David Maybury | Blog

Trying out a new layout for the Monday paper roundups. Still picking up the best of children’s books news from the papers – with a few categories… this time it’s film (not quite my area – but some of it is exciting news! I’m looking at you Brannagh)

on screen:

The biggest film news is the BAFTA Children’s Awards last night – with Oliver Jeffers and Studio AKA picking up a gong for Best Animation with Lost and Found! Henry Selick’s Coraline, deservedly, nabbed the best Feature Film too.

Stephen King is talking about a sequel to… The Shining!

Dave Eggers and Spike Jonze come clean about their trip to meet Maurice Sendak about making Where the Wild Things Are. (Xan Brooks reviews Where the Wild Things Are – 3/5 stars)

Kenneth Brannagh inches closer to bringing Thor to life.

And Back to the Future is… back. Or at least it’s coming back next year.

Peter Jackon has let slip that Steven Spielberg’s Tintin’s 3D adventure will be taking over screens in 2011 – and that the Hobbit is being shot on 35mm.

Full credit to the film-makers for taking the road less travelled. Jonze shoots with an airy, hand-held camera, with the sun’s glare on the lens, while Eggers’s dialogue is attuned to the otherworldly logic of playground squabbles. They rustle up a melancholy rite of passage that’s not so much a children’s film as a movie that, deliberately, looks back at childhood from an adult perspective. This sense of distance is all very well, but it keeps us at arm’s length from the action, framing Max’s escapade in terms of a teasing, cerebral thesis. The beasts are still howling and the supper’s still hot. But where is the wildness? I waited in vain for the rumpus to start. – Xan Brooks

Trying out a new layout for the Monday paper roundups. Still picking up the best of children’s books news from the papers – with a few categories… this time it’s publishing.

in publishing:

The biggest story in all of the papers was the collapse of Borders in the UK. (Borders in Ireland closed their doors last year) Rachel Cooke looks at the future of bookselling – while booksellers are optimistic about Christmas sales.

Can Amazon, however cheap and efficient, pull off the same trick: help turn bored and unhappy children into literate and fulfilled ones? I don’t think it can, and if that makes me spoilt, I can’t say I give two hoots. I would rather pay a fair price for paperbacks than I would fund any number of loony government “initiatives”.
- Rachel Cooke

Shel Dorf – the man behind comic-con – passes away at 76.

Hachette Ireland announce that they’ve picked up Irish rights to Stephen Gateley’s The Tree of Seasons. Hodder & Stoughton have UK and Commonwealth rights – and will be available in hardback in April 2010.

Random House Children’s Books have revealed plans for a new series, The Wyrmeweald trilogy, from awesome duo Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.

Fancy owning Alice’s own copy of Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There? A first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz or Beatrix Potter’s personal copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit? The LA Times can tell ye how.

Fintan O’Toole points out the difference between UK and Irish book buying:

Of the top 20 bestselling books in the UK that week, just one – The Guinness Book of Records – was non-fiction. Meanwhile, of the top 20 bestselling books in Ireland, 10 were non-fiction.

Wayne Gooderham looks at making a good book cover better and ScrollMotion (iPhone fame) are making a move into Children’s books with 30 books ready to launch.

And there was the Costa Award shortlists… Irish Times, Guardian, Times UK (talking up Anna Perera’s Guantanamo Boy) and in the Independent UK.

Trying out a new layout for the Monday paper roundups. Still picking up the best of children’s books news from the papers – with a few categories… Book reviews, news and anything else I can find is up first.

The week… in books:

Katherine Farmar, puritybrown, reviews Posy Simmonds and Paul Buhle’s latest graphic novels in the Irish Times.

In the Guardian, SF Said reviews John Harris Dunning’s graphic novel from Walker Books Salem Brownstone: All Along the Watchtowers (Said calls it Walker’s first – what about Skim?)

