The O’Brien Press has launched a Uk and Ireland blog tour for Conor Kostick’s latest young adult novel, Edda.

This is the first time Conor Kostick has taken part in a blog tour for one of his books and he is thrilled at the chance to share EDDA, in this online celebration of its publication, with readers on both sides of the Irish Sea. He commented: ‘What fun and how appropriate to showcase EDDA in this fashion, as one of the areas explored by the book is that of the possibilities for communication provided by electronic spaces.’

The tour, which runs from Monday 4 July to Saturday 9 July, will begin at Ireland’s foremost children’s book magazine, Inis. It kicked off with an extract from the magazine’s recent interview with Conor Kostick and a competition to win a copy of Edda.

From there, Edda visited YAPS, a colourful Irish book blog which celebrates young adult fiction, its writers and its readers. On Tuesday 5th July, YAPS featured a guest post, written by Conor Kostick, entitled Death and the Avatar, which explores the different rules that apply when writing about characters in virtual reality as opposed to real life. There will be another chance here for readers to win a copy of the book.

In the UK the tour stops at Write for your Life, an extremely popular blog about writing, where Conor will answer questions about his life as a creative writing tutor and how this has influenced his writing, on 6 July.

Also on the tour is Wondrous Reads, a fabulous young adult and children’s fiction blog in the UK, which will be taking part in the blog tour with an exclusive extract from Edda, on 7th July. In this extract, Ghost – an electronic intelligence – and her human friends in avatar form have crossed through a portal that has mysteriously opened in Ghost’s world of Saga and are soon attacked by a curious army of both modern and medieval soldiers. On the 8 July, the last UK stop on the tour will take place, as the fantastic My Favourite Books blog reviews Edda.

Finally on 9 July, the final stop on the tour brings EDDA back across to Ireland. Well-known children’s author Oisín McGann will feature a video conversation with Conor Kostick on his blog, with the two chatting about books, writing and the virtual world of EDDA.

Irish Publishing News travelled to Earl’s Court in London for the first day of the London Book Fair on Monday. The trip was enjoyable and the fair itself pretty packed, a relief I imagine for the Fair after last year’s poor Ash Cloud impacted attendances.

EoinPurcell@LBF2011

The Irish at the fair seemed busy with representatives from a large number of Publishing Ireland’s members in attendance, notably Maverick House, Mercier Press, O’Brien Press, Blackhall Publishing, Little Island, Liberties Press, The Stinging Fly and Adam’s Cloud.

Still a remarkable performance by the flip books published specially for world book day. Sadly, the dual language title that held the first spot last week, slipped a little this week and was replaced by Dr. Suess, I suppose you can’t have it all. It still help off everyone else to rest in second.

It is remarkable how strong fiction sales remain within this kind of environment with The Brightest Star In The Sky, Room and One Day all making the top ten with solid figures.

Just missing out on the top ten this week is Ghost Light. Joseph O’Connor’s novel newly released in paperback.

1: Dr Seuss on the Loose, Dr Suess, 1,477
2: Fiacla Mhamo/Danny’s Smelly Toothbrush, Brianog Brady Dawson, 1,190
3: The Brightest Star in the Sky, Marian Keyes, 1,164
4: Teacher’s Tales of Terror/Traction City, Chris Priestley & Philip Reeve, 985
5: Do Bugs Have Bottoms?/The Troof (a Jiggy McCue Story), Glenn Murphy & Michael Lawrence, 978
6: Room, Emma Donoghue, 958
7: Tales from Winnie-the-Pooh/My Treasure Hunt Trouble, A.A. Milne & Betty G Birney, 950
8: One Day, David Nicholls, 944
9: S.W.I.T.C.H.: Bug Battle/Gargoylz: Make Some Noise, Ali Sparkes & Jan Burchett & Sara Vogler, 901
10: Spy Dog’s Got Talent/The Great Pet-shop Panic, Andrew Cope & Kate Davies, 880

Top Ten Dynamics
IPN is running a top ten dynamics section looking at the top ten with some data drawn out. Nothing too dramatic, but useful nonetheless.

