April is the cruellest month but Loki is the nicest god, honest...
In which I am Odinically vague
Happy April!
This month I am in Odin mode and working on something secret and mysterious. Watch this space… probably for a really really long time because that’s the publishing way. But the project I CAN talk about is book 3. It’s out on June 1st but you can read it NOW on Netgalley!
If you’re NOT on Netgalley but would like a personalised, signed and doodled copy of Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Ruling the World when it comes out in June, you can preorder one at Wonderland Bookshop or Pickled Pepper Books.
I’ll be visiting Wonderland on MAY 30th and Pickled Pepper on June 1st if either of those are local to you, too. (I’ll remind everyone in next month’s newsletter because that’s clearly a million years in the future from an April point of view.)
Book three is the one I’m proudest of so far. It features some of my favourite things - Lord of the Rings references, characters getting morally WORSE and Loki being envious of someone being more handsome than him.
Spoiler: the more handsome character is not Legolas. No elves are contained in book three. But Loki WOULD envy Legolas for sure. Anyone with hair that fabulous is an instant rival.
Out and about
I was having lunch with a friend in Soho so I decided to do a drive by signing at Foyles on Charing Cross. Signed copies of my Loki books AND Otherland (and a random Monster in the Lake for luck). If you’re in central London and fancy a signed copy, pop in! It’s a lovely shop - with a great selection of comics for kids too. (As is Gosh Comics. I spent a rather large amount of money there this month too…)
I also went to Rachel Faturoti’s book launch at Brixton Library. If you’re a YA fan and you like fairy tales, get it! It’s genius. Fairy tale characters living near a tube station that’s one stop after Brixton on the Victoria line, facing gentrification…
Writing tip of the day
Do something utterly terrifying (in a writing context). It’s honestly where you end up with the best writing. Write a new genre, a new age group, a new subject. Write something deeply personal. Write something you’re afraid is truly weird.
Upcoming events
I’ll be going on book tour for book 3 at the end of May and over June - will share all the details for all the public events on that tour next month. But in the meantime, I’ll definitely be in Waterstones Norwich on June 6th and you can book here:
Joke of the day
Q: What do you call a factory where all the products are not great but OK?
A: A satisfactory
Doodle of the day
A non-Loki one today. If you’re on twitter, there’s a lovely project called #Doodleish, run by Jenni Spangler and Chris Mould. Check out the hashtag to join in! Here’s my attempt at a page of illuminated lettering. I couldn’t resist adding a monk and a medieval battle bunny. It was very outside my comfort zone - I don’t usually do anything involving instructions - and satisfying to try something new! Have a go yourself! There’s a new prompt every week!
Book of the day
Nizrana Farook’s The Boy Who Saved a Bear is a page-turning adventure story set in her lush world of Serendib. I love how she writes children - as imperfect people, not innocent babies. An absolute must for animal-loving children. Or, as an adult, do you need to escape current political reality into a world of thrilling adventure? Click on the cover below!
Book of the day (for a day in the future!)
This one’s not out yet but I am VERY excited about it.
A wonderful writer and a wonderful artist telling a story about an animal that I find fundamentally hilarious for reasons I can’t quite describe. I think it’s because chickens exude stress? It’s out May 11 and you can preorder HERE!
And in case you’ve forgotten while reading this you can preorder Loki book Three here:
That’s all for now. It’s back to writing top secret things…
Louie xx
April is the cruellest month but Loki is the nicest god, honest...
Love that joke! That’s just made me and a colleague chuckle 😆
The Boy who saved a Bear looks FABULOUS! My boy is only two but I might have to get it for him now. Thanks for the reco!