tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42459450461237387002024-03-05T15:25:57.596+00:00YAfictionadosAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-25300716994886452462018-03-20T15:25:00.000+00:002018-03-20T15:25:28.553+00:00Infinite possibilities: top five SciFi YA books by Meaghan McIssac<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As a reader, I don't limit myself to one genre. But if I did, it would probably be SciFi. Why? I think it boils down to possibilities. Every great SciFi story, no matter how outlandish, how wild, how improbable, is made extra exciting by the idea that it could, maybe, just maybe, happen. Luke Skywalker <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> have become a Jedi a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Elliot <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">could</i> have found an alien in his backyard who needed to phone home. Maybe we<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> could</i> bring dinos back to life using fossilized tree sap. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The universe is infinite!</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> What's inspiring about stories under the SciFi umbrella is they make you feel like anything — for better or worse — is possible. And when anything is possible, the adventures have no limits.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
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So, in order to celebrate all things SciFi, I thought I'd share my top five favourite SciFi YA.</span><br />
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<b>1. The </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Chaos Walking</i><b> trilogy by Patrick Ness<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'd pick the whole glorious trilogy. But if I have to pick one of the three books for the purposes of this list, it would have to be </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Knife of Never Letting Go</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Todd Hewitt lives in a world occupied by men, and only men. He hears their Noise and they can hear his — every thought at all hours of the day. And not just the thoughts of men, but animals, even dogs. It's a loud life. Relentless. Until Todd discovers a lone patch of silence and his world changes forever. Spaceships. Aliens. Telepathy. Todd's world is one I love to visit over and over. Not least of all because Todd's voice is so unique, so honest, you trust him completely to navigate you through.<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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2. The Chrysalids</i></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><b> by</b></span></span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> John Wyndham</b><br />
<b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><br /></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the book, guys. My childhood fave that started my love of all things SciFi. In a post apocalyptic world, mutations are considered blasphemies against God and must be destroyed. So when David discovers that he and a small group of other teens have telepathic abilities, they are forced to keep it secret. But like any good secret, it can't stay that way, and it's not long before David and his friends are on the run. This is one I'm desperate to see on the big screen — but I don't know how any movie could pull off the awesome "thought shape" parts and do it proper justice. If you haven't read it, go now, and together we can all come up with the best way to translate </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Chrysalids</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to film, I just know it.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">3. Glow</i></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> by Amy Kathleen Ryan</b></span><br />
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</b>I love, love, LOVE </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Glow</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Mostly because if there were a mission to populate another planet in another galaxy, I like to think I'd have the guts to go. But anyway, fifteen-year-old Waverly was born aboard the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Empyrean</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, a ship with just such a mission. It's one of two ships sent to populate a distant planet. And teenage life aboard the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Empyrean</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is just about as normal as life back home — chores, parents, boyfriends. But then their sister ship, the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New Horizon</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> sends out a distress call. Something is wrong. And its up to the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Empyrean</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> to save them. But Waverly and her shipmates don't know, is that the crew aboard the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">New Horizon</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is anything but friendly. The setting of </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Glow</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">—trapped on a ship in deep space—and the threat that lurks inside, makes for one claustrophobic read. I read it in one sitting.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br />
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<i style="font-weight: bold;">4. The Fifth Wave</i></span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b> by Rick Yancey<br /></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Two words: alien invasion. I shouldn't have to explain. But I will. Cassie Sullivan has survived the first four waves of attacks from the aliens that have invaded earth. Everyone else on the planet hasn't been so lucky. And the few survivors that are left can't be trusted. Anybody could be one of </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">them</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> in disguise. And somewhere out there is Cassie's little brother Sam. And it's up to her to get him back. This action-</span><br />
<del cite="mailto:Alison%20McDonald" datetime="2016-08-17T00:48" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></del><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">packed alien adventure is a major motion picture, and it's no wonder.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><i style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
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5. Red Rising</i></span></span><span lang="EN-CA"><b> by Pierce Brown</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br />
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If SciFi is all about possibility, then let's do all we can to avoid the possibility of a future like the one sixteen-year-old Darrow was born to. Society is divided by a colour-coded caste system, with Golds at the top, and Reds, like Darrow, at the bottom. When a family tragedy forces Darrow to reject the system, he'll have to become the very thing he hates in order to bring it down. Brutal, dark and dangerous, Darrow's world is both exciting and terrifying. And it's just the first in the series.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyURZGv4CtCrxken3LamE1yu2TyM7AzNTvQTAGANT-0TVCr4OqgIn5U3wc3vGpgrD0t1QX1E3xCQOx7WGJcWQPeRaCDc3OB3Lh3lZHZUrV_Bt1hq4Ej5O7lNatipqgiQWnl71dB69loPM/s1600/Movers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Movers cover design." border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyURZGv4CtCrxken3LamE1yu2TyM7AzNTvQTAGANT-0TVCr4OqgIn5U3wc3vGpgrD0t1QX1E3xCQOx7WGJcWQPeRaCDc3OB3Lh3lZHZUrV_Bt1hq4Ej5O7lNatipqgiQWnl71dB69loPM/s320/Movers.jpg" title="'Movers' cover design" width="208" /></span></a><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So there you have just a few of my favourite SciFi YA offerings. It's time to get reading! And even if you think SciFi isn't for you, I have to insist that you're wrong — the endless possibilities means there's something in this genre for everyone. You can't not find a great story here. It's im<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">possible</i>! (See what I did there?) What are some of your favourite SciFi reads?</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <a href="https://twitter.com/meaghanmcisaac" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Tweet Meaghan your favourite SciFI reads</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Movers-Meaghan-McIsaac/dp/1783443790" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find out more about </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Movers</i></a><i><br />
</i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shadows-Meaghan-McIsaac/dp/1783446218" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find out more about </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Shadows</i></a><i><br />
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</i><b>About Meaghan:</b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Meaghan writes middle grade and young adult books. She loves to read them too. She used to draw a bit. When she was nine, she drew comics about a bird family who had a fuzzy orange caterpillar for a dog. They never ate him. After that, she gave a lot of embarrassing performances in her high school's musicals. She gave up on acting and decided to stick to telling stories. Meaghan packed up and left for the UK where she completed an MA in Children's Writing at the University of Winchester. Now, she's back in Toronto, reading and writing. Meaghan has one noisy beagle and one lab who doesn't stop eating. Meaghan is the author of an exhilarating, action-packed SciFi series. </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Movers</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is the first book in the series and </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Shadows</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, the second. Both are available online and from all good bookstores.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-63908746019153549752017-06-25T22:58:00.001+01:002017-06-25T22:58:57.846+01:00Sarah Crossan: a Case Study in Poetic Excellence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sarah Crossan is undoubtedly one of the U.K.’s and Ireland’s most exciting writers. Breath-taking, heart-wrenching and unputdownable, her books stay with you months after you’ve read them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sarah writes with so much heart that it’s impossible not to relate to her characters and the themes in her books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In <i>Apple and Rain</i>, Apple’s mother returns after 11 years but her return is bittersweet. Not everything is as it seems and when Apple discovers she has a sister, she re-discovers the meaning of family and realises what’s special in her life. The bond between siblings is something Sarah expertly captures on the page; so vivid that it feels as though the words shift and morph on the page to become an immersive, cinematic experience. In <i>One</i>, Sarah explores the power of love between conjoined sisters, Tippi and Grace. Told in beautiful verse, the words flow across the pages like a river; every word perfectly positioned to paint a masterpiece.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In <i>The Weight of Water</i>, Sarah tackles attitudes towards immigrants, an ever-topical discussion. Sentimental and thought-provoking, readers are taken on a journey by young narrator, Kasienka, as she is uprooted from Poland by her mother and displaced in England in search of her father. Simple in premise but rich in poetic detail, <i>The Weight of Water</i> will stun with linguistic precision, taking readers on an epic journey of emotion.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And let’s not forget Sarah’s first co-authored novel with, Brian Conaghan (author of <i>When Mr Dog Bites </i>and <i>The Bombs that Brought us Together</i>). Told in Sarah’s signature style, the story explores the lives of troubled teens, Nicu and Jess. The story shares similar themes to Sarah’s previous stories, including immigration (Nicu emigrates to the U.K. from Romania). Jess, who lives in an abusive, violent home, meets Nicu on a juvenile reform course after both teens are caught shoplifting. With an ending that is gut-wrenching and verse that is immensely powerful, this is definitely one to add to your TBR pile (right at the top!).</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNTBH3ymB4a85l8ayCyB4qxZti3YEdKJSw6BEKruGyKL9OQaPawwp2k9i76wv0xw-S_RiUhpln_xdh2Vpvj4YYyeaLOZzePHzw-4SfRurSKySN6LkUzwAJA8esrkDmTT5Tz1jeGUHdfs/s1600/moonrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Moonrise by Sarah Crossan." border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNTBH3ymB4a85l8ayCyB4qxZti3YEdKJSw6BEKruGyKL9OQaPawwp2k9i76wv0xw-S_RiUhpln_xdh2Vpvj4YYyeaLOZzePHzw-4SfRurSKySN6LkUzwAJA8esrkDmTT5Tz1jeGUHdfs/s320/moonrise.jpg" title="Moonrise by Sarah Crossan" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sarah’s new book, <i>Moonrise</i>, publishes on 7 September 2017 (in Ireland and the U.K.) and tells the story of Joe and his brother Ed, who’s on death row. The synopsis teases some questions:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>“<span style="line-height: 14.98px;">What value do you place on life? What can you forgive? And just how do you say goodbye?</span>”</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I’m anticipating another heart-breaking Crossan-esque story that will lift readers up and break hearts worldwide. What's your favourite Sarah Crossan book? <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">Tweet me @YAfictionados</a> or tell me in the comments below.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-58304162296894909762017-06-14T22:20:00.001+01:002017-06-14T22:20:41.946+01:00#YAtakeover #CKG17 programme<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcqgrxWNijNVbHmDLUSjJ1Vv_xywbtO5H0CQTjMPGO-voVWDNjzt6cOAHgEOzgQ-BLhA_evr6nkviS-dj909MbV_BIZk4rLYBi14y7IWsgiMWBowAupRmfcLdeeCpqS9DkXiBZqBEujs/s1600/Programme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcqgrxWNijNVbHmDLUSjJ1Vv_xywbtO5H0CQTjMPGO-voVWDNjzt6cOAHgEOzgQ-BLhA_evr6nkviS-dj909MbV_BIZk4rLYBi14y7IWsgiMWBowAupRmfcLdeeCpqS9DkXiBZqBEujs/s640/Programme.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-10148641406343849882017-06-14T22:16:00.000+01:002017-06-14T22:23:06.171+01:00The #YAtakeover: what is it?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pnp0aknVC1O8ufLrNBjsZB4gALcm6GC8L79x2bdUwt8SWuYP1CbWzPou5I8EwYIpLIkiW1gKSWXjno-u2erbCNaZZl3Z84nD9BuEm35NYPjDBChT7t6ig5wjrYkB1OVUf-JLTVzNHe4/s1600/%2523YAtakeover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="YAtakeover logo." border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="599" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pnp0aknVC1O8ufLrNBjsZB4gALcm6GC8L79x2bdUwt8SWuYP1CbWzPou5I8EwYIpLIkiW1gKSWXjno-u2erbCNaZZl3Z84nD9BuEm35NYPjDBChT7t6ig5wjrYkB1OVUf-JLTVzNHe4/s320/%2523YAtakeover.png" title="YAtakeover logo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YAtakeover logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The #YAtakeover (the brainchild of blogger, Christopher Moore), was designed as a way to reach readers on a global scale, allowing avid readers of all demographics to connect with their favourite authors. While living in the U.K., I realised that most book launches and events took place in London and if not in London, predominantly in the major cities across the U.K., like Manchester and Edinburgh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's often not feasible to do author events in the more remote parts of the country but why should that prevent readers from spreading their love of reading, talking about what excites them with a community that values and champions their passion and getting the opportunity to ask some of Children's and Young Adult's most exciting authors their questions?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It shouldn't and that's where the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a> comes in!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The #YAtakeover is an online, Twitter festival that includes:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">author interview panels (usually themed around issues ranging from taboo to fantasy and magic and everything in between);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">general book discussion (around a theme or a particular book);</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a quiz (a variety of visual questions with bookish giveaways for whoever answers the most questions correctly) and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">competitions (where you have the opportunity to win the books our featured authors are discussing).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">On 17 and 18 June, we'll be celebrating a very special #YAtakeover edition; with the announcement of the <a href="http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/80-years.php" target="_blank">80th Carnegie and 60th Kate Greenaway (CKG) Medals</a> on 19 June, we'll be hosting author panels with previous winners in addition to shortlist discussion, competitions and our fantastic CKG-themed quiz). Join us on 17 and 18 June where we'll have some of the world's most prestigious Children's and YA authors taking part.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />We have a <a href="http://yafictionados.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/add-some-brand-new-books-to-your-shelf.html" target="_blank">competition running to win some of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway winning books</a>. Simply join in the CKG celebrations by tweeting your thoughts or your favourite previous winners along with the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ckg17&src=typd" target="_blank">#CKG17</a> hashtags.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The<a href="https://yafictionados.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/yatakeover-ckg17-programme.html" target="_blank"> full #YAtakeover programme</a> is now available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Spread the bookish love.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-59431774340008712922017-06-13T22:55:00.000+01:002017-06-14T22:32:25.278+01:00Add some brand new books to your shelves this summer with a tweet<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs6I1IbghSa1I4ai57rUzmI4OrIkoRUirCtRax6vJvS6L2OekjcMc2ZF0mL4h76_JcVfgXcs9Vf7M_KvnGhy1LELRv8yxlMaOHOfQ7dXOlDJQTX7x8L9KJfEU_yp1c0kM49viAYfTtNQ/s1600/CKG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="#YAtakeover and 80th/60th Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal anniversaries." border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="341" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSs6I1IbghSa1I4ai57rUzmI4OrIkoRUirCtRax6vJvS6L2OekjcMc2ZF0mL4h76_JcVfgXcs9Vf7M_KvnGhy1LELRv8yxlMaOHOfQ7dXOlDJQTX7x8L9KJfEU_yp1c0kM49viAYfTtNQ/s320/CKG.jpg" title="#YAtakeover and 80th/60th Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal anniversaries" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#YAtakeover / 80th Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal anniversary logos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As part of our #YAtakeover special edition, to celebrate the 80th Carnegie and 60th Kate Greenaway Medal anniversaries, we're giving away a copy of Tim Bowler's </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">River Boy</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, Beverley Naidoo's </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">The Other Side of Truth</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and Melvin Burgress's </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Junk</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>How do you win these books?</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's simple. All you have to do is tweet to be in with a chance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Tweet about the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals using <b><span style="color: blue;">BOTH</span></b> the <b><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23yatakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a></b> and <b><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ckg17&src=typd" target="_blank">#CKG17</a></b> hashtags between Wednesday 16 June at 9am BST and Monday 19 June at 11.30pm BST. You can enter more than once. Some ideas for your tweets could be:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favourite Carnegie/Kate Greenaway book was _____ #YAtakeover #CKG17</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favourite shortlisted book for this year's Carnegie/Kate Greenaway Medal is </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">_____ #YAtakeover #CKG17</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm currently reading (insert Carnegie/Kate Greenaway book here) by (author/illustrator name) #YAtakeover #CKG17</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or, on the day, feel free to answer some of the author questions and tell us what you think or ask your favourite author a question at the end of their panel using the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23yatakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ckg17&src=typd" target="_blank">#CKG17</a> hashtags.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Enter as often as you like.<br />Help us spread the bookish joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And most importantly, have fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://yafictionados.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/yatakeover-ckg17-programme.html" target="_blank">full #YAtakeover programme</a> is now available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">**********************************************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find out more information about <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/129773.The_Other_Side_of_Truth?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><i>The Other Side of Truth </i>(Beverley Naidoo)</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/Naidoo_J2J" target="_blank">Beverley</a> on Twitter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find out more information about <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98973.Junk?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><i>Junk </i>(Melvin Burgess)</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/MelvinBurgess" target="_blank">Melvin</a> on Twitter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find out more information about <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/335747.River_Boy?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><i>River Boy</i> (Tim Bowler)</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/tim_bowler" target="_blank">Tim</a> on Twitter.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmA5BNlPJViWfSBvln8kW8ZxLdEWQDUhHmBj0PWRCFKk5t5L0B-ij8f_XfqdfYn6MCoAmzu_hdoSkJvGAfL4tcGjbxqRUg-vZW0CGskrM4R7BNPmfz6I_aQ1ZbdIeIEx0UnCP0BWIS4E/s1600/Giveaway+prize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beverly Naidoo's 'The Other Side of Truth', Melvin Burgess' 'Junk' and Tim Bowler's 'River Boy'." border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1457" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmA5BNlPJViWfSBvln8kW8ZxLdEWQDUhHmBj0PWRCFKk5t5L0B-ij8f_XfqdfYn6MCoAmzu_hdoSkJvGAfL4tcGjbxqRUg-vZW0CGskrM4R7BNPmfz6I_aQ1ZbdIeIEx0UnCP0BWIS4E/s640/Giveaway+prize.jpg" title="Beverly Naidoo's 'The Other Side of Truth', Melvin Burgess' 'Junk' and Tim Bowler's 'River Boy'" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beverly Naidoo's 'The Other Side of Truth', Melvin Burgess' 'Junk' and Tim Bowler's 'River Boy'</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-17728000355919692592017-04-10T19:55:00.000+01:002017-04-10T20:00:41.760+01:00Blogging for Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8scrxwUzBOfdY4NxL19LyYX4xdjzA0VtDXFFc5azrjY3VXNqAbcD0WyRcvBE78M80KMqrcULQwg0tEKZQiPLPt1maaXiFWrTWStKIpleH9bOxDst1CeQtGGawO_mSyGS72722o_UVDNM/s1600/charlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Me and drag superstar, Charlie Hides." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8scrxwUzBOfdY4NxL19LyYX4xdjzA0VtDXFFc5azrjY3VXNqAbcD0WyRcvBE78M80KMqrcULQwg0tEKZQiPLPt1maaXiFWrTWStKIpleH9bOxDst1CeQtGGawO_mSyGS72722o_UVDNM/s320/charlie.jpg" title="Me with my icon - drag superstar, Charlie Hides." width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the last year, I've had a lot going on in my life. Between mental health, moving my life back to Ireland, finally finishing my manuscript and the everyday admin, I've found it hard to focus on my blog. More than focusing on it, I've found it quite tough to stir up the passion to write. Don't worry, I'm still going to write. I used to tell myself I had to write twice a week and really, the only person telling myself this was me. No one else expects me to churn out two blog posts a week and really, I'd rather produce something really heartfelt and poignant - something that makes you think and/or feel - every fortnight than publish half-baked posts that aren't a reflection of me or this blog. More than any of this, I need to remember why I started this blog. I started it for me, to voice my thoughts and chat books and if someone loves what I do, fantastic.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>So what does this mean for the YAfictionados blog?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It means a couple of things:</span><br />
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This book will no longer be limited to book chat. I love books and bookish chat will remain one of the central tropes I'll discuss here but I also want to talk about my writing journey (especially if I manage to get an agent and find a publishing home - fingers crossed!) to help inspire others to write. I want to talk about some of the beautiful places I've visited abroad on my travels but also in my hometown of Dublin. I want to peel back the layers and let you guys (and girls) see a different side to me; to see beyond face value and get to know the different parts that make me, me.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I won't be posting with any fixed regularity. I'll aim to post every second week but I'll only be posting when something strikes or moves me and really, when it feels like something worth sharing with all of you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I love reviews but my focus will move away from single reviews and look at some of the books I enjoyed reading in that particular month (a monthly round-up starting in May).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I hope you're</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> all excited and be sure to <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">share all your bookish thoughts with me on Twitter</a>. I want to know what you're reading and what you're looking forward to reading this year.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to sharing some of my mental health experiences and a bit more about my illness so subscribe and keep an eye out for </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHYduNTBuBwe9HWiqqHIx_WkRFZ47YYXHJQAUSRCw2PM2Rcp6BK83t8oOusLwe8aoBTMVXRqO8e7UlrbrVkK2D_fmyglITDGj_3qBS6RNJP8VFcTaJkQJjrzyIiuycKJ0CGBERD80PZA/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #073763; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHYduNTBuBwe9HWiqqHIx_WkRFZ47YYXHJQAUSRCw2PM2Rcp6BK83t8oOusLwe8aoBTMVXRqO8e7UlrbrVkK2D_fmyglITDGj_3qBS6RNJP8VFcTaJkQJjrzyIiuycKJ0CGBERD80PZA/s200/coffee.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /><span style="line-height: 18.2px;"> </span></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christopher Moore:</span></u></b></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;">Christopher is a co-founder of the YAfictionados blog (<a href="http://twitter.com/YAfictionados" style="color: #073763; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a>)</span><span style="color: black;">. He's currently working on his debut LGBT YA novel. When he's not reading, writing or blogging, he can found in coffee shops or baking in his kitchen (watch out for his book cookies!). He loves to travel and will read anything YA-related and some general fiction and fantasy.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-28539427174068019682017-04-02T16:54:00.000+01:002017-04-02T16:54:36.300+01:00Change your Perception and you Change the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rruZmZ2MEXykr_D3tJlmq-nMkTeV_Krk64T7MYujMwD-9v4lRkBan2avBZViOnb6l-N9AK8-61xB9mU6_OnrNdVDHRHUcnjdnELioe7AZmMaP0Y3nHQtubY0c0NLocxhy212I1uGVds/s1600/IMG_0971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tree shaped like a heart." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rruZmZ2MEXykr_D3tJlmq-nMkTeV_Krk64T7MYujMwD-9v4lRkBan2avBZViOnb6l-N9AK8-61xB9mU6_OnrNdVDHRHUcnjdnELioe7AZmMaP0Y3nHQtubY0c0NLocxhy212I1uGVds/s320/IMG_0971.JPG" title="Tree shaped like a heart." width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I attended a funeral of someone very dear to me on Wednesday This post isn't about sympathy and with all due respect, I don't want your sympathy and I don't want you to take this initial message as the actual message behind this post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the ceremony, in the crematorium and at the pub, I saw a community come together. There was no black/white, gay/straight, young/old binary divides. Everyone had tears in their eyes at some stage. I bit down on my lip trying to stop my own tears but it was near impossible. This was a woman that touched our hearts, changed our paths and transformed our lives and brought laughter and joy into our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Everyone in that room had one thing in common: we were all there to show our live for some who had infinite love for all. We were brought together by love and understanding, compassion and celebration of a life that transcended so much. And in this moment, I had a thought. No one was thinking about prejudice (racism, homophobia, transphobia etc.). We weren't caught up with binary oppositions. It was our compassion and capacity to love, develop and understand that shone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are people out there that will carry their prejudices like emblems, like badges of honour and while some of these understand the hatred in their words, the vitriol that they poison future generations with, others do not. They are ignorant to the harm they cause. When they are shouted at on Twitter and attacked, their points are proven but if we show compassion to understand their point of view and ask questions to make them think, we can change perceptions. And if we cannot do this, if our fire and arguments fail, we can channel our energies into productive projects to further develop our own goals and the change we want to see. If we allow ourselves to be caught up in a viscous, cyclical process with a beginning and no end, we face frustration and emotional blocks that dam our positive energies, our capacity to love and our ability to bring about change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At the risk of sounding morbid, our ultimate destination is the ground. Our compassion should be our common ground and if we can't approach things with compassion and try to encourage others with which we debate with to be compassionate, then we debase ourselves to their level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I guess what I'm trying to say is to show love. Show understanding and compassion even in the face of adversity. Fighting fire with fire makes you that which you oppose and when we sling mud back and forth, we'll all get muddy and it's difficult to separate who is right and who is wrong. Our message is important and feels right to us but our approach is what can change opinion and instigate change. Do not comprise your integrity or compassion when you engage with thoughts you disagree with. It's incredibly difficult. It's not always easy; in fact, it's hardly ever easy but we need to be our best selves to change the world around us for the better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lena, you've thought me this if nothing else, in life and in death. Wherever you are, I hope you're at peace. Love always.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;"><b><u>Christopher Moore:</u></b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;">Christopher is a co-founder of the YAfictionados blog (<a href="http://twitter.com/YAfictionados" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a>)</span><span style="color: black;">. He's currently working on his debut LGBT YA novel. When he's not reading, writing or blogging, he can found in coffee shops or baking in his kitchen (watch out for his book cookies!). He loves to travel and will read anything YA-related and some general fiction and fantasy.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-54830843713627992102017-03-04T16:30:00.000+00:002017-03-04T16:30:31.204+00:00Blogging resource: key tips to get you started<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some of the key things I learned when setting up my YAfictionados blog. If you have any suggestions or comments, let me know in the comments below or tweet me.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before you set up your blog<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Blogs can either be self-hosted or hosted on a third-party site. I would
advise using a platform such as Wordpress or Blogger. Every blogger will tell
you different things about the pros and cons of each but it is up to you
which you choose. Think about the type of content you want to write and go with
the platform that gives you more freedom to do what you want to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Planning</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Think about your </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><u>post title</u></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">. You
want to draw in your reader. (How to…/Top 10…/Secrets of…/Why your…)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Write your </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><u>first paragraph</u></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">. Follow on from your post title and tempt your reader. Ask a question.
