David Maybury | Blog

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

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What a day to take off huh?! One of the largest awards in the UK gets announced - and where am I? Trying on sunglasses while it lashes rain and my roof needs repairs. So, back to my point. It’s that time of year again - the shortlist time of year… Well it’s the Carnegie/Greenaway shortlist anyway.

And here they are:

CILIP Carnegie Medal Shortlist
Frank Cottrell Boyce, Cosmic (Macmillan)
Kevin Brooks, Black Rabbit Summer (Penguin)
Eoin Colfer, Airman (Puffin)
Siobhan Dowd, Bog Child (David Fickling)
Keith Gray, Ostrich Boys (Definitions)
Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go (Walker)
Kate Thompson, Creature of the Night (Bodley Head)

CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal
Angela Barrett, The Snow Goose (text by Paul Gallico, Hutchinson)
Marc Craste, Varmints (text by Helen Ward, Templar)
Thomas Docherty, Little Boat (Templar)
Bob Graham, How to Heal a Broken Wing (Walker)
Oliver Jeffers, The Way Back Home (HarperCollins)
Dave McKean, The Savage (text by David Almond, Walker)
Catherine Rayner, Harris Finds His Feet (Little Tiger Press)
Chris Wormell, Molly and The Night Monster (Cape)

The VHC has already spotted the trends - namely that four of the books shortlisted also feature on the Bisto Book of The Year shortlist - Jeffers, Thompson, Colfer and Dowd. And Bookbrunch has some analysis of both the Carnegie and the Kate Greenaway. And after all of that - there isn’t much left for me to say really. I’m hugely impressed by the Carnegie shortlist - all of the books are potential winners. The Kate Greenaway is far more mixed - highlighting so many different types of illustration - and a hugely broad spectrum of talents. In short, I don’t envy the judges their decision.

Because talking about the idea of writing is sometimes faaaar easier than actually doing it. Nick Laird has an interview on Unlimited Books about how he writes…

How do you write?

Slowly. With a laptop, usually, though I take notes with a pen and paper.

What keeps you writing?

Occasionally inspiration, mostly deadlines.

Who do you write for?

For myself and strangers.

Do you discuss your work with anyone?

With my wife sometimes, but normally no-one.

How do you know if your work is good?
I don’t.

This is may become my new obsession after yesterdays writing thing-amy.

By now the London Book Fair has well and truly come to a close - and for those of us that couldn’t make it there have been some interesting bits online about what was being said. First up, it seems the London Fair is getting all the attention this year - as they forecast fewer people going to Frankfurt in six months’ time.

Ebooks, publishing, technology and what comes next has been getting some attention - especially with the success and relaunches of Sony and Amazon’s readers, as well as the rise of the iPhone reader. Kindly filmed and uploaded to youtube -

And as if that wasn’t enough - Penguin announced themselves as the first international publisher to distribute eBook titles in English through China. And there was lots more debate about eBooks and what it all meant - some here, here and here.

In terms of children’s lit - Pub Rants has the best info so far, after meeting with UK editors. What are UK publishers looking for? Editors want an original story well told. Outside of that:

• Historical Young Adult
• Literary, classic voice
• Stories that can crossover to the adult market
• New teen voice (along the lines of How I Live Now)
• Character driven girl stories - about more than just boy
• Fantasy

And there was more… Lots more. For a taste have a look at Kate Nash, Amanda Lees and the Red Room blogs.

Something has changed. I don’t mean life falteringly huge or important changes but… The last few stories I’ve written were typed from beginning to end, with long periods of me not being in front of a keyboard. But writing the new story has been different - I’m nearly finished and I’ve yet to touch a single key… I’m not sure how/why the change came about but it seems to be working itself out easier this time - partly because I write slower than I type. I’m guessing it’s giving me more time to think things through. (Hopefully this will mean fewer rewrites too, but that might be wishful thinking)

Anyway - it got me to thinking… how do others write? Bookmaven had a post about the Mslexia feature - with novelists giving their own hints and tips. The oddest one has to be Isabel Allende’s ‘Start every book on 8th January‘.

But a little digging about on the interwebs will show up a dozen author sites - each one complete with their own advice page, FAQ or blog. Diana Wynne Jones’ site has one of my own favourites - her hints are enough to remind me just why I love her writing.

Most teachers will tell you that you need to make a careful plan of your story before you start. This is because most teachers do not write stories. Professional writers divide into four different ways.

