Back in Black
Holly Black's next book, White Cat (S&S/McElderry) doesn't come out until May, but the author is already getting the word out about the novel, first in her new series, The Curse Workers. Last week, she discussed White Cat with more than 50 teenagers and teachers at Anderson's book fair warehouse in Aurora, Ill. The Curse Workers series is set in a contemporary fantasy world of con artists, curses, mobsters, and magicians—but no faeries. Black's prepub tour also took her to New York City and Philadelphia.
Andersen Shortlist Revealed
The International Board on Books for Young People has announced the shortlist for the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Awards. The prestigious biennial awards honors "a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made lasting contributions to children's literature." The shortlisted authors are: Ahmad Reza Ahmadi of Iran, David Almond of the U.K., Bartolomeu Campos de Queiros of Brazil, Lennart Hellsing of Sweden, and Louis Jensen of Denmark. The illustrator shortlist consists of: Jutta Bauer of Germany, Carll Cneut of Belgium, Etienne Delessert of Switzerland, Svjetlan Junakovic of Croatia, and Roger Mello of Brazil. The winners will be announced on March 23 during the Bologna Children's Book Fair.
Hawkin' 'Hex Hall'
Author Rachel Hawkins spent the first half of March touring—in person and online—for her debut novel, Hex Hall (Disney-Hyperion, Mar.), about a girl sent to a boarding school for witches, faeries, shapeshifters, and the odd vampire. Hawkins (seen here at Hutchinson School in Memphis) visited bookstores and schools throughout the Midwest, stopping in Jackson, Miss., Decatur, Ga., Memphis, Wichita, Chicago, and Oxford, Miss. Additionally, she "visited" over a dozen blogs as part of a blog tour. Disney is also promoting Hex Hall with print and online advertising, targeted mailings, and a book giveaway.
BEA Buzz Panel Announced
Over on The BEAN blog, Steve Rosato, director of BEA, has revealed the editors who will be participating in this year's buzz panels. The YA panel, which will take place on Wednesday, May 26 at 2 p.m., will feature Dutton's Julie Strauss-Gabel (for Ally Condie's Matched); Jennifer Weis of St. Martin's (for Rebecca Maizel's Infinite Days); Cindy Eagan from Little, Brown/Poppy (for Kody Keplinger's The Duff); HarperTeen's Farrin Jacobs (for Sophie Jordan's Firelight); and Scholastic's Arthur A. Levine (for Erin Bow's Plain Kate).
Books and Baked Goods
Lisa Schroeder, the author of YA novels including Chasing Brooklyn and Far from You, brought a fittingly sweet treat to Powell's Books in Beaverton, Ore., where she read from and signed copies of her first middle-grade novel, It's Raining Cupcakes (S&S/Aladdin, Mar.). In the book, 12-year-old Isabel enters a baking contest for a chance at a trip to New York City. Oh, and those cupcakes? They're from Bliss Bake Shop in Portland.
Candlewick's E-Book Push
Candlewick Press is making bigger inroads into the e-book market with its 2010 electronic publishing program. The publisher will release 39 middle-grade and YA novels as e-books this spring, followed by an additional 30 books in the fall. The titles are a mix of frontlist (simultaneously available in hardcover) and backlist. Authors with works becoming available electronically include Megan McDonald, Laura Amy Schlitz, M.T. Anderson, and Mal Peet. Candlewick's previous e-book offerings consisted of five novels by Kate DiCamillo.
