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Spielberg’s War Horse adaptation begins shooting as its sequel makes it stage debut

Director Steven Spielberg began shooting his big-screen adaptation of the Michael Morpurgo book War Horse this week. The movie’s script has been written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis, with Jeremy Irvine set to play Albert and Emily Watson and David Thewlis his parents.

War horse tells the touching story of a farm boy, Albert, who sells his horse, Joey, for service in World War 1. Joey decides to travel to France to retrieve his horse.

The book was first published in 1982 and what’s astonishing is that War Horse made it this far at all. Morpurgo admits it did nothing spectacular for years.

"It nearly won a prize but failed. It was translated into three or four languages. It was published in America and didn’t succeed. It stayed in print – just about – for about 25 years. It simply was not a book that anyone really knew about or cared about," he told the BBC.

All that changed when it came to the attention of the National Theatre, which was on the look-out for an animal-centric drama. The show opened in 2007 to widespread acclaim since when Michael Morpurgo has seen it more than a dozen times. When it ended its run at the National Theatre prior to the West End, his wife Clare arranged a special treat. The National allowed the author of the book and former Children’s Laureate to have a part in the play.

And then Steven Spielberg came knocking on the stable door.

"Steven Spielberg was wonderfully engaging and inquisitive about the whole history of it," Morpurgo recalls. "It was the most spellbinding thing to sit across the table from one of the world’s great storytellers."

And then, in 2009, came the continuation of the story in Farm Boy, a book which Morpurgo was partly urged to do by children, who kept writing to him wanting to know what happened to Joey, the requisitioned horse, after the war was over.

Farm Boy provides the answer.

The book has now been adapted for stage by Daniel Buckroyd of New Perspectives; a small Nottingham-based travelling company of the sort Morpurgo thinks is England’s true theatrical glory. It’s a 65-minute show for slightly younger children than War Horse – the seven to 87 age bracket. Its theme is a partly a somewhat Soviet boy-meets-tractor love affair.

Its real star, however, is not Joey the horse but a rusty Fordson, a regular pin-up in Classic Tractor magazine. The mock-up vehicle and a cast of two, grandfather and boy, are poised to chug into the Edinburgh Festival, telling the story of Joey’s farm days once safely back from the Western Front. The story is set in the same Devon parish where Morpurgo lives. “I’m passionately fond if it. Actually I think it may be my favourite book,” he says.

Farm Boy is on at the Edinburgh Suite, Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, from 5 – 30 Aug prior to an autumn UK tour.

• Michael Morpurgo biography
• War Horse book review

Posted: August 4th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

Fantasy news round-up, July 22, 2010

A round-up of the latest fantasy-related news published during the third week of July 2010.

The Wind In The Willows gets teaser site
An official website has been launched for the 2012 adaptation of Kenneth Grahame‘s The Wind in the Willows. The film will be adapted and directed by Ray Griggs with New Zealand-based effects studio Weta, founded by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk in 1993, handling the computer-generated animation. There is not much to see as of yet… http://www.thewindinthewillowsthemovie.net/

eBooks outstrip online demand for traditional hardback format
For every book purist, hardbooks represent literature at its best. But the hardback appears to be at risk of being left on the shelf after Amazon revealed that sales of eBooks for its digital reader have outstripped the traditional format for the first time. The online retailer has sold 143 books for the Kindle eReader for every 100 hardcover versions over the past three months. In the last month alone, sales have spiked to as many as 180 for every 100. Bestselling authors such as Stephenie Meyer, who wrote the Twilight series, Charlaine Harris, Stieg Larsson, James Patterson and Nora Roberts, have each sold more than 500,000 Kindle books as more readers snap up the new technology.

