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

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

G. McKinnon

G. McKinnon

G. McKinnon

M. Podgorski

C.B. Smith

C.B. Smith

C.B. Smith

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

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.