Twenty Reasons I Loved YALC 2014

Unlike most of the bloggers who attended YALC (the first ever UK Young Adult Lit Con) on Saturday, I have decided to be fashionably late with my write up (aka exhausted on Sunday night, catching up with a weekend of missed work on Monday night, & at the O2 watching Monty Python on Tuesday night). Of course, my tardiness will mean that most of you will have already read countless write-ups and reviews of the weekend's event so rather than have you wade through my usual waffle I have decided to be uncharacteristically succinct, and thus give you (in no particular order apart from the first four), the twenty reasons I loved YALC:

1.Malorie Blackman 

Fantastic writer of brilliant books, Children's Laureate and sure candidate for a Dame-hood in the future. Malorie was the curator and one of the driving forces behind YALC and her passion and energy were infectious on Saturday. And she even opened the events by speaking in Klingon. Legend!

2.Katherine Woodfine 

Sadly somehow I missed meeting Katherine (of Booktrust fame) at the weekend (on the few occasions I saw her she was incredibly busy), but I am reliably informed by all involved that without her the event would most likely have never taken place. Legend number 2!

3. The sixty or so authors who turned up to take part in panels, talk to attendees and sign books. These writers were invariably welcoming, happy to spend huge amounts of time signing, chatting with every single fan who had carted piles of books across London for signing. That's another 60 legends for the list!

4. The small troop of publicists who made up the organising committee. It was two years ago that they started talking about organising a YA Lit Con and I hope they are incredibly proud of the fruits of their labours. They certainly deserve to be. I'm not going to name names, for fear of missing someone out, but we know who you are and we are hugely grateful. Despite being dead on their feet by the end of Saturday, they were back again on Sunday, smiling, helping, chatting and being all round friendly people. More legends for the list!

5. The panel events. 

Informative, interesting, funny, fab. I went to all six on the Saturday, and even though it meant missing a lot of the book signings there was no way I was going to drag myself away from the main stage area.

6. Lucy Saxon in Captain America cosplay splendor.

I've not yet read Lucy's debut, Take Back the Skies, but I am going to make it a priority to get my hands on a copy. Lucy is a seasoned cosplayer and took part in the Superfans Unite! panel event in a totally awesome Captain America costume that she made herself. Head on over to http://www.lucysaxon.com/ to find out more.

7. Geeking out

It was so good to bump into so many of the other bloggers, some of whom I haven't seen for ages, and be able to talk about books, books and more books (and the occasional comic as well).

8. The Heroes of Horror panel

Four of my all time favourite YA authors in the same place at the same time, talking about their work. Derek Landy, Will Hill, Darren Shan and Charlie Higson I salute you. 

9. The whirlwind of energy that is Steve Cole

Steve chaired the Regenerating the Doctor panel event with considerable gusto and I am so looking forward to reading his Young Bond book later this year, and I am also rather excited that he will be visiting school in November.

10. Patrick Ness

This was the first time I have been to an event featuring Patrick Ness, and he was brilliant. One of my favourite moments of the whole weekend was Patrick, on the Regenerating the Doctor panel, stating that "the reason Malorie is on this panel is I declined to do the panel if it was just going to be five white guys... because I thought the world's different now". Hear, hear! Just one comment that added to the overall desire for more diversity in YA and children's literature, that was voiced by writers and readers alike throughout the weekend. Malorie Blackman to write an episode of Doctor Who? If it ever happens, remember the campaign to make it so started at YALC.

11. James Dawson and This Book Is Gay

On Sunday a handful of bloggers were invited to a special brunch held by the YALC organising committee. James (complete with his recent Queen of Teen crown) was one of the attending authors, and he spoke briefly and passionately about his new non-fiction title, This Book Is Gay. We were very fortunate to all receive early copies of this important book, and I've already had a commitment from school to buy multiple copies.

12. 300ish seats at the Main Stage, every single one of them full for pretty much every single event.

13. Rainbow Rowell

I have never read a book written by Rainbow Rowell, as her books are not the kind of thing I generally read (especially given the size of my TBR pile). However, she was bloody brilliant and very funny as part of the Superfans Unite! panel, and I may just have to read Fangirls or Eleanor & park this summer.

14. Non Pratt

If you haven't met Non Pratt, author of Trouble, then you have missed out. I met Non some time ago, when she was pretty much single-handedly getting Catnip Books up and running, and I love chatting with her. Even when she is berating me for never having watched Battlestar Galactica (the recent version, not the totally awesome 80s version, of which I have seen every episode, and also saw the first feature length version in the cinema. Yes, i am that old). Non also very graciously took the time to sign and draw sperm in my copy of Trouble. And seriously, you need to check out her short but wonderful blog piece about her thoughts on YALC.

15. Workshops

I didn't manage to attend any of the writing workshops that took place over the weekend, and I gather from other YALC visitors that I may have really missed out there. Possibly my only regret of the whole weekend.

