Shadow of the Jaguar

[stevensavile]

Phew... so the novel was delivered this morning and is all geared up to be on the bookshelves for March 21...

I'm thoroughly pleased with how it has turned out - it's going to be quite the high-octane adventure... and poor old Cutter is really put through the wringer. My editor was chuckling at just how much he sufferers through

On a side note, the cover of the finished book is going to be different - the T Rex is no more... it'll have a much more appropriate dino on the cover. Soon as it is released for publication I'll scoop it here

[AC]

Great news, Steven. I'm sure it'll be a great success!

stevensavile said:

On a side note, the cover of the finished book is going to be different - the T Rex is no more... it'll have a much more appropriate dino on the cover. Soon as it is released for publication I'll scoop it here

That's a relief.

[squeezynz]

wonderful news......gosh, you must be glad to have that finished at last. When do you start on the next???

yay for March.......got my order in!!! ;D

so.......Cutter's put through the wringer......I'm assuming that Stephen is still alive and well and appearing in this novel?!? *gives the author a steeply arched eyebrow of interrogation*

given what's been said and seen so far, we starting to fear for the poor lads continued existence........a simple "yes he's in the book and still alive at the end" would suffice........*puts on winning smile*

[AC]

Did you say it was taking place between Episodes 3 and 4? Then how did you fit it in between the ADD going off and the beginning of the episode?

[eonchao]

How about the ADD goes off for an anomally which occurs off screen? And the one in episode 4 is unrelated. Although that does remain to be seen.

[stevensavile]

Ahh, the original intention was that it took place between ep 2 and 3... but having talked it over with Adrian, he wanted a more generic 'it happens during the arc of series two...' there are a few nods to things that happen in episode 2 and 3, and one very strong foreshadowing of the season finale... so you can place it.

As to characters, I'll do an "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back in" response... I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, Stephen's there, Abby's there and Connor... fret not.

[squeezynz]

thank you.......that's something.......I guess!!

as it takes place before the end of the series, it's not surprising that gangs all in one piece......for now........but I shudder at the "foreshadowing" comment.......*despondent sigh*

*perks up*.......so......been commissioned for any more??? or won't you hear about that until the early sales figures come back??? or is it dependant on whether they sign for a season three??? (which assumes that everyone, the cast members, sign up for another tour of duty)

thanks for your continued participation in this forum, btw.......

[stevensavile]

I really don't know... I've pitched an idea which verges on the 'you could NEVER' get away with this on camera, heh, and it is quite a reversal of what we're used to, so I hope so.

My editor is making all the right noises about it being a series and I have gone on record with the publishers that I really want to do a second and third, I've got three really strong ideas that I would love to get the chance to write. But it comes down to sales plain and simple. I don't know if I have explained the term velocity here, but this is what it is all about.

If we sell 50-75,000 copies we've done really well and everyone will love to do more, because we're talking category bestseller here, those are good numbers for a UK tv show book. It's how those 50,000 sell that makes all the difference...

See option A is what we call the Slow Burn - it comes out, sells 4,150 copies a month for a year (1,000 copies a week) it'll hit 50k for year end and the money will be made... but it will have disappeared to the back of the bookstore, you'll have to hunt, there'll be no press about it, it'll just be there... but the publisher will make their money and the second book will probably happen... thing is books fall off shelves, get marked for returns and pulping the older they get... so a shelf life of 12 months is unlikely... but let's say it is so...

or option b. Fast Burn - first week of release we sell 32,000 copies, second week of release we sell 15,000 copies, by the end of the first month we sell our forecast 50,000 copies... then never sell another copy.

Which option is best?

B. Fast Burn makes the book a BESTSELLER it puts it front and centre in the bookstore, it has staff and public buzzing about it and gets to have Primeval: Spectre of the Black Cat sequel to the bestselling Shadow of the Jaguar on the cover. What does this do? When book buyers for stores buy stock they give support - which means they look at what is projected to sell and give it front of store, or dump bins or email shots to customers or whatever, and base the number they buy on the sales performance of the book before... so a bestselller will pretty much guarantee the success of a follow-up. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy...

[squeezynz]

well.......to do any of those things.....you need a pro-active fan base....and apart from this forum, the german forum and a couple of fan sites........that's not exactly happening for Primeval.

Of course, there are those fans of your writing who may be tempted to read/buy one of YOUR books, regardless of the subject matter, given your past track record...so that's a boost.....and of course there are the completists and scalpers who just want to buy one to salt it away to sell on ebay later on when they've vanished from the shops.......

guess we have to hope that all the negative forum comments and reviews don't impact on the sales.......

Of course......if ITV don't drop the ball on advertising, you might just get some great sales.......or you may end up with an advertising bomb, similar to what happened to the Peter Pan (2003) movie - which had appalling advertising, and rotten merchandising. We can only hope Primeval does better......a third season announcement would go a long way to help this

(and a gag order on negative critics who wouldn't know fun and escapism if it got up and bit them on the ar*e!!)

