tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post3399141538157554169..comments2024-03-26T07:24:43.732+00:00Comments on Words&Pictures: Ask A Publisher - Q&A with Sara O'Connor, Editorial Director at Hot Key Books Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-72835927183858780322013-06-18T23:50:19.455+01:002013-06-18T23:50:19.455+01:00If only I had bought just one graphic novel in the...If only I had bought just one graphic novel in the last six months! I came to comics and graphic fiction later in life, and it's been a pleasure to rediscover some of the classic Marvel and DC comics with my kids. I'm currently avidly collecting <i>Scott Pilgrim</i> (the new colour versions are awesome) and I'd recommend the <i>Fables</i> series which I have about 15 volumes of! Another vote for <i>Persepolis</i> too (especially after Chicago's School Board tried to ban it!)Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-44715819973421438102013-06-18T08:19:42.346+01:002013-06-18T08:19:42.346+01:00Thank You Sara. This is such brilliant insight in ...Thank You Sara. This is such brilliant insight in the publishing mind! And I love that you say ' As with a lot of books we publish, it’s not easily classified into any particular niche,'.<br /><br />To answer your question, I haven't bought a graphic novel in the last six months but I do own a copy of Tamara Drewe that pre dates the film. I'd love to get my hands on Gemma Bovery. I love Posy Simmonds (what I've read and haven't read enough yet) because reading Tamara Drewe was better than watching the film because aside from great drawing and writing, reading a graphic novel has the privacy of reading a book as opposed to watching a film and but the illustration - seeing the mind of the author- increases that. Not sure if that makes sense yet!Jan Carrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11335419896028312596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-39944866541429963802013-06-17T19:18:18.553+01:002013-06-17T19:18:18.553+01:00I found this very interesting re: graphic novels. ...I found this very interesting re: graphic novels. My first book (haven't written a second YA yet) came out last year with half text, half sequential graphics. The students on school visits love the concept, though interestingly, some of adults who have read it felt that the graphics got in their way.<br />I am a great believer in illustration for all ages, and in all genres - though the editing process with the publisher (to accommodate so many graphics in my book) felt very, very long! I had to lose a lot of words . . . but that was okay as most of them were adjectives!<br />I adored working with an illustrator - seeing my story come to life through someone else's eyes has to be one of the most joyous things that I have experienced.<br />I too loved A Monster Calls. I too worry about my offspring's reading choices. I too enjoy these posts!<br />Wow, that was a major ramble in a very small box! <br />zella comptonhttp://www.zellacompton.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-46021285138284497752013-06-17T19:15:14.820+01:002013-06-17T19:15:14.820+01:00Not necessarily for younger readers, but I'd r...Not necessarily for younger readers, but I'd recommend Y: The Last Man series and the Alan Moore classics - V for Vendetta, Watchmen & From Hell. MC Rogersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13735238884673302488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-83944684883784160522013-06-17T18:43:08.026+01:002013-06-17T18:43:08.026+01:00There are some wonderful graphic novels out there,...There are some wonderful graphic novels out there, depending on what age groups you're looking for. <br /><br />I I think "I Kill Giants," is a really wonderful graphic novel for all ages, and is incredibly similar to the beautiful novel "A Monster Calls," by Patrick Ness.<br /><br />There is also Persepolis, which is incredible. <br /><br />As far as adult oriented graphic novels, Watchmen is incredibly character driven and brilliant, and I hear great things about Sandman. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10874337247966169407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-17146876575218459562013-06-17T18:42:29.326+01:002013-06-17T18:42:29.326+01:00I do enjoy illustrated books as well and it has be...I do enjoy illustrated books as well and it has been great to see Maggot Moon getting the recognition it deserves. I was at the launch at FreeWord Centre and was fascinated by the story behind it. It is a great story by Sally and the design and the drawings are also brilliant.<br />Apologies for my mistake in my earlier comment - Isobel's JournAL.Amanda Lillywhitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024122783094176731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-63880028566116638582013-06-17T15:42:19.464+01:002013-06-17T15:42:19.464+01:00Now, THAT is a great title. Hilarious!Now, THAT is a great title. Hilarious!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-88894197382125206272013-06-17T15:39:00.900+01:002013-06-17T15:39:00.900+01:00Ooh, ANYA'S GHOST looks right up my street! An...Ooh, ANYA'S GHOST looks right up my street! And I hadn't seen Malorie Blackman's list. Thanks for pointing that out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-35340461655439287392013-06-17T15:38:41.644+01:002013-06-17T15:38:41.644+01:00I love reading these posts, and I can't wait t...I love reading these posts, and I can't wait to get my hands on Isobel’s Journal. Fingers crossed graphic novels or more novels with illustrations for older fiction will become the next big thing. I got Anya's Ghost for Christmas and loved it, which then prompted me to buy The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil, which I am obsessively making all my friends now buy because it's SO good. Gemma Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08614433692914150518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-80385769111576641442013-06-17T14:39:27.278+01:002013-06-17T14:39:27.278+01:00Thanks Sara and SCWBI for a great Q &A
i'v...Thanks Sara and SCWBI for a great Q &A<br />i've recently bought Anya's Ghost, Persepolis, Friends with Boys and Susceptible and reviewed some of them here:<br />http://www.jongleuse.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/graphic-novels-for-teens.html<br />Late as I am to the party I have really enjoyed them despite my advanced age!jongleusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06754014776263314905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-8718887783455871542013-06-17T14:29:46.877+01:002013-06-17T14:29:46.877+01:00Wow, RUMBLE STRIP looks totally fascinating!
