Sara Donati/Rosina Lippi on enforced writing hiatus

Rosina Lippi, as well as being an emotive and absorbing writer of historical and contemporary fiction, was one of the first authors I discovered who was using the internet to actively engage with her readers. Her blog was a stimulating and interesting place to visit with posts about the writing process, her life, her books and her childhood. Oh and some lovely giveaways too - one of which I was the lucky recipient of and the signed copy of "Tied to the Tracks" I won is off limits for anyone wanting to borrow it. I guard it like a tigeress.

So you can imagine why I thought it was odd no blog entries had popped up in my RSS feeds lately and all became clear when I read the following message posted on her website:

"If you were looking for my weblog (called Storytelling), or following a link to a particular post on the weblog, you have landed here because the weblog is not available. The economic downturn and family circumstances being what they are, I find myself in a position I knew might well come some day -- I'm going back on the job market, looking for more traditional employment. This means that I will be putting writing aside for the foreseeable future, and so I've taken down the weblog, for the time being at least. Many of you have followed the weblog for six years, and I'd like to thank you for your continued interest and support. For newer readers, I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to get to know you better."




I'm in no doubt we have not heard the end of Ms Lippi but I am a very sad kitty indeed to know there is nothing more in the works after the January 2010 release of "The Endless Forest," the final instalment in the "Into the Wilderness" series.

Frank McCourt Dead At 78

After bringing you the news just a few days ago that Pulitzer Prize-winner Frank McCourt was gravely ill, I'm sad to now tell you of news of his death.

McCourt had been gravely ill with meningitis and recently was treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He died at a Manhattan hospice, his brother Malachy McCourt said. He was 78.

Until his mid-60s, Frank McCourt was known primarily around New York as a creative writing teacher and as a local character – the kind who might turn up in a New York novel – singing songs and telling stories with his younger brother and otherwise joining the crowds at the White Horse Tavern and other literary hangouts.

But there was always a book or two being formed in his mind and the world would learn his name, and story, in 1996, after a friend helped him get an agent and his then-unfinished manuscript was quickly signed by Scribner. With a first printing of just 25,000, "Angela's Ashes" was an instant favourite with critics and readers and perhaps the ultimate case of the non-celebrity memoir, the extraordinary life of an ordinary man.

The book was a long Irish wake, "an epic of woe," McCourt called it, finding laughter and lyricism in life's very worst. Although some in Ireland complained that McCourt had revealed too much (and revealed a little too well), "Angela's Ashes" became a million seller, won the Pulitzer and was made into a movie of the same name, starring Emily Watson as the title character, McCourt's mother.

After "Angela's Ashes," McCourt continued his story, to strong but diminished sales and reviews, in "'Tis," which told of his return to New York in the 1940s, and in "Teacher Man." McCourt also wrote a children's story, "Angela and the Baby Jesus," released in 2007.

McCourt was married twice and had a daughter, Maggie McCourt, from his first marriage.

- http://www.huffingtonpost.com

Frank McCourt cancer battle leads to Meningitis

Famed author Frank McCourt is on death's doorstep as he battles meningitis, his brother said Thursday.

The 78-year-old "Angela's Ashes" author, who has been fighting skin cancer, is in a hospice and "his faculties (are) shutting down," said Malachy McCourt. "He is not expected to live."

McCourt - a former city school teacher who won the Pulitzer Prize for his memoir - was being treated for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

He was doing well enough that his doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recently allowed him to return to his home in Connecticut.

"He was out and about, being active, doing talks and so forth," said Malachy McCourt, also a writer.

About two weeks ago, he contracted meningitis and his condition deteriorated rapidly.

Malachy McCourt said about one in 25 melanoma patients also wind up getting meningitis - "he was one of the unfortunate ones."

"He's still conscious, but his hearing has gone and his eyesight is going," Malachy McCourt said. "He's speaking less."

Frank McCourt, an unlikely literary star, taught English in New York public schools for decades including 17 years at Stuyvesant High School.