I think I need to take an anti-cynical pill.............. ;D

[stevensavile]

Yep, there are loads of factors... the fact that doctor who forums seem to despise Primeval as competition for WHO for instance, which it really isn't, rather than embracing another SF show on British tele... there's a serious audience there.... then the fact that a lot of folks still don't post on the internet and live in blissful ignorance of forums

A german fansite you say? Hmmmm... dusts off old GCE certificate and prepares to manage another language

[squeezynz]

I find Google translate works at a pinch......but I do end up with some interesting interpretations of what the German fans are saying!!

Great artwork over there.....something that seems to be in short supply (other than in music video's and fanfics) on this forum.

and yes.....really do wish the DW and Torchwood fans weren't so insecure that they have to rubbish Primeval to bolster their flagging confidence in their own particular fandom.

it's a big enough web and tv world to accomodate us all and still leave room for more......after all......I've never rubbished Dr.Who or Torchwood, or any other series the way they pour acid on Primeval......it's sad and slightly pathetic.

I don't think anyone expects Primeval to go the distance that Dr.Who has...or even would want the series to go on that long....we just want a fair shake without all the vituperative nit-picking.

[redsquad]

Well I've pre-ordered my copy. Here's to it's success and subsequent sequel.
What's sad is that if they did a PRIMEVAL comic it would probably be a huge hit, yet a novel remains a 'risk'.
Personally, I always like to read about an "expanded universe" that broadens any series (with the exception of the pretentious rantings that pass for some of the later 'Missing' & 'New' DR WHO books)

[squeezynz]

and now with the go-ahead for Season Three.....guess you'll be back pitching some of those story lines again Steven??


cool. ;D

[stevensavile]

I've known about s3 for ages - I was invited to the filming by Adrian back in... December I think. I'm gonna be there with bells on

I have this mad idea I tells ya... mad... that if I can get the go ahead on... it'll be awesome

I agree on the comics by the way, but promise there's nary a pretentious navel gazing moment and no ranting in Jaguar... tis all out FUN.

[squeezynz]

stevensavile said:

I've known about s3 for ages - I was invited to the filming by Adrian back in... December I think. I'm gonna be there with bells on

Well.......aren't we Mister Smug-Bunny!!! ;D

Look forward to hearing they've commissioned a second novel from you then........

[redsquad]

stevensavile said:

I've known about s3 for ages - I was invited to the filming by Adrian back in... December I think. I'm gonna be there with bells on

I have this mad idea I tells ya... mad... that if I can get the go ahead on... it'll be awesome

I agree on the comics by the way, but promise there's nary a pretentious navel gazing moment and no ranting in Jaguar... tis all out FUN.

Lucky begger!
And Season 3 given the go-ahead? That's news to me (albeit very good news). Ratings must be pretty good for Season 2 so far...

Back to the book: Here's a shot in the dark which may be totally unfeasible due to copyright reasons etc., but would it be possible for signed copies of the book to be sold to members of this forum? I'd certainly partake of one, in addition to the regular one I've already ordered.

Like I said, I may be totally off the mark for so many reasons by suggesting this, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[stevensavile]

I'd be willing to sort something out as an exclusive for the forum - I'd just need to talk to the editors to see everything is cool, but certainly, if there is interest we can arrange something like that

As for smarty smug pants or whatever it was - yep

[redsquad]

Great to hear! Let's hope some more members show an interest on this very forum....

[AC]

I know a lot of people (including myself, of course) who would be very enthusuastic about getting a signed novel.

[stevensavile]

Well how about one of you great souls volunteers to collect a list of names and addresses - and commitments ahem, seeing as I'll have to buy the stock and send it on - so we can get an actual number? To make it interesting I can throw in some sort of random freebie from my stock of goodies

[squeezynz]

ME!memememememememememememememememe!!!!

*waves her hand* me....

I've got one on order......but I'd loooooooooove a signed copy *swoons*

[redsquad]

We should really have a seperate thread for those who definately want a signed book (no "maybe's"!) to post a simple 'aye' and give Steve an idea of the demand.
Trouble is, as the newbie here, I don't want to step on any toes and an official 'nod from the mod' would be cool to set the ball rolling.

[stevensavile]

Whoever wants to organise it, whether by PM or whatever, so no details need to be out in the general public, works for me. A simply yay or nay thread works too...

[squeezynz]

I'll PM Jon and get his imput.........back soon.

[Admin - Jon]

Feel free to start a new thread to garner interest.

I bet you really annoyed at ITV now, cause i would have promoted that book to hell on the main site.
Oh well. The forum will have to do

[squeezynz]

Thanks Jon....and yes...suck to be ITV without your support.

Will start a thread.

[stevensavile]

Jon, thanks for the support - honestly. You know privately how I feel about what has happened to you and the site. I think it is very short sighted of the company. Certainly Jaguar will benefit from you promotion here - it already is to be honest...

I'm a happy boy today because I can claim the category Bestseller tag should I so care - my Torchwood audiobook is #3 behind HappyPotter and erm Harry Potter in the audiobook chart... and is actually #13 in the bestsellers for all science fiction on Amazon and across different spots. This, I have to admit is really exciting - but I really want Primeval to hit the #1 spot because I believe in the show and the book that much.

[squeezynz]

well done Steven.....now we hope for the same success with your Primeval book.....*yay*

[AC]

Well done Steven!

[redsquad]

Indeed: Kudos and many thanks to Steven for making the moves he has. I hope the general interest matches my own personal anticipation of owning a signed tome.