Penguin Books Blog » John van de Ruit

First ever live webchat with John van de Ruit

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:00:01 +0000

Don’t miss out on an exclusive opportunity to chat online with John van de Ruit, the creator of the Spud series, on 25 March between 3pm – 4pm on the The Official Spud Books Fan Page.

Do you have a burning question you’d like to ask John about Spud, Spud- The Madness Continues… or Spud- Learning to Fly? Perhaps you have a storyline suggestion for the next book in the series releasing in 2012?

Whatever you would like to ask John, start thinking about it now, jot it down in your Spud Journal and save the date.

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A letter from Spud author John van de Ruit

admin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 11:45:54 +0000

12 January 2011
A THOUSAND MILES WITH HENRY CHARLES BUKOWSKI

Yesterday I received news, courtesy of producer Ross Garland’s carrier pigeon, that prefers to fly under the curious pseudonym of Henry Charles Bukowski, that it carried with it an important missive. After languidly wolfing down a bowl of seed and slotting half a Red Bull, the feathery creature kindly extended its leg and I was able to remove the small note attached to the its knobbly ankle. The note read:

Spud (the movie/film) has passed the R15m mark at the South African box office with over half a million tickets sold in just six weeks. Frosty Regards. The Producers…

Forgive me for being blunt my friends, but this is an astonishing number of people who clearly had very little to do over the holidays and thought a film about a wistful boy with small privates would enliven their moribund festive season. It could be something to do with the weather, or more specifically that our weather is read by an American. Nevertheless, I would like to thank all of you who came out to see the movie and to those who still plan to catch it in the coming weeks, or later on DVD, or perhaps even on MNet for those with gout or an affectionate armchair. The monumental effort made by so many talented people has been rewarded after all the months and years of agonising, which is a thrill and also a relief. However, even with my severely limited Mathematical capabilities, I couldn’t help but identify a slight but noticeable difference (300 000) between the number of Spud books and movie tickets sold. I admit that cinema tickets are far cheaper than novels, and that reading for many is akin to having an intravenous injection of rat poison, but it’s simply not good enough. After an afternoon of contemplation I may have stumbled upon a devious plan to encourage reading in the country. I have decided to withhold the film rights for The Madness Continues until more people have read Spud than seen Spud. Taking the book’s current growth path into consideration this should mean the Madness film will hit cinemas in early 2028. Enjoy the show.
But enough about shooting potatoes…

For those returning to school this year, and I suppose one would have to include Spud Milton in this unfortunate category, I offer my sympathies and wish you all the best for your year/ordeal. I think it’s important that you focus on the positives of your situation (if there are any) rather than dwell on the overwhelming and numerous negatives. Remember too that education offers you the chance to grow your mind, expand your horizons, and pick on unfortunate looking people without being arrested. For those returning to boarding school, there is always the bonus of connecting with old friends and foes and sharing false conquest stories from the holidays. Day school learners should smile heartily at yet another year of mum’s Bovril sarmies at break time. For the rest of you who aren’t returning to school, you will either be making your own Bovril sarmies or buying them at exorbitant prices elsewhere.

I wish you all a fabulous year, and if it turns into a stinker, remember to keep laughing and imus vita in momentum.

John van de Ruit
11/1/11

Ps Two insane Penguins from Penguin Books (my publishers) have concocted a devious plan to amass 200 000 human Spud fans on one site. Now I readily declare these two fine Penguins to be absolutely and without a shred of doubt insane, but one still has to admire their chutzpa, and applaud them for making this the fastest growing Penguin fan site in the world. Moral of the story: “Live free and embrace your insanity”.

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The Making of SPUD The Movie Launch Invitation

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:07:02 +0000

Penguin Books and Exclusive Books Morningside take pleasure in inviting you to the launch of John van de Ruit and Ross Garland’s book The Making of SPUD The Movie.
THE MAKING OF SPUD THE MOVIE LAUNCH INVITATION

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Spud set to thrill audiences

admin — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:05:16 +0000

John van de Ruit’s Spud the Movie is racking up great reviews one such review was recently done by Timeslive. Click on the following link to read http://www.timeslive.co.za/entertainment/article752190.ece/Spud-set-to-thrill-audiences

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M&G survey – John van de Ruit

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:51:37 +0000

Spud author John van de Ruit has been voted as ‘One of the Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch’ in the Arts & Lifestyle section ~ http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-06-26-young-south-africans-arts-lifestyle

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A word from John van de Ruit…

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:28:03 +0000

THE POTATO MOVIE AND OTHER MUSINGS.

