Ragnar Jónasson signs books with ink called Writer’s Blood

Icelandic crime writer Ragnar Jónasson has been signing books around the world this autumn with a fountain pen filled with red ink called “Writer’s Blood,” mbl.is reports.

Jónasson received the pen as a birthday gift this summer from British author Anthony Horowitz. Horowitz had read the English translation of Jónasson’s latest book before its UK release and praised it, Jónasson said during an interview on Spursmál, a programme where he and writer Yrsa Sigurðardóttir discussed their books and work.

Asked whether the ink was really called “Writer’s Blood,” Jónasson confirmed that it was, but said he could not say whether it contained blood from Horowitz or anyone else. When asked how he would refill the pen, he said he would have to speak to Horowitz. The pen has accompanied him on his travels, and he said he was unsure what would happen when the ink ran out.

The conversation also turned to a John F. Kennedy commemorative pen. Sigurðardóttir recalled her mother remembering the news of Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 while walking with her in a pram.