David Maybury | Blog

Exciting news to brighten up your Monday! The brilliant Patrick Ness has just published a brand-new Chaos Walking extract online which sheds a little light on a ‘certain someone’s’ arrival on a ‘certain planet’ - I’m doing my best to stay in the spirit of Patrick’s anti-spoiler stance here but you’ll soon see what I’m on about when you start reading).

Book 3 can’t come soon enough in my humble opinion! td

Hello - it looks like this is your first time here - you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed or click here to find out more about me. Thanks for visiting!

Greetings - Tom Donegan here from CBI. I must admit to being a wee bit afeared at the thought of stepping in young Mr Maybury’s mighty brogues, but I’ve decided to overcome my trepidation so that I might spread the word a little about a fantastic new book by the wonderful Jane Mitchell.

A previous winner of the Bisto Book of the Year Award, Jane’s latest title Chalkline (Walker Books) marks a return to novel-writing after a break of almost a decade - and what a comeback!

Taking up the story of Kashmiri schoolboy Rafiq, the narrative charts his devastating inculcation into the ranks of a band of rebel freedom fighters. It’s hard-hitting stuff and Mitchell doesn’t flinch from the darkest aspects of the issues at stake, though the harsh reality of children being involved in terrorist activities is softened on occasion by more light-hearted insights into everyday village life in this little known part of the world.

Based on the author’s real-life experiences of travelling in the area, the landscape and characters are alive with authentic detail and it’s little wonder that Amnesty International have endorsed it as contributing to a better understanding of human rights and the values that underpin them. High praise indeed!

Chalkline is available in all good bookshops now. Younger readers can also look forward to Jane visiting a library or school near them, as she will be touring the country as part of this October’s national Children’s Books Festival events programme, details of which will begin to appear on the CBI website over the coming months…

Phew, now time for a deep breath! How did I do? ! td

NEWSFLASH - I have it  on good authority that Jane will be on the RTE Radio 1 Arts Show with Vincent Woods this evening (Monday 15th) from around 8pm. Turn on, tune in…

One of the best parts about being away has been visiting bookshops. Getting to grips with how books are sold, and written, for a completely different market. But kids love good stories no matter where they are - and how cool is it to see Judi Curtin, Roisín Meaney, Eoin Colfer and Darren Shan in a tiny bookshop in Hong Kong??

Eoin Colfer has been the big traveller so far - every shop we’ve visited in China and Thailand has stocked at least one of his books, and many have his entire back catalogue, just in case. The real moment of pride was finding the O’Brien Press editions of Judi Curtin in Hong Kong. The guys in the shop thought I’d lost my mind when I jumped around holding Alice and Megan Forever - though they were kind enough to give me a crash course in the who’s who of Hong Kong kids lit. Fun!

We’re gallivanting in Thailand at the minute - island hopping and struggling through the torturous hours of blue skies, long sandy beaches and crazy Thai masseuse. As per usual - plenty of pics on Flickr.

Has anyone else seen the longlist for this years Guardian Prize? I’ve read five of the eight listed - and they make up an interesting, difficult list. The recent winner of the Bisto Book of the Year, Siobhan Dowd is on there, as is Nation, Terry Pratchett’s island adventure.

As with last years prize - which included Jenny Downham’s Before I Die, Frank Cottrell Boyce’s Cosmic and Siobhan Dowd’s Bog Child - I don’t envy the judges their choice. And in the mean time…. I’ve got some reading to do.

And the nominees are:

Genesis - Bernard Beckett
The Silver Blade - Sally Gardner
Nation - Terry Pratchett
Then - Morris Gleitzman
Rowan the Strange - Julie Hearn
Exposure - Mal Peet
Solace of the Road - Siobhan Dowd
Revolver - Marcus Sedgwick

I’ve already given ye the ‘how it felt to be a judge‘ spiel so I’m gonna keep this short. The winners for the Bisto Book of the Year Award 2009 were announced yesterday - I’m missing all the fun at the minute… Anyway, without further babble on my part.

Bisto Book of the Year: Bog Child (Siobhan Dowd)
Eilís Dillon Award:  Anila’s Journey (Mary Finn)
Bisto Honour Award for Writing: Creature of the Night (Kate Thompson)
Bisto Honour Award for Illustration: The Great Paper Caper (Oliver Jeffers)
Judges Special Recognition Award: Highway Robbery (Kate Thompson)

The most deserving books made it onto the shortlist - and the best were fairly recognised. Congratulations to everyone nominated and of course, to the winners.

I thoroughly enjoyed David’s live blogging of last year’s Children’s Books Ireland Conference.

