Tuesday, July 14, 2009

French Kiss

Ok, my sabbatical is over. Actually I fled the country (under a cloud of suspicion, as usual), making my first excursion abroad as classier people than me might say. This year is a round number birthday year for my wife and I and so a trip to France with the kids was our gift to ourselves.

We had an unbelievably spectacular time.

One personal highlight (you know, after all the museums and great artwork, incredible churches and architecture, stunning views and the Eiffel Tower, etc.) was going into the WH Smith's in Paris on the Rue de Rivoli and finding the U.K. Kiss of Life on display. It is a very pretty and flowery cover and looks like this:

20 comments:

sandi said...

Welcome back to the interwebs!
I am glad you were able to get away with your family and that you had a good time. Europe is at the top of my TO VISIT places.

And I simply adore that cover for Kiss of Life! (Did you buy a copy?)

Watching said...

*o* that would be cool if they sold some copies with that cover here!! It's really pretty but has somewhat of a scary touch >.<;; like towards the bottom were it says "Welcome back, Newlydeads" I imagine it going real slow with a creepy face like weeelllcoooome baaaaaaack, neeeeewwwwllllyyyydeeeaads.

Sarah said...

Welcome back Dan!
Aaah France, how lovely. I'm glad you all had a good trip :)
Gorgeous crusty bread, garlicky cheeses...mmmm.
Did you try any local cuisine, ie, snails?
I used to live by the channel, and we used to go over when we could.
Yay for overseas trips and KoL!
x

Anonymous said...

Wow, I love calla lillies as a graphic image. Really like this cover!

Jeanne said...

I saw the French cover for Kiss of Life when we were in Paris in June...very disconcerting to be among books I couldn't quite read. We also went to Nice. Where else did you go? And did you walk enough to compensate for the glorious French food? (Could your kids sit still for those very long French meals?)

So Many Books, So Little Time said...

Welcome back! The UK covers look so pretty on my shelf. I just finished Kiss of Life and loved it. Just wanted to let you know!

ReaderGirl said...

How fun! ^^

RG

lucky4193 said...

Just signed in as one of Tommy's followers and was wondering...what is the American novel cover supposed to mean?

MaliceInWonderland said...

I have to say that I do prefer the US covers overall. They seem to sort of have more to do with the characters, although that can be debated for Gen. Dead.

I do like the Newlydead phrase, though. It's cute and intriguing.

Amber Lynne said...

WCB!
Its so pretty :D

Giulia said...

Glad you enjoyed France and :) on finding yourself on the local shelves, that must give one the awesomest fuzzy feeling!

To increase the fuzziness, I am now about halfway through "Generation Dead", loving every minute, and thanking whoever might be up there for not having to wait millions of years while the sequel is written... can't wait to have my hands on "Kiss of Life".

This might be a slightly impertinent question but are there any plans, near or far, for a UK signing tour? I do like it when my favourite books are signed and "Generation Dead" is in extreme danger of becoming one of my all-time favourites so... pretty please?

Keep up the good work.G

Anonymous said...

lol. i've read all the books in that picture. I agree with giullia. Come to england!!! Pretty please? C= oxo

Rachael said...

Hi Dan!

Just finished reading Kiss of Life (UK edition, hoorah!)...and I thought I would leave my comments, since I've been eagerly waiting for the book to be published.

In many ways I liked it more than Generation Dead: it seemed to have more plot, finer details, better characterisation, and you can definitely see your writing has improved.

I'm sad about the lack of Tommy though. I don't like Phoebe and Adam together at all. They don't have a spark. They make me yawn. Do we get Tommy back?

Also noted a couple of things that reminded me of other books (I don't mean this in a bad way) - the Twilight series, and also Unwind (have you read this? If not, then you seriously should!).

In all, I'm glad I picked it up, and I wish you every success! Here's to the next one!

Anna-Tommy-lover said...