Volume: 10,427 Units
Increase since last week: -4,979
% increase since last week: -32.32%
Fiction: 10 titles, 10,427 units or 100%, RRP £3.10
Non-Fiction: 0 titles, 0 units or 0%, RRP £0
Authors: 16 (Several of the WBD titles are co-authored, flipbooks)
Irish Authors: 3, 18.75%
Irish Published Books: 1, 10%
Average RRP: £3.10
Decrease in RRP since last week: £0
% Decrease in RRP since last week: 0%

Data Supplied by Nielsen BookScan taken from the Irish Consumer Market week ending 12th March 2011

World Book Day always has a dramatic impact on the top ten and this week it is NO different. In fact seven of the top ten titles are world book day titles. I’ve long been an advocate of discussing the top ten as IS, not an imaginary top ten, defined as we choose it to be. Yes listing the Top Fiction, the top Non-fiction, the top Children’s titles on their own has some merit, but they also warp our perception of the overall market, showing the full top ten, regardless of the category of those sales, is a worthwhile and meritorious act. That said, it will mess with the dynamics a little, but such is life.

In any case, the news from this weeks top ten, is not only an Irish publisher grabbing the top spot, but also a DUAL LANGUAGE title grabbing the top spot, which is to my mind, a pretty rare occurrence, I’d be hard pressed to recall the last time that happened though, no doubt, someone out there knows. Hearty congrats to O’Brien Press on their achievement, their commitment to World Book Day and making one of their titles available so cheaply each year has paid off.

It is worth noting that if you exclude the seven WBD titles that made the top ten, Jamie Oliver, Kathryn Stockett, Harlan Coben, Patrick Holford, Anita Notaro, Joseph O’Connor and Kazuo Ishiguro would all make the top ten, though their sales leave something to be desired.

1: Fiacla Mhamo/Danny’s Smelly Toothbrush, Brianog Brady-Dawson, 2,239
2: Dr Seuss on the Loose, Dr. Seuss, 2,142
3: Spy Dog’s Got Talent/The Great Pet-shop Panic, Andrew Cope, 1,779
4: Tales from Winnie-the-Pooh/Humphrey’s Tiny Tales:My Treasure Hunt Trouble, A. A. Milne, & Betty G. Birney, 1,469
5: Teacher’s Tales of Terror/Traction City, Chris Priestley & Philip Reeve, 1,449
6: S.W.I.T.C.H.: Bug Battle/Gargoylz: Make Some Noise, Ali Sparkes, 1,410
7: The Brightest Star in the Sky, Marian Keyes, 1,314
8: Do Bugs Have Bottoms?/The Troof (a Jiggy McCue Story), Glenn Murphy & Michael Lawrence, 1,301
9: One Day, David Nicholls, 1,290
10: Room, Emma Donoghue, 1,013

Top Ten Dynamics
IPN is running a top ten dynamics section looking at the top ten with some data drawn out. Nothing too dramatic, but useful nonetheless.

Volume: 15,406 Units

Increase since last week: 6,598

% increase since last week: 42.83%

Fiction: 10 titles, 15,406 units or 100%, RRP £3.10

Non-Fiction: 0 titles, 0 units or 0%, RRP £0

Authors: 13 (Several of the WBD titles are co-authored, flipbooks)

Irish Authors: 3, 23%

Irish Published Books: 1, 10%

Average RRP: £3.10

Decrease in RRP since last week: £8.59

% Decrease in RRP since last week: -73%

Data Supplied by Nielsen BookScan taken from the Irish Consumer Market week ending 5th March 2011

Gina O’Donnell from Hodges Figgis bookshop in Dublin has won the O’Brien Press Bookseller of the Year Award for 2011.

The announcement and presentation were made by Ivan O’Brien, MD of the O’Brien Press, at the annual Booksellers Association Irish Branch annual dinner dance in the Hilton Dublin Hotel.

