Alice in Wonderland Official Trailer

This looks interesting, especially Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. Fantasy films will be on the increase, I think, in reaction to the global recession. I don't consider it an escape, though. Rather it's that people need enchantment and delight to help them through the bleakness. More than escape, it's succour. "To comfort noble hearts," as Gottfried von Strasbourg, the author of Tristan, said of his work.

Off to London

I'm not long back from New York and Toronto where I met publishers interested in my new young adult series in both book and graphic novel form. Now I'm off to London to meet UK publishers and - wa-hoo - broadcasters interested in the same series in television form. It's all bubbling up nicely. Once contracts are negotiated and signed, I'll be less cryptic and TELL ALL.

The Summer King in Germany

Just discovered that The Summer King or should I say Die Nacht Der Elfenkonige (Night of the Elven King?) is now out in Germany. Nobody told me - I'm just the author - but I checked on the Random House Germany site and there it was. It's always very exciting to come out in another country and in another language. The translator is different from the one who translated The Hunter's Moon (though I understand Anne Brauner is translating The Light-Bearer's Daughter) so fingers crossed she is as good. I heard back from several readers that the first translation was excellent. Here's the website if anyone wants to order: www.randomhouse.de/book/editionsearchresult.jsp?pat=OR+Melling&pub=1. It's also for sale on the German amazon. Danke!

Runrig - Cnoc Na Feille / Siol Ghoraidh

As it turns out, I've not only set my new adult book entirely in the Outer Hebrides which I visited a few years back, but those beautiful islands on the edge of the known world are also a setting in the third book of my new young adult series. I know, I know so much I haven't said yet, but all will be revealed ... soon. Here's some brilliant and atmospheric music from those isles: Runrig - amazing Celtic rock band (doubt they use that term themselves) who sing in both English and Scots Gaelic and are still going strong after all these years! (I think one of their lead singers is from Cape Breton Island, Canada, but not sure if it's the blondie or the dark-haired one.)