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January 19, 2012

New year, new resolutions . . .

So it’s January and the start of another year, the Christmas holidays really did speed by, didn’t they! The New Year brings with it both good and bad things: the realisation that Christmas is 355 sleeps away, a new school term, the appearance of Easter chocolate in the shops (yes really!) and of course New Year resolutions. Now I love making resolutions at the start of a New Year. It’s just the perfect excuse to try something new or put an end to that bad habit.

But historically I’m not the best at resolutions, mainly because I choose ones that are just too hard. For example last year I came up with the idea of only eating chocolate once a week, I mean seriously that was never going to work was it? Similarly the idea of walking home from work every day (only an hour a day) was a big fat fail when it rained on January 5th. So this year I was determined to come up with a more realistic resolution and so I’ve settled on the idea of a reading resolution, so in 2012 I’m going to read more. 52 books to be precise, one book a week for the whole year. I think this is a fairly realistic resolution and will be a lot of fun (although ask me again in December when I still need to read 20 books in three weeks)!

Coming up with my reading themed New Year resolution got me thinking about what other resolutions you could make that are related to books and reading. So below I’ve shared some of the ideas I’ve come up with, who knows it might inspire you to make your own reading New Year resolution.

Read every book written by Roald Dahl – Roald Dahl is the World’s Number 1 Storyteller so reading all his books would be a fantastic treat. What fun it would be to be transported to the wonderful world of The Twits, James and the Giant Peach and Danny the Champion of the World.

Read all the Puffin Classics – Anne of Avonlea, What Katy Did, Wuthering Heights, Peter Pan, Black Beauty, The Wizard of Oz and The Railway Children. There are so many fantastic Puffin Classic books available that I wouldn’t know where to start with this, but it would certainly get me reading more!

Read all the books featured on the Puffin blog – this would be a fun reading challenge and help me keep my resolution of reading more books in 2012. It would also involve quite an eclectic mix, a bit of Wimpy Kid, a dash of Wereworld and finishing off with everyone’s favourite The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Read one new book a month – Here at Puffin we publish lots of books each month for children of all ages; from picture books like Happy Birthday in Dragon Wood to fantastic series like Spy Pups and books for teenagers like The Lunar Chronicles: Cinder. So it would be great to read a brand new book each month, who knows I might find a new favourite book!

What do you think, do any of these reading-related resolutions tickle your fancy or are you going to stick to more traditional New Year resolutions like eating better and playing more sports? Whatever resolution you choose, fingers crossed you have a reading-filled and absolutely splendiferous 2012.

Fiona Evans
Marketing Executive
Media and Entertainment and Puffin

Remember that by posting a comment you are agreeing to the website Terms of Use. If you consider any content on this site to be inappropriate, please report it to Penguin Books by emailing reportabuse@penguin.co.uk

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January 09, 2012

Roald Dahl stamps launch today!

They say the art of letter-writing is lost in this age of emails and texts. But if you still like putting pen to paper then get ready for a most marvellous, a fantastical, a truly splendiferous sight:

Yes it's true - today the Royal Mail has launched these wonderful Roald Dahl stamps to adorn your envelopes. Aren't they delightful? Now Charlie Bucket, Fantastic Mr Fox, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The Twits and The Witches will make your envelopes the best-looking envelopes in all the land.

And if you're wondering where that Big Friendly Giant is, then look no further:

This year is The BFG's 30th anniversary and he gets his very own sheet of four stamps featuring scenes from the book! Look out for lots more Big Friendly Giant fun coming this year, and don't miss your chance to give your letters the Roald Dahl stamp of approval.

Sarah Topping
Puffin Marketing

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January 04, 2012

Building a Cyborg: How Cinder Changed Throughout Revisions

The idea for Cinderella re-envisioned as a teenage cyborg, part-human and part-machine, came to me as I was drifting to sleep one night. Some elements of her cyborgness were there from the start: she always had a robotic hand. She always had a robotic foot that she’d long outgrown. She always had a
keen understanding of mechanics and robotics.

During the writing of the first draft, I also discovered net-connectivity in her brain, which she used to download user manuals and blueprints, but the information she could gather this way was rather limited.