16. Cosplayers everywhere. 

OK, so this wasn't strictly YALC related, but I think it was a genius idea of the organisers to approach Showmasters and have YALC be a part of the London Film and Comic Con. It had its drawbacks (hot, very crowded, very noisy), but I'm not sure it would have been anywhere near as well attended if it had been held as a standalone event. It was my first Comic Con and now I totally get cosplay. I loved admiring some of the amazing costumes that were being worn throughout the weekend, even in bonkers temperatures! Back in the day we used to call it fancy dress (and a few fond memories of costumes worn in my uni days were brought flooding back - I did a Thunderbird, Zorro (on several occasions), and Danger Mouse (complete with huge papier mache head) and even won prizes for my efforts. I may even show you the photos one day).

17. Frances Hardinge

It seems a little mean on Ruth Warburton, Amy McCulloch and Jonathan Stroud for me to single out Frances Hardinge from the writing Fantasy panel, but she was brilliant. Frances is such an intelligent and humorous person, and if you ever get the opportunity to listen to her at an event I urge you to take it. And she signed and drew a goose in my copy of Fly By Night too. Result!

18. Andy Robb

I still haven't met Andy Robb (even though I think he lives less than ten miles away from me) as I stayed seated for a panel event and missed his book signing. however, his chairing of the Superfans United event was, in my opinion, a highlight of the weekend. Well done, sir!

19. Book signings

I've already mentioned the host of authors that were at YALC, but I did not mention that they did all of their book signing for free. Unlike the host of z-list celebs from the world of film & TV who charged for the pleasure as part of LFCC. Seriously, I've often been called a geek but even I can't see the appeal of paying to queue to get the autograph of some random guy who wore a full body suit/mask to play an obscure creature character in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. And many of these authors sat there signing for hours, always happy to chat at length with each and every fan who came their way, even if the queue was snaking around the whole Book Zone.

