Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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.

Some more Emily Rodda love ...

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

The Octogenarian Wild Thing

'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

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

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.