First the bad news: the publisher informed me today that Under Arrest will not be available for release on June 30, 2007, but will likely be delayed a couple of weeks. Why? I'll let y'all figure it out - I handed in the manuscript back in November.
Now the good news: it takes a lot more than a taciturn publisher to stand in the way of a blogstravaganza! On Saturday, June 30, 2007, join us for the launch of James Bow's Fathom Five at Nicholas Hoare Books at 45 Front Street East in downtown Toronto (just west of Church Street). From 2-4pm, James will be hosting the launch of the second volume in the Unwritten Books series - and I will be doing... well, something in connection with Under Arrest, though there won't be copies available for sale (you can pre-order, though!). Immediately afterwards, we will rampage across the street to The Flatiron and Firkin, where a blogstravaganza will unfold.
I had the privilege of reading a late draft of Fathom Five, and I can safely say that anyone who enjoyed The Unwritten Girl is in for a treat: James has a gift for pitching the tone of his writing to match the emotional weight of the circumstances his characters encounter. Fathom Five is thus darker, richer and more compelling than The Unwritten Girl - just as its characters mature, so has the prose. And if you missed The Unwritten Girl, this is a great point to jump into the series: the volumes are all self-contained.
What's a blogstravaganza, you ask? A gathering of bloggers, blog readers, friends and hangers-on. This will be the first blogstravaganza I've hosted that has the added element of a book launch, so it should be interesting to see how it goes (reminder to self: drink after the book launch ... after). We're looking forward to seeing y'all there.