And as I said there are plenty more out there - Claire Hennessy has two sections on her site dedicated to writing. FAQ’s about how she does it and then her Writerish section - with advice, clues and nuggest of wisdom - including another favourite:

Sometimes writing is hard work. Painful but true. Sometimes, a lot of the time, it’s amazing. But sometimes - especially when you’re working on a longer piece of work, or if you’re revising something - it’s the sort of thing you keep putting off. Like everything else, it’s something you need to stick to, even when it’s not going perfectly.

We interrupt your regular interwebbing with this brief news update…

Rumours of the demise of the New Moon film adaptation - the sequel to Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight - seem to be greatly exaggerated. It was thought that the impending plagiarism lawsuit against Meyer would stop the films production - not so according to Summit Entertainment (the who-be-whats-its making the movie).

Meyer is apparently being sued by her former college flatmate for apparent plagiarism - stating that the vampire books are similar to a story she wrote when she was a student and living with Meyer at Brigham Young University.

…Okay, you are now free to go back to whatever it was you were doing.

While I’m on the topic of pictures - there are two other great events this week (we’re spoilt for choice!) PJ Lynch will be celebrating UNESCO World Book Day - I got to see PJ a few months ago in the National Gallery and he was a great speaker - and an even better artist. So if you happen to be passing Drumcondra on Thursday night, why not drop in and catch some interesting chat about all things picture? More details are over on PJ’s site.

Elsewhere in the world, namely Galway, will see the passionate Colman Ó Raghallaig’s Táin graphic novel brought to life by a team of actors and musicians as part of the Cúirt Festival. If you haven’t picked up a copy of Colman’s book - then go. Stop reading here and go now. (Other highlights of Cúirt include some fella called Derek Landy and another fella called Tim Bowler. I’ve been lucky enough to hear both of them before and the crowds in Galway are in for a real treat.)

And if all that wasn’t enough - The Magic Illustration Exhibition opens in the Central Library (back in Dublin folks) on Thursday 23 too. The exhibition features work stolen borrowed from the iBby archive stronghold and kicks off at 6pm on Thursday 23 April.

When was the last time you bought… a comic book? (The first of a four-part trilogy.)

Ironman. Batman. Superman. Spiderman. Watchmen. Thor. (There are even rumours about Wonder Woman.) They’ve all been adapted for the big screen and chances are that you’ve seen one or two of ‘em too. But when was the last time you dropped into your local bookshop, comic store or haberdashery to pick up a comic? And no, getting a new reprint of Watchmen in Eason’s doesn’t count…

But where do you start? Every story is mid-way right now and to catch up you’d have to pick up the last ten issues… But if it’s just a taste you are looking for then why not have a look at the Marvel News site?

It’s a great chance to catch a sneak peak of what some of the best writers in the genre are up to. Such as the next issue of Warren Ellis’ Astonishing X-Men. Or the 600th issue of Amazing Spiderman - with guest writers including Stan Lee and Dan Slott, alongside guest artwork by John Romita JR and Joe Quesada. (I’m spouting names - but these are important ones. Honest.)

And why am I suggesting you pick up a comic book now? There is no better time than in the run up to new film releases - all eyes are on the writers to produce some of their best work while the world watches and waits for the movie. Though… there is also the chance that I just wanted to put a post up about Free Comic Book Day a few weeks early.

One last thing - if the graphic story world really catches your eye, you might be interested in spending the day with some like minded people to talk about pictures, stories and graphic novels. It might be just up your street*.

*Some travel may be involved. The event will take place in Rathmines - which may, or may not, be right up your street.

Amidst the blistering sunshine and continued celebrations this weekend in Dublin the rest of the world continued to function - newspapers and all. And they all had lots to say…

Starting at home in the Irish Times, Robert Dunbar rounds up everything that is good and interesting for 10-12 year olds. Including some of my current favourites - Lazlo Strangolov’s Feather and Bone:Ghost Writing from the Underground and Skulduggery Pleasant:The Faceless Ones.

The humour throughout is darkest black, the style totally tongue-in-cheek and the whole concept hilarious: all very clever – but not for the squeamish or for anyone with an allergy to poultry or associated odours. - Robert Dunbar on Laszlo Strangolov.

While over in the Irish Independent Genevieve Roberts investigates the world of Manga - and keitai novels.

The speed of the mobile phone’s evolution from its distant cousin, the 1980s house brick, is ever-gathering pace, and it seems that its future is based around this new language of creative communication, rather than straightforward chat.

Amanda Craig in the Times UK reviews Sally Gardner’s The Sliver Blade - An enthralling and wholly original novel, The Silver Blade is a must-read for a new generation.

