Happy Christmas!

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

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 ...

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

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

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

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

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.