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Has anyone out there noticed this new imprint from Scholastic? This is the umbrella under whicih Shapeshifter will be published across Australia. Has anyone seen the Kim Wilkins' quartet that are now available in bookstores? I think book one is Ghost Ship? F

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Is this a children's series as well? Will check it out as a poss Xmas gift for a nephew etc.

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Fantastica is a new imprint for younger readers. Its first series is Kim Wilkins' Ghost Ship quartet. Mine will be the next series to launch from February. David Cornish and Tim Ide are doing the illos. F

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Why did they get a new imprint for Scholastic? The old one was fine... but next time a go to a book store I'll check out the scholastic books to see if they have the new imprint. I love reading Scholastic books.

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A Rose By Any Other Name Is Still A Rose

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Mine aren't out yet. I promise to let you know the release date. We're still all signing off on cover art and blurb for the four books. They're ready to go though. F

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I just read Severo's intent (Fantastica imprint). I'm a Teacher/Librarian and received the book from Australian Standing orders. I really enjoyed the book. I am a Sci-Fi/Fanatasy fan myself and know there are a lot of children who will enjoy this book. My particular interest at the moment is searching out books that will interest the more reluctant boy readers. This is a Lexile rated book, so is doubly useful!!!! I'm an Adelaide girl originally - I'm very excited to read and promote local authors.

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Hello Libraryfairy - great name! Made me smile. I am SERIOUSLY thrilled that you enjoyed the story. It was only after saying yes, taking my advance, sitting down and flexing my fingers that I realised writing for children is a whole new ballgame. I had no experience to draw upon other than my own love of reading as a child. I have two sons and neither enjoyed reading through to 12 years old. And one still doesn't choose it as a pastime and yet has really, really enjoyed recent texts for Year 10 i.e. Girl With A Pearl Earring, Lord of the Flies, loved Romeo and Juliet. The other has discovered reading from 12 years old and really enjoys it now especially during the school hols, he'll devour big novels. He moved straight to fairly adult stuff by 14. So, I understand your dilemma and I'm glad you think that this tale will suit boys. Hopefully the character of Erin will appeal to the girls as well but it's a story for everyone - I wrote something I'd like to read. Hope they send you some advanced readers (let me know if not) because book 4 is my favourite. Really flips over into big time fantasy. So you're obviously not still in Adelaide I'm assuming? I ask only because I'm doing a couple of events around Adelaide metro for schools at libraries and various retail outlets. Thank you again LF....stay in touch. F

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All this talk about writing for children is very exciting & I am looking forward to reading your novels Fiona.

After mentioning to you some weeks ago that I was keen on writing i have decided that children/teen writing was a good area to start...mainly beause of my experiences reading C.S Lewis, Kate Forsyth (starthorn Tree) J.K Rowlings etc and was a teacher for many years.

I have joined a book club, bought books on how to write fiction, and of course read this forum regularly...so I hope I am on the right track.

What do you believe is the biggest difference between writing for children and adults in the FF world? Seeing you've done both, Fiona.

Thanks

 

 

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Well story really is King for the younger readers. They don't want to be bogged down in setting or complex worlds. Keep it simple - not because they're not intelligent enough - but because they're impatient to see what's happening with the characers. To tell the truth I think too many adult books are far too complex in their world building but that's me - I'm all about character and stories. But for younger readers work really hard on keeping the story tight, simple, fast moving, not too many characters but make them larger than life and especially don't underestimate yuor readers' ability to soak up atmosphere and enjoy tension. You already know this I'm sure, from your own reading but never hurts to be reminded. I'm no expert, I promise and this first foray into children's works has taught me plenty. The next story will be bigger, more accomplished. Ooh....did I just let something drop there??? More on that soon. Good luck - write the sort of story you enjoyed as a youngster and you can't go wrong if CSLewis or first Harry Potter are benchmarks. They both get is so right and yet are so different. All best, Jac, F

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I was thrilled today when Saxten's Secret arrived with the Australian Standing orders. I've never catalogued a book so fast. I hope to get settled into reading it ASAP. I've got four kids and am studying, so I don't get as much time to read. I really enjoy reading children's fiction because of my time limitations - they are generally short, exciting and well written. I'm going to suggest my 11 year old son read it - he is an avid reader now, but a very slow starter. He likes to wait until all the books in a series are released, so he doesn't have to wait for the rest of the story!
I am in Alice Springs, but my parents are still in Adelaide. I really hope you are writing another series.

