Gareth Worthington.com
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Book tour announced!

6/4/2017

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So I haven't blogged in AGES. But that's because I'm saving them up! 

With Children of the Fifth Sun being released next month, its all go go go here. Need to reach out to anyone that'll bloody listen to this nerd talk.

I do mean anyone. Get your grandma on board.

​Since I'm ALL the way over here in Europe, and my publisher is ALL the way over there in the USA, a traditional face-to-face bookstore tour is not really practical. But, we're ALL about the digital and so I'm happy to hit a global audience by writing for, and being interviewed by, these lovely bloggers. 

(That sounded dirty).

So, click the link below to see my schedule running over July, August and September! One cheeky blogger has even asked for a video interview. God help us all.

http://www.providencebookpromotions.com/children-fifth-sun-gareth-worthington/

Oh, and I'll also have a short article published in The Strand soon, as well as on BookTrib via Meryl Moss Media!
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SNEAK PEAK! DOWNLOAD FIRST 9 CHAPTERS FOR FREE NOW!

5/1/2017

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So, kids, Children of the Fifth Sun is available in print and ebook on July 25th. Can't wait that long? You can now download the first 9 chapters with extra goodies inside for FREE now!

For USA, use Amazon.com here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XMXJMXW

For all other countries, use the other platforms, here:
https://www.books2read.com/u/4AgDEq

As you know, it's already optioned for Film/TV and making quite a buzz in Hollywood! Now we're aiming to make it the #bestcifibook2017! It's been compared to #clivecussler #michaelcrichton #DanBrown #tomclancy

So If you haven't read it, give it a try!
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what makes you pick up a book?

1/6/2017

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So, a couple of days ago I was stuck in Heathrow airport. Delayed flight. Again. As a result, I mooched around the airport trying to avoid impulse buying. What better way to do that? Get a book and read (yes, I see the irony of the impulse buying avoidance, but it was a small purchase vs a large one).

WHSmith’s stood before me. A well-known purveyor of books in the UK, it had conveniently laid out the top 100 books in the UK right now. I stared blankly at the wall wondering which book to choose. Of course, being in the business I’m in (books, not pharmaceuticals) I noticed a few things, that got me thinking.

Firstly, I knew almost no-one on the list. Like, maybe three authors. Admittedly, this could be due to the fact I don’t read fiction very often. Yes, yes, a dirty secret; a horrible defect in my authoring journey. But honestly, I just don’t have the time. So, when I do read I want to be sure it’s worth it. Anyway, I knew few of them – and this was the top 100. So what does that mean for me as a buyer? It means that I’m relying on a few key things: title, cover and if I get past them – the blurb. I’m sorry to say that the majority of titles bored the living hell out of me. “The girl who did this..” or “The black house..”. Boring. Good lord. Okay, how about the cover itself? What evocative image could make me pull the book down? None. They were a yawn-fest. Most had the author's name taking up 70% of the space, with the title covering 20% and the cover image being merely a blurry background smudge invoking no stirring in my brain whatsoever. Who created these? Am I really going to read the blurb of every one to see which I like? No. So what else can I use to choose?

That brings me to point two: at least eleven of the titles had movies associated with them. An actor or statement adorned the front, letting me know this was now a major motion picture. This could perhaps sway me. These stories were good enough to evoke imagery strong enough for the screen. However, something niggled me. Some of these novels were obviously a marketing tool – such as the novelisation of “Assassin’s Creed”. Originally a video game, then a movie and now… a novel. It just felt like the industry machine was taking up a spot in the top 100 of a truly deserving author with an original idea. Does this mean all movies will be reverse engineered into novels? I hope not. So then how did I choose?

Well that’s point three: endorsements can do a lot. And that means proper reviews, PR, marketing and all the things many authors shy away from. In this purchasing case, I opted for a book called OrphanX, by Gregg Hurwitz. Why did I choose it? Because a little quote told me to. “Read this book. You’ll thank me later.” Literally, that is what made me pick it up and read the back. From there, I thought – okay! Interestingly, rumours would have it that Bradley Cooper is in talks with Warner to tackle the movie version of this book…

Bottom line… spend time on your cover, your title and your marketing. Listen to your agent and publisher. We buying muggles are fickle. Even those of us who write books.

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Why do we write, Stu asked me.

11/23/2016

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Stu Jones just blogged. It's the second time in as many weeks. And that's weird for him. Perhaps it's Thanksgiving bringing a well spring of emotion to the surface. Or maybe he's just chomping on his nails while an important beta reader for Vesuvian reads our latest novel, It Takes Death to Reach a Star, so he needed to keep busy. Whatever the reason, he blogged.

