David Maybury | Blog

HarperCollins (or what’s left of them) is getting itself down with the kids. They’ve launched a Bebo campaign in search of slang for inclusion in the prestigious Collins’ English Dictionary.

According to theBookseller - words that are in the mix include: bare (a lot of), fiend (addicted to something) and shifted (to get arrested).

Now I don’t know how its done across the water but in my day shifted meant something entirely different… And while I’m on that subject, does anyone still say meet? Usage: Me friend around the corner wants to meet your sister. Is she around?

Any nominations for our own home grown slang? (If this got you piqued have a look here)

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Did anyone else know that Tomm Moore has a blog for the Secret of Kells movie? No, me neither… I’ve started reading posts from way back at the beginning of the project - all the way back in 2005.

We’ve been working on this in Cartoon Saloon for almost six years, just dpping into it everynow and then the development was long, meandering and ponderous. We’re finally in full-time preproduction with a crew in place. We started in October and we’ll be aiming to finish it up for Chrimbo 2007. So stay tuned. I just posted some pictures of the main character Brendan that I did last year at this time and a newer one.

And is it worth mentioning that I’m going to see that very movie, The Secret of Kells, at a secret time, in an undisclosed location, next week?

Vincent of Movies.ie fame raved about it (below) and ye can see the trailer on the movies.ie forum:

I loved THE SECRET OF KELLS, the movie has a magical other-worldy feel that reminded me of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies (such as Spirited away) It’s one of the most visually arresting animations I’ve seen, every frame is a work of art. That coupled with a perfect soundtrack and a back-drop of Irish folklore, it’s impossible not to love it.

In recovery today after a manic day on Tuesday (more on that tomorrow) but two pieces on bullying caught my eye -

22pc of Irish teens have experienced bullying online, with four out of 10 experiencing it frequently, according to Microsoft Ireland. - Marie Boran on Gadgetrepublic.com

Educational theatre group Team have put together a three-part DVD drama called Get Real , to highlight the dangers of the online social networking phenomenon amongst teenagers. - John Holden in the Irish Times

Now that the snow is receding and the cold outside is less Siberia and more just raining Hibernia it’s safe to go outside and see some of the world. Or more specifically I have a few recommendations that ye might be interested in…

Tonight Conor Kostick is in St Pats College (Drumcondra, Dublin) from 7 talking about Marxism and Children’s Literature. I’ve been promised a chapter on lizards which could be interesting… Details are here.

Elsewhere in the city, the talented Mr Brian Coldrick launched his exhibition ‘Shrunken Head’ - it runs until February 17 and features everyone’s favourite sloth, Slothey T. Hoffman, in many guises. Have a sneak peak here.

And as if all that wasn’t enough - Alex Milway, of Mousehunter fame, visited the Illustration Cupboard last week and recommends we all drop what we’re doing and go see it now.

I implore everyone to go, as some of the original artwork on display is superb. There are beautiful Shirley Hughes pictures, some awesome Chris Wormell prints, and best of all Chris Riddell’s ink drawings for Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book. One of which is below. - Alex Milway, on the Illustration Cupboard.

Just woke up to some great news - Sarah Webb’s new, and first, teenage novel, Amy Green Teen Agony Queen is to be made into a film. According to the Irish Independent Sarah has signed a recession busting deal for Boy Trouble to be made. Congrats Sarah!

The Irish Independent has the the full story - and you can read Sarah’s new look blog over here.

After a week of manic weather, and just when everyone in Dublin thought it was safe to go back out doors, we woke on Sunday to an incredible winter wonderland all over again. And this time I took full advantage - a snowball fight against the meanest, hardest 7 year olds I’ve ever met (I’m not a sore loser, nope) and then the birth of Mortimer Jones Frost II. Isn’t he pretty? (Sadly Mortimer Jones didn’t last the night… he was a mere puddle of his former self this morning.)

Of course with the weekend comes some free time to read the newspapers:

JK Rowling and Jacqueline Wilson are winning the library popularity contest - The Most Borrowed Books of 2008

And speaking of popularity - Rowling was given French Legion of Honour last week.

Lucy Mangan in the Guardian continues to build the most brilliant Children’s Lit Library - this time featuring Mr Roald Dahl and his fabulously scrumptious chocolate factory.

Sticking with the Guardian for a bit longer - Rachel Ward’s book Numbers goes under the microscope and Michael Rosen sets himself the challenge to get kids reading.

Numbers is a high-concept, it-could-go-anywhere idea taken down an unexpected and interesting route. Seemingly downbeat, it is both intelligent and life-affirming. First-time author Rachel Ward is certainly one to watch. But I’d avoid eye contact if I were you. - Philip Ardagh on Numbers

Comics and cartoons feature in the Independent for the New York Comic Con and Nicholas Tucker in the Independent UK reads Siobhan Dowd’s Solace of the Road

Creating the characters Holly meets in just a few words, quickly conjuring up the urban scenery, expertly flitting between past and present, Siobhan Dowd meets every challenge with the authority of a born writer taken from us too soon.

And in the Times UK Nicolette Jones reviews Anna Perera’s Guantanamo Boy

This powerful and humane book shows that hatred is never an answer, and proves the pointlessness of torture and the danger of thinking of anyone as ‘other’.

Despite the weather and some of the delegates being delayed - this year’s ISSCL conference is still going ahead in Dublin. The conference is titled Nation, Translation, Migration and features talks on Terry Pratchett, Shaun Tan and Siobhan Dowd as well as panelled discussions tomorrow.

