BookLust

Puttin' the O! in Book Expo!

Exhausted and nursing a very sore throat from Saturday's festivities, I still managed to get to the Book Expo trade show early Sunday morning. The convention centre was already packed with people waiting in line to get in the trade show, but as soon as it opened up, people moved pretty darn quickly up that escalator to book crack heaven.

Now I know there's been quite a bit of criticism about BEC this year – what exactly is this show really all about, why is it always in Toronto, the fact that it's so expensive and various publishers have really pared down their booths – but I don't care. It was my first time, and I had nothing to comapre it to, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

One thing I was disappointed about – I found out at the Children's Gala party that unfortunately my illustrated book 13 Ghosts of Halloween would not be part of Scholastic's display, and nor would Good Granny Bad Granny be on display at the Raincoast booth (Raincoast is the Canadian distributer for Chronicle Books). Apparently it's all about timing. Both my books come out in August, and the books being promoted at Book Expo are for the most part, Fall books. I just missed getting in by a month. Darn!

But I took some shots of the Chronicle Books display, anyway.

As well as Scholastic's booth!

Hey! Check it out! Grumpy Bird in French!

A bizarre and yet cool display for the Simpsons movie.

If you had the urge, you could get your photo taken sitting next to Homer. I can live without that. Check out the Guinness World Records display for the world's tallest man.

Kinda creepy when you get up close.

Ok, so other than take a lot of pictures, what the hell did I do? Well, I took note of all the great children's books coming out, so that I can get a good idea of what I'm up against. Melanie Watt is a superstar, and her books are amazing. Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko were at the Scholastic booth signing books, and the line-up was insane. Same goes for Barbara Reid and Jean Little (though I at least got to say hello to them). For the most part I decided against standing in line in order to get a free book, because so much time would have been wasted just standing around. Though I did get in line to get my signed copy of Travel with Chirp! Behold the wonderful Bob Kain.

And even Chirp himself was there, getting his chirp on!

Boy do I feel for that dude, 'cuz it was mighty hot in that convention centre.

Hey Chris Tripp! I saw your books at the Lobster Press display!

It's true that Book Expo is a schmooze-fest of sorts, and I certainly tried to take advantage of that fact, and chat up with various folks from the children's publishing booths. Nothing ventured, as they say. What I didn't expect while at Book Expo was that I would run into so many people that I knew! Booksellers (congrats Richard Bachmann of Different Drummer Books for winning the Jack award!) and library folk and various authors. In fact, I ran into a couple of librarians that I had worked for when I was at McMaster University Library. We're talking 22 years ago! Another funny aspect of the Book Expo experience that I didn't expect was that people I didn't know would see my name tag and know me from my blog. Happened a couple of times. I also made an effort to talk to editors not specifically in children's publishing, because you can always learn something interesting and helpful from someone in the book biz.

Near the end of the afternoon I was getting mighty hot and tired, and as luck would have it, I found a booth giving out free beer!! And then after that I hopped back to the Scholastic booth, 'cuz they were about to celebrate their 50th birthday. Couldn't miss that!

 

They broke out the champagne!

(Like I really needed more booze...but it would have been rude to say no, no?)

And there was cake! (Damn good cake, I might add!)

Let the partying begin!

Did I mention there was champagne?

Ok, so I'm having a lovely time chatting to editors, authors and the like, when suddenly in the aisle a large crowd of people comes towards us. There appears to be security. What the heck is going on? And lo and behold if it ain't one of our former PMs, the boy from Shawinigan himself, Jean Chretien. Yup, even he's written a book. Eventually I wandered over to the Random House booth to check it out, where I got more champagne (I'm a little loopy by now, but still well-behaved, ok? Trust me, I did not want to piss off Chretien) and took some piccies.

 

Look who else showed up for the free champagne and smoked salmon:

Our former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, and her intellectual hubby dude John Ralston Saul.

That boy from Shawinigan sure looks like he's having a good time!

The lady on the right is the charming and lovely Louise Dennys.

I'm sure I've blathered on for far too long, and I've forgotten plenty of important things to say. I did manage to follow some of Quill & Quire's advice for how to survive Book Expo – I found those precious washrooms, and smartly took the St. Andrew subway exit home! But was it a bad thing to drink the beer before the champagne?

What Do Teachers Make?

I'll post about Book Expo soon, but wanted to share this cool video. The hubby brought it to my attention this morning.

Behold the work of teacher and slam poet Taylor Mali. If only all teachers were this passionate.

To find out more about Taylor Mali, click here.