20. Which leads me on to the YA fans

The hoards of people, young and old, who came to YALC to listen to and meet their literary heroes. They filled the seats, listened attentively, asked brilliant questions and bought huge piles of books. They then waited patiently in line whilst their chosen author took time to chat at length with every fan in front of them, with rarely a single moan about how slow the queue in front of them might be moving. YALC-attending YA fans, I salute you! Without you, it would have been doubtful that this event would happen again. Your being there, and your enthusiasm and passion for the authors and their books, may mean we see a repeat in the future. Thank you.

~~~

That's my twenty. I can't comment too well on Sunday's events as I was pretty much wiped out by midday, and I really wanted to get my Batgirl, Tomb Raider and Red Sonja comics signed by Gail Simone, one of my favourite writers of comics at this moment in time. So before heading home I made a quick visit to the Comic Zone at LFCC, where I also had the good fortune to meet and chat with an artist called John Royle (he currently draws Danger Girl - one of my massive guilty pleasures when it comes to comics). However, I have heard amazing things about the I'm too Sexy For This Book panel event at YALC, so that goes down as another regret from the weekend.

Before I sign off I want to reiterate my huge thanks to Malorie Blackman and everyone else who worked hard to make YALC such a huge success. It is an event that we have needed in the UK for a hell of a long time, and I hope it is the first of many more.

Event: WOW 2013 - Wonder of Words Young People's Literary Festival - 13 July 2013

You may have noticed that I have been a little quiet recently. One of the reasons for this is the semi-secret project I have been working on at school, which I can now reveal to the world. Yes, the school where I work is going to be holding its very own young people's literary festival. I have pasted details below, taken from the school's book blog page which you can view by clicking here. We are really excited about the brilliant line-up of authors we have arranged, and we hope you will join us if you live in or near Berkshire. If you're a blogger and help us to promote the festival by adding something to your blog then I will arrange a free VIP ticket for all three events. I know it's not much but... :-)

On Saturday 13 July Charters School will be holding its very own young people's literary festival. Read on to find out more about the event, the authors who will be appearing and how you can get tickets. Alternatively, you can download the festival programme by clicking here.

Last summer we held a summer fair at Charters School to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and also the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. It was a great success and so we decided we wanted to continue to hold an annual summer fair, with all the great stalls, games, live music and food that people have come to expect from a Charters School summer event,  but with a slight difference. That difference is WOW!

For our very first Wonder of Words Young People's Literary Festival we have managed to provide a brilliant line-up of author events, featuring some of the hottest authors currently writing for children and young adults. We are very excited to be hosting Laura Dockrill, Holly Smale, Will Hill, Rob Lloyd Jones and Conrad Mason and we believe we have a programme which has a little something for everyone.

Programme

12-1pm

Laura Dockrill

Laura visited Charters in April and we are delighted to be welcoming her back to wow the audience with her wild and colourful imagination. Laura's debut book for children, Darcy Burdock, has received countless rave reviews, with The Guardian saying: "Move over, Jacqueline Wilson. Darcy Burdock could just be the new Tracy Beaker." Darcy Burdock is a hilarious and fun book, with a main character who will be loved by boys, girls and adults. This event is suitable for children aged 7+.

1.45-2.45pm

Holly Smale

Don't miss your chance to meet Holly Smale, author of Geek Girl, the best selling Young Adult debut of 2013. Although Geek Girl has been aimed at the 11+ market, girls as young as 7 and as old as 18 are finding it to be hugely enjoyable read. Clumsy, a bit geeky and somewhat shy, Holly spent the majority of her teenage years hiding in the changing room toilets. She was unexpectedly spotted by a top London modelling agency at the age of fifteen and spent the following two years falling over on catwalks, going bright red and breaking things she couldn't afford to replace.

3.30-4.30pm

Will Hill, Conrad Mason and Rob Lloyd Jones

 We are delighted to welcome three very talented writers for our final event of the day. Covering horror, fantasy and mystery this panel event is suitable for all ages from 10 upwards. Will Hill is the author of the extremely popular and critically acclaimed Department 19 series, which features a secret government agency who are dedicated to protecting the public from the vampire menace. Conrad Mason's hugely entertaining and magical Tales of Fayt fantasy books have been described as being perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean or the works of Terry Pratchett. Rob Lloyd Jones is the author of Wild Boy, a fast-paced adventure mystery story set in Victorian London, whose main character lives in a freak show.

Tickets

There is no charge for entry to the Summer Fair, but we are making a small charge for each of the author events. Tickets for each author event are only £2 for adults and £1 for under 18s. All children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by a ticket buying adult.

Tickets can be purchased by post by sending a cheque for the correct amount made payable to Charters School. Please ensure you state clearly the event(s) you wish to purchase tickets for. You tickets will be posted to you for a charge of 60p or free of charge if you include a stamped addressed envelope with your booking. Otherwise your tickets will be held at the school for collection on the day of the festival.

All cheques should be sent to:

WOW Festival, Charters School, Charters Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire. SL5 9QY


Books and Signings

Waterstones will be selling books after each event and there will be an opportunity to meet each author and get your books signed. Unfortunately we will not have credit card facilities on the day and we will only be accepting cash or cheques for book purchases. You are welcome to bring books you already own for signing.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to email chartersbooks@gmail.com or call the school on 01344 624826


The Summer Fair

As mentioned above, the summer fair part of the day is completely free to enter, and there will be plenty going on for all of the family to keep you occupied between the author events, including:

Hog Roast

Barbecue

Indian food stall

Tea and cakes


Silent auction

Raffle

Tombola


Bouncy castle

Sumo suits

Games, games and more games


Second hand book stall

Jewellery stall

All kinds of other stalls (info to come)

Comic Zone: Guest Post by Will Hill (Author of Department 19)

Last week I blogged about the book festival taking place all this week at Tales On Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London. In that blog post I promised a guest piece from Will Hill, author of Department 19, my 2011 Book of the Year, and here it is. Knowing that Will is a huge comics fan I asked if he would be interested in writing something about his favourites, and boy has he delivered something very special for us. If you are free on Thursday evening at 6pm and you are London based then you really should book a seat at the event he is sharing with Marcus Sedgwick - details can be found by clicking here. Now I hand you over to Will:

~~~

I’m a comics fan. There, I said it. I buy new comics every week, and my mum’s spare room is full of boxes of issues I bought when I was a teenager.

‘So what?’ you may well be asking. ‘Everyone is into comics these days.’ Well, you’d be half right, and you’d still be half wrong.

Comic characters have become one of THE driving forces of popular culture in the last ten years or so, fuelled by the (seemingly endless) run of big-budget Hollywood films based on them – Spider-Man, Batman, Iron Man, X-Men, Green Lantern, Superman, Fantastic Four, Thor, Daredevil, Captain America, Ghost Rider, Batman (again), Spider-Man (again) and, most notably, Marvel’s Avengers Assemble, which in three months or so has become the third highest-grossing film OF ALL TIME, behind only Titanic and Avatar. And there’s no sign of this trend coming to an end any time soon – Marvel have already announced Thor 2, Iron Man 3, Captain America 2 and The Avengers 2, DC and Warner Bros. are rebooting Superman and planning a Justice League movie and a Wonder Woman TV show, where The Walking Dead already rules the ratings. So comics are everywhere, right?

Well, as I said, yes and no. The CHARACTERS are everywhere, but the comics themselves are still a marginal art form – sales of monthly comic books have declined steadily since their high points in the mid 1990s, and the two main companies, Marvel and DC, have been on a constant mission to recruit new readers for the last ten years or so, culminating in DC restarting their entire universe and starting all their titles again with brand new issue ones.

Now, I like a lot of the films I mentioned above. But I don’t think that any of them have ever delivered the quality of storytelling that the best comic series have been able to offer. The reasons for this are what you would expect – the demands of studios and big-name stars, the need to tie in with fast food companies and toy lines, the requirement that the films be accessible to an audience that may know nothing more than the name of the main character. All of which is understandable. But is still annoying.

