It's been brought to my attention that one of the BZP members has posted an image in his blog of what he claims to be a 2008 Matoran that he bought. Just for the record, and to cut down on confusion, let me explain why this pic is a fake:
The pic shows a blue Matoran wearing a Mask of Summoning and carrying a squid launcher (which he claims comes with a different kind of projectile).
I have a picture in front of me the 2008 blue Matoran -- she is not wearing a Mask of Summoning and none o
Saturday morning, and still 6000 words to go on BL #6. Behind schedule, especially with an EXO-FORCE book to be started right after this. Sometimes, when you hit the three-quarter mark, the book picks up speed and finishes itself -- sometimes you are still pushing the ol' sled uphill.
Eventful month coming up -- meeting with Scholastic on Tuesday, then off to Billund for BIONICLE meetings, and then a week of LEGO Club meetings. Going to be hard to squeeze writing in with all that. As I alway
I received this today from a BZPer (whose identity will remain confidential), and I thought it was worth sharing --
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Hello, Mr. Farshtey. This is a rather long message, so if you're busy right now, I advise you to answer this later.
This is not a question-filled PM like the ones you get all the time. In fact this is a proposition.
I think you should either leave BZPower or stop answering all these PM's.
Let me j
Since I am getting a LOT of questions this week, and since evidently nobody is reading the answers I am giving anyone else , I thought it would be a good idea to just put some FAQ answers here to save me some typing. Here we go:
1) What does Phantoka mean?
A: Phantoka is our winter 2008 sub-brand for the Toa Nuva and Makuta sets. It is a Matoran term meaning "spirits of the air." It will not be applied to the summer '08 sets.
2) Are all six small sets in January Av-Matoran?
A: Yes.
3
I received this over the weekend from a BZP member who will remain nameless (bold was my addition):
Okay Greg,
it's time to step up out of the shadows and explain the karazani set. Who are the matoran? Sarda? Idris? Gar? Is this set a store exclusive? What is the strange contraption thing? And here is the deal. You have been holding off long enough. You have to answer these questions and step up. If you didn't want these questions to appear, then why did you put that image out? Its time you
Heard from Scholastic today, and this is the way the book schedule is shaping up for 2008 --
In-store December 2007 - BIONICLE Legends #8: Downfall - last book of 2007 story, prologue of 2008 story
In-store March 2008 - BIONICLE Legends #9: Shadows in the Sky
In-Store June 2008 - BIONICLE Legends #10: Swamp of Secrets
In-Store September 2008 - BIONICLE Legends #11: Title TBD
In-store December 2008 - First book of 2009 storyline, may be under a different series title
Greg
Yesterday, I got some sad news -- Fiona Simpson, my editor at Scholastic, has decided to move on from her position there. This is a great loss to the world of BIONICLE and I thought it would be a good time to talk a little bit about her.
I first met Fiona in summer 2003. She had recently taken over as editor for the BIONICLE line. Prior to that, the books had been done by Cathy Hapka, a very talented freelancer -- and although I wished I could write them, there didn't seem to be much I could
I get a lot of questions about when BIONICLE will end, and I see a lot of topics on here about whether BZP would survive its ending.
Well, all things end, eventually -- it might be a year or five years or 20 years or 100 years, but everything ends. But as someone who loves BIONICLE as much you do, I will give you some free advice:
On the day it does end, assuming it is a time when you are still into it -- don't give up on it. Keep building models, writing stories, making theories. Someday
In the interests of saving time --
I cannot discuss ANYTHING relating to BIONICLE 2010. I'm not allowed. That includes sets, story, etc. The fact that this site or that site may post things early does not change the rules I have to work under when I am on here.
Greg
One time, some while ago, there was a project in the works at one of my jobs that I was unhappy about. I just knew that creatively it was all wrong, it was going to miss our audience, and it was just in general a bad idea. And I made that pretty clear to the people around me (as I am wont to do). Then one day I got some very good advice from someone I respected -- she said, "If you're worried that it is going to be all wrong, volunteer to work on it ... and make it right." (I did, by the way, an
Just a random assortment of things today --
1) Heading to Denmark in mid-March for a one-day story meeting -- going to lock down 2008 and decide whether 2009 will be a stand-alone story or part of a 2009-2011 trilogy, among other things. I am headed out a day early to meet with the BIONICLE web producer.
2) Working on BIONICLE Legends #8: Downfall. For the sake of variety, I am writing the book backwards -- epilogue is done, working on the last chapter now.
3) Much has been made on BZP
GAVLA
Quote: "You might say I saw the light ... by looking into the darkness."
Personality: Leader of the shadow Matoran, Gavla's hatred for her own people makes her a formidable enemy. She fights the Matoran of Light as much because she enjoys it as because she has been ordered to.
