All the FICTS!

Brandi & her pink panda!

Can you believe it has been a month? A whole 4 weeks of FICTS!  Crazy stuff indeed.  I’d like to thank everyone who has popped by and checked the FICTS out.  Especial thanks go to all the gang on Twitter and Facebook who helped spread the word far and wide.

And the award for Number 1 FICTS Fan must go to Brandi,who has bought copious amounts of FICTS merchandise – we love ya Brandi!

BTW, the FICTS store can be found by CLICKING HERE.

So here are all 20 FICTS, as drawn by the uber-talented Robert Rankin (and written by me) – this isn’t the end of FICTS, just the start! We’ll keep posting the written FICTS, and we are always overjoyed to see you Fan FICTS…keep em coming!

Please continue to support us by leaving any positive feedback you have about the FICTS concept and artwork in the comments box…the more we get the easier it will be to persuade a publisher to take a chance and publish an entire book of FICTS!

And don’t forget, FICTS are all around us…all you have to do it keep a weather-eye out for them

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner @ Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

The FINAL FICT!!!

It’s a sad day indeed, for this Bank Holiday Monday brings the very final FICT - well, it’s the last FICT from the initial draft 20 Robert created to help sell the concept to publishers.  There are, in fact, another 180 odd FICTS written (and more coming all the time!). But for now, this is the final FICT to show you.

If you have enjoyed FICTS, please let us know by leaving a comment below.  We are looking for positive endorsements and feedback we can quote to publishers. And if you know someone in publishing, or ARE someone in publishing, please share FICTS and maybe get in touch.  We are ready to go and can get a whole heap of new FICTS drawn in no time.

Don’t forget, while new FICTS may not be coming for a while, there is still the FICTS Online Store, where you can find all the FICTS emblazoned across a multitude of things like T-shirts, mugs, birthday cards, mousepads, etc… The more you buy, the more proof we have that FICTS are worth something to a publisher.  You can find the shop by CLICKING HERE!

So, for now, sit back, relax and enjoy the final FICT…FICT #20:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Thanks for all your support and encouragement over the last month…do please keep checking out the blog for lots more fun and toot talking and FICTS nonsense.

Oh, and if you’ve discovered Robert Rankin through FICTS, why not consider reading some of his 30-odd novels.  Comic fantasy but set in the real world, known as far fetched fiction, they are a real blast.  I would recommend starting with the 8 books of the Brentford Trilogy (!), “The Antipope” or “The Brentford Triangle”.  And if you have fallen in love with Robert, then why not become a member of his official fanclub, The Order of the Golden Sprout by CLICKING HERE …it’s a lovely place to meet a wide range of fellow Rankinites, and Robert takes more than a passing interest, he helps run the damn thing! (You’ll never meet a more passionate author when it comes to meeting and hanging out with his fans!)

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #19

18 down and 2 to go…so sadly, here’s the penultimate official FICT…#19:

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store with all your fave FICT images – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Fan FICTS by Heather Korbey

While we are talking about Fan FICTS, here’s a few entries from Heather Korbey:

(c) Heather Korbey (written by Neil Gardner)

(c) Heather Korbey (written by Neil Gardner)

(c) Heather Korbey (written by Neil Gardner)

(c) Heather Korbey (written by Neil Gardner)

Fan FICTS Competition – Deadline EXTENDED

Since there is a Bank Holiday this weekend in the UK, I’ve decided that it is a good opportunity for some Fan FICT drawing…therefore, the deadline for entries for the Fan FICT competition has been extended until:

11.59pm/23.59 (GMT) Tuesday 1st September

…so that gives you another 4 and half days to get drawing and sending.  Need a reminder of the rules?

***************************************************************************************************************

Since I have over 200 FICTS ready to go, and as the FICTS we’ve shown you so far have been well received, I thought it might be nice to offer YOU the chance to create a FICT of your own!

So, below you will find 10 unillustrated FICTS.  Pick ONE and have a go at illustrating it.  Please stick to the style we have set i.e. the FICT is within a circle. Once your FICT is finished, post a link to it as a comment here and I will post them up on the Blog.