Morgan Spurlock’s Comic-Con documentary seeks participants
Morgan Spurlock, the director of Super Size Me and The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special is headed to 2010 Comic-Con International in San Diego to shoot a documentary about the event. He is seeking attendees who would like to be a part of his film. On the film’s website, he asks, "Do you die for diehard fandom? Do you pine over Chris Pine, other Captain Kirks, or have firsthand knowledge of who is the ultimate Bruce Wayne? Is your Lost Ark a long lost collectible, an original edition comic book?" Anyone who needs to be the first in line at a sneak peak of Green Lantern, has the biggest collection or best costume is invited to participate in his feature-length film Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope and tell their story. From fans to artists and vendors, Spurlock and his producers, including comic book icon Stan Lee and writer/producer Joss Whedon, are seeking to cast: "original, eccentric, and funny people that will capture the excitement, enthusiasm, joy, and passion of comic book, anime, sci-fi, and fantasy lovers." Those interested in taking part in this epic documentary can send a message to ComicConDoc@gmail.com. The producers request that each submission includes a name, phone number, picture, and one’s story. For more information, visit http://comic-con.morganspurlock.com/

Daniel Radcliffe to appear in The Woman in Black
Daniel Radcliffe will shortly be playing the role of a lawyer in the upcoming movie, The Woman in Black, an adaptations of Susan Hill’s best selling novel. Radcliffe said, “I am incredibly excited to be part of The Woman in Black, Jane Goldman’s script is beautifully written – both tender and terrifying in equal measure”. The Woman in Black will be directed by Eden Lake’s James Watkins.

Steven Spielberg to shoot his latest film on an isolated British moor
Steven Spielberg will be shooting his latest film on a windswept, isolated British moor. Dartmoor is to be the backdrop for the big-budget adaptation of War Horse, a novel by Devon writer Michael Morpurgo. The book tells the moving story of a horse sold to the cavalry and then shipped to France during the First World War, and his young owner’s mission to bring him home. “I know they are filming on Dartmoor and in London,” said Mr Morpurgo, who used his home village of Iddesleigh, near Winkleigh, North Devon, as the location for part of the novel.  “I am excited and I hope to go on set and see it.” Mr Morpurgo believed that filming would begin in August and last about three months but he was not sure when the crew would descend on Dartmoor.

Posted: July 22nd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Kenneth Grahame, Michael Morpurgo

Michael Morpurgo to visit newly re-opened Yellow-Lighted Bookshop in Nailsworth

Michael Morpurgo, former Children’s Laureate, and author of classic stories such as War Horse, Private Peaceful, Kensuke’s Kingdom, Butterfly Lion and many others, will be visiting the newly re-opened Yellow-Lighted Bookshop in Nailsworth later this month Michael will be formally opening the new shop, signing books and meeting his fans.

The event will be taking place at 11.00am, on Saturday 10th July.

“It is fantastic that Michael is going to be able to visit us and help celebrate our new shop. We are tremendously privileged that he is going to be able to come along and spend some time with our customers”, said shop owner Hereward Corbett.

The new shop is at:
17 Fountain Street
Nailsworth
GL6 0BL
01453 – 832555

All details can be found via the bookshops’ website: www.yellow-lightedbookshop.co.uk

Last Saturday Morpurgo went to Beechwood Park School, Markyate. The St Albans born author gave a talk and made presentations at the private school’s annual prize giving evening.

Head teacher Patrick Atkinson said: "Michael Morpurgo’s visit to Beechwood Park will linger long in the memories of all those privileged to have witnessed it. He was very entertaining indeed."

Posted: July 6th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

Steven Spielberg announces cast of War Horse

Ever since Steven Spielberg chose War Horse as his next project there have been thoughts and discussions on who will form the cast. Very pleasingly, as was very much the case with the Harry Potter franchise, the film will feature a largely British cast with the lead role of Albert going to young RSC and National Youth Theatre actor Jeremy Irvine (pictured right). Oscar-nominated Emily Watson and Peter Mullan will play his on-screen parents.

