Niffenegger praises Jonathan Strange, JK Rowling tweets and thumbs up for Ghost Hunter
Here follows a round-up of the best fantasy-related news items from the past seven days.
Audrey Niffenegger’s novel The Time Traveller’s Wife has sold more than five million copies. In a recent interview she was asked “What book do you wish you’d written?” And her reply?
“Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. It’s mind-bending – a perfect blend of historical reality and fantasy.”
We completely agree with Audrey Niffenegger’s thoughts on this wonderful and truly unique novel – read our review to find out why.
In an attempt to counter numerous fake Rowlings on Twitter, JK Rowling has set up her own account. But she warned that she didn’t plan many tweets.
"I should flag up now that although I could twitter endlessly, I’m afraid you won’t be hearing from me very often as pen and paper is my priority at the moment.”
To follow Ms Rowling’s likely-to-be infrequent tweets, visit http://twitter.com/jk_rowling.
October 12, 2009 will be the 30th anniversary of the launch of Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. It will also be the day on which the sixth instalment, And Another Thing? (penned by Eoin Colfer), will be unleashed upon a slightly-wary public.
To celebrate this, Colfer will be touring the UK, promoting and signing copies of his new book beginning with Hitchcon’09 in Central London, where a gathering of the largest number of Hitchhiker fans ever will take place.
The History Channel will air an episode on JRR Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings as part of its “Clash of the Gods” series. The episode airs at 10 pm EST, Monday October 5 and again at 2 am EST on Tuesday, October 6.
Karen George, an undiscovered illustrator from London and graduate of the Royal College of Art, has been named the winner of Waterstone’s and Macmillan Children’s Books ‘Picture This’ competition. She beat more than 900 aspiring artists to take the prize of illustrating a new book by Julia Donaldson. George receives a full publishing contract, with advance and royalties, to illustrate Freddie and the Fairy, a charming tale of a boy and a hard-of-hearing fairy told in Donaldson’s trademark rhythmic rhyme. Freddie and the Fairy, by Donaldson and George, will be published by Macmillan Children’s Books in Autumn 2010.
Ghost Hunter, Michelle Paver’s six-part series comes full circle. Torak, the boy orphaned in the first book, Wolf Brother, is drawn by a tantalising glimpse of the ghost of his adored father into the clutches of the most powerful of the Soul-Eaters, the Eagle Owl Mage. The Independent says that “the finale is a climax as intense as Tolkien’s fall of Mordor, with demonic dogs, fiendish one-time children, and Soul-Eaters summoned from beyond the grave. Best of all, Paver succeeds in creating a conclusion with no mawkishness when she resolves the relationship between Torak and Renn – and, of course, Wolf.”
Posted: September 26th, 2009
Author: Floresiensis
Categories: Eoin Colfer, JK Rowling, JRR Tolkien, Julia Donaldson, Michelle Paver, Susanna Clarke
Michelle Paver UK Book Tour begins on Sunday
Michelle Paver, author of The Chronicles Ancient Darkness series, begins her UK tour on August 23, 2009 at Waterstones in Bluewater.
You will be able to meet Michelle and get your books signed.
Ghost Hunter, the sixth and final book in the series was published yesterday (August 20, 2009).
Below we have listed Michelle Paver’s confirmed UK Tour Dates:
AUGUST
- Sun 23rd
12 noon – First signing – Waterstones Bluewater - Mon 24th
11am – Public signing – WHSmith Guildford
4.30pm Public signing – Waterstones Putney - Tues 25th
12.30 Public signing – Waterstones Manchester Deansgate - Weds 26th
12 noon – Public signing – Borders Watford
Plus London stock signings: to be confirmed - Sun 30th
2pm – Public event – Edinburgh Festival - Mon 31st
12 noon – Schools event – Edinburgh Festival
SEPTEMBER
- Tues 1st
10.30am – Waterstones Glasgow @ GFT (Glasgow Film Theatre) - Tues 15th (to be confirmed)
Schools event – Bookshop event into schools Lion & Unicorn Bookshop, Richmond Marshgate Primary - Weds 16th
10.30am – Bookshop event into schools – Hoddesdon Books Wildlife Park venue - Sun 20th
3.30pm – Public event – Bath Children’s Literary Festival - Weds 23rd & Thursday 24th
- Bookshop event into schools – Huddersfield Children’s Bookshop – Public signing on 23rd at the shop between 4.30 and 5.00pm
OCTOBER
- Sun 11th
4pm – Public event – Cheltenham Festival - Mon 12th
Schools event- Cheltenham Festival - Week of 12th
Schools event – Wimbledon Festival - Tues 27th
Writing workshop at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust
For more information, visit http://www.torak.info/, the official site for all readers of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series.
