On Ya Bus

New this month!

2012-02-09T09:32:00.000+10:30

January in publishing is traditionally a no-releases month. The book-buying punters are deemed worn out from all of that Christmas giving, and the publishers and editors and designers travelling on this bus seize the chance to get down to some serious Lego playing with grandsons, go to the pool every day with newly-learned-to-swim kids, or drive down the coast for some well-earned computer-free time.

But come February, all bets are off! It's time to set free some truly delicious new fiction onto the lovely fresh shelves of bookshops across the land.

Setting out on its own is the first book in a new series from exciting new author Peter Cooper. A fire in a temple, an orphan running for his life. But is Dillen running away from, or towards, his destiny? A mysterious Easterner has sent Dillen on a simple quest: find the sorcerer Hallegat and serve him well. But for Dillen, things will never be simple again.

And from one of Australia’s most popular writers for children, Christine Harris, comes an exciting new series for nine to thirteen-year-olds. Raven Lucas is our heroine and she's smart, resourceful and desperately searching for her missing father. Guaranteed page-turning.

Bait for the Reader

2012-01-16T14:07:00.000+10:30

Sometimes you ought not research the person whose talk you are going to see. In the internet age a great deal of everything anyone has ever said is already on youtube. Googling the name of the speaker/presenter can take you, as it did me, direct to the very words he or she will be speaking. That might not be a bad thing unless you'ver paid good money for tickets. In my case the tickets were a welcome Christmas gift so I wasn't actually out of pocket. Just a wee bit out of sorts because I had hoped to be surprised. The speaker was Ira Glass. The subject was the structure of story. If you go to this link and watch all four parts you will have saved yourself the $45 for a ticket and learned something at the same time.
The art of the story
Ira Glass is certainly interesting. He can tell a story and he understands structure (he studied semiotics). He made me think and I loved the way he used his iPad to run the whole show on stage.

But I wish I had remembered to buy tickets to David Sedaris. I think he might have been more fun.

Holding Out For Wonderful

2012-01-13T14:37:00.001+10:30

Welcome to the New Year at Onyabus. I've been remiss in posting - there is never enough time in the working day to sit and think but I am determined to Do Better.

Today has been a day of emails, interviews and, sigh, unsoliciteds. The pile of unsolicited manuscripts is awfully high and awfully lacking in genius. Would that it were otherwise. Where are all the undiscovered diamonds of the children's lit world I wonder - those marvellous manuscripts from writers so talented they cannot help but get offers from all and sundry to publish their work? I am probably the only children's publisher in the world who actually sifts through the unsolicited pile myself but I read on with a somewhat sinking feeling and less hope in my heart than when I began this morning. There is always hope at the start of the reading pile. There is always a need for chocolate or a stiff drink at the end. I see we have been sent more stories about fairies...FYI we don't publish fairy books. More stories about environmental disasters - no, not for us, thankyou. Lots and lots of stories that the writers felt were picture books but are nothing more than lists of actions undertaken by a too-twee child. Dog and cat stories - mostly heroic dogs and recalitrant cats. No thanks. Four manuscripts were purportedly written by very small children whose grasp of language is uncannily adult but whose stories are woeful. Sorry. Your teacher, aunt, mother or father ought to put the stories you write in a drawer and give them to you on your 21st - not post them to us. There is a smattering of stories about desperate teenagers whose lives are forever blighted by First World Problems like their hair, their boyfriend or their mother. No thanks. We even have manuscripts about god, creationism and good calories.

I am beginning to slump.

Or even become slightly more deranged than usual..

How I look when deranged

Please someone send me a fabulous story - something utterly original.
In case I sound terribly ungrateful for the many manuscripts that fly in our door each day I am not. I am just very, very picky. Markus Zusak's first published book, The Underdog came from the pile - such a wonderful story. So original. So beautifully written. We snapped it up all those years ago and now look at him! Then there was Michael Gerard Bauer, the perfect gentleman of publishing whose first book, The Running Man, came off the unsolicited pile too and went on to win so many awards they scarcely all fit on the cover. Lyn Lee wote Pog - an unsolicited manuscript that won a swag of prizes. We can spot a good one when we see it. It just seems to me that there are a vast number of people out there who can't write but do anyway (and good on them, just don't send it to us) and an equal number of people who write what we call the OK Book; it's OK but it isn't wonderful.

I'm holding out for wonderful.

Your Conductor

I'm (definitely) not singing

2012-01-10T11:22:00.000+10:30

This CD has been on high holiday rotation in our house ... and car ... and headphones ... since it was found under the Christmas tree. Who can argue with the musical Dad expertise of Rhys Muldoon, Tex Perkins and Kram of Spriderbait? Our favourite song has to be 'Bob the Bear' in which Bob attempts to find the source of a nasty smell in the nappies of his playmates: 'But who, but who, who had done the poo?'

Irreverent in the extreme. Recommended for the offspring of Generation X.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2011-12-16T12:28:00.000+10:30

In the Publisher's Letterbox Illustrated Envelope Competition - Winner!

2011-11-30T13:14:00.000+10:30

We received many wonderful submissions for our In the Publisher's Letterbox Illustrated Envelope Competition and we think now's about the right time to choose a winner. Thank you to all the illustrators who took the time to create actual, real-life drawings and go to the trouble of finding a stamp (a stamp!) and a red letterbox (a letterbox?!) in order to enter.

And the winner is ... Gay McKinnon! We love your wombat (partial to wombats as we are here on the Omnibus) and your humorous style. Congratulations! We'll be in touch to discuss your prize.

G. McKinnon

M. Podgorski

C.B. Smith

K. Fleming

K. West

You can see the other entries in the competition here, and the original post here.

Unpacking the fantasy

2011-11-28T14:16:00.000+10:30

Often preoccupied as we are on the bus with reading and editing fantasy for young readers, it's been interesting and inspiring to read two great pieces on what it is exactly about fantasy, the genre, that so appeals to both children and adults. China Meiville here, and Lev Grossman here.

And so while we're on the topic, this is our latest fantasy offering which has picked up a four-star review in the latest Bookseller and Publisher, from new author Peter Cooper. Following in a fine tradition of genre fiction. Out in February 2012.

Some more Emily Rodda love ...

2011-09-29T14:44:00.000+09:30

... with Holly over at Readings' 'Spotlight on Emily Rodda'.

The Octogenarian Wild Thing

2011-09-26T11:37:00.000+09:30

'You mustn’t scare parents.' Says Maurice Sendak here.

But it's okay to scare children, so long as their supper is waiting for them when they get home, and it's still hot.

New from Maurice Sendak

The Three Doors Trilogy: The Golden Door

2011-09-26T11:21:00.000+09:30

The Editors had a brush with awesomeness last week while attending a talk given by Emily Rodda right here in Adelaide. Emily's latest book, the first in a new trilogy, is The Golden Door and after taking many, many questions from her audience of thoughtful, clever and perceptive children, Emily signed books like a warrior for each and every child who had the courage to approach The Signing Table. There was certainly a buzz in the air. This is the book, out this month, currently being devoured by legions of Emily Rodda fans all over.

And this from Emily Rodda herself about this new trilogy:

'I have always been fascinated by the idea that our choices lead us along different paths in life. Whenever we make a choice, even if it’s as simple as deciding between two tracks on a bushwalk, we may be changing our future. The left-hand track might have the hidden rock that is going to trip us and cause an injury that will affect us for years to come. The right hand track might give us the chance to meet someone who is going to be our friend for life. Obviously many other people have felt the same, because many old legends and fairy tales are based on the theme of choice. I decided to use three doors as my central theme in this trilogy because, firstly, whenever I see a closed door I want to see behind it, and secondly because I have always thought of books as ‘doors’—ways into other places, other worlds. The idea for the trilogy also gave me the opportunity to further explore the magic of the ocean in which Deltora lies—and that is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.'

