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October 2009
Two Raves I recently attended the launch of The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy, edited by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot (HarperCollins NZ, ISBN 978 1 86950 707 7). This stunning anthology contains 66 poems and verse stories, including well-known favourites such as Down the Back of the Chair and Bubble Trouble. Each poem has been illustrated in expansive and whimsical style by David Elliot. This is a must-buy book for readers of all ages. A little bird told me the first print run sold out before the book was even launched!
I was one of the lucky writers who attended the Spinning Gold Conference for Children's Writers and Illustrators in Wellington last month. The conference gave all participants a much-needed dose of encouragement and enthusiasm in these recession-affected times. It certainly boosted my morale and gave me much to think about. Many thanks to the dedicated organisers from the Wellington Children's Literature Association, especially Fifi Colston and Maureen Crisp.
20 July 2009
Latest trends in children's literature. I often meet aspiring children's writers who haven't made any effort to locate tools to help them with their writing. If you're really serious about writing children's books, surely it's common sense to get hold of publications that will update you on the latest trends in children's literature.
Magpies is an Australian review magazine with a New Zealand section. There are five issues a year, and the annual subscription is $53. It contains articles about the children's literature scene in Australia and New Zealand, as well as reviews of new books. For more information visit Magpies.
Barbara Murison (of Marigold Enterprises) publishes a quarterly children's book review magazine called Around the Bookshops. As well as reviews (many of them by children) she always includes an article relating to children's literature in New Zealand, often an author interview. The annual subscription is only $36.50. For more information visit www.marigold.co.nz.
Both magazines are well worth the subscriptions.
30 April 2009
Local publishers are obviously being hit by the current recession. More and more publishers are announcing that they are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts except those sent in by agents, and in some cases they are only publishing commissioned work. Publishers seem to be staying with the tried and true, rather than taking a punt on a new author or a non-mainstream story.
This makes life even more difficult for writers trying to get that crucial first book published. My advice for writers in this situation is to analyse the book market very closely (What is being published? Why did it get accepted?), take every opportunity to get your name known in local children's literature networks (join organisations, do volunteer work, publish on the internet, write book reviews, write articles), and have your manuscripts assessed by a professional assessor (it costs money but it's worth it).
You also need a great deal of determination - and a significant helping of luck!
10 April 2009
Welcome to my new Story-Go-Round website.
I built the first version of Story-Go-Round in 2000, using Microsoft Frontpage. In those days it was okay to have a fairly amateurish website as long as your content was interesting. But nine years later the expectations of most web visitors are much higher. Websites need to be visually attractive as well as expertly designed. I was delighted to employ Heather Arnold, graphic artist and winner of the 2008 Elsie Locke Award, to design the new version of Story-Go-Round.
The focus of the new version is considerably narrower. I have excluded all the pages that don't relate directly to my own writing (with one exception, see below). For eight years I have updated the Reviews pages and the News and Views page on a monthly basis - stealing time from my writing to do so. Nowadays I can't afford to spare that time.
Most of the information that was once on Story-Go-Round is now available in other websites and blogs, so I have no qualms about omitting it.
I am pleased to retain Wayne Mills' Recommended Books for Boys List. Wayne is an international expert in this field, as well as keeping himself incredibly busy with his Kids’ Lit Quiz, and I am honoured that he still wants to publish his list on Story-Go-Round.
Two Raves I recently attended the launch of The Word Witch: The Magical Verse of Margaret Mahy, edited by Tessa Duder and illustrated by David Elliot (HarperCollins NZ, ISBN 978 1 86950 707 7). This stunning anthology contains 66 poems and verse stories, including well-known favourites such as Down the Back of the Chair and Bubble Trouble. Each poem has been illustrated in expansive and whimsical style by David Elliot. This is a must-buy book for readers of all ages. A little bird told me the first print run sold out before the book was even launched!
I was one of the lucky writers who attended the Spinning Gold Conference for Children's Writers and Illustrators in Wellington last month. The conference gave all participants a much-needed dose of encouragement and enthusiasm in these recession-affected times. It certainly boosted my morale and gave me much to think about. Many thanks to the dedicated organisers from the Wellington Children's Literature Association, especially Fifi Colston and Maureen Crisp.
20 July 2009
Latest trends in children's literature. I often meet aspiring children's writers who haven't made any effort to locate tools to help them with their writing. If you're really serious about writing children's books, surely it's common sense to get hold of publications that will update you on the latest trends in children's literature.
Magpies is an Australian review magazine with a New Zealand section. There are five issues a year, and the annual subscription is $53. It contains articles about the children's literature scene in Australia and New Zealand, as well as reviews of new books. For more information visit Magpies.
Barbara Murison (of Marigold Enterprises) publishes a quarterly children's book review magazine called Around the Bookshops. As well as reviews (many of them by children) she always includes an article relating to children's literature in New Zealand, often an author interview. The annual subscription is only $36.50. For more information visit www.marigold.co.nz.
Both magazines are well worth the subscriptions.
30 April 2009
Local publishers are obviously being hit by the current recession. More and more publishers are announcing that they are not accepting unsolicited manuscripts except those sent in by agents, and in some cases they are only publishing commissioned work. Publishers seem to be staying with the tried and true, rather than taking a punt on a new author or a non-mainstream story.
This makes life even more difficult for writers trying to get that crucial first book published. My advice for writers in this situation is to analyse the book market very closely (What is being published? Why did it get accepted?), take every opportunity to get your name known in local children's literature networks (join organisations, do volunteer work, publish on the internet, write book reviews, write articles), and have your manuscripts assessed by a professional assessor (it costs money but it's worth it).
You also need a great deal of determination - and a significant helping of luck!
10 April 2009
Welcome to my new Story-Go-Round website.
I built the first version of Story-Go-Round in 2000, using Microsoft Frontpage. In those days it was okay to have a fairly amateurish website as long as your content was interesting. But nine years later the expectations of most web visitors are much higher. Websites need to be visually attractive as well as expertly designed. I was delighted to employ Heather Arnold, graphic artist and winner of the 2008 Elsie Locke Award, to design the new version of Story-Go-Round.
The focus of the new version is considerably narrower. I have excluded all the pages that don't relate directly to my own writing (with one exception, see below). For eight years I have updated the Reviews pages and the News and Views page on a monthly basis - stealing time from my writing to do so. Nowadays I can't afford to spare that time.
Most of the information that was once on Story-Go-Round is now available in other websites and blogs, so I have no qualms about omitting it.
I am pleased to retain Wayne Mills' Recommended Books for Boys List. Wayne is an international expert in this field, as well as keeping himself incredibly busy with his Kids’ Lit Quiz, and I am honoured that he still wants to publish his list on Story-Go-Round.
In this Thoughts column I will be writing comments about events and trends in children's literature. It's not intended to be a blog - I don't have enough important thoughts to maintain a blog - but I will be passing on opinions about things that affect my life as an author.
