Thread by @Louiestowell, So. #Otherland is out from @NosyCrowBooks in less than two weeks. To [...]

So. #Otherland is out from @NosyCrowBooks in less than two weeks. To ease my pre-publication nerves, I'm going to tweet one fact about the book every day until then. This isn't today's fact but you can preorder it here...stunning cover by #GeorgeErmos https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

Otherland - The Rocketship Bookshop

Otherland is a dangerous magical underworld – a place where appearances can be deceiving and anything can happen. A world of gods, vampires, and fairies. It’s also… horrible. When life-long friends...

https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

#Otherland Fact of the Day: It's taken a while. I started writing the book that became Otherland 20 years ago, just after leaving university. It's changed beyond recognition since then, but the heart is still there: children + unsettling magical visitors + bickering + adventure.

#Otherland As well as a fact about this book, that's a message to everyone struggling with writing and getting published right now. Publishing can be SLOW but you WILL get there. Prob a wee bit quicker than Otherland did. Even if it feels dark and hopeless in the moment, keep on!

#Otherland fact of the day: finding a title is hard. This book has been through MANY. Such as.... 1) The Vampairy (that was the first draft, which had a half-vampire half fairy in it - she'll come back one day in another form!) 2) Gloriana Stole My Sister...

#Otherland (contd) 3) Midsummer Night's Scream (going hard on the shakespearean fairies/it's set at midsummer thing) 4) Knight Game (in the end we thought people would assume it was about king arthur or something)....

#Otherland (contd) 5) The Cloaked Kingdoms - referring to Otherland when I was seeing it as broken up into many places, including Fairyland, Herebeh, land of the dragons, The Old Country (where vampires live) etc etc... but I ended up simplifying the worldbuilding somewhat!

#Otherland - I love the final title. I love the simplicity. The idea of the magical or unknowable "Others" - whether it's aliens, elves, fairies, goblins, or gods or something else. Or at least, we frame them as unknowable and "Other": they're always our reflections.

Not nearly enough gifs today. I'm sorry. I'll do better tomorrow. #Otherland

oh look, some preorder links, how did they get there? Better click on them just in case it's a portal to #Otherland
https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Otherland+Louie&qid=1618902627&s=books&sr=1-1 https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

Otherland by Louie Stowell | Waterstones

Buy Otherland by Louie Stowell from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.

https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

If you pre-order #Otherland from @StokeyBookshop you can nab a gorgeous pin by @LitPinsandCo. Call or email to order with them! (They can post, or if you're local, pop in & browse the rest of their amazing books!)

Call: 020 7249 2808
Email: [email protected]

Today's #Otherland fact: It was inspired by a lecture and a book by Diane Purkiss. This one: https://twitter.com/Dr_Dimitra_Fimi/status/1162063405928329216?s=20 I was NOT into fairies growing up (except the ones in labyrinth).

https://twitter.com/Dr_Dimitra_Fimi/status/1162063405928329216?s=20

I remember in my very abortive ballet career aged six being told to imitate a fairy and I said no, I'm going to be an eagle. I definitely saw fairies as sparkly an a bit wet. Tinkerbell pining over Peter Pan. (He's a loser, move on!) #Otherland

Diane's work on fairies took my mind to new places. Actually, that wasn't the first time I'd been to those places - The Books of Magic also took me there. But Diane's work brought it all together in one overarching idea: fairies are BAD TROUBLE.

#Otherland In building my fairy world, I started with the premise that fairies are agents of chaos. So...how do chaotic beings organise their society? Based on whims, shallow popularity contests and unreliability. So, in Otherland, queens are not born....

You become queen in #Otherland if everyone thinks you're cool. If your popularity fades? You're deposed. Which leads to monarchs who throw ever wilder parties and create a reputation for unpredictablity and harsh judgement - so fairies both fear and admire you

Digging into fairy lore, I kept the fairies being rule bound to a degree - but very much the letter of the law not the spirit, ever. Never the spirit. Just...never trust a fairy. #Otherland

Today's #Otherland fact is about the villain, Gloriana, Queen of the Fairies. She came to me fairly finished, as a character... but the more I wrote (and edited....and edited again) her I realised she's inherited the DNA of many of my favourite villains by osmosis.

DNA strand the first: not technically a villain, but a what if. Galadriel in LOTR. What if she HAD taken the ring and become beautiful and terrible? That idea seared itself into my brain as a child and came out a little in Gloriana.

Strand 2: Judge Cal. In the very first draft, the villain was actually the emperor caligula himself. Who was definitely based on Judge Cal. But Cal lingered on as the villain switched to the fairy queen. No justice, only whimsy! Thanks for the inspiration @2000AD

Strand 3: Queenie from Blackadder. I probably don't need to explain that if you've seen it. #Otherland #Gloriana

Strand 4: There's an element of Bowie as Jareth in there too. The stealing of babies, yes, but also the mercurial nature, the casual cruelty, the user-of-people-like-pawns. Jareth as a queer fairy queen not a goblin king.

