From the official website - Do you want to be one of the first Vampirates fans to get your hands on a copy of Black Heart? They are looking for 5 Vampirate VIPs to review the new book ahead of publication. All you’ve got to do is tell them why you should be one of the first people to review the book.  As usual it is only open to UK, Channel Islands and Eire residents, aged 16 years and below on 20 January 2009.

Did you hear Go4It with Justin Somper today. If not here are some temporary links.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/gfi/bestbits/ for a written account with photos,
and http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/radioplayer/go4it.shtml to listen.

"Wine bottles of blood"!

Don't forget on Sunday (7th December 2008) at 19:15 on Radio 4 is Go4It with Justin Somper on it.

If you ever wondered why the Black Heart tour is going to the UK from 2nd to 13th of March 2009 and the USA in April 2009. Check out where most of our pins are in the Tempest Twins map.
See http://www.tempesttwins.co.uk/ourcrew/where/where.html

Sunday 7th December 2008 at 19:15 on Radio 4 is Go4It
This episode has "Kirsten O'Brien learns about tales of ghostly hauntings at Ham House in London, said to be haunted by both man and beast, and gets a lesson in writing a horror story from Vampirates author Justin Somper."

For Justin's comments please see his blog on http://www.vampirates.co.uk/vip-page/blog/bloggo4it/. Just a note the year 6 children is the fourth picture down are from St Richard's With St Andrew's school in Ham.

Radio 4 is found on DAB Digital Radio, digital tv, online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ and press listen live.
Also 198 LW across the UK and for FM See http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/waystolisten/analogue/
In some countries close to the UK (such as Ireland, France, Denmark, Belgium and Holland) it is possible to receive Radio 4 on 198 kHz long wave (Although Canada and the US may be a little far away).
The schedule is found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/schedule/2008/12/07/day/

According to the official website there were "a few tweaks to the manuscript of BLACK HEART before it went off to production". That was on Thursday see http://www.vampirates.co.uk/vip-page/blog/blogskytvand/

According to the official website "Justin will be embarking on a two-week tour from the 2nd to 13th of March 2009."
See www.vampirates.co.uk/stop-press/stop-press-black-heart-uk-tour for more details

According to the www.telegraph.co.uk on friday 7th November 2008. 'Authors and MPs must be vetted before they can visit schools. Children's authors and politicians who visit schools regularly will have to be registered with England's comprehensive new vetting authority, raising fears such visits would decline because of the bureaucracy and cost.

Justin Somper, the author of the popular Vampirates series, said he would be happy to register with the ISA but added: "It would be very sad if schools were put off having authors coming in. Teachers have so many forms to fill in so I hope one more wouldn't push them over the edge."'

According to the official website Justin visiting Winchester soon.
"After a brilliant visit to the Beverley Festival, Justin is out on the road again this week. This time he's heading to Hampshire for events at Henry Beaufort School and Toynbee School - all organizd by Winchester Waterstone's event supremo John. Check out the blog next week to find out how it went."

From the Nocturn
"BLACK HEART, the fourth book in the VAMPIRATE series by Justin Somper has had its publication post-poned by two months. The book which was scheduled for publication on 5th January will now have it's general release on 2nd March 2009. Here is what Justin had to say on the matter when I asked him to confirm or deny the publication date change:
"Yes, BLACK HEART has moved to March. It's hard telling my loyal readers that they have to wait a bit longer - especially as there's been a bit of a gap since BLOOD CAPTAIN - but I hope they'll understand that it's all in order to deliver a better book to them, which is really the most important thing to me."
 
By the time BLACK HEART is released, fans will have been waiting a year and a half to get their hands on this next installment, but I personally feel that if Justin needs more time to deliver a book he is proud of then it doesn't matter. BLOOD CAPTAIN was amazing and this series keeps going from strength to strength.
 
This date change will most likely mean that all foreign dates mentioned so far are going to change. Most likely, just by two months, but it is not yet known."

Its official - as found on Vampirates.co.uk - "Justin is visitng the Beverley Festival on the 9th October. After a visit to St Mary's school, Justin will be doing a late afternoon event at the Education Room in The Treasure House, Beverley. This is a rare opportunity to see Justin talk about his swashbuckling adventures in an a small and personal setting. The event is limited to 40 people so book early for this unique experience."

Beverley Literature Festival is from the 2nd to the 23rd October 2008. On Thursday 9 October at 4.30pm Justin Somper will be at the Education Room, Treasure House, Champney Road, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 8HE. His show is aimed at 10 to 14 year olds and will cost £2. For more information please see http://www.beverley-literature-festival.org/diary.php.

Check out the new blog on the official vampirates website. He talks about his experience in Edinburgh and getting part of his birthday gift from Quarxphonix and the draft of Black Heart.

"At the end of the event, I had a wonderful surprise. Eileen, who many of you know as Quarx, emerged from the crowd and presented me with a glass tankard, engraved with the words, "From the Vampirate Forum Fans and Fan Sites". It's really cool. I'm drinking (water) out of it as I write this. "

Sorry, I have just discovered the Beano will be in at the Bath festival in September,
but no Vampirates ........

Justin Somper's blog has some answers to questions that might interest you. Check out www.vampirates.co.uk for more information.
"hola. BLACK HEART is scheduled for Spanish publication in June 2009. I’ve just heard that the Spanish edition of DEMONS is in its 7th printing. Carumba!"
"have asked Montena about Argentinian publication dates. Will let you know once I hear back from them."

Also under the stop press section there is a piece about their success in spain. See www.vampirates.co.uk

Justin Somper's blog is back (under the Vip Section) and he is also answering everyone's questions again. Yippee ... Check out www.vampirates.co.uk