Literary birthdays – an ongoing feature.

After some Googling, I’ve found some excellent sites for author birthdays for literary fiction, juvenile fiction and for science fiction and fantasy fiction.

I’m implementing the observance of author birthdays as an exercise to make sure I write something for this blog as close to every day as possible, much as I do with “The Anti-Apollyon Diaries” in my personal journal when appropriate.

[Side note - I thought I was being so clever by making the connection that "Apollyon" is very nearly an anagram of "Pollyanna", but I've had to explain it too many times to too many people. Sigh.]

Hopefully, my Gentle Readers, you will like this feature as much as the nonsense I post in my personal journal.

—pmc2

Author landmark dates.

[Cannibalized slightly from my personal journal, and updated through the kind offices of Chris Roberson.]

A birthday that I missed this week was that of Robert E. Howard, born on January 22, 1906.  I had all good intentions of writing an eloquent post on his works and his lasting creations.  But since I’ve missed that deadline, I am instead going to direct you to a marvelous biography called BLOOD AND THUNDER, written by Mark Finn and published by Chris Roberson’s MonkeyBrain Books.  A synopsis can be found at http://www.monkeybrainbooks.com/Blood_and_Thunder.html.

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I am, however, on time for two birthdays today.

The first is that of Jules Feiffer, one of my favorite illustrators of works of his own and that of others.  He is the illustrator for my favorite book of all time, THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH… in my eyes, his drawings are as integral to the story as Norton Juster’s words.

The second is that of Philip Jose Farmer, an author whose works opened my eyes in much the same way that Harlan Ellison’s and Theodore Sturgeon’s did.

The first Riverworld book remains burned on the retina of my mind’s eye.  I’ve always had a fascination with stories where the worlds described are just as vital characters in the story as the protagonists and antagonists.

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Natal greetings to all, in flesh and in spirit.

—pmc2

Busy thoughts bubbling upwards.

Some scattershot bibliphiliac things for you all, while I live up to my moniker of “Really Tired JOATAMON By Day” and desperately play catchup:

* The explanation for my earlier entry regarding word use of “media” as inclusive of books was because I wanted to know whether my Gentle Readers thought calling a new company “_____________ Books and Media” was redundant.  As a corollary, I wondered whether those of you seeking books on the Internet would click on a URL that had “media” in its title, or whether you would assume that something like LokiMedia.com only sells computer games.

My thanks for the input received over at LiveJournal.  If you still want to weigh in here, please chime in at http://booksellerbynight.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/words-that-keep-me-up-at-night/

* The finalists in all categories of the 2007 Cybils awards have been announced and can be found at http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/finalists/index.html.

* Author/illustrator James A. Owen and his assorted colleagues at Coppervale International have announced, over at http://coppervale.livejournal.com/128723.html, the opening of a new children’s bookstore for new and used titles. 

I have to say on a personal level that I not only love the concept, but the name. 

“Crossroads” as symbol, as idea, has always resonated with me.  In this year of 2008, it sings even louder. 

You can find James’ “Crossroads” at http://www.crossroads-books.com/main.sc.

—pmc2

Teens & Kids Fantasy & Scifi Convention

Reprinted with permission from Julie Holderman.  Something that bridges a gap and fills a need.  It’s been a long time in coming.

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Welcome!
We love fantasy and science fiction (F&SF) conventions. LoveloveLOVE them. We love the dealer rooms, art shows, intimate conversations with favorite authors and editors, video and anime rooms, readings—oh, yes, and the panel discussions with our favorite personalities.The only thing we wish cons had more of was teen (YA, or young adult) and kid (children’s) fantasy and science fiction content. Let’s face it, teen and kid F&SF is rocketing. We can thank that Certain Boy Wizard in part, and we can thank the current Kid Boom for both sales and for the variety of content for readers not technically classed as adult. But when it comes to the presence of kidlit authors at conventions? Our favorite conventions welcome writers of content for younger readers, but these writers are in the minority at the con. Often kidlit writers are treated by members of adult F&SF cons in a manner that is patronizing at best, snubbing or scornful at worst. In recent months this has been a growing burr under our saddles, until chance remarks after a recent con got us to talking about the place of YA and kids’ F&SF in the literary world in general.

Ours is an outsider arena–not mainstream enough for the purely kidlit crowd, not adult enough for the F&SF purists. And yet, most F&SF readers were introduced to the genres as kids and still re-read their favorites, if they don’t continue to read the new F&SF which is being published for younger readers! We run into as many adult readers of kidlit at cons as we do actual, real, well—you know—kids and teens!

Following a long and fruitless hunt for a kidlit con, we started talking about making our own. Think of it, folks. Your dream date: writers, editors, star booksellers, artists, critics, art, videos, anime, and a dealer’s room filled with treats. Panel topics about the art you love, discussions on publishing books for children and teens, what works (what lasts) in movies for kids. A con for the well-read, regardless of age, featuring the writers who changed your life.

That’s what we’re doing here. A project of this size needs a lot of active participation in its planning and execution. In other words, we need help, in the form of volunteers, ideas, and funding. This is where we open the floor to you all for suggestions, recommendations, and all of the assistance we can get. Do you know anyone who might provide us with grant money? (Can you write grants?) Are you willing to work on a con committee, and in what capacity? Have you started a convention and are you willing to give advice on starting a convention? Who would you like to see, as guests and as the first Guests of Honor (writer and artist)? Your input is welcome!

Julie Holderman and Tamora Pierce
The current founders

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This community for the planning stages for such an event can be found on LiveJournal at http://community.livejournal.com/ya_fsf_con/.  Take a peek.

This is also an opportunity to remind my Gentle Readers that I’m still looking for convention information for THIS year – 2008 – the year I continue to get out from behind my computer and go out into the world.

That inquiry can be found at http://booksbynight.livejournal.com/25629.html.

Thanks!

—pmc2

Words that keep me up at night.

Please answer me either Yes or No in the comments, and whether you do answer Yes or No, please explain your answer.

When you hear the word “media”, do you think of books as being included in its definition?

Thanks for your input.

—pmc2