Here is the announced cast in full:

• Jeremy Irvine (Albert)
• Peter Mullan (Dad)
• Emily Watson (Mum)
• David Thewlis (Lyons)
• Benedict Cumberbatch (Major Stewart)
• Stephen Graham (Sgt. Sam Perkins)
• Tom Hiddleston (Captain Nichols)
• Niels Arestrup (Grandfather)
• Celine Buckens (Emilie)
• David Kross (Gunther)
• Patrick Kennedy (Lieutenant Waverly)
• Rainer Bock (Brandt)
• Nicolas Bro (Friedrich)
• Leonard Carow (Michael)
• Robert Emms (David Lyons)

War Horse, originally written by Michael Morpurgo, is the incredibly moving story about one horse’s experience in the deadly chaos of the first world war. In 1914, Joey, a young farm horse, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges towards the enemy, witnessing the horror of the frontline. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey’s courage touches the soldiers around him.

Adapted by Richard Curtis and Billy Elliot’s Lee Hall from the stage adaptation, it will be produced by Spielberg and begins shooting in the UK in August.

War Horse will be released August 20, 2011.

Posted: June 25th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

The Duchess of Cornwall lends her support to the WICKED Young Writers Award

The WICKED Young Writers’ Award has proudly announced Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall as its patron from April 2010. The Award is separated into five categories between the ages of 5-25 and allows young people from across the UK and Northern Ireland to enter a piece of writing on a theme or subject of their choice. The final date for entries is Saturday 31 July 2010. 

Launched in February of this year by long-running West End musical WICKED, the Award aims to recognise excellence in writing, encourage creativity, and help develop writing talent in young people from across all backgrounds and areas of the UK.  Young people are free to submit entries written at home or at school, and teachers will also be encouraged to enter writing on behalf of their pupils through a schools’ entry form and online Teachers’ Resource featuring exclusive video tips for inspiring and encouraging writing in the classroom.

Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo will chair the WICKED Young Writers’ Award judging panel, supported by Gregory Maguire, author of the acclaimed novel that inspired the musical. Michael Morpurgo said: ‘I hope the award will bring the passion and energy of WICKED’s amazing theatrical show and its ability to reach across age-ranges and backgrounds, to young people and their writing. With the encouragement of their teachers and families and the excitement of this kind of challenge, we will see original and creative writing coming through from children of all backgrounds and abilities. Let’s hope that many, many young people will be encouraged to begin their own storytelling journeys’.

Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips on entering the WICKED Young Writers’ Award at www.WickedYoungWriters.com.

Posted: June 8th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

Fantasy news round-up: May 20, 2010

Light a candle for JK Rowling’s charity
JK Rowling‘s children’s charity, Lumos, is asking you to light a virtual birthday candle to support its campaign to deinstitutionalise children in eastern European countries such as Moldova and the Czech Republic. Thousands of children living in these institutions do not know when their birthday is and so choose to celebrate it on 1 June, International Children’s Day. There are currently 1 million children living in large residential institutions across Europe. Contrary to popular opinion, the majority of these children are not orphans, but are disabled, from ethnic minorities or poor backgrounds. For more information, visit www.lumos.org.uk.

Stephenie Meyer to host her own Eclipse press junket
Twilight author Stephenie Meyer has decided to build her own press junket for fans to promote the upcoming adaptation of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. "For Twilight, I did the normal press junket, for New Moon I got to go on Oprah. Both of these were fun, exciting experiences. However, they both had the same drawback, the interviews were designed for a very broad audience, and because of that, most of the questions were about things you guys have known the answers to for years. I feel like all of the basic questions have been answered, and for Eclipse I want to focus on the more specific questions of the readers. To accomplish that, I’m hosting my own mini-junket with a few fansites*. It will be held on Friday, June 18th, the week before the L.A. premiere,” said Meyer.

* Twilight Series Theories, Twilight Source, Twifans, and Letters To Twilight.

London 2012 unveils Games mascots Wenlock & Mandeville
Focus groups of children and families helped form the designs and children’s author Michael Morpurgo added a story concept for an animated series. In author Morpurgo’s vision, the pair begin life as two drops of steel from a factory in Bolton, taken home by a retiring worker who fashions characters out of the metal for his grandchildren.
They appear to have a single central eye, explained as a camera lens, through which they’ll see the world, and respond to it.