Itâ€™s been a while since I last indulged in a spot of blogging â€“ 2009 in fact. I trust you all had a spankingly good holiday â€“ although no doubt the memory of which has long receded in the mind.Â My festive season was a chaotic affair, mainly due to the fact that Jules and I moved into a new house. It was sad to leave Wombatâ€™s flat and Wombatâ€™s ghost behind, but neither seemed to take offence at our hasty exit. Wombatâ€™s flat (as it is now known) is where I have done much of my Spud writing and it still has Catch 22 pasted to the wall of the study. Now faded and yellow and yet still brilliant.

Three days after moving into the new house, I received the screamworthy news that John Cleese had officially signed on the dotted line to play The Guv. Five days after that, and following months of torture, I learned that the financing had finally been secured and the film was green-lit to begin shooting in March. After years of uncertainty and one step forward, two steps back, Spud the Movie has galloped past the point of no return. A 100% privately financed film in South Africa is a rarity, and my endless thanks and gratitude go out to those who have taken the risk in the name of faith, hope and Spud. I wish for your investment to be returned tenfold.Â Now, for those of you who arenâ€™t that well versed in the lingo of film, being privately financed means that creative control and all creative decisions remain in the hands of the producers rather than film studio execs, or even worse, a pushy financier who once starred in a house play at school. That means we live or die by the creative decisions we are making right now, and will continue to make for months.Â That all adds up to more excitement, less sleep and less fingernails.

Speaking of choices, final casting for the teen roles is imminent, although I can officially announce that the role of Spud will be played by the phenomenally talented Troye Sivan, star of Wolverine X-Men Origins.Â But returning to the search for the teen characters – what an intriguing process it has been. It evolved into a nationwide talent search that opened the door of possibility to many who would never have had a shot at auditioning for a film before. To call the process thorough would be an understatement and I thank you all for your patience and courage in giving it a shot.Â I could not tell you how many audition tapes we have watched and re-watched. Debates and discussions have zigzagged between Cape Town, Joâ€™burg and Durban as we gradually filed the actors down to the shortlist for each character. For those that are cast, congratulations and break a leg, to those that got so close, my commiserationsÂ – take strength in the knowledge that you got this far and the creative spirit resides in you all.

As you can imagine with all the film tumult, I have had little time to cast my mind forward to the final book in the series. Iâ€™m often asked when the final Spud might magically appear in a bookstore round the corner â€“ unfortunately I cannot answer that yet. Rest assured, as soon as I know, Iâ€™ll let you know.

Be chilled, and be happy.
John

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John van de Ruit on Sewende Laan!

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:05:58 +0000

John van de Ruit, author of SpudÂ will be making aÂ cameo appearance on Sewende Laan on Wednesday the 2^ndof September at 18h30 on SABC2.

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John van de Ruit writes you a letter…

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:17:36 +0000

Dear Reader
Â
FRANKENSTEIN’S BACK!
Â
Man those luscious days in Cambodia and Thailand feel like some time ago now. In fact even the Cape Town Book Fair has receded
into the throbbing haze of talks, interviews and book signings. But let me resume from the very beginning and stagger forward in an orderly fashion.
Â
THE LAUNCH (JOZI PART 1)
Â
Armed with a decent suntan, three signing pens, and a bubbly SE Asian inspired mojo, I set off for Johannesburg unsure of what to expect…

To read further click hereÂ Â http://www.spud.penguinbooks.co.za/

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John van de Ruit – Spud Learning to Fly Book Launch

admin — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:52:09 +0000

Related posts:John Van De Ruit Prepares To Launch His Third Book Spud – Learning To Fly John van de Ruit, author of Spud and Spud...John van de Ruit launches Spud- Learning to Fly to a cold but cheerful crowd! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Pre-Publication launch of John van de Ruit’s book...A letter from Spud author John [...] Related posts:

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John van de Ruit launches Spud- Learning to Fly to a cold but cheerful crowd! Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â The Pre-Publication launch of John van de Ruit’s book...
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Penguins spoilt with double author visits- Adele Parks & John van de Ruit

admin — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:30:08 +0000

All at Penguin were treated with a visitÂ from two of Penguin’s best loved authors. First was sunny Adele Parks author of Love, Lies who stopped in to say hello and chat to the Penguin SA staff on her way to the Cape Town Book Fair. Later on in the morning a charming as ever John van de Ruit strolled into the Penguin SA Rosebank office to sign limited edition hardback Spud- learning to Fly copies for all at the Penguin colony.

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