So – I’m going to list five of the greatest superhero comic stories ever told, and five of the best superhero titles being published today. You might not like them all, but hopefully if you give some of them a chance, you’ll find something that will make you want to keep reading. And then you can go and find the comics that you like, the ones that appeal to you – that’s the part that’s the most fun…


FIVE SUPERHERO COMICS YOU REALLY SHOULD HAVE READ

NOTE: These classic stories are all available in collected editions, from comic shops or online retailers (Book Zone note: Will very kindly took the time to provide links to these books. Clicking the images will take you to the relevant Amazon listing)


Batman: Year One (DC, 1987)

Frank Miller, one of the finest comic book writers of all time, and artist David Mazzucchelli team up to tell the parallel stories of the beginning of Bruce Wayne’s career as Batman and the arrival of a young Jim Gordon to the Gotham City Police Department. Determinedly gritty and realistic, this is one of the direct inspirations for Christopher Nolan’s series of films, and regularly acclaimed as the greatest Batman story ever told.

See also: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (DC) and Batman: The Long Halloween (DC)

X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga (Marvel, 1980)

Created by arguably the greatest team ever to work on the X-Men, Chris Claremont and John Byrne, this is the most iconic storyline from their legendary run on the characters. Jean Grey’s limitless potential power is let loose by a cosmic accident, and targeted and corrupted by villains who want it for themselves. Her transformation into the Dark Phoenix and the devastation that she wreaks across the galaxy are still as harrowing as when the books were originally published, and the ending still delivers a brutal emotional stomach punch.

See also: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel) and X-Men: Days Of Future Past (Marvel)

Superman: Red Son (DC, 2003)

This is perhaps the greatest ‘what if?” in the history of comics, and one of the most brilliantly simple – what if Superman had crashed to earth in the USSR instead of the American Midwest? Mark Millar explores the idea brilliantly – Superman triggers a superbeings arms race in the 1950s and the expansion of Soviet influence through the world in the 1960s and ‘70s – but never lets it get too preachy or pretentious, keeping it focused on the story in hand.

Watchmen (DC, 1986-7)

Thousands and thousands of pages of analysis have been written about Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ masterpiece that ranks as one of the most influential comics of all time. In an alternate world where costumed vigilantes have been made illegal, the former members of a costumed team investigate the death of an old colleague, and uncover a plot to bring about a global nuclear war. Of course, it’s about so much more than that – empathy, villainy, paranoia, anxiety, retirement, redundancy, and what it means to be a hero. It’s a tough, uncompromising read, but it is every bit the work of genius that everyone says it is.

Marvels (Marvel, 1994)

Alex Ross’s astonishing painted artwork (quite understandably) became the main talking point of this four-issue series, but Kurt Busiek’s story of the birth and life of the Marvel universe through the eyes of an everyman news photographer remains perhaps the greatest examination of what living in a world full of superheroes would really be like for ordinary men and women. Showing classic moments from Marvel history from a new perspective, it’s both a clever reinterpretation and a way for new readers to learn the origins of some of the most famous comic book heroes. And the art is truly amazing.

See also: Kingdom Come (DC)

FIVE CURRENT SUPERHERO COMICS YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT


NOTE: These titles have all been launched or relaunched in the last year or so – meaning they all have recent first issues that are natural jumping-on points. They’re all available digitally through either ComiXology (or their app) or the Marvel and DC apps as single issues, or as collected editions from comic shops or online retailers.

Batman (DC)

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run on one of the flagship DC titles is already being talked about alongside the greatest periods in Batman’s long history, and with good reason. Snyder examines the role of the Wayne family in the history of Gotham City, and conjures up a new villain to sit alongside the greats that the caped crusader has fought over his long career, while Capullo’s artwork moves the story effortlessly along. It’s truly great work.

Animal Man (DC)

Jeff Lemire is one of the best writers and artists working today, and this, his relaunch of one of the veteran DC characters, is an absolute joy. Buddy Baker can borrow the attributes of animals, and Lemire shows us a happily-married family man who fights crime when his wife lets him. But when his daughter is revealed as the harbinger of something terrible, the family go are forced to go on the run. It’s dark, bloody stuff, probably too much for younger readers, but is one of the very best of the newly relaunched DC titles.

Wonder Woman (DC)

A character that has too often been reduced to eye candy is treated with the seriousness and reverence that she deserves under the watchful eye of writer Brian Azzarello, who remakes the story of Diana, formerly an Amazonian warrior princess but now the demi-goddess daughter of Zeus and Hippolyta, into a full-blown classical horror tale. Cliff Chiang’s artwork brings to life every last god, demon and monster with simple clarity.