Then, after I finished that first draft and (months later) sat down to read through it, I realized something. For having written a cyborg who had the potential to be awesome in all sorts of ways, I’d somehow managed to make her entirely lacklustre.

I had no intention of writing a superhero into the story, and I didn’t want Cinder to become so high-tech she wasn’t recognizable as a sympathetic human being anymore. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t have some more fun with her abilities. I talked to some sci-fi-geek friends of mine, and asked what skills they would want if they were a cyborg. I watched movies and read books that starred part-machine characters. I read scientific articles on all the cool things that scientists are doing right now that involve cybernetic organisms.

Over the next few drafts, Cinder’s cyborgness developed into something cooler than I’d ever imagined her to be.

I found a hidden compartment in her leg, useful for storing tools and other secret items. I discovered a retina display that could scan the things she was seeing and overlay images across her vision—whether it was connecting a prince’s features to the global database, or laying a blueprint of a car engine across her eyesight so she could figure out how it worked. Her net-connectivity became more complex, allowing her to dig up all sorts of useful information. She surprised me in a late revision of the story by suddenly having the ability to tell when people were lying.
And all the while her skill with mechanics became more impressive, until a girl who had started out doing small jobs around the house for her stepmother, eventually—inevitably—became the most renowned mechanic in the entire city.

As I revised, I felt like I was gradually uncovering Cinder’s character, or maybe that she was slowly letting me in on her secrets. And the weird part is — the less physically human she became, the more human she felt to me. The more real she became.

Marissa Meyer

This blog first appeared on www.thebookrat.com as part of the CINDER Official Blog Tour 2012

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December 02, 2011

Marvellous Matilda the Musical

Last week I was lucky enough to attend a gala evening in aid of Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity to see Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre in London.

The book has been adapted by Dennis Kelly, the music and lyrics written by Tim Minchin and it is safe to say this musical is a work of genius, pretty apt when you consider its heroine.

The cast, the staging, the costumes, the set, the music, the Trunchbull . . . simply astonishing. Bertie Carvel's portrayal of Dahl’s lunatic headmistress is jaw-dropping. Yes, she's terrifying, but also hilarious, and deeply, deeply mad.

As the finale approached the entire theatre was on its feet, and the thunderous cheering continued when Tim Minchin himself took to the stage to talk a little about Marvellous and to announce that original Matilda drawings by Quentin Blake would soon be on eBay, raising more money to support the work these marvellous nurses do.

The show has just this week won The Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2011 and the Standard declared: ‘The quest for a great new musical is over: London (and before long, presumably, the world) has just that in Matilda, the Royal Shakespeare Company's deliriously funny and moving adaptation of Roald Dahl.’

I left the theatre singing (which can’t have been nice for anyone in earshot) ‘When I Grow Up’, a ridiculously catchy number that stayed in my head for days afterwards, as did the show itself - delightful flashbacks to the most exuberant and thrilling musical I’ve ever seen. But don’t take my word for it, just go and see it. The only problem is; you’ll want to see it again immediately afterwards . . .

Sarah Topping
Puffin Marketing

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November 07, 2011

We're whipping up a Cabin Fever frenzy!

Just one week to go until the sixth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series hits a bookshop near you! Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever is out on Wednesday 16th November - the date EVERYONE has been waiting for. We are so insanely excited that we’re struggling to concentrate. Will Greg get a girlfriend? Will Rodrick lose his attitude? Can Greg’s Mom become any more outrageously embarrassing?!

So many questions . . .

To celebrate the release of what is set to be THE BIGGEST children’s book of 2011 we’re delighted to announce a money-can’t-buy competition every Wimpy Kid fan needs to know about.

[Löded Diper drum-roll please] . . . we’re offering you the chance to MEET JEFF KINNEY!

YES, that’s the one, the only, Jeff Kinney, creator of all the wonderful Wimpy Kid magic that we love so much! PANT, PANT!!

And it’s not only the chance to meet Jeff Kinney that’s up for grabs; there are chances to win prizes galore! And if your golden ticket isn’t a winning one, there’s still plenty more opportunities to meet Jeff whilst he tours the UK between Monday 28th November - Sunday 4th December!