Comment on some recent controversy and share your thoughts. Note a fact. Tell
an anecdote.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Make your post </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><u>scannable</u></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">. Make it
easy to read. Use headings, numbered lists and bullets, where possible.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Add a </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;"><u>conclusion</u></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">. Invite
interaction. Ask readers to comment and if you want, point to another resource or to another of your blog posts.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before you publish</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Before you post anything, read through your
article and edit, edit, EDIT.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Use an online grammar tool.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Ask a friend to look over it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">Whatever you do, read through your blog post
at least twice before you publish it.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">General tips and tricks</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">When you first start, content is more important
than analytics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">It’s fine to have a look at what other bloggers
are doing but make sure you represent your views. This is your unique selling point.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Ignore the haters.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Get personal.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Conquer one or two areas before you try to do it
all.</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Technical tips and tricks</span></b></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Consider an email subscriber list.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">If you’re hyperlinking outside your blog, make
sure to click the box that opens it in a new window. You don’t want to
encourage people to leave your site.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Use Alt tags. When you hover over an image and
you see some text, this is an Alt tag. You don’t have to include an Alt tag but
without an alt tag, the image isn’t searchable by search engines and you’re potentially cutting yourself off from clicks and views by not
including this.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Make your hyperlinks descriptive.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Include keywords in your title and the first
sentence of your blog post.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Install Google Analytics.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Editing an old blog post can move it up in the
Google rankings.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How to build your network</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Talk to authors. When you write a good review of their book, include them in
the tweet. Get familiar with their publisher and include them also (can be
found in the details on all book websites or by Googling it). Don’t link to a
bad review. It can often back-fire on you and bring unwanted stress.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Try to
channel your energies into talking about what you enjoy. Ask them if they’d
like to write for your blog or do an interview. Send them the questions and
give plenty of time.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Be mindful of who you ask. If you contact J. K. Rowling,
it’s unlikely she’ll respond but don’t be discouraged. If you don’t ask, you
don’t get.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> Monitor local events at
libraries, cafés and bookshops. Converse and engage with other bloggers and
influencers. Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Getting the books you want to
review</span></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Bookshops</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Libraries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Net Galley</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Publisher ARCs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: -18pt;">Blogger meet-ups</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Publishers<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Penguin Random House (<a href="https://twitter.com/penguinplatform" target="_blank">@penguinplatform</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/PuffinBooks" target="_blank">@PuffinBooks</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Harper Collins (<a href="https://twitter.com/HarperCollinsCh" target="_blank">@HarperCollinsUK</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Simon & Schuster (<a href="https://twitter.com/simonkids_UK" target="_blank">@simonkids_UK</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtagreads" target="_blank">@hashtagreads</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bloomsbury (<a href="https://twitter.com/KidsBloomsbury" target="_blank">@KidsBloomsbury</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hachette (<a href="https://twitter.com/BooksWithBiteUK" target="_blank">@BooksWithBiteUK</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/HachetteKids" target="_blank">@HachetteKids</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hot Key Books (<a href="https://twitter.com/HotKeyBooks" target="_blank">@HotKeyBooks</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Old Barn Books (<a href="https://twitter.com/oldbarnbooks" target="_blank">@oldbarnbooks</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Walker Books (<a href="https://twitter.com/WalkerBooksYA" target="_blank">@WalkerBooksYA</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/WalkerBooksUK" target="_blank">@WalkerBooksUK</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Electric Monkey/Egmont (<a href="https://twitter.com/EMTeenFiction" target="_blank">@EMTeenFiction</a>/<a href="https://twitter.com/EgmontUK" target="_blank">@EgmontUK</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Macmillan (<a href="https://twitter.com/MacmillanKidsUK" target="_blank">@MacmillanKidsUK</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Faber (<a href="https://twitter.com/FaberChildrens" target="_blank">@FaberChildrens</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nosy Crow (<a href="https://twitter.com/NosyCrow" target="_blank">@NosyCrow</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Usborne (<a href="https://twitter.com/Usborne" target="_blank">@Usborne</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Atom (<a href="https://twitter.com/AtomBooks" target="_blank">@AtomBooks</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Bookstores to follow</b><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Foyles (<a href="https://twitter.com/Foyles" target="_blank">@Foyles</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Waterstones (<a href="https://twitter.com/Waterstones" target="_blank">@Waterstones</a> and search for your
local store’s Twitter handle)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Queen’s Park Books (<a href="https://twitter.com/QPBooks" target="_blank">@QPBooks</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7 Stories (<a href="https://twitter.com/7Stories" target="_blank">@7Stories</a></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; line-height: 150%;">)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCh3sbaFw7umd3i8q3-CSaS1OM4fHdgo5_NiUH-2LZbmbSlfd4kGqgdU538QpuaxbBDBuvV-FRdvjAC9Q8S7xmC6iYHm4XQkj5UwfP7J2kX0MDEZfm9xu60rK4R6PdewdbYsvpZhvb-8/s1600/11401309_803994953042135_826462040895493030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #073763; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCh3sbaFw7umd3i8q3-CSaS1OM4fHdgo5_NiUH-2LZbmbSlfd4kGqgdU538QpuaxbBDBuvV-FRdvjAC9Q8S7xmC6iYHm4XQkj5UwfP7J2kX0MDEZfm9xu60rK4R6PdewdbYsvpZhvb-8/s200/11401309_803994953042135_826462040895493030_n.jpg" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: red;"><u><strong>Christopher Moore:</strong></u></span></span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;">Christopher is a co-founder of the YAfictionados blog (<a href="http://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a>) and is best known as the </span><span style="color: #0563c1;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://twitter.com/YAblooker" style="color: #073763; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">YAblooker</span></a></span></span><span style="color: black;">. He is a twenty-five year old book blogger who has previously worked in marketing and consumer insight for various publishing houses and writes in his spare time. He loves to travel and will read anything YA-related and some general fiction and fantasy.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-47647127525479375012017-02-22T17:50:00.001+00:002017-02-22T17:52:51.219+00:00Carnegie Controversy: Thoughts from the 5%<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh012e4z1HsFm7IAbo7Qv7amgSJ0ifIz3wO_EmXF5P7PDpms0NupKwNxobtPX3koaJPSH4TlkBhUL8ZLipBhkCnV_v2o3hm1BM3GRnu3XD7yYcM8r1Fftec3qUxrIeM6gtPKDAj1Gm4tDM/s1600/CILIP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh012e4z1HsFm7IAbo7Qv7amgSJ0ifIz3wO_EmXF5P7PDpms0NupKwNxobtPX3koaJPSH4TlkBhUL8ZLipBhkCnV_v2o3hm1BM3GRnu3XD7yYcM8r1Fftec3qUxrIeM6gtPKDAj1Gm4tDM/s200/CILIP.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals celebrate its 80th anniversay celebrating the best Children's books and with these </span><a href="http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/press.php?release=pres_2017_longlists_announced.html" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">longlist announcements</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, comes a wave of controversy. T</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">here's been much talk around the lack of BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) authors, particularly on the Carnegie list. I'm here to explore and combat the snub claims and controversy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>1. This is a prize based on literary merit, NOT the author.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Firstly, I invite you to take a look at the <a href="http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/awards-process.php#criteria" target="_blank">CILIP judging criteria for the Carnegie Medal</a>. Nominations for the 2017 awards opened on 1 September 2016 and ran until 14 October 2016. The award is judged on style, plot and characterisation, <i>not</i> based on theme or the author. There have been some questions around the bias of these criteria but these are the criteria that CILIP have put forward; criteria that CILIP hold as being objective. No set of judging criteria will ever be 100% free of bias. When you look at literature, how do you put in place a set of criteria that ensures the best books (in terms of literary merit) appear on the longlist? It is impossible but CILIP have set out the criteria that allows the judges to award the best books and limit bias.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">"The book that wins the Carnegie Medal should be a book of outstanding literary quality. The whole work should provide pleasure, not merely from the surface enjoyment of a good read, but also the deeper subconscious satisfaction of having gone through a vicarious, but at the time of reading, a real experience that is retained afterwards."</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat"; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">– CILIP website</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we were to take into consideration, the cultural background of any author, it would shift the focus of the award, moving it from the story to the storyteller. Including an author on a longlist based on the colour of their skin or their ethnicity is incredibly patronising and moves the goalposts of the award.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O2OZb1438UWkGtTLXSf9ZyhoK9KrDDhsffLqH1TuKPks3nJkT0itBxMtX8-LjKSb1uP1UCLaukjBz32BI_yGPJjAn9rwEEO5lUX_r-LRo30P7O4e3Iy63nvbdo2HoysA1ifITb75JzM/s1600/BAME+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O2OZb1438UWkGtTLXSf9ZyhoK9KrDDhsffLqH1TuKPks3nJkT0itBxMtX8-LjKSb1uP1UCLaukjBz32BI_yGPJjAn9rwEEO5lUX_r-LRo30P7O4e3Iy63nvbdo2HoysA1ifITb75JzM/s320/BAME+1.jpg" width="230" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">114 titles were nominated by librarians and only 20 of these made it onto the longlist. That's 17.5% of the nominated titles or to put it another way, for every 5 titles that did not make it onto the list, 1 title did. The 20 titles that were selected by the judging panel were deemed to better meet the criteria than the other nominated titles. One Twitter user commented as follows (image, right).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Twitter can be a social vacuum and while it works for some things, I'm not sure it serves as the right platform to debate this issue </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> as this string of tweets shows. The first tweet talks about diversity generally </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> not diversity of the authors or the books. There is a wealth of diversity when it comes to the longlisted titles. I'm currently working on a spreadsheet and will post this when my research has been concluded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No books by BAME authors were ignored and to suggest this damages an award that for 80 years, has promoted incredible Children's and Young Adult (YA) literature and encouraged a broad breadth of themes to be explored. It is worth remembering that all of the nominated titles were recognised and championed by librarians.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7IQRle5uJoi6B_utyAzStw_O-9zYrrc3aI6aglUjP8fJ7OUCk47er98VyPs1Iz65TDBoxo30mQBRa80yoDJw34AvNYBwiMm0RSnmxmcCd7lIl8zolaZzawCR4BRFOhgasO9P0Wn9gBw/s1600/BAME+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7IQRle5uJoi6B_utyAzStw_O-9zYrrc3aI6aglUjP8fJ7OUCk47er98VyPs1Iz65TDBoxo30mQBRa80yoDJw34AvNYBwiMm0RSnmxmcCd7lIl8zolaZzawCR4BRFOhgasO9P0Wn9gBw/s320/BAME+2.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To suggest that judges haven't noticed the BAME authors on this list or that they "haven't seen the missing pieces of the puzzle... [and] have never experienced not being included" is ludicrous and damaging. How much research has this person done into the Carnegie Medal - the nominations and judging processes, the criteria and the judging panel itself? She is right in one respect though. The judges have ignored the fact that some of the writers are BAME as they judged on the books alone. To suggest they had time to read all of these books and research which ones where BAME and deliberately ignore them </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> or anything of the sort </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is a bitter pill to swallow while they looked after their families, worked and carried out the everyday responsibilities that their lives dictate alongside the careful reading and judging (not to mention the meetings) in narrowing down 114 books to the 20 featured on the 2017 longlist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The reference to "the Britain that the Carnegie wants to narrate" (image, left) is ridiculous. 50% of the authors on the longlist are British and many of the stories on the list are not set in Britain and it's this inclusiveness that makes the Carnegie Medal such a special award.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>2. The BAME argument is flawed since there ARE BAME authors featured on the longlist.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let me back-track slightly. I previously mentioned that BAME stands for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnics but the inflammatory tweets of the majority seems to suggest that there is no authors of ethnic minorities featured on the list when, frankly, this is a lie. Oxford English Dictionary defines an "ethnic minority" as:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">"</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">A group within a community which has different national or cultural traditions from the main population.</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">"</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ruta Sepetys (author of <i>Salt to the Sea</i>) is Lithuanian. Glenda Millard (<i>The Stars of Oktober Bend</i>) and Zana Frauillon (<i>The Bone Sparrow</i>) are both Australian. The Carnegie medal is awarded in the United Kingdom </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the same country where CILIP is based </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">–</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and so, in this context, these authors would be considered BAME authors. However, the argument seems to be less of one around BAME authors than it does Black and Asian authors and as my previous point outlined, the author him/herself is irrelevant in the judging of the nominated titles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Every author should have the opportunity to write about whatever they choose to.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rJcIxHBvMwuvPF6fxbVd_E0S3gTfbU63e6WUfDDVxjcuilRtCnjGrXl6CXGMGXrImR6o7h8Iwgrhgrhl2-jQEz5-18zPZ-dWzQn_ewtKavhZr0blb94xlCpjkxvmFM268bDn_I6n4X0/s1600/BAME+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rJcIxHBvMwuvPF6fxbVd_E0S3gTfbU63e6WUfDDVxjcuilRtCnjGrXl6CXGMGXrImR6o7h8Iwgrhgrhl2-jQEz5-18zPZ-dWzQn_ewtKavhZr0blb94xlCpjkxvmFM268bDn_I6n4X0/s320/BAME+9.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't think it's entirely fair to suggest that themes encompassing immigration, refugees, detention centres (etc.) are only rewarded if you're white in relation to the Carnegie Medal. It casts a negative light on the prize when it's one of the more inclusive awards out there. It looks at all books that have been published in the United Kingdom. It does not discriminate against authors outside of the U.K..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The kind of thinking implied by this tweet suggests that only Black and Asian authors should be able to discuss themes of immigration, refugees (etc.). This mentality that you should only write what you experience is dangerous thought because it limits the different lenses with which we can view important issues in our world and also limits discourse and discussion. This kind of thinking also has the potential to sway the kinds of stories that an author might tell rather than allowing them freedom to write from the heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we had a write-what-you-are/write-what-you've-experienced mentality, then I should only write stories that feature a protagonist that is a gay man with a chronic illness. It's the equivalent of saying that I cannot write about witches because I am not a witch or because I am not female, I shouldn't write about female characters. This limits the infinite possibilities and perspectives that fiction offers us for both authors <i>and</i> readers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>4. Attacking the Carnegie questions 80 years of celebrating the best Children's and YA literature.</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lC40XkRp0ChakxSwJxgKE1LQ2mgrGpMfVAwiyW03Fw3jhJfkEk0inaL8ba8-kB3lyrTJDTDS_TOEBr5FjEprVh2TMPkA3dLh_fPvPHbzwI8fgJZtWVJRZ8BM3QvupCDhamEnWapmGOE/s1600/BAME++4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lC40XkRp0ChakxSwJxgKE1LQ2mgrGpMfVAwiyW03Fw3jhJfkEk0inaL8ba8-kB3lyrTJDTDS_TOEBr5FjEprVh2TMPkA3dLh_fPvPHbzwI8fgJZtWVJRZ8BM3QvupCDhamEnWapmGOE/s320/BAME++4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The criteria for this award are completely different to that of any other award as are the judges. Looking at the <a href="http://www.costa.co.uk/media/448129/2016-shortlist-combined.pdf" target="_blank">Costa Children's Book Award 2016</a>, there were four books on the shortlist and no longlist published. Patrice Lawrence's <i>Orangeboy</i> was shortlisted for the award though only one of the titles on this shortlist, Ross Welford's <i>Time Travelling with a Hamster</i>, made the Carnegie longlist. <a href="http://www.costa.co.uk/media/450405/2016-category-award-winners.pdf" target="_blank">The winner, Brian Conaghan's <i>The Bombs that Brought us Together</i></a>, did not make it onto the Carnegie longlist.