Three cheers for kids' books bloggers

2011-09-18T13:57:00.001+09:30

Book Scout is back! The lovely Andrea is never wrong with her recommendations for fantastic children's books and YA reads. It sure is nice to see her back.

Congratulations, MGB!

2011-09-07T15:32:00.000+09:30

Our travelling editor reports that a fine time was had by all at the 2011 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards. Particularly happy was our very own Michael Gerard Bauer who picked up the Mary Ryan's Award ($15,000) for Just a Dog. And we're happy for him. From the judges: 'Children will understand and appreciate patience and hope more deeply after reading this fine book and discover that "a story doesn’t stop being true just because you stop telling it".' We couldn't agree more.

The Hunger Games THE MOVIE!

2011-09-01T09:48:00.000+09:30

Ooooooh! A girl with a long plait, bad attitude, and a really big bow - we like this, we like this a lot ...

In the publisher's letterbox

2011-08-22T09:56:00.000+09:30

A while back we invited submissions of envelope illustrations. You can see the original post here and the inspiration here. The best illustrated envelope wins not only five hardback picture books but also a serious look at the artist's portfolio. We thought it's about time to show some of the beautiful work we've received*. Thank you, so much, all you artists! And the competition is still open, so don't dawdle, doodle!

Bronwyn Esteban, Ferny Hills, Qld

Matthew Podgorski, Eden Hills, SA

'The Ghost Hunters', Nottingham, England

Marjory Gardner, Balwyn, Vic

Martin McKenna, UK

* At least one of these envelopes is from one of our wonderful friends and long-established illustrators who is not eligible for the competition. Sorry Martin, but we love your envelope!

Interview with John Heffernan

2011-08-16T10:43:00.000+09:30

As promised, we bring you an interview with John Heffernan, author of Harry's War, out this month, and already being reviewed here. Teachers' notes available here.

What gave you the idea for the story of Harry and his grandpa?

Harry's War is based around the stories that an old man tells his grandson about his time in the second world war. He makes the stories so exciting and fantastic that the boy dreams about being a soldier himself. I realised how easy it is to impress young minds and fill them with romantic ideas about war which is a horrible experience in reality. I also realised how people often embellish the stories they tell about things they do such as fighting in a war. There can be a fine line between telling a good story and telling lies. Harry's War is partly (but only partly) about that. It's also about the secrets families keep and how they will often tell lies to guard those secrets from being discovered. And it's about how knowing the truth will in the end make you stronger than all the lies in the world.

Harry thinks a lot about exciting things that happen in war. Do you think that going to war is an adventure?

War could be one of the most exciting adventures ever, I imagine. In fact that is exactly why so many young men rushed off to the first and second world wars - for the adventure and excitement. Of course the reality proved to be something else entirely, far worse than any of them could ever have imagined. But that's another story.

Grandpa tells great stories about what he did in the war. Are they based on true stories? Did you read a lot of war stories before you wrote the book?

Yes, Grandpa's war stories are based on factual accounts of war experiences by real soldiers. I read quite a few such accounts before I wrote the book.

At the end of the story, Harry does not seem to be very forgiving. Do you see Harry and Grandpa ever being close again after the things that happen in the book?

I do think that Harry will forgive his grandfather for what he did, but it will take time, possibly years. Harry's other experiences, especially with Will in the boat, but also his talk with Grandpa's mate Jock, will help him mature and in some ways understand why Grandpa did what he did. It will also help him understand that Grandpa is also suffering, even though he may not show it on the surface. And finally, Harry might come to realise that he is quite like Grandpa himself in many ways.

You have written books with boys and girls as main characters. What do you admire in your characters?

I'm not sure that ‘admire’ is quite the right word for how I feel about my characters. In some cases, yes, I do admire them - such as Rachael in Rachael's Forest for her courage and strength of characters, and Luke in Where There's Smoke for his loyalty and courage. But mostly it is empathy I feel for them, and an urge to go with them on their journeys through life. I feel that in some ways I am Marty in Marty's Shadow, struggling to understand the chaos of his life. Or I am Matt in A Horse Called Elvis, feeling that overwhelming love of a beautiful animal. And in Harry's War, I especially feel for Harry in the trust he places in his grandfather, and the great yearning he has to find out the truth about his father.

In Harry's War and in your last book, Where There's Smoke, you show families in very difficult situations. Do you think that people need to be in a crisis before they can show their best qualities?

Not necessarily. Some people are able to show their strengths without being put under any strain. But most of my characters are quite ordinary people, often with flaws. They're not automatic heroes, that's for sure, just people. And yet they are capable of great acts of courage when put to the test. And I think that is true of many people in real life; they need to be tested to really show their strengths.

You live on a farm, and your books are often set in the country. Are country people different from city people?

I actually do believe that country people are different from city people. I mean this particularly in regard to small country towns where people know each other and often care about each other. Cities are such impersonal places where anonymity is the norm and it's much harder to feel for others.

Which of your books is your favourite, and why?

I don't have any one favourite. Most of my books are very important to me. They're sort of like my children because I've spent a lot of time creating them. Having said that, several books stand out and have a special place in my mind for various reasons. Spud was my first novel and will always be special for that reason. A Horse Called Elvis is about a very, very special animal in my life. My Dog says something I feel strongly about war and human suffering, seen through the eyes of a young boy. Marty's Shadow is possibly the most emotional book I've ever written. Where There's Smoke is an attempt to grasp human bravery. And Harry's War is very special because I've never felt quite so close to all the characters, young Harry in particular.

New books in August

2011-08-09T14:53:00.001+09:30

Out this month, featuring a swishy new cover in honour of its 25th anniversary, is the Australian classic Space Demons by Gillian Rubinstein. Space Demons was first published by Omnibus Books in 1986. In that year I was in grade six at a primary school in an iron-dust-covered city in South Australia. My dad was the deputy principal of my school and as a result of that misfortune I spent a lot of time in the library, waiting for a lift home. This book was one that crossed my path in that year, and to say that it made an impression is definitely an understatement. After reading this book, playing 'Boulder Dash' on our Commodore 64 always felt just a little bit disappointing.

Coming up very soon on this blog is an interview with John Heffernan, author of Harry's War, also out this month. John Heffernan says: 'I realised how easy it is to impress young minds and fill them with romantic ideas about things like war which is a horrible experience in reality. I also realised how people often embellish the stories they tell about things they did such as fighting in a war. There can be a fine line between telling a good story and telling lies. Harry's War is partly (but only partly) about that.' Stay tuned for more on this fantastic new book.

July books from Omnibus

2011-07-21T11:49:00.000+09:30

There's been a little bit of jooshing on the old Omnibus lately. A new cushion on a comfy chair, some indoor plants, some dusting and some rearranging. And we're delighted to announce that Michael Gerard Bauer's new book Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel, the last in this wonderful school yard trilogy, fits in beautifully with the new colour scheme.

And now we have a cosy place (the aforementioned new cushion) for Baby Bilby to sleep. Dear little bilby, you can sleep on my velveteen cushion whenever you like.

Also out in paperback this month is the enduringly lovely Bush Concert, written and illustrated by Helga Visser.

Unwelcome on the bus, any time, are redback spiders, but we've cleared off a special shelf so we don't get a nasty surprise reaching for Redback on the Toilet Seat, out in paperback.

