About the Book: On June 9, 1865, while traveling by train to London with his secret mistress, 53-year-old Charles Dickens--at the height of his powers and popularity, the most famous and successful novelist in the world and perhaps in the history of the world--hurtled into a disaster that changed his life forever.
Did Dickens begin living a dark double life after the accident? Were his nightly forays into the worst slums of London and his deepening obsession with corpses, crypts, murder, opium dens, the use of lime pits to dissolve bodies, and a hidden subterranean London mere research . . . or something more terrifying?
Just as he did in The Terror, Dan Simmons draws impeccably from history to create a gloriously engaging and terrifying narrative. Based on the historical details of Charles Dickens's life and narrated by Wilkie Collins (Dickens's friend, frequent collaborator, and Salieri-style secret rival), DROOD explores the still-unsolved mysteries of the famous author's last years and may provide the key to Dickens's final, unfinished work: The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Chilling, haunting, and utterly original, DROOD is Dan Simmons at his powerful best.
Welcome to the blog tour for Dan Simmon's latest novel, Drood!!
This weekend I had the privilege of attending an author event with Mr. Simmons at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena. I've heard of Vroman's for a long time and always wanted to visit (it's about an hour away from where I live) and since I was on this blog tour, I knew this event would be the perfect opportunity.
I absolutely love to hear from authors. I don't need to have read any of their books to enjoy hearing them talk about the process of writing, talk about their books, and read from their books. I also love the chance to observe them, since I am very much an observer.
So I was impressed to observe Mr. Simmons, author of over 20 published novels, help set up additional chairs. He was very gracious in every way throughout the event, in fact. He started off by telling us about the book has already been optioned for film and that Guillermo del Toro attached to direct. Which is fabulous in my opinion, I think he would be perfect for this story, but I'm wondering how they will condense an 800 page book into 2 hours?
He proceeded to tell us about Charles Dickens. He said there is no way in our time that we can understand the importance of Charles Dickens to England and America during his time. He was an extremely important novelist. He influenced culture and was recognizable to all. He also explained in depth some of the background of what was going on in Charles Dickens life around the time of the Parkhurst accident, which changed his life.
He also gave us some background on his narrator Wilke Collins. Wilke Collins is an unreliable narrator. He was a famous novelist in his own right, but no Charles Dickens. It's interesting, because so many book bloggers have been reading his books lately. He also sounded totally crazy to me!
He read from the beginning of the book and about the accident and then signed books!
Now my dear readers...I had every intention of buying a copy of the book and getting it signed to give away. But then the person in line in front of me asked Mr. Simmons to draw a little illustration and he obliged and suddenly, I had to have that, too!
Isn't that awesome???? There's no way I'm parting with it, sorry! I also so impressed by how gracious Mr. Simmons was--he thanked me for asking him to draw it! I did get a copy of The Terror signed and Miriam at Hachette has generously agreed to give away a copy of Drood! So one lucky winner is going to soon have plenty of reading material!! Which as Mr. Simmons said, is important in these economically difficult times.
To enter the giveaway, please have a United States or Canadian street mailing address and leave a comment telling me if you have ever read anything by Charles Dickens, Wilke Collins, or Dan Simmons before! Make sure to leave a valid email address...a link back to your blog is not enough.
And be sure to visit the other tour stops today!
http://hiddenplace.wordpress.com
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Blog Tour: Drood by Dan Simmons and a Giveaway!
Posted by Amy at 11:57 PM
Labels: Author Events, blog tours
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52 comments:
Wow - he sounds so nice! Drood is on my TBR list - you've just kicked it up a few notches!
"The book has already been optioned for film and that Guillermo del Toro attached to direct." ---> wow!!! Incredibly exciting news :D
It signing sounds like so much fun. And the drawing he did is amazing!
I can't enter the giveaway, but I really want to read this book! I have a feeling I'll be buying it before long.
Don't enter me, but I had to comment on his drawing. Is there nothing this man can't do? You are so lucky to have been at a reading -- I'm jealous! In the meantime, I'll get my fix on youtube.
Is it rude to say, "Me wanty"? lol! Sounds really good.
I keep hearing great things about Dan Simmons and just put The Terror on hold at my local library.
Don't enter me. I am so jealous of and happy for you that you got to go see Dan Simmons! I love the drawing. I wish he'd head over to the east coast so I can get one of my own. That's wonderful news about Drood becoming a movie!
