RIASS stuff:
A review of Free-Falling'by Nicola Moriarty (a page-turning chick lit debut from this Aussie author)
A review of'Games'by Robin Klein'(a brilliant YA thriller that will give you chills)
Coming up: a review of Bunheads'by Sophie Flack, an'interview with Margareta Osborn, an interview with Nicola Moriarty, and an interview with Joel from'Momentum Books, Pan Macmillan's new digital-only imprint.
Just a note that I'll be tango dancing my way through Argentina in April, and would love to receive some guest posts to feature during that time. Feel free to drop me a line at readinasinglesitting@gmail.com.
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Other bookish stuff:
RIP Paul Haines. Youll be sadly missed.
This review of Bullet Boys'takes a swipe at current trends in childrens lit:
Times are hard for writers of realistic fiction for teenagers. The siren call of vampires, werewolves and zombies offers the chance of hot sales and crossover success. For those not tempted by the supernatural, the future beckons in the form of withered dystopian landscapes in which a teenage heroine can battle with crossbows against mutants, while you wait for the film money to roll in. Even Y/A novels with a contemporary setting tend to involve kids unexpectedly finding themselves to be secret agents, Ninja hitmen or cyborgs.
Julie Kagawa on how to respond to negative reviews:
I know its hard when you wrote the best story you could, went through all the heartache and uncertainty of getting it published, only to have a virtual stranger put it down like its nothing, like we dont have feelings and it doesnt tear us apart every time someone is cruel. I know its unfair that we cant defend ourselves.'But thats the world of authors and reviewers, and the only classy way to respond to bad reviews is graciously or not at all.
Sally Murphy on writing about war for a young audience:
. . .War IS scary, and as such it's a scary thing to write about. To get the balance between the horror of the events and the need to not sanitise, but certainly make' accessible for children is difficult. I think the point of telling stories like this one is not to emphasise the war, or who 'won' and 'lost', but to show how humanity is the winner when people ' ordinary people 'overcome adversity. This is a war story but is really a story about friendship.
Four years into the ebook revolution: things we know and things we dont:
We'don't know'whether adult illustrated book content will be equally well accepted by book consumers on devices, even though there are more and more devices capable of displaying pretty much what publishers deliver on a printed page.'We'don't know'what parents will pay for a brief illustrated children's book delivered for a device, but it appears it might be much less than they're willing to pay for paper.'We'don't know'whether consumers will accept paying higher prices for video, audio, or software enhancements to the verbatim ebooks.
The Editorial Process Experience vs. Misconceptions:
Every experience is different. Some editorial rounds are light and consist primarily of copy edits. Some are extensive and involve multiple rounds of revisions including new scenes, new characters, new settingsanything. Just like authors are different, editors are as well. Their preferences and styles are as distinct as those of the authors with whom they work. Notes and suggestions can be conveyed electronically, by hardcopy, and even over the phone (I received all three).'The thing I learned to keep in mind through the editorial process (even when freaking out over yet another letter requesting more changes) was that my publisher and I have the exact same goal: to turn out the best product possible.
Julie Cantrell on being reviewed:
I have reviewed other authors works, and I always tried to focus on the strengths. Most reviewers do the same. I doubt Id be too bothered by a negative review because I keep in mind that its all subjective. When I reviewed a work or interviewed an author, I never criticized their work. Instead, I was always fascinated by their craft and longed to know more about their process.The most amazing part for me has been hearing from readers who have really connected to Millie and overcome some deep emotional wounds after reading'Into the Free. Knowing this book is helping others is incredible to me. Ill take that over literary acclaim any day.
James Tierney does a gender audit of books reviewed in Australian newspapers:
I don't know this for sure but I suspect that the literary review pages of our major newspapers determine -at least in part- the bookish agenda. This leads me to a truth so obvious that it almost doesn't bear saying but let's give it a go nonetheless: books that are reviewed well are more likely to be considered by literary judges for inclusion on prize lists, long & short.'If less than a third of books reviewed are by women, is it any wonder that our main literary prize, The Miles Franklin, has been awarded to women only twice since 2001?
An interview with Jane Isaac (link to MP3)
Susan Cain on the power of introverts
Melburnians, dont forget to swing by this fabulous exhibit at the State Library of Victoria (keep an eye out for my review!)
Ballet books:
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