news
Dragons, and dwarves, and bears, oh my! Are you as excited as I am the next part of The Hobbit adaptation? Shout it with me now, Smaug! Smaug! Smaug!
Hello! This Saturday I had an awe-inspiring fangirl experience. With a group of friends I flew out to Melbourne to go see Tim Minchin as Judas in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. In an ARENA. It was absolutely incredible, and I have to say the Australian cast gave some of the best performances in the roles that I have ever seen or heard. I even bought an exorbitantly priced t-shirt which I will now wear forever, until they bury me in it.
Anyway, that has nothing to do with writing or reading. But what this has brought to the forefront of my mind is fandom. Most people have a favourite author – or five – and I was wondering about how being a literary fan can be a different kind of experience in comparison to musicians or movie stars who regularly pop up on our tv boxes with a new project to promote. Fiction is for the most part really all about the words, rather than the person behind them. A lot of writers are quite reclusive, and would rather divorce themselves as a person from their work and let the words do the speaking. Which I think is a good idea; it’s important to me to appreciate the writing as a separate entity and not get wrapped up what relates to what in their life. This unfortunately gets a bit hard when I start reading and feel so close to the voice in that writing, like – separate entity or not – I know something about the author.
Inkyites, I'd like to introduce you to Harison. He's a fun, book-loving kid, and the youngest of this year's Inky Awards Judges.
So, Harison, what was your favourite book as a child?
Under the Red Elephant by Jan Mark and Jeffery Reid.
What's a book that made you cry?
I haven’t read any book that made me cry.
A book that made you laugh?
Do you know how many passionate, articulate, book-loving teenagers there are in Australia?
I don't actually know the answer to that question myself, but I'm pretty sure that every single one of them applied to be an Inky Awards judge. It was, in fact, so hard to choose four teen judges that this year I've chosen six. Yup - you read that right - this year all six of the Inky Awards judging positions will be held by teenagers. Best. News. Ever!
I am immensely proud to announce that the judges of the 2013 Inky Awards are:
A week or so again, my work was rocked by all the attention I received at Reading Matters. So many people flocking to see me being awesome - it was such an honour.
And then Sarah presented on the Grimace Project
...and suddenly all eyes weren't on me *pouts*.
Why?
Hey everyone! Welcome back. Right then, today I want to tackle a form of social interaction, something I would not usually consider myself in any kind of position to speak on. However, this time we’re talking book recommendations. In primary school, my prep teacher remarked on my report ‘Lauretta likes to recommend stories to her peers’. As it goes, not much has changed. I adore both recommending and being recommended things. No, no time for ambivalence today.
Recommendations are in my opinion, a beautiful way to get to really know people. The things someone recommends to you give you an insight into what they like, how they think and how they think of you; as the care bears have taught us, sharing is caring.
I am not terribly partial to other species but I'm thinking about making an exception to ostriches.
Why?
Keith Gray's Ostrich Boys of course....
Here's my five reasons to pick this book up immediately:
1. It's not kidnapping if you're stealing your friend's ashes. Right?
2. Travel with the lads as they make their way through Scotland to places you've never heard of - let alone prounounce.
The UK has announced Malorie Blackman as their Children's Laureate 2013 - 2015.
It's a huge honour and great responsibility to be made the Children's Laureate. This is the first YA author to be named as a Laureate since 2003 (Michael Morpurgo). She is also the first black author to ever be named as a UK Children's Laureate.
Another month, another awesome as can be Inkyite here posting for You're the Voice.
What does June have in store for us? Lauretta who is talking books and songs.
Hello people of insideadog! I’m Lauretta and yes, I AM the Voice. I’ll be your guide this month and I’ll do what I can to lead you safely through this crazy, crazy dream world of ours. I am currently sixteen and studying a random hodge-podge of subjects down in sunny, sunny Tasmania. I like most things.
*clears throat*
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Welcome to the GRANDEST of GRAND; the Inky Awards!
*waits for adulation and applause to die down*
You're too kind.
In all seriousness I am extremely excited not only by the longlist, but also by our Inky judges (to be announced soon). So much passion and love for reading!
Shall I stop barking about the Inky Awards and announce the longlist already? Alright, here it is...