For more information on Michelle Paver and her work, visit http://www.michellepaver.com/.
Michelle Paver: Ghost Hunter synopsis
As winter approaches and Souls’ Night draws near, the Eagle Owl Mage holds the clans in the grip of terror. To fulfill his destiny, Torak must seek his lair in the Mountain of Ghosts. He must defy demons and tokoroths, and find his way through the Gorge of the Hidden People. Wolf must overcome terrible grief. Renn must make an agonizing decision. And in the final battle against the Soul-Eater, Torak must face the most heart-rending choice of all.
Michelle Paver biography
Wolf Brother book review
Spirit Walker book review
Soul Eater book review
Posted: August 21st, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Bath Festival of Children’s Literature – September 2009
After the huge success of the Bath Festival of Children’s Literature in the past two years, the organisers are delighted to announce a third programme of events for children and families featuring some of the biggest names in the children’s book world.
Jacqueline Wilson, Terry Deary, Francesca Simon, Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen, Axel Scheffler, Charlie Higson, Johnny Ball, Malorie Blackman, Gervase Phinn, Andy Stanton, Lauren Child, Judith Kerr, Jeremy Strong, Mister Maker, Tim Pigott-Smith, Robert Muchamore, Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell, Michelle Paver and Annette & Nick Butterworth are just some of the confirmed guests lined-up for the 10-day festival of children’s books beginning on 18th September at various city centre venues in the World Heritage City of Bath this Autumn.
Young readers will be delighted with the many picture book authors and Illustrators taking centre stage in 2009. Gruffalo artist Axel Scheffler is back by popular demand to help celebrate The Gruffalo’s tenth anniversary. Judith Kerr, author of the picture book classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea will be making a rare appearance to talk about her work – as will Charlie & Lola creator Lauren Child. Several popular costume characters will be visiting too, including Elmer the Elephant, Mr Funny, Olivia, Peppa Pig, Maisy, Peter Rabbit and Wallace & Gromit. There’s a big Thomas The Tank Engine event and two messy arts and craft events featuring TV star Mister Maker.
"We hope there’s something at the festival for everyone," says Festival Director, John McLay. "As well as a few authors and illustrators who are coming back to Bath after appearances in previous years, we will be welcoming several new and exciting guests. We are constantly surprised by who says ‘yes’ when we ask them to attend the Festival. Bath-born author Jacqueline Wilson, recently made a Dame, was delighted to be asked back. Terry Deary, author of the popular Horrible Histories series, and now enjoying a run on TV, hasn’t been to a book festival for several years so we were thrilled when he agreed to come to Bath."
Tickets For the 2009 Bath Festival of Children’s Literature go on general sale on July 13th. With many events sure to sell-out early, Festival Friends have an exclusive booking period from July 1st. Anybody wishing to enquire about becoming a Festival Friend should email info@bathkidslitfest.co.uk.
Ticket Hotline number: 01225 463362, or visit www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk for a downloadable brochure and to join the festival mailing list.
Source: booktrade.info
Posted: June 27th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Julia Donaldson, Michelle Paver
Michelle Paver and Marcus Sedgwick to appear at Wimbledon Bookfest
The organisers of Wimbledon Bookfest have promised to keep the community at the heart of the party, as the annual event grows in its third year.
More than 50 literary events are set to take place in venues across Merton from October 3 to 11. They include a screening of Slumdog Millionaire with its scriptwriter Simon Beaufoy, and a day of fun for children at the Polka Theatre.
Writers are set to appear in libraries across the borough, and novelists will appear in Wimbledon’s high street bookshops for the first time in the festival’s history.
The winner of a young writers’ competition currently running in Merton’s schools, and the winner of a scriptwriting contest for all ages, will also be announced.
The children’s event at Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre will feature Roger McGough, Michelle Paver, Marcus Sedgwick and Caroline Lawrence.
Tickets for the event are set to go on sale in July. For more information visit wimbledonbookfest.org.
Source: Wimbledon Guardian
Michelle Paver is a novelist that is best known for the six books that make up The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. She was born in 1960 in Malawi (then known as Nyasaland) to a South African father and a Belgian mother.
Marcus Sedgwick was born in Kent in 1968 and is an acclaimed children’s author and illustrator.
Posted: June 27th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Bath’s Literature Festival a real success
Bath’s second children’s literature festival has come to an end with organisers celebrating record ticket sales. The Bath Children’s Literature Festival saw events taking place across the city, giving young people from teenagers to toddlers the chance to meet their literary heroes. Organisers of the 10-day event said this year’s festival had been bigger and better than the last, with 32 sell-out shows.
