Kid's Lit Quiz Heats 2012

The Kid's Lit Quiz Oxfordshire/Berkshire Heat took place last Friday at Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School in Oxford. Thirty-five teams from twenty-three schools battling it out to see who went through to the UK final in Coventry on December 6th - and from there to the world finals in Durban, South Africa next year.

To provide moral support - and test themselves against the teams - fourteen children's authors took part, offered up prizes and questions - and signed books throughout the event.

Many of our favourite children's authors were there, including (out of shot on left) Susie Day, Marie Louise Jensen, Sally Nicholls, and (from left to right in the photo above) Julia Golding, Michelle Harrison, Lucy Coats, Linda Newbery, MG Harris, Dennis Hamley and Richard Knight. The man in the hat incidentally is the legendary Kid's Lit quizmaster Wayne Mills.

(Richard's own experience of the quiz can be found here)

Quite a formidable line-up...with so many schools to co-ordinate between, and a tight schedule, the event is organised with military precision. We were there to support the authors with a bookstall - with a percentage of sales going towards costs of running the quiz:

The quiz was closely fought for more than two hours, but the teams emerging victorious were:

1st: Cherwell School 
2nd: Oxford High School #2
3rd: Abingdon School #1 (Yay! Go Abingdon!)

Think there was only a point or two in it...

Despite the time pressures, I did manage to catch up with several authors - and as always I'm struck by the sheer effort, hard work and creativity (from a business point of view) going on in what is a fast-changing and challenging environment in which to be an author. Many authors are embracing the digital world, and using the opportunity to do different things and experiment with publishing direct to eReaders - whilst still retaining a commitment to the physical book (and independent bookshops, it must be said).

(As an example, take a look at Michelle Harrison launching her own website Tickey End with merchandise inspired by objects adorning her 13 Treasures series. How cool is that?)

A big thank you to co-ordinator Jacky Atkinson for the opportunity to be a part of this global event - take a look here for more details about the Kid's Lit Quiz...

Not with a whimper, but with a bang: Apocalypse Moon by MG Harris

Apparently, in some of the murkier areas of the Internet, there is quite a bit of interest in an ancient Mayan calendar, one which ends sometime around Dec 21, 2012 - which therefore (according to some people) signifies the end of the world. Something similar will no doubt occur on August 31, 4500AD. That's the furthest forward you can go on Microsoft Outlook's calendar, so in some future (presumably dystopian) world, humanity - in thrall to the God "Billgates" - will no doubt be waiting for the end of the world as well...

Several authors have drawn inspiration from the 2012 end-of-the-world scenario, but none with as much invention and fun (or as successfully) as children's author MG Harris, with her five-series, rip-roaring, code-laden, time-travelling adventure The Joshua Files.

The first book 'Invisible City' launched in 2008, with 13 year-old Joshua Garcia (Josh) losing his father in a mysterious plane crash over Mexico. But all is not what it seems, and five years (and five books) later Josh finds himself facing events - in the explosive finale "Apocalypse Moon" - which threaten the end of civilization...

In the books, Josh goes to an (unnamed) school in Oxford, and there is a strong Oxford link throughout all five books. So it was very appropriate that the launch for the fifth book took place at two Oxford schools on March 27: Gregory The Great, and Oxford High. Mostly Books was very honoured to be helping out on the day...

The stories grew out of her own Mexican heritage, as well as from an adolescence reading Erich Von Däniken (I have to put my hand up on that score too). She has also drawn writing inspiration from authors such as Robert Heinlein, Murakami and Gabriel García Márquez. 

MG Harris spoke about her own journey as an author throughout the Joshua Files - and provided a fascinating insight into the life of a bestselling author (including the experiences of signing 5,000 books over a 16-odd hour period). It was particularly fascinating to discover that her books do very well not just in the UK, but in the US, Australia, Japan - and particularly Indonesia (who seem to get the best covers).  

Apocalypse Moon isn't 'officially' published until April 5th, so these fans from Cheney School were very happy to get a signed copy early. Especially as it comes in a rather sexy plastic gel slipcase...which gathered together make an excellent-looking display:

There were some very interesting questions throughout the day. Not the typical 'where do you get your ideas from', but rather: what books inspired you as a child ("dark occult thrillers"), how much do you earn as a writer ("about as much as a teacher"), would you ever write another Joshua Files book ("never say never") and the somewhat surreal 'what's your favourite takeaway'?

There were plenty of opportunities for photos:

and I was particularly impressed with the rock-star treatment we received at Oxford High including some reserved parking (which we never get!)

It was a great day - and our thanks to MG and the two schools for making it such a memorable day.

Even more exciting (for us) is that we are now in possession of signed copies of "Apocalypse Moon", available ahead of the launch date, with limited addition Joshua Files pins and signed postcards available.

Also, anyone purchasing a copy of the book over Easter automatically gets entered into our splendid Joshua Files competition, to win an extremely exclusive Joshua files bag and T-Shirt...and if you want to whet your appetite even more, take a look at the trailer that MG herself has put together...