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The judging panel also differed greatly from that of the Carnegie - an author-illustrator, a journalist/writer and the owner of a Children's specialist bookshop. The <a href="http://www.costa.co.uk/costa-book-awards/faqs/" target="_blank">judging criteria</a> too are also different:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">"</span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "montserrat";">The judges’ brief is to select well-written, enjoyable books that they would strongly recommend anyone to read."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is just one example but if you compare both prizes, the Costa Book Award is awarded to a well-written, enjoyable book (and there is nothing wrong with this) whereas the Carnegie is judged beyond surface enjoyment.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwLURIivoUCX8ArFTyQe3aqbM4dOETAGbPAxoWvNh7V4XCC5ZLLQfYuymgGbE07wMn3FS_G1-b6WbHlDvycHUqfhLtxGYlnpOoheaMOuyd0EhKkCS8NWnd_ATRNHH-ENq_rO2IKRfBMk/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwLURIivoUCX8ArFTyQe3aqbM4dOETAGbPAxoWvNh7V4XCC5ZLLQfYuymgGbE07wMn3FS_G1-b6WbHlDvycHUqfhLtxGYlnpOoheaMOuyd0EhKkCS8NWnd_ATRNHH-ENq_rO2IKRfBMk/s320/B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm quite saddened that <i><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/feb/16/all-white-carnegie-medal-longlist-anger-childrens-authors-philip-pullman" target="_blank">The Guardian</a></i> and particularly <i><a href="https://www.thebookseller.com/news/cilip-defends-carnegiegreenaway-longlists-after-criticism-over-lack-diversity-490446" target="_blank">The Bookseller</a> </i></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 15.6933px;">– </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the leading book industry media channel and magazine, have taken inflammatory opinions from Twitter and pasted them into an article alongside the generic opinion from CILIP's Nick Poole without looking at some of the other opinions on Twitter that counter and contrast the snub claims. All they have done is accelerate and misdirect attention towards damaging one of the world's oldest and most prestigious book prizes rather than allowing a platform for those that disagree. I'm annoyed too that CILIP released a generic reply to the controversy instead of producing an engaging article that tackles the claims of racism and inequality head-on. I understand that the judges are not allowed to comment which is unfortunate since some of the comments are targeted towards the judges who are unable to defend themselves.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmStN0H3m__OU3BBshoN3hhhjk2OrbMEJhYDEjEKkEpCxlNSlRNxlvdfR_74BrlvgVfiULiutyeXV2jGBn-hLztxhAGnaxXCgBFmzDAkLaK1XCzgGudkIGVAjjOBwum6p0GDRDCNhm90/s1600/BAME++10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmStN0H3m__OU3BBshoN3hhhjk2OrbMEJhYDEjEKkEpCxlNSlRNxlvdfR_74BrlvgVfiULiutyeXV2jGBn-hLztxhAGnaxXCgBFmzDAkLaK1XCzgGudkIGVAjjOBwum6p0GDRDCNhm90/s320/BAME++10.jpg" width="243" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the nominated authors raised an important point about the gatekeepers or diversity who, ultimately, are the publishers and everything is a ripple effect to this. A writer pens and submits their story, An agent only makes money when the author makes money and so, if the publishing industry dictates certain kinds of stories, the agent will likely supply these kinds of stories to publishers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The lack of diverse stories on Children's and YA bookshelves would reinforce the claims this author makes but regardless of whether you agree or not, there is a clear lack of BAME stories on bookshelves. Instead of focusing on this issue, we're attacking the Carnegie; damaging 80 years of literary merit and recognition in the field. Inflammatory tweets are problematic and sometimes misleading, and do not provide a solution or a way forward so that </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">we can focus our energies onto the positive ways we can push for change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>And FINALLY...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You're welcome to challenge my points and I suspect I may get some rather fruity comments tweeted my way. However, my opinion is my opinion and it is backed up by research. I won't be bludgeoned into submission by people that can shout the loudest and are suggesting a boycott of an incredible award that has done so much for Children's literature over the years and spit in the face of <a href="http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/carnegie.php" target="_blank">Andrew Carnegie</a>, for whom the award is established (in his memory). What will a boycott achieve? What satisfaction will that bring other than to take away an accolade that rewards Children's author and further shrink the media coverage and awards that Children's books receive?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://teenlibrarian.co.uk/2017/02/20/the-cilip-ckg-2017-controversy/" target="_blank">Matt Imrie, former CILIP Carnegie Medal judge, wrote an article on the controversy</a> which I would strongly advise you to read. Matt raises some really important points and shines a light on the judging process for the Carnegie Medal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To those that are "appalled" and "disappointed" by the longlist, I ask you:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How many of the longlisted titles have you read before you tweeted your views?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How many of the nominated titles did you read?</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm willing to bet that the only people that read all 114 books are the judges themselves.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-80313387368685900402017-01-14T18:25:00.002+00:002017-01-14T18:26:57.780+00:00Christopher Moore: who am I and what do I want?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigojA8XxRVfhizavVEt23TWTu4YNjjy-ybWs94Po1brjoqs6aqvPPhYxrg8DU-8g3rYxjZtjrhZP4wktOljPZ82UJFyRIHiEfKQtdsgjO3eZ_9dx6vF2XUBputLP9_MH3qNuwIyNpkDLI/s1600/IMG_1059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Harrow on the hill." border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigojA8XxRVfhizavVEt23TWTu4YNjjy-ybWs94Po1brjoqs6aqvPPhYxrg8DU-8g3rYxjZtjrhZP4wktOljPZ82UJFyRIHiEfKQtdsgjO3eZ_9dx6vF2XUBputLP9_MH3qNuwIyNpkDLI/s320/IMG_1059.JPG" title="Harrow on the hill" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I’m a force to be reckoned when there’s something I want. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I want you to know this. Not that I’m: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">A Blogger </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">An aspiring author </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Irish </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Gay </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tall </span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In between work, book-tubing, blogging, reading, writing, sipping copious (and dangerous) amounts of coffee and packing my life into two suitcases, I have had time to reflect on what I want this year and here it is: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To set up a Youtube channel that talks about my everyday experience including dating and the (often) ridiculous situations I end up in;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To continue to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNFjWkeJLTjx5NWxfwBy8ow" target="_blank">book-tube</a> and collaborate with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqXU00AbnCgYBu03q_nRhbQ" target="_blank">magnificent Xina Hailey</a>, fellow book-tuber, mentor and lifelong friend, and post a video every second Thursday from February 2017; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To continue to interact with authors, support rising UK and Irish YA talent and chair panels and events wherever and whenever possible; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To get an agent in 2017 for my debut LGBT YA title (keeping this one under wraps for now) and (fingers crossed) see it on my favourite bookshelves near and far (especially the lovely <a href="https://twitter.com/QPBooks" target="_blank">Queen’s Park Books</a>); </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be 100% unapologetic for who I am whether that be camp, feminine or otherwise; to listen to my head and follow my heart and own all of who I am so this year can be one of happiness and adventure; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To try at least one new thing each month, whether that be a Rocky Road Hot Chocolate or climbing mountains; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To diversify my blog and incorporate more personal experiences and cooking disasters (and triumphs) as well as the most beautiful books and round-ups each month;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Include alt tags, where possible, to improve accessibility to my blog.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here’s to 2017. Here's to us. Here's to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLADZrrsH5a59tqk1AKrOjsADreZeibxWKW3SOnGmiW4utSU2OqNFJnwf13L_MtsHuacnXxTTYkkIM5ytwpMHqsopNkiBIeQBKWjHw7tdfcRTqj3mRvVUlaNQ3UnMe-GqAE1OGOZGczQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Orleans." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLADZrrsH5a59tqk1AKrOjsADreZeibxWKW3SOnGmiW4utSU2OqNFJnwf13L_MtsHuacnXxTTYkkIM5ytwpMHqsopNkiBIeQBKWjHw7tdfcRTqj3mRvVUlaNQ3UnMe-GqAE1OGOZGczQ/s320/3.jpg" title="New Orleans" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventures in N'awlins<br />
(and what looks like the Goblet of Fire).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY7DjfdiDIUSyGFqLK9cEqXTUXIkCPaVXW7YhGYglzCKClJWjP8WfEpCEkBWHsxvIYwCK73UfT7O6CNkQ2C3XZxkHwdG3f7o2tJB8M52byFT9p6cT9Fsc5Ptz9_OcbB78IAO54knBwTM/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunset at San Diego sunset." border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDY7DjfdiDIUSyGFqLK9cEqXTUXIkCPaVXW7YhGYglzCKClJWjP8WfEpCEkBWHsxvIYwCK73UfT7O6CNkQ2C3XZxkHwdG3f7o2tJB8M52byFT9p6cT9Fsc5Ptz9_OcbB78IAO54knBwTM/s320/48.jpg" title="Sunset at San Diego sunset." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Californian sunsets in vertigo-inducing cable cars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AI3QuR4hTT4ZYeMVZJ0Eo-TneBJuQaxDVfYPbrxh1gi6BNTgLf6JrLw3yUwyIrNNO_xRtcg5d3_SFqZ6G7enASybarlWpdOYSesN0sjxmdZhKiyVBiyNwvg4h4j8yeDCS2Wo5skZMC4/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Seymour Park, Vancouver." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AI3QuR4hTT4ZYeMVZJ0Eo-TneBJuQaxDVfYPbrxh1gi6BNTgLf6JrLw3yUwyIrNNO_xRtcg5d3_SFqZ6G7enASybarlWpdOYSesN0sjxmdZhKiyVBiyNwvg4h4j8yeDCS2Wo5skZMC4/s320/42.jpg" title="Seymour Park, Vancouver" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new home this summer<br />
(not the rock - I'm not Ariel). Vancouver!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeSWXEZzXvgnuMJgY5NWGecbDPjppWqmku5BOPA4JpM2db1yGTjlHaLDWKEfCV_aZt4v9MGE32jbvqBHdsnWUBaqIjuwysxFGwPJjKTZuLV4z4zOUTj_PIZuaf4mEzfuSj7PQ5djrDrw/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Year's Eve celebrations in Club Revenge, Brighton." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPeSWXEZzXvgnuMJgY5NWGecbDPjppWqmku5BOPA4JpM2db1yGTjlHaLDWKEfCV_aZt4v9MGE32jbvqBHdsnWUBaqIjuwysxFGwPJjKTZuLV4z4zOUTj_PIZuaf4mEzfuSj7PQ5djrDrw/s320/4.jpg" title="New Year's Eve celebrations in Club Revenge, Brighton" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
NYE celebrations with this beauty</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
(not the strange, photo-bombing guy).</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp8fnu0OHlMUcDG0SVkxcx2r0De3LMgt9GeHbu6FpXbQ5Mhpp_9Pzj73ZfMVkt14NUMXjrRCU89wye4nZoLfTV0vMe_AAmD21sUDNINY5ixNh08Aoz3najbplQnT-BskoBwHo1RaP9Sc/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My twin cousins." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp8fnu0OHlMUcDG0SVkxcx2r0De3LMgt9GeHbu6FpXbQ5Mhpp_9Pzj73ZfMVkt14NUMXjrRCU89wye4nZoLfTV0vMe_AAmD21sUDNINY5ixNh08Aoz3najbplQnT-BskoBwHo1RaP9Sc/s320/16.jpg" title="My twin cousins" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My beautiful cousins who brighten up my darkest of days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3G_7v2xr6pfua8JF70QJ1GOJFjRcF-X9N6ExDBY42wcoBm1E7eYzIUNSn7dzqvb_hP-6BhKyk7rqADLcGTx2uoWxmzE5Z2CYG7qmNvcq_tEpFEaF58yo2gtCRO00QXtTrAIZPHHVEP0/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Me and my friend, Kim." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3G_7v2xr6pfua8JF70QJ1GOJFjRcF-X9N6ExDBY42wcoBm1E7eYzIUNSn7dzqvb_hP-6BhKyk7rqADLcGTx2uoWxmzE5Z2CYG7qmNvcq_tEpFEaF58yo2gtCRO00QXtTrAIZPHHVEP0/s320/21.jpg" title="Me and my friend, Kim" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being silly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QXm_mGpnl2nxKcETpardN8LWcjia6Pzt_TrVef7ZP2IH6IyYZ3PsjUdUTlEKyinnIJLQgWUKEK691D9FoLvn03_OwMy4C9kR4_cJC76FyICFi4VfhIMRa9xT7NFJHeAl40YX0dSmFek/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drinking coffee in Singapore." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QXm_mGpnl2nxKcETpardN8LWcjia6Pzt_TrVef7ZP2IH6IyYZ3PsjUdUTlEKyinnIJLQgWUKEK691D9FoLvn03_OwMy4C9kR4_cJC76FyICFi4VfhIMRa9xT7NFJHeAl40YX0dSmFek/s320/26.jpg" title="Drinking coffee in Singapore" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novel coffee ideas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5lNuSUpHvyBdAJM8xtao7IkN41NcjFtUCFLeFyz09RSVdA7CRUWi7uaZPL9tJJbSzwnB0rGXeb7wxEZEpfF4rfnOk8yFusSkrn-cX5aAPpEa3npZ-41i5fNbW1fJHG-hlY10fkd59o/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Me and Louise Gornall (Under Rose Tainted Skies)." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHP5lNuSUpHvyBdAJM8xtao7IkN41NcjFtUCFLeFyz09RSVdA7CRUWi7uaZPL9tJJbSzwnB0rGXeb7wxEZEpfF4rfnOk8yFusSkrn-cX5aAPpEa3npZ-41i5fNbW1fJHG-hlY10fkd59o/s320/8.jpg" title="Me and Louise Gornall (Under Rose Tainted Skies)" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fantastic debut authors like the fab<br />
Louise Gornall (<i>Under Rose Tainted Skies</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqqdOnl9Ev6p9VN8g7zcWDWOMDO_1JAvGXB3hGJeC29MQJik7PpHIwzFsShRxXwyG_a_JZgBMtO6t9RH4Q_JzObXAu6vh5sP-lZ89H7IaNpma8gsjP1Hz6sgimhQstxE9T1p0OuMYWac/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Macaque monkeys at the Batu caves." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqqdOnl9Ev6p9VN8g7zcWDWOMDO_1JAvGXB3hGJeC29MQJik7PpHIwzFsShRxXwyG_a_JZgBMtO6t9RH4Q_JzObXAu6vh5sP-lZ89H7IaNpma8gsjP1Hz6sgimhQstxE9T1p0OuMYWac/s320/18.jpg" title="Macaque monkeys at the Batu caves" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad little monkeys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7eQECC2Ihq-DDyrv1rekT7njYgmWO5FKE4R1lEL5e3VKdLxhKD0uppRY1h_shDVi3rXMextowAlMIKswWMRixoKHEE7Svilk0_T3x12Idifb5CTreY-26nyzl1_Y-k7s4kfKzpWwkZE/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="At work." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7eQECC2Ihq-DDyrv1rekT7njYgmWO5FKE4R1lEL5e3VKdLxhKD0uppRY1h_shDVi3rXMextowAlMIKswWMRixoKHEE7Svilk0_T3x12Idifb5CTreY-26nyzl1_Y-k7s4kfKzpWwkZE/s320/28.jpg" title="At work" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being a werk-ing professional.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7enmnU9AaVO0dxLqs-QsweZUuk1rN7aP5ApYCHbLfubRAY5uacqrqG1hOyrkaI26HbFU9dvVMN2ePOP4HtgIUjh2M0xlW8pYbPBNd6A3d67VoWqcGA1OVFWCJzrkY88OQJ-02dPJpRE/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Non Pratt, me, Siobhan Curham and Juno Dawson." border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV7enmnU9AaVO0dxLqs-QsweZUuk1rN7aP5ApYCHbLfubRAY5uacqrqG1hOyrkaI26HbFU9dvVMN2ePOP4HtgIUjh2M0xlW8pYbPBNd6A3d67VoWqcGA1OVFWCJzrkY88OQJ-02dPJpRE/s320/20.jpg" title="Non Pratt, me, Siobhan Curham and Juno Dawson" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People that <i>inspire</i>.<br />
Left to right, Non Pratt, me,Siobhan Curham and Juno Dawson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZLNMaV8asIp1bukq0kzc2nWEZErQEGJxyQsvNZeVCQhZrQ0gg7nhS4XoHREhWtsoB-7yOXXkh4MZ10iGx3cGnuTKMCqhNgY1Um_XMkaS3yH169QCfFMiM4qOXJE8BYpOk3tw0Es_zR4/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The River Liffey, Dublin, at night." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZLNMaV8asIp1bukq0kzc2nWEZErQEGJxyQsvNZeVCQhZrQ0gg7nhS4XoHREhWtsoB-7yOXXkh4MZ10iGx3cGnuTKMCqhNgY1Um_XMkaS3yH169QCfFMiM4qOXJE8BYpOk3tw0Es_zR4/s320/22.jpg" title="The River Liffey, Dublin, at night" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Equality.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzJ4Ck1mtDG6Ws43Ti25Q-zK6AXPvWc5G9p-7KJOmbgRkJ4NCmoAaPjb0RJV5lftU8OYHpQag6An3vZ-K7Y7Rj4AMw3vVO9PbDRVMioNdotltxpxELegStY0htaCRcC0fR0AvDhktk0I/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rainbow pedestrian crossing." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzJ4Ck1mtDG6Ws43Ti25Q-zK6AXPvWc5G9p-7KJOmbgRkJ4NCmoAaPjb0RJV5lftU8OYHpQag6An3vZ-K7Y7Rj4AMw3vVO9PbDRVMioNdotltxpxELegStY0htaCRcC0fR0AvDhktk0I/s320/24.jpg" title="Rainbow pedestrian crossing" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, more equality.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kmNrLnjZkkh-nraoUwL9TgyQY2ZRmiKd8Im7ba8eX2YG6_D_i9Vx-eIdCXBlPE9Ha4bmwnivCGZsmRCDA7POehgZfWrMgSgj2E7IXSOaB0DpSBPPgYIGrbQIyPnZIfjjw5tiEpu11lM/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Me before undergoing my operation." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6kmNrLnjZkkh-nraoUwL9TgyQY2ZRmiKd8Im7ba8eX2YG6_D_i9Vx-eIdCXBlPE9Ha4bmwnivCGZsmRCDA7POehgZfWrMgSgj2E7IXSOaB0DpSBPPgYIGrbQIyPnZIfjjw5tiEpu11lM/s320/34.jpg" title="Me before undergoing my operation" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New beginnings as I underwent my operation<br />
to amend the scars left by my major surgeries and<br />
owning my chronic illness. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0WZ1pQtvZ74yI8v_I16-m9F75ct1rIbHIQz_1SOtBMxdLLDg2GaVp489id8LqtTJdpYqdfkzSlvNbxH258VA-geAHcDpF-TJvOwYv6bEofyZqclWGhIXIecr7nrF_DXpsOKiZwKsjO4/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Business class dining on our flight to Austin, Texas." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0WZ1pQtvZ74yI8v_I16-m9F75ct1rIbHIQz_1SOtBMxdLLDg2GaVp489id8LqtTJdpYqdfkzSlvNbxH258VA-geAHcDpF-TJvOwYv6bEofyZqclWGhIXIecr7nrF_DXpsOKiZwKsjO4/s320/33.jpg" title="Business class dining on our flight to Austin, Texas" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying across the Atlantic with my hero<br />