While in the Guardian Mal Peet gives Michael Grant’s Gone the once over…

Does it all work? Well, yes, in one respect at least. Gone comes across the Atlantic on a tsunami of rave reviews, most of them posted on websites by teenagers. That’s a result, and you really can’t argue with it. Grant left me wondering if it might be possible to marry the reductive conventions of the game console to real writing. Maybe the next volume (Gone threatens to become a trilogy, at least) will provide the glimpse of an answer. The volume two “taster” attached to this book suggests levels of nastiness almost worthy of Dante.

In the Independent UK Deborah Orr interviews John Bruningham ahead of his new book, It’s a Secret.

In the early Sixties there was this creative explosion, but artists have always had to find various ways of being employed, I suppose, and the early ones had to paint aristocracy or bishops or burghers or whatever it is … There must have been a great boom in stained glass, you know when all those Victorian churches were being built. That’s a long-winded way of saying it was sheer accident that I began working in children’s illustration.

Elsewhere in the papers -

Cambridge Wordfest gets previewed - Guardian
Abe Lincoln is getting the vampire treatment - Guardian

This weekend I’ll be cosying up with Sally Nicholls’ Season of Secrets and dusting down my old, battered copy of Stoker’s Dracula.

Back Monday - be good till then!

Dublin has gone vampire mad… Everyone continues to celebrate One City, One Book with this year’s book, Dracula. As part of the celebrations the Dublin Writer’s Museum will play host to vampire talk aplenty with Leah Moore and John Reppion talking about their graphic adaptation of Dracula. So if ye fancy hearing some great talk on vampires, comics, writing and a whole lot more head over to the Writers Museum, Saturday April 18, from 3pm.

And if you fancied whetting your thirst for blood - the IFI are hosting a Gothic Film Weekend including an early morning screening of Twilight, as well as the 1931 Dracula with Béla Lugosi and the 1958 release with Christopher Lee. Click for details on the Saturday and Sunday screenings.

And of course, try and avoid alleys hidden from sunlight.

As of 6.23pm yesterday evening, I am a Mercier-ary. No, I’ve not gone and joined the army - I’ve gone and signed a contract with Mercier Press for Irish and UK rights on my first book.

Details are being worked out and I’m sure there will be a few hundred posts about writing, publishing, procrastinating and more between now and publication (June ‘09). But for now I’m still reeling from signing a contract. (Contrary to rumours no blood was used in the process.)

Celebrations are on going.

In an unexpected and highly original move, I’m stealing, copying, pilfering, ehm… borrowing this post from Neil Gaiman’s blog. It was far too great for him to keep all to himself anyway…

Plenty more about Gahan Wilson over at the New Yorker.

In the not so distant past O’Brien Press ran a competition for a new cover design to Linda Moller’s The Great Pig Escape - I met Holly, the very excited winner, during the Dublin Book Festival a few weeks ago. Now it looks like the idea has grown some legs…

Random House in the UK are looking for a cover to their new Vintage Classic edition of Peter Pan. So what do you get after you’ve spent 73 hours designing the worlds greatest cover? £100 worth of Random House Children’s Books of your choice, ten copies of Peter Pan with your own cover AND of course international recognition as the boy/girl/amphibious goat that drew the cover of Peter Pan that is in every shop around the world.

But never fear - there are some other prizes - second place gets £50 worth of Random House Children’s Books of their own choice while coming in third will get you £30 of the same.

So do you think you’ve got what it takes?? Get scribbling and find out. (And don’t worry - you have until Friday 24th July to finish the pictures)

If I didn’t know any better I’d think that the clean and disinfecting standards around here are slipping… I managed to miss an epic feature in the Sunday Business Post on the realities of being a children’s writer. And epic is what it is - where else would you find The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Celia Kiernan, Aideen Brady, Siobhan Parkinson, Kate Thompson, Michael O’Brien, Sarah Webb and David O’Callaghan?

Maybe at a mad hatters tea party? But otherwise nowhere but the Sunday Business Post. Honest.

I’m a little late with the paper reviews - yesterday was spent recuperating from a chocolate hangover the likes of which have never been seen. Hope ye all had an eggsellent weekend too.

Niall MacMonagle appeared in the Irish Times last weekend with a round up of teen fiction including Life Interrupted, Colony, Guantanamo Boy, Falling, Shadow Bringer and The Hunger Games.

Young readers often prefer crash-bang excitement but those quieter reading moments that heighten the emotional, psychological and spiritual prove vital on the teenage reading path.

Over at the Irish Independent - Declan Burke appears championing the crime writers battling it out in the Irish Book Awards.

The Observer gave way for an Easter book round-up - starting with Kate Kellaway looking at new books for readers 2 years and up. Stephanie Merritt took on readers 8-12 and Lisa O’Kelly read some great new titles for 12-16 year olds, including Julia Donaldson’s Running on the Cracks.

