Week' in The Scotsman and Time Out. The book pulping industry is remaining tight-lipped on this recent development, but as their representative Alan Mush commented last week: 'It's early days yet..'+++ | |
| 14th July 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Fforde has been innundated with suggestions for further matters to upgrade in his books, (AKA mistakes) which is probably his own stupid fault for asking people to read them. From Harrier Jump-jets to Stalingrad problems to the 'Hear, hear' controversy and the DeepDrop connections, I have tried to include them all in my latest upgrades. You can get to the 'Upgrade Grand Central' page by clicking .HERE +++ | |
| 6th June 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Fforde is invited to attend the Sheffield Festival of Writing and Reading at the end of October 2003. Sadly, this is when he is away on a mini-tour of Canada, so had to offer apologies and decline the very welcome invitation. +++ | |
| 5th June 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The 'Text only' section of Fforde's site has been finally deleted after years of neglect. Sharp-eyed Nextian funsters will have noticed the background colour of yellow creeping in. Hard of sight browsers only need to switch off images to be able to read the text with little let or hindrance - and can make the text size bigger, too - something not possible with the older 'segmented' book background. There is method to the madness. Not often. But sometimes. +++ | |
| 29th May 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Thursday Next has been nominated for the 2002 Sherlock Award (run by the Sherlock Magazine - subscriptions available) as Best Comic Detective.
Awards to be presented at CRIME SCENE 2003 at the National Film Theatre, London, UK - in NFT2 at 2 p.m. on Saturday 12th July 2003 +++ | |
| 24th May 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Loud shade of background yellow removed from various pages in the website and replaced with something more mellow. I have an LCD screen so it is not always apparent... +++ | |
| 22nd May 03 | +++ Fforde Fflash: Not so much 'What's New?' but what is here already but has not had any links to it. This is a Flash Movie, written by me and actualized by Mari on Flash MX - a staggering accomplishment - I still don't know how she did it, nor ever will; Flash to me is like having an egg whisker in your brain. It was designed for a Penguin promotion that didn't happen. Takes a while to download, though - it's quite complex! You will need flash to view it. Enjoy! Intro to the Nextian Universe Movie also: Pickwick's Shocking Christmas Adventure+++ | |
| 22nd May 03 | +++ Fforde Fflash: Hodder and Stoughton have decided, as part of their marketing plan, to 'embargo' all sales of Well of Lost Plots. What this means is that no-one can buy it until the 1st July and all the UK booksellers (we hope) will be promoting/plonking it on their shelves on that particular day. A sort of 'Grand Opening'. It also means we may make a list or two if enough people buy it... +++ | |
| 21st May 03 | +++ Fforde Fflash: Hodder and Stoughton will set up one of their two franking machines as publicity for The Well of Lost Plots. The stamp, to be on half of all mail sent out from Hodder will read: 'Race into The Well of Lost Plots/Jasper Fforde/ 7 July 2003' and include a small icon of the cover image. The stamp will be in operation from the second week in June until the end of July. +++ | |
| 12th May 03 | +++ Fforde Fflash: The Penguin 'SpecOps Literary Challenge' ended on April 31st, apparently. The site has been updated accordingly. Apologies for all you guys battling to make it all work only to be disappointed - I didn't know myself or wasn't reminded, or forgot, or something. Sorry. +++ | |
| 10th May 03 | +++ Fforde Nnews Fflash: From 'no-no' to go-go', illustrations are in for book four which I have imaginatively (and tentatively) named untitled thursday Next book # 4. The fourth outing for Thursday will feature between six to eight line illustrations by Maggie Roberts, something I have wanted and planned for since The Eyre Affair. Hurrah! +++ | |
| 9th May 03 | +++ Fforde Nnews Fflash: The Well of Lost Plots will be published on the 7th July 2003 by Hodder & Stoughton as a 'Trade Paperback' which means the size of a hardback but with soft covers. The 1st edition print run will be 15,000 copies, list price £10.99. At the same time a hardback collectors/library edition will also be published, print run 5000 copies, list £17.99. In conjunction with this I will be doing a three week tour which should encompass Southern England, Wales, Scotland and the Midlands. Details to follow. +++ | |
| 4th May 03 | +++ Fforde Nnews Fflash: The Eyre Affair has been updated to TN-1 V1.4 at source by Hodder & Stoughton. No more daffodils blooming in the Summer! Also changed: Pelota to Croquet, Red Queen misquote, Nakijima Spelling problem and many others outlined on my update page. Updated editions are 13th printing and beyond. TN2 update to follow +++ | |
| 21st April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: On the 14th April, 2003, a baby daughter was born in Nottingham, UK, to delighted parents Steve and Sam Crowden. The little lady was named after a certain literary detective: Thursday. This is a Nextian first and both myself and Mari, Landen, Thursday, Pickwick and all the regulars wish little Thursday and parents all health and happiness. When the midwife was told that the baby was to be named Thursday after a character in a book, she said: 'It's not 'The Eyre Affair' is it'? When told yes, she said the book had been discussed at her local book group. However, she didn't know a second book was around, so Steve and Sam pointed her in the right direction. We at Fforde Website Grand Central hope to elaborate on Thursday's progress at a later date. +++ | |
| 21st April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Fforde appears, with Q&As, in the April edition of Border's USA magazine: 'Inside Borders'. For the full Q&A (The mag only had space to fit four) click HERE (Includes short extract from Daphne Farquitt's 1986 bestseller 'Canon of Love') (Reporter: Archie Fatquack, The Gad-Fly) +++ | |
| 18th April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: "More than one shirt" claim by Fforde subdues forum speculation. Fforde, anxious to quell rumours that he is a bit of a stinker, claimed to own two identical red shirts at a hastily convened press conference yesterday. Mr Fforde, whose laundry habits became a matter of rampant speculation when he was spotted in the same shirt two nights running, hurried to explain away his apparent hygenic ambivilence. 'I have two shirts,' he announced, 'and two identical soup stains down the front of it. Them. I mean, them.' More details and pictures, page 7. (Reporter: Josh Hatchett, Toad News.) +++ | |
| 15th April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: Fforde, after giving a talk in Dayton, Ohio, was presented with a soft toy V1.2 Dodo by Magda, a Fforde Fforum Stalwart. Fforde was reputedly described as delighted by the gift, and has named the new addition to his office 'Alan'. (Reporter: 'Scoop' Slattersthwaite, Salford Daily Eyestrain) +++ | |
| 14th April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: A student at Lincoln University, UK, has been given the go-ahead to study 'Fforde and his writing' as her PhD subject. Fforde has yet to speak to the student but is 'delighted and astonished' by the news. (Reporter: M. DeFloss) +++ | |
| 4th April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Swindon Evening Advertiser runs two page spread on Fforde and 'The Nextian Universe', featuring quotes from the book, photo of Fforde in front of the 'Finis Hotel' and with colour pictures of Swindon culled from the website. 'Oxford has Morse' Fforde is quoted as saying, 'so why shouldn't Swindon have Next?' Another piece in the Advert will run closer to Fforde's 7th May appearance at the Swindon Literary Festival. (Reporter: Josh Hatchett, Mole News) +++ | |
| 1st April 03 | +++ Fforde News Fflash: The Swindon Official Website, 'Swindon Web' asks Fforde to borrow the futzed image of the Skyrail running through the Brunel Centre, Swindon, UK, as part of an April Fool's Day hoax. Fforde was apparently agreeable to this and the story ran on the 1st April under the headline: "Council Announces New Monorail for Swindon Town Centre" . URL: http://www.swindonweb.com/life/monorail.htm(Reporter: Lydia Startright) +++ | |