Monday, March 29, 2010

Five Book Contract

Damn me, my publisher didn’t change the locks when I popped outside for a cigarette. After four contracts for three books, plus a collection of short stories and two extras first published in America, over a million and a half words having passed under editorial pencils, they’re still not fed up with me. Even after having to tolerate a slightly drunk author wandering around Macmillan offices, snaffling any book that isn’t nailed down and secreting it in a Tesco carrier bag, they’re still prepared to put up with me. Wow!

Now, whilst progressively renewing my covers (using those superb Jon Sullivan pictures), Tor Macmillan have given me a five book contract, which I’ve signed. My last contract underwent a slight redesign with the last two books being swapped around so that The Departure, a novel based on short stories that appeared in my collection The Engineer ReConditioned, will be published last rather than second to last. This book will be the first of the ‘Owner Sequence’ comprising two further books titled Zero Point and Jupiter War. After that I’m signed up for three as yet to be named books, so I’ll certainly be writing books for Macmillan for some years to come.

I see the future now. New employees at Macmillan will express momentary bafflement and surprise, “Neal Asher? I thought he was dead?” whereupon oldtimers will point nervously to a big iron-studded oak door, “We keep him in there”. Neophyte editors will be ushered through that door, “Keep to the right. Do not touch or approach the glass. You pass him nothing but soft paper…” Meanwhile, those working in book shops will check their latest delivery and dubiously eye the sagging ‘A’ shelf. A Hogwarts trained shelf-stacker will remove the books from their box with iron tongues, whilst a second employee affixes the chains.

Thanks all at Macmillan, it’s great working with you.

If anyone has any press queries, please email cdothealyatmacmillandotcodotuk 

25 comments:

Sean said...

Obviously, this calls for congratulations. And your good fortune is ours!

Kirby Uber said...

well played sir, i vow to be on top of my asher purchases this go, and snag the first editions signed as they are made available. 8)

ediFanoB said...

Congratulations!
So far I didn't read one of your books but I bought THE SKINNER recently.
It is always good to know that an author I start to discover will write more books.

Bob Lock said...

Nice going, Neal :)

Michael Stone said...

This is good news indeed!

LarryS said...

Lets all raise a drink eh!

Rod said...

Congrats! Nice to know we can expect at least another five books. :)

Michael Cummings said...

Congrats!

Unknown said...

Good stuff!

Are you taking requests for the non-Owner books?

What about a Rondure Knight book? The adventures of Anderson.

Tony B said...

Genuinely pleased for you. Great news!

andy brown said...

Congratulations!

We need more great fiction, and someone who actually understands what the words "grammar" and "edit" mean...

Neal your'e a great storyteller - and rarer still a great writer...

And...
"What about a Rondure Knight book? The adventures of Anderson." Ooooh I like that..

Tony Lee said...

Congrats and best wishes!

Mitch b said...

So STOKED, just posted on io9 when i saw the article, but i got 2 questions. 1, Will more of your books be released in north america/canada close behind the uk release? paying for an imported copy is like 80 CAD, it hurts my ability to buy lots of books. and will you be writing with your usual BLISTERING pace? I just finished reading the "a Song of Ice and Fire" by Martin and now i want to kill him/steal his brain and hardwire it to just write more books.

packrat54 said...

"we are not worthy..." well actually we are, someone has to buy these things. Cheers and congratulations.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Mr. Asher. We're very much looking forward to putting your five next books in our shelves!

Grim's Reality said...

Throw em a curve and write a romantic comedy.

Mark T Croucher said...

Well done Neal. Guess you will be buying the island next then?

Owen Roberts said...

Excellent news - more great reading to come!
Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Don't sound so depressed, you didn't have to sign it :D

Jebel Krong said...

damned fine news, sir! looking forward to them all (it's about time they locked you down for a longer-term deal), congrats it's well-deserved.

vaudeviewgalor raandisisraisins said...

the formula:

get pissed, steal books, sign five book contract. if you can do it, so can i...maybe. not. you got some sorta rabbit foot you rub bub?

Anonymous said...

Good stuff, although was it ever in doubt? :)

Look forward to the next few years dude. May your imagination flow till time immemorial.

Graeme. said...

Fab news - congrats !

(26% pleased for you, 74% pleased for myself as I'll have more great stuff to read)

Anonymous said...

Drinks on Neal!!!

Martin Sommerfeld said...

Wonderful news!