He shot to international prominence in 1996 with the publication of his first book, "Angela's Ashes," which became an instant best seller and won a fistful of awards.

The eloquent memoir tells the story of his impoverished youth in Ireland.

A second book, "Tis" continued his life story, picking up when he returned to New York, where he was born, as a teenager.

Frank McCourt's third book, "Teacher Man" chronicled his years in the classroom.

from http://www.nydailynews.com

Transformers meets A Million Little Pieces

Remember all that drama with Oprah and James Frey, the author who shot to super stardom with his memoir-that-wasn't "A Million Little Pieces" after it featured on her book club?

It seems the controversy over the fabrication hasn't hurt his career at all, with Transformers director Michael Bay and DreamWorks recently purchasing the rights for Frey's newest sci-fi adventure, 'I Am Number 4'.

The book is the first of six James has planned for this new young adult series which he is co-authoring with debut novelist Jobie Hughes.

The Hollywood Reporter is saying the movie deal will have earned the pair "high six figure" paychecks.

The book's storyline involves alien teens assimilating into an Earth high school after their home planet is destroyed by an enemy species. And wouldn't you just know, the bad aliens track the good E.T.s right back here to terra firma.

It is alleged Frey submitted the completed manuscript to publishers anonymously.

Attention Diana Gabaldon Fans (and I know there are LOADS of you out there)

Fans of the rampantly popular historical/romance writer Diana Gabaldon will be thrilled to know that not only does this prolific, entertaining and beloved author have a release date for her latest novel in the Cross Stitch/Outlander Jamie/Claire saga...but she's coming down under!!!

Her latest offering, An Echo In The Bone, (tentative cover art to the right) is due out in the USA in September and to promote it here in Australasia where she is immensely popular, (17 million copies of her novels sold worldwide and we're one of her "hottest" audiences) Diana will be touring in early November!


From her blog:

"Orion Publishing, my UK publisher, has asked me to go to New Zealand and Australia, which I’m happy to do. I don’t yet have dates to match to cities, but I’m leaving Oct. 31st, arriving in Auckland Nov. 1, and will be doing appearances/signings in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, before zipping off to Australia on the 7th, for two weeks. In Australia, we have a much more ambitious schedule than on previous visits. I’ll be in (no particular order here): Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. See y’all there!"


Knowing how long her loyal fans have been waiting for this latest (and possibly last?) instalment in the series, Diana has included a blurb on her blog about what we can expect in seventh book.


"Jamie Fraser, erstwhile Jacobite and reluctant rebel, knows three things about the American rebellion: The Americans will win, unlikely as that seems in 1777; being on the winning side is no guarantee of survival; and he’d rather die than face his illegitimate son—a young lieutenant in the British army—across the barrel of a gun.

His time-travelling wife, Claire, knows that the Americans will win, but not what the ultimate price may be. That price won’t include Jamie’s life or happiness, though—not if she has anything to say about it.

And in the relative safety of the 20th century, their daughter Brianna and her husband, Roger, watch the unfolding of her parents story in the past—a past that may be sneaking up behind their own family.”

• I know I can't wait for the novel and can't think of any good reason why I won't be grabbing the opportunity to meet her with both hands! Anyone up for a road trip?

Fantasy writing great dies

David Eddings, the acclaimed fantasy novelist and author of such series as The Belgariad and The Malloreon, has died at the age of 77.

David Eddings started his adult life as a college lecturer. However David Eddings soon found that writing was his main love, so he quit the job, worked at a grocery store to survive, while working on his writing.

The early efforts of David Eddings did not bear much fruit, producing one adventure novel The High Hunt, about a deer hunt that goes wrong. Then a chance encounter with a copy of The Lord of the Rings suggested to him that he should try his hand at fantasy.

David Eddings' first fantasy novel, The Pawn of Prophecy, was published in 1982. The Pawn of Prophecy was the first of a five part series called the Belgariad, a sweeping epic that centered on a young boy, raised in a peasant village, who turns out to be the hope of his world that is involved in a war of good vs. evil that not only involves nations, but ancient gods.