Wolverine and the X-Men (Marvel)

The problem with trying to read any of the X-Men books has always been the groaning weight of continuity that hangs over them, making it almost impossible to just pick an issue up and give it a try. With this in mind, Marvel relaunched the two flagship X books, starting them again at new issue ones, and splitting the huge number of characters between the two books. Wolverine and the X-Men follows Wolverine’s attempt to reopen Professor X’s school for young mutants, with surprisingly hilarious results – it’s one of the funniest comics now being published, full of adventure and action and beautiful Chris Bachalo artwork.

Note: Kieron Gillen’s work on Uncanny X-Men is also outstanding, but perhaps not as accessible as its sister title.

Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man (Marvel)

The Ultimates line of comics was a way for Marvel to strip away the continuity from their superhero universe, and tell new stories with classic characters. This title was highly controversial, as it depicts a Spider-Man who is not only NOT Peter Parker, but who is also (SHOCK! HORROR!) mixed-race – the half-Latino, half African-American Miles Morales. Apparently that still matters to some people, sadly. Thankfully, the book itself turned out to be excellent – a clever, convincing look at an ordinary New York teenager trying to juggle his normal life with the demands of being a superhero, brought beautifully to life by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli.

So there you go – go into a comic shop, pick something up and see what you make of it. Or download an issue onto your laptop, or your iPad, or your phone. Go and see where the characters that have taken over the world of pop culture actually came from, and why they’re proven to be so enduringly popular. And then when the next watered-down Hollywood adaptation is released, you can join me in telling anyone who’ll listen that it wasn’t as good as the comics…

~~~

Huge, huge, huge thanks to Will for taking the time to write this epic guest post for us. The launch of the DC New 52 was the push I needed to start buying comics as well as collected editions, and although I have not yet tried Ultimate Comics: Spiderman, I can wholeheartedly agree with Will's other comic recommendations as I am still really enjoying every one of them. Comics are a great way to get boys excited about reading, especially when they get into a story and spend weeks looking forward to reading the next monthly issue, and these days it doesn't matter if you don't live anywhere near a comic store. As Will said, they can be enjoyed just as much on an ipad or computer screen and with superheroes now a massive part of our everyday popular culture there has never been a better time to start buying them for your kids. 

News: The Sun Comes Out On Moon Lane Book Festival

Tales On Moon Lane is one of London's best bookshops. In fact, it so so good it has won a handful of awards, and next week it is hosting a week of brilliant events, featuring a plethora of fab authors. Here are a few more details:

School's almost out - and the crew at Tales on Moon Lane bookshop are expecting some very special guests for their biggest ever children’s book festival, which will run from 2nd – 7th July 2012! The packed schedule of events promises hi-jinks and hullabaloo aplenty with some of the biggest names in books for kids of all ages. There’s something to suit everyone in this exciting line-up so head on down to Moon Lane and hear some spooky stories from Marcus Sedgwick and Will Hill – or take afternoon tea with the Queen of Teen Cathy Cassidy – or help some of the very best children’s illustrators turn the shop into a giant picture book – or parade around in fancy dress – or laugh yourself silly with Philip Ardagh and Guy Bass – or train your dragon with Cressida Cowell! The possibilities are endless, and it's the perfect chance to stock up on some fantastic summer reads too. The experts at Tales on Moon Lane are always ready to help you choose the perfect books to keep you reading all summer long! Festival tickets are available online now at www.talesonmoonlane.co.uk/festival. Book early to avoid disappointment.

I'm hoping to get along to the Derek Landy and Alexander Gordon Smith event on Saturday 7th July. Maybe see you there?

Watch out too for a very special guest post from Will Hill, coming soon as part of the build up to the festival.

Tales on Moon Lane Children's Bookshop,

25 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, London SE24 9JU

TEL: 020 7274 5759

News: Authors Live - David Walliams

A while ago I wrote about a free online author event being organised by Scottish Book Trust, featuring Scotland's National Poet Liz Lochhead. Well those lovely people at Scottish Book Trust are up their tricks again, and this time they have a really beauty for you - none other than actor, comedian, talent show judge and writer of brilliant children's books, David Walliams. Here are the details:


You have seen him on your TV, now watch him on your computer! Multi-talented funny man David Walliams will be talking about his hilarious new book Gangsta Granny. Guaranteed to cause an epidemic of smiles to breakout across the UK.

The event will be streamed live to audiences across the UK at 11am on Thursday, 10th May. It will then become available to watch again for free by Thursday, 17th May for everyone worldwide!

You can join tens of thousands of pupils across the UK watching the event live.

Parents, readers and fans of David can watch the event by going directly to the BBC website at 11am on Thursday, 10thMay: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/authorslive/

Or, if you are a teacher, you can register your entire class by following this link: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/authors-live/david-walliams

If you can’t make the live broadcast the entire event can be downloaded or streamed for free from Thursday, 17th May here: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/learning/authors-live/david-walliams

We are really looking forward to this event: David Walliams is a brilliant entertainer and this promises to be a fantastic event.

News:

These days I get quite a few book and reading related press releases through. Some of them I share with you, many of them slip by the wayside as I only have so many free minutes in a day. Today I received an email that I felt I had to share with you, regarding a free online event that is taking place on Thursday. Here are the details:

Scotland’s National Poet Liz Lochhead is to give a live broadcast to children around the world during a special Robert Burns celebration on Thursday 26 January at 11am. The Scottish Friendly Meet Our Authors Special Event, run by Scottish Book Trust, will be streamed live from BBC Scotland in Glasgow and available after to watch again for free from the Scottish Book Trust website. The broadcast will be most suited to children from P6 – S4 (9-16 year olds) and any fan of Scottish poetry.

You too can join over 10,000 pupils across the UK and beyond watching the event live by following this link: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/authors-live-with-liz-lochhead. Alternatively, in case you don't read this until after the event, or you are already busy on Thursday at 11am, the event can be downloaded or streamed from next Thursday following the same link.

Liz will be celebrating the poetry of Burn’s as well as reading her own work. We’re sure this event is going to be really inspirational as no-one can make Burns come to life like Liz can.

Scottish Book Trust do loads of events like this every year: our previous events have featured authors such as Michael Rosen, Michael Morpurgo, Julia Donaldson, Eoin Colfer, Jacqueline Wilson, David Almond and many more. You can stream or download any of these events for free here: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/childrens-authors-live/2010-11.

Book Zone visits Walker Books

This morning I had the pleasure of attending a blogger event organised by the good people at Walker Books. At the beginning of 2011 Walker launched Undercover, a campaign designed to promote their YA fiction, through their online blog. The campaign proved to be very successful, so much so that Undercover is now going to continue into 2012 with a brand new website. The purpose of this morning's event was to give us bloggers a taste of the great Undercover books that are to be released by Walker throughout 2012.


The first part of the presentation involved the nice Walker people raving about the books they have scheduled to be released over the next eight months. As with most YA 'imprints' a good proportion of these books were not typical of the kind of book I tend to read and review on The Book Zone (i.e. a bit girly). However, there were a few that I really wanted to bring to your attention:
Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones (published 5th January 2012)

The details of this book suggest that it is another corker that fits with Walker's commitment to publish gritty thrillers that don't pull any punches. Books that were it not for them having teen protagonists would more likely find themselves aimed primarily at the adult market.

Blink is on the run. He was just trying to steal some breakfast; now he's stumbled on a fake kidnapping and become a player in a bigger game.

Enter Caution. As in "Caution: Toxic". Also on the run, she sees Blink as an easy mark. But there's something about this naive, skinny street punk that tugs at her heart.

Together, they devise a blackmail scam which is at best foolhardy... at worst, disastrous.


Daylight Saving by Edward Hogan (published 2nd February 2012)

We were very fortunate to be introduced to author Edward Hogan at this morning's event. Daylight Saving is his first YA novel and it sounds original and haunting. Edward very  kindly gave us some of the details behind the writing of the book, and graciously answered all of our geeky blogger questions in great detail. I can't wait to read this one!

When Daniel Lever accompanies his dad to the Leisure World Holiday Complex, his expectations are low. But then he sees a mysterious girl by the fake lake and everything changes. Lexi is funny and smart, but why does she have wounds that get worse each time they meet? And is her watch really going backwards?

As the end of British Summer Time approaches, Daniel has to act quickly. Their souls depend on it.


Girl, Stolen by April Henry (published 2nd February 2012)

I had already heard about this book as it was released in the US back in September and I have read a number of favourable reviews on some of the US blogs that I visit occasionally. Walker billed it as an "edge of your seat thriller that will have you tempted to flick to the end". Another book added to my 'must read' list.

Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mother fills her prescription. Before Cheyenne realizes what has happened, the car is being stolen from the car park. Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia - she is also blind. Griffin, the teenage driver, hadn't meant to kidnap her - he was just stealing a car for the gang. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of Nike, everything changes - now there's a reason to keep her. Will Cheyenne be able to survive this harrowing ordeal, and escape? And if so, at what price?


Body Blow by Peter Cocks (published 5th April 2012)

This is the sequel to Long Reach, the first book featuring teen undercover 'agent' Eddie Savage. Long Reach is a book that I bought on my Kindle some time ago, but despite recommendations from blogging friends I had never got around to reading it. The nice people at Walker very kindly let me leave with a copy of Long Reach this morning and I started reading it on the train home, and finished it off this morning. It is brilliant, and I have no doubt at all that the sequel will be just as good.

Eddie Savage is hiding out in the West Midlands after his near-fatal shooting during the Kelly affair. But while the physical wounds are fading, the emotional scars are taking longer to heal. And when Eddie finds himself heading for the south of Spain with an unlikely travelling companion, it is as if, by some magnetic force, he is being drawn back into the criminal underworld. Tommy Kelly may be safely locked up back at home, but on the Costa del Sol the Kelly organization is still alive. And kicking.