When it comes to kicking goals, it's all about the quality, not the quantity, as we find out in our new Mates! out this month, Losers! by Pauline Deeves and Adam Carruthers.

A Prize of One's Own

2011-07-04T08:16:00.000+09:30

From one bus full o' ladies to another one hundred per cent ladies' writing prize, we salute you, Sophie Cunningham et al.

The redoubtable Virginia Woolf, via Google images.

A very special guest: L.S. Lawrence

2011-06-30T07:57:00.002+09:30

A special treat today. The mysterious L.S. Lawrence has granted us an audience. Imagine you're sitting in a book-lined study with a view of a back yard. Sitting opposite you is a professorial type with half-glasses, a hound's-tooth jacket and a bow tie. He is blinking, with mild astonishment, at the rainbow lorikeets in the lemon-scented gum outside. This is what you ask him and this is what he tells you:

Why were you drawn to the King Arthur story?
Because there's nothing like a mystery, and that's a mystery. Nobody knows anything much. Everything was in chaos in Britain, no government, no law. The towns were mostly in ruins, with bandits and invading barbarians everywhere. But there is just one story written at the time that tells of a British war-leader named Ambrosius Aurelianus, who won a great victory against the invaders somewhere in the west of the country. And that's just about all we have. Centuries later, people began to tell stories about a king called Arthur, who beat the barbarians and established a kingdom called Camelot where, for a time, there was law and justice.

Is there any truth to these stories? Nobody knows. Are they possible at all? Some aren't, but what if the others are at least partly true?

And that is the beginning of all story-telling. The beginning is always a question, and the question always starts with the words ‘What if ...?’

What if the stories are sort-of true? Not all true, because for that you need magic, and knights and dragons and giants and the Holy Grail, and all sorts of stuff that was added in later. But what if there was a boy who grew up to be a great leader? What if he had, well, sort-of knights – armoured horsemen, anyway? Where would he get them? Where would he get the horses for them?

And then I tripped over an odd fact. Archeologists dig up all sorts of things, including the teeth and bones of horses. In a ‘dig’ in the west of Britain, near a place called Cadbury Rings, they found some. Now, most horses in ancient Britain were just ponies – very small. But these were big horses. And more; there's a way of testing the teeth that tells scientists where the horse was born. Two or three of these horses came from northern Spain.

Imagine that! Somebody had fetched some of the famous Andalusian horses, and had brought them back to Britain. Who did that? And how did they do it?

And there was the start of the story.

What do you admire about Alexa in Horses for King Arthur and Sara in Escape by Sea?
Well, first of all, courage. It's not that they're never afraid, it's that they don't allow their fear to beat them. That's what courage is, you know.

Then, decency. The idea that there is an underlying law, no matter what other people think or do. Sara won't allow her father to kill the man who cheated him, because it wouldn't be right. Alexa does her best to care for the warriors wounded after the battle because it's right to do that. They do what is right, just because it's right, not because it's convenient or easy. That's what I mean by decency.

And lastly, independence. They grew up in a place and a time where women had few rights and little freedom, in theory anyway. But in all times and all places, there have been women who made their own way, no matter what. I can only guess at what they had to go through. But I can write about them, and admire them for what they did.

Do you like all kinds of history, or do you have a favourite era/people that you like to write about?
Can I answer, One of each, please?

Yes, I like all kinds of history. As soon as you look under the names and dates and places – which are boring, if you look at them alone – you find stories. Stories everywhere. And stories are fun.

But I especially like history that's a long way away from us, in time or space or ideas. Ideas are the most interesting things of all, and in history you can find some really strange ones. Some of those ideas are horrible, and some of them are brilliant, and all of them make you think about our ideas of the world.

For instance, did you know that an inventor showed a Roman Emperor a machine that could make roads, all in one go, and didn't need a huge crew of slaves to work it. The Emperor ordered the machine to be destroyed and the inventor strangled, of course. Why? Well, look at it from the Emperor's point of view. If all the slaves who built roads were set free, what would they do? Probably start a rebellion, that's what.

That same way of thinking happened when a settler found a large gold nugget among the roots of a tree he was digging up in New South Wales, in the 1830s. He showed it to the Governor, who told him to hide it away and not tell anyone. Why? Look at it from the Governor's point of view. He was in charge of a prison, basically. The last thing he wanted was a gold rush, and all the convicts escaping to dig up gold.

We tend to think that anything new and different is good. But most people in the past thought that things should stay the same.

Weird, isn't it? But weird is fun, too. And history is full of stuff like that. That's why I like it.

What do you admire about people of that era?
Mostly, it's not so much that I admire them – I'd rather live here and now, thank you very much. Most people in Rome were slaves, you know. Most people in Britain in the year 475 were farm workers, doing stoop labour on land they didn't own twelve hours a day, just to get enough to eat – and sometimes not even getting that. In fact, that's true of practically anywhere at any time up to about a hundred and fifty years ago.

They were tough and enduring, that's true. They had to be. And it's true that this modern world was built on what they did. But I don't want to live like them. Is it admiring them to say that much?

You seem to know a lot about sailing, and war, and horses, and medicine, and even about cooking. Do you do a lot of research?

Um, well, yes and no. See, I've been reading history – mostly, whatever I fancied – for, oh, about fifty years now. Is it research when you know pretty much the shape of how history happened, and you trip over a detail like the horses in Cadbury, and you think, how cool is that?

After that, the stuff you need to know sort of happens as you go along; and it's strange how the details often seem to fall into place. For instance, I needed to know who was ruling in southern France about this time. A bit of reading told me it was a Visigoth chieftain named Euric. And what do you know? It turns out that he also ruled northern Spain. Where the horses came from. And it also turns out that Euric was the first ruler in the old Western Roman Empire to declare himself an independent king, and make it stick. Oh, cool, I said to myself, and when did that happen?

475 CE, the same year as I was setting my story.

See what I mean about things falling into place? It's almost spooky the way it seems to happen.

Sailing, well, I sail small boats, and went as crew once or twice on ocean-going yachts. It's not the same, but it gives you a feel for it. War – well, I play tabletop war games. Horses – if you look at the dedication of Horses for King Arthur you'll see the name of Elizabeth Moon, who really does know about horses, and whose brain I picked. Medicine – my wife comes from a whole family of doctors. Cooking – I have a copy of an actual ancient Roman cookbook. Fact. Fellow named Apicius wrote it two thousand years ago, and somehow it was preserved. Funny what things people will keep. Most of the works of great writers and historians and playwrights and poets from ancient times have been lost, but a cookbook survives. Weird. I said it was weird, didn't I?

That's history. It's weird. I like it because it's weird. Quite likely, most people would, if only they knew.

Out this month, L.S. Lawrence's latest novel.

Play School turns 45

2011-06-27T08:38:00.001+09:30

I always knew that Play School is fully scripted (no autocue) but I didn't know that it's filmed in one episode, as if it's live to tape. Parents, prepare for some new presenters as well as all the not-so-old favourites.

Happy 45th anniversary, Play School!

Pic via ABC TV blog

June books

2011-06-23T12:20:00.000+09:30

We're a wee bit late with our June books post this month. The old bus runs a little slower and takes longer to warm up in the cold weather. We have to supplement our biofuel with liquid chocolate to keep us all running smoothly.

So, this month we have some old favourites popping up. The Best Beak in Boonaroo Bay is a CBCA Award short-listed book by the amazingly talented Narelle Oliver. It's lovely to see this classic back in paperback. Also out in paperback is Give Me a Home Among the Gum Trees, the classic Australian song illustrated by the young and talented Ben Wood. This is a favourite at my house where sometimes singing the bedtime story is actually easier than reading it.