(and her stashed bag of popcorn).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDSo5vnPNadrGegPfny7YmGve65gIm3UQ6VpAh5Z5gaQSvP629fFSxHp_2ZH_pJ_sGF8okVx-AXxHobULL7BMGcWAnCsR0LsLlY7tPabRe47pQQ-e9s84bH_HKFItpU1VpT6NRnMpTew/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="3-D coffee in Penang, Malaysia." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDSo5vnPNadrGegPfny7YmGve65gIm3UQ6VpAh5Z5gaQSvP629fFSxHp_2ZH_pJ_sGF8okVx-AXxHobULL7BMGcWAnCsR0LsLlY7tPabRe47pQQ-e9s84bH_HKFItpU1VpT6NRnMpTew/s320/23.jpg" title="3-D coffee in Penang, Malaysia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cutest coffee you will ever see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRP9kLUfMtZ2x4Jf9SpsvVOuhval-oJgcRNN9Fw-RYAlfvVMdi1CYuQ9sLXGaNiH_w33jFpWlZqz8Vy-ResuW0ThpdcE8T7AEY0CH6ID-ypqxGKhmIOFVFSKHKkpo3LIyMT7EtR4B69Y/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bellinis and afternoon tea." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRP9kLUfMtZ2x4Jf9SpsvVOuhval-oJgcRNN9Fw-RYAlfvVMdi1CYuQ9sLXGaNiH_w33jFpWlZqz8Vy-ResuW0ThpdcE8T7AEY0CH6ID-ypqxGKhmIOFVFSKHKkpo3LIyMT7EtR4B69Y/s320/47.jpg" title="Bellinis and afternoon tea" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bellinis and afternoon tea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0kyS0cQn6mukqgGwvNgGIXANitpbpYu1HQpmrqJNGoMeR2SP7XHzreVrV8RRp_s0H_WM5HDN6YNyeSanxLSfOlWtF3ojZAfpGpvSik5Gh_XCvziyAIRASGTsIVkX4MH4h8hjk3dmEUU/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gold temple statues in Penang." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0kyS0cQn6mukqgGwvNgGIXANitpbpYu1HQpmrqJNGoMeR2SP7XHzreVrV8RRp_s0H_WM5HDN6YNyeSanxLSfOlWtF3ojZAfpGpvSik5Gh_XCvziyAIRASGTsIVkX4MH4h8hjk3dmEUU/s320/46.jpg" title="Gold temple statues in Penang" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The three wise monks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXxPKcjhlF9ZJLgNRzmYesWvTc6O9M8dZ5kR-LYogOhUo1hdH54G6CLVU9WJR7RvbZdAzDj_jCWAHVtFxpp50sX1Y82dZQbozUfTrlCuSJc97gvapjDIfrEw0JoPeMNShZW2dxhgSQto/s1600/51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My friend Zach, asleep on the train to Brighton." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXxPKcjhlF9ZJLgNRzmYesWvTc6O9M8dZ5kR-LYogOhUo1hdH54G6CLVU9WJR7RvbZdAzDj_jCWAHVtFxpp50sX1Y82dZQbozUfTrlCuSJc97gvapjDIfrEw0JoPeMNShZW2dxhgSQto/s320/51.jpg" title="My friend Zach, asleep on the train to Brighton" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long days and longer nights. Bless.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxybto46bknhwc2eb-R7sfiT7EO24l0biWAIiYYp4GtLUg6aIdQNwPPyFVIXuNJP2VLbT5wl58W_-MPhz6XY4al6bWPcV5rVa_q8JNrqCG5jKb2wy_WHp5wZIUrA3fes7qZMkqSwf7As/s1600/52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Champagne in business class to Vancouver." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxybto46bknhwc2eb-R7sfiT7EO24l0biWAIiYYp4GtLUg6aIdQNwPPyFVIXuNJP2VLbT5wl58W_-MPhz6XY4al6bWPcV5rVa_q8JNrqCG5jKb2wy_WHp5wZIUrA3fes7qZMkqSwf7As/s320/52.jpg" title="Champagne in business class to Vancouver" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Business class (because you're worth it).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnizC3wbLBcw2Ncz9V79Lsjo1PdhfBjM1kHTvr2P4CM8mXP9wA804NuhiosmXXC5tl_9wPmdPTApzZdDG1c8pqnBHmALVN61n2pELtbHVbY7vCLF79USOT-7acTEYqbKRTr5B7aLggNSM/s1600/53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Our flight from Dublin to London in business class." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnizC3wbLBcw2Ncz9V79Lsjo1PdhfBjM1kHTvr2P4CM8mXP9wA804NuhiosmXXC5tl_9wPmdPTApzZdDG1c8pqnBHmALVN61n2pELtbHVbY7vCLF79USOT-7acTEYqbKRTr5B7aLggNSM/s320/53.jpg" title="Our flight from Dublin to London in business class" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When a hero comes along...<br />
treat her to British Airways business class<br />
all the way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g3Dpq8KlQwVGZKIFVmCqh6GC8DPQRRX1MgZ0CevKsizFwCQ9C_g3lyG8AsWMjJ2iPLwKSWfrfoQvknompK9m4sAop-pENsJviHkNgBxdEm7nghyB25qdNhaU7-k1K7BQI1mJMsEWRcQ/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Flight to Boston with my sister." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5g3Dpq8KlQwVGZKIFVmCqh6GC8DPQRRX1MgZ0CevKsizFwCQ9C_g3lyG8AsWMjJ2iPLwKSWfrfoQvknompK9m4sAop-pENsJviHkNgBxdEm7nghyB25qdNhaU7-k1K7BQI1mJMsEWRcQ/s320/54.jpg" title="Flight to Boston with my sister" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family and my best friend<br />
(by default).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtOLEqkazlelBzMv19QCiNYIjpK6r6iiWQSafdXiWqg35lxE7xzb2zmeM2BFGOaxONl8uidGCJtwK0fhCAwJ_hBKKJpr2M6YEjQE65wlqqocGmn5bsEXXrw44wgail6D8LPlqX2xa_QY/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtOLEqkazlelBzMv19QCiNYIjpK6r6iiWQSafdXiWqg35lxE7xzb2zmeM2BFGOaxONl8uidGCJtwK0fhCAwJ_hBKKJpr2M6YEjQE65wlqqocGmn5bsEXXrw44wgail6D8LPlqX2xa_QY/s320/55.jpg" title="MacRitchie Reservoir in Singapore" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More monkeys in Singapore.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwEJ2hE8g0T6eYfVclQLO6u__ut6TJGmGPndEssY7U6V86sWmxUINAjmbsmCM_OerQ-CvQZlG8KD_CDBMD3snEt1bhqHrtbFjfSTHL9O0HnZJL4Z1V20tYDmKdSIseVhASKmTJuLs46g/s1600/56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="March, 2016 - flight to Dublin for St. Patrick's Day." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwEJ2hE8g0T6eYfVclQLO6u__ut6TJGmGPndEssY7U6V86sWmxUINAjmbsmCM_OerQ-CvQZlG8KD_CDBMD3snEt1bhqHrtbFjfSTHL9O0HnZJL4Z1V20tYDmKdSIseVhASKmTJuLs46g/s320/56.jpg" title="March, 2016 - flight to Dublin for St. Patrick's Day" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unexpected surprises with unexpected friends<br />
en route to Dublin for St Patrick's Day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBPvoXlWVkXnDnsh77pZTQMnPpHOOvbrFGUV4IT0RTTQiPyMRXnzg6sY3OOtoM3JGyC2F_AsVi5caS6NahwFcCp-5r7PilDhP1k_FVGWAtcBJTLluYk7PwU6kDgtY2ukKyaulIDwY0W0/s1600/57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Authors Krystal Sutherland, Katie Webber and Michael Grant wtih PR manager, Alice." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBPvoXlWVkXnDnsh77pZTQMnPpHOOvbrFGUV4IT0RTTQiPyMRXnzg6sY3OOtoM3JGyC2F_AsVi5caS6NahwFcCp-5r7PilDhP1k_FVGWAtcBJTLluYk7PwU6kDgtY2ukKyaulIDwY0W0/s320/57.jpg" title="Authors Krystal Sutherland, Katie Webber and Michael Grant wtih PR manager, Alice" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookish dream teams <3 .="" td=""></3></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21Y7y-BR0eooL48W1r62TT5RPl2CVEKPNEoVttT6e58c-UX3iuNvk-QHZ792yLe22RjnWOh8bWJm5iSGJBHKp0lDo3lBDMOuExRRJ9fc2fBSQil6Hh5SCMKikh3QzLDXLD4XwYYcVyTs/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Book borrowing in Vancouver." border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21Y7y-BR0eooL48W1r62TT5RPl2CVEKPNEoVttT6e58c-UX3iuNvk-QHZ792yLe22RjnWOh8bWJm5iSGJBHKp0lDo3lBDMOuExRRJ9fc2fBSQil6Hh5SCMKikh3QzLDXLD4XwYYcVyTs/s320/40.jpg" title="Book borrowing in Vancouver" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canadian book communities.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-qRpYMeRWtssc1dj-XX_k_sU4gTcwK6TNwceNO3Mw-xJCIOYBg9VContkkOweugklCT-k5jVwnViUEXtAyKrDV9rFzgtw2FuaMCm9x8iuqy1BdIxSwHSrNHZfFSgm3Z8yR2xW778rxk/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The ruins in Rome." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-qRpYMeRWtssc1dj-XX_k_sU4gTcwK6TNwceNO3Mw-xJCIOYBg9VContkkOweugklCT-k5jVwnViUEXtAyKrDV9rFzgtw2FuaMCm9x8iuqy1BdIxSwHSrNHZfFSgm3Z8yR2xW778rxk/s320/39.jpg" title="The ruins in Rome" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being on top of the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlb3fDpVpkrJPjnPYnMAJ34cSUMBjijV5AMXeWvic7z1Xhyphenhyphenrho2FzDLhnTz9xn98tCLmT7tiNbT-OoNVlc87_TpoTJCY1Z-L-c3C2x2oZDmpmLBG8SsZFGsfnEXrbZdR8wuMH90tnV38/s1600/IMG_0757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Baby koala in Singapore Zoo." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlb3fDpVpkrJPjnPYnMAJ34cSUMBjijV5AMXeWvic7z1Xhyphenhyphenrho2FzDLhnTz9xn98tCLmT7tiNbT-OoNVlc87_TpoTJCY1Z-L-c3C2x2oZDmpmLBG8SsZFGsfnEXrbZdR8wuMH90tnV38/s320/IMG_0757.JPG" title="Baby koala in Singapore Zoo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby koalas (do Amazon deliver?).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEdVvvdLPMr1XymboIYe7nZ5DrSRKh8jp_PC6w6CxOV8C-H-vDAOG26hq0PNTsIM1oLelGdNcLLhD6fi7Hyhkh-5DoOh3KKePnIouCsB-3ngqEKThSH8DP2f03AEaKN4XqEqiNZxckXY/s1600/IMG_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Komodo dragon in Singapore Zoo" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEdVvvdLPMr1XymboIYe7nZ5DrSRKh8jp_PC6w6CxOV8C-H-vDAOG26hq0PNTsIM1oLelGdNcLLhD6fi7Hyhkh-5DoOh3KKePnIouCsB-3ngqEKThSH8DP2f03AEaKN4XqEqiNZxckXY/s320/IMG_0841.JPG" title="Komodo dragon in Singapore Zoo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waving your claws in the air like you just don't care.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_H4QVcjLvq_nPrtIVe_uP7L6K6WXPW4ib5rFh7cYeCXkVYVT1lxlWkD9z9y6Xr9lkQhVYNuCxePPmHlJmzTFGQcKXnapQx9huDKuJv2t3iEw6XTk8mflbCsqh5SB4Sed3Voesw07lZU/s1600/IMG_0870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_H4QVcjLvq_nPrtIVe_uP7L6K6WXPW4ib5rFh7cYeCXkVYVT1lxlWkD9z9y6Xr9lkQhVYNuCxePPmHlJmzTFGQcKXnapQx9huDKuJv2t3iEw6XTk8mflbCsqh5SB4Sed3Voesw07lZU/s320/IMG_0870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rollercoasting by the coast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbdZQgt7KMaRxDMT9yM2E8hDsv0buOLd1YIV3TTOdamL93ItM5bn55OsGwBVyQKtjYo2-f9SI1zB80pBZtkO2GU8qgw4fTT_yFSNPoO6u9DlYN5SmyCX1MircWgs4pWJX6zPzwQnnmq0/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Crowds during Austin Pride on the streets." border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbdZQgt7KMaRxDMT9yM2E8hDsv0buOLd1YIV3TTOdamL93ItM5bn55OsGwBVyQKtjYo2-f9SI1zB80pBZtkO2GU8qgw4fTT_yFSNPoO6u9DlYN5SmyCX1MircWgs4pWJX6zPzwQnnmq0/s320/6.jpg" title="Austin Pride" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin pride and my small-town Utopia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1_xhUw1xLLRDscypUNUmyZLmxJ8qhp8SFMr5POcZyOEjCJ_ZxSC-IJ15wfnPYSuKIgVGe1569opTOXViL9RS-6g7l3ouIrfrNcGj4lz9UhNA_YH6lQseZVgqy65MnzixYDTWfCCQrww/s1600/49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My Mam with Irish drag queen, Veda Lady." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1_xhUw1xLLRDscypUNUmyZLmxJ8qhp8SFMr5POcZyOEjCJ_ZxSC-IJ15wfnPYSuKIgVGe1569opTOXViL9RS-6g7l3ouIrfrNcGj4lz9UhNA_YH6lQseZVgqy65MnzixYDTWfCCQrww/s320/49.jpg" title="My Mam with Irish drag queen, Veda Lady" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mam, stepping outside her comfort zone<br />
and <i>loving</i> it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOUK1hqNqHLrxtV7h9deQNxqP_QrUwANdFk7Yo-jXXc0Wv2vxyCbXpNlzW3WuOoseuF98pBjlyhKlRD_8lBIO0eiMKlCay5lZnRNVkzZnQZPntMaMQGgFamv57eLyjKPld74xPK4eY4c/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting on the walls around the city of Penang." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOUK1hqNqHLrxtV7h9deQNxqP_QrUwANdFk7Yo-jXXc0Wv2vxyCbXpNlzW3WuOoseuF98pBjlyhKlRD_8lBIO0eiMKlCay5lZnRNVkzZnQZPntMaMQGgFamv57eLyjKPld74xPK4eY4c/s320/50.jpg" title="Painting on the walls around the city of Penang" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moments when you're too pregnant with food<br />
to give it your all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSgBCBkUxazds73SR7f8GcwQgK2oZj46M9hLcl6RsTs5U2cngEBt4Cm3BjvWb3pbQjVJwrSBU8KctD0lN0GD51EHhkRM5tabqFCnRgOS13i16NbbuVvAPfohyH-QPXcG8oAwYE18A3o8/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Outside the Batu Caves." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSgBCBkUxazds73SR7f8GcwQgK2oZj46M9hLcl6RsTs5U2cngEBt4Cm3BjvWb3pbQjVJwrSBU8KctD0lN0GD51EHhkRM5tabqFCnRgOS13i16NbbuVvAPfohyH-QPXcG8oAwYE18A3o8/s320/17.jpg" title="Batu Caves" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting things into perspective.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPE7rh4ccvYqzEZL9JWuCeUhJn-GI39w8VE8rO_PYGqropja-Bf-5M5-yS8_H1uyFsX_0-u8D0FPWIlZmGZzaIl26KZCA65NPYOfXg8XwH_089mijpPrIEMUTi2ioel8R_h5jz9SmI_s/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) magazine." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPE7rh4ccvYqzEZL9JWuCeUhJn-GI39w8VE8rO_PYGqropja-Bf-5M5-yS8_H1uyFsX_0-u8D0FPWIlZmGZzaIl26KZCA65NPYOfXg8XwH_089mijpPrIEMUTi2ioel8R_h5jz9SmI_s/s320/5.jpg" title="Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) magazine" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book prizes and book addiction<br />
(<i>Hey</i> - there are far worse addictions).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKDbSIGmgTcHwbyEx1_BoFkT8ia84eNFL9LDpipZoLdjWYEP0W_pxJjEz2wnVSJE6u5avQoPVgc8I4WtIyFO1f_7sOGTq6rn-PwBRKKDN8Wqo8H9zHQdjlWgg5Bv145RpFUx81qE6nkw/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bookish lights in my local cafe." border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdKDbSIGmgTcHwbyEx1_BoFkT8ia84eNFL9LDpipZoLdjWYEP0W_pxJjEz2wnVSJE6u5avQoPVgc8I4WtIyFO1f_7sOGTq6rn-PwBRKKDN8Wqo8H9zHQdjlWgg5Bv145RpFUx81qE6nkw/s320/13.jpg" title="Bookish lights in my local cafe" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bookish lights.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC90wJV6WKMIhKyvsqY61xdh-LlqlcrKmCmFZ_Tb4o8T84ZM-qmb3IUnH-rlechVQAw8tJCgm_TYAyVIcpuGv4f-dbUwSuOoS-Qr8VRBgsdtcrtcGoFqGyh6J8MME5lpowJ5go5B2ILI/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Painting at the Frist in Nashville, Tennessee." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC90wJV6WKMIhKyvsqY61xdh-LlqlcrKmCmFZ_Tb4o8T84ZM-qmb3IUnH-rlechVQAw8tJCgm_TYAyVIcpuGv4f-dbUwSuOoS-Qr8VRBgsdtcrtcGoFqGyh6J8MME5lpowJ5go5B2ILI/s320/9.jpg" title="Painting at the Frist in Nashville, Tennessee" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful art that inspired my book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DAFWm0MC_E1ppLxqcXPrGg7RDR8gIU0hriq-cGB9rqXFF2vHe2VEkaqrr7W352TvokRc-2HWrF1D4_lUhIt9q6l1k4Xm3M-gybpqTilVonc2d2B94LTPCnFgDbCUjxP_L7rleL5Lhu4/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Athena statue at the Parthenon replica." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DAFWm0MC_E1ppLxqcXPrGg7RDR8gIU0hriq-cGB9rqXFF2vHe2VEkaqrr7W352TvokRc-2HWrF1D4_lUhIt9q6l1k4Xm3M-gybpqTilVonc2d2B94LTPCnFgDbCUjxP_L7rleL5Lhu4/s320/10.jpg" title="Athena statue at the Parthenon replica" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The goddess of wisdom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj2_aE9SgkmUsV4HzfBBrW7f0kOECU21heRYR0w8gGDGyX3GMYZGt2u62JLumTrOpjk6UK3SLGC1Cav7vELTRs_VFQn68SWBgmzLg2gRrQlTpoNZbVP2Qs3H3W5v-4aYcHGINjch6S-s/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My friend, Xina at Tesco." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrj2_aE9SgkmUsV4HzfBBrW7f0kOECU21heRYR0w8gGDGyX3GMYZGt2u62JLumTrOpjk6UK3SLGC1Cav7vELTRs_VFQn68SWBgmzLg2gRrQlTpoNZbVP2Qs3H3W5v-4aYcHGINjch6S-s/s320/7.jpg" title="Xina at Tesco" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This weird and wonderful human being: K-POP FTW.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3asu3TWPwc6HxxE3HBc-Ie53vmutPM8vP1gYZwxni-7cJETLTh-zTc41mvgwIOEvG3XlEUc_676jWQN9LX7auub56M0k3yeb96lnWUpVib0hstPlbdbP5U_eOanwirYxNLPUFKWrLj4/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Me and Zach in Downtown Austin, Texas." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3asu3TWPwc6HxxE3HBc-Ie53vmutPM8vP1gYZwxni-7cJETLTh-zTc41mvgwIOEvG3XlEUc_676jWQN9LX7auub56M0k3yeb96lnWUpVib0hstPlbdbP5U_eOanwirYxNLPUFKWrLj4/s320/43.jpg" title="Austin, Texas" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moments that steal our hearts<br />
and captivate the senses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiLF9yZZDKkoN0ONqMoYuriwIQN7KgwnPpE0SHCKnbjFsPLwblv73tn43Z_0ZkYRg4JATAV8nWDAfTIL6cMdZU6keRnlHEVNCYSC1dv8zCWPi5iovb1k9IcxkUlsSvilFFThR-BzX0hY/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pathway at Harrow on the hill." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiLF9yZZDKkoN0ONqMoYuriwIQN7KgwnPpE0SHCKnbjFsPLwblv73tn43Z_0ZkYRg4JATAV8nWDAfTIL6cMdZU6keRnlHEVNCYSC1dv8zCWPi5iovb1k9IcxkUlsSvilFFThR-BzX0hY/s320/2.jpg" title="Harrow on the hill" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonders closer to home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9uE6J4Uko420mN5Bd3bPZhLWUgsGZrqPOuRRZAClaWK9QzIDULavnPckCqwQTH09L64K5cl2OsrhrSU5p-cdIAqaqueDH5zEdZpaJ7Ow6FCN-RQoNUx6oY1YdODcEK-FbN-fh7EoZiI/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Christmas jumper for my friend which I borrowed." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9uE6J4Uko420mN5Bd3bPZhLWUgsGZrqPOuRRZAClaWK9QzIDULavnPckCqwQTH09L64K5cl2OsrhrSU5p-cdIAqaqueDH5zEdZpaJ7Ow6FCN-RQoNUx6oY1YdODcEK-FbN-fh7EoZiI/s320/32.jpg" title="Christmas jumper for my friend which I borrowed" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That Christmas jumper I bought for Zach and stole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX28AIDoG6CAVYDcrp6CyyLYcaBQ-0dDfsFqF3VtgWHIzqPElKZjhtBrR3Ft_D2inZLTRbXqTgEU_etdv-_jXPd45-KGvYZzEXI1y3hoHZ3PxtAauuZlq2rvdTFeg09Xt-VHMkDsjGzw/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Navy Pier, Chicago." border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaX28AIDoG6CAVYDcrp6CyyLYcaBQ-0dDfsFqF3VtgWHIzqPElKZjhtBrR3Ft_D2inZLTRbXqTgEU_etdv-_jXPd45-KGvYZzEXI1y3hoHZ3PxtAauuZlq2rvdTFeg09Xt-VHMkDsjGzw/s320/11.jpg" title="Navy Pier, Chicago" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Navy Pier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-67j_J5LOu-K0-B1pBNV4iF-R3bXrplurhJTCc9VvZ4bQU83E4zhyphenhyphenyFLD_nXxW_aATvVZhpfOiZy2s-uvqwRxU1NMJ_a0pH0Stlnwor-gzUPTveqvr3n67SaHQ83HwpKoAevJvIeR5Q/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Water faucet." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-67j_J5LOu-K0-B1pBNV4iF-R3bXrplurhJTCc9VvZ4bQU83E4zhyphenhyphenyFLD_nXxW_aATvVZhpfOiZy2s-uvqwRxU1NMJ_a0pH0Stlnwor-gzUPTveqvr3n67SaHQ83HwpKoAevJvIeR5Q/s320/44.jpg" title="Water faucet" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drunken moments where it seemed like a good idea<br />
to take the water faucet that fell off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalsne5ynnxlxBZEip3qLe5uLKuXfLW2cT68cX4aaU_TnAlpx-aVUoqYLUqKR-kTNdxnvZ111l1G0UHlCB22gt5ypyeVAPvMJeotPs1d-3HOzniCB8qQxUdu7oJnEE0q9uZ-yISTnLXJM/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Alberquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalsne5ynnxlxBZEip3qLe5uLKuXfLW2cT68cX4aaU_TnAlpx-aVUoqYLUqKR-kTNdxnvZ111l1G0UHlCB22gt5ypyeVAPvMJeotPs1d-3HOzniCB8qQxUdu7oJnEE0q9uZ-yISTnLXJM/s320/41.jpg" title="Alberquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The places we have yet to see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1VIAqx6BRubf6pIzd6MyfeUZjjtjphR7yQHPy7qe5gAb0iCgETJSJbdXXyF94-wYmFW97-cRVfEBASFwO62mTCxPX2SQapArVFLdr6sylHnteTfpDedMdIsrPCNtrpRG0viCf2kPXmw/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sunset in Langkawi, Malaysia." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1VIAqx6BRubf6pIzd6MyfeUZjjtjphR7yQHPy7qe5gAb0iCgETJSJbdXXyF94-wYmFW97-cRVfEBASFwO62mTCxPX2SQapArVFLdr6sylHnteTfpDedMdIsrPCNtrpRG0viCf2kPXmw/s320/29.jpg" title="Sunset in Langkawi, Malaysia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunsets in para-para-paradise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitposWXfsKIpxtdfT9P0_wD-9BxmNX8FIa8B-ywdBRpxKaQsKsMJzJTQq-TYPwXZxax6i_4SZNm6_MDvjzi68VXeXpT4Bu8UR7MX6nVinrKamGZ9VtQISWTsldT8xsErphGeluShLpOj8/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Playing in the pool with my twin cousins." border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitposWXfsKIpxtdfT9P0_wD-9BxmNX8FIa8B-ywdBRpxKaQsKsMJzJTQq-TYPwXZxax6i_4SZNm6_MDvjzi68VXeXpT4Bu8UR7MX6nVinrKamGZ9VtQISWTsldT8xsErphGeluShLpOj8/s320/36.jpg" title="Playing in the pool with my twin cousins" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun in the Sun with Twin 1 and Twin 2.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U8n8zDOz8lo5CBhqjteEwE5Tfq3Cbv4cSLYZ5xcUO7tqHwtxMBwN4e5WZzU116ZQlrPmPbGWP7LHwy3J7QBbshewqmQEg345gRxlPOW9KhcwK3aEamqBJpPOnUF6m_iLThLfxlk4l4w/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Zombie football player on the tube." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8U8n8zDOz8lo5CBhqjteEwE5Tfq3Cbv4cSLYZ5xcUO7tqHwtxMBwN4e5WZzU116ZQlrPmPbGWP7LHwy3J7QBbshewqmQEg345gRxlPOW9KhcwK3aEamqBJpPOnUF6m_iLThLfxlk4l4w/s320/30.jpg" title="Zombie football player" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Missing the mark on the "sexy American football player" look<br />
and becoming a zombie instead for Halloqween.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8BYyHi6PwD-yTLYltKkG4rthNcyy4RMOBCVEJ_BPdw1UkUmwBp6T5A_fiOahxlfGCMIReh6BLGo_nKLsjQcECAryJWQe9JZ5Z_NoVIh-KqgvWgoW-zhxFRVMPf5z-0e5rTXqEXWtVew/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="My best friend's wedding." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8BYyHi6PwD-yTLYltKkG4rthNcyy4RMOBCVEJ_BPdw1UkUmwBp6T5A_fiOahxlfGCMIReh6BLGo_nKLsjQcECAryJWQe9JZ5Z_NoVIh-KqgvWgoW-zhxFRVMPf5z-0e5rTXqEXWtVew/s320/38.jpg" title="My best friend's wedding" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My BFF's wedding (and I blend<br />
