Hi all, just a quick note to let you know that the books pages of the current issue of The Big Issue – the independent Australian magazine sold by friendly vendors all over the place (and hopefully near you) – are guest edited by yours truly.
Coinciding with Book Week this week, there is a heavy focus on children’s and Young Adult literature in the issue including:
* An interview with Patrick Ness, author of A Monster Calls and the Chaos Walking series
* A column by Melina Marchetta on YA subject matter, gatekeepers and that WSJ article
* Lili Wikinson reviews Karen Healy’s YA novel The Shattering
* Holly Harper reviews this year’s highly-paid middle fiction novel The Emerald Atlas
* I review Mandy Ord’s collection of graphic stories Sensitive Creatures
* And I talk up Book Week and lament the fact it’s not a bigger media event in Australia
I think it’s awesome that The Big Issue gives over so many of its pages to kids’ and YA books during Book Week, so do grab a copy (with poor old Amy on the front cover) if you see one when you’re out and about this week.
I’ve been reading you forever (ever since you posted that lost camera trick), but have never commented. But “poor old Amy” did me in.
You’re just so awesome. That is all.
K.
Thanks Karen. It’s a great issue of the mag with a kind of sad cover – in that she’s gone now. Anyway, lovely to hear from you.