The question he posed, and then provided his own view on, was: why do we write?

Stu's take is a noble one. Some of us have a magic inside. We crave to write, to express ourselves. To tell that story that crouches like a tiger inside, waiting to explode into the world. I agree that for some, this may well be the case.

But it's not why I write. At least not anymore. When I was younger, I wrote because I enjoyed telling stories and writing descriptive prose. How could I make the reader see what I'm seeing, or smell what I'm smelling? I covered topics from the Bushido to the dangers of being  an over-bearing parent.

Children of the Fifth Sun was a labor of love, some twenty years long. Ideas and thoughts that had been gathered from countless non-fiction books. I saw it as précis on the human condition; the experience of loss. But more than that, it was cathartic - selfish even. The protagonist reflects very specific parts of me. And with the end of the book, came the end of a chapter of my life. 

I was sure I wouldn't write again. I had told my story. I was done. I had no more.

And then I had children. 

They changed my perspective on life - on everything. And when I re-examined why I write, it became crystal clear. I wanted something to leave behind. Something that my kids could pass down to their kids. Sure, if I make money or even a movie from my work, I'll be happy. But that's not why I do it. I do it for my children. Even way back when, I did it for the children I thought I may one day have.

When I'm dead and gone, no one will care what day job I had, or what clothes I wore. But, for as long as they exist, my books will be pieces of me that my children, and their children, can hold. A piece of me lives in Kelly Graham, and in Demitri Stasevich. Forever.

Now, I am less compelled to put onto paper every thought that I've had. Every spark of inspiration. Now, I only pursue those ideas that, to me, have a greater message for my children.

I write so that one day my children will be proud of me.
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Rollercoaster

11/1/2016

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So, the last few months have been crazy. Very crazy. From August until now, I have vacationed in Italy with two kids under two (not fun), had a drunk guy crash into my car, suffered shingles, hired an au pair who left after 14 days, hired a new au pair, been demoted then promoted (don't even get me started on company restructuring), travelled to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Vienna, Boston, LA, Boston again and Chicago.

In amongst this, I finished the first edited draft of it Takes Death to Reach a Star and completed its associated website with Stu Jones, worked with a band on a special project, and attended Stan Lee's comic con 2016 to represent Vesuvian Media Group and promote our Q1 book releases.

There's a tonne of stuff happening in the background, but I'll fill you in on that later.

In the meantime, I thought I would give a bit of detail on Comic Con, as it was an amazing experience and great place to boost awareness of the Vesuvian Media Group.

Held in LA, over three days (28-30 October), Stan Lee's Comic Con attracted 80,000 people to the convention center. From comic books fans to Star wars fans, it was wall-to-wall Nerdvana. And over at booth 941, the Vesuvian Media Group in collaboration with Squid Black Comics were touting their wares.

Over the course, we had a vertiable smorgasbord of content to show the cosplayers. Thommy Hutson, author of Never Sleep Again (THE critique of the Nightare on Elmstreet Franchise) and Vesuvian client came to do signings. As an extra treat, he brought along the star of NOES, Amanda Wyss, to sign copies of their new movie on blu-ray The Id.

Mr Sam Shearon stayed for the full three days to promote his new Vesuvian adult colouring book: Mr Sam Shearon's Creepy Christmas.

Of course we also had posters and postcards showing of our Q1 2017 releases from Vesuvian Books, including: Southern Gothic, The Scythian Trials, Killing Jane, Blackwell, Loween, Children of the Fifth Sun.

Creator of Squid Black Comics, Michael Patrick Duggan brought with several of his comic book authors, including The Animation Emancipation and The Things We Fear. In addition, his good friend and movie director, Nicole Jones Dion also paid a visit!

Local media came down to interview us all, which drew quite a crowd vying to see what all the fuss was about.

On top of that we got to meet Dita von Teese, the Women of Wrestling and the cast of Aliens! All in all a fabulous time. Next years should be even better.

You can see the whole event captured in a convenient photo album here.
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The world you know is dead. We did this to ourselves

8/8/2016

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Fast forward to August...

4/19/2016

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So, kids, it has once again been a hectic few months. Without going into the craziness that is my normal life in the pharma industry, or at home, much has happened in my parallel life as an author and media entrepreneur.


As you know my debut book, Children of the Fifth Sun was optioned by Where's Lucy? Productions and Vesuvian Media to be turned into a TV series or a movie. That is ticking along, and studios are being pitched to.
lick here to edit.

