KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysia) 1st APRIL
71 DAYS to launch
Happy April fools day y’all! Since my job is to make people laugh and to distract them from their daily lives with idiotic nonsense, i shall therefore desist from attempting an April fool’s joke about myself. Options i considered were:
I’m not coming back.
I’m having a sex change.
I’m racing in Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix
I’ve plagiarised Spud, Learning to Fly.
Penguin Books has gone bankrupt.
I’ve bought a brothel.
Macaulay Culkin is playing Spud in the movie!
So back to Malaysia. I find myself in the steamy equatorial capital of KL! Okay i thought Durban in February was worth moaning about, but this is a whole different ball game! The taxi driver who ferried us from the airport to the centre of the city yesterday morning was a lively character. He told Julia and I that we were extremely pale Africans and tried to out us as dinkum Aussies! Luckily we found some common ground discussing the Cape Malay culture and the evils of the global economy. He refused to open up about Malaysian politics, which made me immediately suspicious that he may be an undercover Malaysian booktrade operative. When he finally asked me what i did for a living to allow for a 2 month holiday, this is what followed.
MEÂ Â I write books
TAXIÂ Â Â What books?
MEÂ Â Funny books.
TAXI (Laughing hysterically for no apparent reason) Oh funny books!
MEÂ Â It’s set in a boarding school.
TAXIÂ Â Oh Harry Potter!
MEÂ Â Â Except without the magic.
TAXIÂ No magic?
MEÂ Â None.
TAXIÂ Â Nothing?
ME No magic.
The taxi driver doesn’t look impressed and falls silent for the remainder of the journey.
So there we were last night sitting at a sidewalk cafe, drinking Tiger beer, and devouring beef cantonese whilst watching the passing trade of this bustling Asian city. I love this place. I love cruising the streets at night with no other goal but to drink it all in. The foot massage was also a triumph – i could feel the stress and tension of a year behind the laptop leaving my body. It kind of made me want to whistle or perhaps sing a loud hymn in the streets. Unfortunately my sleeping times are shot being 6hrs ahead of SA and all. I only fell asleep at 4am this morning and awoke at 1400. Hopefully that rectifies itself soon because i’m losing out on free breakfasts.
So tonight it’s into Chinatown to check out the throbbing underbelly of KL. On Friday morning we leave for Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia where our backpacking begins in earnest. I’ll catch up with you there, and hopefully shall have some exciting news about Spud the Movie to share with you.
You all be good
love
J
Related posts:
- John van de Ruit – Journal Entry- April 7th
- John van de Ruit – Journal Entry- April 16th
- John van de Ruit- Journal Entry April 21st
- John van de Ruit- Journal Entry May 28th
- John van de Ruit- Journal Entry May 1st
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April 2nd, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Hey John, 2/04/09
I am South African, living in PNH (Phnom Penh) now for 1.5 years, with my husband and child.
Where are you gonna be in PNH, what’s ur plans?
cheers
Liesl
April 4th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi Liesl
I just got your message! Wow it’s sure an interesting place to live! We shall be here until Monday when we’re planning to head down to Kep for some R&R. We’re staying on the riverfront area – maybe we could gather for a cold one?
Oh and a question, is it possible to find adaptors to fit a regular 3 prong plug in PP?
April 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Hi John,
sorry as u probably found out already – no the 3pin plugs are not too readily available here, however you get the Ausie conversion thing for a 2 point plug. Hope that Helpls..
contact me directly on my email – If u arround still – to meet.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Cambodia – great country with great people, but a sad recent history which scars both. On another note, I work for a graphic novel company based in India. If you think Spud (or any other story ideas you have) would adapt well into a graphic novel, please get in touch. My e-mail is andrew@campfire.co.in
Thanks
Andy
May 9th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I never eva lyked readin until i red spud now i jst cnt stp readin it im currently readin spud 2 luv ur books my fam is so surprised
U DA BEST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Hi, I’m writing a research investigation on your plays, but I wasn’t able to find any techniques you use. If you read this and reply, that will be very helpful. Thank you!