There will be a prize for the Fan FICT the readers vote as the best!!! A personally signed, first edition FICT poster.  Signed by myself and the god of far-fetched fiction and FICT illustrating, Robert Rankin!

So get those black pens out and start drawing.  I advise using an A4 sized piece of paper as this will allow for maximum clarity once we have it scanned in.  Then save as a hi-quality JPEG or PNG file, and email it to neilgardner@ladbrokeradio.com .

GOOD LUCK!

Here’s the FICTS:

1. The mild mannered moth will, if given half a chance, munch his way through a kilogram of Russian literature a day
2. Staggeringly you can twist the average blue tit through 360 degrees and all you will get in response from the bird is mild giggling
3. In certain winds, schools of fish can be seen wearing flying goggles and those natty white wind-swept scarves
4. Sausages were first discovered by Dr Littlejohn-Saint-Smithens-Smythington-Jones, on a river trip up the Amazon in 1867.  It was about 4.30 in the afternoon and he was trailing his fingers in the water when all of a sudden he was bitten, by the South American Lesser Jumping Sausage.  Following emergency surgery, the doctor went on to discover sausages living a predatory lifestyle in rivers across the globe!
5. Lumberjacks like to eat more than their fair share of toilet rolls.  Lucky then that when they pass wind it results in gales of Andrex puppies
6. If left undisturbed in its natural environment, the Peruvian Fruit bat can grow to be a little over 312 miles long. Staggering considering it remains only 1 centimetre wide!
7. The Great White Shark, most feared of all the sea’s predators, can knit three or four long-sleeved sweaters a week. It specialises in mittens though
8. Frank D Elbow was the last man to see the Bavarian Licking Bear first hand and close up.  After the encounter he said he felt ‘somewhat violated but invigorated’
9. During a time of crises you can avoid the cost of a psychiatrist by talking through your problems with a giraffe.  They are great listeners and have answers to most of the big emotional issues that plague us today
10. Doves like a good laugh…they also write drafts of chick-flick movies.  None have been green lit yet, but the doves live in hope.

N.B. The competition is open for 2 weeks, and closes at11.59pm (GMT) Tues 1st Sept 2009.  All work remains the (c) of the person who posted it. Anyone of any age can enter.  The illustration MUST be your own work.  Any theft or misuse of (c) material will lead to that person being disqualified and blocked. NO offensive language or explicit images. The competition will be judged via a blog poll during the week 2nd-9th September 2009.  In the event of a tie, the final winner will be chosen by Neil Gardner.  The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.  This competition is meant as entertainment and fun. By entering the competition and posting links to your images you consent to allowing Neil Gardner and Robert Rankin to use your images in relation to FICTS on this blog and on other blogs and websites, as well as on social networking sites such as, but not limited to Twitter and Facebook.

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #18

We’re counting down to the big 20 – so here’s FICT #18.

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #17

We’re nearly at the end (sob sob).  But before we get there, here’s FICT #17:

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Wear Your FICT With Pride!

We’ve had our first customer at the Official FICTS Online Store – the lovely Brandi – and she’s sent us a piccie of herself modeling her beloved “Death Duck” babydoll T-shirt, and enjoying her new “Biscuit in Space” mousepad – looking great Brandi!

Would you like a FICT T-shirt, or mug, or mousepad or even a FICT birthday card?  All these and more are available now over that the store.  You can get to the store by CLICKING HERE.  All the products are available for posting around the world!

And if you like a bit of podcasting fun and frolics, why not check out Brandi’s “The Insideoutcast” by CLICKING HERE – it’s well worth a listen!

Brandi and her very own "Death Duck" babydoll T-shirt

Brandi brandishing her new FICTS mousepad!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #16

We’re in to the final 5 FICTS now folks!  So here is FICT #16:

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Fan FICTS…Don’t Miss Your Chance!