I am beyond jealous. I would have loved to be at a reading! How exciting, and how generous of him to draw a picture along with his autograph! I do not blame you for not wanting to part with it. :) I would be thrilled to win Drood though. :)
Thanks
Kelly
kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
That drawing is totally amazing! I hope he swings down to D.C. some time. I really want to read this book so please put me in for the giveaway! I've read Collins' "Woman in White," Dickens' "Oliver Twist" and parts of "A Tale of Two Cities," and Simmons' "The Terror" - this book is right up my alley. :)
jspeyton612@gmail.com
Don't enter me-I already have the book from Miriam. I found it interesting, but it took me a long time to read it.
No need to enter me - I'm just stopping by on the tour. And I am sooo jealous. His talk would have been fascinating to hear. Getting the signed ( drawn) copy is icing on the cake! Lucky you!
HOw cool about the drawing!!!! Awesome.
Please do not enter me in the drawing.
I've read lots of Dickens. Always good when you get sick for a few days, because the books last a long time! Please enter me, thanks!
nbmars AT yahoo DOT com
I haven't read anything by Dan Simmons or Wilke Collins, but I am a fan of Dickens. Tale of Two Cities is one of my favorite books.
devourers.books(at)gmail.com
I don't need to be entered in the giveaway, but I love hearing about author events! Thanks for sharing! I really need to read this book.
Wow.. No need to enter anything.... What a great Illustration and author event! I am pea green with envy. Great Blog Post!
Please enter me in this contest. i've read a few Dickins (Christmas Carol & Tale of Two Cities) and have a book by Wilke Collins from the library (now I just need to find time to read it. Thanks a Mill for this contest.
Hi Amy,
Dickens is one of my favorite authors. I read his 'Christmas Carol' every Christmas (I know, how original :-)).
As far as Collins and Mr. Simmons go, I have 'Lady in White' on one of challenge's list and on my TBR pile and 'Olympos' and 'Illium' by Sommons will be read as part of Chunkster Challenge.
I would love to get 'Drood' and 'The Terror'.
here's my e-mail:
lilyswistek@yahoo.com
Can you tell I'm excited by the typos and errors I made? :-)
I meant 'Woman in White' and Simmons, not Sommons.
Wow, cool drawing! I'd hang on to the book, too, if that was in it! =)
Wow - impressive tour, author, book AND post. The cover is WAY cool and that sketch is off the hook! I wouldn't part with it either (smile)
Love the drawing! I read Dickens in high school, but I've been meaning to pick his books up again (though I haven't gotten around to it yet). I also read The Woman in White last year, which I really enjoyed.
Please enter me in the contest!
Tat is completely awesome, love the drawing! I wouldn't be parting with it, either. Great post, it must have been so much fun, I love to hear authors talk about their work!
No need to enter me, just stopping by on the tour (I think my stop is missing from the list, though).
Carey
Jeez, typing to fast leads to typos! I meant THAT is completely awesome. **oops!**
That drawing is so cool!
Drood sounds like a wonderful read. I would love to win a copy. My favorite Charles Dickens book is Great Expectations. I read it as a teenager and did a book report on it. One day I want to read The Christmas Carol, because I want to see if the movie does the literary work justice.
Please enter me into the contest. My email addy: jcoissiereATcomcastDOTnet
That illustration is so cool! Please enter me in the drawing for Drood. I was lucky enough to win The Terror last week from enroutetolife and am looking forward to receiving it!
kherbrand at comcast dot net
Just stopping by the tour and checking out everyone's posts. I'm still reading Drood, but I really should say savoring it.
That illustration is creepy, and I haven't read any Wilkie Collins...though I have read Dickens' work many times.
I loved reading this post!! I greatly miss going to author events, so have to live vicariously through you!! :) And, I love the signed copy of your book! That is one to treasure!! Anyways, I have yet to read any books by any of the mentioned authors. Simmons intrigues me though and I do have a copy of his book "Terror" coming to me. "Drood" sounds even more interesting!! Please enter me!! Oh, and Dickens has always been on my list. Maybe I will finally get to him this year!! Here's my email address: tiftalksbooks@gmail.com. Thanks!!
Oh my gosh, what a fabulous post, Amy!!! How amazing that would have been to see Dan Simmons and listen to him talk of this book - not to mention the beyond awesome signing/graphic!! I'm soooo jealous, :) Great job on the post!
