So my book is due out next week and it fits into that crossover area between Fantasy and YA. I have just revealed the cover art on my FB Author page and because this is my blog I figure there is no reason I can’t plug it here too.
And yes it has a kick ass female central character, as if that should surprise anyone.
This is the cover for the new Michael Pryor book. I know very little about it except to say this looks incredibly cool.
Leigh Hobbs has just been named Australian Children’s Laureate. he is the fantastic author and illustrator of many books including favourites such as Old Tom, Mr Chicken, and Mr Badger.
![leigh-hobbs-collection-3-books-set-old-toms-mars-the-beach-being-good-new-[3]-88312-p](https://thekylieverse.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/leigh-hobbs-collection-3-books-set-old-toms-mars-the-beach-being-good-new-3-88312-p.jpg?w=228&resize=228%2C228&h=228#038;h=228&crop=1 "leigh-hobbs-collection-3-books-set-old-toms-mars-the-beach-being-good-new-[3]-88312-p")
I’d just like to say a little sorry, I haven’t reviewed for quite a while not because I’ve stopped reading or because there isn’t anything for me to review but simply because I have been flat out busy. Work is part of it, writing (book 2 of a 3 book series) is another part, but also November for me is a very busy month due to a SupaNova tour and a geeky girl has got to get her geek on (though I realise we have now fallen into December – and that is busy too).
Actually I do have something book related to add, I had the pleasure of meeting Isobelle Carmody on this tour and I know plenty of fans also got that chance, with of course the opportunity to get her latest release The Red Queen signed. So on that note, understand I haven’t forgotten you, life simply sometimes gets busy and other priorities take top spot. I’ll get some good ones in for you before this weekend is done though, I promise.
It is that time of year again, the Children’s Book Council of Australia has announced its award winners. So for you information here they are:
OLDER READERS
WINNER
Title: The Protected
By: Claire Zorn
Publisher: University of Queensland
ISBN: 780702250194
HONOUR BOOKS
Title: Nona & Me
By: Clare Atkins
Publisher: Black Inc
ISBN: 9781863956895
Title: The Minnow
By: Diana Sweeney
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922182012
YOUNGER READERS
WINNER
Title: The Cleo Stories: The Necklace and the Present
By: Libby Gleeson, Ill. Freya Blackwood
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781743315279
HONOUR BOOKS
Title: Two Wolves
By: Tristan Banks
Publisher: Random House Australia
ISBN: 9780857982032
Title: Withering-by-Sea: a Stella Montgomery Intrigue
By: Judith Rossell
Publisher: ABC Books, Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN: 9780733333002
EARLY CHILDHOOD
WINNER
Title: Go To Sleep Jessie!
By: Libby Gleeson, Ill. Freya Blackwood
Publisher: Little Hare, Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781742977805
HONOUR BOOKS
Title: Scary Night
By: Lesley Gibbs Ill. Stephen Michael King
Publisher: Working Title Press
ISBN: 9781921504631
Title: Noni the Pony Goes to the Beach
By: Alison Lester
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781743311141
PICTURE BOOKS
WINNER
Title: My Two Blankets
By: Irena Lobald Ill. Freya Blackwood
Publisher: Little Hare, Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781921714764
HONOUR BOOKS
Title: One Minute’s Silence
By: David Metzenthen, Ill. Michael Camilleri
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 9781743316245
Title: The Stone Lion
By: Margaret Wild, Ill. Ritva Voutila
Publisher: Little Hare, Hardie Grant Egmont
ISBN: 9781921894855
EVE POWNALL AWARD FOR INFORMATION BOOKS
WINNER
Title: A-Z of Convicts in Van Diemen’s Land
By: Simon Barnard
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922079343
HONOUR BOOKS
Title: Tea and Sugar Christmas
By: Jane Jolly, Ill. Robert Ingpen
Publisher: National Library of Australia
ISBN: 9780642278630
Title: Audacity: Stories of Heroic Australians in Wartime
By: Carlie Walker
Publisher: Department of Veterans’ Affairs
ISBN: 9781877007934
There you have it, a huge congrats to all the winners and to all the nominees as well.
Hi again book fans,
I have been hugely busy working on a special project but now that deadline has been met I can get back into things and I have some wonderful books to share with you all.
So let’s get back into it with some new titles and some old favourites.
It is that time of year, the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards have been announced.
So here they are.
Older Readers
Winner
Wildlife by Fiona Wood
Honourable Mentions
Fairytales for Wilde Girls by Alysse Near
The Sky so Heavy by Claire Zorn
Younger Readers
Winner
City of Orphans: A Very Unusual Pursuit by Catherine Jinks
Honourable Mentions
My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg
Light Horse Boy by Dianne Wolfer
Early Childhood
WInner
The Swap by Jan Ormerod and Andrew Joyner
Honourable Mentions
I’m a Dirty Dinosaur by Janeen Brian, Ann James
Banjo and Ruby Red by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood
Picture Books
Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan
Honourable Mentions
King Pig by Nick Bland
The Silver Button by Bob Graham
Eve Pownell Award (Information Books)
Winner
Jeremy by Christopher Faille and Danny Snell
Honourable Mentions
Welcome to my Country by Laklak Burarrwanga and Family
Ice, Wind, Rock by Peter Gouldthorpe
A huge congrats to all these winners and all of the nominated. To see the full list go here.
Every two years a new Children’s Laureate is announced and for the next two years we have the wonderful Jackie French filling that role.
Jackie may be known best for her Diary of a Wombat books, but her back catalogue is one of great variety coving many ages and many genres. She has some wonderful historical books for middle grade readers.
Other picture books,
And a fun series about Phreddie the Fairy who is much more my sort of fairy than the usual ones we get to read about.
She also has some wonderful YA titles.
“This is a chance to give back,” she said of the high-profile appointment. “When I was a very, very scared teenager my wonderful teacher gave me books and also offered me a bed to sleep in. And if it hadn’t been for her, and her courage, I would not be a writer and I might not even be here today.
“In a little way over the next two years I want to give back what I have been given…Every child in Australia needs a book to go to bed with, and a bed to read that book in,” she said. “Every child in Australia can learn to read and for kids like me who are dyslexic, with spelling that you might call ‘original’, and whose work always looks like a wombat has sat on it, never feel that you are dumb, never feel that you have failed.”
This can only be a good thing for children’s literature.
They were announced on the 18th of May at a ceremony hosted by author Scott Westerfeld.
A huge congrats to all nominees and winners. Here are the ones most relevant to us here.
BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION (TOLD PRIMARILY THROUGH WORDS)
Brotherband: The Hunters by John Flanagan (Random House Australia)
BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION (TOLD PRIMARILY THROUGH PICTURES)
Little Elephants by Graeme Base (Viking Penguin)
BEST YOUNG ADULT SHORT STORY
The Wisdom of the Ants by Thoraiya Dyer (Clarkesworld)
BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL
(Joint winners)
Dead, Actually by Kaz Delaney (Allen & Unwin)
Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (Allen & Unwin)
Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness! Look what I found. What is not to love here? Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell, I totally love these guys. I must, must, must get my hands on this book. Unfortunately I have to wait until later in the year. How can you not adore these illustrations.
Also while I’m here lets hear from the wonderful author on what the book is about.
TheKylieVerse 