The Nine Million Book Giveaway

11 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by sherylbooks in News, Publishing News, Worthy Causes Tags: , , , ,

According The Guardian, McDonalds UK have announced that they will be giving away NINE MILLION (yep, you read that right, NINE MILLION) books with Happy Meals.  The partnership between HarperCollins UK and McDonalds is one way of reaching out to a population of families not inclined to cross the threshold of bookshops or libraries. While the food is not to my taste (I know I know, I’m not exactly the target audience for a Happy Meal), the books are of a high calibre.  They’ve been penned by the former Children’s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo.  According to Viv Bird of the National Booktrust, “This partnership with McDonald’s Happy Meals and HarperCollins sends a really powerful message that reading is for everyone.”  And it’s just the kind of message needed.

Don’t worry if you’re not a Happy Meal type, you can buy the Mudpuddle Farm books at McDonalds minus the meal.

The Puppy, Pumas and The Tour de Nerdfighting 2012

11 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Events, for teens Tags: , , , , ,

The Fault in Our Stars was released yesterday by author John Green and since he’s one of my fav young adult authors, I can’t wait to get my hands on it.  To celebrate, he and his brother Hank (a musician,vlogger and fellow nerd)  are touring from now until the end of January.  The Puppy, Pumas and The Tour de Nerdfighting 2012 could be in a town near you soon, so check out the brothers’ vlog entry below for a map. And yes fellow west coasters, this time they’re coming to Vancouver!

Books and joy

10 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, for teens Tags:

I stayed up late reading, as usual.  Books bring such pleasure into my life.  Here’s a little video that speaks of a more whimsical sort of joy.  Enjoy!

The Reviewer/Author relationship

08 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by sherylbooks in Reviews, Writing Life Tags: , , , ,

It seems like these days, everyone is a reviewer.  One of my fav bogs is YA Highway.   Yesterday (Jan. 6, 2011) Veronica Roth posted a really thoughtful piece on the reviewer/author relationship.  Whether you are an author, reviewer or a consumer of books, it’s well worth your time.

It certainly got me thinking about my approach to books and blogging.  I started blogging because I love books, I love talking about them, and I love reading about other people’s take on the books they’ve been reading.  Some bloggers tend to take reviewing very seriously, but my approach to blogging tends to be personal.  I blog about all sorts of things aside from books…gardening, dragon boating, my dog, travel, and anything else that I feel like writing about.  I know my blog it isn’t for everyone, but that’s ok.  I figure that if you want book reviews, there are plenty out there.

I tend to shy away from official “reviews” for lots of reasons; one of them being, I’m more comfortable talking about things I really enjoy.  It may come from my mother’s “if you can’t say anything nice about someone keep quiet” upbringing, or it may just be that life is to short to dwell unpleasantness.  I prefer to talk about books I enjoy, authors I like to follow, and to post information about book awards or events.  I do like to let people know when I read a good book, or sometimes even when I’m a little disappointed in one. As an author myself, I’m careful about dissing books.  I know how hard it is to put your heart and soul on the page and have someone come along and rip it to shreds.  If I hate a book, I’m not likely to spend any more time with it, and reviewing does mean spending more time.  I’d rather just move on to something I like.  Of course there will be good books that I don’t write about if for no other reason than I haven’t had time to read them.  I mean hey, I can’t spend all my time procrastinating with this blog, or I’ll never get anything done on my own books!

Instructions for Helping the World

07 Jan 2012 3 Comments

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Parents Tags: , ,

Instructions for Helping the World is my favorite poem of 2012.  I know.  I know.  The new year has just begun!  But still.  It’s an awesome poem.  It’s written by Greg Pincus, a kid’s lit blogger who is as prolific as he is talented.

Instructions for Helping the World is short (only 10 lines), but it packs a serious punch and should be required reading for all those “Back to The Three R” types out there.

Thanks Greg …  I would add that help might also come in the form of a warm bed, enough to eat, clean water and love but that’ll keep for another poem.

Doodling is given a new definition by Sunni Brown

06 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Parents, Help for writers, Writing Life Tags: , , , , , ,

There may be no such thing as a flattering definition of doodling, but according to Sunni Brown, Doodling can assist information processing, has been an important precursor to certain cultural pieces (such as the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi) and has a profound positive role in visual literacy.

Who knew…

I love these TED talks. They point you in directions you never would have thought of.  Thanks Patricia Storms for the heads up.  I have always been a doodler.  It helps me think.

And if that isn’t enough, there is story connection…even the guru of screenwriting, Robert McKee is a doodle fan.

CYBILS Finalists for 2011

05 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in Award News, For Educators, For Parents, for teens, News Tags: ,

An amazing number of bloggers are book fans, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise when the CYBILS were born (the first CYBILS Awards go back to 2006).

FYI, the 2011 CYBILS Finalists have been posted along with summaries and min-reviews.  You can’t beat these folks for dedication and breadth of expertise, not to mention that they are all volunteers!

Thank you thank you thank you!

George R. R. Martin: a teaser chapter to The Winds of Winter

04 Jan 2012 Leave a comment

by sherylbooks in News, Publishing News Tags: , , , ,

The brilliant and clearly publicity savvy George R. R. Martin has given us a New Year’s gift…an advance chapter of The Winds of Winter.  One of these days (soon I hope…wishful thinking here people) this chapter will figure into book 6 in his A Song of Fire and Ice series, which I warn you is seriously addictive.  I literally devoured A Dance With Dragons, book 5 in the series, after waiting five long years for Martin to complete it. Of course, it’s a bit of a tease, but so irresistible given that it is a chapter on one of his most intriguing characters, Theon Greyjoy whom I have loved, loathed, pitied, detested, and then began to respect anew. That’s the kind of author Martin is…one who knows how create not only rich characters that you are willing to follow over the course of many books, but also rich stories that are worth waiting years for.

SLJ Exclusive Interview: Walter Dean Myers, the New National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

03 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by sherylbooks in For Educators, For Kids, For Parents, for teens, interviews, News

Walter Dean Myers is just been appointed the next Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature.   He is such a wonderful advocate for young people, especially the disenfranchised.  And he’s such an amazing writer.  Here’s an interview that will give you a taste of the next two years.  SLJ Exclusive Interview: Walter Dean Myers, the New National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

A New Year’s taste of Galiano Island

02 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by sherylbooks in Nature, News, Writing Life Tags: , , ,

It’s good to be back.  Happy New Year to all of you bloggers and readers out there.  I’m home again after a few glorious days spent with my friends on Galiano Island.  Marci DeVicque is the most energetic woman I know.  She’s an amazing gardener, raises sheep, chickens, rescues dogs, and is an extraordinary glass artist.  It’s as much a treat to visit her garden as it is to see her gorgeous glass work.  Here is the beautiful dragonfly gate that she designed.

 

Sharing meals, wine and walks with friends is such a lovely way to bring in the New Year.  We went for lovely long walks every day.  The only downside was that my little dog Ruby discovered otter poop on the walk we took just before coming home…boy did she smell bad in a “stinky rotting fish sort of way”!  Three baths and a whole lot of baking soda later, she’s bearable to be around!  So here’s a small gift to my readers, a taste of Galiano Island.  Enjoy!

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