David Maybury | Blog

It’s finally here – the 2009 Children’s Book Festival is about to kick off!

This year will feature visits/talks/rants/workshops/spewings and more from the likes of Babette Cole, Claire Hennessy, Sarah McIntyre, David Donohue, Susan Connolly, Celine Kiernan, Tsuyoshi Ogawa, Guy Bass, Maeve Friel, Bruce Ingman, FE Higgins, Tom Kelly, Jane Mitchell, Joseph Delaney, Sarah Webb, Brian Moses, Sarah Rees Brennan, Darren Shan, Sophie McKenzie and Philip Ardagh!

With plenty of competitions – like the name the festival dino mascot – and tie-in events, 24 Hour Comic Day anyone?!, there is bound to be something on near you!

The official party kicks off this Thursday with Philip ‘McBeardy‘ Ardagh in Cork City Library, Grand Parade from 11.30

Check out the calendar, set your clocks, free the schedules and head to the libraries, bookshops and alleyways – there’ll be authors everywhere!!

Oisín McGann and Jacqueline Wilson have very little in common – they both write books and they are both champions of children’s lit. And of course they both feature regularly on this site… though never together. Until now.

I’m not too sure how or when Oisín snook his blog online – but it is definitely there! Get yerself over to read what the man himself has to say. There’s never been a better chance to ask him all those burning questions – like what did he have for breakfast? How many pet goldfish has he got? (And what their names are?!) What are his favourite types of alarm clock? And what type of bug scares him the most. You know… the important questions!

And let’s not forget about Jacqueline! The folks at Hughes and Hughes have been in touch to let the world know that Ms Wilson will be in Dublin, signing books and being generally legendary in the Dun Laoghaire branch on Tuesday, 20 October at 4pm. So if ye fancy seeing the woman behind Tracy Beaker and to pick up a copy of her new book Hetty Feather go get yerself a free ticket – call 01 2020010 now! (Go go go go go!)

I did it! I managed to survive my very first school visit – and a big shout out to the lads in J3, K3, M3, P3, J4, M4 and K4 in Willow Park, Blackrock who made it so easy!

They were great fun – and came up with plenty of book title ideas (Frogzilla, Mo Mayhem… and one of my favourites: The adventures of a boy named Mo and a girl named Jamie who are after a gecko named Myles. Not sure that there’d be enough room on the cover though!!)

Celine Kiernan was about all morning too and the guys still have a week packed with books ahead – Benji Bennet and Alan Healy still to come! Kudos (and thanks) to Marie Byrne and Bert Wright for putting the week together and to staff at Willow Park for the great welcome!

Phew! Now to get ready for the Bubblegum Club Book Bash on Saturday!

A quick read through the weekends papers – with as much as I could find about children’s lit, writing and bits…

Starting at home – the Irish Times have an anonymous review (I can’t find a byline) of Blood Upon the Rose: Easter 1916, The Rebellion that Set Ireland Free (snappy title!). And with the launch earlier in the week of Campaign for the Arts, Gerry Godley gives us the Five ways culture can save us…

Even four or five years ago, we were lucky to have one shop that did graphic novels, whereas now, 20 of our largest stores have spinner stands, and O’Connell Street now has a shrine, a whole area dedicated to graphic novels, and it’s just growing and growing. It has become cool. If you were sitting on a bus reading Batman 10 years ago you’d have been sniggered at, whereas now if you’re reading it, it’s pretty cool . . . There’s no shame in it. Ten years ago you’d be called a saddo, but now you see men in business suits, everyone delving in. – David O’Callaghan, of Easons fame, in the Irish Times

In the Irish Independent – John Spain rests with the undead and has a chat to Dacre Stoker (Bram’s great gran-nephew) about Dracula: The Un-Dead. And if you were lucky enough to pick up a hardcopy of Saturday’s Independent you could be the owner of the first Disney Literature Classics – a series of 20 starting last week.