If you do nothing else today - have a look at the conference site and, if you’re in the area, maybe visit the keynote address at 7 tonight. (E Block, Room 210, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.) The keynote speaker is the Prof. Maria Nikolajeva - discussing The (Un)changing Stereotypes in Swedish Young Adult Fiction.

Aubrey Flegg launched this years Bookmarks Programme in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) - without repeating the press release word for word - Bookmarks is run by TCD and the Ark for schools classed as disadvantaged.

The students have nearly two months to get ready - and the rest of us just have to wait - until the exhibition is opened to the public on 24 March. You can find out more about the programme over on the Ark Blog.

So… On your bookmarks. Get set. GO!

I managed to miss the piece in the Times UK about their Children’s Fiction Competition but Emerging Writer spotted it. Tying in with yesterday’s blather about editors - I thought it was pretty interesting to read Barry Cunningham’s comments about the shortlist:

Threads by Sophia Bennett

Funny, serious and absorbing. The lives of a group of friends who love fashion and style become entwined with a young, brilliantly talented African refugee with a painful background.

Marshes of Magdalen by Victoria Suzuki

A colony on another planet runs into trouble from the survivors of the previous failed expedition and the intelligent life forms already there. Physically gripping and exciting, with very real teenagers at its heart.

The Psychic Squad by Shar Ros-Elman

Children with psychic abilities are singled out for special training. The question of whether they are to be used for good or evil is mixed in with their relationships to each other.

Charlie Squires Goes Elsewhere by Justine Windsor

Amusing fantasy romp for younger readers. A young boy follows his mother through a painting to an alternative world of mild peril, but strong adventures.

Chasing the River by Anne Giraud

A beautifully written African odyssey. A young refugee from a massacre travels through a devastatingly beautiful landscape and battles with danger, betrayal and impoverishment. Hope, resourcefulness and courage beat in his breast.

Head over to the Times site to find out more about the competition - and to read extracts of all the shortlist.

Great news from the Just One More Book! podcast. They’re being syndicated in the UK on the diverse radio station, Unity Fm in Birmingham. Joining the ranks of UB40, Black Sabbath, Novacon, Electric Light Orchestra, Larry O’Loughlin and Wizzard (all Brummie/West Midland exports)

You can catch the show on Thursdays from 9pm. Tune in online - ah, go on.

Last week Bookbrunch asked a few UK editors what they were looking for in 2009. It makes for interesting, and contradictory, reading.

In times such as we face this year, escapism becomes even more important and will fuel the need for high entertainment - action, humour, riveting interest - in both fiction and non-fiction. - Roland Philipps, from John Murray.

And it has gotten me thinking about what is to come in children’s lists, more specifically Irish lists. Last week Puffin came out guns blazing with a list that would make anyone shed a tear of envy; and Simon and Schuster have some big titles coming through in the first 6 months. (Have a read of what’s to come) While Waterstones are begging publishers for more ebook releases - with competitive prices.

O’Brien Press have the Secret of Kells franchise releases - with a picture book and novel - as well as a new Judi Curtin book, Linda Moller’s The Great Pig Escape, James Allison’s Demon from the Deep End and Celine Kiernan’s next installment Crowded Shadows.

Mercier have two great books on the horizon - Damsel, Susan Connolly’s debut, and Kieran Crowley’s excellent and thrilling Colm And The Lazarus Key. On top of the new releases Mercier have picked up Anvil Press and the Children’s Press so there should be some really great reappearances - all available on the Mercier site soon.

So… what are Irish editors, agents and companies looking for in 2009?

P-p-p-plenty happening in the UK papers over the weekend, not so much in the Irish press though. In other news… the blanket of snow this morning made it harder than usual to get up. We still managed to throw a few snowballs before being desk bound.

The Sunday Tribune covers Suzanne Collins’ new YA book The Hunger Games.

Peter Murphy gets more of a look-see in the Tribune and the Irish Independent.

And across the pond, the Times UK had a pretty busy weekend - Amanda Craig goes to the dogs with a review of Emily Gravett’s Dogs and Dogger by Shirley Hughes.

Nicolette Jones, in the Sunday Times, reads the excellent Siobhan Dowd’s new book Solace of the Road.

In the Guardian Mal Peet reads Ally Kennen’s Bedlam

One of the many things I like about Ally Kennen’s novels is that they are built around big, centralising metaphors but she doesn’t overcrank them, nor resolve them. At the heart of Bedlam is the image of asylum, sanctuary. However, like our government’s policy on asylum, it’s a shambles. Kennen powerfully suggests that the real place of safety is within the generous hearts of the young.

And if all that wasn’t enough reading for ye - Declan has worked out a new fitness regime for everyone. 39 steps to getting published. A sure fire way to the top.

Thanks to the power of the interweb - and those nice people over on movies.ie, thankee muchly - we made it to see the premiere of Bolt 3D. An impeccably presented and perfectly animated movie I came away trying to place the dozen or so cartoon homages lining the script - the pigeons throughout are straight out of Animaniacs. There is more to it than that… the story and characters are pieced together from other classics - it seemed to be Disney’s answer to Inspector Gadget - Bolt is Brain, Penny is… Penny, and Rhino, the movie’s saving grace, is the delusional Inspector Gadget - it even comes complete with the M.A.D Cats… Having seen it, I think Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda are safe to duke it out for Best Animated Oscar this year.

Ten Second Reviews:

We managed to get to see the uncomfortable and brilliant The Wrestler too this weekend. Mickey Rourke delivers a performance that will, or should, win him an Oscar.

And just because it was so so cold outside we squeezed in a third flick. Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist… the poor man’s Juno.