by David | Oct 1, 2013 | Geekery, Slider
This should turn you a little green - though mostly it underlines the importance of Games Ireland and the support they give alongside Enterprise Ireland:
Australia’s funding board for film, television and multimedia projects, Screen Australia, have allocated $2.6 million to support the development of 21 games as part of continuing government efforts to fund the Australian video game industry.
Late last year the state announced plans to release $20m over three years and in July this began distributing $6 million to 10 indie studios over three years.
by David | Oct 1, 2013 | Geekery, Slider
You take one little break and look what happens… Walker Books have announced the formation of Walker Entertainment - grouping all media-related and media-inspired publishing (TV and film tie-ins as well as celebrity publishing) together.
Under the ever watchful eye of Helen McAleer - head of Walker Productions - Walker Entertainment will go one step further and act as licensee to third-party properties - with the first deal being nabbed for Aardman Animation’s Shaun the Sheep.
Expect more (MUCH more) as Hank Zipzer goes into live action production, Pig Sticks and Harold awaits greenlighting and more than a few other special treats coming (you’ve seen that backlist!)
by David | Sep 17, 2013 | Pics, Slider
Muppet making and falling in love with the kids books section of the NYT…





by David | Sep 10, 2013 | Books, Geekery, Slider
YOU! Yes you, standing at the back there, reading that book about hotdogs. STOP.
Good. Now pay attention. Children’s Books Ireland, the National Library and Walker Books are hosting an incredible one-off special event in Dublin… with none other than writer, picturebook maker, animator, doodler, TV person and all-round ledge bag Mr Mo Willems.
Please read this next part while flapping your arms like a pigeon: MO WILLEMS IS COMING TO DUBLIN!?!?!
The guys have an event for adults - oh yes, us - to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! 0n Friday 25 October. Tickets are limited, free and MUST be booked. Email [email protected] if you want to get your hands on some!
by David | Sep 3, 2013 | Geekery, MOVIES, Slider
The Late Night Work Club is go… at last. And it is stunning.
A ‘loose, rotating collective of indie animators’ the result is a series of shorts aimed at promoting the genius behind the artists involved. And it doesn’t fail.
Some of the best, most personal, experimental and vital animation going right now is happening on the internet. It’s being made late at night when other people have gone to sleep and on weekends when everyone else is out. It’s being made by students, freelancers, full-timers and folks with unrelated day jobs. It means something to us. It’s our scene.
Treat yourself. Watch:
And read!
by David | Aug 30, 2013 | Books, Geekery, Slider
This years Mountains to Sea Festival kicks off next week - and the line up is STELLAR.
Niamh Sharkey, Derek Landy, Liz Pichon, Charlie Higson, Patrick Ness, Phil Earle, Philip Ardagh, Gary Northfield, Cathy Cassidy, Steve Simpson, Judi Curtin and Chris Judge all in one place. What more could anyone ask for?
How about some tickets? AND some books? And the chance to meet some of your favourite authors, ever?!
I have two pairs of tickets to the Mountains to Sea Great Ad-app-tations: The Picture Book and Beyond Panel (featuring publishing doyenne Kate WIlson, children’s laureate Niamh Sharkey, illustrator supremo Gary Northfield and director extraordinaire Norton Virgien) and tickets to New Voices: Writing, Editing and Promoting a New Children’s Writer (featuring Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, Sheila Agnew, Caroline Walsh and the most handsome man in children’s books Mr Phil Earle)
All you have to do is shout PANEL! in the comments and you’re in the running!
But wait.

Want to win some AWESOME books too? How about a set of Charlie Higson‘s The Enemy series? Phil Earle‘s Heroic? Cathy Cassidy‘s Chocolate Box Girls series? Or some of Judi Curtin‘s Friends Forever series?
OF COURSE YOU DO! To win the books - just shout BOOKS! in the comments and you’re in the running.
Entries are open until Wednesday 4 September and will be chosen at random. Don’t forget you can still book tickets over at the Mountains To Sea.
GO ON. GET ENTERING!