Haven't read any Dickens or Collins, but I have read a short story by Dan Simmons called "This Year's Class Picture" (in the anthology The Living Dead) which was brilliant! Thanks for the chance to win.
I certainly can't blame you for not giving that copy up! Wow..
I have read a lot of Dickens..I have a partial set that was my grandfather's of all the Dickens's books. Wilkie Collins, well, I just happened to have bough a copy of The Moonstone. I never knew before I started reading about Drood that they knew each other.
Caitemaire@hotmail.com
I've read plenty of Dan Simmons. My favorite is Summer of Night.
traymona[at]aol.com
Yes. This is awesome!!!! All of it. Thanks for sharing. ANd what a dedication page!
OMG. Great drawing!! Thanks for including!!!
Ok, I'll confess - I haven't read anything by Charles Dickens, Willkie Collie or Dan Simmons. There is something terribly lack in my reading. Wodld love to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love Dickens. I named my cat for him. And I have "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" sitting next to me right now because I wanted to read it before I read "Drood". So please enter me in the contest. Thanks ever so much.
becky_quilts @ sbcglobal.net
Dan Simmons sounds like a great guy! I haven't read any of his work, but I've got both Drood and The Terror on my wishlist. I've read Dickens' Great Expectations, though I can't claim to be huge fan of it. I, am, however, nuts about A Christmas Carol.
I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. Thanks!
toadacious1 at yahoo dot com
Drood sounds pretty interesting. I have not read anything from this author and I like trying new things. I have read Great Expectations by Dickens and I have several other of his books (I collect old copies) but not read them yet.
ladystorm282001 at yahoo dot com
I have indeed read Dan Simmons before. CARRION COMFORT is still my favorite of his books.
Lucky you on the illustration. He seems like the coolest mellow guy.
VWinship at aol dot com
just realized i didn't say - no need to enter me... =)
Oh, love Dickens. Christmas Carol, of course, is a fav. Thanks for the great review and giveaway!
slcremer at gmail dot com
I haven't read anything by Simmons or Collins, but I liked A Tale of Two Cities and loved Great Expectations. Would love to win - thanks for the giveaway!
nnjmom at yahoo dot com
I have been waiting over a month for this blog tour. I love Dickens (especially Tale of Two Cities and Bleak House) and I read my first Wilkie Collins novel, The Woman in White, over Christmas break. I am very interested in reading Drood, so I would love to be entered in your drawing.
Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
I have read many of Charles Dickens books and The Woman in White by Wilke Collins several years ago. Dan Simmons' The Terror was incredible and I'd sure enjoy winning a copy of Drood!
shetreadssoftly(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm with Chris. Me wanty!
I love Charles Dickens so much I will even read his sub-pars like Hard Times and not care that they're kind of garbagy. I read The Woman in White before I knew what I was getting into, and it was AWESOME!
The Terror is on my tbr.
I've read Dan Simmons "A Winter Haunting" and outside the usual suspects for Charles Dickens, I've read "The Old Curiosity Shop". Seeing all the elements this book offers up of Dickens, Wilke and Simmons has me wanting to read this book soon.
Please enter me in this drawing. Thank you! Indigo
ravensquietscreams@gmail.com
Wow! Your copy of the book is a "keeper" for sure! What an awesome illustrated inscription!
I would love to have my name entered for the giveaway. I've read *A Tale of Two Cities* and *A Christmas Carol* ... nothing by Collins or Simmons.
dawn [at] sheistoofondofbooks [dot] com
I've read a couple of things by Charles Dickens, but it's been years (as in, I read his stuff in school. Eek!). Probably time to add his work back to my list. :-)
Y'all have been so gushing about this book, I hope I win!
I have read A Tale of Two Cities,and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Thanks for having this giveaway.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Great Post! I saw Drood at Borders this weekend, and now have added it to my wish list. I really enjoyed The Terror, and A Christmas Carol is a holiday favorite! Thanks for the give away. rubberducky7985@gmail.com
I read THE TERROR and loved it! And there has been a lot of Dickens in my life, but nothing impressed me as much as A TALE OF TWO CITIES. I'm really looking forward to reading DROOD. Hope I get to do so soon! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com
Don't know if it's too late to enter, but just in case, please enter me! missporkchop AT yahoo DOT com.
I love Dickens, I've read a number of his works, including Great Expectations, Bleak House, and A Tale of Two Cities. I've also read The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and loved it, too.
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