May 19th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM FOR SPUD 3. I have read the other two about 15x just to get my ‘fix’ They are the funniest and such real books! I am so very happy that Spud 3 is on its way!!
YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY !!!
May 20th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Hi John, you have no idea how my life has changed since you wrote the first book. I have not read them….ever. The first I heard about them was when I recieved a call from a mate…”Hey Spud theres a book out about you! I have since denied any knowledge about this. Then you had to write the third one, and now it has become hilarious. I learnt to fly in matric………damn! I have to read them now after all this. hehehehehe, hope we meet one day John.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:46 am
yay i am so happy that there is going to be spud 3 i have read spud 1 and 2 about 30 times woohoo
May 30th, 2009 at 2:22 am
Hi John, after dusting off my old Spud (books 1 & 2) I just read the wickedly funny 1st novel cover to cover at 2 in the morning. It’s been about a year since the last time I read the books and enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. I laughed as much and I cried even more. Next up is Spud 2 and I’m eagerly awaiting Spud 3 (pre-ordered today, (Hope I win the dinner with you and a few of my friends). There are so many questions I have, but would like the opportunity to ask just one question (don’t want to ask on this forum as it will def spoil book 1 for anybody reading the book for the first time). Ps, I must confess to cussing and cursing you for the long wait. Expectations are high! The Brits have their Potter and we have our darling Spud Milton. Thanks bringing such amazing characters to life, hope they don’t fuck up the movie!
June 16th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
John
As a Brit, I was introduced to Spud by friends in SA about 18 months ago; so when is Learning to Fly going to be published in the UK?
June 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
spud is such cool book i cant wait to read the next
June 25th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Hey, John . . . your books rock! I’m 14 and a hate reading and now i love it ! I can’t put down the book and it’s awesum ! My parents are so suprised and can’t belive “she” (me) is actually reading a book! I’m already busy with the second book and on my way to the 3rd ! I’m sooo excited 4 the movie i can hardly wait ! I think it will be awsum !
Keep on goin and you’re a histaricly funny writer ! Luv you, and of course your books !
=) Liesl H SA !
June 28th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
I absolutely LOVE ur books. It took me 2 weeks to read Spud 3. Life feels so boring without Spud Books LOL. I can’t stop thinking about them. Plz write some more. I’m 12 years old, female, from Joburg.
I’m am a huge fun! Is all of this true, in ur books? Plz write back!
Love Olivia
July 11th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Hello people of the world!!!!!!! I was just wondering if the stories in spud is based on your own life and if the caracters in the crazy 8 really exsisted???
August 6th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Hey john.
i’m 13 and i absolutely adore your books.
i’m curious to know about all the Crazy 8 and if they all actually existed it seems far to radically awesome to be true. i’m mostly curious about Gecko, his life sounds soooooo unfair and sad that it seams so unreal, i’m very sorry about it if it was true. You are an awesome writer and i’m glad your dreams came true.
Ashleigh.
September 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
john you should say a BIG thank you 2 me..lol u know y…?coz if it wasnt 4 me i wouldnt have forced all my friends to read spud.ANYWAY! im like totally crazy 4 your book!iv even did a drama piece of your book…yoopa i got gold! oh and i cant wait 4 the movie to come out! and if you need a actress then you’ve found 1…ok well haha i love your book!
September 10th, 2009 at 2:39 am
Hi John I live in America. Both of my parents are from South Africa and this summer we went to the Midlands,Natal along with lots of other places in South Africa . It is absolutely beautiful. My family suggested that I read the Spud they said that is was a great book and that I would love it. And guess what….. They were right. We bought all three books at one time and I completed them in two weeks. I thought they were hilarious and reminded me of the stories that my father used to tell me about when he was in boarding school when he was little. Anyways I love the books. My mom also thought they were hilarious. Spud is now officially my favorite book. I have never read anything as funny as Spud.
Your number one reader from Texas, USA
Ellen Gouws
September 14th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Hi John,
Obviously a big fan. As an aspiring writer myself I have nurtured the habit of researching everything to irritating degrees and as such have done some research on a few things. I have read all three books about three times thus far.