into the background. Literally).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgFV7Gc_R7SB3Twe7AeBGP9bX-bYWYlQ72eVveALxaufcNURqkWf5vIh4GbTVzf1kBqFgit19GE8bfbHZf51AWHXqrJPIeJzeIRzbuB07ksipYZtI5m1ibP1aIlpi_7_HuXarQ6YXI_c/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Portland, Oregon." border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgFV7Gc_R7SB3Twe7AeBGP9bX-bYWYlQ72eVveALxaufcNURqkWf5vIh4GbTVzf1kBqFgit19GE8bfbHZf51AWHXqrJPIeJzeIRzbuB07ksipYZtI5m1ibP1aIlpi_7_HuXarQ6YXI_c/s320/37.jpg" title="Portland, Oregon" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finding beauty in the everyday ordinary.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsYgkMiKS5d1TALCsEkTqyF3UF2aXsOzdawMdRxkmTXwuRfCQu5cYowEq8ynm7ol5r9W14BNdskGzMKq6uteelyw91d3J2G3p3jrK6OMjoTQTfYNetWL7vEbPAJrofWMZkgKDOndmWGk/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sink the Pink event with drag queens, cabaret and girl band, Bewitched." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsYgkMiKS5d1TALCsEkTqyF3UF2aXsOzdawMdRxkmTXwuRfCQu5cYowEq8ynm7ol5r9W14BNdskGzMKq6uteelyw91d3J2G3p3jrK6OMjoTQTfYNetWL7vEbPAJrofWMZkgKDOndmWGk/s320/19.jpg" title="Sink the Pink event with drag queens, cabaret and girl band, Bewitched" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sink the Pink madness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvVnRwjVNWuqdl1LDR2UCqs2ns2YZlO6Va_n5kGictPfEs9VkvBVdHMRLXChjCjSNlSRAizltVTzQ76MVzsoUzwRVQ3kPR9nXBq1vTrkjBASlsdo2Bp4JtBrUuS_Or3t06n68bFDkHVw/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drinking Singapore Slings at the place of creation: Raffles Hotel, Singapore." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvVnRwjVNWuqdl1LDR2UCqs2ns2YZlO6Va_n5kGictPfEs9VkvBVdHMRLXChjCjSNlSRAizltVTzQ76MVzsoUzwRVQ3kPR9nXBq1vTrkjBASlsdo2Bp4JtBrUuS_Or3t06n68bFDkHVw/s320/31.jpg" title="Drinking Singapore Slings at the place of creation: Raffles Hotel, Singapore" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drinking the original Singapore Sling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sajCxX5_CErgF1kuQ1pV6R9hkv8XrFsnwWxtTl_sg4NYOvn9-iLE5fEukatFfUVj7bY5rweFryQq3JX5-ZO4DWDC08kVL3S_UXjQ8h0R65iCgc6AJISHZh7zV-oynubUmle7YORezLw/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hotel room view in Malaysia." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sajCxX5_CErgF1kuQ1pV6R9hkv8XrFsnwWxtTl_sg4NYOvn9-iLE5fEukatFfUVj7bY5rweFryQq3JX5-ZO4DWDC08kVL3S_UXjQ8h0R65iCgc6AJISHZh7zV-oynubUmle7YORezLw/s320/35.jpg" title="Hotel room view in Malaysia" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take-my-breath-away hotel room views.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNnI4hkipVZDGKsy0LMsI6Qezlli7lBD5xLUXDuE5QbzUQcpZ0DdLNvNsw99_myoqLXZt21vHShSiVwgHsu9mjZsL3Bs8Dxj8XfRejY6DkimJn6K192tSvAX8ZQPCmWMucAuDAk_EXrw/s1600/45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Starfruit juice in Malaysia." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNnI4hkipVZDGKsy0LMsI6Qezlli7lBD5xLUXDuE5QbzUQcpZ0DdLNvNsw99_myoqLXZt21vHShSiVwgHsu9mjZsL3Bs8Dxj8XfRejY6DkimJn6K192tSvAX8ZQPCmWMucAuDAk_EXrw/s320/45.jpg" title="Starfruit juice in Malaysia" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starfruit juice for the star-in-training.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxHkicuNbYoMevMnF9htSkkC5ifSs6RvEjJu4Nyz_7oUTEPNHFSdsRIbOavHt81OnA86mFjnngW6iwPo8WoBLeY1gxds7jx9vrSGg9AyrblbAv99ITQxQRrM66AjGJCWJFWKy1nj4j6Q/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meerkat at San Diego Zoo." border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxHkicuNbYoMevMnF9htSkkC5ifSs6RvEjJu4Nyz_7oUTEPNHFSdsRIbOavHt81OnA86mFjnngW6iwPo8WoBLeY1gxds7jx9vrSGg9AyrblbAv99ITQxQRrM66AjGJCWJFWKy1nj4j6Q/s320/IMG_0734.JPG" title="Meerkat at San Diego Zoo" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This cute little critter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fPl9NhmGtRB4qJpKlhoNVzLSswxQk2qF3DoTVP88n3lIzTinOHhdnVefN3AVIaYCAKS8BOui2Fw9wCjKcMWNb-xH1bixpswNWm92tMrHOTxmmv-Us72maFePvWySYn-LrHbnTt8dlNM/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' prop." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fPl9NhmGtRB4qJpKlhoNVzLSswxQk2qF3DoTVP88n3lIzTinOHhdnVefN3AVIaYCAKS8BOui2Fw9wCjKcMWNb-xH1bixpswNWm92tMrHOTxmmv-Us72maFePvWySYn-LrHbnTt8dlNM/s320/IMG_0917.JPG" title="'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' prop" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhfVxfSQ7FHKUy6eAsMgiKamQhMJHBsyi1cr7N2_pIF4Tirjq76WAto_6rJnZdsjba_ZiU02T5HUJruJ7rfmdPyqo41pBqQIGVTshop5-bNaOmV63tvm-TLJXfWc4dG8D2qvaqbCdveQ/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pride make-up for Boston Pride." border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghhfVxfSQ7FHKUy6eAsMgiKamQhMJHBsyi1cr7N2_pIF4Tirjq76WAto_6rJnZdsjba_ZiU02T5HUJruJ7rfmdPyqo41pBqQIGVTshop5-bNaOmV63tvm-TLJXfWc4dG8D2qvaqbCdveQ/s320/27.jpg" title="Pride make-up for Boston Pride" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being exactly who you <i>want</i> to be<br />
and <i>not</i> who people <i>expect </i>you to be.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-52283810751231469192016-11-25T18:15:00.000+00:002016-11-25T18:15:34.545+00:00'One-Man Show' by Will Kostakis<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The big piece of advice I give aspiring writers, young and old, is to write and write often. Write what comes naturally, write what takes effort, write what scares you and write what makes your heart full.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And never, ever delete a word.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It isn’t just about honing your craft, this is an exercise in preserving who you are and where you’ve come from.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my early teens, I was consumed by one goal: to become an author. I wrote manuscript after manuscript. As a twenty-seven year old, I envy my former self’s ability to balance school with writing over 100,000 words in a year. As school became too much of a burden, I wrote less. And I wrote poetry. I freed myself of the burden of larger projects, dipping my toes into creative writing with a handful of free-verse lines when I could. My grip on language improved, and after years, I built a collection of poems that captured my teen years.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently revisited them in order. It was like tracing a line through my past. I watched myself grow and relived my life in all its shades. After the read-through, one stayed with me:</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One-Man Show</span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I roll my world into a ball –</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
my pride, my joys, my tasks and tortures –</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with carefully chosen words that vaguely imply.</div>
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I can keep my secrets close for now, but</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
as the amphitheatre fills, the audience</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
will expect more. Details.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And then my skeletons will dance,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as I, the poet, whore extracts from my diary</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for applause and quarters.</div>
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But you’ll remain unknown, unwritten,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">
behind the curtains I will never draw,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
until attendance slows, my one-man show</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
is cancelled, and all I have</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to show for it are coins, pages, and</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you, my best kept secret.</div>
</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was seventeen. It was the first time I had risked writing about being attracted to guys. Reading it back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come. A younger me predicted a closeted, secretive life. Now, not only have I drawn on my gay teen experiences for my novel <i>The Sidekicks</i>, but I am out professionally. My pride is mixed with anger though. Ten years is not a particularly long time, but a seventeen-year-old me had been taught to hide himself, to be ashamed of his feelings, and to prepare for a life in the shadows.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if ever I need a reason to represent diverse sexualities in my work, it’s that poem. No teen should ever feel as I did. We need to write, share and celebrate diverse experiences, so that our readers can envisage a future free from shame and secrets. Stories can change their world, and it’s our duty to write them.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiD0dz85sHyzfcipOybK0FvRFW5oc3xcIn5H8km_lTvB1tLUswcLk2mV6e6nVEuh7R8RKnVxKiMmeudMrUsR-pRb9oBE3ZcVtQsfuz1N23ZXh3Z9i5k9UGQjd5x8hzhBaemEq-WCbWqM/s1600/will.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiD0dz85sHyzfcipOybK0FvRFW5oc3xcIn5H8km_lTvB1tLUswcLk2mV6e6nVEuh7R8RKnVxKiMmeudMrUsR-pRb9oBE3ZcVtQsfuz1N23ZXh3Z9i5k9UGQjd5x8hzhBaemEq-WCbWqM/s320/will.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>About Will:</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #212121; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Personally, Will Kostakis is ready to catch a ball two seconds after it’s hit him in the face. Professionally, he’s thankful he’s chosen a career that requires little (if any) coordination. After dabbling in celebrity journalism and reality TV, he now writes for young adults.<br /><br />His first novel, <i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Loathing-Lol-Will-Kostakis/9780330424165?ref=grid-view" target="_blank">Loathing Lola</a></i>, was released when he was just nineteen, and his second, <i><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/The-First-Third-Will-Kostakis/9780143568179?ref=pd_detail_1_sims_b_p2p_1" target="_blank">The First Third</a></i>, won the 2014 Gold Inky Award. It was also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year and Australian Prime Minister’s Literary awards.<br /><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/The-Sidekicks-Will-Kostakis/9780143309031?ref=pd_detail_1_sims_b_v2p_1" target="_blank">The Sidekicks</a> is his third novel for young adults.<br /><br />As a high school student, Will won Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year for a collection of short stories.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For more information about Will and his books, please <a href="http://willkostakis.com/" target="_blank">visit his website</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-11903176926801015662016-11-21T13:40:00.003+00:002016-11-24T23:07:10.119+00:00The #YAtakeover Down Under<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Kg7GCkH_Eq4ScHoOce0peSN2T_oIpvmtHjGHEIALAhtcwKL7IzAwEmt2KMTUX2teqBxJcjYLYa615rf3iHJnjCWrogYiDkE1eQS5ay01mfb_58It3NMh44O3aksWQ8YlV5kL-YqBdlw/s1600/Aus+%2523YAtakeover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Kg7GCkH_Eq4ScHoOce0peSN2T_oIpvmtHjGHEIALAhtcwKL7IzAwEmt2KMTUX2teqBxJcjYLYa615rf3iHJnjCWrogYiDkE1eQS5ay01mfb_58It3NMh44O3aksWQ8YlV5kL-YqBdlw/s320/Aus+%2523YAtakeover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The #YAtakeover takes a turn Down Under this <b><u>Saturday 26th November</u></b>. The event will launch with a publisher panel including Old Barn Books (UK) and Allen & Unwin Australia, who will explore the appeal of Oz YA. We're also hosting exclusive video interviews, live Twitter author panels and our YA quiz as well as blog posts from some incredible authors leading up to the event and lots of giveaways on the day. Mark the date and don't miss it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u>Schedule:</u></b><br />
<b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></b>
<a href="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801906628966621187/801906616224321536/ODU66cq4.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801906628966621187/801906616224321536/ODU66cq4.jpg:large" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">9.00-9.45am GMT (8.00-8.45pm AEDT) Old Barn Books and Allen & Unwin discuss the appeal and themes of Oz YA with host <b><a href="https://twitter.com/mybookcorner" target="_blank">Emma</a> </b>(<a href="http://www.mybookcorner.com.au/" target="_blank">blogger at My Book Corner</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">10.00-10.45am GMT (9.00-9.45pm AEDT) Twitter panel looking at Identity with </span><a href="http://jaclynmoriarty.com/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jaclyn Moriarty</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> (author of the </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Ashbury/Brookfield</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> series and the </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Colours of Madeline</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> trilogy) and </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><u><a href="http://willkostakis.com/" target="_blank">Will Kostakis</a></u></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> (author of </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">The Sidekicks</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">) with host </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/ChelleyToy" target="_blank">Michelle Toy</a></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="http://www.talesofyesterday.co.uk/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;" target="_blank">blogger at Tales of Yesterday</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">)</span><br />
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<a href="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801906802866712579/801906797045018626/KhyBwXNu.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801906802866712579/801906797045018626/KhyBwXNu.jpg:large" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">11.00-11.45am GMT (10.00-10.45pm AEDT) Twitter chat on Oz YA themes and books</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">12.00pm GMT (11.00pm AEDT) Exclusive video interview with <b><u><a href="http://glendamillard.com/" target="_blank">Glenda Millard</a></u></b> (author of <i>The Stars at Oktober Bend</i>) with 5 book giveaways (courtesy of Old Barn Books)</span><br />
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<a href="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801917698162774019/801917688331333632/a0k1ysui.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ton.twitter.com/1.1/ton/data/dm/801917698162774019/801917688331333632/a0k1ysui.jpg:large" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">12.15-1.30pm GMT (11.15pm-12.30am AEDT) Big Fat YA Quiz</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1.30pm GMT (12.30am AEDT) Exclusive video interview with <b><u><a href="http://krystalsutherland.com/" target="_blank">Krystal Sutherland</a></u></b> (author of <i>Our Chemical Hearts</i>) with 5 book giveaways (courtesy of Hot Key Books)</span>
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<i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">GMT: Greenwich Mean Time</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>AEDT: Australian Eastern Daylight Time</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-85506257225818150362016-10-22T09:34:00.000+01:002016-10-22T09:34:38.583+01:00Girl Power: fairy tales and feminism<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><b>Guest post by Katharine Corr</b></u></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245945046123738700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245945046123738700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4245945046123738700" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To begin with: I’m not an expert
on myths or fantasy literature. I studied history at university, not English.
But – like most people, I suspect – I was brought up on fairy tales. Ladybird
‘Well Loved Tales’ are some of the first books I remember possessing: </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Cinderella</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sleeping Beauty</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Snow White
& Rose Red</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. I fell in love with those illustrations long before I could
read the words.</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4z-A45IrfBBcjiPfeh3EhDqX1cPqDflv2h6XWCOFMu0ouv9sowJlyRgWV8dFxtBs8f8CaDjxCxIMJtGw6y9J58M7Q0c2G3vts2tIkBLx9V5htLjgfv_PQkkFUE8-KrZxV36cpP2SBgo/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4z-A45IrfBBcjiPfeh3EhDqX1cPqDflv2h6XWCOFMu0ouv9sowJlyRgWV8dFxtBs8f8CaDjxCxIMJtGw6y9J58M7Q0c2G3vts2tIkBLx9V5htLjgfv_PQkkFUE8-KrZxV36cpP2SBgo/s200/1.jpg" width="135" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the things I liked about
fairy tales as a child was how many of them were about girls. Sure, some of
them concerned boys (<i>Jack and The
Beanstalk</i>), animals (<i>The Little Red
Hen</i>) or baked goods (<i>The Gingerbread
Man</i>). But on the whole I was reading about female protagonists. It didn’t
really bother me that Cinderella’s main skills seemed to be subservience and
looking pretty; it was her story and her name on the front of the book, not
Prince Charming’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then there were all the
subsidiary characters. The men in the stories tended to be attractive
place-holders (Prince Charming, again) or curiously weedy and pathetic (pretty
much any King or father you’d care to mention). But the women… I read about
witches (good and bad), fairies, stepmothers and Queens. Women with real power,
even if they were misusing it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkWsSsuw4oe_eBJgMFX5W9xcnm_5fvAOjk3YnQ_UWxXDXsZLWGIdPqjYc9C5R88-KSPrsjoLLwRlENkQkohNAiOlcNqGsF5dxVSMfmZb1UrdkGVXICrO_0wclpuVfdeGJmeEEgOzcwSQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEkWsSsuw4oe_eBJgMFX5W9xcnm_5fvAOjk3YnQ_UWxXDXsZLWGIdPqjYc9C5R88-KSPrsjoLLwRlENkQkohNAiOlcNqGsF5dxVSMfmZb1UrdkGVXICrO_0wclpuVfdeGJmeEEgOzcwSQ/s200/3.jpg" width="134" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As I got older, I realised that
these women were often more interesting than the pure-as-the-driven-snow
protagonists (though intrepid Belle, from <i>Beauty and the Beast</i>, is an
exception to this). Who wouldn’t sympathise a tiny bit with side-lined
Maleficent’s desire for revenge? Who wouldn’t at least understand the Evil
Queen’s wish to be ‘the fairest of them all’? And there are fairy tales which
give the Fairy Godmother a more robust and interesting attitude to granting
wishes. A lot of tales, due to the ‘damsel-in-distress’ behaviour of the
heroine, have the reputation of being anti-feminist. But I can imagine the
creators of these stories (of which more below) slipping these strong
supporting women into their tales, giving them powers and freedoms which women
have been denied for so much of history. Could this not be an early form of
feminism?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not all fairy tales fit this
mould, obviously. For every Clever Gretel, the Grimm’s hungry cook who tricks
her master, there is a Little Mermaid: a story that, like The Wild Swans
(another Hans Christian Andersen tale) seems to suggest that the ideal woman is
a silent one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyUWZUoJleJnRnDgkvGx7w__Dduk9Yc1P3C20Kz0MUFeTglYa3JyZ75EZvcGfzlIS8Dz6kzUGAwdqY-vICwfWqRYvnIEcdjR8_qXqfvoxjah-dh-4RLtwiTEYJhF7AvddYLS595y2xME/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyUWZUoJleJnRnDgkvGx7w__Dduk9Yc1P3C20Kz0MUFeTglYa3JyZ75EZvcGfzlIS8Dz6kzUGAwdqY-vICwfWqRYvnIEcdjR8_qXqfvoxjah-dh-4RLtwiTEYJhF7AvddYLS595y2xME/s200/2.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe I’m being a bit harsh on
Andersen. But, I do wonder whether the best fairy tales – the ones with the
powerful female villains that leap off the page at you – are the oldest ones.
They may have been collected and recorded by men, but I’d be willing to bet
that they were originally made up by women. I like to imagine a medieval
mother, sitting in the shadows by the fire, laying aside her distaff and
turning with a sigh to the insistent children sitting at her feet: ‘Very well,
then. Once upon a time…’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Fairy tales have staying power:
they endure. That’s why so many writers have chosen them as a starting point,
reinterpreting characters and themes for their own times. And now my sister and
I have done the same. Our Sleeping Beauty is an Anglo-Saxon prince, and his
potential rescuer is an untrained, uncertain teenage witch. The story is
inspired by the original tale, rather than being an exact retelling. But we
still have curses, true love, and more than one powerful woman. We hope our
fairy-tale-telling foremothers are looking on from somewhere with approval.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Qw3uVs0mi1yyjkLOTPgv21bfhLEX1va-dSLpMIt0XwG8SFwli-goVQlAqtIryGTlW4avdzbTCZF6yVISqY20Mu1TeoiOFL8wcmcSbV65pYms4cIFq12RI4h-ZWX2YOpiBCnfNmIhRpM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Qw3uVs0mi1yyjkLOTPgv21bfhLEX1va-dSLpMIt0XwG8SFwli-goVQlAqtIryGTlW4avdzbTCZF6yVISqY20Mu1TeoiOFL8wcmcSbV65pYms4cIFq12RI4h-ZWX2YOpiBCnfNmIhRpM/s200/4.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Katharine and Elizabeth Corr are sisters.
They both read history at university, worked in London, took a break
from work to raise their families and now live in Surrey. The pair decided they wanted to write novels
and it seemed obvious that they should do this together. In addition to writing, Katharine loves
playing the harp and learning dead languages.