This energetic mix of contemporary fun with old-fashioned arcana is mirrored in Nikhil Singh’s artwork, which deploys a variety of styles. At times, it recalls Aubrey Beardsley or Arthur Rackham; at others, Robert Crumb. It sometimes feels uneven: while some pages have a clear, cool power, others seem a little cramped and over-worked. But there’s no denying that this is a beautifully produced book, and at its best – as in the lavish purple and black fabric cover – it’s a tactile as well as a visual joy; an artefact that makes you happy just to hold it in your hands.
- SF Said, Guardian.

Anna Perera, author of the brilliant Guantanamo Boy, has her week in the Times UK and Stephanie Meyer gets profiled. (Speaking of vampires – the Independent UK reviews the rise and rise of the undead)

Amanda Craig roundsup the Times Children’s Fiction Christmas list – including the excellent Dear Hound and Hunger Games and Harriet Alexander gives Twilight an A-Z.

Julia Donaldson talks to Nick Duerden about the Gruffalo:

The fame, if you want to call it that, is nice,” Donaldson admits, “but it has made me feel I need to be on my best behaviour at all times, just in case. It wouldn’t do to have a row in a supermarket, would it? People may recognise me.

Lisa Tuttle lists the top Sci-Fi and Fantasy for the year and I’ve mentioned Carl Brady’s Christmas list last week – but still… what a list!

Terry Pratchett’s Nation makes it to the stage – and Kate Bassett isn’t a fan: the anthropologically bogus society created on stage is sometimes cringe-making. The fusion of half-baked tribal dancing with sentimental European ditties, such as “Happy Birthday”, is especially cheesy.

And last – but certainly not least – Lucy Mangan delivers the final roundup for her, now infamous, Book Corner – including a complete list of the 50 choices.

Now for something a little… different. From the New Zealand Book Council (via @neilhimself)

Enjoy the weekend!

The really clever folk over at UCD have put together a day long a symposium on Irish Children’s Literature and Culture.

Featuring folks such as Oisin McGann, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Dr Susan Cahill, Valerie Coghlan, Ciara Ní Bhroin, Dr Mary Shine Thompson, Celia Keenan and Dr Patricia Kennon all talking books. And children’s books at that… could make for a very interesting day!

So when is this day of learning? Saturday, 5 December (10.00am – 4.30pm) Not long to wait – and it’s free!

Fancy getting your head around translating nineteenth century storytelling or hear about Irish women writers of children’s fiction? Click here for more!

Folks – Anthony Horowitz is in town today and tomorrow!

Deep breaths…

A note from CBI ahead of the Digital Developments on Saturday.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Vanessa Robertson of Fidra Books will not to able to attend the seminar. CBI regrets any inconvenience this may cause to attendees.

Hopefully all is well in Scotland and the birthday celebrations are on-going!

I’ve been drafted in to talk (I begged!) and now I’m pulling notes together ahead of the seminar… And there are some really interesting things happening in the last month or three.

Tech companies have pushed eReaders and Christmas this year has been swamped with new and affordable devices. It’s inevitable that publishing is going to change as consumer demand for new titles and innovation increases (like Sony’s move to integrate Google’s book platform).

A little less speculative with a quick look at web usage in the last month: iPhone has sliced through the UK – making up a whopping 74% of smartphone web traffic. (Android has picked up a huge 10% in only a few months – well ahead of Blackberry with only 4%)

At best guess those figures are going to jump exponentially – even Tesco will be offering the iPhone next month.

And one last statistic dump (I swear): Unique traffic to Twitter was down 27.8% between September and October (Nielson) – as more people move onto 3rd party applications the likelihood that dedicated eReaders will stand out over multi-tool devices (iPhone/Android/Symbian) is looking doubtful.

The rumoured iTablet has already got companies planning – part phone, laptop, browser, iPod, book and newspaper.

As mentioned at Cybercoms 10th Birthday last month – anyone turning 18 in just over two years has never lived in a world without the web. 2012, not just the apocalypse, will see a new consumer come to the fore and communication (books and publishing included) is going to have to adapt.

Right, back to note gathering…

Just when you thought it was safe… another award announcement!