And as mentioned in our previous post, the first two books in Michael Gerard-Bauer's trilogy have been re-jacketed to be all matchy and beautiful next to the third and final book, Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel, due out in July -- stay tuned!

It's all about finales this month because next off the bus is the much-anticipated Calamitous Queen, the last in the awesome Grim and Grimmer series by Ian Irvine. Delivering on everything that has been promised, and much more, this is a worthy end to an epic journey for poor old awkward Ike and his prickly side-kick Melly. And don't forget to pop in on Ian Irvine's Facebook page regularly, he's just a crazy competition and give-away machine!

We're always excited to see a new manuscript thump on our desks* from the mysterious L.S. Lawrence, historical fiction author extraordinaire. Out this month is Horses for Arthur, set in the Arthurian period (7th century England). You need to be sitting up straight and paying attention to fully appreciate the historical context, but Alexa, the heroine of this story, demands no such effort. She is a feisty and independently minded woman who refuses an arranged marriage and instead follows her own passion. If you'd like to read more about the rich history and culture of this period, please follow this link to our Teachers' notes.

And if you love this kind of historical fiction, definitely hunt down the previous two L.S. Lawrence novels, Eagle of the East and Escape by Sea. And watch out for an interview with Mr Lawrence, coming soon!

* In actual fact, arrive with a polite 'ping!' in our inboxes, but that doesn't sound very romantic, does it?

Author interview with Michael Gerard Bauer

2011-06-20T08:54:00.000+09:30

With the re-release of the first two books in Michael Gerard Bauer's wonderful trilogy due out this month and the final book out in July, we're very excited to hear from this award-winning author about the process of writing not one, but three awesome Australian novels.

How long did it take you to write the Ishmael series?

I didn’t actually realise it was going to be a series when I started writing Don’t Call Me Ishmael! in 2004 but I liked the characters too much to stop writing and I wanted to find out what would happen to them. The third and final book Ishmael and the Hoops of Steel comes out very soon so it has taken a while to complete the trilogy but I’ve also written Dinosaur Knights and Just a Dog in the meantime.

Do you procrastinate? Are you an early-morning or late-at-night writer?

Me procrastinate? I’m not sure, although two weeks has passed since I wrote the answer to Question 1. Definitely an early morning writer though. I like to go for a walk first because it helps me get my thoughts in order and to come up with new ideas. I write throughout the day but I rarely do much writing at night. I’m probably on Facebook or watching some embarrassing reality TV program.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I found that inspiration can come from anywhere. Stories seem to find me rather than me going out looking for them. The Running Man started with childhood memories of looking for silkworms; the Ishmael stories all grew from the first line of the novel Moby Dick which is ‘Call me Ishmael ...’; Dinosaur Knights started when I was watching an old movie about knights and dragons and I had the thought that the dragons looked like dinosaurs; and Just a Dog started one day when I was walking (told you I got ideas doing that!) and the name Mister Mosely for a dog came into my head. I still have no idea where that name came from.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

A while back and too old! Or more accurately, I started writing it in 2000 and I was 45.

What does your family think of your writing?

Either they like it or they’re too polite to tell me the truth. My wife is always the first person to read my stories. My son Joe particularly likes the Ishmael series. He always reads the manuscripts and gives me lots of helpful suggestions as well as correcting my mistakes. Joes also created the original covers for the first two Ishmael books.

What are you reading at the moment?

That last question. Oh, I see what you mean. Books, right? Well, I’ve just been at the Voices on the Coast writers’ festival so I bought a few books by the authors who were there with me. At the moment I’m reading A Pocket Full of Eyes by Lili Wilkinson. The last book I read was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins which I loved.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I hear from readers a bit more now that I have a Facebook page and a blog. Thankfully they mostly say very nice things about my books or ask questions about the stories or about being a writer. Sometimes I get emails and letters from classes who have read one of my novels. Occasionally they ask me if I’ll do their homework for them. (Just in case you’re wondering –- the answer’s no!)

As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

Taller mainly. But apart from that when I was in primary school I wanted to be either a Samurai warrior or a Ninja because back then there was a really popular TV show on called The Samurai and the main character Shintaro was my hero. He still is. Later on I wanted to be a singer-songwriter or part of a rock band. I eventually became a teacher which was pretty close.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Annoy other people who are writing. Read. Listen to music. Play the guitar and try to sing and write songs. Go for walks. Watch TV. Go to the movies. Play tennis. Meet with my secret Ninja group. No wait, I’m not supposed to mention that … um, what I meant to say was – sleep.

When was the last time you were on a bus?

A hardly ever catch buses when I’m at home in Brisbane – they’re just too fast for me. But when I’m away doing school visits I often get around by train or taxi or bus. So the last time I bus-ed it probably would have been last year in Melbourne.

We like it when ...

2011-06-10T11:46:00.001+09:30

... characters climb out of books and start doing their own publicity! Over here.

Ike during the unfortunate bum-inflation incident, book 3, Grim and Grimmer by Ian Irvine.

We like this

2011-06-07T15:58:00.000+09:30

Carly Schwerdt is quite a lady. She runs amazing children's art classes, designs and prints the most beautiful textiles you've ever seen, has a gorgeous shop and now she's written a book. Little Artists Handmade celebrates children's art and shows how best to draw inspiration from it, re-use it and make sure it doesn't get filed away forever in a suitcase on top of a wardrobe (ahem). Congratulations, Carly! And thank you for training the next generation of artists and illustrators for us!

Author interview with Ian Irvine

2011-05-30T07:23:00.000+09:30

The Calamitous Queen by Ian Irvine, out in June 2011!

How long did it take you to write the Grim and Grimmer series?

I began the plan of the series, and the first book, in August 2008, and finished the final edits of the fourth book in March 2011, but most of that time I was writing other things. The total time to write each book was about a month. The Headless Highwayman and The Grasping Goblin took a bit over a month each, The Desperate Dwarf and The Calamitous Queen a bit less. But a lot of that work is planning. For instance I spent six days planning The Calamitous Queen in great detail, then another six and a half days writing the first draft. Curiously, I find that the faster I write, the less editing I have to do. I still do a lot of drafts, though.

Do you procrastinate? Are you an early-morning or late-at-night writer?

I don’t procrastinate because I really enjoy writing and want to do more of it. I usually start about 7.30 am and write until after lunch, have a break or a brief nap, then write through until dinner time. Sometimes, If I’m working to a very tight deadline, as with The Calamitous Queen, I’ll start at 5 am and go right through to dinner time, and even do a bit of writing late at night.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Everywhere. I’ve travelled a lot, and worked in a dozen countries, so I have plenty of experience to draw on. I also draw inspiration from my scientific background (I’ve been a marine scientist for 30 years) which perhaps is why I write differently to most other writers.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

In 1987, when I was 37. It was A Shadow on the Glass, and forms the first book of my epic fantasy quartet The View from the Mirror. The quartet is over 800,000 words and it took more than 10 years to get the series published, but it’s never been out of print in Australia since, and has been published in many other countries.

What does your family think of your writing?

Well, they all enjoy reading so I imagine they’re fairly pleased, though to be honest I’ve never asked them.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’m re-reading my 20-book set of the Brother Cadfael medieval whodunits by Ellis Peters (AKA Edith Pargeter). And I’m about to start Jonathan Stroud’s The Ring of Solomon, the fourth in his Bartimaeus series about a sarcastic and cowardly djinni, which I’m very much looking forward to.

What are you writing next?