After the presentation we were then introduced to Jack, the guy behind many of Walker's YA book cover designs. Jack is the man responsible for the awesome cover of Daylight Saving, as well as the animated version (below) that has appeared on many blogs since it was unveiled to the public in October. As a teacher of Design I found Jack presentation totally fascinating (yes, I sat there quietly geeking out). It was great to see how he came up with his initial ideas based upon the story, and then developed them bit by bit to produce the final design that you can see below. Some of you will know from a previous post I made that some of my sixth form students are currently designing book covers and I'm looking forward to talking to them about Jack's presentation next lesson.

My huge thanks go to the good people from Walker Books who very kindly gave up their Saturday morning to talk to use bloggers - it is always a pleasure to listen to other people talk so passionately about books.

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Book Zone visits Orion Indigo Books

Despite being rushed off my feet with work, yesterday I shot out of school as soon as the buses had cleared and managed to make it to the station in time to get the train into London. Some time ago I was really chuffed to receive an invitation to an event that Orion were holding for bloggers in order to showcase their forthcoming new Young Adult imprint, Indigo. I had been looking forward to this for some time as I have been picking up occasional morsels of information regarding some of the books they have coming out over the next twelve months and we had been promised that this would be the evening when all would be revealed.

I arrived at Orion Towers to find the room already buzzing with the sound that only a (insert collective noun) of excited book loving bloggers can make, and finally got the chance to meet and chat with Becky, aka The Bookette. There were also a number of other very familiar faces, some of whom I had only seen a few days earlier at the Random House Bloggers' Brunch, and this is another reason why I enjoy these events so much. I love talking about books with other book lovers (and I think my wife gets a little bored with me raving about this book or that book).

We didn't have to wait for long until Nina Douglas and Louise Bowes (respectively Orion publicity manager and marketing manager) moved to the front of the room, and demonstrated the power that all people who have new book information to share possess – the ability to silence a room of bloggers in an instant. We were treated to a presentation of the titles due out in later 2011 and the first part of 2012, and please believe me when I say that there are some cracking sounding books being published under the Indigo banner. Being a YA imprint some of these books may be of little interest to boy readers, but there were more than enough boy-friendly-sounding books to have me hanging on Nina's and Louise's every word:

Shelter by Harlen Coben (published 15th September 2011)

Harlen Coben is a writer of outstanding thrillers for adults, and Nina explained that he had been wanting to write a book for the YA market for quite a long time. I really hope that he manages to transfer the quality of his writing to this younger market, unlike one or two authors-for-adults who have tried this in the past few years.

Harlan Coben's very first young adult project will link in with the storylines in his up-and-coming adult thrillers as Myron Bolitar discovers that his mysterious tearaway younger brother, Brad, has a son – who is now a teenager.

When our series hero's father, Brad, dies in a mysterious accident in South America, Myron is his closest, albeit estranged, relative left and is assigned to be his legal guardian. Will uncle and nephew be able to live with one another? And will our hero be able to resist getting involved in solving a mystery disappearance at his new high school?

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick (published 6th October 2011)

The author who simply cannot be categorised – all of his books are unique in one way or another, and he is a truly gifted author. I loved his White Crow last year and I have been reading his books for some time. This one again sounds like it will refuse to be labelled and I, for one, can't wait to read it (and what stunning cover!).

Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar, even though you've never been there before, or felt that you know someone well, even though you are meeting them for the first time? It happens. In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young local woman known as Merle are ritually slain. Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before, when, in the dark of the moon, a king was slain, tragically torn from his queen. Their souls search to be reunited, and as mother and son, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire they come close to finding what they've lost. In a novel comprising seven parts, each influenced by a moon - the flower moon, the harvest moon, the hunter's moon, the blood moon - this is the story of Eric and Merle whose souls have been searching for each other since their untimely parting. Beautifully imagined, intricately and cleverly structured, this is a heart-wrenching and breathtaking love story with the hallmark Sedgwick gothic touches of atmosphere, blood-spilling and sacrifice.

We also had the great pleasure of listening to Marcus read an excerpt from the book, and of course I managed to get him to sign my copies of White Crow and The Book of Dead Days.

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner (published 3rd November 2011)

I am not yet sure whether this is a boy-friendly book or not, but I just had to mention it as Sally was there on the evening and read a short excerpt from it. Her descriptive writing is of the greatest quality and for those few minutes I was completely hypnotised by the words she was reading. The concept sounds fascinating and I will certainly be giving this one a try and reporting back to you all.

A girl tries to free herself from the terrifying double shadow of her childhood and forge her own future, but she is trapped in a memory machine created by her father.


