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Tag Archives: David Clement-Davies
PHOENIX PROUDLY PRESENTS ITS EBOOK CATALOGUE
Filed under Adult Fiction, Childrens Books, Fantasy, Phoenix Catalogue
FOUNDER’S BLOG
Many apologies for continuing delays, especially with new instalments of Dragon in the Post, but apart from crashing computer systems, pretending I’m an International Corporation, and failing to raise cash, I’ve discovered the miracle of Inkscape, which as a design package is astounding. Since I went head to head with the control freaks in New York, I now realise part of it was about an ache to be directly involved creatively, beyond the long-distance-running sort of loneliness that so affects authors. Oh the joys, not only of writing and conceiving a novel, brilliant or awful, but then designing a cover, finding a facility for banners, logos, whatever, and then seeing work moving towards being realised again. Beyond that, while trying to create your own cottage industry publisher, there are the pearled pleasures of not having to listen to some moronic agent, or even a brand-slotted editor. The only draw back of course is money! Still, hardly the only thing in life. What is absolutely essential to a writer though is the belief that partial work will actually get to some kind of audience. Much coming this week, from instalments to catalogues. A ‘Founder’s Blog’ logo has also been created to distinguish personal posts from the work of the Company. DCD
Filed under Books, Publishing, The Phoenix Story
STORYTELLERS SHOULD LEAD THE FIELD IN PUBLISHING
From WordPress, David Clement-Davies and Phoenixarkpress.com invites authors, illustrators and designers here, and on Facebook, to tell us how Storytellers and artists can lead the field again, in building a community, rapidly linking friends up for maximum profile, and discussing new forms of storytelling and publishing. Contact us here or on Facebook, under DavidClementDavies. New friends are invited to join the publishing party.
Filed under Books, Publishing, The Phoenix Story
PRESS RELEASE
Someone said that when private hurts are made public, everyone gets a black eye. So, apart from the previous post, anything relating to specifics in New York has been password protected, as has A Letter to My Father. It is part of the record of an extraordinary true story that might wake people up to connections and responsibilities, but a Publisher is not an individual, only a shell to nurture and present authors and their work, in the best way possible. Though a spirit of openness and honesty is exactly what Phoenix is all about, from the personal experience of the founder, blogs will only be used to discuss books and stories, provide Press Releases, and move work rapidly forward, or to highlight issues, ideas and questions readers are interested in. If the founder starts mouthing off, we’ll try to give him a cup of tea, and some pen and paper, but he is, like all of us, only human! PA
Dragon Post and a publishing schedule will appear this Thursday. In the next few weeks the blog will be fully edited and re-styled.
“Any path is only a path, and there is no affront, to oneself or to others, in dropping it if that is what your heart tells you…Look at every path closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary. Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, one question…Does the path have a heart? If it does the path is good; if it doesn’t it is of no use.” Carlas Castaneda, quoted in The Tao of Pyshics by Fritjof Capra.
Filed under America and the UK, Publishing, The Phoenix Story
BEARS
Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you! I have just read with delight your announcement to publish “Scream of the White Bear” next year. Let us know when we can order advance copies. – Barb
Dear B,
you too, but if I knew precisely what I was doing I would let you know! I am so angry about the last two years I am tempted to give it to fans free, but in the ironies of the human animal, people might think it was worth less. Apart from the fact that I would have to start begging down The Old Kent Road, and Polar Bears still wouldn’t have a chance against Russian oil giants, or conventional New York publishers! DCD
Filed under Childrens Books, Fantasy, Young Adult
PHOENIX ARK PRESS RELEASE
If you’ve ever seen a publisher, and its authors, try hard, and succeed or fail, right in front of your nose, this is where the story’s at! Apologies for delays, but we are trying to do a lot of things at the same time, and trying not to crash and burn.
The publication of Scream of the White Bear will now be brought forward, after a previous delay this year, to Spring of 2011. Not ideal for that vital Christmas Market, next year, but David Clement-Davies is not having disappointed fans waiting any longer. The situation at Abrams caused enough grief, as it is, and it is time a book came out.