Meet Me at the Gala, Dahling

Apparently every year before the trade show part of Book Expo starts, there is this magical wonderful thing called the Children's Gala, sponsored by the Canadian Children's Book Centre. Many, many thanks to Scholastic Canada for including me this year! I can't begin to express what a blast it was for me. But I'll try.

This year the event was held at Montana, downtown at 145 John Street. It's a big place with a lovely outdoor patio section which sadly, I didn't really get a chance to enjoy, 'cuz I was so busy yapping with so many people inside!

The evening started out fabulously, because guess who was one of the first people I got to meet? Robin Muller, the author of my upcoming illustrated book 13 Ghosts of Halloween! So many of my children's book friends had told me what a sweetheart Robin is, and he certainly did not disappoint. He is simply a wonderful, charming, delightful and kind gentleman with really, really nice biceps. This picture does not do justice to the man's cuteness factor.

What a thrill to finally meet the man whose magical words inspired my pictures!

I also got to meet many of the wonderful and talented folk who work at Scholastic, and who all had a part to play in creating 13 Ghosts. I'm truly honoured to be associated with such fine people.

Even though Montana is quite spacious, the place was packed, baby! – with oodles of happy children's authors and illustrators and editors and marketing folk, and then put alcohol in that mix, and a good time is definitely had by all! I also had a chance to chat to the adorable Bob Kain, creator of  that other famous yellow bird, Chirp! And it's not a fun night unless Naseem Hrab, librarian for the Canadian Children's Book Centre, and lover of all things kid-related, is in the house!

Naseem Hrab and Bob Kain, getting in the party mode.

Those two just can't get enough of each other.

Also in attendance for the festivities were authors Liam O'Donnell and Colin Frizell. Liam is the author of many books, including the famous Max Finder series, plus he has a new graphic novel coming out in October, entitled Wild Ride, published by Orca Books. Colin Frizzell writes screenplays and short stories, and is the author of two YA books published by Orca, Chill and Just J. Both these guys know how to have a great time!

Liam describing the life of a freelance writer – "well...sometimes it's up, and...gee...sometimes it's down!" Colin grimaces in agreement.

Liam says to the bartender – "I'll have what everyone else is having!"

Naseem in a serious moment.

UPDATE: Naseem took some great shots, too, so I thought I'd add a couple. Here's a great one of the three hot boy writers: Colin, Liam and Jeremy Tankard, creator of Grumpy Bird!

And a nice one of Bob Kain, myself and Robin Muller.

It was an amazing night of laughing, kvetching, schmoozing and meeting some of the most wonderful people ever. It may be stating the obvious, but children's book folk really are fun.

For more pics from that night, check out the photo pool from Quill & Quire.

Next post: The Book Expo experience!

I've Lost My Dot and Line!

If there's one thing I can't stand, it's misplacing, or heaven forbid, losing a book that I still love and treasure. I was planning on discussing one of my favourite special books, The Dot And The Line: A Romance In Lower Mathematics by Norton Juster, but I can't find the damn thing! This is upsetting me very much. Was it lost in the move? I can't believe I didn't place it on my Quirky Books shelf. Sigh...

Anyway, about the book. I had no idea that it was originally meant for children aged 4-8; I just assumed it was a clever art book for adults to enjoy. The original book was published in 1963, and then made into a magical animated film by Chuck Jones in 1965. That little film ended up winning the Academy Award for Animated Short Film that year.

If you haven't seen this animation, I don't want to spoil it for you. Suffice to say that it is a love story between a sensible straight line and a rather frivolous dot. It's narrated by the delightful Robert Morely, one of my favourite British actors. I remember being just thrilled to bits every time this animated short came on TV when I was a kid – it was and still is, without a doubt, one of my most treasured animated shorts of all time.

And so...I hope you enjoy The Dot And The Line.

"People Are Going To Read What Oprah Tells Them To Read, And They Are Going To Like It!"

Oh man. Soooooo funny. Colbert interviews Salman Rushdie on the importance of literary criticism.

Found via QuillBlog.

Libraryhead

Sorry for the lack of posts – been busy with work, but also been busy with working in the garden (oh joy!) and then trying to survive a subsequent horrendous allergy attack. I don't care that I felt like crap for almost two days – it was worth it!!

Anyway, on Sunday night I attended a lovely book launch for the collection of short stories All In Together Girls, written by the very talented and charming Kate Sutherland of Kate's Book Blog, and I promise that I will blog about it some time tomorrow.

In the mean time, why not groove on this fascinating little animation, Libraryhead by David Bazelon. Hmmm...I think I'm married to a Libraryhead.

I'd Go to Kimbooktu and Back Again!

