Elizabeth Bird

Fusenews: So If I Have the Algorithm Correct, Reviews Are to Cupcakes as Books Are to Cakes

My library has not experienced the run on Alexander Key I'd hoped for with the release of the film Race to Witch Mountain.  Some of you may recall that the original Disney film Escape to Witch Mountain was actually based on Alexander Key's children's novel of the same name.  I anticipated that perhaps a publisher somewhere would think to publish the old book with a cover that sported the movie poster's images.  Hey, they've done it before.  No go, though.  Now Ink Splot 26 interviews the child stars of the film, while offering some background on the books. So that's what happened to AnnaSophia Robb!  I think that girl's oeuvre awards her the Most Book to Film Performances of any child actor working today.  Thanks to Jen Robinson's Book Page for the link.

• The blog Interesting Nonfiction for Kids (or, simply, I.N.K.) is shopping about for a new logo.  They're playing around with concepts and ideas and would mighty obliged if you offered your opinions on the matter.  Thanks to Wagging Tales for the link.

• The Hugo Awards' ("the premier awards in the Science Fiction field, given annually for over 50 years in over a dozen categories, including best books, stories, dramatic works, professional and fan activities") nominations are in and lookee who made the cut:

Best Novel (639 Ballots Cast)
Anathem by Neal Stephenson (Morrow; Atlantic UK)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (HarperCollins; Bloomsbury UK)
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow (Tor Teen; HarperVoyager UK)
Saturn's Children by Charles Stross (Ace; Orbit UK)
Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi (Tor)

Well played, Gaiman.  It's not even a specifically children's literature-centric category.  Looking at the rest of the nominations I'm relatively fascinated by the category "Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form ".  LOST vs. Dr. Horrible vs. Dr. Who vs. Battlestar Galactica?  Good year.  Thanks to Omnivoracious for the link.

• New Trend Alert: Publishers may not be too keen on this plan, but I think that it would be a very good idea for anyone publishing a new book to get a cake made of their cover.  Laurie Halse Anderson got a cake.  Why not other people?  I think what I'm trying to say here is.... I want some cake. And if I have to write a book to get one, so help me I will.  Thanks to Cynsations for the link.

• I have a real weakness for kids' art.  It's not that they're cute.  I just like how creative children can become when they have a frame of reference to work off of.  For example, Meghan McCarthy recently posted quite a few pictures of art that kids made in her honor. Awesome.

• Over at Collecting Children's Books, Peter tests that old theory that you can balance an egg on its end on the day of the vernal equinox with Spinelli results.  And here I thought egg balancing was limited to Columbus Day.  My bad.

• After hearing this song my immediate instinct was to blast it loudly when I closed up the library (at 6, just like the song says) at the end of the day.  Good taste won out.  Barely.  Thanks to Eric Berlin for the link.

• I can see the end of March drifting closer and closer and I do not like it.  This month is going at superspeed for me.  Because when the end of March comes I can no longer accept any nominations of your Top Ten Picture Books.  Fortunately two blogs recently posted their own lists, so follow suit if you've an inclination to do so.  The first list can be seen on Reading Rumpus.  The second on Crooked House.

• Recent Lynn Hazen and Susan Taylor Brown taught a class in the San Francisco area called (deep breath now) "Beyond Websites -- Facebook, Blogs & Twitter -- Oh MY! How to Juggle Your Promotion Efforts, Social Websites & Online Personalities and STILL HAVE TIME TO WRITE." As part of that talk they just happen to have a couple free online goodies for those of you interested.  First up, a PDF called Lynn E. Hazen & Susan Taylor Brown's Social Media Adventure Map for Children's & YA Authors.  It lists social media sites for authors, bloggers and anyone interested.  Susan and Lynn also blogged about the workshop here and here.  Many thanks to Lynn for the links!

• I blink and suddenly the new winner of the Thurber House Writer-in-Residency Program gets announced behind my back (mixing metaphors? sorta..).  This year's winner: Hope Anita Smith.  Thanks to Lisa Yee for the link.

Birthday Announcements:  Good stuff today.  Lemme see.  Birthday greetings are going out to:

• A magnificent blogger, to say nothing of her writing as well, Sarah Stevenson.

• The executive editor to beat all executive editors at Harper Collins, Farrin Jacobs

• And the best Lead Librarian of Teen Services in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Stewart Fritz

Daily Image:

Ever wanted an umbrella but thought to yourself, "How can I make it just that much dorkier?"

   
Problem solved.  But at least your library books won't get wet, right?  So . . . there's that.  Thanks to Crooked House  for the link.

Posted by Elizabeth Bird on March 24, 2009 | Comments (2)