This time it’s from the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards – who are looking for your votes in the Never Too Young category (and in total bias we recommend voting for Niamh Sharkey’s The Ravenous Beast)

So get voting for your favourite! (You know who that is, right? )

Finally, the last of the awards announcements for the day – the Costa Book Awards have let slip this years shortlist.

In the Children’s category – (drum roll please)…..

• Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd (click for more)
• Troubadour by Mary Hoffman (click for more)
• The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness (click for more)
• Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera (click for more)

Some good choices and a very wide reading remit – though all of the books are for older readers. I don’t envy the judges their task and I’m particularly glad to see Guantanamo Boy on the list!

Elsewhere in the shortlist it is great to see Peter Murphy’s John the Revelator get a nomination in the first novel category- as well as Colm Toibín’s Brooklyn in the novel award.

As suggested earlier – yesterday was a day for award announcements… And the Scottish Book Trust were in on the action with the announcement of the Royal Mail Awards for Scottish Children’s Books.

I’m very delighted that, despite being pipped for the Booktrust Teenage Prize, Keith Gray’s Ostrich Boys stole the show in the Older Readers category in Scotland. (Huzzah!)

In the Younger Readers category Lari Don fended off The Eleventh Orphan to take home the prize with First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts – while Julia Donaldson was pipped in the Early Years category by John Fardell’s Manfred the Baddie.

I’m nearly a week late coming to this one – but keeping with the awards theme today – it is certainly worth a mention.

Phillip Hoose was awarded the US National Book Award for Young People’s Literature for his book Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (a true-life account of the 15-year-old African-American who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in March 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks.)

Both Hoose and Colvin were at the ceremony and there were plenty of pictures, plaudits and smiles.

There are awards a-plenty at the minute – and yesterday was no exception.

The Sheffield Children’s Book Award announced their winners for 2009 (it was a long, shortlist that made for some tough decisions).

Congratulations and fireworks are more than due to the folks at Little Tiger Press who picked up the gong for best picture book (and over-all winner) with Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater. The Mum Shop (Ceci Jenkinson) and Bog Child (Siobhan Dowd) took home a gong each to boot!

And it gets better – the folks at Sheffield City Council are already looking for your recommendations for next year… Yup. Fancy a book to win an award? Get nominating!

The World Book Day (March 4, 2010) titles have been announced – with 6 books being put on the shelves in March (including one story in Irish, An Buachaill Bó by Gillian Perdue – paired with Marian Broderick’s The Witch Apprentice)

Following the success of last years two-books-are-better-than-one flip books – the folks behind WBD have gone all out for 2010 with Kitten Chaos (Anna Wilson) and Magic Ballerina: The Magic Dance (Darcey Bussell), The Charlie Small Journals: Valley of Terrors and Dinosaur Cove: Battle of the Giants (Rex Stone).

Philip ‘Beardy’ Ardagh appears with a Grubtown Tales caper The Great Pasta Disaster and is twinned with Pongwiffy and the Important Announcement (Kaye Umansky, illus Nick Price)

But wait – there’s plenty more – with samurai (ala Chris Bradford), super-powers (Sophie McKenzie) and some Chris Higgins and Dan Freedman all thrown in the mix for good measure.

Roll on March 2010!

Anthony Browne, UK Children’s Laureate, has a blog.

I had no idea. I missed the press releases. The news coverage. The tweets. What else have I missed?!

I haven’t talked Batman for a while – so just to keep the caped crusador alive in all of our imaginations here’s some blatant rumour milling. (There’s even a site for it – batman on film)

While there’s been no announcement from Christopher Nolan (the man behind the last two silver screen incarnations) the gang at BOF reckon that filming of the next installment is due to start filming in early 2010.

And with a pince of salt:

Our guy told BOF that in his opinion, the longer we don’t hear a Nolan/B3 announcement in 2010, the less likely it is that the director will return.

Kevin Clash – the man behind the muppet – speaks to TIME.