Studio Ghibli’s Tales from Earthsea gets US release
Four years ago Hayao Miyazaki’s son Goro directed his first film, the Tales of Earthsea.  Now the film is finally getting a stateside release, featuring the voices of Timothy Dalton, Willem Dafoe, Cheech Marin and Mariska Hargitay.  The long hold up was due to the Sci-Fi Channel releasing a mini-series based of the same material from author Ursula Le Guin.

Garth Nix, Helen Garner, Kate Grenville and Shane Maloney help launch new Australian e-store
e-Books written by Australian authors are now available to be read by Australians with the launch of an e-Books store from Redgroup. There are already over 100 local publishers signed up to supply their electronic books to the store which will launch with two million titles. Children’s authors Garth Nix, Helen Garner, Kate Grenville and Shane Maloney are among the local authors whose works will be made available in the electronic form.

Posted: May 21st, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Garth Nix, JK Rowling, Michael Morpurgo, Stephenie Meyer, Ursula Le Guin

The Independent Booksellers Week Book of the Year Award 2010

The Independent Booksellers week, now in its third year, is all about the celebration of independent book shops. This year the week will showcase the newly-invigorated IBW Books of the Year Award and the shortlist has recently been announced. You can then vote for your favourite in your local independent book shop which will have in-store voting forms, and shop displays showcasing the shortlisted titles.

Here is the shortlist in full:

Books for adults:

• The Music Room by William Fiennes (Picador)
  William Fiennes’s memoir of growing up in a rambling old castle. This unusual home and upbringing are evoked with great beauty and poignancy, in ravishing prose, but the book has another, strangely hypnotic effect, enfolding the reader in memories of a child’s view of the world that seems universal.
• Mad Dogs & Englishmen by Ranulph Fiennes (Hodder)
  Discover Sir Ranulph Twistelton-Wykham-Fiennes’s personal expedition to trace his extraordinary family through the twists and turns of history. From Charlemagne – himself a direct ancestor of the author – to the count who very nearly persuaded William the Conqueror to retreat at Hastings, many members of this unique clan have lived close to the nerve centre of the ruler of their day.
• Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (Fourth Estate)
  England, the 1520s. Henry VIII is on the throne, but has no heir. Cardinal Wolsey is his chief advisor, charged with securing the divorce the pope refuses to grant. Into this atmosphere of distrust and need comes Thomas Cromwell, first as Wolsey’s clerk, and later his successor. Cromwell is a wholly original man: the son of a brutal blacksmith, a political genius, a briber, a charmer, a bully, a man with a delicate and deadly expertise in manipulating people and events. Ruthless in pursuit of his own interests, he is as ambitious in his wider politics as he is for himself. His reforming agenda is carried out in the grip of a self-interested parliament and a king who fluctuates between romantic passions and murderous rages. Winner of the Man Booker Prize 2009.
• The Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson (Viking)
  Isaacson’s journey to heal his son is just that, a healing, not a cure. But he wouldn’t want it any other way. While the author’s purpose was to draw Rowan out of his autism, he came to realize the overlooked gifts it entails. The Horse Boy will leave readers with a new appreciation for autism and the healing techniques of other cultures; like Rowan, they, too, will be changed forever.
• One Day by David Nicholls (Hodder)
  It’s rare to find a novel which ranges over the recent past with such authority, and even rarer to find one in which the two leading characters are drawn with such solidity, such painful fidelity, to real life that you really do put the book down with the hallucinatory feeling that they’ve become as well known to you as your closest friends. Hard to imagine anyone encountering characters as well drawn as this and not recognizing the extraordinary talent of the writer who has created them.
• The Other Half Lives by Sophie Hannah (Hodder)
  Why would anyone confess to the murder of someone who isn’t dead? Ruth Bussey knows what it means to be in the wrong and to be wronged. She once did something she regrets, and her punishment nearly destroyed her. Now Ruth is rebuilding her life, and has found a love she doesn’t believe she deserves: Aidan Seed. Aidan is also troubled by a past he hates to talk about, until one day he decides he must confide in Ruth. He tells her that years ago he killed someone: a woman called Mary Trelease. Ruth is confused. She’s certain she’s heard the name before, and when she realises why it sounds familiar, her fear and confusion deepen – because the Mary Trelease that Ruth knows is very much alive . . .
• The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels (Bloomsbury)
  Egypt, 1964. The great temple at Abu Simbel must be rescued from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam. Block by block it is to be dismantled and resurrected sixty metres higher. This most delicate and daunting of tasks is overseen by Avery, a young engineer who at the same time is carefully, and joyfully, constructing a shared life with his new wife, Jean. But not everything can be saved once the floodgates have opened.
• An Equal Stillness by Francesca Kay (Phoenix)
  What distinguishes this tale is Kay’s fine balance of romance and realism and her beautiful evocation of how paintings reflect their creator’s experiences.
• The Outlander by Gil Adamson (Bloomsbury)
  Striking, thoughtful, full of unexpected twists, The Outlander is a novel that is beautifully written yet as gripping as any page-turner.
• Strangers by Anita Brookner (Penguin)
  He was haunted by a feeling of invisibility, as if he were a mere spectator of his own life, with no one to identify him in the barren circumstances of the here and now. Paul Sturgis is retired and lives alone in South Kensington. He walks alone and dines alone, taking pleasure in small exchanges with strangers. His only acquaintance is a widowed cousin whom he visits on Sundays. Unable to make sense of his solitary nature, and fearing death among strangers, he wonders whether at last he might be ready for companionship. But a chance meeting with an old girlfriend and an encounter in Venice with a recently divorced younger woman compel Sturgis to decide how (and with whom) he will spend the rest of his days.