Speaking before the presentation, O’Brien noted that it had been a tough year for the trade with some 27 members leaving the booksellers association. Though he noted that 20 members had also joined the association (some of them members who had left rejoining).

The Irish branch’s annual dinner dance was well attended with a pre-dinner drinks reception sponsored by Penguin Ireland, an after dinner speech and presentation by comedian, rising TV personality and author of two comic titles for Transworld Ireland, Jarlath Regan.

O’Brien Press has launched a Facebook page for one of their upcoming titles, The Real Rebecca, by Anna Carey.

The page is the first title specific Facebook profile by an Irish publisher and features information on the author, the title and includes an extensive extract from the book.

The book is targeted at the 10+ age group and will be released on 1 February 2011.

The move comes soon after Gill & Macmillan launched a new mini-site for its title, The Courage To Be Happy (which IPN reported on earlier) and after O’Brien launched a mini-site for the Moorehawk Trilogy.

Publishers Description:
Rebecca’s mum Rosie writes books for adults, but when she writes a novel for teens, everyone thinks it’s based on her daughter! Rebecca is horrified and vows to prove that she is different. But how will she show the world the real Rebecca?

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When it comes to such a broad category the list of potential inclusions grows pretty radically. However, sense and time suggest we limit the number of titles selected and so, within reason I’ve done so.

First, a seasonal selection beginning with Bob Burke‘s The Ho Ho Ho Mystery (Harry Pigg, book 2), a riot of a read feature Santa Claus and a variety of well-known characters in new and interesting situations. A great way to get in the spirit.

In picture book terms I’m inclined to agree with the Irish Book Awards voters and suggest that Niamh Sharkey’s On the Road with Mavis and Marge is a lovely book for kids. For reading aloud and even slightly older though the beautiful illustrations by Sara Baker and the wonderful stories by Patricia Lynch in Mercier’s Tales Of Irish Enchantment are hard to beat.

One of the problems with children’s book round ups is that they often become mere bandwagoning excercise, however, The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers and published by HarperCollins deserves a mention in the younger category.

Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy from HarperCollins couldn’t but get a mention this year when the author won Book Of The Decade and a Irish Book Award. Garret Carr is back with the sequel to his wonderful The Badness of Ballydog, Lost Dogs and it’s well worth a read both published by Simon & Schuster Childrens with a third on the way.

Little Island, the now stand alone imprint has a number of fine books out this year, but by far my favourite is Tom O’Neill’s, Old Friends:The Lost Tales of Fionn Mac Cumhaill .

Collins Press have a gripping historical Fiction for older children (and even young teens) in Age 14 which was first published in Belgium but deals with the story of an Irish boy fighting in World War One.

Also for an older audience is Dermot Poyntz’ Curse Of Cromwell: The Siege (available here) a retelling of the siege of Clonmel in graphic novel. It’s as good a read for adults, but a really engaging way to read about history for older children and young adults.

Finally, the final part of Celine Kiernan’s Moorehawk trilogy, The Rebel Prince, is out from O’Brien Press and brings what has been a great series, a huge success for all involved.

Christmas Sale
Looking for a perfect book to cuddle up to this Christmas? Take 20% of all books on www.obrien.ie from now until 14 December..

via O’Brien Press: Special offers.

An emotional Emma Donoghue spoke of the importance of recognition by her homeland as she accepted the Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel Of The Year Award at Thursday evening’s ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in the Round Room Of the Mansion House.

It was a theme echoed by many of the winners, including Maeve Binchy who was awarded with a lifetime achievement award by the guest of Honour for the evening, President Mary McAleese.

Perhaps the least surprising winner of the evening was Late Last show host, Ryan Tubridy who won the Newcomer Of The Year Award.

Donal Óg Cusack won the John Murray Listeners’ Choice Award, Donal Skehan won the IES Irish Published Book Of The Year, Neil Richardson won the Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book Of The Year, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly the Easons Popular Fiction Book Of The Year, Gene Kerrigan won the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Book Of The Year,  Niamh Sharkey took the Junior category of the DAA Irish Children’s Book Of The Year while Derek Landy took the senior category as well as accepting his Book of the Decade award.