Not all is rosy in the comic world – the New York Times (and others) report that Disney are already having rights issues with Marvel characters. Dick Cook is no longer chairman of Walt Disney Studios and the company are looking at buying Vimanika Comics, an Indian based company publishing in English and Hindi. And if that wasn’t enough Marvel fan-boyism… the Independent UK and Guardian both review Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 to boot. (See! Dave O’Callaghan wasn’t lying – even the Independent is reviewing comics/games these days…)

Amanda Craig in the Times UK has a read of Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow and Bryan Appleyard has a look at Ian Rankin’s first graphic offering Dark Entries (featuring John Constantine). Lucy Mangan in the Guardian remembers Ladybird Books, Publishers Weekly has a massive review round-up and the Guardian Film Blog review Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Geraldine McCaughrean made a brave but doomed stab at a sequel to Peter Pan; this is another questionable enterprise. It’s clever, sweet, lively and well-written — but not, like its original, sublime. – Amanda Craig on Hilary McKay’s Wishing for Tomorrow.

The New York Times has a great story on South African kids protesting for libraries (and librarians!) – Banned Book Week gets a manifesto – The Author Vetting row in the UK is, hopefully, coming to an end – the Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist is out – and Booktrust had another prize ceremony this week too.

Barbie is finally going to get her own mainstream feature film – Adam Roberts ponders why there has never been a sci-fi Booker Prize winner – Sexism in fantasy anthologies? No, not us… – Rich Pelley talks with The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy – and the Independent UK are offering one lucky divil the chance to be at the launch of And Another Thing!!

Folks. Just before ye all disappear for the weekend – I’ve been invited to visit a school for the very first time on Monday.

Any nuggets of wisdom? Do’s and don’ts? Topics to be avoided? Books to suggest? Cracking one-liners guaranteed to raise a giggle?

I’m not nervous. No. Not at all!

It is award season at the minute – last night saw the announcement of the RAI Children’s Book Awards and earlier in the week Booktrust announced it’s Early Years Awards. And if all that wasn’t enough the YoungMinds Book Award 2009 and The New Angle Prize for Literature were both announced to boot. (As well as reports earlier in the week of the Astrid Lindgren Award, the Booktrust Teenage Prize and the Guardian Prize shortlists as well as the winner of the Independent Booksellers Prize (Eoin Colfer).)

PHEW.

So with no more waffling from me. The nominees/winners/shortlistees are:

The RAI Children’s Book Awards
Winner: Celine Kiernan’s The Poison Throne
Special Merit Award: Conor Kostick’s Move

Book Trust Early Year Awards
Baby Book Award: Ed Vere with Chick
Pre-School Award: Mara Bergman and Nick Maland’s Oliver Who Travelled Far and Wide
Best Emerging Illustrator: Katie Cleminson’s Box of Tricks

New Angle Prize for Literature
Winner: Mark Cocker’s Crow Country
Runner-up: Meg Rosoff’s What I Was
Highly Commended: Roger Deakin’s Notes from Walnut Tree Farm

And finally, the shortlist for the YoungMinds Book Awards 2009:

Gingersnaps by Cathy Cassidy 
A Perfect Ten by Chris Higgins
Without Looking Back by Tabitha Suzuma 
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray
The Stuff of Nightmares by Malorie Blackman 
Bang, Bang, You’re  Dead by Narinder Dhami

Congratulations to one and all – great to see O’Brien taking so many nominations in the RAI award (and whoo, go Celine!!). And as I’ve said before – I’m hoping that Ostrich Boys picks up a gong or two – this time it could be the YoungMinds award. Fingers crossed!

To celebrate the launch of Judi Curtin’s Alice to the Rescue, O’Brien press have launched a mini-site for everyone’s favourite duo – Alice and Megan.

The site got me thinking of other recent sites, like The Moorehawke Trilogy, Amy Green or the Demon’s Lexicon and the purpose of a mini-site.

In the wake of Paths to Publications I’ve started to think about the best ways to publicise a book on/offline.

All four of the writers mentioned have large web presences already – why not just incorporate the publicity into the author sites? (An aliceandmegan.com address with a redirect to Judi’s site for instance?) Surely readers would prefer to read the author’s blog/comments more than just the publicity for the new book?

There is plenty about all of this on the web already – Marlene Stringer for starters.

“Promotion is not only about the book, it is about the author. It is about branding.”

Or Thad McIlroy’s ‘what makes a great author wesbite?‘ Then there’s the Nick Cave’s of the world, producing iPhone app ebooks with music composed and preformed for the book by the Bad Seeds…

In coming years we may look back on Bunny Munro as the book with which digital publishing came of age. An e-book which harnesses the power of what digital books can do by combining colour, moving images, social networking and audio to make something that is, arguably, in some ways a new medium.