There’s under a week to go in our Fan FICTS competition!  If you’ve not already done so, get you fan FICT image to us ASAP.  Just send a link to the image as a comment here on the blog, or via Facebook or Twitter.

Our fave so far this week comes from Lord Bungle:

(c) Lord Bungle (text by Neil Gardner), 2009

Fancy a go?  The rules can be found by CLICKING HERE!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #15

And so, the final week of FICTS begins…so here it is, FICT #15:

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

All the FICTS so far…

We’re at the end of week 3 of the trial run of FICTS, that’s 14 FICTS in total…in case you missed one, here’s the FICTS so far – You can see a full size version of each image by clicking on the piccie…enjoy!

N.B. Don’t forget you can now buy official FICTS merchandise from our online store – http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

N.B. And we are also running a competition – draw your own FICT and maybe win a prize?! Check it out by CLICKING HERE!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner @ Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #14

It’s the end of week three, so here’s the last FICT of the week! FICT #14:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Please check out the new Official FICTS Online Store at http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #13

Can you Adam & Eve it?! It’s FICT #13:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Please check out the new Official FICTS Online Store at http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

FICTS You Can Buy!

We are very proud to launch the new Online FICTS Store, courtesy of the lovely people at Zazzle.co.uk.  You can buy a range of stuff including men’s and ladies T-shirts, including the much requested babydoll T-shirts, plus 2-tone mugs, posters, mousepads, birthday cards and more.  The first 12 designs are now up, and each day a new design will be added until all 20 initial designs are available.

And on Day 1 we are very proud to say that Zazzle has chosen our very own “Squid Ink” ladies babydoll T-shirt as a BEST OF THE DAY…and that means even more people will get to learn about FICTS!

So please check us out at: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/hokusbloke*

Products are available in the US and UK stores, and Zazzle will post them anywhere in the world!  If you need to change the language or currency look at the bottom of the front page and click on the relevant flag.

Thanks for looking and buying

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #12

Roll up, roll up….time for FICT #12:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #11

Time for FICT #11:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #10

Our third week of FICTS begins!  Don’t miss your chance to create a Fan FICT and maybe win a rare FICT prize (check out the post below this one). In the meantime…here’s FICT #10:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Fancy Trying Your Hand At a Fan FICT? Maybe win a prize?!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

Since I have over 200 FICTS ready to go, and as the FICTS we’ve shown you so far have been well received, I thought it might be nice to offer YOU the chance to create a FICT of your own!

So, below you will find 10 unillustrated FICTS.  Pick ONE and have a go at illustrating it.  Please stick to the style we have set i.e. the FICT is within a circle. Once your FICT is finished, post a link to it as a comment here and I will post them up on the Blog.

There will be a prize for the Fan FICT the readers vote as the best!!! A personally signed, first edition FICT poster.  Signed by myself and the god of far-fetched fiction and FICT illustrating, Robert Rankin!

So get those black pens out and start drawing.  I advise using an A4 sized piece of paper as this will allow for maximum clarity once we have it scanned in.  Then save as a hi-quality JPEG or PNG file, and reduce it down to 900 pixels wide.  This seems to be the optimum size for the blog, and allows us to reduce it or scale up with no lack of quality.

GOOD LUCK!

Here’s the FICTS:

1. The mild mannered moth will, if given half a chance, munch his way through a kilogram of Russian literature a day
2. Staggeringly you can twist the average blue tit through 360 degrees and all you will get in response from the bird is mild giggling
3. In certain winds, schools of fish can be seen wearing flying goggles and those natty white wind-swept scarves
4. Sausages were first discovered by Dr Littlejohn-Saint-Smithens-Smythington-Jones, on a river trip up the Amazon in 1867.  It was about 4.30 in the afternoon and he was trailing his fingers in the water when all of a sudden he was bitten, by the South American Lesser Jumping Sausage.  Following emergency surgery, the doctor went on to discover sausages living a predatory lifestyle in rivers across the globe!
5. Lumberjacks like to eat more than their fair share of toilet rolls.  Lucky then that when they pass wind it results in gales of Andrex puppies
6. If left undisturbed in its natural environment, the Peruvian Fruit bat can grow to be a little over 312 miles long. Staggering considering it remains only 1 centimetre wide!
7. The Great White Shark, most feared of all the sea’s predators, can knit three or four long-sleeved sweaters a week. It specialises in mittens though
8. Frank D Elbow was the last man to see the Bavarian Licking Bear first hand and close up.  After the encounter he said he felt ‘somewhat violated but invigorated’
9. During a time of crises you can avoid the cost of a psychiatrist by talking through your problems with a giraffe.  They are great listeners and have answers to most of the big emotional issues that plague us today
10. Doves like a good laugh…they also write drafts of chick-flick movies.  None have been green lit yet, but the doves live in hope.

N.B. The competition is open for 2 weeks, and closes on Sat 29th August 2009.  All work remains the (c) of the person who posted it. Anyone of any age can enter.  The illustration MUST be your own work.  Any theft or misuse of (c) material will lead to that person being disqualified and blocked. NO offensive language or explicit images. The competition will be judged via a blog poll during the week 29th August to 5th September 2009.  In the event of a tie, the final winner will be chosen by Neil Gardner.  The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered in to.  This competition is meant as entertainment and fun. By entering the competition and posting links to your images you consent to allowing Neil Gardner and Robert Rankin to use your images in relation to FICTS on this blog and on other blogs and websites, as well as on social networking sites such as, but not limited to Twitter and Facebook.

FICTS So Far…

It’s been 2 weeks of FICT-Filled fabulousness, and it seems they are going down well.  So, since it’s the weekend and no new FICTS are due until Monday, I thought I would do a few FICT-based things to fill the gap.  So first off, here’s a compilation of the FICTS we’ve seen so far…have YOU seen them all yet? (Ooh, it’s a bit like Pokemon?!).  Clicky an image to jump to the relevant Blog page to see the FICT in its full-sized glory:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin (2009)

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

(c) Neil Gardner @ Robert Rankin, 2009

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #9

Can you believe it, it’s the final FICT of week 2!!  So here it is, FICT #9:

(c) Neil Gardner @ Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #8

Yup, yup yup…it’s time for FICT #8:

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #7

Good Dawkins, we are already at FICT #7!

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #6

Week 2, day 2…and therefore it is time for FICT #6

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin (2009)

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!

Somewhere Between Fact & Fiction You Will Find…FICTS! #5

OK, it’s week 2, day 1…and therefore it is time for FICT #5

(c) Neil Gardner & Robert Rankin, 2009

In my time as a radio presenter and producer I have written many short-form comedy items, but the one that was the most popular by far, and kept popping back at every station and on every show I worked on was something called ‘101 Interesting But Blatantly Untrue Facts’.  Over the years I have thought about trying to get these surreal and ridiculous little non-facts published as one of those little books you see by the tills in bookstores.  And then in early 2008 a publisher friend suggested I add illustrations to the book, to make it more appealing.  Who did I know who was an ace illustrator?  Who other than best-selling author of far fetched fiction Robert Rankin!  I sent the full list of 200+ non-facts to Robert and asked if he would illustrate a few IF he found the idea funny enough.  Well, he did, and so far he has produced 20 sample illustrations, all of which are, frankly, superb.

I have put together a sample book and have been taking it around various publishers and agents for the past 6 months.  I am also trying to get the now retitled FICTS (part fact part fiction…Robert’s very good idea) into a national newspaper as a weekly cartoon.  Whatever happens, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few of them here first.

So, every weekday, for the next 4 weeks, there will be a DAILY FICT for you to feast your eyes upon!  If you enjoy them, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE recommend this blog to friends and family, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, and if you know anyone who might be interested in publishing the book or use FICTS in a magazine, do send them our way.

Do please leave comments and feedback, links to other interesting blogs, and do also please vote on whether you like the FICTS or not using the 5-star ratings at the top of the page!