The boy of destiny and the cosmic war of good vs. evil are well worn themes in modern fantasy fiction. But David Eddings made the themes fresh with humor and sharp characterizations. The Belgariad spawned a sequel, the five part Malloreon, and several stand alone novels set in the same fantasy universe.

David Eddings also published two series, The Elenium and The Tamuli set in a different fantasy world and featuring a questing, medieval-style knight named Sparhawk. The Dreamers, another series set in yet another fantasy world, involves a battle of the gods and humans against an evil called the Vlagh.

David and Leigh Eddings also published a stand-alone fantasy novel entitled The Redemption of Althalus, about a thief who finds redemption fighting evil throughout the ages of his world.

Leigh Eddings (born Judith Leigh Schall), died following a series of strokes in 2007. She was 69.

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I freely admit fantasy isn't a genre that gets me fired up but I flatted for a year with an Eddings addict so I know first hand how passionate his fans are. He and his wife's novels are extremely popular and no doubt will continue to be so as I am told good fantasy is hard to find. And personal reading preferences aside, you cannot help but admire someone who has produced close to 20 novels in his career. Rest in peace Mr Eddings.

Bestselling author faces battle for NZ residency

The Dominion Post reported today international best selling author Marina Lewycka of "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian fame" is trying - unsuccessfully it would seem - to gain New Zealand residency.

She and her kiwi husband (she clearly has good taste) have been together for 34 years, married for 22 and have a 32-year-old daughter together. Marina splits her time between their home in Wanganui where she writes her books in the NZ summers and Sheffield, England. Because of her promotional obligations as an author, and her husband David Feickert's job as an international coalmine safety adviser, the couple are rarely in New Zealand at the same time for a long period.

And therein lies the problem. Immigration Service have told the couple they had to prove they are in a relationship by providing copies of their email correspondence, and by living together for an unspecified amount of time in New Zealand.

C'mon NZ Immigration!! This is our chance to claim an amazing author for ourselves, as let's face it everyone else (particularly the Aussies) are fond of doing it to us.

Below is the full article from the Dom Post's Simon Wood which I was delighted to read mentions that Marina has a new book, "We Are All Made of Glue," due out in the middle of the year. As a long time Marina Lewycka fan, I shall definitely be buying!

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A popular author whose work focuses on the challenges faced by migrants is fighting a real-life battle to gain New Zealand residency.

Marina Lewycka, who wrote the international bestseller A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Two Caravans, wants to join her husband of 22 years, Dave Feickert, in Wanganui.

Mr Feickert said the Immigration Service had told the couple they had to prove they were in a relationship by providing copies of their email correspondence, and by living together for an unspecified amount of time in New Zealand.

They have been together since 1975 and have a 32-year-old daughter, Sonia.

"How utterly ridiculous," Lewycka said. "I thought New Zealand was a 'can do' society."

Because of her promotional obligations as an author, and Mr Feickert's job as an international coalmine safety adviser, the couple are rarely in New Zealand at the same time for a long period.

Lewycka lives in Sheffield, England, where she is preparing for the publication of her third book, We Are All Made of Glue, in July.

She has spent the last five summers in Wanganui and writes her books at the house she shares with Mr Feickert while in New Zealand.

A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, which has sold millions of copies, tells of two Ukrainian sisters who grew up in England. Two Caravans details the lives of migrant strawberry pickers.

Lewycka was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany to Ukrainian parents after World War II and was taken to England when she was three months old.

Mr Feickert described the situation as Kafkaesque.

"To me it's just completely absurd. I know they have rules they have to follow ... but why go through all the rigmarole of rejecting someone like Marina?"

He did not think the couple's situation was unusual in the modern world, and said his wife wanted to become a Kiwi.

"She loves New Zealand and it's as simple as that."

After inquiries from The Dominion Post yesterday, a senior Immigration Service official in Palmerston North told Mr Feickert the couple no longer had to live together in New Zealand for a set period, and said they had to provide only an email heading rather than full copies of their correspondence.

The Immigration Service would not comment yesterday.