And there is always Bubble Cow’s outlook – that publisher’s blogs are just pants anyway.

Readers/writers don’t really want to read about the books publishers are selling. We want to read something informative/educational/amusing/controversial. We want to connect and feel part of the process.

In the not-so-distant-past Ugne Rauckyte in UCC asked a few questions of the Irish book-selling world. The results are in and they make for some interesting reading. Below is a very brief synopsis of Ugne’s results – you can read the full PDF here.

As you’re reading – remember that:

• 60% of  respondants are aged 19 – 25 (the original target audience of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone)
• 60% are female
• 40% are students | 30% work full-time | 17% part-time

How much on average you spend on books in a month?
45% said €1 – €15 and another 31% said €16 – €30 (PDF results has a breakdown by genre)

In your opinion, do you think the books should be:
Given the choice 58% said slightly cheaper – 22% said prices are fine as they are.

If the recession continues do you think you will?
44% believe that they will buy as many books as they do now – 34% will be slightly fewer

Where do you usually buy your books?
52% buy from chainstores (Easons, Waterstones, Borders) Independent and online stores reached 10.8% each (9.7% buy from secondhand stores)

You would buy an electronic book reader if…
38% believe that they will buy an e-reader.

Suffice it to say that the full results are worth reading!

All of these numbers are all very fine  but what exactly am I getting at?

That the primary demographic from the survey would be considered web savvy, technologically aware, social media users – who buy books. (The post-Harry Potter 19-25 yr old generation are still reading.)

There is ample room for both independent and chain stores to pitch books to that readership. With a smart online campaign the rewards could be great…

For example:

Easons* recently launched a new campaign – including a facebook page and twitter account. The initial engagement looked promising – offering the Dublin Twookclub a discount for starters. The account hasn’t been too active since,  now it’s just used as a shouting place for events.

The upcoming event with Cecelia Ahern, for example, could be a great starting point – a quick search for ‘Ceceila Ahern’ reveals dozens of conversations about the author. Now why not get involved in those conversations – offer book recomendations, discounts and the chance to meet her in person?! Become the Ollivanders of online books (to keep the HP theme).

The market is changing – there is greater choice for anyone looking to buy a book. But it is also easier for companies to get in touch, recommend a title, offer a discount or just suggest a visit to the nearest bookstore… All without any fancy whizzbangery or expensive PR – just doing what you do. Selling books.

Chapters Bookstore and Raven Books are both dipping their toes in the water – why not join ‘em?

*Apologies to the lovely folks in Easons for picking on them!

But wait! How about the announcement of a winner for a change of pace… Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl and The Time Paradox has won the Independent Booksellers’ Prize 2009.

Using a highly technical mathematical algorithm the Booksellers Association were able to draw up a nominee longlist – based on sales figure from independent bookstores. From there it went to the Association members to become a shortlist and then on to a public vote! Customers were asked to vote in their local bookshop, by post and by email earlier in the year… See that wasn’t complicated at all.

Congrats to Eoin, who sounded chuffed:

I am delighted to have won this award for Artemis, especially when it comes from the independent booksellers who know what they’re talking about. This award will take pride of place on the mantelpiece where I used to keep my youngest son.

Yet another shortlist has been announced – so many, all in the same week! This time it’s the prestigious Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009 up for grabs. And making the list this year are:

Auslander by Paul Dowswell
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine
The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

I don’t envy the judges their decisions – and wouldn’t it be great to see Mr Ness win it all over again?! At the same time… Ostrich Boys deserves a nod and Neil Gaiman is well… er… Neil Gaiman. Best of luck to Marcus Sedgwick, Daniel Hahn, Judi James, Alyson Rudd and Aniketa Khushu!  (And of course to the writers too)

More shortlists – this time it’s the biannual RAI Children’s Book Awards. The awards are O’Brien Press-tastic with five of the six titles nominated coming from the gang in Terenure Road. Congrats to everyone involved – some great validation after all the hard work that has gone in!

And the nominees are…

The Story of Ireland by Brendan O’Brien
Wild Dublin by Éanna Ní Lamhna
Move by Conor Kostick
The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan
Hal’s Sleepover by Maddie Stewart
and the only non O’Brien book, Adolf Sna hArda by Marvin Halleraker (published by Cois Life)

Never fear! You won’t have to wait too long for the winners to be announced – the RAI Conference kicks off on Thursday 24 September with the announcement. Best of luck to ye all!