Books for children:

• Running Wild by Michael Morpurgo (HarperCollins)
  An epic and heart-rending jungle adventure from the bestselling author of Kaspar and Born to Run. For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn’t just a holiday. It’s an escape, a new start, a chance to put things behind them – things like the death of Will’s father. And to begin with, it seems to be just what they both needed. But then Oona, the elephant Will is riding on the beach, begins acting strangely, shying away from the sea. And that’s when the tsunami comes crashing in, and Oona begins to run. Except that when the tsunami is gone, Oona just keeps on running. With nothing on his back but a shirt and nothing to sustain him but a bottle of water, Will must learn to survive deep in the jungle. Luckily, though, he’s not completely alone! He’s got Oona.
• Auslander by Paul Dowswell (Bloomsbury)
  Auslander should prove to be a breakthrough into the top league for Dowswell, a hugely impressive thriller set during the Second World War … There will be many adults sneakily borrowing this from their children.
• Henderson’s Boys: The Escape by Robert Muchamore (Hodder)
  Summer, 1940. Hitler’s army is advancing towards Paris, and millions of French civilians are on the run.
  Amidst the chaos, two British children are being hunted by German agents. British spy Charles Henderson tries to reach them first, but he can only do it with the help of a twelve-year-old French orphan. The British secret service is about to discover that kids working undercover will help to win the war. For official purposes, these children do not exist.
• Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates (Red Fox)
  Dog loves books! Dog loves books about dinosaurs and Dog loves books about aliens: in fact Dog loves all books! Dog has his very own bookshop, although he doesn’t have many customers. But that’s all right, because when Dog is surrounded by books, he is never short of friends or fun. And when someone does come into the shop, Dog knows just which books to recommend.
• Dogs by Emily Gravett (Macmillan)
  Gorgeous canines of every shape, size and colour are bounding through this irresistible book. Can you choose one dog to love best of all? With playful pencil and watercolour illustrations to delight children and adults alike, everyone will long to bark along with the Chihuahua and tickle the Dalmatian’s tummy. A wonderfully satisfying book with a twist in the tail.
• The Unfinished Angel by Sharon Creech (Andersen Press)
  ‘People are strange! The things they are doing and saying – sometimes they make no sense. Did their brains fall out of their heads?’ Angel, not fond of people at the best of times and having an identity crisis, is about to meet Zola – a talkative young girl who makes herself at home in Angel’s tower in a village high in the Swiss Alps. ‘This Zola is a lot bossy,’ Angel thinks. But out of their bickering an unexpected friendship forms, which benefits the entire village, reminding us that magic can be found in even the most ordinary acts of kindness.
• Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce (Macmillan)
  Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer. But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he’s the only eleven-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster – or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam makes a giant leap for boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space. Is Liam the best boy for the job? Sometimes being big isn’t all about being a grown-up.
• What’s For Dinner Mr Gum? by Andy Stanton (Egmont Press)