Now that I’ve done the Grim and Grimmer quartet, I’m working on a new epic fantasy series for older readers called The Tainted Realm. The first book, which I’ve just finished, is Vengeance. I’m also tossing around ideas for a new children’s series though I won’t start it until The Tainted Realm is finished next year.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I get email from a few hundred different people a year – readers can email me here. Now that I have a Facebook author page, I’m in touch with my readers daily and we have a great conversation going. The most common questions are: When is the next book coming out? Why did you kill off that character I really loved? Are your books available as eBooks? The answers to many FAQs can be found on my gigantic website.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Deep space explorer. Fighter pilot. Adventurer. Pretty much anything that didn’t involve real work.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Lie on the lounge reading a book. Wander around the garden. Daydream.

When was the last time you went on a bus?

Umm, years ago, since I live in the country and there’s no public transport at all here. I’ve a vague memory of getting a bus in Sydney some years back.

Congratulations, Luke Edwards!

2011-05-23T06:47:00.000+09:30

2011 APA Book Design Awards

Best Designed Children’s Cover of the Year The Staring Owl (Luke Edwards, Omnibus) cover designer Luke Edwards

Yay! Written, illustrated and designed by the one and only Luke Edwards. Well done, Luke and Owl.

Movie review: Ramona and Beezus

2011-05-20T14:55:00.001+09:30

We watched this movie on dvd recently after it slipped under my radar when it came out in cinemas last year. Based, of course, on the wonderful books by Beverley Cleary, the film remains true to the books' spirit. The Ramona books do that beautiful thing in truly good children's literature -- give an insight into the adult world from a child's perspective. As adults we can be reminded how mystifying, alarming and confusing the world can be for children. But also, that children can be full participants in family life and all the good and bad times. The children are quirky, the adults are not perfect (but they are unusually good looking) and the parenting is not straight out of the box. This film gets it all just right. And it ends with a wedding -- what's not to like?!

The Friendship Matchmaker

2011-05-17T07:45:00.001+09:30

Today some wonderful reviews of The Friendship Matchmaker appearing here and thereabouts on the interwebs.

Over here at Readings.

Here at The Younger Sun.

Here on the website of the NSW Association for Gifted and Talented Children.

And there's a wonderful discussion on Randa's own website about the book. So many happy readers!

And an interview with Randa here, talking about writing The Friendship Matchmaker.

And don't forget to leave us a comment to enter the Sean Williams competition, the prize being a signed set of The Fixers!

What is your opinion about e-books and even more importantly, DRM?

2011-05-11T15:18:00.003+09:30

I read a blog that was quite challenging and which I thought was interesting so for the sake of discussion and just because I think its time you creative types spoke up, I offer this link.

Let's see if anyone really cares ...

I am ideologically opposed to DRM. I think the world is going to become a very flexible place in this new on-line society and DRM is the stranglehold that will turn readers off. This isn't to say that our company or indeed any other Australian publisher feels the same way, of course. What do you think?

Some terrific reviews of our publishing in this month's Magpies magazine -- well done, Allayne Webster whose YA novel Stresshead was a hit. And well done too, Eleanor Nilsson -- her title in the very popular Mates series, Aussie Dog, also got a big tick as did Randa Abdel-Fattah's Mate, Buzz Off! We love reviewers when they do a good job.

Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to continually be part of unanimity. -- Christopher Morley, writer (1890-1957)

A competition for illustrators

2011-05-05T10:47:00.003+09:30

Illustration courtesy Michael Malleedy

Did anyone see the beautiful illustrated envelopes on the Guardian website recently?

This made me long for real mail that isn't my credit card statement or my electricity bill. In order to encourage any young/old/middle-aged illustrators out there I have decided to have a competition. The best illustrated envelope –- regular size please -- sent to me at 175 Young Street, Parkside, SA 5063, will win not only five hardback picture books but also a serious look at the artist's portfolio.

How's that for exciting?

Take a look at the Guardian link -- you will see how some illustrators managed this idea. The idea is for you to show characters in situ -- something that suggests a story to us. So get your brushes, inks and paper and get started!

A note from your Conductor

May books from Omnibus

2011-05-05T07:22:00.000+09:30

In my house Too Many Monkeys needs to be acted out. Obviously the 'knock knock' must be rapped out on a nearby hard surface, but of course the most giggles are reserved for 'Someone's bottom is sitting on my head!' Ah, Margaret Wild's genius knows no bounds and Sally Rippin's colour palette is just right for the moment. Too Many Monkeys, first paperback release.

If you haven't noticed Omnibus Book's fabulous Mates! series yet, then you're going to have a nice surprise when you click over here to see the feast of lovely covers. This series is a smorgasbord of Australian literary and artistic talent. And Buzz Off, by Randa Abel-Fattah and Dan McGuiness is no exception. Out this month.

Omnibus is very pleased to be re-releasing a classic of Australian children's literature this month, Robin Klein's Boss of the Pool, with a wonderfully fresh new cover.

I've saved our most exciting new book for last. Stresshead by Allayne Webster is set to be a big hit. The second book from this fresh new voice in young adult fiction, this novel is a funny, wry and first-hand account of trying to cope with the almost overwhelming burden of being sixteen. And the cover totally rocks, doesn't it?!

What I wish was on my pile

2011-05-03T12:32:00.001+09:30

Publishing is a very strange profession. We make judgements each day about what is worth publishing and what is not and frequently the ones we reject turn up somewhere else where they are loved and supported and made into books. So why is something rejected? Well, in our case we reject work that just isn't original enough, or literary enough, or funny enough, or serious enough, or clever enough. Or possibly all of the above. Just as all readers do, we read with the hope that something magical will happen –- we won't want to stop reading. Lunch or coffee or that walk you meant to take today will just be forgotten in the absolute pleasure of a wonderful, captivating story with characters that capture you and settings so real you can walk there instead.

Where are those stories, by the way? Please would all the writers who have one like that in their bottom drawer get it out now and send it to us? Just this week we have taken on three stories from the unsolicited pile. It does happen. Three writers who took a chance and sent their manuscript to us, fingers crossed, along with a self-addressed envelope just in case.

More than anything I wish we could publish some more writers with different ethnic backgrounds -- there must be some great children's writers out there with a different point of view, surely?

On a different note, I spent Easter with my family on the Mornington Peninsula -- very nice. Heronswood Garden was just beautiful and I spent way too much time in the garden shop, as usual. Rolled about loudly on the lush green lawn (hmm, avoid cliches ...) with my grandson looking variously for his ears, nose, knees and belly button. What fun to play like a child. I thought about picture books as I read to him that weekend. He likes anything mechanical: trucks, fire engines, ambulances, but discovered when I tried to take him to the fireworks night that he doesn't like 'fire cracks'. Now there's some very original and evocative language I like ...

Sean Williams and a Competition!

2011-05-02T08:22:00.000+09:30

Next in our occasional author-interviews series is Sean Williams, a super star in our humble opinion. Sean has kindly given us an insight into his wonderful creative world. And to celebrate the release of his latest fantastic series for Omnibus Books, The Fixers, we have a competition! To win a signed set of The Fixers, simply leave us a comment telling us the last time you went on a bus and we'll randomly draw a winner at the end of May. So comment away, and win!

How long did it take you to write The Fixers?

Either three weeks or seven years, depending on how you look at it. In terms of actually writing the words, it didn’t take long at all. I’m a quick writer once I know what story I want to tell, and Ollie’s adventures were so much fun I didn’t want to pause at any point. My obsessive records tell me that I wrote the first sentence of Castle of the Zombies on 30 January 2009 and the last sentence of Invasion of the Freaks on 17 February 2010. There were rewrites in March and September the same year, plus some last-minute changes ahead of each book’s publication. So the question of when a book starts or finishes becomes a very complicated one. It shouldn’t be so difficult!