There's even a ball in homage to this one #Otherland. Well, more of a wild neon punk party in the forest...

Today's #Otherland fact: there's a minor character in it based on a Manx legend, of a pig-headed creature. @Pensage knows, Manx legends are BADASS. Part of my family is from the Isle of Man, so it was fun to add a bit of of that folklore.

I may have to include this fellow in a future book... #Otherland

I love creating worlds where even the minor characters have their own quirks. Shout out to the best minor character ever... #Otherland

#Otherland fact of the day: the main character, Myra, was enormous fun to write. She didn't exist in the first draft. Or even the fifth or the ninth. But eventually she burst into chaotic life. Imagine your messiest friend on a night out...then picture them aged 11.

Myra is a character who feels like she's both "too much" and "not enough". She's also got a pinch of Withnail. Without the wine, obviously. I love those dynamics - the cautious, considered one (Marlow/Rohan) and the wild/dangerous one (Withnail).

I like thinking about what child characters will be like when they're older. But also looking at adults and picturing them as children. Often what people were and what they'll become is very different. Writing 11 year olds is brilliant because the potential is infinite.

Really can't wait for everyone to meet Myra in #Otherland. And Rohan. But more about him another day...

Otherland's out on May 6th but a preorder is a very good deed... https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463 https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

Otherland - The Rocketship Bookshop

https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

Today's #Otherland fact: I like to bury Easter eggs that I find funny. If the reader gets them, Great. But it doesn't matter cos they're for me. Some of them are very very old... older than this, even.

I find burying references keeps me motivated. And I suppose is a meta tribute in itself to Asterix. Things kids will get years later... like this druids name...

Sadly I forgot to include any Clueless jokes. One for future books... #Otherland

#Otherland fact of the day: Rohan was my favourite character to write, because I love his voice. He's Marlowe to Myra's Withnail, tho more into RPGs than acting.

He's that kid who does everything right but is always worried everything is about to fall apart. Which it does, thanks to Myra. I love him. #Otherland

Today's #Otherland fact: one of the inspirations behind it was one of Maurice Sendak's. The deeply creepy childhood-is-horror...Outside Over There. I highly recommend it if you haven't read it. Or re read if you have.

Otherland is out NEXT WEEK! Still time to pre order....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463

https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

https://booknookuk.com/product/pre-order-with-signed-personalised-bookplate-otherland-by-louie-stowell/

Preorders are an incredible gift to authors. It let's booksellers know there's demand. Thanks to everyone who has already!

Otherland

Otherland

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463

I might be behind on my facts of the day. So here's a double dose. #Otherland fact one: I had to cut an amazing fart joke because it slowed the pace. Sometimes in a story there's no time to stop and smell the farts. Also autocorrect REALLY wanted me to say facts there...

Fact 2: #Otherland In editing I realised I thought I'd made something super obvious but I hadn't. So I made sure it wasn't going to fly under the radar. (No spoilers but

) I don't write much love stuff so it's not a major plot poiint but important all the same.

Preorder links for #Otherland: for a preorder is a good deed in a naughty world.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

(with personalised book plates!)

https://booknookuk.com/product/pre-order-with-signed-personalised-bookplate-otherland-by-louie-stowell/

Today's #Otherland fact is my fantasy cast for the movie of the book. I won't cast the kids because I know no child actors. But if I WAS going to cast them as adults, this would be Myra 100%

#Otherland and here's adult Rohan but his shirt would never be this crumpled. His hair would be even higher too.

#Otherland - Gloriana is a toss up between Tilda Swinton or Cate Blanchett... but I think Cate has it by a whisker.

For Mab, I want all the style of Gloriana but a bit more slapstick. So it's GOT to be

Tony Toestepsson was originally meant to be this... #Otherland

But @Lillustrator has 100% sold me on... tho with a haircut.

I reserve the right to completely change my mind another day. #Otherland

Anyway, preorder #Otherland, it has all of the below:

A cruel fairy queen

Stuff that will no doubt surface in therapy for the characters in later life

Face-eating monsters

A perilous quest

A hungry painting

A sofa

A changeling https://twitter.com/Louiestowell/status/1387114457097252868?s=20

https://twitter.com/Louiestowell/status/1387114457097252868?s=20

Today's #Otherland fact....and I realise I'm using the word fact in a way that would horrify my non fiction writer and editor friends....I wanted to talk about the publishing habit of "comp titles" and what it means when you're launching a book. And especially THIS book.

So, when a publisher's buying a book they often use "comp titles" as part of the pitch. They also use these for the consumer when they're writing blurbs on amazon etc. (YMMV, different publishers) #Otherland Comp = comparison. So, "if you liked x you'll like this".