When Elizabeth is not writing she enjoys sketching, dancing round the
kitchen and hatching plans for free time away from children and cats. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-86597498709435019982016-09-25T18:52:00.000+01:002016-09-25T18:52:08.666+01:00Subscribe to our seasonal newsletter<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We're launching our seasonal newsletter on the 28th October. If you subscribe, we will send you our newsletter every three months (on the last Friday of the month) about our upcoming competitions, the best YA reads between newsletters, upcoming books to watch, our #SundayYA book club with <a href="https://twitter.com/_sectumsemprah" target="_blank">Rachel</a>, upcoming #YAtakeover events and more.</span><div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-34941232116631975912016-08-26T11:12:00.002+01:002016-08-26T11:12:12.243+01:00Win your height in books!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The lovely book people at Hashtag Reads (home to Cassandra Clare, Gayle Forman, Paige Toon, Morgan Matson and Darren Shan and more!) are giving you the chance to win your height in books.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let me clarify:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WIN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">YOUR.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">HEIGHT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">IN.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">BOOKS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-80140958329405294202016-08-20T09:53:00.004+01:002016-08-20T13:20:54.918+01:00Gothic Roots by Danny Weston<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It never
fails to make me smile. <span class="scx18308969"> </span><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{152}" paraid="1180879499" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">'Why?’ ask</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> the concerned parent</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">s</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">, ‘do</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> our children have such </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">dark imagination</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">s? What attracts them</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> to such sinister
fiction? Is it </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">healthy</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">to be so preoccupied?’</span></span></i></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span class="scx18308969"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">My
retor</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">t
is invariably the same. I invit</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">e the parent to think about the first stories
they ever gave to</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> their children</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">, long before </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">t</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">he</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">y were</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> able to read for </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">themselves; t</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">he ones they read to </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">them</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> at bedtime. Little Red
Riding Hood: Hansel and Gretel: Snow White. A dark twist of the gothic lies at
the heart of all these stories – they are tales of murder and cannibalism and
savagery and yet we deem them perfectly suitable for the youngest audiences. </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">The </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">dark </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">seeds are planted early.</span></span></span><span class="eop"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I3Hgx-E4ULuHIvmvS4wb4K5nsw7W9HjEiwFnL5VUndzfBcwZaHvK10K7ix7lesjCSV8s88wrZ5h7awYwxnmAqYntwwEAmYxCe6s4vQQry-0wbgU-jeKtpIMmXBvNlDdjBba7sn4djDs/s1600/9781783443215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I3Hgx-E4ULuHIvmvS4wb4K5nsw7W9HjEiwFnL5VUndzfBcwZaHvK10K7ix7lesjCSV8s88wrZ5h7awYwxnmAqYntwwEAmYxCe6s4vQQry-0wbgU-jeKtpIMmXBvNlDdjBba7sn4djDs/s200/9781783443215.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">As
the children grow older, </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">able to read for themselves, </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">they’ll invariably fall
for the stories of Roald Dahl, in which a succession of luckless youngsters are
gleefully put through the mill by a series of evil adversaries. Dahl knew
better than most authors, the attraction that </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">the grotesque has for young readers</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">.</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Little wonder </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">that years after his
death, </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">his
books still figure </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">prominently </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">in the charts.</span></span></span><span class="scx18308969"> </span>
<span class="eop"></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{188}" paraid="2108114703" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">By the time the kids are into their teens and start
to really look at the world in which they live, they see darkness all around
them; in the daily news reports on television and social media, in the actions
of corrupt governments that only ever put their own interests first. Here’s a
generation of readers that aren’t old enough to vote but who are gleefully
invited to massacre hundreds of strangers </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">on their PlayS</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">tations and Xboxes</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> whenever they’re in the mood for it. </span></span></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span class="scx18308969"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Little
wonder that dark dystopias like </span><i></i></span><i><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">The Hunger Games</span></span></i></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> have become the order of
the day. Little wonder that cheery escapist fiction is struggling to keep young
readers </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">hook</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">ed.</span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="scx18308969"> </span>
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{205}" paraid="1419219278" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">When I came to write Danny Weston’s first novel, </span><i></i></span><i><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">The Piper</span></span></i></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">, I was looking to
recapture some of the atmosphere that appealed to me as a teenage reader – the
unsettling ghost stories of M.R. James, the cold brilliant satires of Saki
(H.H. Munro) and the nightmarish qualities found in the writing of the
legendary Ray Bradbury. I wanted to write </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">scene</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">s that would make the hairs on the back of </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">a</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> reader’s neck stand to
attention… Danny, I decided, would only ever write about unsettling things. He
would only ever see the glass half empty.</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> Danny clearly was not going to be invited to
many parties.</span></span></span><span class="scx18308969"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
</span></span></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{216}" paraid="1437487865" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zly7g9BZpZh6pIE533dlekO94xmuJDRcY8EYgiOrJyB0cLscWFcctWYihvih4dvZC_GFt5qat1H-x4YDSkdquicGn_Zibs3v0rNn0ugCQ79vmizHkELZl0XtlIAiyjXWOKWwYqacmF0/s1600/9781783444618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zly7g9BZpZh6pIE533dlekO94xmuJDRcY8EYgiOrJyB0cLscWFcctWYihvih4dvZC_GFt5qat1H-x4YDSkdquicGn_Zibs3v0rNn0ugCQ79vmizHkELZl0XtlIAiyjXWOKWwYqacmF0/s200/9781783444618.jpg" width="130" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Winning the Scottish Children’s Book Award for teen
readers </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">felt</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">, somehow,</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> like a vindication. I</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">t seemed I</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> wasn’t the only one who
liked my fiction dark.</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> A lot of readers </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">clearly </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">agreed with me.</span></span></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">And
you know what? It’s all perfectly healthy for one very important reason. In
fiction, we are able to ensure that after a long struggle, </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">the powers of </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">good will </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">eventually triumph over </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">the forces of </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">evil – the sun will rise,
vanquishing the </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">darkness</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> – </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">the towers of the wicked will crumble and fall - </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">our young protagonists
will survive and will be immeasurably enriched </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">by what they have experienced. I’m sure I
don’t have to remind you that </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">real life is rarely like that. On a daily
basis, m</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">assive
companies that defraud millions of people walk away without a stain on their
character. Corrupt politicians stab each other in the back before being voted
into power. People that cheat, lie, steal, murder, all seem to get away with
it.</span></span></span>
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{245}" paraid="368610725" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">It’s only in fiction that we can make the</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">m </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">pay for their
transgressions.</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">And it seems to me</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">, that is</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> the most powerful </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">and compelling </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">reason </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">for me </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">to continue in the same vein.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{245}" paraid="368610725" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{245}" paraid="368610725" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_jmzWI1IsEUHkw7a_VX7gyQyuC6a7AJXTbXyHOE01yGfLQwZJ0omDlyxBwTi6M_DbZhD1pVUMbQTArVT9GwA_LMSKXAXTDLoi9qN4g5a6nUnrUU3jTaNUbTe9ozVJsXMNdYS85CJ8-w/s1600/y7oWLI3G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_jmzWI1IsEUHkw7a_VX7gyQyuC6a7AJXTbXyHOE01yGfLQwZJ0omDlyxBwTi6M_DbZhD1pVUMbQTArVT9GwA_LMSKXAXTDLoi9qN4g5a6nUnrUU3jTaNUbTe9ozVJsXMNdYS85CJ8-w/s200/y7oWLI3G.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{179d265f-c1c7-4b0b-912a-70b50d241233}{245}" paraid="368610725" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p><strong>About Danny Weston:</strong></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">
<br />
<span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Danny</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Weston</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">is the pen-name for Philip </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="spellingerror"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Caveney</span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">, author of the international bestselling</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Sebastian </span></span></i></span></span><span class="spellingerror"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Darke</span></span></i></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">series.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Philip has written two YA novels under the
pen-name</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Danny</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Westo</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">n</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">:</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">The Piper</span></span></i></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">,</span></span></b></span><span class="normaltextrun"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></b></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">set during the Second World War and following the </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">s</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">tory of Peter and his
younger sister Daisy and the unearthly music the pair hear...</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Danny's second novel is the darkly comedic,</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">Mr Sparks</span></span></i></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Based</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> in Llandudno during the Great </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">W</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">ar, there is much
suspicion in the town.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Danny</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">has a third book due out </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">1</span><sup></sup></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">st</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> September</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">,</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">The Haunting of Jessop Rise</span></span></i></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">.</span></span></b></span></span><span class="eop"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Segoe UI";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<div class="paragraph" paraeid="{b81ed319-ddae-4e82-911e-762a67152c5d}{24}" paraid="1033585729" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">2016 has been a great year for</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Danny!</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> He won the Scottish Children's Book Prize with</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB">The Piper</span></span></i></span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="background-color: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><span xml:lang="EN-GB"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">and has embarked on a terrific and </span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;">terrifying</span></span><span xml:lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: inherit;"> tour of schools, talking
about his latest book Mr Sparks.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Danny</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">(or Philip) is also a highly experienced tutor in
creative writing.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> He has been writer in residence with the
University of Central Lancashire, Worcester University and Lancaster
University.</span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="normaltextrun"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Philip is a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-10148771592192162462016-08-20T09:53:00.002+01:002016-08-20T09:53:22.900+01:00Memories and Myth by Julia Gray <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKABTSH8OXA8OQ20ar6fLwpafiSlSP9g9dvzZSDT8gsN9_wDPksqUX-IeXgsa0rUW31vXFSDoa7UDz8YXuAYtDx0c1jrm4BqyV_xI3MNZ7XKg_FUSAxXuayFITW2__JzRngD4UVt3NnS0/s1600/9781783444229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKABTSH8OXA8OQ20ar6fLwpafiSlSP9g9dvzZSDT8gsN9_wDPksqUX-IeXgsa0rUW31vXFSDoa7UDz8YXuAYtDx0c1jrm4BqyV_xI3MNZ7XKg_FUSAxXuayFITW2__JzRngD4UVt3NnS0/s200/9781783444229.jpg" width="131" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From the nod to the tale of the Minotaur in <em>The Hunger Games</em> to Susan Cooper’s reworking of the Arthurian legend in <em>Over Sea, Under Stone</em>, there is an abundance of myth and fairytale in YA and children’s books. I especially love the British fantasists, such as Penelope Lively and Diana Wynne Jones, who in turn were inspired by J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. In my book <em>The Otherlife</em>, Ben finds that he is able to ‘see’ the world of the Norse gods and monsters; it is his way to cope with the pressures of his daily life. One particular tale, the story of the death of Baldr the Beautiful, becomes intertwined with the plot. The process of using one text as part of another is known as ‘intertextuality’ and it has always fascinated me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I tried to come up with my ten favourite YA novels that feature myths and fairytales in this fashion, but couldn’t - there are simply too many. So instead, I’ve decided to write about one book in particular: <em>Fire and Hemlock</em> by Diana Wynne Jones. A modern fantasy written in 1986, it combines strands of myth and folk-tale in an assured, powerful and complex way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Fire and Hemlock</em> is a book that very much celebrates the love of reading. (Indeed, the word ‘book’ is used twelve times in the opening three pages.) At the start, a nineteen-year-old girl named Polly is preparing to return to university. The book she is reading triggers the sudden discovery that she, like the man in the story she has just encountered, has two sets of memories; as she accesses the long-forgotten ‘hidden’ set, she remembers the strange friendship she once had with a cellist, Tom Lynn, whom she met at a funeral at the age of ten. Suddenly remembering the five years that followed, Polly struggles to uncover the mystery behind Tom’s sudden disappearance from her life. Then she sets out to rescue him from a fate that she manages to piece together from the books Tom has sent her throughout her childhood.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The plot is a puzzle, but so too is the way the book is constructed from other, older stories. Jones used two 16th century Scottish folktales as the basis for the main story: <em>Tam Lin</em> and <em>The Ballad of Thomas the Rhymer</em>. Extracts from both appear at the start of each chapter of Fire and Hemlock. Tam Lin is recast as Tom Lynn, while Polly is his rescuer, Janet. Polly does not realise this until very late in the narrative: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>‘Polly’s fingers shook as she opened it to the list of contents. The first two ballads were ‘Thomas the Rhymer’ and ‘Tam Lin’. Of course, when she was twelve, she had not known that Tam was simply a North Country form of the name Tom.’^</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuiN0_OZD6H1LyERll04xCnKUbIt0hleaAnseWbPtbCu4COktW17O8JbeBCS08kW-S4yJRkF0KZo2Daje86gvELFwdAqa5sAZV7oPYrnkuzimpo7bEhJEVOGGmRpVD9_chbnVYtUAqp8/s1600/9780006755197+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuiN0_OZD6H1LyERll04xCnKUbIt0hleaAnseWbPtbCu4COktW17O8JbeBCS08kW-S4yJRkF0KZo2Daje86gvELFwdAqa5sAZV7oPYrnkuzimpo7bEhJEVOGGmRpVD9_chbnVYtUAqp8/s200/9780006755197+%25282%2529.jpg" width="132" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In Polly, Jones seeks to create a ‘real female hero’; and casts her in ‘a whole series of heroic roles […] Gerda in <em>The Snow Queen</em>, Snow White, Britomart, St. George, Pierrot, Pandora, Andromache’*. By alluding to so many different literary characters, she is able to build on </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the reader’s picture of Polly and her heroic qualities by capitalising on associations the reader may already have. Using these reference points also gives Jones the opportunity to question preconceived notions of gender: she deliberately portrays both Polly’s tomboyish and feminine sides, creating a more rounded picture of what a ‘real female hero’ might be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In addition to the Scottish folktales, Jones uses another ancient story in <em>Fire and Hemlock</em>: the story of Odysseus from Greek mythology. Again, it’s reworked delicately and used in different ways. The character of Odysseus is reflected in both Polly and Tom, enabling Jones to continue to explore the notion of a ‘real female hero’. The characters of Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, Telemachus, his son, Calypso, Circe and Polyphemus all appear in some way in <em>Fire and Hemlock</em>. Jones also adopts part of the <em>The Odyssey</em>’s structure, beginning and ending in the present day, and telling a large part of the narrative in the form of flashbacks, as Homer does. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">There are many, many more allusions. The Norwegian folk-tale <em>East of the Sun and West of the Moon</em> is referenced several times. <em>The Three Musketeers</em> plays an important role. Jones also used T. S. Eliot’s <em>Four Quartets</em> as a way of organising the whole of the book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When I first read <em>Fire and Hemlock</em> I never knew any of this, and of course it was not necessary to know what literary ‘underlays’ Jones was using in order to fall in love with it. But it made for a very exciting moment when I did find out. Just as Polly goes on a voyage of literary discovery, rereading stories and books and letters to find clues that will help her to rescue Tom, so can the reader keep coming back to <em>Fire and Hemlock</em> to trace further similarities between it and the myths and folktales that went before it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmeTrEFMCwyZbr_Crnp3Fnu6yc0oykQFlujDTmpopn89ivt28jHQ80z1E0HpwTRteR_gxRe6KT54jCObK4_HwFSgEz1FWVHZGNeC1LzDM-ZpelX1WMctDiGdIro1z3eUuI_XWuYYXQsA/s1600/0BxSrll6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmeTrEFMCwyZbr_Crnp3Fnu6yc0oykQFlujDTmpopn89ivt28jHQ80z1E0HpwTRteR_gxRe6KT54jCObK4_HwFSgEz1FWVHZGNeC1LzDM-ZpelX1WMctDiGdIro1z3eUuI_XWuYYXQsA/s200/0BxSrll6.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>About Julia Gray:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Julia Gray was born in London and still lives there today. Julia’s two loves are words and music – both separately and together. As well as having written an impressive debut novel, The Otherlife, Julia is a singer-songwriter – bringing together her two loves! Julia studied Classics at UCL and has a diploma in Children’s Literature and an MA in Creative Writing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">^ Quote taken from <em>Fire and Hemlock</em>. This is to illustrate a point and not used in a way to seek or exploit any monetary value of the work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">* Jones, Diana Wynne, ‘The Heroic Ideal: A Personal Odyssey’ The Lion and The Unicorn, 13 (1989) 129-140.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-74447045692437661912016-08-19T14:05:00.001+01:002016-08-19T14:05:46.263+01:00Roads from Harassment to Hope: 'Caramel Hearts' by ER Murray<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1ssMknNaouxwulJOJfKbdfckIqL4jIftWRM89XreRQgZlVWGmx5Xriznb5RbxGq-0UWC9vgpC9nBpYqcbtYLun7I2ST6uO-WQUcQ9XBlQ63yCZOEC2sU6_dNzjCAyqcg7z3kIwL9vJI/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1ssMknNaouxwulJOJfKbdfckIqL4jIftWRM89XreRQgZlVWGmx5Xriznb5RbxGq-0UWC9vgpC9nBpYqcbtYLun7I2ST6uO-WQUcQ9XBlQ63yCZOEC2sU6_dNzjCAyqcg7z3kIwL9vJI/s200/1.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Although <i>Caramel Hearts</i> is
about a girl trying to cope with her mother’s alcohol addiction, there are
plenty of other relevant issues weaved into the story; friendship, sibling
relationships, first love, taking responsibility, making wrong choices, absent
fathers and bullying. <span lang="EN-US">I wanted anyone who has
experienced any of the issues that Liv and her friends/family go through to
have all the feels; that the story felt real was my number one priority. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I decided to touch upon bullying because it
is a very real issue for teens – and it’s something that has far-reaching
consequences for the victims in their future. In addition, the bystanders and
loved ones who don’t know how to deal with or stop the bullying are affected
too, with lifelong repercussions in many cases. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How exactly do you get a bully off your
back? How do you protect someone else that’s being targeted? Is fighting back,
or ignoring, the correct route to take? Do you tell someone in authority, or
perhaps a friend or family member, or do you pretend it’s not happening? Every
possible action and inaction can have such huge consequences, with the
potential to make matters worse. Bullying creates anger, resentment,
helplessness, and in some cases, the cycle is repeated. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bullying comes in many forms and can be
difficult to detect or prove, which makes it even harder for the victim to
fight back. There’s group bullying that can be openly violent, but then there’s
also friendship switches, backbiting and bitching, forced isolation, verbal
cruelty and peer pressure – all equally damaging. There are also bullies who
target alone, sometimes openly and sometimes secretively; they can seem really
nice to the rest of the word, except for their victim, increasing the victim’s
isolation. Cyber-bullying is another huge issue, both open and private – and
with our increasing reliance on social media, this means it can be difficult to
escape the attentions of a bully, even in solitude or the safety of home. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is during our teenage years that we form
our opinions and personalities, and so it’s no surprise that it’s a really
difficult time to navigate. As teens, we feel adult enough for more freedom and
responsibilities, and yet, people aren’t quite ready to listen to us – we don’t
really have a voice, or at least one that is taken seriously – and this leads
to all kinds of frustration and emotional anxiety. And as if these times aren’t
difficult enough, when you add bullying into the mix, it’s a whole new level of
awful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In <i>Caramel
Hearts</i>, the main character, Liv, is initially confronted with the problem
of seeing one of her old friends turn against another; Liv’s best friend Sarah becomes
the target of Maddy ‘Mad Dog’ Delaney’s bullying and Liv tries to help the best
she can in her way. Later, when Liv becomes a victim, we see a shift in her
understanding of bullying, of its consequences and how it feels. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The bully is not a nice character, but Mad
Dog has a story of her own and I hope that readers can tap into that. Many
factors affect people’s personalities such as poverty, life experiences,
medical conditions and trauma. People are complex, rather than good or bad; they’re
multi-faceted and changeable. And so, just like all the other characters, I wanted
to show Mad Dog in different lights. I doubt the reader will accept Maddy’s
behaviour, but I hope they can see where it stems from, and perhaps feel some
sympathy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another important aspect of <i>Caramel Hearts</i> was a sense of hope.
Having grown up in a family affected by addiction, and attended a school
fraught with bullying, I know that in these often traumatic situations, your
one true weapon is hope. Hope lets you see that life can be different to your
present circumstances, that challenges can be overcome and changes can be made.