Do you procrastinate? Are you an early-morning or late-at-night writer?

I’m somewhere in between: a nine-to-five writer, like it’s a real job. Which it is, of course. I tend to write at the start of the day, which leaves the afternoon free for catching up with other stuff, like emails, talking to collaborators, proofing, etc. One thing that surprised me about being a full-time writer is how little of it is actually about writing. But that’s okay. I suppose people my age should be working some of the time, instead of playing all the time.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

From everywhere! The opening scenes of Castle of the Zombies happened almost beat-by-beat in my real life. Then there’s the idea of writing a story about castle, which came from one of my step-sons. Pixel the space-cat in Planet of the Cyborgs was inspired by Pixel the ordinary-cat, who belongs to a friend in Sydney. The most beautiful girl in the village of Curse of the Vampire is my wife, Amanda. And so on. All you have to do is keep your eyes and ears open, and ideas will just pour in. The trick is working out which are the good ones and how best to use them.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I finished my first novel in 1983. It has the awesomely bad title of Slug in the Sky. I was 15 and in high school and really should have been doing my homework, but instead I was banging out this thing on an old typewriter and it was the most fun I’d ever had in my entire life. I’d written some short pieces before then, but nothing I could get so involved in. The book was terrible, of course. It’s never been published, and I hope it never will be, but it was a step in the right direction. I wrote my second book (The Memö Böok Chronicles) in fountain pen the following year and my third (Circle of Kings) on an electric typewriter after leaving school. My fourth (When the Cow Came Down) came while I was at uni. My first computer was supposed to help me study, but all I really did on it was write. Not one of those novels has been published, but the next one was, and so were the next thirty-four. It’s literally a dream come true.

What does your family think of your writing?

They love it! Of course, they say they do, and I insist on believing them – even though everyone knows your mum is the worst critic ever. She’ll love everything, even if it’s terrible.

What are you reading at the moment?

I’ve been reading a bunch of thrillers by Lee Child, and before that I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for about the billionth time. I love that book it: as well as being both funny and frightening, it’s a wonderful glimpse into another world. The superstitions of Tom and his friends are far too bizarre for Mark Twain to have made them up. They could only be real.

(If you want to know more about my reading habits, you can find them on my blog or more recently at Goodreads.)

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I do hear from readers. One popular question is: ‘Can you put me in a Star Wars novel?’ The answer, I’m sorry to say, is, ‘Probably not,’ although I have done it for most of my friends, whether they want to be in there or not.

Another is: ‘I want to do what you do. How do I make it happen?’ The answer is to just sit down and do it. And keep doing it. There’s an old Japanese saying, something along the lines of, ‘Even a thief takes seven years to learn her trade.’ That’s true for writing, too, but if you love doing it, it won’t feel like it took that long.

I’m asked a lot about coming to talk at schools, which is very flattering, and something I love doing, but it’s not something I can fit in very often. For one, I’m usually in the middle of writing something new and I don’t like taking days off, even for birthdays and Christmas. For two, I’m a very shy person and I get nervous in crowds. My natural instinct is to sit in my study and hide, so it takes a lot to get me out into the real world. You have to coax me out with chocolate. That usually works.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

For a while I wanted to be a cowboy, but then I started reading and my fate was sealed: the only thing better than being told a good story is writing one yourself. I’ve occasionally contemplated other careers – archaeology, mathematics, even accountancy – but none of them have stuck. It’s always been writing. Once I realised that resistance was futile, life became a whole lot simpler.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I don’t really have any hobbies, since I write and read every day. When I take time off at night, I like to hang out with my wife and family. One day I’m going to get back into writing music, my other true love, but as that would mean writing fewer words, it might not be any time soon.

When was the last time you went on a bus?

Hmm. *scratches head* I live very close to the city centre of Adelaide, so I tend to walk most places. Probably the last time would have been in Los Angeles in 2009, or maybe England in 2007. A long time ago, in other words. But I’ve caught plenty of trains and subways, and I’m a big believer in public transport.

Young Street

2011-04-18T13:01:00.002+09:30

It's odd how much you can dread change and then when it happens it all seems absolutely perfect. Our new office is so much like home now that I wonder how we ever lived with the old one. This one is quieter, closer to terrific shopping, loaded with charm and in all ways feels quite perfect for us. That's a pic looking through my office to the meeting room. Those persimmons are from Patricia's tree -- my absolute favourite fruit I think, after mangoes.

Kon, our wonderful new landlord, came in this week loaded up with Haigh's for Easter. He shops for us regularly at Haigh's and we love him for it. I went to dinner at a local Italian restaurant on the weekend and guess who was sitting behind me? Kon! In his spiffy black shirt, and minus the silky basketball singlet, I almost didn't recognise him. It's his neighbourhood so perhaps he isn't stalking me ...

It turns out that he owns a church just down the road which is inhabited by many young people -- they've sort of taken it over for the last ten years and Kon is very easy going about that. He tells me the church is famous for its halloween parties. I wonder if we'll score an invite this year? Our dear illustrator Dan is in the know so I'll check with him around October.

We had our housewarming a week or so ago, a very pleasant affair with no rowdy drunks or illustrators flinging themselves around the carpark on scooters as happened a while ago. And nothing spilled on the new carpet. We are very impressed with how sedate our creators are in the late afternoon. Poor Dan McGuinness was heard to cry, ' A young person!' when he saw Claire Richards turn up. He's not so young himself ... he should watch out.

I'm tremendously excited about a new author -- Emma Allen has written two beautiful picture books for us. Watch this space. Freya Blackwood is illustrating one of them. Emma has a lyrical quality to her work that is very special and we feel she will go far. I also read an unsolicited manuscript this week that sent shivers down my spine. It reminded me in a way of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime, but it was darker and more adult. I would love to publish it, but the YA market is so hard and this is so different that I think I will have to twist arms. Note to self -- build up arm muscles.

I feel that mental itch publishers feel when great talent is about to pop on to the list. Looking forward to reading the great Australian novel on the slush pile very soon. It's in the post, I'm sure of it!

A note from your Conductor xx

The CBCA Book of the Year 2011 Short List & Notables

2011-04-14T11:00:00.001+09:30

We're proud to see several Omnibus books on the CBCA Book of the year shortlist and notables lists this year.

Congratulations to our wonderful, hard-working authors and illustrator for making the cut.

DM Cornish Monster Blood Tattoo Book 3: Factotum (Notables)

Gerard Michael Bauer Just a Dog (Younger readers shortlist)

Dave Luckett Paladin (Notables)

Dorothea Mackellar and Andrew McLean My Country (Notables)

April books

2011-04-13T10:51:00.000+09:30

Omnibus Books is delighted to have two very special books out this month.
New junior fiction novel, Bungawitta, by super-mega-stars of children's literature Emily Rodda and Craig Smith, hits shelves this April. In a 5-star review the Junior Bookseller and Publisher says: 'The author of the popular Deltora Quest and Rondo series has done it again with a captivating tale that shows how good morals and values can guide us out of any problem. Whether or not it rains is completely beside the point!'

And just when the children are going to be ransacking the backyard for eggs laid (in a quirk of evolution) by the Easter Bunny, My Little World by Julia Cooke and illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, will be appearing on bookshop shelves. After the chocolate hunting frenzy is over this book will inspire a closer look at all the wonderful creatures to be found hiding in the garden.

Win an iPad 2!

2011-04-12T09:24:00.000+09:30

Yep, you read right, commuters. Ian Irvine is only giving away an iPad 2 over at his Facebook page. Be quick and click because this competition is running only during April. Goodness me, that's exciting!