Congratulations!!!

The 2009 Joy Cowley Award winner has just been announced and a huge CONGRATULATIONS must go to "junie2" - June Peka (right) for her fantastic win!!!

June's entry was a re-jig of a story called "Pops" which she originally wrote for the New Zealand School Journals about her dad's battle with the family's pet magpie.

Her book will be published in August.

Inaugurated in 2002 and sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand, the Joy Cowley Award is given annually, when merited, for a 32-page picture book manuscript of not more than 1000 words for either very young or older children. It is open to all New Zealand residents, and offers a monetary award of $1500, along with an offer of publication of the edited manuscript by Scholastic NZ.

The Joy Cowley Award is in recognition of the outstanding contribution Joy Cowley has made to children's literature, with the aim of fostering new and exciting picture books from New Zealand writers. Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand's most prolific and successful writers for children's books. She has written more than 600 titles for all ages and her books are available in most countries where English is a first or second language.

"Nidal" (Struggle) by Osama bin Laden

Yes, according to internet rumours circulating the last few days, the world's most wanted man , Osama bin Laden, is writing a book.

The origin of the rumours on the book to be titled "Nidal" (Struggle) come from unnamed Pakistani sources who also said the book is being written in Arabic with the help of a younger writer of “Middle Eastern background” who will also translate the book into English.

Bin Laden’s book is said to be a defense of Al Qaeda and a response to ‘negative propaganda and insufficient information’ about the group.

It will also look at “atrocities committed against Muslims by the West and how the Crusaders have harmed world development.” The book is also said to blame the United States for the current crisis in global finance and to offer new information about the 9-11 attacks on the US.

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• Does this mean we can discount once and for all the US propaganda that bin Laden is probably dead?

• If the book is published, will we ever know if bin Laden is the true author or if it was Al Qaeda keeping the figurehead of their organisation alive and well for their followers by claiming he is the author?

• Will it be available in bookstores? Will US publishers want it? Will the US public stomach it?

• What kind of reaction could this have on Muslim/Western World relations?

• But what has me most curious of all is, would you read it?

"Margaret Mahy tells of drink-drive shame"

A wee while ago, I posted about Margaret Mahy's arrest for drink driving.

In the following article which appeared in this weekend's Sunday News Margaret, one of New Zealand's writing greats, takes what I thought was a very cavalier attitude to the situation.

Would she be quite so flippant if she had hit a small child or a pregnant woman, not a parked car?

Let me know what you think.

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Margaret Mahy tells of drink-drive shame

By JONATHAN MARSHALL - Sunday News | Sunday, 28 September 2008

National treasure and world-famous children's book author Margaret Mahy has spoken of her shame at the most embarrassing chapter in her long and successful life.

Mahy, 72, was more than twice the legal alcohol limit after she drove into a parked vehicle at Christchurch on a Sunday morning in April.

"This is something in my life I am really ashamed of," said Mahy from her Canterbury home last week.

"I have had a career with some good patches. This wasn't good, though, because someone could have been hurt."

The Christchurch District Court heard how Mahy recorded 170mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

The legal limit is 80mg.

Judge Raoul Neave disqualified the writer, who since the 1970s has written almost 50 books and holds the Order of New Zealand, from driving for six months and ordered her to pay a $600 fine.

A careless driving charge was withdrawn and Mahy, beloved for such classics as Lion in the Meadow and The Seven Chinese Brothers, paid reparation to the owners of the car she hit and another parked in front of it.

Speaking exclusively to Sunday News and for the first time since her court appearance, Mahy said she made no excuses for her behaviour but she now understood the reason for her predicament at 9.40am on April 20.

"Nothing was going on except I did have a drink that morning before I set off but, really, what put the level up was apparently because I had been drinking the night before," Mahy said. "I've been told the alcohol can carry through to the next day, but I didn't feel that drunk or anything.

"I was driving along Hackthorne Rd and I blacked out, simple as that."

Asked if she had a drinking problem, Mahy replied: "Well obviously when you black out and everything like that, you do have a drinking problem.

