Ten-Minute Blog Break - 15th October

The Blog Break is 30 weeks young! (OK, I missed 25 and it's a long way to 50, so this will have to do). I've forgotten the cake, but there are some nice looking treats in this month's header image - though they may taste vaguely of embroidery.

John Shelley popped his head above the parapet for a rare bit of blogging at the weekend. Comfortably installed in his new house and studio, John gives a sneak peek of a stunning new illustrated map project, and introduces his adorable new assistant.

Take cover, bibliophobes, because there are librarians, librarians everywhere! Savita Kalhan blogs over at the edge about the impact that libraries had on her childhood and guiding her towards becoming a writer. It's a story that will be familiar to many of us, not least self-proclaimed "librarian's pet" Candy Gourlay. Candy finally tips over the edge into library madness this week, as she presents the School Librarian of the Year Award and writes a blog post so long that it has its own index. But we'll let her off, because school librarians are the superheroes of the literacy world.

Nicki Thornton takes up the reins of Space on the Bookshelf to give a review of the shortlist for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. It's the only children's fiction award selected by fellow writers, and from the sound of things it's going to be a tough competition

Meanwhile, over the other side of the world, Trish Phillips bids you G'day with a post about all things arty, crafty and booky in Western Australia. Trish goes on the Shaun Tan trail and proves that wherever in the world you go, there's always a SCBWI member nearby.

Finally, it may feel like everyone you know is a writer, but spare a thought for Iceland, where a staggering one person in ten will publish a book. Their librarians must be actual superheroes!

Nick.


Nick Cross is a children's writer, blogger and all-round techno-ninja. In 2010 he was a winner of Undiscovered Voices with his zombie comedy Back from the Dead.

This week on his blog, Nick puts on his Ask Agony Author hat, to help mega-selling writer J.K. Rolling-Pin.

1 comment:

  1. Congratulations Nick on bringing the Blog Break to Maturity! 30 posts is a decent age:)

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