Filed under Fantasy, Publishing, The Phoenix Story, Young Adult
A SNEAK PRIEVEW
Since this story of Phoenix is being blogged, as it happens, and B sent such a kind post, I wanted to share the excerpt from Michelangelo’s Mouse, that’s being chipped away at, at the moment. It’s for younger children, but the spirit is that artistic fight to believe in work, beyond even making money, though that would be nice too! Had a wonderful illustration on Saturday of our hero mouse, and the artist is now at work too.
“Oh, no, please, you can’t give up,” came a little voice, from somewhere below. “It’s not fair.”
“Who’s that?” cried Michelangelo, jumping to his feet.
“What about me?” came the sad voice. “If you give up, Michelangelo, then how will I ever learn to be an artist? How will I ever become famouse?”
“Who’s there, I say?” cried Michelangelo angrily, looking left and right.
“I’m down here,” came the tiny voice.
So Maestro Michelangelo, the greatest artist in all the world, looked down and saw a little waist-coated mouse, poking his head through the finger hole in his painting palette.
Michelangelo was always looking at things, but he had never seen any-thing so amazing in his life before. His huge, brooding eyes opened wide. His great stubbly chin dropped open, and he placed his giant hands on his sides, and stared down in astonishment at the little mouse.
“And who are you?” he asked softly.
“I’m Jotto,” squeaked Jotto nervously. “I’m a mouse.”
“I can see that,” said Michelangelo, “and why can’t I give up, little mouse? I’m Michelangelo. I can do what I like.”
“You can’t do what you like,” said Jotto boldly.
“And WHY NOT?” said Michelangelo, beginning to get angry.
“Because…because I need your help. Because I left my family, and my village of Popolo, and the painting of St Francis, to be a real artist. Because if I don’t become an artist, the fresco in the stone church will never be finished, and I’ll never be famouse. And because, because without you, what will the others do?”
“OTHERS?!” said Michelangelo.
“The school of mice, under your studio.”
“Under my studio!” cried Michelangelo, looking even more amazed.
“Dante and Caravajeo, and Tintorettito and the others. They’re mice, but artists, too, and they haven’t got any paints, or food, or spirit left. So they left. Except Caterina.”
“Oh,” said Michelangelo, a little guiltily.
“So, you see, we need your help. All of us.”
“I never knew I was so needed,” said Michelangelo, shaking his strong head.
“Oh, yes,” said Jotto, “now more than ever. Besides, we love what you do. ”
“Oh, you do, do you?”
“Oh, yes,” said Jotto.
“But I can’t go on, Jotto,” said Michelangelo more kindly, sitting down wearily next to the tiny mouse.
“Why not?” asked Jotto.
“Because they’re always telling me what to do. I’m fed up with it.”
“I don’t understand. You can do what you like. You’re famous,” said Jotto, “the most famous artist in all Italy.”
“Oh, that doesn’t matter,” said Michelangelo, with a sad smile. “I still have to please other people. I have to earn a living. I have to buy brushes and paint and canvas, Jotto, so I have to listen to my patrons. And, they’re always so patronising. Do this, do that. Palaces and portraits. Sometimes I forget what it’s like to be an artist, and just do what I want. Just for the fun of it.”
“Would you teach me?” asked Jotto suddenly. “What it’s like to be an artist, I mean.”
Michelangelo looked carefully at the little mouse. “What do you want to learn?”
“I don’t know. Sometimes I think I want to paint. But sometimes I want to make sculptures, and sometimes I want to make buildings, and sometimes I just want to think.”
“Do it all then,” said Michelangelo, shrugging.
“What do you mean, Maestro?”
“With the Renaissance going on, everybody’s trying everything. Some-times art is agony, sometimes ecstasy. But be a Renaissance Mouse.”
David Clement-Davies Copyright 2010 – All Rights Reserved Published by Phoenix Ark Press
The right of David Clement-Davies to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988
Filed under Childrens Books, The Arts, The Phoenix Story
FUN AND PROUD EMAIL
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Saturday Telegraph Review May 3, 2008 – Fell
“One might have thought that after more than a century of vampire stories, begun by Bram Stoker, the dramatic possibilities of Transylvania and the Carpathian mountains had now been exhausted by genre writers. Not so. This is a startlingly involving, richly textured tale…written with style and élan. His headlong narrative – full of peasant stockades, impenetrable forests and ice caves, is summoned with a brilliant vividness. Those ghostly old Carpathian foothills have been given a new lease of life.”