I knew we were going to miss it this time around. Though, I have a feeling that this year Dave, as a hip young thing, would have put aside the blog and stuck with Twitter throughout the weekend.

So let me present my attempt at Dave’s twitter summary of the weekend

International illustrations rock as do our own writers. Writing is joy and all kids need to see themselves in books. Eoin colfer is funny. #CBI Conference 09

Very Hungry Caterpillar

I’m not exactly at the desk these days but Mercier Press managed to find me long enough to let me know about something exciting. They’ve come up with a decent competition for illustrators looking for a break, namely the chance to clinch a €5,000 publishing deal.

They’re printing a new edition of Patricia Lynch’s Tales of Irish Enchantment and are seeking submissions from potential illustrators to work on the book. There’s €5,000 up for grabs as well as your name on the cover…

Deadline for entries is June 14 - and all ye need to submit are two full colour illustrations and send ‘em via their website. Be warned though, the winner will have to complete up to 70 more images within seven months of winning the competition.

Good Luck!

Poor Dave, forced to trek around the horrible old earth. He doesn’t have half the time for trawling through the Sunday spreads like i do.

He’ll miss this interesting little piece in The Guardian, The Giant of Modern Literature?

I’m guessing he already has the answer sussed. Wish I was on holidays…..

So I can’t read a word of Mandarin and my Cantonese is woeful but it hasn’t stopped me from heading into as many bookshops as I could find in Beijing and talking to booksellers, publishers and a writer or two. I’m not sure what I was expecting…but it wasn’t RL Stine.

Admittedly Stine is an old favourite so I was very glad to see his Goosebump stuff in every bookshop. Of course he wasn’t alone - Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is here too, though shelved with the adult fiction and bestsellers.

Outside of those two though there doesn’t seem to be much available - at least not in Beijing. The bookshops have huge amounts of floor space dedicated to children’s books, all of it given over to prescribed school books. (Some of which was probably fiction and I just couldn’t tell)

Reading for kids is evolving in China - mostly around multi-media - as books are being released in bundles with DVDs or VCDs. It is limited to younger audiences, there has been little or no move yet by Chinese publishers to try them on other markets, though they are watching to see how successful the markets are.

One Chinese author Rao Xueman has been very open about the importance of authors adapting to new media - and says that young readers have become less satisfied with reading word by word. Pictures, music and video are all important parts of the sales package now.

That said, the production values of Rao’s videos are great and they don’t come cheap - Roa has the circulation figures to compensate her publisher (Sandglass is up around 1.8 million copies).

Maybe Shanghai will have more to say.

Just a few pics from Beijing - ye can follow the rest of the trip here, as well as sporadic twitter updates

I’m having some blog withdrawal so here’s one last, honest it’s my last, paper link post (from Beijing no less).

SF Sai reviews Shaun Tan’s excellent new book of short stories - Tales from Outer Suburbia in the Guardian:

This may be the most beautiful book you’ll see all year. Once you’ve read it, you may find yourself feeling as though an exchange student from another planet has dropped by and left a glowing matchbox garden in your kitchen cupboard.

Alison Flood checks out Logicomix - graphic novels based on the life of Bertrand Russell, the philosopher, logician, mathematician and Nobel prize for literature winner.

The book is a rare intellectual and artistic achievement which will, I am sure, lead its readers to explore realms of knowledge they thought were forbidden to them.

Michael Rosen talks laureatships in the Guardian -

I’ve come to the conclusion that the most important thing any of us who care about children’s books can do is to be enthusiastic about them. In the present climate, where books are the optional extra in schools too busy “doing literacy” to have time to read, being enthusiastic about books has become slightly subversive.

Michael Prest talks to Micheal Rosen in the Independent UK - laureates were in vogue last week. This time Rosen encourages anyone/everyone to study Children’s literature - he’s on a quest to get everyone reading - and he’s setting up a new MA in Children’s lit in Birbeck College, London.

The Guardian defends Comic Sans. Every font has its day.

Sarah Clarke, Waterstone’s Book Buyer, takes a stab at choosing her own modern classics in the Telegraph.

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers: This is a beautifully illustrated and very touching tale of friendship. Last Christmas’s animation has ensured that it will, like The Snowman, be enjoyed by generations to come.

Back in the Guardian with Julie Eccleshare - reviewing Mo Willem’s Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed, ohn Yeoman and Quentin Blake’s The Wild Washerwomen and Tasha Pym and Joel Stewart’s Have You Ever Seen a Sneep?

And one last interview - back in the Independent UK. Jonathan Sale talks to Lucy Hawking about the series she has co-written with her Dad, Stephen.