(htt...Wow, RUMBLE STRIP looks totally fascinating! <br />(http://www.myriadeditions.com/Rumble-Strip) I've never seen a social issue graphic novel like that before -- which just provies your point that people don't know about the variety.<br /><br />Kudos to you for spreading the word!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-80217655705333662862013-06-17T14:24:53.484+01:002013-06-17T14:24:53.484+01:00I do think reading is reading regardless - but it&...I do think reading is reading regardless - but it's definitely good as her parent to guide her to branching out into things she wouldn't choose for herself. So, maybe, you switch it around and for every three graphic novels, she reads one (really awesome) text book -- what you don't want is for her to associate text books with that "aw, Mum" feeling... because there are plenty of great using-words-but-very-visual books for visual thinkers to enjoy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-61541513353226278832013-06-17T14:12:27.407+01:002013-06-17T14:12:27.407+01:00Any favourites to recommend?Any favourites to recommend?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-76172947836654030802013-06-17T14:09:10.013+01:002013-06-17T14:09:10.013+01:00Any specific graphic novel recommendations?
As fo...Any specific graphic novel recommendations?<br /><br />As for your second book, you took the time you needed to get it right! And your (brilliant) publisher knows that's the most important thing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-54987827942967394432013-06-17T13:47:29.428+01:002013-06-17T13:47:29.428+01:00I buy graphic novels and comics, read them, borrow...I buy graphic novels and comics, read them, borrow them from the library and blog about them. My most recent purchase was last week - Rumble Strip by Woodrow Phoenix.<br /><br />Personally I prefer to browse this kind of book when it is separated from text only books - I'm either interested in one or the other, not both at the same time. But I can understand the argument for mixing graphic novels in with other types of books. There are still a lot of preconceptions about graphic novels and people quite often don't realise the tremendous variety that is out there - this way they might make happy discoveries. By graphic novel I mean books where text and images constantly work together to tell the story but of course there are many other books that fall somewhere between this and text only.<br /><br />I look forward to seeing Isobel's Journey when it is published.Amanda Lillywhitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024122783094176731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-68488011247767739442013-06-17T13:34:59.008+01:002013-06-17T13:34:59.008+01:00Hi Sara thanks again for an interesting post. My 8...Hi Sara thanks again for an interesting post. My 8 year old girl is massively into graphic novels/comic books at the moment. We get them from the library. I usually have to nag a bit to get her to read a 'straight' novel but she's always happy to pick up one of these. It's my prejudice I suppose but I find myself saying 'only one graphic novel' at the library when she comes back with a fistful and no 'normal' books. I wonder if this is wrong? Is reading 'reading' regardless of format?Emma Greenwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15690376433079802026noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-72091702793844775932013-06-17T12:34:04.491+01:002013-06-17T12:34:04.491+01:00We haven't bought any graphic novels in the la...We haven't bought any graphic novels in the last 6 months, but have taken out plenty from the library. On average, we buy around 3 a year.MC Rogersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13735238884673302488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1222814162697318696.post-47978763062428214912013-06-17T10:16:35.771+01:002013-06-17T10:16:35.771+01:00Hi Sara!
Thanks for this.
In answer to your que...Hi Sara! <br /><br />Thanks for this.<br /><br />In answer to your question, yes I have purchased a graphic novel in the past couple of months. And unsurprisingly, like my fiction, I like character-led graphic novels ... though the art will swing me into buying something that I wouldn't otherwise read in another form. <br /><br />As for second novels, I've been a dreadful author and taken three years with my second book Shine. I just couldn't get it out any faster. My publisher has been very understanding ... but I'm sure they would have preferred a quick turnaround. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.com