When you do live events with children and Elmo, do they see you?
Some of the time they do. Most of the time they don’t. But I’m telling you, they just see me holding their friend. They don’t know me from a hole in the wall and they don’t care to.

You’re that guy hanging out with Elmo.
I’m the guy holding their friend. Ever since I’ve been doing Sesame Street that’s been the case. They don’t care about us.

And if that doesn’t give you enough of a Sesame Street fix – have a look at what happened when Elmo met Ricky Gervais.

This is a big ‘un folks. So let’s get the big stories out of the way:

NEW MOON took a whopping $258.8 million in it’s first weekend! (See the Irish Independent,) and of course – the JK Rowling comparisons have begun. Oprah is taking her day-time talk show off the air (No more Oprah book club?)

Right, now that is out of the way…

(more…)

With just over a week to go – this one is well worth another mention. Children’s Books Ireland are pulling in some very interesting characters from the publishing world (on and offline) to talk digital… Saturday 28 November will see Ivan O’Brien, Susan Carleton, Vanessa Robertson and Eoin Purcell all talking tech (and the applications thereof) in Tallaght Library.

A great line up – and a recommended day of fun for anyone interested in where books, promotion, marketing and writing are all headed.

Digital Developments will focus on where digital changes have taken publishing so far and what further changes can be expected in the future. The seminar will also offer practical tools and strategies to authors, booksellers, and publishers alike, on how to take the next step into the world of digital and social media.

For more information visit the event page over at CBI.

You know you’ve made it when… you get parodied. And, as if he needed it, Jeff Kinney can rest assured now that papercutz have released Diary of a Stinky Dead Kid (Tales from the Crypt).

Yup, everyone’s favourite mischievous mid-grader has been turned into a zombie. Gregg Heffley has gone the way of Left 4 Dead and Jane Austen, to walk the earth as living dead. Boldly hunting brains, stinking the place out and having rows with his best mate, Crowley. (Sounds suspiciously like the real Greg really!)

Today is your last chance to get an entry into the Junior Painter of the Year Awards! Quick – get the paints out, prop up that easel and start scribbling!

The Junior Painter of the Year Award has kicked off with Sightsavers with the brilliantly fun Niamh Sharkey as one of the judges.

There are some really decent prizes, as well as the chance to be included in an exhibition. The competition is open to anyone in primary school – but the deadline is looming… well it’s today really so get your skates on! Click to get your info pack and find out how to enter.

If you have a few minutes I’d recommend checking out what the folks over at Children’s Books Ireland have been up to with their  Write Stuff project. The residencies are finished, the work has been produced – and all that’s left is for it to find an audience!

So have at it folks – if ye have a spare 5 minutes, or you just fancy reading some good writing, then have a click to see what the gang from Monaghan and Clones got up to with Celine Kiernan.

Or what David Donohue discovered about with the (backward) messers in Sligo. And while you’re there – have a read of the poems from the gang in Longford, who worked great with Mary Melvin Geoghan.

G’wan. Have a click!

The wait is over (it’s been 2 months!) The important who-be-whatsits have gathered and broken the news of this years winner of the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009.

There can be only one winner, but the shortlist this year was exceptional – as I said before: wouldn’t it be great to see Patrick Ness win it all over again?! At the same time… Ostrich Boys deserves a nod and Jenny Valentine is well… er… Jenny Valentine.

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 (Marcus Sedgwick, Daniel Hahn, Judi James, Alyson Rudd and Aniketa Khushu) their job but I do agree that the best book really did win!

Without any further tom-foolery from me… the winner of the 2009 Booktrust Teenage Prize is… … … …  Neil Gaiman for The Graveyard Book!

Yesterday had enough links to shake a stick at (why would you be shaking a stick at your computer??)

So for a change of pace I think it’s about time I gave away another book. This time it’s from Colm and the team at Hawk Hill Publishing – Ancient Folks Tales of Ireland.

It’s a great big ‘aul heap of an illustrated book with stories collected by Douglas Hyde and great illustrations by Paul Bolger. Fancy getting your paws on a copy? It’s easy! Just drop a comment below and your name goes into the hat (yes folks, there is a real hat).