It began with a visit from Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen and finished at the weekend with a session involving the author of the Chronicles Of Ancient Darkness, Michelle Paver.
Also visiting were writer of The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot, author and poet Allan Ahlberg and TV comic Harry Hill.
Wolf Brother book review
Spirit Walker book review
Soul Eater book review
Posted: October 2nd, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Michelle Paver to appear at The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature
Until Sunday, September 28, Bath.
THE last few days of The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature this weekend promise to bring the event to a compelling conclusion. Now in its second year the festival, sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, caters for babies and the youngest book fans as well as special events for older readers.
One writer who has much to offer to both children and parents alike is Michelle Paver, the City-lawyer-turned-novelist whose Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series has captivated the collective imaginations of kids and adult readers too.
The neolithic adventures of the young hunter gatherers Torak, Renn and the heroic Wolf create a world so explicitly realistic that it is always a surprise to find yourself in the 21st century when you put the book down. The clarity of the writing owes much to the extensive and exhaustive research Paver conducted for the series, including time spent at a wolf sanctuary.
Paver appears at the Guildhall in Bath for the denouement of the popular festival.
In featuring Paver the festival organisers have really pulled together the elite of people involved in children’s literature and the list includes Charlie Higson, Cornelia Funke, Allan Ahlberg, Harry Hill, David Roberts, Shirley Hughes, Michael Rosen and the superlative Michael Morpurgo.
Source: wiltshiretimes.co.uk
Wolf Brother book review
Spirit Walker book review
Soul Eater book review
Posted: September 26th, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Oathbreaker by Michelle Paver
Oath Breaker, the fifth and penultimate book of Michelle Paver’s Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, opens with a roll-call of familiar characters. On the choppy waters of Bay of Seals, Torak, the 15-year-old clanless hero who can “spirit-walk” into the imagination of different species, is racing kayaks with his Seal Clan blood-brother Bale to the Crag to keep watch over the hiding place of the magical fire-opal. On the shore, red-haired Renn of the Raven Clan, his guide and helpmeet through the first four books, is teaching the Seal children archery, watched by her foster-father Fin-Kedinn.
Christina Hardyment reviews Oathbreaker for The Independent Newspaper – read the full review by following this link – http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/oathbreaker-by-michelle-paver-931869.html
Wolf Brother book review
Spirit Walker book review
Soul Eater book review
Posted: September 20th, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Oath Breaker by Michelle Paver available at Audible.co.uk
One month before the publication of Michelle Paver’s Oath Breaker in print, Audible.co.uk can offer the audio-book, read by Sir Ian McKellan, for download in unabridged format.
Brief synopsis
When he was outcast, Torak was the hunted one. The following spring, he becomes the hunter when he swears to avenge the killing of one of his closest friends. To fulfil his oath, he must brave the hidden valleys of the Deep Forest, where the clans have reverted to the savagery of an earlier time. Here, Torak finally learns why he is the Sprit Walker and discovers the true cost of revenge.
Posted: August 13th, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Best selling fantasy audio books – July 2008 – Audible.co.uk
Terry Goodkind’s Wizard’s First Rule (unabridged) has stormed to the top of the fantasy charts at Audible.co.uk
- Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind
- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
- The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
- The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
- The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
- Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
- Outcast by Michelle Paver
- Prince Caspian by CS Lewis
- Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind
- Thief of Time by Terry Pratchett
All the top ten are unabridged readings.
Posted: July 28th, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Audio-books, CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien, Michelle Paver, Philip Pullman, Susanna Clarke, Terry Pratchett
Living in the Stone Age – Michelle Paver to host event at Cheltenham Science Festival
On Sunday the 8th of June, at the Cheltenham Science Festival, fantasy author Michelle Paver will hosting a special Living in the Stone Age event. The author of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series will be time travelling back 6,000 years to when people had to make their own clothes and shelter, find and hunt their own food, and build their own fire. The event takes place at Cheltenham Town Hall from 10am to 11am, with tickets costing £5, suitable for children aged from 9.
Michelle Paver biography, bibliography, interviews and book reviews
Wolf Brother book review
Spirit Walker book review
Soul Eater book review
Posted: June 7th, 2008
Author: Lee
Categories: Michelle Paver
Book of the Month
Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson
On the Letherii continent the exiled Malazan army commanded by Adjunct Tavore begins its march into the eastern Wastelands, to fight for an unknown cause against an enemy it has never seen. The fate awaiting the Bonehunters is one no soldier can prepare for, and one no mortal soul can withstand - the foe is uncertainty and the only weapon worth wielding is stubborn courage.
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