It’s Monday and time to read the weekend papers, websites, op-eds and more…

Starting off at home: in the Irish Times during the week there was talk a-plenty of ‘D’Arts’ and education spending cuts. Sean Flynn and Peter McGuire both report on the effects budget cuts is/will have on the academic year. Jim Culleton and Stuart McLaughlin discuss the place/funding/business models and importance of culture, especially when things are tight.

And, in keeping with their current form, the Times have another compendium review of what is good, bad or just dark in YA fiction. This time it’s from the master reviewer, Dr Dunbar himself.

The Irish Independent is choc-full of talk on their Books 09 festival – Andrea Byrne was, understandably, excited about the weekends events. And elsewhere in the paper Tim Walker reports on Philip Pullman’s criticism of Dan Brown. (The Telegraph cover the story too, throwing John Grisham into the mix for good measure)

…a multi-layered novel which requires and deserves attentive reading, regardless of the reader’s age; it is unlikely, though, to have much appeal for the censorious adult or for anyone under 16. – Robert Dunbar on Margo Lanagan’s Tender Morsels

Across the pond the UK papers had a lot to say last week. The Guardian covers their own children’s fiction prize, the Astrid Lindgren prize and  more classic football comics. Julia Eccleshare is back in the swing of things – with three picture book reviews this week – Emily Gravett, Lydia Monks and Colin McNaughton. Mary Hoffman reviews Meg Rosoff’s The Bride’s Farewell to boot -

The title is perhaps misleading; in spite of many partings and sorrows, this is a book in which the heroine rises to greet what life throws at her. Not Hardy. Pure Rosoff. – Mary Hoffman

In the Times UK, Amanda Craig reviews some other picture books from the Julia Donaldson/Axel Scheffler team and Philippa Pearce. Louise Cohen reviews Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (4*’s no less) while Joanna Pitman gets up close and illustrated with Takashi Murakami. And featured during the week, Sam Lister got to know how the body works with Medikidz, the newest superheroes on the block (featured on the BBC News site too).

Picking up some other bits and pieces – Yahoo and the Guardian report on the impending Harry Potter theme park – the Bookseller reports on slowing acquisitions – Book Brunch’s Nicolette Jones debates merchandising – The Independent UK features World War hero, Paddy the pigeon – And Boing Boing reports on the author visit that nobody saw coming (badum tish!)

If I’ve managed to miss anything let me know! (Don’t miss the chance to win a copy of The Thing with Finn – competition closes later today!)

Like reading? Like reading blogs? Like reading blogs written by authors? (phew, what an intro) Well… this is for you!

Simon and Schuster launch their Blogfest today – with 14 questions thrown at 40 authors over two weeks.

LJ Smith, Becca Fitzpatrick, Deb Caletti, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Scott Westerfield and our own Sarah Rees Brennan. Who could ask for more?

The nominations for this years Astrid Lindgren award are in – with multi-CBI/Bisto Award winner Kate Thompson fronting the only Irish nomination. The UK has a HUGE list of nominees with household favourites Diana Wynne Jones, Jacqueline Wilson, Quentin Blake, Michael Morpurgo, David Almond, Aidan Chambers (and his wife), Margaret Meek Spencer and Shirley Hughes.

The full list of international nominations is available, but don’t worry, there is plenty of time to second guess the judges – the winner won’t be announced until March 24 next year.

(Don’t miss the chance to win a copy of The Thing with Finn – competition closes later today!)

Many thanks to everyone who said hello, congratulations or whats-a-blog? on Saturday. It was exciting to see so many unfamiliar faces – and potential bestselling story makers. The conference was interesting – jam packed with home truths about book-selling, marketing (don’t look like a geography teacher!) and more. If you still want to write after hearing some of the horror stories then you’re gonna be fine.

If, like me, you’re hopeless at taking notes then check out the cb info site for notes from Oisín McGann and Sarah Webb. Most of the day was caught on film too, so those golden nuggets of wisdom will hopefully make it online in video form too.

Thanks to CBI and SCWBI for putting it all together and to the gang from Kildare Library book club who stole the show!

It’s Friday! To celebrate the end of the week,  thanks to the nice folks at Macmillan books, I have a copy of Tom Kelly’s brilliant debut The Thing with Finn to give away.