Dan McGuiness talks Pilot & Huxley stuff

2011-04-04T06:53:00.000+09:30

Dan McGuiness, the comic genius behind Pilot & Huxley (1, 2 and 3), shares some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of creating a comic book slash graphic novel.

How long did it take you to write and illustrate Pilot & Huxley?

Each time I wrote and illustrated a Pilot & Huxley book I got more efficient. The first one took around a year to do, while the latest one took around three months from start to finish. I now work on a Wacom Cintiq (an LCD tablet) to do the drawings and colouring. Being able to draw straight onto digital paper cuts out a lot of time-consuming steps.

Do you procrastinate? Are you an early-morning or late-at-night writer?

When I have a deadline I treat it as a nine to five job. I set an amount that I have to do every day. For example, if I am writing a script I say to myself that I have to write fifteen pages a day. This is the best way I have found for me to work. In between books I treat that time as like a holiday or work on other projects. Sometimes it's hard for me to get back into it after a break, but I'm not a procrastinator in general.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I can remember quite vividly the sort of things that I used to love when I was younger. I was a reluctant reader, so now I put stuff into my books that I would have liked to read about when I was a kid. That's probably why children love my books but some adults have a hard time accepting them! I also get a lot of inspiration from the movies I watch, video games I play and comics I read.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I started writing and drawing my own independent comics when I was about 26. I would just draw them up on A4 paper, take them down to the newsagent, photocopy them and staple them at home. From there I would sell them at comic conventions around Australia. I'm 33 now, so a lot has happened in the last seven years.

What does your family think of your writing?

My parents love my books. I have to get them like 40 copies of a book when it comes out to send to all my relations and their friends. My parents have always supported me in everything I have done, from running a skateboard company to working in the film industry. I could not have asked for better parents.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm reading a manga (Japanese graphic novel) series called Bakuman, which is about two kids trying to become professional manga artists in Japan. I'm also reading a western comic called Invincible which is about a boy whose dad is basically Superman. It's about him growing up and dealing with the problems that arise when his powers kick in at puberty.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I have a website where kids can leave me comments and I have a Dan McGuiness Facebook fan page as well. I pretty much hear from kids every day asking me questions like, When is the next book coming out? Is there going to be a TV show? Is there going to be a movie? Are there going to be toys? I love reading and answering all of them.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A dinosaur.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to play video games. I have an Xbox 360 and a PS3. I also help run a retro gaming website called Retrospekt. I love reading comics and manga as well. But my favourite thing is eating. I'm so into going out to dinner with my girlfriend, Clare.

When was the last time you went on a bus?

I live so close to the city that I just ride my bike everywhere. It's way easier than paying for a ticket, so I don't catch the bus at all. Sorry, that was a bit of a boring answer 0_0. Maybe I could make up an answer like, "The last bus I caught was when I got stuck on the back of a giant blue super worm. It was so big that I had to catch a bus to get to its tail. When I got to the tail I shot a flare into the sky and my personal helicopter came to pick me up to take me home."

Pilot & Huxley 3 out now!

Congratulations, John

2011-03-25T12:09:00.000+10:30

Our own John Heffernan's Where There's Smoke has been shortlisted for the Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children's Literature.

Tis the season for shortlists and we're not above getting a thrill out of seeing our own listed, no siree.

Ian Irvine

2011-03-23T11:13:00.000+10:30

Hi Everyone!

Just letting you know that I'm blog touring Grim and Grimmer over the next couple of weeks. The full list is here.

I'm also active at Supanova in Brisbane and the Bellingen Readers and Writer's Festival over this period, so lots of promotion going on.

Cheers

Ian

(Now there's a busy author! Go, Ian!)

A treat from our book files, the original illustration of the one and only Con Glomryt, by Martin McKenna

March releases

2011-03-10T07:37:00.000+10:30

We're setting down some lovely books this March. We're honoured to be publishing the beautiful, accomplished and eloquent Randa Abdel-Fattah's first junior fiction novel, The Friendship Matchmaker. With it's super-cute cover, we think this one will be a new favourite with the tweens. The Junior Bookseller and Publisher says: 'Great writing, topical content and a big dose of humour will make this book one of the successes of 2011.' Yes, we totally agree!

Hopping off the bus next in Omnibus's much-loved Mates series is Aussie Dog by Eleanor Nilsson, illustrated by Beth Norling. Here on the bus we are sensitive (teary) when it comes to books about dogs. But so long as they have a happy ending, we're okay.

The long-awaited third edition of the chaotic adventures of that worrisome pair Pilot & Huxley makes its debut this month. These two questionable heroes face their greatest challenge yet, being wiped out of existence all together. Just pass it straight to the kids, they get it.

Good grief, it's a huge month! Next cab off the rank is Grim and Grimmer: The Desperate Dwarf by Ian Irvine. In this, the third and second-to-last in this epic series, we meet the unforgettable dwarf Con Glomryt. You won't find this kind of guy in The Hobbit. Uh uh. And remember to check out I an's amazing competition!

Last but by no means least, especially to her legions of fans, is Tamora Pierce's collection Tortall and Other Lands. Very little more needs to be said. Return to the land of Tortall and catch up with some old friends and make some new ones.

Congratulations, Luke Edwards!

2011-02-25T10:51:00.000+10:30

Luke's lastest book, The Staring Owl, has been shortlisted in the APA Book Design Awards. I'm sure the owl in question will be very well-behaved and not stare down any judges as they make their final decision.

True Grit

2011-02-22T12:07:00.000+10:30

One of the regular passengers on the Omnibus has small children and therefore does not Get Out Much. But, not one to be easily defeated, when she sees that a movie on at the cinemas at the moment is based on a book, then she is Very Pleased and happily purchases said book in the hope of still being somewhat up to date with popular culture. True Grit* by Charles Portis, in this edition with an Introduction by Donna Tartt, features what must be one of the greatest young characters in literature. Mattie Ross is fourteen and seeking justice for the murder of her father and she won't let anything, anything, get in her way. Highly recommended.

* Not a children's book, but in that grand literary tradition of narrating from the perspective of a child.

Our new landlord, Konglomerate

2011-02-20T10:40:00.004+10:30

A new landlord is usually not your friend. Not necessarily your enemy either but generally there is just a faint relationship formed which is centred on how reliably you pay the rent. Our new landlord, however, is a big, warm, funny Greek man called Kon. We call him Konglomerate, after the character Con Glomryt in The Desperate Dwarf. His father was a property developer who sold everything in the seventies and went back to Greece where he discovered more relatives than he had remembered. He returned to Australia a few short years later, a lot poorer than he left, and had to start his property empire again when prices had more than quadrupled. Dad passed away and Kon now looks after the properties. What makes Kon so unusual is the extraordinary generosity he has shown us. Pick whatever carpet you want, never mind about the price. You like those blinds? You can have them. I'll install a brand new air conditioning system and new vents while I'm at it. Yes, you can choose the new kitchen and the tiles. You'd like me to cut a hole in that wall and make a doorway? Sure, I'll do that and please, let me buy you a ton of Haighs chocolates to take back to the girls.

I admit I was skeptical. I was suspicious. I worried that this was all too good to be true but every time I visit the new office to check on the progress of the work, he's done what he said he would. And he buys me coffee at the cafe across the road where we go in through the back door and the MIB that run the place seem always to have something to say to Kon.

Last week as I sat with Kon and two of his friends drinking my skinny cap while they downed their short blacks, they told me that now they had this close relationship with a children's publisher, and they know this is a lucrative business, they are going to write a children's book. I told them we had an excellent rejection slip. All three swung around and fixed me with their suddenly steely eyes.

