Two things today, chaps:
1) After much deliberation by the judge (me), Johnny Depp has been declared the winner in the long-running Who-should-play-Robin-Hood-in-the-movie-versions-of-my-books competition. Now all we need to do is convince Mr Depp himself and a few powerful Hollywood types to get the ball rolling. The judge also ruled that while Sean Bean has excellent chops as actor, he was a little on the senior side to play Robin.
2) I have some exciting news about the Golden Arrow scheme.
I was at a party a while back and I was explaining the Golden Arrows scheme to this guy who works in marketing. He seemed impressed to start with when I explained that I rewarded anyone who helped me to publicize the books on the internet by awarding them a notional Golden Arrow. I told him that I liberally awarded GAs to anyone who told me that they had done something to merit it – for example, if someone had posted an image of the cover of King’s Man on a website they would get a GA; if they bigged me up in a chatroom about Robin Hood, likewise. RT-ing my Tweets, I decided, was worth a quarter of a GA (and some of you need to remind me that I owe you GAs for this!)
“That sounds pretty original,” said my marketing friend. “And what does the winner get as his/her prize?”
I beamed at him: “The winner – the guy or gal with the most Golden Arrows at the end of July – gets a free, signed hardback copy of Warlord!”
The man’s face fell: “Is that it?” he said. “A free book? That’s all you are giving away? I thought at the very least it would be a free five-star holiday for two somewhere tropical.”
I was crushed, I admit it. “But the people who want to help me publicize my books, really like them,” I bleated. “And people seem to like getting free books – and I’ll write a personal message to the winner in the book . . .”
But I had lost my audience. The marketing guy turned away to talk to someone far more original, dynamic and PR-savvy than me.
So – not my finest hour. But the thing is, I can’t afford to send the winner of the Golden Arrows competition on a Caribbean cruise or whatever. I can afford to send them a free book. But I did take what he said on board so . . . drum roll, please . . . this is my amazing new annoucement about the Golden Arrows prize. Pause, pause, pause. Are you all ready for this?
I will be giving away THREE, count ‘em, THREE signed copies of Warlord to the three people with the most Golden Arrows. Hows about that then? Eh? Can’t say fairer than that.
The competition ends on July 31st and all you have to do to earn yourself those glittering GAs is do some little thing on the internet that promotes either King’s Man (the paperback version is being published on July 5th) or Warlord (the hardback comes out on July 19th) and, crucially, to tell me about it by email or Twitter. Doesn’t have to be much – just go on a Robin Hood website and recommend my books to the folks there. Or blog about my books or Tweet about them or start an e-fan club, anything really.
There is a scoreboard on the Home page of this website which lists the number of GAs earned so far, but it’s quite difficult to update, so it won’t always be bang up to date. But I am keeping score in a file here on my desk at home so your efforts will not be ignored.
OK, good luck everyone and may the best bowman win!
As much as I’d love an exotic holiday, I’m sure a signed copy of Warlord is a fine compromise so I’m gonna pick up my bow and get shooting.
Good to hear from you. Hope you’re well.
Take care,
Alex
Angus, i’ve asked James Aitcheson author of the brilliant ‘Sword Sword” , if he could recommend you on his website, he had not responded to me yet but when he does i’ll let you know what he says… surely this counts for something?.. I need to win a GA!…..
OK Natalie, thanks for that. I guess that deserves a GA. Congratulations – you are hereby awarded one Golden Arrow!
Thanks Alex – you know that you are in the lead on the GA board, don’t you? But this is no time for complacency . . . There are still two months to go until the winner is declared!
Angus can you please tell me how many GA’s warrant a chance of winning a signed copy of Warlord?…i’d love to know a rough estimate so i can continue collecting!.
I’ve also posted the very stylish cover of Warlord on my Facebook page!.
Good news Angus, James Aitcheson IS going to recommend you on his site, he told me via Facebook that your books are on his to do list of reading and once he gets round to reading them, he will post reviews on his website…..
Hi Natalie,
If you look at the Golden Arrows scoreboard on the left of the Home page of this website, you will see that the chap in the lead is Alex Sprackling with nine GAs. We still have two months to go until the competition is over so I would expect the winner to have about 15 GAs or thereabouts. I’ll give you another GA for posting my cover on your Facebook page but there is still a long way to go before you win the free copy of Warlord. Competition ends July 31st. Good luck!
1. http://mesmered.wordpress.com/.....seek-peace A mention of this site and the books.
2. English Historical Fiction Authors Facebook site in the discussion on ‘sex in hist.fict’ Not that I was saying that The Outlaw Chronicles had copious sex, but we mentioned that some literature (men’s hist.fict. deals differently with sex to womens’s hist.fict. I sited your books as a version of relative subtlety.
3. indirect reference to #TheOutlawChronicles on Twitter.
Hi Prue – I think that is worth another Golden Arrow. Congratulations and keep up the good work! Best wishes, Angus
Cheers and thanks. Developing necessary muscles for drawing back bow as we speak!
Hi Angus! I think Johnny Depp is a wonderful choice for the part of Robin Hood! Now, if only the producers would recognize that a film DOES need to be made based on your wonderful books, I, for one, would be thrilled!
Don’t know who that markerter you spoke to was, but I think your offers on the GA awards are very generous. A free signed copy of one’s favorite author is always something to be treasured! You are doing a great job.
Hope all continues to go well at home too…
Jeanne
Seems my idea of PHOTOGRAPHING books in unusual settings is beginning to take off on Twitter. See @sjaturney and @parmenionbooks. Am I your new marketing advisor?
Who wants to go on a tropical holiday anyway? I can see Johnny Depp as Robin. Now for the other important stuff… HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Happy Birthday, Angus. I know your age and oh, to be that young again!!!
Have a great day!
Jeanne