Hope helps you understand that there is more to the world and that you can
strive for it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Liv, hope lies in her friendships and
in the handwritten cookbook that she discovers. The recipes provide her with a
chance to be good at something; they’re a focus, but they also provide a
connection to her absent mum who’s trying to deal with an alcohol addiction in
a recovery centre. For Maddy, it’s a very different situation. Does she feel
hope? Can she see a way out? Does she want to change? I’ll leave that for the
reader to decide. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">About Caramel Hearts:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Liv Bloom’s life is even more complicated than that of your average
fourteen-year-old: her father walked out on the family when she was young, her
mother is in a recovery centre for alcoholics, and her older sister is
struggling to step into Mum’s shoes. Structured around real cake recipes,</span></i><i> <span style="background: white;">Caramel Hearts</span> <span style="background: white;">is a coming-of-age novel about love, disappointment and hope, and
discovering the true value of friends and family, no matter how dysfunctional
they are.</span><b> </b></i><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtRgelbMbxC8FUlMxjokzg23zQQuoniEDwxqMeH8QwnmMDsMqdYDL0Dw_Qa845qfHQQItikq8rVr2Tqn78S-INV0JIqp17-2U4qSQV24Uf84AjrJVhQOEd0RgvO50h76SRMThm78G5Js/s1600/2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtRgelbMbxC8FUlMxjokzg23zQQuoniEDwxqMeH8QwnmMDsMqdYDL0Dw_Qa845qfHQQItikq8rVr2Tqn78S-INV0JIqp17-2U4qSQV24Uf84AjrJVhQOEd0RgvO50h76SRMThm78G5Js/s200/2.gif" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>About E.R. Murray:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Elizabeth Rose Murray
lives in West Cork, Ireland, with her dog Franklyn. As well as writing, Elizabeth loves to travel
and has worked bathing rescue elephants and scooping up their poo. On her travels Elizabeth has eaten crickets,
kangaroo, chicken feet, water beetles, frogs, ostrich and snake. Elizabeth has had poetry and short fiction
published in journals in both the UK and Ireland. Her debut novel for children, <i>The Book of Nine </i>Lives, was chosen as
the 2016 Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Citywide Read for Children. You
can contact Elizabeth via her website <span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.ermurray.com/"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.ermurray.com</span></a></span>, Twitter <span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://twitter.com/ermurray"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">@ERMurray</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">, </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/elizabethrosemurray/"><span lang="EN-GB">instagram</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span>and<span style="color: #444444;"> </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ERMurray.Author/"><span lang="EN-GB">Facebook</span></a></span><span style="color: #444444; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">.</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">Buy <i>Caramel Hearts</i></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"> on </span><a href="http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/childrens/caramel-hearts,elizabeth-murray-9781846883927" target="_blank">Foyles<span id="goog_857731841"></span><span id="goog_857731842"></span></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;"><a href="http://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/childrens/caramel-hearts,elizabeth-murray-9781846883927" target="_blank"> </a>an</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">d </span><a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/caramel-hearts/elizabeth-murray/9781846883927" target="_blank">Waterstones</a><span id="goog_857731831"></span><span id="goog_857731832"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2px;">.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-7960902674513484212016-08-19T13:39:00.000+01:002016-08-19T13:39:21.147+01:00The Big Fat YA Quiz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iq15GzgTeA9JH5ZgUmuqFev9dVYo_V-wrnVpHk8b85Y1HokgMtOtvLcO-Sm8ARPypLbNOfEphsoN8w9vuLHWSTmPhyV_7bsnDQUx8gkeTnN-ggK8V3F-0nTu-Q4hjLoLvD9th_Q7jcI/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_iq15GzgTeA9JH5ZgUmuqFev9dVYo_V-wrnVpHk8b85Y1HokgMtOtvLcO-Sm8ARPypLbNOfEphsoN8w9vuLHWSTmPhyV_7bsnDQUx8gkeTnN-ggK8V3F-0nTu-Q4hjLoLvD9th_Q7jcI/s200/1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our first-ever Big Fat YA quiz takes place on the <b>19th August at 8pm BST</b>. There will be 40 questions divided up into six rounds:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 1 - 6 questions: the emoji round. Six book titles told through emojis.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 2 - 6 questions: the<b> </b>first-line round. Six first-line quotes. Can you guess which book they come from?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 3 - 6 questions: the book cover round. I'll show you six book cover sections; can you guess the book they come from?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 4 - 6 questions: the character round. I'll give you clues to YA characters and you need to match them to the book.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 5 - 6 questions: the quote round. Six quotes from YA books.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 6 - 10 questions: mix 'n' match. A little bit of everything to test you hardcore YA fans.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>For each question, you'll need to tell me the book title AND the author (Twitter handle if you can) to win the point. You must also use the #YAtakeover hashtag to gain the point.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Each question is worth one point. That's a total of 40 points that are available on the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">May the odds be ever in your favour.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="196" src="//giphy.com/embed/3o85xq9zz0fBWQsZBS?html5=true" width="480"></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>The rules:</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No Googling, Binging or asking Jeeves or Siri. Keep it fair and keep it exciting.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I will like, from the <a href="https://twitter.com/yafictionados" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a>, the person that answers the question correctly with the book title, author and accompanies it with the #YAtakeover hashtag and in the quickest time.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If the book title is abbreviated, I will accept this answer if it is clear you know the book. For example, <i>The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender</i>, answered as "Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender".</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Reply to my question rather than quoting the tweet. It becomes more difficult to decipher who got the answer first.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is open to UK and Ireland only BUT if any of our international friends want to join in and win, I will do my best to send you some book swag. I'm nice like that.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you win, please DM me your full name and address and I will endeavour to post the books ASAP. In your DM, please mention the "Big Fat YA Quiz".</span></li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-5880550931333006182016-08-14T16:06:00.000+01:002016-08-14T16:09:38.921+01:00Engaging with On and Offline Reading Communities by Alexia Casale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-sr_IhjRDv-Pry7sgT6jLictRNp3m6cnVyFHO9QsgcYTSyfvShUZ08EhizeUuAe2C-KTMlVVEioPEseKShK0NBNRpiiaynkagEvvDxuraNJWYMHGMJLtF2X-98HzaQ67I3lAKHkZlOs/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-sr_IhjRDv-Pry7sgT6jLictRNp3m6cnVyFHO9QsgcYTSyfvShUZ08EhizeUuAe2C-KTMlVVEioPEseKShK0NBNRpiiaynkagEvvDxuraNJWYMHGMJLtF2X-98HzaQ67I3lAKHkZlOs/s200/H.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="135" /></a>The landscape of YA publishing is ever-changing – and changing so rapidly it’s hard even for those who live and breath it to keep up. But that’s one of the things that make it so exciting. Our community and world isn’t a fixed, static thing but constantly being created and recreated so there’s always space for new people and new ideas. It’s like the ideal high school, where everyone is welcome and the weirder you are the more you’ll fit in. The best metaphor must be the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – only with half the teapots full of prosecco.<br /><br />One of the reasons it moves so quickly is social media. The UKYA and UKMG world comes together for events – launches, festival, author events, UKYAX – but usually it’s only a small part of the community apart from two key dates: YALC and YA Shot. In between, our community lives online: we dip in and out of hashtags, Twitter conversations, scheduled chats and on-line events like the #YAtakeover, touching base with each other often multiple times a day. Twitter is very much the UKYA/UKMG office ‘water cooler’: it hosts a lot of what happens in our community, providing continuity to relationships between opportunities to meet in person.<br /><br />Before becoming an author, I was really worried about Twitter. I thought it was a space where strangers told each other random, meaningless facts about the minutiae of their lives then never spoke again. The online book world isn’t at all like that. Many of my author friends are people I first met on Twitter. I still remember going to Edinburgh Book Festival when <i>The Bone Dragon</i> was only just out and lovely Cat Clarke coming up to hug me and launching back into a conversation we’d been having a few days earlier on Twitter. For the first time, I felt like I was at a party where I knew people and had something to say. <br /><br />Twitter has continued to be crucial to my feeling of belonging, to my personal and professional relationships, and to my happiness. It’s amazing to have a space filled with wonderful book-loving, liberal-minded people to retreat to when the world is awful. <br /><br />Twitter is also a great equaliser for the publishing industry and I love that. It’s much easier to join a conversation online – and often surprising people will respond if you’re legitimately joining in rather than trying to force an opportunity to make a person engage with you. Twitter means that everyone’s invited to the party and no one has to stand in the corner alone if they don’t want to. This replicates itself, though to a lesser degree, at events. Yes, authors are onstage and then behind signing tables, but the closeness of the online community breaks down some of the formality and barriers that would otherwise exist. It’s why the atmosphere at events like YALC and YA Shot is so friendly – so happy. It helps us create an ‘all of us’ feeling about UKYA/UKMG spaces so that authors and readers and publishing people know they can mix freely and talk to anyone they want to.<br /><br />The fact that the UKYA/UKMG world is so bound up with the Twittersphere means that rich but free opportunities are available to publicise events and to reach out to all sorts of people to say ‘you are welcome, everyone is welcome’. This makes a huge impact in YA Shot’s ability to put its ethos of inclusivity and generosity into practice. An obvious way is the YA Shot Blog/Vlog Tour, which involves most of our authors and around 60 bloggers and vloggers each year. But there’s also our Internship Programme, which I am incredibly proud of. Although we do reach out specifically to local universities, particularly Brunel, social media means that we can get the word out quickly and easily to a far wider range of people. Yes, only those on social media, but let’s face it… most young people who want to work in the UKYA/UKMG fields are on there – or should be! – as it’s such a huge part of the job and the world of publishing nowadays. <br /><br />YA Shot is an organisation built on transparency and equality above all else: we explain what we’re doing whenever anyone asks and we say why. Social media makes that not only possible but an on-going conversation, as it should be. Above all, it helps us reach out as widely as possible so everyone knows they’re welcome. It’s why our Internship Programme is full of diversity. We don’t select authors or interns based on personal characteristics: instead, we make sure we throw our net so wide that we can choose the best people each year and find that translates (as it should) to a diverse pool of authors and interns, bloggers and visitors. If the playing field is level, then there will be equality and, quite naturally, there will be diversity. Social media and the online world helps us turn that ethos into reality.</span></div>
<span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />A related way that social media shapes the UKYA/UKMG world is that it gives people who want to listen to different voices the opportunity to do so. Yes, some people misuse the opportunity. And, yes, some lack nuance and/or the ability to articulate their perspective. And, yes, it isn’t always fair who gets the most ‘air time’. But everyone can speak and that’s a start.<br /><br />So come and say hi! Join us on the #YAShot and #YAShot2016 hashtags. Join us at YA Shot itself! Let us know if you want to steward in exchange for a ticket! From August 1st, join us for over 60 stops on our Blog and Vlog Tour! We’ll see you at YALC too… and of course on #UKYAchat and #YATakeover, always with a cup of tea… though a teapot of prosecco may well be the way forwards now our Mad Hatter Tea-Party metaphor has put the idea in our heads.</span><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFslC-a26kb0y5tnw1yN2mvmKwNFM7eqQYGUyyqLfT5B6uzleAN-Djq2UfmROu2skiStb4rotGCNFPfJ8nAY8ImplU4HEf8cG7l32PMvchcPHxKWmSbnjWMCFXoHwfA_Fw500aPkbe-g/s1600/Lexi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFslC-a26kb0y5tnw1yN2mvmKwNFM7eqQYGUyyqLfT5B6uzleAN-Djq2UfmROu2skiStb4rotGCNFPfJ8nAY8ImplU4HEf8cG7l32PMvchcPHxKWmSbnjWMCFXoHwfA_Fw500aPkbe-g/s200/Lexi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>About Alexia:</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A British-American citizen of Italian heritage, Alexia is an author (<i>The Bone Dragon </i>and <i>The House of Windows</i>), editor and writing consultant. She also teaches English Literature and Writing. She is the visionary behind #YAShot and she will be taking part in the "Growing up and Moving out" author panel alongside Keris Stainton for the #YAtakeover on the 21st August.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://yashot.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Find out more information about #YAshot</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Follow Alexia on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/AlexiaCasale" target="_blank">@AlexiaCasale</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Buy <i>House of Windows</i> on <a href="http://www.awin1.com/cread.php?awinmid=1414&awinaffid=236715&clickref=Waterstones&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foyles.co.uk%2Fwitem%2Fchildrens%2Fhouse-of-windows%2Calexia-casale-9780571321537" target="_blank">Foyles</a> and <a href="https://www.waterstones.com/book/house-of-windows/alexia-casale/9780571321537" target="_blank">Waterstones</a>.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-79574589413934261192016-08-08T21:57:00.000+01:002016-08-19T16:11:25.132+01:00The #YAtakeover 2.0 Schedule<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The #YAtakeover takes place from the 19th August until the 21st August 2016. All of the times are in BST (British Summer Time). Times will differ depending on country. +1 hour for GMT.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong><u>19th August 2016</u></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KdENUcpOK4r67Os7k9kbt9UI-R5I1iyY7Gxi__gwegL6sf39D_YYnRglr0pNvhwOyBmKl9oqKqk2SK3aVvag_WWYivj9a6GTBDJ2aN0QaFUQsF127f66kq5PQ-fGRq5RCTl3VjIi5Lc/s1600/F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KdENUcpOK4r67Os7k9kbt9UI-R5I1iyY7Gxi__gwegL6sf39D_YYnRglr0pNvhwOyBmKl9oqKqk2SK3aVvag_WWYivj9a6GTBDJ2aN0QaFUQsF127f66kq5PQ-fGRq5RCTl3VjIi5Lc/s200/F.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><strong>Bullying in YA</strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time: 7.00pm-7.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interview panel: E.R. Murray, Eve Ainsworth, Jenny McLachlan and Susin Nielsen</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/chelleytoy" target="_blank">@ChelleyToy</a></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Some of your favourite YA authors will be discussing the various kinds of bullying from different viewpoints and the affects on the victim.</em></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamczjFMMb6bLm4AQABIrzgWbxpNWU9WUO2-CEkYqbaxnCT_jlqEnczIP-uzQdulH-iK3F0ymUUi4Ypvi0-619TNMigim4KZa2gWtbmenrEDQjsZENJaaCnqLpYCvSjZ3mXmp9Vlvi9YA/s1600/big+ya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamczjFMMb6bLm4AQABIrzgWbxpNWU9WUO2-CEkYqbaxnCT_jlqEnczIP-uzQdulH-iK3F0ymUUi4Ypvi0-619TNMigim4KZa2gWtbmenrEDQjsZENJaaCnqLpYCvSjZ3mXmp9Vlvi9YA/s200/big+ya.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>The Big Fat YA Quiz</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>40 questions on YA lit including book cover questions, quotes, emojis and more. Be the first to reply to the question with the<b> #YAtakeover</b> hashtag, answer the most questions and you'll win a bumper YA prize (UK and Ireland only) which will include copies of:</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">C. J. Skuse's <em>The Deviants,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Taran Matharu's <em>The Novice</em>,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Manuela Salvi's controversial <em>Girl Detached</em> (advance copy),</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Leo Hunt's <em>13 Days of Midnight,</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Sarra Manning's <em>London Belongs to Us</em> and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Lucy Saxon's <em>Take Back the Skies</em></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><strong><u>20th August 2016</u></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOPOVekP1cnGuFTGc4AGgT3QXGMMJsqJ-pn2QBo6NQ-mAZfqV0gRTYuaNUJG1xZ-6fC_e8aWu5tCO5QLbxw_5Ne5hmtJ6q4wefbJfPoG8nWy1SLB87GFdIUXBbwFLKGM_JrLWG8zLlQk/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqOPOVekP1cnGuFTGc4AGgT3QXGMMJsqJ-pn2QBo6NQ-mAZfqV0gRTYuaNUJG1xZ-6fC_e8aWu5tCO5QLbxw_5Ne5hmtJ6q4wefbJfPoG8nWy1SLB87GFdIUXBbwFLKGM_JrLWG8zLlQk/s200/5.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>LGBT: You Be Who You Want to Be</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 9.00-9.45am BST (+1 hour for GMT)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Lisa Williamson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/YAundermyskin" target="_blank">@YAundermyskin</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Lisa and Robin discuss sexual identity and being true to yourself as well as some of key themes in their award-winning books.</em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Supernatural Seduction</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kM9t208af938x55hb4t-xjpF7VysMaYW_X-8Ts6O3BvTMDYmAyqK-GT1ZPWvMtit3D5CPipuP2ORCtSkQE8SGvkRNaFBemBk-tGXxO2jzJ_OYCALY8y4nnXT16MO8Clxk4GDexQHgWs/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kM9t208af938x55hb4t-xjpF7VysMaYW_X-8Ts6O3BvTMDYmAyqK-GT1ZPWvMtit3D5CPipuP2ORCtSkQE8SGvkRNaFBemBk-tGXxO2jzJ_OYCALY8y4nnXT16MO8Clxk4GDexQHgWs/s200/G.jpg" width="200" /></a></u></strong></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 10.00am-10.45am BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Julia Gray, Katharine Corr and Lu Hersey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Julia, Katharine and Lu discuss the myths in their stories and how these shape their writing.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43lJsHcTQVxC6pV_ku7rEjzTT2pU7arcCSkRwXi7dVsjmSlNziWNHQ4jnnEmck-A0e-TTOy0EdTMC-oTj5Ck2qWVxCZ4EQ0jmtRnPUPOq8ynAHkIp2rbbNJ3G33EDC5EBiZo2icvBbZk/s1600/Foyles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43lJsHcTQVxC6pV_ku7rEjzTT2pU7arcCSkRwXi7dVsjmSlNziWNHQ4jnnEmck-A0e-TTOy0EdTMC-oTj5Ck2qWVxCZ4EQ0jmtRnPUPOq8ynAHkIp2rbbNJ3G33EDC5EBiZo2icvBbZk/s200/Foyles.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Where do you read?</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 11.10am-11.50am BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Where do you read? Post pictures of your favourite reading spots across Instagram and Twitter, using the #YAtakeover hashtag. Bookshops, parks, beaches and more - we want to know! There will be a book prize for the most unusual reading spot and the most creative picture. We may throw in another spontaneous prize or two on the day. You can post as many times as you like. </em></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD7LFgmZxUvfImrXl7_JKeYQ90ote4q6OYea_3gH5CewMbk-LkFHpxNT_c870SqqzxsqAg-BvMkGVVZ0UAY2aE1I7k3ZWbxeFOURi13hB9sbtlucK7cIzf__jjVuEocSgQWGEHwprb8c/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD7LFgmZxUvfImrXl7_JKeYQ90ote4q6OYea_3gH5CewMbk-LkFHpxNT_c870SqqzxsqAg-BvMkGVVZ0UAY2aE1I7k3ZWbxeFOURi13hB9sbtlucK7cIzf__jjVuEocSgQWGEHwprb8c/s200/K.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">'It's Behind You': Horror in YA</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 12.00pm-12.45pm BST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Alex Bell, Danny Weston and Dawn Kurtagich</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/HowlingReviews" target="_blank">@HowlingReviews</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Our panellists discuss the different kinds of horror and what inspires them to write for the genre.</em></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_w7gjDOojr8E_q-nfYQSaGTgUqwiCyzcwM6MVqFkeHj9SapP5wXjQEXigEt1h9XWL3dXU0riLDRCjV3t65yj5Y_X4CIqQGtKDV_sI40giKkc0rwYN_MwyPPOs1gV5dqGjWr6SsKw_98/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_w7gjDOojr8E_q-nfYQSaGTgUqwiCyzcwM6MVqFkeHj9SapP5wXjQEXigEt1h9XWL3dXU0riLDRCjV3t65yj5Y_X4CIqQGtKDV_sI40giKkc0rwYN_MwyPPOs1gV5dqGjWr6SsKw_98/s200/E.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Peer Pressure in YA</u></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 1.00pm-1.45pm BST</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Claire Hennessy and Patrice Lawrence</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/Jenny_books_art" target="_blank">@Jenny_books_art</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Debut authors Claire and Patrice discuss peer pressure and the impact it has on their characters and stories, exposing and exploring issues that include body image, crime and drugs.</em><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span> </span> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em></em></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyTWqnKTwGiHhQVDd6eylCTe67rLf9mMwIMavUNiifuMZEIJa_b57giaY1DRsL1Hxu7O-4qblvFa18LQykrxW_T0jg3TtdEZwJTWAi9EyEUPYb6nxTJ51etiSUQJQwyWH5y-WuxFyqM4/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyTWqnKTwGiHhQVDd6eylCTe67rLf9mMwIMavUNiifuMZEIJa_b57giaY1DRsL1Hxu7O-4qblvFa18LQykrxW_T0jg3TtdEZwJTWAi9EyEUPYb6nxTJ51etiSUQJQwyWH5y-WuxFyqM4/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span></span><strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Unheard Voices</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 2.00pm-2.45pm BST</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Alex Wheatle, Jon Walter and Robin Talley</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><br /><em>Two acclaimed authors discuss representation in YA fiction, covering the challenges and obstacles they have faced in their careers and those that exist in the wider field.</em></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span><strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">YA Thrillers</span></u></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 3.00pm-3.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Emma Haughton, Liz Flanagan and Sue Wallman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <complete id="goog_938757124"><a href="https://twitter.com/ohhiimjosh" target="_blank">@ohhiimjosh</a></complete></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">We unearth the relationships between friends and family and the emotional aspects of Liz's and Sue's stories and how they channel this into pulse-pounding, thrilling narratives.</span></em><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Let's Talk Depression in YA</span></u></strong><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxxXAzrSprKRepGNFOvHh1wosp5rc5j8zwvESKAi6ic1RDTv4teGl3jEB9QXakeO3RR8FUOTJOsM-e2fT8B_2in30OWRd-jMdbZ3xXiMz5YaYPs59mtwXcTcI26Stbd7A44_rfQ0fjtI/s1600/111.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxxXAzrSprKRepGNFOvHh1wosp5rc5j8zwvESKAi6ic1RDTv4teGl3jEB9QXakeO3RR8FUOTJOsM-e2fT8B_2in30OWRd-jMdbZ3xXiMz5YaYPs59mtwXcTcI26Stbd7A44_rfQ0fjtI/s200/111.png" width="132" /></a></span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 4.00pm-4.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Jay Asher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/HowlingReviews" target="_blank">@HowlingReviews</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>'13 Reasons Why' was published almost a decade ago and it's never been more relevant. We'll look at depression in this panel and try to unearth why this iconic book has stood the test of time.</em></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Hope and Resilience</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 05.00pm-05.45pm BST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interview Panel: Eliza Wass and Jeff Zentner</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: </span><a href="https://twitter.com/HowlingReviews" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";" target="_blank">@HowlingReviews</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><em>Eliza and Jeff explore hope in their stories and the resilience of their characters.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u></u></strong></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Blood is Thicker than Water</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 6.15pm-7.00pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Clare Furniss, Ellen Hopkins, Liz Kessler and Sarah Crossan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnaliseBooks" target="_blank">@AnnaliseBooks</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Our panel discusses four very different family portraits.</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><strong>'To Infinity and Beyond'</strong></u></span><br />
<strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"></span></u></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time: 7.15pm-8.00pm BST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/YAblooker" target="_blank">@yablooker</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Join us for a Twitter chat on Sci-Fi in YA with our special guest, Meaghan McIssac.</em></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: medium;"><strong><u>21st August 2016</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f1c232; font-family: "trebuchet ms"; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB1C0qy4bJWezEkt54JWmwNW0OfK-S85JLgXZRfcCyTm6pvIZMVy9rXo0l9SJw8XA4EnH9JzjH13iP0-whJp23FVIKQmj0EQNBdVzuo8Ji-wxEiNlGJM2FSmKcxqvwiiQPHOjwr-n_PY/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcB1C0qy4bJWezEkt54JWmwNW0OfK-S85JLgXZRfcCyTm6pvIZMVy9rXo0l9SJw8XA4EnH9JzjH13iP0-whJp23FVIKQmj0EQNBdVzuo8Ji-wxEiNlGJM2FSmKcxqvwiiQPHOjwr-n_PY/s200/8.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><strong><u><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dazzling Debuts</span></u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Interview Panel: Alwyn Hamilton and Lauren James</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/demoniqueshadow" target="_blank">@demoniqueshadow</a></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Alwyn and Lauren take us through 'Rebel of the Sands' and 'The Next Together', their writing techniques and their experiences as debut authors.</span></em></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Growing up and Moving out</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time: 10.00am-10.45am BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interview Panel: Alexia Casale and Keris Stainton</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/chelleytoy" target="_blank">@ChelleyToy</a></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Alexia and Keris explore university and beyond (and the challenges their protagonists are faced with) in this discussion on coming-of-age YA.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEi8UXF64VCQwpQZa6PfWx24u2eBGNUTgEhQ00hkMdI_CUkefhqZwYoZn4flwUUInN1uI6gVLHBbgnebvpkHI-xhR0-x3xG6PpOlvYY1Jcvji9nsgYPkxqzgcxH_3D-BKUlV22EK7mrc/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEi8UXF64VCQwpQZa6PfWx24u2eBGNUTgEhQ00hkMdI_CUkefhqZwYoZn4flwUUInN1uI6gVLHBbgnebvpkHI-xhR0-x3xG6PpOlvYY1Jcvji9nsgYPkxqzgcxH_3D-BKUlV22EK7mrc/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><u><strong>Tech in YA</strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 11.00am-11.45am BST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Amy Alward and Keren David</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our panel discusses technology in their work and how this impacts on their stories and themes.</span></em><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4skXiDy5Fak37Jn_RLRoBz6AkDhyphenhyphen-_9Pd3pxJOd67GJLAgxcbYW3lU05yqQF1ohwAhUV1v3uNXzZbDUQEs8j4ibTBhp4Jg7cuO_EIwu-BG3Kk2yroa4w0YdjIWu2zC2PJ7pwlCzkrgjU/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4skXiDy5Fak37Jn_RLRoBz6AkDhyphenhyphen-_9Pd3pxJOd67GJLAgxcbYW3lU05yqQF1ohwAhUV1v3uNXzZbDUQEs8j4ibTBhp4Jg7cuO_EIwu-BG3Kk2yroa4w0YdjIWu2zC2PJ7pwlCzkrgjU/s200/L.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Rude, Crude and Uncouth: The Shouldn'ts, Couldn'ts and Wouldn'ts of YA Lit</u></strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 12.00pm-12.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Jess Vallance, Manuela Salvi and Moira Fowley-Doyle</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Our panel looks at taboo and censorship in YA.</em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFgPNps1rzvmQoPWCypv4DVUmjvdYg5xHD9SX67w9e28wsBu-kJFfTRckMw-jxFRnyz2nLZdjthoOpxwODbX9fX3r5m7ddM8w32gtEUWRzOhcjXnpp8mff6Qay4KVoJmNQhUCNTzFKrw/s1600/waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFgPNps1rzvmQoPWCypv4DVUmjvdYg5xHD9SX67w9e28wsBu-kJFfTRckMw-jxFRnyz2nLZdjthoOpxwODbX9fX3r5m7ddM8w32gtEUWRzOhcjXnpp8mff6Qay4KVoJmNQhUCNTzFKrw/s200/waiting.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><u><strong>Ha ha ha: The Funny Side of YA</strong></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 1.00pm-1.45pm BST</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Join us for a Twitter chat on humour in YA; why it's important and reading recommendations with special guest</em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Everybody Say Love!</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 2.00pm-2.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Joss Stirling</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/cityofyabook" target="_blank">@cityofyabook</a></span><u><br /></u><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></em><em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our panel discusses love in YA.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><strong><u>#SundayYA book club</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time: 3.00pm-3.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/_babblebooks" target="_blank">@_babblebooks</a></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rachel</span></em><em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> leads this joint book club with the YAfictionados. Our first YA read is 'Paper Butterflies' by Lisa Heathfield. Join in using the #SundayYA hashtag (just for this book club segment).</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6KAUbhaKpqFWH_9JoGzWFzSwhWrNTrLiGcciTSXZoiv2_Dsw1Kz7K_-SqtVxFacMbVOol7rL6PYG4uRSKGQCIYzvPYcDuWLUq0LS30kBEytmujLlNHDhWXv3mAvcG-bbVC2-WyTxhxM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6KAUbhaKpqFWH_9JoGzWFzSwhWrNTrLiGcciTSXZoiv2_Dsw1Kz7K_-SqtVxFacMbVOol7rL6PYG4uRSKGQCIYzvPYcDuWLUq0LS30kBEytmujLlNHDhWXv3mAvcG-bbVC2-WyTxhxM/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Keep your Friends Close</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 4.00pm-4.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: C. J. Skuse and M. G. Reyes</span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">C. J. and M. G. discuss lies, betrayal and friendship in this nail-biter panel.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTSRO3OqmFYgfsqE6vndsSDGhjezlCgqE4ijy4CFMNK2koZ5lm7b7CKHAqpAJz7LFKAPff63AGu_Y9DcxoaJn8vMd0AsZ7zHBTT9fnpXvy2XqTOncTId0s62tCB3i3r9hr3A7F5R0DVE/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTSRO3OqmFYgfsqE6vndsSDGhjezlCgqE4ijy4CFMNK2koZ5lm7b7CKHAqpAJz7LFKAPff63AGu_Y9DcxoaJn8vMd0AsZ7zHBTT9fnpXvy2XqTOncTId0s62tCB3i3r9hr3A7F5R0DVE/s200/3.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Affects of War</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Time: 5.00-5.45 BST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Interview panel: Brian Conaghan and Michael Grant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <span id="goog_1366712722"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">@ChelleyToy<span id="goog_1366712723"></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our panel looks at war, the affects and the scars it leaves behind.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFp8Momt73tyiZsyWuyTd88DvziIXd5Ndc3YXyMP1XeEyNrU-qNIOjBE6AZaIeiqUlmFr9isWhrNTQ7MSBUBn4NRmbGAfdzR7vWo9wcpJN_95p8v3t5nPaCcVDEKxqShyphenhyphenxO3hPIsPFRc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFp8Momt73tyiZsyWuyTd88DvziIXd5Ndc3YXyMP1XeEyNrU-qNIOjBE6AZaIeiqUlmFr9isWhrNTQ7MSBUBn4NRmbGAfdzR7vWo9wcpJN_95p8v3t5nPaCcVDEKxqShyphenhyphenxO3hPIsPFRc/s200/2.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">What is Normal?</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 6.00pm-6.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Eric Lindstrom, Louise Gornall and Siobhan Curham</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/zarinatweets" target="_blank">@zarinatweets</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Is there such a thing as 'normal'? And if so, what does it mean to be anything but 'normal'? Join our panel as they provide insight into an incredible deconstruction on the idea of 'normal'.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u>Fantastic Fantasy</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><strong><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYzaTk4tJKUEBGOXfIHTrR5_-SdnzNgdqP4D73DAFfHQf6Nxae8l9oR4ykSObCkV1CAJYlbcxfLCLh5pT5Spa1e6ZBLvoWk_DjsvFsP20GhOwLxxeV404pgFfpTzQKjaqZGbiVl4LlcU/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYzaTk4tJKUEBGOXfIHTrR5_-SdnzNgdqP4D73DAFfHQf6Nxae8l9oR4ykSObCkV1CAJYlbcxfLCLh5pT5Spa1e6ZBLvoWk_DjsvFsP20GhOwLxxeV404pgFfpTzQKjaqZGbiVl4LlcU/s200/11.jpg" width="200" /></a></u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Time: 7.00pm-7.45pm BST</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Interview Panel: Melinda Salisbury, Samantha Shannon and Taran Matharu</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Host: <a href="https://twitter.com/Lottie_LovesB" target="_blank">@Lottie_LovesB</a></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Why fantasy? What inspires you? How do you create your worlds? Join our panel as they share their passion and enlighten us to some of the challenges associated with writing fantasy.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">T</span>here will be tons of giveaways throughout the event across Twitter and Instagram. To be in with a chance of winning, follow us on Twitter <span style="color: #0563c1;">@YAfictionados </span><span style="color: black;">and on Instagram </span></span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/yafictionados/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">yafictionados</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">. We will feature blog posts,</span> giveaways, Twitter chats and interviews so be sure to mark this event in your calenders.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-44010580986633753242016-08-01T11:45:00.001+01:002016-08-01T11:45:09.703+01:00The #YAtakeover 2.0<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The </span><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">#YAtakeover</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is a 3-day, digital Young Adult (YA) festival unlike any other, taking place from the 19th August until the 21st August. Join us for live Twitter interviews with your favourite YA authors from around the world, our #BigFatYAQuiz, giveaways, Twitter chats and more. It all kicks off with out Twitter chat on bullying at 7pm GMT with <a href="https://twitter.com/susinnielsen" target="_blank">Susin Nielsen</a> (<em>We Are All Made of Molecules</em>), <a href="https://twitter.com/ERMurray" target="_blank">E. R. Murray</a> (<em>Caramel Hearts</em>), <a href="https://twitter.com/EveAinsworth" target="_blank">Eve Ainsworth</a>, (<em>Crush</em>) and <a href="https://twitter.com/JennyMcLachlan1" target="_blank">Jenny McLachlan</a> (<em>Starstruck</em>) followed by our #BigFatYAQuiz at 8pm.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There will be giveaways all through the weekend and you'll have the chance to ask the most talented YA authors from around the world your questions using the #YAtakeover hashtag. Keep an eye on our <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a> account where we have some giveaways currently running and more to follow!</span></span></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Twitter interviews will be themed and include anywhere between two and four authors. Tweet us your thoughts with the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a> hashtag and follow the author reveals on <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yafictionados/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. We want to know what you think so tell us your favourite 2016 reads, your favourite authors, genres, book covers and all your bookish banter. Don't forget the #YAtakeover hashtag.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAflqsVh5H95OqDfoFs6AwhzETUuwg-poNrXA8qJACii-KSfj43r-zfMr_6DnKgHaDvwpIKziAFOo6ZQJwJmzgzt0Ab1KrsAqoVX5WZrE7kJPfHTXABeBwPt5VJJheET_2DkQ1vS_wvsw/s1600/%2523YAtakeover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAflqsVh5H95OqDfoFs6AwhzETUuwg-poNrXA8qJACii-KSfj43r-zfMr_6DnKgHaDvwpIKziAFOo6ZQJwJmzgzt0Ab1KrsAqoVX5WZrE7kJPfHTXABeBwPt5VJJheET_2DkQ1vS_wvsw/s320/%2523YAtakeover.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCh3sbaFw7umd3i8q3-CSaS1OM4fHdgo5_NiUH-2LZbmbSlfd4kGqgdU538QpuaxbBDBuvV-FRdvjAC9Q8S7xmC6iYHm4XQkj5UwfP7J2kX0MDEZfm9xu60rK4R6PdewdbYsvpZhvb-8/s1600/11401309_803994953042135_826462040895493030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCh3sbaFw7umd3i8q3-CSaS1OM4fHdgo5_NiUH-2LZbmbSlfd4kGqgdU538QpuaxbBDBuvV-FRdvjAC9Q8S7xmC6iYHm4XQkj5UwfP7J2kX0MDEZfm9xu60rK4R6PdewdbYsvpZhvb-8/s200/11401309_803994953042135_826462040895493030_n.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christopher Moore:</span></strong></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Christopher is a co-founder of the YAfictionados blog and is best known as <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the </span></span></span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://twitter.com/YAblooker" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">YAblooker</span></a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">. He is a twenty-five year old book blogger who has previously worked in marketing and consumer insight for various publishing houses and writes in his spare time. He loves to travel and will read anything YA-related and some general fiction and fantasy.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div style="clear: both;"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-87243679497557013002016-08-01T11:45:00.000+01:002016-08-01T11:45:00.230+01:00The #YAtakeover 2.0<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The </span><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">#YAtakeover</span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> is a 3-day, digital Young Adult (YA) festival unlike any other, taking place from the 19th August until the 21st August. Join us for live Twitter interviews with your favourite YA authors from around the world, our #BigFatYAQuiz, giveaways, Twitter chats and more. It all kicks off with out Twitter chat on bullying at 7pm GMT with <a href="https://twitter.com/susinnielsen" target="_blank">Susin Nielsen</a> (<em>We Are All Made of Molecules</em>), <a href="https://twitter.com/ERMurray" target="_blank">E. R. Murray</a> (<em>Caramel Hearts</em>), <a href="https://twitter.com/EveAinsworth" target="_blank">Eve Ainsworth</a>, (<em>Crush</em>) and <a href="https://twitter.com/JennyMcLachlan1" target="_blank">Jenny McLachlan</a> (<em>Starstruck</em>) followed by our #BigFatYAQuiz at 8pm.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There will be giveaways all through the weekend and you'll have the chance to ask the most talented YA authors from around the world your questions using the #YAtakeover hashtag. Keep an eye on our <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">@YAfictionados</a> account where we have some giveaways currently running and more to follow!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Twitter interviews will be themed and include anywhere between two and four authors. Tweet us your thoughts with the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23YAtakeover&src=typd" target="_blank">#YAtakeover</a> hashtag and follow the author reveals on <a href="https://twitter.com/YAfictionados" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yafictionados/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. We want to know what you think so tell us your favourite 2016 reads, your favourite authors, genres, book covers and all your bookish banter. Don't forget the #YAtakeover hashtag.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-14661724901026584662016-06-20T19:43:00.000+01:002016-06-20T19:43:03.943+01:00What I learned from the Lancashire book of the year award<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4YPmV4tjxIhypMfUk9oJ2IFwN6UR-t-Rk5Dyk-6cluPQAfXTLWBjUMwp4uhF8vQ_BcnbkGiNnlAzrf4nc3_k20zTuPxp2g-gVw-WvecpaAxxQtaT-xYAKWBBKp_x6czCyS1YvnDXGVQ/s1600/LBOY+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4YPmV4tjxIhypMfUk9oJ2IFwN6UR-t-Rk5Dyk-6cluPQAfXTLWBjUMwp4uhF8vQ_BcnbkGiNnlAzrf4nc3_k20zTuPxp2g-gVw-WvecpaAxxQtaT-xYAKWBBKp_x6czCyS1YvnDXGVQ/s320/LBOY+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This weekend, I had the absolute honour and privilege to be
involved with the <a href="http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/libraries/lancashires-book-of-the-year.aspx" target="_blank">Lancashire book of the year award</a>. For those of you that don’t
know, the shortlist and the winner are all selected by young people. Chaired by
<a href="https://twitter.com/Jake_Hope" target="_blank">Jake Hope</a>, the young people spoke about their initial impressions, feelings and
thoughts on the shortlisted titles. Jake was fantastic at facilitating healthy
debate between the students and really digging deep to the root of why they liked
and championed particular books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Young Adult (YA) literature, in recent years, has covered some
hard-hitting subject areas including sex, rape culture, mental health and war
and the shortlisted titles this year really echo this darker content in
showcasing themes ranging from terrorism to horror. Each of the titles on the
shortlist exhibited different issues that challenged the young people which became apparent in the two author panels; </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Jake chaired an author panel that explored the horror genre (with <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Bell86" target="_blank">Alex Bell</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeoAuthor" target="_blank">Leo Hunt</a>, <a href="http://simoncheshire.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simon Cheshire</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/WHusseyAuthor" target="_blank">William Hussey</a>) while I chaired a panel that explored the representation of teenagers in YA literature (with <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlaSpradbery" target="_blank">Carla Spradbery</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/eleanor_wood" target="_blank">Eleanor Wood</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JeannieWaudby" target="_blank">Jeannie Waudby</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahmussi" target="_blank">Sarah Mussi</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This was the first time I had participated in an event with
young people and I was struck by just how honest and articulate the judges
were. To quote David Bowie: “<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">children… as they try to change their worlds are immune to your
consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through...” This was
evident in the judging process. The judges didn’t hold back on what they
thought but more admirable still were the advocates that stuck to their guns
and defended the titles they loved in front of twenty-four of their peers. We
have this perception at times that we know what is best for young people. We
think we need to censor stories and monitor how we speak to
them but as shortlisted author, William Hussey said in his author panel, the
worst thing you can thing is to speak down to and patronise young people. </span></span><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Young
people are well aware of the issues and themes that are dealt with in these
books. It was clear to me that they didn’t just read these books. They had
spoken about them to friends and family. If they liked it, they really thought
about why it was that they liked it and analysed these different elements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroEXJRz_1R36uPJk-_gDraLKE5AdmdfGT9tNy1CRZQz3nCbF4Z9hqmnZ2oci9YvXEbAe4SiEqKqahlnZbtmmppGQkfYHijrmOE5eoSIa5uP9EiUtAy83Hvkf6Cq32Br6MkvUsWYRFQx4/s1600/Normal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroEXJRz_1R36uPJk-_gDraLKE5AdmdfGT9tNy1CRZQz3nCbF4Z9hqmnZ2oci9YvXEbAe4SiEqKqahlnZbtmmppGQkfYHijrmOE5eoSIa5uP9EiUtAy83Hvkf6Cq32Br6MkvUsWYRFQx4/s320/Normal.jpg" width="209" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/holly_bourneYA" target="_blank">Holly Bourne</a> emerged victorious with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Am I
Normal Yet?</i> The young people had so many interesting comments to make. One
boy mentioned how he lent the book to a friend that suffered from mental health
issues and she could immediately relate to Evie and her experiences. Another
girl commented on how depression, anxiety and depression (and other similar
conditions) are “invisible illnesses” and how when people talk about cancer, it
is treatment with a seriousness and respect that most don’t show for conditions
pertaining to mental health. I spoke to a small group of the judges after the
ceremony itself and asked, as this is a book about OCD and mental health, was
it a book solely for people that experienced it? I was met with rather heated
replies that it is useful to know this information so that they don’t judge others
and that it has helped them to understand what some of their friends, family
and peers might be going through. I found this a very heartening and
encouraging message. I went on to ask a couple of boys if they felt they could
relate to Evie; did it matter that she was a girl and that some of the
experiences would probably be more geared towards girls than boys? No, it didn’t
matter because they were able to understand the essence of the character. They
could get inside her head and really understand the complexities of the
decisions she made. In particular, they felt that by going on a journey with
Evie, they were better able, and equipped, to understand more about mental
health and OCD.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the
main ceremony, I was moved by a round of insightful, touching comments about
what being a judge meant to each of the young people. They felt they had a
voice and a responsibility to pick the right book. Reading the shortlisted (and
longlisted titles) broadened their horizons and spurred them on to be more
open-minded. The boys in particular were quite surprised that they enjoyed romance
stories. The girls were more receptive to horror than they expected to be. I
think this is a clear sign that the “boy books” and “girl books” mentality has
gone out the window and today’s generation are learning to be more open-minded
and receptive to a wider sphere of themes and genres within the books they
choose to read.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A huge
congratulations to all of the authors involved. Jake said to me that,
while there must be a winner, there was a real sense that every author that was
nominated was already a winner. This might sound clichéd but it’s true. There
was a champion in the room for each of the shortlisted books and to know that
that book resonated with even one person in the room is incredible in itself.
That one book leads to another book and another and that book becomes more than
just a book; it becomes a gateway into a world of books and the key to fostering a love of
reading for that reader.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU0Jdeb_pBS1VVQgz4fOihrtyGXnebGHiNPs1MIgox8kAMqZfThC2YqKF_Pv1N3jsJ6e8P-EsUsBMlqsvvd-w4vzIIwwpTSTbW18Rx3-G-CnivYdY2rdE47n40qndVS37PN9uq67F3RY/s1600/lboy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRU0Jdeb_pBS1VVQgz4fOihrtyGXnebGHiNPs1MIgox8kAMqZfThC2YqKF_Pv1N3jsJ6e8P-EsUsBMlqsvvd-w4vzIIwwpTSTbW18Rx3-G-CnivYdY2rdE47n40qndVS37PN9uq67F3RY/s320/lboy+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've learned so much by attending this event. I've discovered that young people have an appetite to read and know what they want to read and how they want it to be presented. They understand the big issues that this year's shortlist have posed and made some poignant and insightful remarks around each of the books. As Sarah Mussi commented, we live in dark times. One has to turn on the radio or the TV, surf the net, login in to social media or pick up the Metro to discover the horrific things that are happening in the world. We must remember that young people see, hear and think about these issues and news events. We must understand that they have their own views and self-awareness and this needs to be represented in the stories that are written with them in mind. Sarah added that young people cut through the BS. They are the toughest audience to write for and she aims for the Everest peaks when it comes to a challenge. This is why she writes for them and this is what she finds so special about writing for young people, a sentiment that was echoed by many of the authors I spoke to. We must remember to champion well-rounded characters and not be afraid to tackle big issues. We must not patronise young people. They have their own minds and views: let them decide what they think of a book and allow them to be challenges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><a href="https://twitter.com/lancspublib" target="_blank">Lancashire libraries</a> has captured most of the key comments on the day. I implore you to check out what the authors said and more importantly, the comments from some of the young people judging the prize. Some really interesting comments too around <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23LBOY2016&src=typd" target="_blank">#LBOY2016</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I want
to thank everyone that made it possible for me to be involved and a special
thanks to Jake who is a dear friend that chaired the horror author panel
and the judging process in what can only be summed up as spectacular.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15969651050875578614noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4245945046123738700.post-61977518973965225362016-06-20T16:58:00.001+01:002016-06-20T19:24:11.571+01:00'One' book with the heart of two: 'One' book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo8Uh9FET99mR8j2vULzvmxsyAC87hpVcVk2wIg7xuPYSRlCxlnm0mvqCLwKGF8OEzNIy_OwW-ArXXP9fpzPKLMJUTyiqKZ3qMg7MVvdzSdCVESQNGR954Zvw1FFyF5rPx6bk8JkL_7U/s1600/One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQo8Uh9FET99mR8j2vULzvmxsyAC87hpVcVk2wIg7xuPYSRlCxlnm0mvqCLwKGF8OEzNIy_OwW-ArXXP9fpzPKLMJUTyiqKZ3qMg7MVvdzSdCVESQNGR954Zvw1FFyF5rPx6bk8JkL_7U/s320/One.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><strong>'One' by Sarah Crossan</strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Review by Christopher Moore</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Summary:</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Grace and Tippi are twins - conjoined twins. And their lives are about to change. No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world - a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love? But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined...From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate? Winner of The CILIP Carnegie Medal in 2016.</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: red;">Review:</span></strong></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <br /><br />The first book I ever read by Sarah Crossan was <em>Apple and Rain</em>. Apple and Rain stuck to me like glue so I knew One was a winner from the start. I love that it’s written in verse; firstly, because it is beautiful and the poetic nature adds layers of meaning to the little complexities of Tippi’s and Grace’s stories and secondly, because this style and the white space makes it easier for those with reading difficulties to enjoy.<br /><br />It’s hard to say what my favourite part of this book was. Let’s start with the cover and remark on how beautiful the new jacket is. Tippi and Grace – there’s too much to say. They are beautiful human beings. The meaning behind their names, their passion and support for each other is emotional in small gestures and in key scenes, heart-shattering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favourite character though, is probably Dragon. I love how she supports her sisters. She never complains that their parents’ attention is focused on them. She doesn’t protest when she is denied the opportunity to travel to Russia and dance. The scene where she helps Tippi and Grace climb a tree was probably one of my favourites. I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone.<br /><br />Crossan infuses other issues into the story to create a multi-faceted narrative that ticks all my boxes and ones I never even knew existed. Alcoholism, financial constraint, family, friendship, love; One has it all but none of this overshadows Tippi’s and Grace’s incredible bond. The panoramic scenes are as short as a few words and as long as six pages but this episodic scenes knit together to create the seamless, over-arching story. I don’t know how to sum up how I feel articulately because <em>One</em> has left me feeling rather emotional, grasping at oxygen atoms like they might somehow lend me the words I need to describe what is a story that draws tears, induces laughter and brings an eye-crinkling smile that touches your eyes.<br /><br />Sarah Crossan’s <em>One</em> is sadder than:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Titanic</em></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>My Dog Skip</em> (this movie devastated me as a child)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Marley & Me</em> (beginning to see a trend?)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><em>Stay</em> by the Shakespeare Sisters</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Paris Hilton’s attempts at a pop career</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But it was like: </span></div>
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Your first kiss that fizzles through your body and sends hundreds of fireworks firing off in your head</div>
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That rush of adrenaline you get right before a big race</div>
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The feeling you get when someone smiles at you and it makes you smile from the inside out</div>
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The feeling you get when you see tragedy on the news and while you send out prayers into the universe, it brings your family closer together, making you cherish every hug, kiss breath and step.</div>
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Nothing I ever say about <em>One</em> will ever do it justice. It’s refreshing and poignant and it touched my heart in ways I never thought possible. It very nearly brought me to tears but it made me want to reach into the book and hold Tippi and Grace so tight that I’d never let them go. It made me laugh and opened up the corners of my world to be a little kinder, a little gentler and to never be afraid to love and live who and how I want.</div>
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I can't do a giveaway for this book because between these pages is a story and each word is perfectly placed and that placement and the sheer weight of those words creates what can only be described as perfection. It would have been a grave injustice if Sarah Crossan didn't win the Carnegie Medal 2016. Congratulations, Sarah!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpX0s0C63EI2_mFFB2z6YDByKvVfmQfTZ1tFm1s9SLhQZF1CS1dDsODoNavR1FbBkfbMf33mt3YRnGzAt2QlGgwk3OLwrgxMrMVWR896QTz8WQ5GyP_OSNMbHVFHNhZFlUdXNEnQkZJLQ/s1600/qRVtpSce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u><strong><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Christopher Moore:</span></strong></u></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.54px;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Christopher is a co-founder of the YAfictionados blog and is best known as <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the </span></span></span><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://twitter.com/YAblooker" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">YAblooker</span></a></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">. He is a twenty-five year old book blogger who has previously worked in marketing and consumer insight for various publishing houses and writes in his spare time. He loves to travel and will read anything YA-related and some general fiction and fantasy.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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