Well, in addition, COTFS is now had a revamp and is going to be republished by Vesuian Books, ebook and paperback, in February 2017! Check out the spanky new cover!

On top of that, my new book, codenamed #projectdelusion, co-authored with Stu Jones, has been picked up by Vesuvian Books too and we have a publishing deal already! More news on that will follow shortly, including the title and cover reveal!

Finally, and perhaps most importantly two other major things have occured.

1) I have been appointed as Director of Business Development for the Vesuvian Media Group, and am in the process of setting up their Swiss office! Fun and games helping to build this fantastic venture.

2) With Marie D. Jones and Stu Jones (no relation), I co-founded Agrestic Productions, a company that writes and sources science faction stories for the silver screen.

Of course now I dont sleep. Ever. Coffee is my friend.

Sta tuned for more updates and exciting things coming for my books and now for other peoples'!


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COFTS optioned!

4/8/2016

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So, kids, I have been sat on this for what feels like forever (been a week lol) but the contract is signed and I can tell you my trilogy of books under the title Children of the Fifth Sun has been optioned to be developed into a movie or television series by the fabulous producer Marie D. Jones Check her out below!

http://whereslucyproductions.com
www.mariedjones.com
http://www.vesuvianmedia.com
...
We will be working closely with my agent Italia Gandolfo of GHLiterary Management NYC!
If you havent read my books, get your glasses on ! Spread the word!

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Deluded?

10/30/2015

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So, October 2015 is at an end. It's been bloody hectic, and only set to get worse as I push into 2016. Addition number 2 on the way to the family, and I fear I will never know the sweet embrace of deep sleep again. Ever. Caffeine is my friend. Anyway, in the last month, two major events.

Number 1. Children of the Fifth Sun is back on the virtual shelves, and can once again be purchased in paperback and kindle versions as a whole or in its parts. Yippee!

Number 2. Having said I was done writing for a while, I have now embarked a totally new project. At the moment I literally get 20 minute slots to write, but I'm enjoying it. And what is it? Something that completely departs from my usual style. It's a first person dystopian. Actually it's a first person dystopian told from TWO view points. And this is where my Friend Stu Jones comes in.

Those of you who paid attention to the acknowledgements in my books will note that Stu is mentioned. I have also reviewed Stu's own work in this very blog. He's the all American SWAT hero that makes sure I don't write crap in action sequences.

As it turns out, Stu and I get along quite well and have a good imagination. For a few months, we tossed about the idea of writing together. And then one day it just happened. One, 2-hour, Skype call later and we were off. We've created our own future world, replete with idiosyncrasies  and nuances that bring it scarily to life. Combining science from me and faith from Stu, we have a cocktail that just works.

 It's not an easy project. It will take serious editing to pull it together. And I'll be writing as an insomniac. But I'm excited. Maybe deluded. But excited none the less.

Watch this space. Closely.


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Times, they are a changin'

5/18/2015

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So, it's already May? Where the hell does the time go?
The new job is keeping me busy that's for damn sure. My 1.5 hour commute isn't helping, but I'm damned if I'm giving up the view from my new place (check it out left). I have already been to London, Vienna (twice), Ingelheim and am set to go to London (Again), Rome, San Francisco, and Stockholm. Someone recently referred to me as Bilbo Baggins. My feet aren't that hairy.

Of course the books are still in progress; my agent and I have been talking to some editors and publishing houses. I'll keep you updated with news as soon as I can. In the meantime, I have been reading through the books of fellow authors and offering my tuppence worth. it's always easier to critique the work of others... and see where your own work falls horribly short in comparison.

Notably, I have been reading the final installment of Stu Jone's trilogy: Against the Fading of the Light. As always, Stu's post-apocalyptic morality tale is gruesome, and just when you thought the lead character's faith in God couldn't be tested further, things just get nastier. As an atheist, Stu's work usually just confirms why I am one - he does not shy away from the horrors of humanity, but I have to applaud his resolute faith. So, look out for it soon. And if you haven't read his first two books - you should.

I'd like to say more, but I have another plane to catch. I'll write more again soon, kids.
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  • HOME
  • About me
  • My Books
    • CHILDREN OF THE FIFTH SUN SERIES
    • IT TAKES DEATH TO REACH A STAR SERIES
    • A TIME FOR MONSTERS
    • CONDITION BLACK
    • (POLYSPORIA)
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • VLOG and videos
  • INSTAGRAM FEED