Jeff is appearing live at theatre events in Dublin, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Bath where you can discover how he creates his hilarious jokes and hear how his characters made their transition from page to silver screen in the Wimpy Kid movies. There will even be a special appearance from the actors, Zachary Gordon (Greg) and Robert Capron (Rowley)!

You can also meet Jeff at public book signings at WHSmith Brent Cross Shopping Centre and WHSmith Lakeside Shopping Centre - be sure to get there early! Here are all the dates and times you’ll need to know . . . http://www.wimpykidclub.co.uk/2011/11/see-jeff-kinney-on-his-uk-tour/

50% comic strip.
50% novel.
100% hilarious!!

Now all you need to do is read the book – the funniest fever you’ll EVER catch!

Vanessa Godden
Puffin Marketing Manager

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November 03, 2011

Daz 4 Zoe

I wrote this tale of star-crossed lovers at the end of the eighties, in response to what I saw as our increasingly divided society. I hoped that in time the crevasses that separated rich from poor might narrow to a point where we could stride over and embrace each other, becoming one.

Instead,the passing years have seen the crevasses widen into chasms, so that it has become even harder for Daz and Zoe to find ways to meet. Hard but not impossible, since nobody has yet found a way to conquer love, which spans the widest, deepest chasms and always will.

Let’s hear it 4 love!

Bob Swindells

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October 07, 2011

Quentin Blake Virtually Live

Everyone has a favourite book from childhood, one they return to again and again, which evokes so many memories from all those years ago. A book that you hope one day you will share with your children because it means so much you can’t help but want those you love to love it too.

You don’t ever expect though to get any closer to the book than by reading it. You certainly don’t imagine that one day you may meet the actual person who wrote the book, or the person who drew the pictures inside . . .

My favourite childhood book is The BFG, and whilst sadly I’ll never get to meet Roald Dahl, I am lucky enough to be the Copywriter here at Puffin and to work on his books on a weekly basis. And last week I was lucky enough to meet Quentin Blake, Roald Dahl’s legendary illustrator. But not only did I meet Quentin, I saw him drawing The BFG and Sophie in front of my very own eyes. Mine and 2000 others at the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank, along with 185,000 others who were watching Quentin Blake Virtually Live all around the big wide world, from Thailand to Argentina to Brazil to Ecuador. You can see it here too.

QBJK

BFGinprogress

I’m not embarrassed to admit it brought a tear to my eye, it gave me goose bumps; it was magical. It’s taken me this long to write this blog because I couldn’t really put into words how wonderful it was. I hope I’ve managed to express it here, but in fact, for all those of us who love Roald Dahl, whose stories were a huge part of our childhoods and who still love his books today, I hope these pictures I managed to snap speak a thousand gloriumptious, woopsey-splunking, splendiferously whoppsy-whiffling words.

CreatureKids

Sarah Topping
Creative Executive
Puffin Books

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September 06, 2011

Blue is the colour this Autumn!

It seems that the sun has well and truly given up on us and that Autumn is settling in to stay . . . but never fear, the new school year is a perfect time to discover a new author or series!

With the nights getting longer and the weather getting cooler there are more reasons than ever to curl up with your favourite books and characters!

Puffin has something for everyone this Autumn, and our two new trailers for Cathy Cassidy and Diary of a Wimpy Kid are no exception.

Click here to watch the trailer for Cathy Cassidy’s scrumptious new book Marshmallow Skye, the second in The Chocolate Box Girls series. This gorgeous video will give you a tantalising taste of all the drama and full on fabulousness that awaits us this September. Will a boy come between Skye and Summer? It can be hard to be your own person when you have such an effortlessly cool twin sister.

And that's not all - get ready for the funniest fever you'll EVER catch!

Since we announced the upcoming publication of the ice cool Cabin Fever back in June, we know many of you have been desperate to get your hand on the next instalment in Jeff Kinney’s hilarious Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.Well the wait is nearly over!!

Greg Heffley’s latest comic adventure will be available to own this November!

Click here to see Jeff himself give away a few exciting clues about what we can expect from Cabin Fever (aside from side-splitting laughter!).

We hope you are as excited about this Autumn’s reading as we are here at Puffin, it’s set to be great!

Genevieve Hinchliff
Puffin Work Experience

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August 11, 2011

The key to a wonderful new read . . .