Sinclair McKay
Dear David,
Together, you and Erin Hunter have inspired me to write a novel. I am, merely, a twelve year old girl with high demands at what a book should be. But ‘The Sight’ and the series by Erin Hunter ‘Seekers’ are just that. To me, they are right up there with Watership Down, The Animals of Farthing and all those other brilliant books that don’t always end happily, and explain death as well as life.I have yet to read ‘Fell’ but am eagerly awaiting the day when my Dad is going to take me to a Book Shop, which will hopefully be soon.
I can imagine that you are an incredibly busy person (writing is extremely time consuming I know) but I was wondering if, when you are stuck for things to do, places to go or people to see. That you could have a quick glance at the beginning of my book, which is called the Kirja. It’s a mere 9,000 (or there abouts) pages, but I’m trying to write at least 500 words every day. Just knowing that you’ve actually looked at my work, would spur me on to write better and expand my writing style to broader horizons.
But mainly this email is just to say Thank You. In The Sight, you have created the most brilliant thing, which is more than just a book; it is a place where I can escape to.
From your ‘fan’,
Dahlia
The first book of yours I read was The Sight, I bought it at a little store in Jackson, Wyoming when I saw camping. I was seventeen and it was the first book I that when I started reading I couldn’t and wouldn’t put it down until I was done. You are the only author who I check to see if there is a new book out everytime I enter a bookstore. I love reading your stories and becoming completely engrossed in them. I look forward to reading more. Thank you for the great reads! Holly
Hello Mr. Davies,
If you have not read The Thief Lord, I would highly recommend it. Her writing is absolutely beautiful, just like yours. I am a big fan of your books the Sight and Fell (REMARKABLE!) and The Thief Lord just has this magical appeal to it, even though it is not necessarily fantasy related until the end, which totally took me by surprise and I think it will take you by surprise as well. You, Cornelia Funke, and Jk Rowling are my biggest inspirations when it comes to writing. I hope to one day follow in your footsteps.
I hope all is well and please take care!
Sincerely,
aspiring author,
Jessika
By far my favorite children’s book moment would have to be in “The Sight” when you find out that Fell is ……… and that he is able to turn his life around. I have read both “Fell” and “The Sight” and loved them. You should really write more on the subject of wolves from the perspective of the wolves. They were brilliant, compelling, and stimulating. Please write another wolf book, either a continuation from the Sight and fell or another wolf pack. I am sure that there would be no issues finding a publisher or readers!!! Thanks!DY
When Fell rose from the water to fight Jalgan, that was AMAZING! I was reading and it just really stood out. I had dreams of it for the next week or so! Fell is one of my favorite characters, and when I saw that there was a book
about him, I was telling everyone I knew for the past month or so.
I’m 16 yrs. old, but your books have moved me and encouraged me to write more. I must say you are my favorite author. I wanted to remind you that your writing effects others like myself. I truly hope that I will one day be
able to write like you. AW
Re Firebringer: I have read this book 4 times and am in the middle of the fifth go. It is an amazing book and an inspiration to all. It shows the true values of friendship and courage. I adore every moment of adventure that Rannoch, and his friends encounter. Thank you, this book changed my life.
You are a genius! The Sight was magnificent! I don’t know how you did it! But Fell was even better, it brought in my life dream , to have a wolf commpanion! You should so do a third about a new prophecy that Fell tells to his children when he dies!! B
I’m going to tell you that I feel that anyone who gives good advice is a friend and, as I want to be an author, by reading your book you gave me advice. Your book was compelling and it inspired me to write my own book.
‘The Journey’Thank you ACH Age 12
Dear Mr Clement-Davies,
Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to respond. I’m happy to say that I’ve recently signed a contract with a literary agency and I’m working on edits as I write this. I’ve also started work on a second novel, so things are very exciting at present. Thanks again for your feedback, I really appreciate it.
Best regards
S (nice that you like my name, it means “rose” in Hebrew)
Dear David,
Things are even better – I’ve just signed a publishing contract with Little Acorn Press to publish “The Witch’s Book.” Thanks for your encouragement and kind words, much appreciated.
Best wishes,
S
Filed under Books, Publishing, The Phoenix Story, Young Adult
WILDCALL YOUNG ADULT IMPRINT
Phoenix Ark proudly present the Wildcall Logo!
Filed under Childrens Books, Young Adult
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