  Well, Shabba Me whiskers! Mr Gum’s back! But what’s he up to this time? Oh, dreadful things my friends, dreadful things indeed. It seems he’s found himself a brand new treat – rancid kebabs just dripping with dirty grey sauce. And he just can’t get enough of them. He’s gotta have more! More! Less! I mean, More! But not everyone’s too happy about Mr Gum’s new dinnertime arrangements and soon the town of Lamonic Bibber is gearing up for war. Can Polly and her friends save the town from being torn apart? Will Mr Gum’s hunger ever be satisfied? And who on earth is Thora Gruntwinkle? All will be revealed when you read "What’s For Dinner, Mr Gum?" You’ll see a gingerbread man driving through London! You’ll see an annoying little monkey driving everyone mad! You’ll see Friday O’Leary falling asleep in a hedge! Yes, it’s all there in glorious black and white, my friends. Except for the cover, which is in colour. It’s Bonus.
• Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray (Definitions)
  Reminiscent of On the Road and Catcher in the Rye. A profound work, instantly worthy of the label "modern classic.
• The Last Leopard by Lauren St John (Orion)
  Wonderfully refreshing in their celebration of Africa – its people, culture and resources. The author’s love and respect for the country of her childhood shines through on every page. Equally delightful is a capable, adventurous, identifiable and compelling female lead. There is much to be celebrated here.
• Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion)
  1910. A cabin north of the Arctic Circle. Fifteen-year-old Sig Andersson is alone. Alone, except for the corpse of his father, who died earlier that day after falling through a weak spot on the ice-covered lake. His sister, Anna, and step-mother, Nadya, have gone to the local town for help. Then comes a knock at the door. It’s a man, the flash of a revolver’s butt at his hip, and a mean glare in his eyes. Sig has never seen him before but Wolff claims to have unfinished business with his father. As Sig gradually learns the awful truth about Wolff’s connection to his father, his thoughts are drawn to a certain box hidden on a shelf in the storeroom, in which lies his father’s prized possession – a revolver. When Anna returns alone, and Wolff begins to close in, Sig’s choice is pulled into sharp focus. Should he use the gun, or not?
• The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner (Orion)
  With Sido safely in England and the Terror at it’s height, Yann returns to France to smuggle out aristocratic refugees who will otherwise face the guillotine. But when Sido is kidnapped, he must use all his strength and courage to outwit the evil Count Kalliovski, and rescue her for a second time. Set against a vivid historical background, prize winning author Sally Gardner brings to life the horrors of the French Revolution in this breath-taking adventure, complete with intrepid heroism and a touching love story.

Posted: April 28th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

HarperCollins commission Michael Morpurgo biography

Children’s publisher Ann-Janine Murtagh and Fourth Estate Editorial Director Clare Reihill have commissioned a major biography of bestselling author Michael Morpurgo OBE, which will be followed by a children’s version told in Michael’s own words.

Reihill said: "Michael Morpurgo is a master storyteller who is much loved and cherished by both children and young adult readers. Now we will hear his story. This is a very significant, exciting and important joint acquisition by 4th Estate and Harper Children’s Division."

Maggie Fergusson, the prize winning author of George Mackay Brown: The Life will undertake the biography, to be published on 4th Estate’s prestigious list. Maggie’s account will be interspersed with seven autobiographical short stories from Morpurgo, written in the unique storytelling style that has made him so loved by young and old alike. HarperCollins Children’s Books will then publish these short stories in a single volume for a child audience, giving the book a second lease of life, and giving children the opportunity to read Michael’s life story in his own words.

