British author Andy Mulligan and Australian author Christopher Cheng were in the Philippines Nov. 18-20 for LOL (Lit Out Loud), the very first Manila International Literary Festival. I was fortunate to see them there.
The setting of Andy's latest novel for young readers, Trash (David Fickling Books, 2010), is based on the Philippines and the protagonist is based on a young Filipino Andy knows personally. School Library Journal has named Trash one of the best books of 2010. The novel Andy is currently writing is set in India. Chris Cheng is of Chinese descent and is a very prolific - and an award-winning - writer of children's books. He writes at least four books a year! His next picture book, Sounds Spooky, is illustrated by Sarah Davis and is an example of a perfect marriage of text and illustration.
Andy and Chris spoke about what was selling in the children's book market. I liked how Andy defined children's books as not stories written for children, but stories where children are isolated from adults and go on adventures. I also liked how Chris was very specific about what was popular in the Australian children's book market.
Both writers also spoke about young adult literature, but I was unable to attend that session because I was moderating a panel on online writing.
Chris also gave a presentation on how to make book trailers. He shared the dos and don'ts of making book trailers and put together a step-by-step guide (complete with screen shots and everything) for beginner makers of book trailers.
There was a book reading and book signing for Trash.
Here is a video I took of the reading. The book Andy is reading from is my copy of Trash. Yay!
And here I am with Andy. SQUEEE!
This is just priceless: At the party at the end of the festival, Chris sang a song! (The title of the song eludes me.) That was really great of Chris. =D
Everyone, you have been forewarned. At a party in the Philippines, you will be asked to sing!
I can't wait till next year's Manila International Literary Festival!
The setting of Andy's latest novel for young readers, Trash (David Fickling Books, 2010), is based on the Philippines and the protagonist is based on a young Filipino Andy knows personally. School Library Journal has named Trash one of the best books of 2010. The novel Andy is currently writing is set in India. Chris Cheng is of Chinese descent and is a very prolific - and an award-winning - writer of children's books. He writes at least four books a year! His next picture book, Sounds Spooky, is illustrated by Sarah Davis and is an example of a perfect marriage of text and illustration.
Andy and Chris spoke about what was selling in the children's book market. I liked how Andy defined children's books as not stories written for children, but stories where children are isolated from adults and go on adventures. I also liked how Chris was very specific about what was popular in the Australian children's book market.
Both writers also spoke about young adult literature, but I was unable to attend that session because I was moderating a panel on online writing.
Chris also gave a presentation on how to make book trailers. He shared the dos and don'ts of making book trailers and put together a step-by-step guide (complete with screen shots and everything) for beginner makers of book trailers.
There was a book reading and book signing for Trash.
Here is a video I took of the reading. The book Andy is reading from is my copy of Trash. Yay!
And here I am with Andy. SQUEEE!
This is just priceless: At the party at the end of the festival, Chris sang a song! (The title of the song eludes me.) That was really great of Chris. =D
Everyone, you have been forewarned. At a party in the Philippines, you will be asked to sing!
I can't wait till next year's Manila International Literary Festival!
Manila is having an international literary festival? Oh do tell when? Nice to see this - Andy and I share David Fickling as a publisher and when David was introducing us to a conference of publishers the other day ("These are my new authors, Candy and Andy), he had to assure the audience that he didn't pick us because of our names.
ReplyDeleteoops i meant conference of librarians!
ReplyDeleteThe festival this year was Nov. 18-20. I think the festival next year will be around the same time. I asked an organizer to invite you as a speaker for next year. ^_^ ^_^ ^_^
ReplyDeleteIf an author read from my copy of their book at a book signing, I would be in some serious fan heaven.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these. I enjoy your pics and posts about festivals and conferences. :)
ReplyDeleteDoret, when Andy was looking for a copy to read from, I rushed to the front to offer my copy! Hehehe.
ReplyDeleteMedeia, my pleasure. :o) And I hope to meet you at a festival/conference soon! There's the Asian Festival of Children's Content in Singapore and the Nami Island International Children's Book Festival in Korea. And I will attend the Doha International Children's Book Festival in Qatar one of these years!!!