G’wan – sure what have ye got to lose??

It’s official folks – comics are good for you. So say the folks in the Telegraph, School Library Monthly and researching boffins from the University of Illinois anyway. Time for a thought out and well timed quote I think:

Consider how the pictures and words work together to tell a story, you can make the case that comics are just as complex as any other kind of literature.

And, as if you needed more proof that comics are indeed good for you, the Miami International Book Fair has increased its comics programming – including David Small, Laurie Sandell, Tim Hamilton, Brian Fies, Neil Kleid, Marisa Acocella Marchetto, James Sturm, Carol Tyler, Dan Goldman and Alex Simmons.

Now for something completely different…

Waterstones got a bit of a pounding last week by Stuart Jeffries. The piece pulled no punches – starting with its headline: How Waterstone’s killed publishing and went on in that vein for just about 6 pages…

So the argument goes: in going big, Waterstone’s lost its soul. – Stuart Jeffries.

The Bookseller drafted in Scott Pack (The Friday Project) to write a response – and the result is… close to brilliant. Pack has no qualm slapping some home truths to the ‘fusty old Edwardian bonnet’ that Jeffries wears.

And then it was Waterstone’s turn…

Our sponsorship of the children’s laureate has helped Michael Rosen, Jacqueline Wilson and Anthony Browne champion kids’ books to the nation, and our children’s book prize turns new writers into bestselling authors every year…

…our stores have sold over 400,000 different titles in the last year. Books were the reason the company started, and remain the core of our business…

…it is for booksellers, publishers, writers and readers to shape the industry.

A bit of a storm in a teacup really – but great to see some discussion on bookselling and industry standards – as Scott Pack put it:

It is all a question of balance and Waterstone’s tends to get that right. If they don’t then their customers will vote with their feet and their wallets, in which case Waterstone’s will respond accordingly.

Great to see Robert Dunbar back in the Irish Times – this time he’s talking picture books, including some favourites: Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Dave McKean and Neil Gaiman, Gordon Snell and Axel Scheffler.

OF THE IRISH picture-book writers and illustrators who have come to the fore in recent years Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick has emerged as one of the most accomplished and most versatile. – Robert Dunbar

Sadly – Louise Cooper passed away aged 57 last week – the Guardian has an obituary from her former editor Emily Thomas.

It always struck me that Louise was gloriously content, that she relished, savoured life. She was a wonderfully warm person, kind and interested.

Patricia Cornwell talks to Hilary Fannin in the wake of publishing her 17th novel while Philip Ardagh is celebrated for his win at the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in the Independent UK. (Who knew he was 17ft tall and looks like ZZ Top?)

The Evening Echo features our own Olive O’Brien – solicitor turned children’s writer and in the Guardian Shirley Dent talks book choices – from fact to fiction.

In the Guardian – Linda Buckly-Archer reviews Mary Hoffman’s Troubador and Comica Comiket hits the shelves – a UK alternative to McSweeney’s?

Hoffman has written an enthralling and well-paced tale whose conclusion is at once unexpected, poignant and satisfying. Troubadour is not a joyous story but it is a compelling one. – Linda Buckly-Archer on Troubador.

Emma Cook talks to Sophie Smallwood – the granddaughter of Enid Blyton on writing in Blyton’s shadow (for the 60th anniversary of Noddy) and Mathew Dennison talks Richmal Crompton, Miss Swinton and William in the Times UK.

The folks at Little, Brown and Egmont have nabbed Daniel Handler (Mr Lemony Snicket and bassist for the dulcet Magnetic Fields) for a new 4 book series in 2012. And Salman Rushdie is writing a sequel to Haroun and the Sea of Stories called Luka and the Fire of Life – expect to see it hit the shelves late next year.

And Alison Flood breaks the news that Andy Warhol’s illustrated interpretation of Little Red Hen goes on sale in December. And in the Independent UK lists it’s first 50 best winter reads – with Joe Craigs on the panel!