Posted: April 21st, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Michael Morpurgo

Fantasy news round-up – April 19, 2010

RHS backs campaign to give every school child the chance to grow own food
The campaign highlights the health, educational and environmental benefits of food growing, and calls for it to be incorporated as part of a food education for every child. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) is backing the campaign – alongside Garden Organic, Good Gardeners Association and the Children’s Food Campaign and chair of London Food Board Rosie Boycott. Michael Morpurgo, children’s author and founder of the Charity Farms for City Children, said: "Children need to connect with the sources of their food. Growing their own produce – in schools, at home, on allotments – is a fine way to achieve this.

First quarter book sales lowest since 2006
Book sales have improved since the dire first two months of the year, but are still well down on 2009, according to analysis of Nielsen BookScan’s first quarter data. The figures show that book spend in the first quarter was at its lowest ebb since 2006, with the year-on-year decline of 5.9% the highest since records began in 2001. The sales data, which cover the first 13 weeks of 2010 to 27th March, show that the inclement weather in January and early February had a catastrophic effect on sales, particularly sales of self-help books and Christmas left-overs. BookScan year-to-date Top 5,000 data suggests that, despite the sharp year-on-year sales declines of Stephenie Meyer and the comparative unpopularity of this year’s £1 World Book Day titles, children’s book sales are relatively flat year on year—helped by strong sales in the Dark Romance genre and bestsellers from the likes of Jeff Kinney, Jacqueline Wilson, Julia Donaldson and Rick Riordan.

JK Rowling open to writing more Harry Potter
As fans eagerly await the two-part film adaptation of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final chapter in the boy-wizard series, "Potter" creator JK Rowling is thinking ahead. On Monday the author said that while she has no plans to do so now, she could see herself writing additional tales about the “Boy Who Lived "maybe 10 years from now." Rowling made the remark in Washington, D.C., at the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. She gave a reading to a small group of children and then took questions, The Washington Post reports.

The Witcher: Versus free-to-play web game now levelling up
Inspired by the amoral fantasy books of noted Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher action role-playing games have been slowly building their reputation. But while we await the release of the iPhone and Facebook versions of the The Witcher: Versus game, it’s already playable in its virtual item supported, free-to-play online version. The Witcher: Versus, which will operate across the three platforms, enables you to play as one of three character classes; Witcher, Sorceress, or Frightener. The 2D game play revolves around fighting monsters completing quests, looting weapons, amulets, and magical items, collecting achievements and badges, plus player versus player battles, which scale up to epic guild on guild clashes. The game initially limits you to playing within the Kaer Morhen keep, but when you hit a certain level, you’re allowed out in the big, bad world. Levelling up unlocks further new regions. Players can also unlock items for the upcoming The Witcher 2 PC and console game.

Posted: April 19th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: JK Rowling, Julia Donaldson, Michael Morpurgo, Stephenie Meyer

New writing competition launched as part of the Poole Literary Festival

A new media writing competition will be launched as part of the Poole Literary Festival. The prize, established in partnership with the Media School at Bournemouth University, will be one of the flagship events at the festival due to take place from October 29 to 31, and is expected to attract international interest.

Entrants must compose an interactive piece for delivery on-line or via smart phone. It can be any style or genre so long as it engages with the audience and demonstrates what new media can do that traditional media can’t.

Prize-winners, who will be announced at a special awards ceremony to be staged at Lighthouse, Poole, on October 31, will receive £250 and an Apple iPad. Short-listed candidates’ work will be showcased at Poole Literary Festival.

The Poole Literary Festival is an established annual event, a major contributor to the cultural life of Poole and a highlight in the UK Literary Calendar. The not-for-profit organisation was founded in April 2009 by Sue Luminati and run with the help of a steering group of unpaid volunteers.  Former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo is the both the organisation’s Patron and inspiration.

For more information on the Poole Literary festival, visit http://www.poolelitfest.com/. For more details on the writing competition, visit http://www.poolelitfest.com/new-media-prize.php.

Posted: April 19th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: Latest News, Michael Morpurgo