Fusenews: Cupcakes! . . . and other stuff too, I guess

• A recent post on Read Roger that mentioned how media producers are shutting out professional reviewers intrigued me. One of the reasons perhaps may be that, "the considerable majority of those who regularly review films in Britain are . . . white males over the age of 40 who tend to prize originality over repetition and realism above sentimentality. These demographics and values are completely the opposite of cinema’s main target audience: 15-24-year-olds." Roger wonders how this may be reflected in the increased commercialization of children’s literature.  It’s an interesting dichotomy.  I mean, when you’re talking about movie reviews you’re talking about something that a large segment of the population may have an interest in reading.  Children’s book reviews are of interest primarily to parents, gift-givers, teachers, librarians, and educators in the field.  Will there come a day when a publisher decides that an author or series is so big that they don’t even need to send it to professional reviews?  Does this already happen?  If so, who has done it?  I mean if, say, the next Eragon book is potentially going to get cruddy reviews and the publisher knows it, why would they send it to professional publications for review?  On the off chance that they can get a good quote for the paperback’s bookflap?  There is so much I continue to not know about this industry.

Speaking of film, can I brag about my husband a little?  He’s a screenwriter and last night he signed with a big, big, BIG BIG manager. We are so very excited.  Sorry.  Just wanted to gush a bit.  Yay!

• He’s not a children’s book agent (YA, pah) but he’ll do.  Agent Nathan Bransford with Curtis Brown has a blog.  I rather like his bit on This Week in Publishing.  Here’s hoping he keeps it going. 

• The book nap.  It’s not for wimps.  Caution advised.  Dangers abundant.  Thanks to bookshelves of doom for the link.

• Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast does so many cool interviews that I usually eschew pointing out one over another.  Everyone there is a brilliant professional, after all.  But I doubt that anyone is going to object when I say that David Small is an exceptionally good "get".  This interview is remarkable for all the usual reasons (plenty of images, cool topics discussed, etc.) as well as the fact that it offers a glimpse at some of the pages of his upcoming graphic novel Stitches.  There’s also a very interesting mention of how Steven Kellogg helped David out early in his career.  Oh, it’s just fabulous.  Go see.

• Daily Image:

The Achockablog recently posted some images from The Royal Society Science Book Award.  Must be nice to have royal societies.  *sigh*  There’s a junior category which was won by The Usborne Big Book of Science Things To Make & Do by Rebecca Gilpin and Leonie Pratt but even better were these delicious cupcakes at the tables.

 
Let it never be said that I cannot spot a cupcake at thirty paces.

Filed under: Fusenews