So - if the world *does* end at the end of this year, MG Harris will have considered her work done. But in case the conspiracy theorists are out a bit (and we do have to wait for the 46th century) then here is some more insight into what MG Harris might do next...

Five questions with...MG Harris's Writing Life

1.    What are you working on at the moment?

An occult thriller, for 13+ (Young Adults).

2.    What is the best writing tip you’ve ever been given?

Read a lot - and extremely widely!

3.    What’s the best thing and the worst thing about being a children’s writer?

The best thing is the enthusiastic readers, who want to engage with the author. The worst thing is that certain structural changes in children's publishing are...challenging! That's all I'll say...

4.    Do you have a writer’s survival kit, eg a place, thing or snack essential before you can start work?

I write at my desk, but don't have to (it does have a nice big monitor). But really, if I have my lovely, lovely laptop I can write anywhere.

5.    What was your biggest breakthrough?

Meeting my agent, who gave me a whole new insight into the nature of children's books that helped shape the Joshua Files.

Dinosaurs, doggy paws, shark-phobia, Helliconia: The Kennington Literary Festival 2011

This was our third year as bookseller for the small but perfectly formed Kennington Literary Festival, a fantastic little festival which springs out of the passionate and thriving community surrounding Kennington Library - given added poignancy this year by the threats to the library's existence.

This year the festival welcomed the widest possible range of authors, from first time novelists to literary legends, poets, illustrators and local celebrities.

Newly-installed Oxford City Poet Kate Clanchy read poems, and extracts from her memoir Antigona and Me, in which Kate writes about the deepening friendship between her and a Kosovan immigrant whom she employed as a cleaner, and who becomes her friend. Kate uses her own story to explore many aspects of immigration, heimat and our treatment of immigrants in this country. We were also very pleased to have copies of the superb collection of science-inspired short stories she edited: Litmus (we have both books in the shop, and can really recommend them both).

In the main hall, Winnie The Witch illustrator extraordinaire Korky Paul sketched dinosaur portraits and read from the original Winnie book (25 years old next year). Korky also announced and presented prizes to a story and illustration competition held in the run-up to the Festival.

Science Fiction legend Brian Aldiss talked about his life in writing, and also discussed Oxford as a centre for fantasy fiction, in conversation with fantasy author Juliet McKenna.

I was very excited to meet Brian, whose books I consumed voraciously at school and university, and felt particularly privileged to discuss his views on the future of manned spaceflight for a few minutes whilst he signed. Brian was born in 1925, won a short story competition in the Observer in 1955, and then went on to become one of the true greats of Science Fiction - and definitely the grandmaster described on his website. He is also an accomplished poet and (exhibited) artist.

He and Juliet were heading off to the Cheltenham Festival that afternoon, and had other events lined up the following day. Truly inspiring.

A change of tack in the afternoon. Local authors Margaret Pelling and Frank Egerton spoke about their novels Diamond in the Sky and Invisible respectively. MG Harris talked about her bestselling books for confident readers The Joshua Files (and gave news of next year's final installment, with its sexy black cover).

Bill Heine was utterly compelling in talking about 25 years of the Headington Shark. Never heard of the Headington Shark? I'll bet this looks familiar:

The shark celebrated its 25th birthday in August, and Bill has published the definitive account of its history. Bill is a local celebrity and broadcaster on BBC Radio Oxford who, I think it's fair to say, divides opinion. The same can be said of the shark, whose arrival in 1986 on a well-to-do suburban street (an artistic response to the threat of nuclear war) caused all kinds of conflicts, court battles and ultimately led to a ruling from the then home secretary which has had implications for planning laws ever since.

It is frankly an incredible story, particularly concerning the court battles that Bill lost time and again (comprehensively, expensively) and yet the shark survived. Bill is a master storyteller, holding his audience rapt (albeit running out of time). The book has been beautifully produced by OxfordFolio and is a work of art itself, and of course we have signed copies in the shop...

After the authors had signed books and met fans, the local author and journalist Helen Peacocke led a local walk to tie in with her latest dog-friendly walking guide "Paws Along The Way".

Kennington has a very family-friendly reputation. The Friends of Kennington Library laid on tea, coffee and cake (amongst other refreshments) and lots of volunteers gave up a very sunny October Saturday to ensure the event was a big success. Thanks to them, to the authors - and thanks for inviting us to take part too.

Kennington Literary Festival 2010

On Saturday, April 24 we sold books at the first Kennington Literary Festival - organised by the Friends of Kennington Library, and wonderfully supported by the local community. Kennington is, ooh, about 2 miles from Oxford - so you might think that the last thing needed is another literary festival, but compared to the industrial bookselling juggernaut that is the Oxford Literary Festival, this couldn't have been more different, and the better for it. A great speaker list, based around a wonderful community library. Speakers included The Joshua Files' author MG Harris...

...who was interviewed by BBC Oxford's Bill Heine...

...and Helen Rappaport was there talking about her latest book Beautiful Forever, the life of 'Madam Rachel' a notorious Victorian cosmetic fraudster... ...and whilst the adults watched the authors, there was plenty for the kids to do... All in all, a wonderful day, and we were very proud to be invited. It all bodes well for 2011...