'We don't take rejection well,' they said as one.

I'm pretty sure they were joking ...

Competition!

2011-02-17T12:05:00.002+10:30

Omnibus author Ian Irvine is having a monster (or should that be 'demon'?) of a competition over at his Facebook page. He's giving away 300 books in 200 hundred days! If we weren't all focused on words here on the bus, we'd be able to do some proper maths but it's definitely more than one book a day to be won! With the third book in the Grim and Grimmer series, The Desperate Dwarf, out next month and the final, hilarious book, The Calamitious Queen, out in June 2011, this competition must be Liked. So go Like it, people!

Your conductor needs a ticket to the Bahamas

2011-02-14T13:23:00.002+10:30

There is not enough chocolate in the world to make moving an entire office feel easy. In ten days we will find all our possessions in some large trucks on their way to the even smaller cottage down the road. Time to replace two-drawer filing cabinets with four-drawer cabinets to make more space and, of course, that means taking all the files out. While they're out I thought I might as well re-organise them. Are we the only publisher who keeps detailed files on each book? And why is it that those files are so hideously out of order? And while I'm at this particular whinge, have you ever tried to file email correspondence in order when threads are pages long and copied from halfway through or a third of the way or even again and again from the start with five minute intervals separating them?

I have to pack my library, again. Hard decision time so I could do with some advice. Is it best to shelve a picture book library by title, author or illustrator?

Should I take my tiered cake-plate collection to the new office or finally take them home? (Who, I wonder, keeps their cake plate collection at work?) I've taken down the wooden thingos that my husband made and hung in my room. It's amazing how much dust something hanging from the ceiling can gather over six or seven years. I know the big armchair won't fit in my new room so does anyone want a great big blue armchair? It's very comfy and lots of VIP bottoms have plonked down in it over the years. Hardly any wear and tear either. VIPs have awfully soft bottoms it seems; I think its all those cashmere clothes they wear.

Well, here's my stop. I'm off.

P.S. Please don't send any manuscripts till we either a) get settled or b) return from the Bahamas.

The aforementioned Bahamas (pic courtesy of here)

Hello, 2011!

2011-01-12T15:03:00.002+10:30

'Tis the start of a new decade, when it seemed we hadn't really got the hang of the last one yet. And we're told that babies being born now, our readers and future readers, are going to be called the Alphas. Wow! And there will be a lot of them. It could get squeezy on this old bus.

So in honour of the Alphas, here is a sneaky peek at what will be rolling off the Omnibus digital presses for these digital babies (and their older brothers and sisters) this year.

Doom Bunny and the Monster Catchers by genius-girl writer-illustrator Loren Morris is out in February. She prefers stripey socks and irreverent humour and eats monsters for breakfast. Loren is amazing.

And in March we will be super excited to see Randa Abdel-Fattah's new book The Friendship Matchmaker sitting on the bookshop shelves.

The final installment in the horrorific and hilarious Grim and Grimmer series, The Calamitous Queen, is out in June. Will Ike ever overcome his awkwardness? Or will his innards just be devoured by the screeching imp Nuckle, once and for all?

In August a new four-book series called Raven Lucas by Christine Harris will be hitting the shelves, technology all charged up. Because sassy, determined girl investigators don't carry magnifying glasses anymore, they carry smartphones.

And, oh, it's so exciting - a new series by Emily Rodda! Yes, folks, you heard right, a brand new series! The Golden Door will be out later in 2011.

Happy Christmas!

2010-12-16T17:24:00.000+10:30

Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2011 from all of us at Omnibus Books,

Dyan, Celia, Joanne, Gina and Patricia

See you in the new year!

Image from Zizzy by Penny Matthews and Danny Snell

Published in 2010 by Omnibus Books

Image copyright Danny Snell

Christmas favourites

2010-12-13T11:50:00.001+10:30

We love babies here on the ol' omnibus, so naturally we have a special fondness for the Christmas nativity. Because really, when animals and babies take the stage together whose heart wouldn't be warmed? In The Nativity, Julie Vivas brings a light and gently humorous touch to a traditional version of the story.

And in Wombat Divine the collective genius of Kerry Argent and Mem Fox give poor old Wombat, who tries out for all of the other parts unsuccessfully, the starring role as the sleeping baby Jesus.

And for something just a little different, for older readers, check out Pilot & Huxley and the Holiday Portal. You'll never think of Frosty the Snowman in the same way again ...

We like ...

2010-12-08T14:58:00.000+10:30

Freya Blackwood guest blogging at Readings about the creative process behind our very own Harry & Hopper. Definitely one of our favourite multi-award-winning picture books this year and, well, ever.

Harry & Hopper by Margaret Wild and Freya Blackwood

November books

2010-11-22T14:25:00.000+10:30

Hopping off the bus at the November stop are the first two books from our friend and fellow passenger Sean Williams in his new mind-bending, dimension-shifting series The Fixers.

And just to prove that we're not all about buses, we like other vehicles too, Mitch Williams hops off with his two delightful new books in the Little Red Ute series. Beep, beep!

And two very special passengers who've been travelling with us for some time, Mem Fox and Emily Rodda, have special new slipcase editions.

Dymocks Children's author reading afternoon

2010-11-21T10:06:00.000+10:30

On 21 November between 2 and 5 pm many of our lovely Omnibus authors and illustrators will be catching the bus* to Dymocks Adelaide to be seen and heard at a special event for children. Get all the info here.

Robyn Opie
Malcolm Walker
Claire Richards
Greg Holdfeld
Rosanne Hawke

Ruth Starke
Jane Jolly
David Cornish
Don Henderson
Janeen Brian

Katrina Germein
Dan McGuinness
Ben Chandler
Allayne WebsterRobert Moore

Elizabeth Hutchins
Sally Heinrich
Sean Williams
Rebecca Burton
Lauren Fuge

* Authors and illustrators reserve the right to determine their own mode of transport, but we recommend the bus.

October books

2010-11-20T10:21:00.000+10:30

Alighting gracefully from the ol' bus this month, we have, your favourite and ours, Factotum by author/illustrator extraordinaire, David Cornish. 'Epic' doesn't cover it, neither does 'ambitious'. Let's just settle on 'monstrous'. It's the terminus.

And good grief, as if that wasn't weighty enough, we also have another grand finale stepping onto the footpath. It's The Battle for Rondo, and it will be the battle to end all battles.

And when you're still all sweaty and dirty from battling those monsters and wizards, settle in for some serious laughs with the hapless Ike and his faithful bestie, Mellie, in Grim and Grimmer The Grasping Goblin. It's book 2, and there's two more coming. Hold on to your funny bones, folks.

Also out this month: Harry and Hopper in paperback, our Mate and yours, Tomato Sauce, of Course! and The Staring Owl. Now hoo doesn't love an ambitious, champion starer, air-traffic controlling owl? There's no staring this one down, people.

Dangerously low light

2010-11-19T10:08:00.000+10:30

The stack of books on my desk in front of the window now obscures all sunlight from my room. I am afraid of it. I think at night the pages turn by themselves and there is a low moan I have heard more than once in the late afternoon. That could be me as my head hits the desk, however.

Must drink more water. Eat less sugar. Walk every now and again further than between the fridge and the computer.

Right now I am thinking about covers constantly so the link I was sent this week is fresh in my mind. And then inside that link is a further link I like.

It’s somehow comforting to know I am part of an enormous grinding wheel that crushes everyone at some point. I am but a mote of dust against its burr. I feel no pain.

Photo by austinevan, flickr.com

Some thoughts from our Driver.