In 2009 we all fell in love with Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur, in fact an Independent review declared it to be ‘Quite simply the best book for girls of nine and over that I have ever read.’

Today we are very excited at the publication of Suzanne's new book, Eight Keys, which is just as gorgeous, heartwarming and tear-jerking as her debut. We caught up with Suzanne to talk about her books, her readers and what's next . . .

What inspires you to write for this particular age group?

I actually decided to write for this age group way back when I was a member of it...when I was nine I developed a passion for writing and thought there should be more books for people my age to read (and that grown-ups should be more respectful of them!) so I decided I wanted to write books for kids. I never changed my mind!

Do you draw on emotions that you remember from your own childhood?

Definitely. A lot of the troubles Elise has at middle school in Eight Keys are directly built around how I felt there, too: people were being needlessly mean, we were drowning in homework...

Do you feel that because you write for such an impressionable age, you need to tread more carefully in your writing than say a 13+ teen author?

Not really. The story comes forth naturally, and, because Elise the narrator is that age, most of the story is appropriate without extra effort on my part. I will admit that one thing I was aware of was a few instances in which the characters may have used "swear" words...I think many kids her age actually do use them sometimes (I've worked with kids and heard them myself!) but I kept them out of the book.

How do you manage to capture such a young mindset with such authenticity?

Mostly I just "listen." I trust my narrator and write what I "hear" her saying...I know that sounds nutty! I think a better way to explain it is that the voice of the narrator leads me rather than me trying to decide what needs to be written (that would give a very forced result). The character's voice brings with it the mindset of her age.

What three books would you take to a desert island?

Can I cheat and take three long stories? I would take Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, and A Series of Unfortunate Events. There will be no need to try to pick me up from the island, thanks!

How do you manage to balance the sadness and hope in your books so beautifully?

Again, I think this balance is something that happens naturally...life itself is an intricate balance of happiness and sadness, so a good story will seek that balance as well. I actually never set out to write something sad (that is an utter accident), but hope is what takes you towards the end of a story and leaves you knowing that the story isn't really over even when the last page has been read.

What are you working on next - will it be a book for a similar age?

I am writing a book for the same age group but I always keep my new stories a secret until they're all done!

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July 13, 2011

When The Sword Is Mightier Than The Pen . . .

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
Joseph Addison (English Writer and Statesman, 1672-1719)

We all know how important reading is to your development, but with the countless distractions in this modern technological world (ipods, iphones, ipads, idon’tknowwhat?!) you may think that reading doesn’t quite hack it on the adrenaline stakes.

Well, you’re wrong. Young Samurai is cutting edge – literally! My answer has been to ‘keep it real’ and show readers like yourself how books can live and breathe from the page!

With the Young Samurai series, not only will you enjoy a great action-adventure story, but you can experience Jack and Akiko’s world first hand by participating in martial arts, talking the language, designing your own kimono, eating sushi and even organising your Japanese festival!

*Get your teacher or a parent to download a free Teacher’s Guide from www.youngsamurai.com

You see Young Samurai is more than a ‘clash of swords’ action-adventure story. For me, it’s a way of life.

Never is this more true than when I’m standing in front of a group of fans wielding my samurai sword.

I can promise you – the sword guarantees my audience’s attention. Being a writer and black belt martial artist dispels any preconception of what an author or a book event is typically like. The combination of an interactive reading and samurai sword display is often so compelling that even the most reluctant readers are picking up my books as if their lives depended upon it! :)

I started martial arts aged 7 ¾ and over the years the discipline has had a very positive influence on me. Not only has it taught me self-defence, it has built my self-confidence and developed life skills. Like my hero Jack Fletcher, you can also learn the ‘Way of the Warrior’ and come to understand bushido, the samurai code of conduct that promotes such values as respect, loyalty and courage. My hope is that you are so caught up in the spirit of Young Samurai that you not only read the book, but try a martial art for yourself. That way you can live the story too!

But I don’t rely on my sword to keep an audience’s attention. It merely helps them focus! Hopefully once you’re reading Young Samurai, you’re hooked . . . and the pen is again mightier than the sword!

Sayonara,

Chris Bradford

P.S. If you wish to see me in action in Disneyland, click here

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