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Hello LF Please let your son know how honoured I feel that he may read my book. I know how tough it is to get a boy reading and I also know that if he's a slow burn sort of reader then he's going to want this story to explode and take him with it on its orbit. I do hope ot does it for him! Personally I think book 4 is the best of them. I think I was on something when I was writing it because I headed straight off into mega fantasy realms and loved it. The first three feel more like the sort of thing I write for adults but the story itself I am smitten with. Always count me in for the relucant hero....and I defy anyone not to fall for Dargo. Every boy should have one! Anyway, let me know how you get on with it and my fingers are firmly, firmly crossed that book 2 delivers for you. Thanks!!! F p.s. I used to live in Alice Springs and now our big son lives there - he's really enjoying being back.

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Hi Fiona,
Well I read Book 2 in one sitting after the last post. It was great. I loved Dargo and can't wait for the next book (tell me it is soon). I recommended it to another Librarian today - I saw it on her shelf and told her to recommend it to the fantasy fans in her Library.

You use to live in Alice Springs? Well, that's the "Curse of Alice Springs" - once you live here you keep running into other people who have too. One friend I know met another resident at an airport in America! Talk about coincidence. I'll let you know how my boys enjoy the books - they have suddenly decided to re-read Harry Potter, so it may be another week!

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Oh, this is fantastic news, thanks LF! I'm so glad you've enjoyed it and Dargo is just delicious, isn't he? Easily my favourite. He gets better too in book 3! I start my rounds of the schools next week. Trying to think of fun things to do with them because I can't bear readings myself, so why would junior primary kids enjoy them!...or do they? Any ideas? I've got a few silly things planned up my sleeve but they're really just to make the kids laugh. F

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Back again after the wild end of term activity. I had No2 Son (11) read the books and he loved them. No3 son (9) just finished them and he loved them as well. Looks like you hit the intended audience right on target! Their only request is that the next books be longer. We are waiting anxiously for Book 3 and 4 to arrive. I got excited when the Standing Orders arrived, but it was the Non-Fiction package, I'm crossing my fingers for the Fiction package to arrive before Easter. I'm still getting my head around entertaining Junior Primary students. They tend to prefer activities that don't seem like work. I have had some success with making bookmarks on various themes - a couple of colouring-in choices and then covering them with contact and adding some wool through a hole in the top and I've been having to chase the boys out of library for a change!

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Now this is GREAT news, thank you! To have a child of the right reading age give it the thumbs up is fabulous and please say thanks to your boys. I'm so grateful. If it helps - I've already received a single copy of book 4! So perhaps you may just get lucky with that package. I hope so. Curiously, I haven't seen book 3. Warn the boys they aren't longer because I was given a strict length to work to, which was 10,000 words per book. I crept over that in each instance. As a quartet they're around 45,000 words so I guess they're inteded to be read one after another and quickly for a longer reading experience and might explain why the publisher is bringing out two in April and two for May...so no one is kept waiting too long. There will be some more good news for your sons though shortly. Watch the forums. Thanks again LF - you are such a gem. Happy Easter. Fx

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Hi, I'll investigate the new imprint Fiona. Still have not had a chance to read Saxten's Intent.. I shall on the weekend I hope. BUT I did go to a Gawler Bookshop today to check if they had the books. Took them awhile to find their two copies of each (now they only have one copy of each). I hope they restock! LF great to read your opinions and comments! And good to see another librarian on the forum (I'm not a TL though)and I agree, good that it's lexiled too. Have a good Easter.

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Phew, it's been a long term. I had a break this long weekend and read bothThe Wolf's Lair and King of the Beasts today. Wow, what a story! I really enjoyed them both.

I had my 9 year old read the first two and he thoroughly enjoyed them.- he is standing in line to read the last two. I bought Betrayal for myself, but gave it to my husband to read and he is looking around for more too. You'd better start writing quick, because we will have read everything soon and be bugging you for more!

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Ha ha....lovely to read, thanks LF. Fab to know the whole family's in on the stories and enjoying them. thanks for converting your son and husband! If you ever read crime, there's something in the wind at the end of July but if not, then the next book is Goddess, due out end November. Have you already read the others i.e. The Quickening and first two volumes of Percheron? Wow...I can't keep up with you lot! Fx