Lou Anders's Blog, page 16

Frostborn: Beehive Book Award Nominee

I have just learned that  Frostborn is one of ten nominees for the 2015-16 Beehive Book Awards in the category of Children's Fiction! The award is sponsored by the Children's Literature Association of Utah. The full list of nominees in the category are: 

Children’s Fiction:

1. The Blood Guard by Carter Roy
2. EL Deafo by Cece Bell
3. The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm
4. Frostborn by Lou Anders
5. The Great Trouble: A Mystery of London, the Blue Death and a Boy Called Eel by Deborah Hopkinson
6. Loot by Jude Watson
7. The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier
8. Spell Robbers by Mathew J. Kirby
9. Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitzgerald
10. The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Frostborn: Bank Street College of Education: Best Children's Books of the Year

The Bank Street College of Eduction has included Frostborn (Thrones and Bones)in its publication The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2015 Edition, in the fantasy category. I am utterly thrilled. Here is what Bank Street College of Education says about the award process and criteria.

THE CHILDREN’S BOOK COMMITTEE at Bank Street College of Education strives to guide librarians, educators, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults to the best books for children published each year. The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2015 Edition includes more than 600 titles chosen by the Children’s Book Committee as the best of the best published in 2014. In choosing books for the annual list, reviewers consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes. Nonfiction titles are further evaluated for accuracy and clarity. Each book accepted for the list is read and reviewed by at least two committee members and then discussed by the committee as a whole.

Crash Landing with Comic Book Outsiders

I am a guest today on the new podcast Crash Landing, spinoff of Comic Book Outsiders. 

The premise of this show, "Each episode we trap a guest on our crashing spaceship. They have one hour to salvage humanity's most important cultural artefacts before we maroon them on the planet of their choice. Crashing his landing craft this week is author, Lou Anders."

I had a wonderful time talking with host Scott Grandison and plugged many wonderful artifacts of earth culture in the process. Please check it out.

Frostborn: North Shelby Library Recommended Reading

My novel, Frostborn, has received another recommendation. This one from the North Shelby Library. They write:

"Frostborn is Lou Anders' debut novel, a fantasy for middle graders and young adults. Advantageously placed in a trend of interest in Norse mythology and ice -- Thor, the Loki craze, and Frozen, to name a few -- Frostborn is similar enough to those things to make a good recommendation, but it's not a knockoff. As with all the best books for kids, it’s full of substance. It’s well-written and well-plotted. It’s clear what’s happening and accessible for those who are just getting into longer books, but complex enough for teens to enjoy. It’s light and fun, but contains serious themes about acceptance, family, and loyalty (both when you should have it and when you shouldn’t). Written with both of Anders' children in mind, the book is explicitly for both boys and girls -- Karn and Thianna always get equal billing, and they’re always equally important!"

So, to date... Frostborn has been named a Staff Pick by Book Shop Santa Cruz, Books Inc., Eagle Harbor Book Co., Hoover Public Library, King's English Bookshop, Mockingbird Books, Politics and Prose, Powell's, Queen's Library, North Shelby Library, The Waucoma Bookstore and Word Bookstores. It received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, who also selected it for the "PW Picks: Books of the Week" selection for the week of August 4th. It was the Editor's Choice of Amazon for the month of August, and made io9's list of "Must-Read Science Fiction And Fantasy Books For August."

Thrones & Bones Fan Art

The fan art page of my personal website has photos of Thrones & Bones sets, Frostborn inspired artwork, and even costumes from readers across America and the UK. I'm always happy to add to this wonderful repository!

Check out these super cool fan-made Thrones & Bones sets!









Here is a fan in the UK showing of his Karn Korlundsson costume, complete with Thrones & Bones board!




And here Karn and Thianna confront the dragon Orm in this fan art from a nine year old reader!



This awesome two-headed troll painting was a gift from a fan in Athens, GA!


Thank you notes are better with dragons!

O Frabjous day! Nightborn Advanced Reader Copies have arrived!

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! I found a package in my carport and opened it to find a box of Nightborn (Thrones and Bones 2) arcs and the cover flat. Look at this gorgeousity (art by Justin Gerard, design by Ken Crossland). Oh what a beamish boy am I!

Mind Meld: The Intersection of SF/F Games and Genre Fiction

Today I am participating in a Mind Meld over at SF Signal on the subject of "The Intersection of SF/F Games and Genre Fiction." A group of science fiction and fantasy authors, including Matt Forbeck, Elizabeth Bear, Myke Coy, and others, discussing the back and forth between gaming and genre fiction writing. Lots of good stuff in the discussion. Please everyone check out the post. You won't be surprised to see that my own response leads off talking about Skyrim.

Reflections from the Road: Saint Rose Academy

This past Wednesday, I visited Saint Rose Academy and spoke to 81 students in the fifth through eighth grade. As she has done before, the wonderful Sara Gassman from Little Professor Book Center in Homewood, Alabama went with me to facilitate book sales for the signing. As she was setting up, a group of kids came running into the gymnasium where I would be speaking and mobbed her table. I came over and was instantly pelted with questions. I explained that they should save their questions for the end of my talk, but they informed me that they were all fourth graders and wouldn't get to hear me. So I answered their questions and gave them all Thrones and Bones trading cards.

Then I spoke to the fifth through eight grade. They were a great bunch of kids. Really enthusiastic and engaged, and the Q&A afterwards was very lively. Lots of questions about the forthcoming books in the series, other areas of my world, how history influences my fantasy, and, of course, the games!

I could have talked for hours--the questions didn't slow down--so eventually I called a halt myself. But it was a really fun time. Thank you to Administrative Assistant & Admissions Director Vivian Hults for arranging a great visit. And thank you to the students and faculty of Saint Rose.

Frostborn: An Excellent Edition to the Genre

Another great review for Frostborn.This one appears at Books, Crafts and Beats, which is, I believe, the blog of a librarian in the Denver, Colorado area. I'm very happy with the opening line of the review:

"Masters of the fantasy genre like Tolkien and George RR Martin have set the bar very high for this genre but Lou Anders' book, the first in a proposed series, is an excellent addition to the genre."

And their closing paragraph:

"This story is one of those rare books that will appeal to both girls and boys. The themes explored: wanting to fit in with one's peers, dual heritage, wanting to chart one's own course different from your parents are universal. Although we learn little about Karn's four sisters and his mother except in one small mention, Thianna for her part has an important female mentor who teaches her important skills. I highly recommend this book for grades 4-7."

Tween Book Club @ Roscoe

Tuesday of last week, I had a wonderful Skype visit talking about Frostborn with the Tween Book Club of the North Suburban Library District's Roscoe, Illinois Branch. The club is hosted by librarian Tammy Tucker, and meets only twice annually. Each time, they choose one book and meet once a week for three weeks to discuss it. At the first meeting, they discuss the first 1/3 of the book and do crafts related to the read. In this case, the Tween Book Club made their own Thrones and Bones games! In the second meeting, they Skype with the author. In the third, they have a party and eat food related to the book (which, in the case of Frostborn, means they can try some skyr!).

I was able to share my Powerpoint presentation with a classroom of kids and parents, and then take one-on-one questions from them afterwards. Although I have other Skype visits lined up for later in 2015, this was my first one. It was a blast and the kids were great. Here's a shot of the Thrones and Bones board that Tammy herself made.