GERMANY, BELGIUM AND SLOVENIA

On 11 November I’ll do two reading sessions in Aachen. That’s in the thick of the Aachener Kinder- und Jugendbuchwochen (Aachen Juvenile Literature Weeks).
On 15 November I’ll put in an appearance at the Kinderhoogdag, a cultural event for children in Overijsse, Belgium.
From 17 to 21 November I’ll visit Slovenia. Miŝ Publishers have put up a wonderful programme for me, including a press conference, visits to schools and libraries, meetings with representatives of the children’s book trade and (I’m looking forward to this!) a  short trip in the mountains.

FRANKFURT

From October 16 to 18 I’ll attend the Frankfurter Buchmesse.
The winner of the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (German Youth Literature Prize) will be announced on Friday night, October 16. Tote Maus für Papas Leben is among the nominees.
On Saturday afternoon (13-14 hrs) you can find me in the Lesezelt (reading tent) on the court of the book fair. First I’ll read from Mutter Nummer Null and then I’ll be interviewed.
On 17 October there’s a book presentation in the Frankfurt Theaterhaus. I’ll read passages from Mutter Nummer Null, and there’s an opportunity for the audience to ask me questions and discuss the book.
On Sunday morning at 10 o’clock I’ll join a Theaterhaus breakfast, where the stage-adaptation of Tote Maus für Papas Leben (A Small Chance) is performed.

AGAINST THE ODDS

Against the Odds (Een kleine kans) has been published by Canadian publishers Groundwood Books. Editor Patsy Aldana wrote a letter of recommendation which was so embarrassingly flattering that I refrained from putting it on my website. It would look too much like self-adulation. But as it has now been put on the NLPVF-website for anyone to see, I might as well…

Dear Friends,

Every now and then a publisher is lucky enough to come upon an exceptional book.
That is the case with Against the Odds by Marjolijn Hof. Originally published in Holland as Een kleine kans by Querido, on of Holland’s finest publishers, it has gone on to win two major Dutch awards and to publication in nine countries. It was our luck to get North American rights.

This is one of those rare books where the author manages to bring us the pure, unadulterated voice of a child. The book never slips from this voice. We find ourselves believing in Kiki from beginning to end. And Kiki who is a very brave, spunky and often funny child has a lot to endure. The fact that her father insists on going off on dangerous missions as a doctor despite her making it very clear to him that she doesn’t want him to go; the fact that her mother while loving is also somewhat vague and spaced out; the fact that her grandmother is furious with her father which doesn’t make it any easier for her to be furious on her own account; and the fact that the family dog is quite smelly and disgusting all come to a head when her father goes missing.

I’ll leave the rest of the story to you.

But please read this book. It is impeccable, brave, honest, and true with a wonderful heroine. It deals with issues that are absolutely pertinent at this moment in time. And I believe that young readers will recognise Kiki for one of them, the real thing, and will embrace her as she tries to find the right way to live with the difficult cards that have been dealt her.

I’m very proud to have this book on Groundwood’s list.
Patsy Aldana
Publisher

AUDIO-BOOK

Tote Maus für Papas Leben is now also available as an audio-book.
Tote Maus für Papas Leben – Narrated by Juliane Köhler – Der Audio Verlag, 2009

WHEN NOBODY IS LOOKING

When Nobody Is Looking is a volume in Querido’s Slash-series, in which authors retell the true life-stories of young people who for one reason or another are rather special. Author and youngster join forces, as narrator and skilful writer respectively.
I worked with Iris Kuijpers, who trained to be a ballet dancer. Together we wrote a story about Julia.

Julia starts taking ballet classes at a very early age and right from the start it’s obvious she’s got talent. She is even allowed to audition for the Ballet Academy and they accept her as a student. That’s only a first step, however. The ballet world is merciless and many pupils drop out, in spite of their talent. Julia will have to practice really hard if she is ever to make a living as a dancer.
Julia’s teachers keep telling her she really must try harder. Galina’s lessons are particularly demanding. Galina always seems to be finding fault with Julia and she blames her for her supposed lack of passion. Julia is in doubt. Why does she dance actually? For whom? Is she still a dancer when nobody is looking? It all boils down to one question, which she cannot evade: shall I quit or persevere?

MUTTER NUMMER NULL

The first edition of Mutter Nummer Null (the German translation of Moeder nummer nul / Mother Number Zero) has been published. On October 17 the book will be officially presented at the Theaterhaus in Frankfurt.
Mutter Nummer Null – Berlin: Bloomsbury, 2009. Transl: Meike Blatnik

KALBACHER KLAPPERSCHLANGE

Tote Maus für Papas Leben has been selected for the Kalbacher Klapperschlange (rattlesnake) 2010. Children from the borough of Kalbach (in the city of Frankfurt) and internet-participants from other regions will read the books on the list and choose the 2010 winner.

PRIX DE JEUNES LECTEURS DE GIRONDE

Une petite chance, the French translation of A Small Chance, has won the Prix de jeunes lecteurs de Gironde 2009, a prize awarded by a jury of young readers. Some 1800 children voted in an election held in association with forty public libraries. In each category the winner was chosen from a preselected short-list.

FLEMISH JURY

Mother Number Zero has been nominated by the Flemish jury for Children’s Books and Young Adult Literature. The selection was made by grown-ups. The books will now be read by 4 to 16-year-olds, who are to choose the prize-winners in May 2010. Mother Number Zero was nominated in the category 10-12 yrs.

KINDER- UND JUGENDBUCHMESSE

From May 14 to 16 I am attending the Europäische Kinder- und Jugendbuchmesse (European Children’s Book Fair) in Saarbrücken. The motto is ‘Books build bridges’ and this year’s theme is ‘ganz philosophisch’ (‘ever so philosophical’). The elaborate programme features readings by authors from various European countries and a wide range of activities.
On Friday 15 I will read from Tote Maus für Papas Leben.
More information here.
Interview in the Saarbrücker Zeitung here.

BROCHURE

Moeder nummer nul (Mother Number Zero) has been selected for inclusion in Children’s books from Holland – spring 2009, published by The Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature. The brochure is also available online. Click here and  here.

YOUNG JURY

Moeder nummer nul (Mother number Zero) had been selected for De Jonge Jury (The Young Jury). Dutch secondary school students up to the age of fifteen may choose any children’s book first published in 2008. The five most popular titles are nominated for the Young Jury Prize. The winning author is offered the prize with some ceremony on Young Jury Day. Although in principle all books published in 2008 qualify, the jury offers a list of fifteen suggestions, including Moeder nummer nul.
The book is read both in the upper forms of primary schools and by secondary school students – much to my delight. Books don’t fit in clear-cut age categories.

EIN LITEN SJANSE

The Norwegian translation of Een kleine kans (A small chance) has been published.
Ein liten sjanse – Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget, 2009. Transl: Lars S. Vikør

DEUTSCHER JUGENDLITERATURPREIS

Tote Maus für Papas Leben has been nominated for the  Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis.
The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is awarded annually by a Jury of literature specialists and critics in four categories: picture book, children’s book, young adult book and non-fiction. In addition an independent young adult jury gives its own award. The prizewinners will be announced on October 16th during the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Further information here.

LA TRAVERSÉE

The French translation of Oversteken (Crossing Over) has been published.
La Traversée – Parijs: Seuil, 2009. Transl: Emmanuèle Sandron