Weapons: Claws blades; teeth
Powers: Vertigo -- can disrupt the sense of balance in a target (when linked with Makuta only); shadow energy
With the latest round of supposed set names and images floating around on the Net, I am getting a lot of PMs asking about 2009 sets, names, and a few about story. In a few cases, I have been able to provide answers, in many more cases I cannot. And most BZPers know that they cannot expect answers on the next year's product this early in the year before.
So that said, I am not going to spend time writing "I can't discuss this" over and over to people who already know that. PMs asking me about
Hey guys,
Just back from a short trip to Raleigh, NC for a story meeting. Most of the team was over there for 2008 focus groups, so the franchise manager kindly carved out some time in the schedule for me to meet with them (possibly saving me a trip to Denmark next month).
A few news items:
-- I saw for the first time all the proposed canister figures for 2008. There were 16 figures on display, of which 12 will be chosen to be sold. They looked quite different from the prototypes I had
Just a couple minor things --
1) I start work on BIONICLE Legends #10 this weekend, which will open with the return of Takanuva to the storyline.
2) Watch for Gali Nuva Blog chapter #6, which will feature the return of six heroes long thought gone for good!
3) At the suggestion of a BZPer, I am trying to convince my wife to do the voice of Toa Hahli for an upcoming biocast chapter
4) Since I got approval from Kelly to do more biocasts this year, expect the saga of the Staff of Artak
Almost too hot to write here in sunny CT ...
Started BL #7 today -- I want to spend some of it dealing with an issue that has been brought up a few times lately, namely why don't Toa kill their enemies? And is that a reasonable stance to take when you are fighting for the safety of millions? Is the code of the Toa important, or is it outmoded when you are up against beings like the Piraka? (It's more fun to write if the books aren't just plot, but actually are ABOUT something.)
Some reall
-- I have been getting this Q a lot, so let me answer it here -- no, the shapeshifters mentioned in Empire of the Skrall are not Makuta, proto-Makuta, Krahka, or anything else from 2001-2008. Remember that Mata Nui created the Makuta, who then created the Rahi, so neither ever existed on Bara Magna.
-- Looks like I will be appearing at New York Comic-Con in Manhattan on Saturday, February 7th, in the afternoon at the Papercutz booth. More details as I get them.
-- I am working on a six-par
Bink posted in my last entry asking whether the time I spend on a book includes outline and plotting as well as the actual writing.
Answer is basically no, because I do not outline my books. I don't want to know what is going to happen ahead of time, it gets boring then. I like to be as surprised as my readers when the pieces fall together. That is how I have always written, dating back to when I first started -- I avoid outlines like the plague, I think it robs writing of its spontaneity.
A few items of interest today --
-- LEGO financial results were announced to the press today -- record profit last year. And so far this year, we can't keep stuff on the shelves, everything is selling well.
-- Finished Part 3 of Mutran Chronicles -- you are FINALLY going to get some movement on that Blade Burrowers plotline!
-- Dow Jones news ticker reports Wal-Mart Canada has come to an agreement with TLC and will go back to carrying LEGO sets, which is wonderful news.
-- Still reco
In honor of the 30th birthday of the minifigure, here is a quick contest -- winner gets an exclusive surprise BIONICLE prize! Post your answers in response to this entry, and first one to get it right wins -- question is:
1) Two Hollywood celebrities have been made into LEGO mini-figures twice, as different characters. Name the actors and the characters.
WE HAVE A WINNER! Congratulations to lisa garber -- lisa, PM me your mailing address so I can send you your prize.
Greg
Back from Billund (with a sidetrip to a hotel on the west coast, about which more in a future entry), after a very successful BIONICLE story meeting. So I thought it would be a good time to answer some of the questions I get about how the story is put together and how the story meetings work.
We went into this meeting with a very, very basic idea for 2008, which had been approved by top management. The whole team was there -- myself, representing the actual writing end; Leah, the web producer
Yay, I am on vacation for a week ... Seven days of baseball, Playstation baseball, and WoW ...
Finished Bionicle Legends #8 on Easter Sunday, so am going to try not to do any LEGO writing this week, other than answering questions on BZP. (Yes, I will still be here.)
Had a good day today -- went up to Renbrook School in West Hartford and spoke to a few classes of fifth graders. One of the students there (who is also a BZP member, I believe) had sent me a letter a while back as part of a
Doing another library event -- July 10th, 1 pm, Willimantic Public Library, Willimantic, CT.
Also, visit info for me will be posted on the www.scholastic.com/authorvisit site soon, so that schools and public libraries in the Northeast interested in having me come speak can find out how to make it happen.
Greg
