Just over a week ago, NIGHTMARE ACADEMY published in the UK with the subtitle CHARLIE'S MONSTERS. It's a really beautiful edition. In fact, this is what it looks like:



Yesterday, I got word from Nick Lake, my terrific editor there, that the first week sales were "REALLY strong." So... thanks a ton to all the readers who picked it up and enjoyed it. I've heard from a bunch of you via e-mail and have thoroughly enjoyed our conversations.

I would especially like to thank Nick Lake for the wonderful job he and his staff did with the production and release of the book. Now, I've never met Nick in person or even spoken to him on the phone. In fact, I've never even seen a PICTURE of him, so I pretty much have to use my imagination to visualize him.

To me, he combines many qualities from people in the UK that I admire. In my mind, he has the skill of David Beckham:



The emotional range of Sir John Gielgud:



The writing prowess of Roald Dahl:



And the fierce protectiveness of a Buckingham Palace guard:



So, I ran all these pictures through a complicated computer morphing program to get a sense of what the real Nick Lake looks like.

I know you're anxious to see, so here he is:



Now, if that's not correct (and technology sometimes fails me) I encourage Nick to submit a more accurate photo of himself.

And, just to be fair, I used the same program to generate a picture of my great US editor, Barbara Lalicki, based on a number of inspiring women that she reminds me of.

Here's Barbara:



Take care...