Amazon are publishing 3 self-published books early next year – including Zetta Elliott’s A Wish After Midnight and Rob Fahey defends video game violence – (Call of Duty) Modern Warfare 2 ‘aint for kids.

In movies:

Does anyone get Astro Boy? ‘Astro Boy is a Japanese superhero whose backside fires bullets. How cool is that?’ – maybe Sam Leith does.

With the impending release of New Moon next week – Stephanie Meyer picks up a billion odd headinlines – including the news (via Oprah) that she is tired of vampires.

Fantastic Mr Fox hit the shores of the US last weekend, Disney is laughing all the way to bank – with a climb of 18% in profits, despite poor movie revenues. And finally – Christmas blockbusters made easy with Peter Bradshaw.

Sorry for the radio silence yesterday folks – I’ve managed to get myself quarantined (read house/bed bound) with a chest infection and a swine-flu scare. Plenty of news from last week and yesterday – I’ll have it all up in a jiffy.

So. How are you?

The folks at Children’s Books Ireland are up to their tricks again – this time they’re pulling in some very interesting characters from the publishing world (on and offline) to talk digital.

Saturday 28 November will see Ivan O’Brien, Susan Carleton, Vanessa Robertson and Eoin Purcell all talking tech (and the applications thereof) in Tallaght Library.

A great line up – and a recommended day of fun for anyone interested in where books, promotion, marketing and writing are all headed.

Digital Developments will focus on where digital changes have taken publishing so far and what further changes can be expected in the future. The seminar will also offer practical tools and strategies to authors, booksellers, and publishers alike, on how to take the next step into the world of digital and social media.

For more information visit the event page over at CBI.

Let’s talk agents for bit – there have been some interesting links and things floating around lately -

There are very few agents working in Ireland – and fewer with any children’s authors/illustrators on their lists.

Very loosely, the best to consider are the Authors Rights Agency, Lisa Richards and then in the UK there is the Greenhouse Lit Agency, Ed Victor and a billion others (for a list of agents in the UK I can’t recommend the Children’s Writers’ and Artists Yearbook highly enough)

Across the pond there is the news that the very nice Mary Kole of kidlit.com is now working with Andrea Brown Literary Agency is the US. (Those with a clever market head will be looking for newer agents, they’re more likely to be looking for clients – and a visit to kidlit.com will give you an idea of what Mary likes)

Elana Roth, on the otherside of the US (New York this time), is also looking for new work – particularly Middle Grade, YA and invitations. In fact she blogged about it.

As if all that wasn’t enough for ye - here’s an up-to-date list of what agents in the US are accepting submissions (and what they are looking for). And finally – if you’re not already reading Pubrants, Editorial Anonymous, Nathan Brandsford, Sarah’s Blog and Carly Gourlay shame on you.

(If I’ve forgotten anyone REALLY obvious drop me a line.)

Fancy getting your hands on some girlishly fun goodies before Christmas?? Now’s yer chance!

The lovely Laura Cassidy is giving away a Christmas Goodie Bag brimming with fun things – diaries, bookmarks, books, sparkly pink reindeer and a christmas card… (I did mention it was girly, right? Don’t worry – I’ll put together a very boyish alternative!)

So reckon this is something ye might fancy? It’s easy – drop a comment on Laura’s blog and you’re in with a chance to win! (How easy could it be??)

Best of luck!!

Irish Times and Morning Ireland both have reports of a new study into the health and well-being among children in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

And Ireland has come out trumps with the youff* telling us that their childhoods are healthier and happier than in neighbouring countries.

In Ireland children are more likely to exercise vigorously, live with both parents and be satisfied with life in general. (Young people in Ireland do not drink alcohol as regularly as their counterparts and are less likely to be on a diet or to report feeling low.)

Click for Saoirse NicGabhainn, NUI Galway, getting a grilling on Morning Ireland – including the brilliant question put forward, ‘and do you believe them?’

*Mandatory use of youff representative image, Tom.