Nicolette Jones in the Times UK reviews the The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales while Amanda Craig reviews Helen Grant’s The Vanishing of Katharina Linden and Jane Eagland’s Wildthorn.

Wildthorn follows a pattern familiar to admirers of Sarah Waters, with an unconventional love affair proving the key to Louisa’s escape. It is a bold and thrilling read.

Mary Hoffman in the Guardian reviews Jenny Valentine’s The Ant Colony.

Valentine has moved into new territory. Not geographically - we are still in the sometimes mean streets of Camden Town and Chalk Farm - so much as emotionally.

Back in the Irish Times Donald Clarke investigates the world of movie adaptations - opening with:

Harry Potter fans are not happy. A recent Chicago screening of the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince generated a typhoon of internet posts from disappointed acolytes. Apparently, they’ve changed the ending. They’ve inserted too much romance. They’ve cut an important series of “memories”.

And sticking with the screen… The papers are agog with reviews, news and interviews of Sky’s adaptation of Skellig. John Patterson talks to Tim Roth in the Guardian. Tom Sutcliffe in the Independent UK reviews the show. And Gareth McLean breaks the news that Sky, armed with a decent budget, are planning to continue making new, interesting adaptations under the eye of commissioning editor of Elaine Pyke.

And there’s more!

This weekend I’ll be reading Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

Easter wouldn’t be the same without some Wonka. But there will be enough chocolate this weekend without reading about a factory… so how about a chocolatier in space battling aliens and pulling pranks on governments?  Besides this one is zanier, funnier and it’s in space. What more could anyone ask for?

It’s Easter weekend (translate ‘Easter’ as CHOC-O-LATE!!) And with all that chocolate comes TV - alongside the regular showing of blockbusters, action flicks and some animated specials there are some really great movies.

Starting with tonight… On BBC 1 at 8.30pm there is another chance to see Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death. It went out over Christmas but is one definitely worth a second watch - I’m really starting to believe that Gromit should be working for MI6.

Later tonight - on TV3 is Roddy Doyle’s The Snapper. If you’re older than 25 then this movie should need no introduction. And if you don’t know it… well get watching!

And one more - already picked up by Achoka and the VHC - is the adaptation of David Almond’s Skellig on Sunday at 7pm on Sky 1. Skellig was one of my favourite books growing up and I’ve stayed a huge Almond fan ever since. So there is no bias in recommending that you stay in this Sunday, curl up with a chocolate egg or three and enjoy the show!

I’ve just spotted an anomaly in spacetime*. In Dublin, on the 25 April 2009, children’s literature will clash - with two great events at the same time.

First up, in Rathmines at half 9 in the morning - Walker Books and the Church of Ireland College of Education have a huge line up of picture book genius (geniuses, genii?). Patrick Benson, Bruce Ingman and Niamh Sharkey will appear alongside Deirdre McDermott, Walker Book’s senior picturebook designer, and Lizzie Spratt, Walker’s commissioning editor, to talk all things picture and book.

Interested yet? (Really, you should be by now) Tickets for the day are €35 (€20 for students), not a bad deal considering there’s lunch thrown in and a day with some visual genius/geniuses/genii. For more you can click here.

And now for the anomoly… From half 2 on the same afternoon - there is the CBI/National Gallery of Ireland Family Afternoon (as if spending the day with three authors and two publishers wasn’t enough). You can head to the National Gallery and learn how to draw with some other genius/geniuses/genii, namely Derek Landy, Frances Coghlan, Mary Jane Boland, Jim O’Callaghan, Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire and Maeve McGrath.

Now you see the dilemma… Either I learn to clone myself or I’m going to miss one of the events. Anyone got any ideas on how to bend time/space?

* Referring of course to the mathematical union of
3-dimensional space and time as a 4-dimensional manifold
(often used a device in science fiction stories). (wiki)

The interwebs know no bounds - instead of working I spent yesterday at the Jim Henson’s Fantastic World Exhibition in Seattle (opens 23 May). Right, so I didn’t actually see/hold any of the original artworks, puppets, props, photographs or original video productions - they’re all in Seattle… but I did log on and listen to the brilliant audio tour.

Told by the people that knew Henson best - including Karen Falk (curator), Craig Shemin (writer) and Cheryl Henson (Henson’s daughter) - as well as the actors, voice artists and puppeteers who worked with each character. It was er… phenomenal. Mahna Mahna, Do doo be-do-do.

If ye have a half hour to spare - why not get a sneak peak into the world of top nearby roofers in Dublin?