I have just spotted the official website as it has just been updated. Check it out, it looks good.

First we had a comment on a letter sent to Sailor Quarxphonix in March,
"By the way, vampirates.co.uk is being relaunched next month so do keep your eyes peeled. There's going to be lots more going on on the site, from in-depth character profiles to a regular blog."
Then we has a comment on a letter sent to The Nocturn,
"we shall be announcing that officially via the website on the 26th May – this is also the date the new look website will launch. Do let us know what you think of it. We’ve completely redesigned it so that we can update the content much more easily and Justin will be launching his new blog on the site at the same time."

I don't know how many hits the www.vampirates.co.uk website received, but I am sure some crew members checked half a dozen times on Monday and no one has spotted any massage change to the website yet. For your comment try the Nocturn Forum nocturn1.proboards56.com

I hope you like my efforts for the three buccaneers' tattoo. The first, I realised was wrong after rereading the end of Dead Deep. All three Buccaneers have a tattoo on the inside of their forearm "a picture of three cutlasses, their hilts intertwined."

During the Richmond Lending Library talk I asked Justin Somper about Bartholomew (Bart) Pearce and apparently he is based on Bartholomew (Bart) Roberts was a Welsh pirate who raided shipping off the Americas and West Africa. He was the most successful pirate of the golden age of piracy, capturing far more ships than some of the best-known pirates of this era.

Part of the letter to The Nocturn, a full copy can be found on http://www.freewebs.com/thenocturn/news.htm.

"He is doing an event in Norwich on 10th June –there will be a public stock signing at the Waterstones Castle Street c. 4.30pm but will confirm that exact timing via the Vampirates & Waterstones websites shortly..
 
The new book is going to be called Black Heart and will be out early 2009– we shall be announcing that officially via the website on the 26th May – this is also the date the new look website will launch. Do let us know what you think of it. We’ve completely redesigned it so that we can update the content much more easily and Justin will be launching his new blog on the site at the same time."

From The Nocturn

"Justin will be in Waterstones on Castle Street in Norwich (Norfolk, UK) on Tuesday 10th June from 4.30pm for a signing session. If you live near by pop along."

The Richmond Lending Library Talk
I made it only 15 minutes late owing to my family were willing to give me a lift. I walked in and Justin Somper made a comment about picking just the right moment to walk in!
At the end he very kindly answered the questions I printed out, so here they are:
From Sailor Quarxphonix
Q: Does he ever go on the forums?
A: Yes, sometimes!
Q: Lorcan + Grace = Love?
A: What do you think? look out for Book 4
From Sailor Anna Valerious
Q: When is justin gunna come over here?! (US)
A: 2009 hopefully.
Boatswain Duck's Foot Darcy
Q: Would you tell him that im doing my best to get vampirates nominated for the southern schools book award 2009 please ^_^
A: Go for it
Q: Can you ask what his favourite books were when he was a kid?

• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• The Secret Garden (see Blood Captain)
• The boy next door by Enid Blyton

From The Captain
Q: Have you seen http://www.vampirateship.com/? it is the american publishers website?

From Amazon.co.uk
Black Heart Synopsis
There's a new ship of vampirates roaming the seas, leaving a trail of fear and devastation in its wake. When a high-profile pirate is slain, the Pirate Federation takes decisive action and begins training up a ship of dedicated vampire hunters. The team will be led by newly appointed Captain, Cheng Li. Amongst her dynamic crew is young pirate prodigy Connor Tempest. Meanwhile, Connor's twin sister Grace enjoys a bittersweet reunion with their mother. Sally Tempest has some important and shocking news for Grace - the twins' real father is not the man who brought them up. When Sally disappears, Grace is left to pursue the mystery of her true parenthood alone. As she finally uncovers the shocking truth, she knows that both she and Connor are facing a very uncertain future.

"Hi Freya,

Thanks for your e-mail and for coming to the event in Richmond on Tuesday night. It was nice to see you again.

In terms of publishing a list of my events, yes that is fine. Once vampirates.co.uk is relaunched, we'll have a much stronger NEWS section in which to mention such events in advance. Bear in mind that the Richmond Library one was primarily intended for their invitees plus a sprinkling of other locals, but I do take your general point about this.

Any queries about foreign publication dates are best referred to me at the e-mail (see vampirates.co.uk) as I can check these out with the relevant rights people. This is not a service you need to offer!

Re: DEMONS, what makes you think that Jamie is a vampire?! We'll be revisiting the kitchen setting in the new book, BLACK HEART.

Re: DARCY, there's a fan online using her identity in a role-playing game, illustrated with a picture of silent-movie actress Clara Bow. I think that she would look like Clara Bow, or Louise Brooks or Zelda Fitzgerald, very much out of that flapper era.

Re: LADY LOCKWOOD, yes in part she is inspired by "The Wicked Lady". Indeed the fact that she is called Lockwood is in part a tribute to Margaret Lockwood who plays the part of the highwaywoman in the movie.

Best wishes,
Justin Somper