Fancy nabbing yourself a hardback copy of the 2008 Eilis Dillon Award winner? Leave a comment telling me why and it could be yours! (Comp is closed – check back for more soon!)

There’s plenty elsewhere happening again this week to keep ye busy – Saturday will see Pearse Street Library in Dublin overrun with aspiring/new children’s writers all looking for hints/tips and the occasional nudge in the right (write?) direction.

And Books 09 continues with Derek Landy, PJ Lynch, Roddy Doyle, Sarah Webb and more!

UPDATE:
They think it’s all over! (It is.) Random.org has done all the hard work and chosen the winner – Laura the very lovely hardback of The Thing with Finn is all yours! (Email sent to let me know where I need to send it) I think a few more competitions will be in order – stay tuned for more.

Ever fancied having lunch with your favourite authors? Pasta with Don Conroy or a Kit-Kat with Marita Conlon McKenna? What about a ham sandwich with Derek Landy, Judi Curtin, Celine Kiernan and Sarah Rees Brennan? Now is your chance to sit and natter over a cheese board with the faces behind your favourite books.

And you get to raise money for a good cause while you’re at it! The Bubblegum Club is hosting the first ever Irish Book Bash with food, authors, books, goody bags, spot prizes and YOU!

So get your fingers booking and I’ll see you on Saturday October 3 at the Kingston Hotel in Dun Laoghaire (South Dublin) – tickets are €20/€25 and include lunch. For booking info visit the Bubblegum Club site.

Food fight anyone?!

Silly season is looming and book releases are coming thick and fast… So what better way to mark the occasion than with a some interviews with the top children’s book publishers in Ireland?

All this week the blog will play host to tid-bits, one liners and rants from publishers/marketeers and editors from Irish publishing houses*. Find out what they are working on, what they really like and what they want from new writers!

Patrick Crowley, the marketing man for Mercier Press is next to answer those 6 dreaded questions.

What are you working on right now? (Detailed notes on top secret projects are acceptable)

Right now we have two hats on. One being our Christmas 2009 hat and the other hat is the Summer 2010 one. The focus in sales and marketing is on our new releases and our Christmas campaign. An effective integrated campaign is in place and the ground work needs to be done now to ensure our books are out there and that people know about them. Close cooperation with the retailers at this stage is vital and decisions are made around what to submit to particular promotions. All the who, where, when and how questions!

In Editorial, the focus is already on next years titles. We have an excellent production schedule already planned for pretty much the whole of 2010 and editorial are busy getting in manuscripts, proofing, editing, chasing authors, finalising details and dealing with annoying marketing queries!

>>> Click to read more about what Mercier Press are looking for in new writing and what has really impressed Paddy this summer. <<<<

(more…)

David Almond and Dave McKean’s The Savage has been released into the wild. In Liverpool the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and The Reader Organisation have loaded up the trucks and are firing 20,000 copies of The Savage around Merseyside over the next six months.

A very travel weary but delighted Dave McKean twitpicced as he went – with pics of a cheery looking David Almond and some intently studious looking fire crew.

What a… erm… savage idea! (you knew it was coming)

Silly season is looming and book releases are coming thick and fast… So what better way to mark the occasion than with a some interviews with the top children’s book publishers in Ireland?

All this week the blog will play host to tid-bits, one liners and rants from publishers/marketeers and editors from Irish publishing houses*. Find out what they are working on, what they really like and what they want from new writers!

Paddy O’Doherty, the brains behind recently announced Puffin Ireland, is next on the chopping block.

What are you working on right now? (Detailed notes on top secret projects are acceptable)

I’m reading through manuscripts of all genres for all age groups: gothic horror, historical fantasy, gritty suburban realism, animal adventures… Everything is here!

What titles/projects are you excited about seeing in the next few months?

There are one or two really excellent manuscripts which I am pursuing and hope to sign in coming weeks. Puffin Ireland would like to publish its first title in the early summer 2010 – all going well.

>>> Click to read more about what Puffin Ireland are looking for in new writing and what has really impressed Paddy this summer. <<<<

(more…)

Silly season is looming and book releases are coming thick and fast… So what better way to mark the occasion than with a some interviews with the top children’s book publishers in Ireland?

All this week the blog will play host to tid-bits, one liners and rants from publishers/marketeers and editors from Irish publishing houses*. Find out what they are working on, what they really like and what they want from new writers!