Hello Daniel!!
Missed me?
Haha!
Just jocking!
I took an internet break too!
Because I went to Mexico city and then my computer died so I had to buy another one :S
OMG!
That´s amazing!
Did you buy it?
I love that cover, but I still like the other one more, because it is very interesting and everyone that see my book says that the cover girl looks like Goth Sleeping beauty and they want to read it.
Hummm...I went to watch the best movie!Hope you watch it too!Is HP6,I just want to know your opinion about it :D

Oh!And I´m reading KOF for the third time!
Every time I like it more!
You are an amazing writer!
We love you!

Bye!
Take care!
xoxo
Anna-Tommy-lover
,___,
(0.o)
/)GD)
" "

Anna-Tommy-lover said...

P.S:
Did you go to the Eiffel tower?

Watching said...

:D I went to Robeks to get a smoothie, and one of the girls working there was reading Generation Dead, and I told her I looooved that book and she said "yeah, I can't put it down" I don't even think she wanted to put it down to make my smoothie^^

Anonymous said...

Mr. Waters,
You may or may not remember me. I asked about the Kiss of Life a while back shortly after Gen. Dead came out. I'm obsessed. I've gotten all my friends around here pumped up about the series. But don't think of me as an over-obsessive fan. I would like to start making Generation Dead t-shirts. Like the ones that Skip Slydell promotes. I wanted to get permission I guess. And I wanted to show you my ideas. They're identical to your descriptions. If you'd like to check out some of my originals, email me at kaitlyn_elizabeth@live.com.

No response is nessecary, just a fan taking things to the next level. And I wanted to get word around my town about the book and whatnot. Sorry, if I'm out of line here.

Always a fan,

Kaitlyn Lindsey

MaliceInWonderland said...

I finished Kiss of Life a few days ago. I wanted to comment that as an avid reader I used to read thirty books each week on average, Stephen King and Anne Rice sized books being included in the count.

With many "sequel" novels or series, the continuing novels often feel on the same par and style. Not necessarily a bad thing if the first book is enjoyable. However, especially for an author's second book, I feel that there should be an exchange with the reader, a growing experience, like a maturity and a deepening of understanding or empathy.

In Kiss of Life, I strongly felt this. My kudos to you on your continuing growth as that I feel a truly successful author should always have. Not even Stephen King always demonstrates such. I'm quite impressed and more than willing to wait for the quality of the next book. ^_^ Thank you for sharing your work.

Alexandra said...

Woohoo! Congratulations. Someday I hope that I can have the same experience with my books hahaha.

And I'm glad France was amazing.

Daniel Waters said...

Hi Sandi!

Go! You should go, mos def.

I did but a copy!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Watching!

That would be cool. Maybe an audio?

Take care,
Dan

Hi Sarah!

No snails, but the food was great!

Take care,
Dan

Hi jacketwhys!

Thanks! I quite like the bouquet myself.

Take care,
Dan

Hi Jeanne!

I actually lost weight in France...go figure! The children were fantastic in France...I was so proud.

In addition to Paris we went to Rixheim, Colmar, and Strausbourg.

Take care,
Dan

Hi So Many Books, So Little Time!

Why, thank you!

Take care,
Dan

Hi ReaderGirl!

It was!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Lucky 4193!

That would be telling! What do you think it means?

Take care,
Dan

Hi MaliceinWonderland!

Me personally, I like having both!

Take care,
Dan

Hi xlamberx!

Thank you!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Giulia!

I would love, love, love to go to the U.K. and sign books. Just waiting for the right invite!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Anonymous!

Someday!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Rachael Grant!

Thank you for your kind comments. I haven't read either of those books (I know, blasphemy!), but I have learned a lot about Twilight by osmosis. Unwind has a briliant premise, and I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Schusterman at NCTE last year and he is a very gracious guy.

Take care,
Dan

Hi Anna-Tommy-Lover!

I'm sorry about your computer! :(. We did go to the Eiffel Tower, it was awesome!

Take care,
Dan

Hi Watching!

Very cool!

How was the smoothie?

Take care,
Dan

Hi MaliceInWonderland!

Why, thank you. I always get a little lightheaded when mentioned in the same paragraph as Mr. King.

Take care,
Dan

Hi Alexandra!

I hope you do, too. All things in time.

Take care,
Dan