Firstly something that has struck me as odd:
In the first book Spud writes that Emberton and Maddog are second cousins. Maddog then stuffs another banana up the Glocks Cressida’s exhaust pipe after Emberton was expelled to help him build a stronger case. But in the second book Emberton is walking around being a P#%k (excuse the language) and Mad dog then headbutts him at roll call.
Getting a final warning. Where’s the love gone? Was this intentional?
Other interesting facts I picked up:
Robert Black otherwise known in the book as Rambo shares his name and surname with a serial killer and rapist who was active in Scotland from the seventies to early eighties!
Wilbur Smith the famous author (who also attended Michaelhouse) had cerebral Malaria for ten days as a child. Wikipedia states that Gecko died of the same disease. Coincidence or a masterful author at work? was it cerebral Malaria that Gecko died of?
Also the Wiki site claims that Sparerib lost his rib because of bone cancer. Is that true? You make no reference of that in your book.
Keep the books coming and please don’t stop after Spud. I’m sure there are lots of interesting stories you can share with us!
September 15th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hey John, have just read all your latest spud books(Spud,Spud-Madness continues,Spud-Learning to fly) and am waiting with THE most xcitment to see when the NEW book is coming out, and obviously what it’s all about.
October 9th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Greetings John,
As ‘a local’ resident of the location for your marvellous KZN based literary works, I have been able to relate and I think that I have therefore derived extra enjoyment from yuo work.
Thank you for some brilliant entertainment and well done.
I figured to share with you some aerial photos I did of Michaelhouse. Whilst reading ‘Spud’, I would often open the one aerial image and leave it, like a screen saver on my PC and doing this provided a feeling of being part of – a more tangible experience, as I looked at the school grounds and wondered/imagined where each of the places were. See: http://www.airserv.co.za/tc.php?pk=wip#pmb
Please give me a call/email if any of these images (or even some new images) can be of use to you/Penguin, in illustrating any web sites, book launches or whatever.
Thanks and all the best. Cheers,
Steve
November 1st, 2009 at 8:10 pm
im glad that spud 3 is out but will their be a fourth and please put madog back in he is the best charactor.
May 30th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Hey Mr. Van De Ruit.
I am a huge fan of the Spud series and I just bought Learning To Fly today. Just dropped by to congratulate you on your well deserved success. You are a very talented writer. Keep up the great work. Any writing tips for aspiring writers out there?
Cheers.
July 9th, 2010 at 5:22 am
Hey John!
My name is Isobel and I am just IN LOVE with your books! I showed the books to three of my best friends and guess what?- they all loved it too!
All of us have read the first two books already and we’re dying to read the third one! Problem is though is that we live in the States and your book isn’t available here yet. I have an uncle in Namibia though and he’s visiting here in a few weeks and has promised to bring Spud: Learning to Fly with him. So I guess problem solved….
Meh, I’m ranting. I just found out that Spud the movie is coming out in November and my friends and I are just dying to see it and we were just wondering wether or not you’d be willing to send 4 American girls to South Africa to watch spud…. Or maybe if you’d be willing to send us the dvd or something.
I don’t know if you can see my email or not but if in the very very VERY slim chance that you’d actually be willing to send us to south africa or send us a dvd and need my email than just write it in your next blog or something.
ok, thanks for your time. if your even reading this that is.
Have a great life! I LOVE SPUD!
-Izzy C.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Hey John,
Just finished reading the three books, loved them 2 the moon and back! I was up to all hours of the night just reading, which is crazy because I usually hate reading, though your books seem to put a new meaning to reading! I was in fits of laughter at 2 in the morning!!! Anyways after watching the movie trailer 100 times it hit me, the movie is coming out at the end of the year but there is no signs of it coming out in australia!!! I am truly devastated!!! I no it will be the best movie ever and I really hope it will come to Australia and soon!!! I will be on the lookout for your next master piece!!
Thx a million
Saige