First out of the cages is Ivan O’Brien, from the O’Brien Press.

What are you working on right now? (Detailed notes on top secret projects are acceptable)

The publicity and launch plans for our brand new, innovative and gorgeous Bridges series. Nobody has done inter-cultural books in Ireland before, and we have put huge effort into making these appealing, beautiful and desirable: of course, the fact that they are Worthy means that getting them into bookshops is a challenge, so we will be more reliant on creative PR angles than usual for a new children’s series.

There’s also The Moorehawke Trilogy: we will be focussing effort at the Frankfurt Book Fair on targeting major (and smaller!) territories where this has not yet sold – it has done well in germany, the Aussie version looks terrific and we have to ensure that book 3 does the business for readers too.

What titles/projects are you excited about seeing in the next few months?

Blood Upon the Rose: nobody has done an historical graphic novel in Ireland before, or indeed one in English that I can think of (Colmán Ó Rathallaigh’s excellent legend books exist as gaeilge, of course) and we are really curious to see who will “get it”. Just because it has pictures does not mean it’s a history book, and just because it’s reality-based does not mean it can’t be a rip-roaring GN. The market will decide, of course!

>>> Click to read more about what O’Brien Press are looking for in new writing and what has really impressed Ivan this summer. <<<<

(more…)

My head is still reeling from the weekend and in between everything the world continued to print newspapers! There’s the announcement of the shortlist for the Guardian Fiction Prize and plenty of reviews! Here’s what they had to say -

Starting at home, the Irish Times enlists Anna Carey to run through some of the new titles released from the UK. It’s a scathing and honest piece on the plethora of new psuedo-goth releases – a nice, rare, piece in the Times! (A+) In the Sunday Tribune John Walsh gets his head around math with Bertrand Russell’s Logicomix. Elsewhere in the Times Fiona McCann reminisces the lost art of political incorrectness in the favourite school books of yore.

Thank heaven, then, for Louis Sachar’s Pig City (Bloomsbury, £5.99). The story of a bunch of kids, led by the charismatic Laura, who start a secret society called Pig City , it’s reminiscent of the funny, unsentimental American authors of the 1970s and 1980s such as Mary Rodgers and Beverly Cleary. And best of all, there’s not a fairy in sight. – Anna Carey, Irish Times

The Bookseller has more on Puffin Ireland – The Scotsman has the scoop on Philip Pullman’s new book – The Yorkshire Post reports that 1-in-8 teachers never finishes reading a book to a class – And the Bookseller and the Guardian have pieces on Horrid Henry/Perfect Peter and Marmite.

The Times UK features an insight in to Roald Dahl – yesterday being his day and all – and in the Guardian, Julia Eccleshare announces the shortlist for the 2009 Children’s Fiction Prize with reviews of the four remaining titles. Terry Pratchett’s Nation, Siobhan Dowd’s Solace of the Road, Morris Gleitzman’s Then and Mal Peet’s Exposure.

To succeed in writing about the Holocaust with a light touch is rare indeed, but Morris Gleitzman has done so in two novels – first Once and now Then. – Julia Eccleshare (on Morris Gleitzman)

Lucy Mangan continues her series on building the perfect library while Amanda Craig reviews Z-Rex and How to Break a Dragon’s Heart.

In other headlines – Disney is reviving Winnie the Pooh with a new movie in the works – JK Rowling and Stephanie Meyer are being immortalised in graphic form with new biographies – Classic Brit-Comics are in this season – The Letterbox Club is celebrating a great year so far – Richard Curtis is to write a Dr Who episode, whoop! – and in case you missed it earlier in the week, the Roald Dahl funny prize was announced.

A quick catch up post before Sunday becomes Monday. I briefly met the lovely and funny Meg Rosoff at Books 09 – and managed to tweet some notes – before being swept up in the fun at the Mountains to Sea festival. Thanks to everyone I met and congratulations to both festivals on running thoroughly brilliant events (and such huge programmes!)

And if you have the time – check out Melvin Burgess’ Twitter Tale… phwoa!

PICS: Sarah Webb working her magic / Celebrating Roald Dahl Day / Meg Rosoff running on pure awesome-osity

There’s plenty happening this weekend – the launch of The Crowded Shadows in Cavan, Meg Rosoff at TCD and the Mountains to Sea festival in Dun Loaghaire all weekend and plenty more! (Meself and a few others will be in Dun Laoghaire celebrating Roald Dahl day on Sunday – come join us).