A few people may be discussing this right now on here which is why it's on my mind. But I was reflecting on how, when it comes to #Otherland, I find comps really hard. Not because it's unique, but because it's so close to my heart.

So, if someone compares it to a book because it's in a similar genre, I find myself going "no no no, it's not like that one, because of this bit". I realise I'm being overly literal in that. But I suppose what I'm getting at is each book is a living, breathing thing. #Otherland

My feeling of slight discomfort at comps is because - much as I appreciate the marketing necessity - I want the book to live on its own terms. #Otherland That's not to say I don't want people to use comps - it can be lovely. Just... sometimes they can feel limiting.

That said if you want to compare #Otherland to awesome things please please do. I'm full of contraditions. Like Otherland itself.

In summary: #Otherland is my most personal book yet. It feels a bit like the inside of my brain on paper. And there's no comp for this chaos.

Also it's out in 4 days! EEP! #Otherland

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463

Today's #Otherland fact: someone asked me if I identify more with Myra or with Rohan. It made me realise that I rarely identify with a single character as a writer. I tend to feel present in multiple characters. I have to get inside every head to write them. But each is a mask.

The idea of reading to identify always puzzled me because it's not what I do. So it's fascinating seeing people read #Otherland and identify with a particular character. Reminds me that what the author intends doesn't matter. It's all about how the reader experiences it.

I have ideas about who people might identify with, but readers surprise you. Shout out to the person who identified most with Gloriana :D

When you read, do you tend to identify with the POV character or another particular character in the story? Or come in and out of various ones? (Assuming there are multiple major characters) I do it when there's only one major character perhaps but...rarely.

#Otherland fact of the day: since it's #StarWarsDay, I want to talk about good and evil. You know, light, fluffy stuff. I'm fascinated by what it means to be good and bad and love exploring that in books. (Philosophy A level never left me)

On the one hand, it's fairly cut and dried that Gloriana is the villain in #Otherland. But from her perspective, she's 100% not. Not because she thinks she's good, but because she thinks she's beyond good and evil. Human ethics mean nothing to her.

I love seeing things from a villain's perspective. For Gloriana, snatching human babies is just what you do. It's how fairies make new fairies (by turning them into changelings then onto full fairyhood). They think the human way of reproduction is weird. #Otherland

For Gloriana, there is no concept of "good" but the closest she has is...whatever is most fun and awesome and charming and brilliant and stunning is right. Fairies live for the moment and for trouble and parties and transient pleasure. #Otherland

So... in this context, the temptation to join the dark side isn't to "go evil" in the standard sense. Myra is definitely tempted...but tempted to join the "nothing matters except excitement and pleasure" school of thought. On Gloriana's dark side, we party hard. #Otherland

In #Otherland, what the human characters have to hold on to is their own moral compass in a world where there's no true moral north and that compass pointer thingy is spinning and spinning. How do you remember what's good in a world where "good" doesn't exist?

I promise #Otherland itself does not read like a philosophy textbook. This is all underneath the jokes. But I think children are really interested in what's right and what's wrong, and I love asking questions about it in a children's book.

See, definitely not a dry philosophy book at all, don't just take my word for it... #Otherland https://twitter.com/BooksTales/status/1389353917201461254?s=20

https://twitter.com/BooksTales/status/1389353917201461254?s=20

You know what IS the right thing to do though? no moral greys here... pre-order #Otherland!

If you preorder #Otherland with @rshipbshop today or tomorrow, they have signed bookplates and do GORGEOUS wrapping. https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

Otherland - The Rocketship Bookshop

https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

If you'd like a personalised copy and don't mind waiting a bit longer (for them to gather all the dedications so I can do em) @booknookhove has you covered! Just tell them who you want it dedicated to on the form! #Otherland https://booknookuk.com/product/pre-order-with-signed-personalised-bookplate-otherland-by-louie-stowell/

So, tomorrow is publication day for #Otherland. This is the moment in the cartoon where the dopey animal runs off the cliff but doesn't start to fall until they look down. Tomrrow, I look down, and the book is REAL. So, it's time for one more (oh-so-loosely-defined) "fact"...

Narnia fans (or, love-to-haters) will find a not-by-name-but-thematic Eustace Scrubb reference in #Otherland at a pivotal moment. Though the solution to the Eustacian problem that the characters encounter is solved with a lot less God.

I've buried a lot in this book - of myself, of stories that I've loved. I hope you all enjoy digging it up. And tomorrow....everybody's welcome to #Otherland.

And here are a few portals to #Otherland...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463

https://www.waterstones.com/book/otherland/louie-stowell/9781788000468

https://booknookuk.com/product/pre-order-with-signed-personalised-bookplate-otherland-by-louie-stowell/ https://rocketshipbookshop.co.uk/product/otherland/

Otherland - The Rocketship Bookshop

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otherland-Louie-Stowell/dp/1788000463

You can follow @Louiestowell.

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