You do know all about Kimbooktu, right? You know – that fabulous and fun blog that's all about the most delightful book gadgets you could ever imagine for all of us booklusters out there? So if you didn't know, you know now.

And did you also know that Ms. Kimbooktu, the creator of said wonderful blog, recently won the honour of Best of Blogs 2006 in the catagory Best book/literary blog? So now you know that, too!

But here is the best part about my Kimbooktu news! Kim has created an amazing contest, and if you are a lover of all things book-related, well, you must take part! 'Cuz it's fun! And there are wondrous biblio prizes! In Kim's words, here's what the contest is all about:

I want you to come up with a reading gadget / bookish thingy. (Do not take the phrase ‘gadget’ too literally.) You can let your creativity run free and make it as wacky as you like. It can be – for instance - a piece of jewellery, clothing, a book shelf or some nifty product that comes in handy when reading. It can also be a piece of art that has something to do with books and/or reading. It is all up to you, as long as it’s bookish! You can use the products on this website for reference.

You can read more about the contest here.

So come on! The contest closes on June 1st! People have been slow to submit (myself included! Yikes! But I have at least two ideas that I shall send soon) and Kim would love to see some fun, crazy, biblio-beauteous ideas! And I'm not kidding – the prizes are to die for!

So put your biblio-thinking caps on, folks!

Punctuation is Sexy, Too

Ever wondered which post of mine is the all-time most popular post? Yeah, me neither. But over time as I checked out my stats, it didn't take very long for me to figure it out, whether I wanted to or not. It's the one with that amazing illustration by Seymour Chwast and his Kama Sutra of Reading. Figures, huh? I get the most amount of hits from an amazing idea and illustration that ain't mine. Oh well.

So what's this leading up to? Well, we all know now that reading is sexy, but did you know that punctuation is sexy, too? A couple days ago I got an email from one of my instructors from my old design college, about this really cool T-shirt. I'm seriously thinking of ordering one:

The Comma Sutra!! I love it! And it gets better. There's even a little naughty Comma Sutra movie to get you all hot and bothered under the collar.

Good gracious I have to go now. All this naughty talk is giving me the vapors.

We Interrupt This Program For A Panda Sneeze

The weather is wretched. The hubby kept me awake last night with his beastly cold. I'm in the middle of doing my taxes. So now is probably the time when I could really use a laugh.

Which Book are You, Revisited

The last time I did a quiz like this, I was told that I was George Orwell's 1984. And in another of those book quizzes I took, I was told I was Watership Down. Interesting, but...not really my cup of tea, for either choices, in the long run. So I was rather pleased that with this quiz, the answer was:

A Clockwork Orange

You are 57% Great Book

A Clockwork Orange is perhaps one of the most bold works of literature ever penned. It charts a lengthy although ultimately circular change of character, concerned with a protagonist who is truly 'fucked up'. Despite the best attempts at the outside world to change him, he remains as he is. Chaotic, passionate, vivid and robust - you are the proud and destructive Clockwork Orange. You are a wild person, often driven by impulse and prone to ignore rationality over raw passion. You are intelligent, and well aware of the weaknesses of your personality, but you are also aware of the strengths. Where others are prone to indecision and a lack of originality, you are bold, imposing and often artistic. You can be violent, not neccessary physically, but certainly emotionally - imposing your will on others through aggressive dominance. Clockwork and Orange are not words which traditionally go together. Clockwork is a mechanical method of creating artificial movement, where an Orange is an organic creation. Trying to force one to work with the other will always be foolish. Alex, the main character, is something of an Orange. He is an organic person, growing and changing - even evolving - but ultimately sticking to his nature as an orange. The clockwork seems to represent the word around him, trying to change him and force him into a certain way of life - perhaps for his own good - but ultimately doomed to fail. The freedom of individuals to make choices becomes problematic when those choices undermine the safety and stability of society, and in A Clockwork Orange, the state is willing to protect society by taking away freedom of choice and replacing it with prescribed good behavior. In Alex's world, both the unfettered power of the individual and the unfettered power of the state prove dangerous. Alex steals, rapes, and murders merely because it feels good, but when his violent impulses are taken away, the result is equally as dangerous, simply because freedom of choice, a fundamental element of humanity, has been taken away.

Interesting...though I thought  Anthony Burgess used the phrase 'A Clockwork Orange' based on the old London expression . And what the heck does 57% Great Book mean? I'm bloody well 100% Great Book, thankyouverymuch!

Of course I don't want to be compared to the character Alex in any way, but it is one of my favourite books, and definitely one of my most favourite movies ever. Right horrorshow, in fact.

Take the Which Book Are You? quiz. Hat tip to That Shakespeherian Rag (a great blog!) for the quiz.