Tom Owens, Trading Director Eason and Chairman of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards, said, ‘The Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards allow us the opportunity to celebrate and honour Ireland’s best literary talent. This year’s winning authors illustrate the diversity and vibrancy of the Irish book world, and each book is an outstanding literary achievement in its own right. As a country, we should be incredibly proud of these authors and the wealth of home-grown talent we have on offer.’

The full list of winners
The Hughes & Hughes Irish Novel of the Year: Room by Emma Donoghue (Picador)
RTÉ Radio 1′s The John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice Award: Come What May by Donal Og Cusack (Penguin Ireland)
The Ireland AM Irish Crime Fiction Book of the Year: Dark Times in the City by Gene Kerrigan (Vintage)
The Argosy Irish Non-Fiction Book of the Year: A Coward If I Return A Hero If I Fall by Neil Richardson (O’Brien Press)
Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year: The Oh My God Delusion by Ross O’Carroll Kelly (Penguin Ireland)
Energise Sport Irish Sports Book of the Year: A Football Man by John Giles (Hachette Books Ireland)
Irish Newcomer of the Year: JFK in Ireland: Four Days that Changed a President by Ryan Tubridy (Collins)
International Education Services Best Irish Published Book of the Year: Good Mood Food by Donal Skehan (Mercier)
The Dublin Airport Authority Irish Children’s Book of the Year:
Junior - On the Road with Mavis and Marge by Niamh Sharkey (Walker Books)
Senior – Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil by Derek Landy (Harper Collins Children’s Books)

Irish readers can win one of ten €100 One-4-All vouchers simply by buying a copy of one of 25 specially selected titles and emailing it to Publishing Ireland. The competition is part of the Irish book publishers associations new Christmas promotion, Great Irish Books.

Publishing Ireland has selected 25 titles that cover everything from Irish language books, Irish history, fiction and children’s books. The goal according to the association is to champion ‘Irish-published books, Irish publishers, and Irish bookshops’ with the aim of ‘making book-buyers think about what they are buying.’

Jean Harrington, president of Publishing Ireland said, ‘Irish publishers provide great Irish books; the quality and variety are second to none. This campaign celebrates and promotes books, and we would ask people to look out for some truly great Irish books when they are considering purchasing a book this Christmas.’

Con Collins, publisher at The Collins Press, who has three titles in the group of the 25 selected titles said, ‘This promotion highlights the best of what Irish publishers are producing and emphasises the importance of supporting Irish companies and writers and staying positive in difficult times. The Great Irish Books campaign is good for everyone: publishers, authors and readers.’

As part of the campaign, Publishing Ireland has set up a website, a Facebook page, a twitter account and is running ads in The Irish Times today to back the campaign.
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The Complete List
Gluaiseacht
Gabháil Syrinx
Where Are You Really From?
Yeats and Sligo
An Irish Country Christmas
Agus Rud Eile De And Another Thing
Máirtín Ó Direáin Na Dánta
Sceon na Mara
Great Endeavour: Ireland’s Antarctic Explorers
Abandoned Mansions of Ireland
Ireland’s Animals: Myths, Legends and Folklore
Cliúsaíocht í nGaeilge – Making Out in Irish
1916 Seachtar na Cásca
1972 And The Ulster Troubles
Strangest Genius – The Stained Glass Of Harry Clarke
An tEagrán Gaeilge/The Irish Issue
The Gathering of Souls
Leading Lights – The People Who’ve Inspired Me
Capital Sins
Renegades – Irish Republican Women 1900-1922
2016 – A New Proclamation for a New Generation
The Rebel Prince – The Moorehawke Trilogy: Book 3
A Coward If I Return, A Hero If I Fall – Stories of Irishmen in World War I
Lansdowne Road – The Stadium; the Matches; the Greatest Days
Sharp Sticks Driven Nails – Anthology of Short Stories