Urban Magic

My copy arrived yesterday! Ordered it from the UK as heaven knows when it’ll be released in the US. Now I’m impatiently rushing through the book I’m currently reading so I can get to Lyle as soon as possible. \o/

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh – it’s out, it’s published? I checked my book store and they said October, the fiends!

Seeing as how Mister Lyle is perhaps one of my favourite literary characters ever, this post has made me unreasonably happy. Whatever deity you may have bargained with in order to write such ineffably engaging people, it was worth it, let me tell you.

Just coming up to the last two chapters and I don’t want it to finish! This one is very creepy and funny at the same time – how is that possible? And I love your descriptions of London – you obviously love the place I love these books! Please keep writing them

Thanks

The Book Depository have notified me to say it’s been released, so it should be winging it’s way even as we speak. As for Lyle blowing stuff the fuck up, well, shallow as it seems, sometimes it’s just got to be done. Sometimes there’s just no substitute for “things fall down, go boom”. Going to Predators next week; lots of that sort of thing going on. Hell, even Matthew Swift enjoyed Iron Man…

Aww it has the non-matching cover. This does not appeal to my book OCD. I shall have to focus on the hurrah! More Horatio! aspect.

Also, I only just found out that Catherine Webb was you. I can’t believe I’ve been missing out on your other books! I only found out via tipsforteenwriting.com who you wrote a fantastic tip for not long ago. I did squeal when I found out. Now I just need to find some money to buy a pile of your books … hmm …

Spent the weekend reading The Dream Thief, and it was all I could do not to shriek with glee every five pages. Well done, Ms. Webb. Very well done, indeed.

Mine’s still not here, yet, but that’s fine, because I’m re-reading A Madness Of Angels in my phone at the moment, as well as Bill Bryson’s new book, plus the sense of anticipation means I’ll enjoy it all the more when it arrives. Damn, I’m good, I almost had myself convinced for a moment or two just then…

Horatio Lyle should be the reason people wake up in the morning.

…and it arrived this morning. Hurrah!

Congrats!

I just wanted to share with Imelda that I have the same book OCD! Luckily I haven’t purchased / read Horatio Lyle yet but it does annoy me in Urban Magic… mainly because I loved the UK AMoA cover. (Yes, one of your books, acronymed. Deal with it.)

I read Waywalkers recently (you’re not offended to be one of the so called “holiday reads” are you?) so after Timekeepers I think it’s off with Lyle whom I keep thinking of as Basil the Mouse Detective.

I absolutely love the Horatio Lyle series. How many books are there going to be? I just finished the 4th and it was amazing! Please write more!!! <3

Hi Catherine!

As Chloe had asked, are U planning to write more of H.Lyle? I really hope so. I enjoyed this series, one of my favorites.

As the above queries, really. I’m thoroughly enjoying all the books written under each of your names, and obviously would like to see the various stories continue as long as possible. However, and there has to be a ‘however’, stories centred around specific characters can be dragged out too long, with a stories suffering as a result, because the fanbase isn’t discriminating and will happily swallow anything as long as the character continues. Personally I don’t see that happening here because Kate/Catherine looks to have too much integrity and too much storytelling skill to allow that to happen, rather like a younger female Charles Stross, writing books running in multiple series with different styles thus keeping the stories fresh and interesting. My only query is do the current book series, Matthew Swift/Horatio Lyle, have a definite story arc, with a clear end in sight somewhere down the line, however many volumes that might be? And are there any new stories with new subjects/characters being mulled over?

In answer to as many questions in one go as I can manage…
1. I don’t know what Horatio Lyle’s future is… it could go any way, as far as I’m concerned, and I’m sure when you get to the end of Book 4, you’ll all find out why…
(Dig that suspense!)

2. BASIL THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE IS THE GREATEST FILM EVER!!

3. Yes, there is a story arc in the Lyle/Swift books… it just so happens that it’s entirely secondary to the main impetus of the story in the book itself. The reasoning should be that every book stands alone, and at the same time anyone rash enough to loyally stick along to number 4 should be able to see the way in which both the world and the characters have changed.

OMG I just bought The Dream Thief. Have a little peek at the end & glad it wasn’t over yet (isn’t it?)

Miss Kate, can you add some romance in the book for spice? Lin Tzi for Horatio? Teresa and Thomas maybe can become couple?

Hi Kate, thanks for the reply. That makes perfect sense, and I’m just thrilled to be along for the ride, however long it is. The scenery is endlessly interesting, and I’m enjoying the view. There is a thread on a mountain bike forum chat section that I frequent asking for suggestions for High Fantasy books, so I was touting all your books to as many people as possible.

To sleep, perchance to dream…

I’ve been following your books for some time now and have been loving Horatio Lyle, so I almost fell over when I was in a book shop and found out that you had released a fourth book and I had missed it completely.
That was last week and I can happily say I didn’t waste time getting a copy and couldn’t put it down. It was amazing!!!!
Thank you and although i agree with AdrianH’s comment, and it was a great ending to the book, I really hope there is another one in the future.