Keep an ear on Newstalk today (2-3pm) for some Dahl fun with Sean Moncrieff too.

But down to business. What will I be reading on the bus between all of those events?! This weeks reads are Oisín McGann’s new arrival, The Wisdom of Dead Men, Pat Walsh’s debut The Crowfield Curse and Bernard Beckett’s long awaited Genesis.

Back on Monday with updates/reviews and the regular witty one-liners. Until then have a read of last weeks update.

Fancy trying your hand at writing? How about spending a day/week or a few months talking to others who have lived through the editing process? There is plenty on offer at the minute – depending on what you are looking to write.

Claire Hennessy (with 9 books of ‘contemporary, realistic young adult fiction/teen chick-lit’ under belt) is running a 12 week course with the Big Smoke Writing Factory from September 23. The course, Writing Young Adult Fiction, focuses on issues relating to writing and/or young adult fiction, writing exercises (aka. homework), and workshops.  (Cost €260, for 12 weeks)

Siobhan Parkinson (writer/editor extraordinaire) has a one day course in the Irish Writers’ Centre in November. The course, aimed at those writing children’s fiction, includes a workshop, writing exercises and promises to answer as many questions as it can. (Cost €70, for 1 day)

Oisín McGann (writer/illustrator of more than 17 titles and one not to be messed with, on pain of Sinnostanian interrogation) is running a three day workshop in Dingle. Focusing on technique, ideas and voice the course will feature exercises of a practical nature and lots of writing. (Cost €420, for 3 days including a place to stay and a bite to eat!)

Mary Webb (editorial director and the loveliest lady at O’Brien Press) and Jonathan Stroud (general man of mystery and ghoulish-ness) are running a course on Writing Fantasy for Children and Getting Published with the Inkwell Writers Workshop. Unfortunately the course is chockablock and there’s no point telling ye about it.

So instead… Inkwell have another course with Oisín McGann (above) and Sarah Webb (with more books than I can count, including Amy Green) it doesn’t start until March 2010 but there’s no harm in getting your name down early!

Those enterprising librarians (imagine a kind of elf) in Blanchardstown have come up trumps. They’ve lured the master of horror, Darren Shan, down from the Limerick hills and into the library for an evening.

From 7pm on 12 October Darren will be reading from his new book Hell’s Heroes and signing copies of anything else you might have with ye.

The night is free but you need a ticket – drop ‘em a line at enid.bebbington@fingalcoco.ie – to guarantee yourself a place.

Elsewhere – some bad news from PJ Lynch. His planned art attack for Books 09 in the National Gallery has been put on hold. Someone somewhere had doubts about letting an artist loose, unsupervised, with paint. PJ has more details and fingers crossed he’ll still be making an appearance on the day.

Somewhere in the mix of everything I managed to miss that Meg Rosoff was in Dublin next Saturday (12 September) as part of Books 09.

Ms Rosoff will be interviewed by Amadsa Piesse, a really smart person from Trinity College Dublin, as well as reading from her new tome, The Bride’s Farewell, at 12 O’clock in the Hamilton Building in Trinity College Dublin. Click here to book tickets!

But wait. What if seeing Meg wasn’t enough for you? What if, say, you wanted to star in her next book…?

Now you can! She is offering the chance for someone to name a character in her next book – at a price! In a bid to raise money for Womens Aid a bidding war has begun – get your offers in quick though – deadline is 6pm September 10! To be in with a chance drop a line to Womens Aid and start donating.

Have you heard the one about the hard working chicken? He worked around the cluck! (Badum Tish!) Yup – it’s time Funny Prize time again and Booktrust have announced this years shortlist!