The three “George” books are based on my father’s 40-year career in science. It was my idea in the first place – the characters and the plot lines – and he is my scientific adviser. I always knew he was a scientist, not least because our house was always full of physicists, who seemed to be incredibly numerous, although in fact theoretical physics is a very small world.

‘Sup Kids!

By the time this goes out we’ll be halfway across Europe and on our way to China. But don’t worry - I’ve left you all in capable hands with some guest bloggers on hand to keep ye up to speed and reading some interesting bits and pieces.

And of course you can click on the big Where Are We? link to keep up with what we get up to over the next few months.

So long and thanks for all the fish!

It started with Stephen King.

The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.

And it went on from there…

“Steven [sic] King doesn’t know what a real book was if it hit him in the face. He’s just a bloody guy who is jealous of Edward’s good looks,” wrote poster Kiki Alice Cullen. “King is no Gabriel Garcia Marquez so I don’t understand why he gets to say who is a good writer and who is not,” agreed another, while a third, who wished she could “just hit this guy”, suggested that “we twilighters should send him tons of hate mail … just to show him how many twilight fans he just pissed off.” (Guardian UK)

Then I found Eve’s comprehensive post on Vulpes Libris:

So yes Twilight does appear to be addictive, it does have some totally cheesy writing, some wooden characters, some gawdawful plot points – but all of these are totally forgivable (hell I read Flowers in the Attic about a million times when I was twelve!).  But the thing I won’t forgive is the portrayal of women as weak-without-a-man creatures who need told what to do and who should follow exactly what their men tell them without question… that’s a dangerous message to give our children.

Vanessa on The Fidra Blog chimed in with this:

I know it’s not real, that vampires don’t exist, that’s it’s just Stephenie Meyer’s teenage daydreams, that people don’t really glitter, but I also know that girls of 10 and up are reading these books and absorbing the subliminal and not-so-subliminal messages about female inferiority and how Bella is to blame for the possibility of Edward losing control and killing her.

And yet… despite all of these people pointing out how bad it should be… I still like the series. I’m not going to fawn over Robert Pattinson, I’m just not that kinda guy, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the movie… but none of it has stopped me from looking forward to the next book.

And in the mean time I’ve even found some things to fill in the gaps. Kelley Armstrong’s The Summoning, Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series, The House of Night by P.C and Kristin Cast, and Daniel Waters’ Generation Dead and The Kiss of Life.

If you loved Twilight you will like ‘em. Maybe even love them.

It was bound to happen really. (via Rick)

The manic-ness around here continues - so while I count the seconds until take-off here’s a few comic book links.

Tim Walker at the Independent UK ponders the prequel - ’tis the fashion to revisit a superheroes origins:

There are plenty of cynical, commercial reasons to make a prequel like Terminator: Salvation, or to reboot a brand like Star Trek with a much younger, prettier cast. As a rule, the second film in a popular franchise does better at the box office than its predecessor, because it offers a cinema audience the security of a recognised brand.

And speaking of prequels - and seeing as Wolverine is out this weekend - Owen Vaughan at the Times UK catches up with Len Wein and Chris Claremont, the men behind the comic.

Although the film plays with the idea that Sabretooth is Wolverine’s half brother, Claremont said that his original idea was for Sabretooth to be Wolverine’s father, something he is exploring in his new series, X-Men Forever. “You should see Wolverine’s mother.”

And from comics to movies comes the news that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is to play Mandrake the Magician in the silver screen adaptation.

But wait - there’s more!

Our own Windell Comics will launch their very fine Classic Compendium - Superhero Showcase in Dublin on May 8. Ye can visit the Windell Warriors on their site for more details.

Filmbase will be hosting Summer Edition 2009 on July 4 - a Comic, Zine and Artists’ Book Fair. If you fancy yourself as a bit of an exhibitionist then log on and put yer name down. (If you’re more like me and can’t manage a stick figure the event will be open free to the public)

And of course - there is always the latest Comic Cast to be listening to.

Still a bit manic around here as the last minute bits and pieces are getting wrapped up. Hopefully things will calm down before the weekend… But there is alway time for just one more post of awesomeness*.

Sarah Webb has teamed up with Londis to judge the Write Up My Street Competition - in aid of Barnardos. All you’ve got to do is be aged between 5-18 years  and living in Ireland. After that you’ve got to write a short story - with the theme, ‘There’s no community like my community.’

There are some great prizes up for grabs - including €5000 for your library and a sony net book for you - as well as the chance to be published in the Write up my street book.

Head over to the site for more - and to read Maeve Binchy’s 10 tips for a great story. Good luck!

*Awesomeness may be linked to another website.

