Fan clubs

 

    I am so pleased that Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book has won the Carnegie Medal. If that book has a fan club, I'm in it - it's just terrific, and no matter that it's a children's book, adults will love it, too. I keep on mentioning it because it keeps on winning prizes, and justifiably so as it's wonderful stuff!

  

     Last week I was raving about Michelle Paver's new adult novel Dark Matter. I knew about her enormously popular children's series Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, though I haven't read any of them, but in going to the website for the fans of Michelle's books - The Clan - I was able to see the trailer for Dark Matter  (you can now watch it here ) and listen to a lengthy podcast by Michelle in which she chats to her fans and answers many of their questions. It's marvellous when an author, particularly a children's one, is as accessible as that, and of course technology makes it possible nowadays, but she seems so friendly and approachable that she must be a hit with the fans on a personal basis as well as through her books.

Comments

[Simon T]

I'm borrowing The Graveyard Book from a friend tomorrow, as my book group is going to read it...

[Cornflower]

Simon, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[LizF]

I have just read Neil Gaiman's Coraline and thoroughly enjoyed it. Very pleasurably creepy!
I collected The Graveyard Book from the library at the weekend and am now thoroughly looking forward to reading it as from what I hear it is even better than Coraline!
Always meant to read Michele Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness as I thoroughly enjoyed a trilogy for adults that she set in the Carribbean (can't remember the names I'm afraid as it was several years ago)so I might try and persuade junior daughter to request them from the library while I wait for Dark Matter to come out!

[LizF]

I have just finished The Graveyard Book and have to agree with you - it is excellent. I got quite caught up in it and it was a shock to come back to real life again!
I will certainly be recommending it to everyone I think will like it - whatever their age!

[Jodie]

I still would ahve liked to see 'Nation' take it, but I think the field was so strong this year (and so fantasy/sci-fi arrific) any of them are deserving winners.