Arnold Ruben has created a memory machine, a utopia housed in a picture palace, where the happiest memories replay forever; a haven in which he and his precious daughter can shelter from the war-clouds gathering over 1937 Britain. But on the day of her seventeenth birthday Amaryllis leaves Warlock Hall and the world she has known and wakes to find herself in a desolate and disturbing place. Something has gone terribly wrong with her father's plan. Against the tense backdrop of the second World War Sally Gardner explores families and what binds them, fathers and daughters, past histories, passions and cruelty, love and devastation in a novel rich in character and beautifully crafted.

Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding (published January 2012)

Chris Wooding is an incredibly talented and imaginative writer, and if you like steampunkish, alternative history, fantasy stories and you have not yet read his The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray then you should make this a priority. He also writes for the adult market, and in 2009 Gollancz (the sci fi/fantasy arm of Orion) published his Retribution Falls. I am reliably informed by other bloggers who have read it that it is brilliant, and I bought a copy a while back that I fully intend to read during the school summer holidays. Anyway, what I am building up to saying is that is seems that Retribution Falls, and its sequel The Black Lung Captain, have built a healthy teen following and so they are going to be re-released as Indigo books.

Frey is the captain of the Ketty Jay, leader of a small and highly dysfunctional band of layabouts. An inveterate womaniser and rogue, he and his gang make a living on the wrong side of the law, avoiding the heavily armed flying frigates of the Coalition Navy. With their trio of ragged fighter craft, they run contraband, rob airships and generally make a nuisance of themselves. So a hot tip on a cargo freighter loaded with valuables seems like a great prospect for an easy heist and a fast buck. Until the heist goes wrong, and the freighter explodes. Suddenly Frey isn't just a nuisance anymore - he's public enemy number one, with the Coalition Navy on his tail and contractors hired to take him down. But Frey knows something they don't. That freighter was rigged to blow, and Frey has been framed to take the fall. If he wants to prove it, he's going to have to catch the real culprit. He must face liars and lovers, dogfights and gunfights, Dukes and daemons. It's going to take all his criminal talents to prove he's not the criminal they think he is ...


The Double-Edged Sword by Sarah Silverwood (published January 2012)

Yes, this is another book that has already been published by Gollancz and will be reissued as an Indigo book, and it was one of my favourite books of last year (see my review here). Just last week I received a copy of the sequel, Traitor's Gate (also scheduled for an Indigo release, in March 2011), and I am about to start reading it this evening. If it is even half as good as its predecessor I could be in for a very late night.


Finmere Tingewick Smith was abandoned on the steps of the Old Bailey. Under the guardianship of the austere Judge Harlequin Brown and the elderly gentlemen of Orrery House, Fin has grown up under a very strange set of rules. He spends alternate years at two very different schools and now he's tired of the constant lies to even his best friends, to hide the insanity of his double life. Neither would believe the truth! But on his sixteenth birthday, everything changes. The Judge is killed, stabbed in the chest with a double-edged sword that's disturbingly familiar, and from that moment on, Fin is catapulted into an extraordinary adventure. Through the Doorway in Fin's London, a hole in the boundaries of Existence, lies another London -- and now both are in grave danger. For the Knights of Nowhere have kidnapped the Storyholder, the keeper of the Five Eternal Stories which weave the worlds together. Because of the Knights' actions, a black storm is coming, bringing madness with it. Fin may be just 16, but he has a long, dark journey ahead of him if he is to rescue the Storyholder and save Existence!


Hollow Pike by James Dawson (February 2012)

Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to chat with James at the recent Orion summer party, but there is a lot of love for him on Twitter, and an awful lot of bloggers desperate to read his debut book, Hollow Pike. The brief details we were given sound fascinating, and the cover to the book (officially unveiled last night to us lucky few) is stunning. James (who you should follow on Twitter as @_jamesdawson) revealed the cover to the rest of the world this evening on his blog so I feel it is now ok for me to show it to you as well.


When Lis London moves to Hollow Pike, she's looking forward to starting afresh in a new town, but when she sees the local forest she realizes that not everything here is new to her. She's seen the wood before - in a recurring nightmare where someone is trying to kill her! Lis tells herself there's nothing to her bad dreams, or to the legends of witchcraft and sinister rituals linked with Hollow Pike. She's settling in, making friends, and even falling in love - but then a girl is found murdered in the forest. Suddenly, Lis doesn't know who to trust anymore...


As well as Marcus and Sally, we were also very fortunate to meet Sara Grant and Kate Harrison, both of whom treated us to readings from their respective books, Dark Parties and Soul Beach. I am not entirely sure at the moment whether these will have huge appeal, but if they do then I am sure reviews will appear on The Book Zone at some point in the future. I had a lovely long chat with Kate about boys and reading but unfortunately time disappeared very quickly and I never had the chance to chat with Sara.

There were many more books mentioned during the evening, but I think these should be enough to whet your appetite for now. As I get fed more information in the future from Orion about their Indigo book I will make sure that I pass it on to you.


My huge thanks go to Nina, Louise and their team for inviting me to such an enjoyable event, it was well worth another late night and a very tired and bleary-eyed drag through the school day today. My only regret is that I concentrated a little too much on talking to the bloggers I already know and didn't get the chance to introduce myself to Andrew (aka The Pewter Wolf), Michael (aka Achuka) and others. Sorry guys – hope we get the chance to chat soon.