A little busy today so just a quick link -

The five children’s laureates were asked to pick their favourite children’s book and plumped almost overwhelmingly for older books, with only five of the 35 titles selected less than 20 years old. None of the laureates - Quentin Blake, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen - chose JK Rowling’s Harry Potter.

Alison Flood has a piece in the Guardian today - the UK Children’s Laureates met yesterday to discuss the next incumbent, books and I’m sure lots more. Anyone else wishing they were a fly on that wall??

And one more link? There’s only one John Scalzi.

Captain Jack Zipes (Picture may not be 100% accurate)

If I was in New York this week I’d be visiting the Pen American Center for two very interesting nights - Wednesday will see Mary Ann Hoberman, Francine Prose, Meir Shalev, Vera B. Williams and Benjamin D. Schrank talk about how children’s books create a love of reading. But wait, there’s more! Friday will see Neil Gaiman, Mariken Jongman, Shaun Tan and Andrea Davis Pinkney talk about the Evolution of a Children’s Book Writer.

But fear not - those of us stuck this side of the Atlantic have our own stars to look forward to. Tonight Jack Zipes is in town with an uninspiringly named* inspiring talk: The Reconfiguration of Children and Children’s Literature in the Globalised World.

And if that wasn’t enough - on Thursday the CandyCollective and Illustrators Guild of Ireland are celebrating the influence of the IGI with a illustrative and illuminating SweetTalk. Guests include - Ros Shiers, Jonathan McHugh and Steve Simpson.

*With a name like Zipes… ye’d expect some sort of funny alliterative title. Captain Jack Zipes and the reconfiguring of ze Children Book. (So coming up with a title isn’t as easy I first thought)

Last paper review for a while - hope you enjoyed ‘em as much as I did.

The Independent UK champions the role of the Children’s Laureate -

Want a spokesman on the Today programme about the latest development in junior fiction or poetry? Call the Children’s Laureate. Need a voice to question the government’s literacy drive when this seems to be at the expense of reading for pleasure? Ask for a quote. Searching for a keynote speaker to promote picture books, poetry or novels? Look no further. The Children’s Laureate is alive, kicking and here to stay

AS Byatt was the toast of the weekend reviews - The Children’s Book appeared in the Irish Times and the Times UK. “Easily the best thing AS Byatt has written since her Booker-winning masterpiece, Possession (1990)”

And of course there was talk of the Carnegie Awards - Alison Flood analyses the shortlist while with Keith Gray making an appearance in the Guardian to say…

It’s the kids’ Booker… it’s good to be on a list that seems to have boys in mind. A lot of books aimed at boys are about being a spy, fighting monsters, being a vampire - it’s great to have some that are about what it feels like to just be a boy.

Elsewhere in the Guardian - Sally Nichols’ Season of Secrets gets read by Kathryn Hughes: “Sally Nicholls’s great challenge in this, her second book, is to graft a story of modern childhood on to one of myth and natural magic.” Michael Faber explores Jamilti - whilst bemoaning the tricks involved in reviewing graphic novels - and Craig Taylor reviews Razorjack.

Amanda Craig in the Times UK reviews Sarah Singleton’s The Poison Garden and Kaye Umanksy’s Pongwiffy Back. While Nicolette Jones reads Helen Grant’s The Vanishing of Katharina Linden:

Even if the plot ultimately seems somewhat unlikely, the reader is swept along by a need to know and by Pia’s engaging and innocent narrative voice, rather as the narrator of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time leavens a tragic story. This has similar crossover appeal. For something so chilling, it is terrific entertainment.

Sam Jodinson is impressed by the staying power of John Christopher’s The Death of Grass -

Chances are that your memories will be forever tarnished. You will fail to rediscover the magic that entranced you first time around – but you will realise that Enid Blyton is a bigot, Willard Price a boor and Anne of Green Gables a bore. There are exceptions: Roald Dahl is a genius at any age… contrary to my normal expectations – The Death of Grass struck me even more forcefully this time around.

In other news…

Amazon profits are up.
Woody Harrelson uses the old zombie defence line.
The London Book Fair talk continues.
Bea Arthur - of Golden Girls fame - has died.

And finally - one last review that is worth a read - Catherine Taylors review of Sofie Laguna’s One Foot Wrong. And through the magic of Google - you can read the book here.

That is of course - after a day spent talking pictures.

Update:

Thanks to everyone who made it on Saturday night. It was great fun - and we managed to raise €275 for Cystic Fibrosis in the process!! (Of course it meant I had to lose - most - of my hair) Plenty of pics from the night over at Darren Byrne’s Flickr page… including some of the hair cutting.