In the under six category:

The Great Dog Bottom Swap – Peter Bently, illus. Mei Matsuoka
Octopus Socktopus – Nick Sharratt
Elephant Joe is a Spaceman! - David Wojtowycz
Crocodiles Are the Best Animals of All! – Sean Taylor, illus. Hannah Shaw
Mr Pusskins Best in Show – Sam Lloyd
The Pencil - Allan Ahlberg, illus. Bruce Ingman

And in the seven and over category:

The Galloping Ghost – Hilda Offen
Eating Things on Sticks - Anne Fine, illus. Kate Aldous
Grubtown Tales: Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky – Philip Ardagh, illus. Jim Paillot
The Boy in the Dress – David Walliams, illus. Quentin Blake
Purple Class and the Half-Eaten Sweater - Sean Taylor, illus. Helen Bate
Ribblestrop - Andy Mulligan

The prize is being judged by comedian Bill Bailey, illustrator Mini Grey, author Louise Rennison, Michael Rosen (Chair) and author Andy Stanton, one of last year’s winners. The winner will be announced on 10 November – plenty of time to have your sides split with laughter reading ‘em all!

Every paper across the globe ran at least one story on the Marvel/Disney buy out (more here) but in case ye missed it – here are a few links to catch up on the analysis: The Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Business Post, Independent UK, Times UK and the Guardian all cover the merger.

Elsewhere in the Irish papers Aodhan Madden’s Fear and Loathing in Dublin gets a mention (not for young readers) and Laurie Muchnick in the Irish Independent reviews Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

In a world of increasing sex segregation in popular culture — chick lit and techno-thrillers for adults, princesses and superheroes for kids — the “Hunger Games” trilogy features a girl who can fight, appealing to both sexes. There’s fashion, strategy, romance, politics and violence. Even humor. Buy it for your kids, then fight them for the chance to read it. - Laurie Muchnick

In other reviews – deep breath – starting in The Times UK, Nicolette Jones reviews Charlie Higson’s The Enemy and Amanda Craig reads Sophia Bennett’s debut (and Chicken House/Times Competition Winner) Threads.

Bennett’s confidence in her material is striking. She mixes real people — Simon Cowell, Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney — with fashion… but instead of coming over as the usual dreary namechecking, the result is witty and affectionate. Perhaps the best thing is that when it begins you think you’re getting one kind of novel, all froth and fun, but then discover that you’re reading something that goes deeper. - Amanda Craig.

Katy Guest in the Independent UK pays a visit to inimitable Judith Kerr and takes a nostalgic trip through her own reading while John Walsh has a trip through science and sanity with Logicomix. Nick Clark investigates the the resale value of that comic collection you’ve been hoarding – and it’s not all good news…

Comics pop up in the Guardian too – as they prepare to give away vintage comics all next week – Jon Ronson visits the Beano Factory and a panel of modern day experts review how the old comic books hold up today.

Elsewhere in the Guardian – Mary Hoffman reviews Marcus Sedgwick’s Revolver and Sue Arnold recommends Roald Dahl reading Five Favourite Stories. Jackie Kemp wonders if children’s books need reveal everything about life and Pedigree Dog Food is to produce a picturebook to market their dog adoption campaign.

read by Dahl as unsentimentally as he might Antony Beevor’s D-Day, these vintage classics about Charlie Bucket, James Trotter, the child-eating Enormous Crocodile et al really aren’t the exclusive property of kids. They’re far too well written and funny. – Sue Arnold

Not sure if I’ve missed anything – but that should keep ye busy for a while!

Another Friday, another weekend spent in front of the fire and flicking through pages. This week’s choices are John Connolly’s The Gates, Scott McCloud’s Making Comics and David Almond’s Heaven Eyes.

Update:

It was a mixed bunch last weekend and about as varied as I could manage…

First out of the mailbag was John Connolly’s gripping fantasy/horror/thriller The Gates. John has been frighteningly prolific and, even more frightening, is how well he can write for younger readers. The Gates hits on a pitch perfect funny bone that slips in the odd scientific truth to make us all feel a little smarter. If you were to read one book before Christmas, this would be a contender.

Scott McCloud’s Making Comics was a recommendation from a few illustrators; they called it their gospel, I’d call it an entire way of life. The book does exactly what it says on the tin – it makes comics – and takes you along for the ride. No stone is unturned and no page is left without at least a dozen nuggets of wisdom. Making Comics is worth more than just one weekends reading and I think I’ll be referencing it for the rest of my days…

And finally.

Heaven Eyes has been taunting me from the shelf for more than 6 months. The book is filled with the haunting and simple tones of every David Almond story I’ve come across; this time with a character resemblance predating Finn in What I Was and a teeny hint of Francie from The Butcher Boy. Heaven Eyes had me asking as many questions as finding answers – and with such original character voices you’d be hard pressed not to be thinking about them for a while. Definitely one book that deserves another look!