"I don't think things are really too bad, though.

"This was just one of those stupid occasions. I don't usually drink in the morning, I almost never do that. It was just that I was in a bit of a rush on my way to the airport."

Mahy said she regretted the incident and was looking forward to moving on.

"Well look, goodness gracious me. I was at fault and when you've been around a long time and are reasonably well known, that makes the news and you can't afford to be too precious."

At the time of the author's court appearance, a spokeswoman for publisher Harper Collins said the incident showed a "single, solitary lapse of judgment".

"We would ask she is judged on her life's work rather than one single incident," said publishing manager Lorain Day.

"She has our unconditional support as a wonderful author whose work continues to bring magic and wonder into the lives of millions of children."

In 2006, Mahy received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for a "lasting contribution to children's literature". Her novels have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Japanese, Catalan, Afrikaans, Russian, Mandarin and Icelandic.

Children's author Mahy convicted of drink driving

It's always sad when one of your heroes falls from grace. I guess it means they are human like the rest of us but sometimes we forget that.

Also twice over the legal limit at 9.40 in the morning?!? Margaret honey, you need to stop putting brandy on your cornflakes.

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Children's author Mahy convicted of drink driving
Friday, 25 July 2008

One of the country's most acclaimed and popular authors Margaret Mahy has been disqualified from driving for six months after being convicted of drink driving.

Mahy, 72, appeared in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday on one charge of drinking driving and one charge of careless driving.

On the drink driving charge Mahy was convicted and fined $600 and disqualified for six months.
She was convicted and discharged on the careless driving charge.

Today Mahy was not making any comment, leaving her publishers to handle the media.

HarperCollins Publishers publishing manager Lorain Day said they had been advised of the matter, as well as the circumstances in which it took place, and had discussed their concerns with Mahy.

"While we cannot condone what she did, she has our unconditional support as a wonderful author whose work continues to bring magic and wonder into the lives of millions of children, as it has for over 40 years.

"Margaret has taken immediate, practical steps to ensure that this never happens again and we fully support her responsible approach. Margaret has our complete confidence going forward.

"Her life's work has been dedicated to children's literature and her contribution in this area is immeasurable.

"We would ask that she be judged on that, rather than on this most regrettable lapse in judgement."

Ms Day said Mahy had no further comment to make and asked for her privacy to be respected.

Mahy is well-known for her children's and young adult books, including A Lion in the Meadow, The Seven Chinese Brothers and The Man Whose Mother was a Pirate.

For her contributions to children's literature she has been made a member of the Order of New Zealand.

The Margaret Mahy Medal Award was established by the New Zealand Children's Book Foundation in 1991 to provide recognition of excellence in children's literature, publishing and literacy in New Zealand.

In 2006 she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Award (known as the Little Nobel Prize) in recognition of a "lasting contribution to children's literature".

Mahy lives in Lyttelton.

Excitement!!!

Paullina Simons - one of my favourite authors - is coming to Palmerston North!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.paullinasimons.com

Paullina is a huge literary star with 9 international best sellers to her name. Her latest release is "Road to Paradise" and is just out in NZ and Australia where she releases first before the States, England etc cos she is so well loved Down Under .

I cannot believe she is coming to little old Palmy!


Date: Wednesday 14 November
Time: 12.30pm to 1.30pm
Location: Whitcoulls on Broadway


She is the author of one of my all time favourite books, The Bronze Horseman, and I am taking my copy to get personally signed. I can't wait!!! I am so excited I am literally jiggling in my seat!!!!!!


Who's coming with me?!?!

Elizabeth Knox in PN

Elizabeth Knox – bestselling New Zealand author of The Vintner’s Luck and Billie’s Kiss will be giving a free public reading in the PN City Library on Friday 12 October at 7pm.

I absolutely LOVED her young adult books Dreamhunter and Dreamquake and will definitely be going along (and hoping to get my copies signed too!)

If anyone would like to come and needs a life (let me qualify that: within Palmerston North!), just let me know and I will gladly be your taxi.