Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Indigo Bloggers Event

We were very lucky to be invited to the Indigo Bloggers Event held at Orion's offices last night.

This wasn't the official launch of their new Indigo imprint, but rather it was an exclusive preview and a nod of thanks to the bloggers who review Orion's existing children's list.

Sadly, I was around ten minutes late due to the Central Line dying - eejits - so I had to bus it along Oxford Street - eejits - and managed to slip in late...only to be shown to the VERY front row! I was mortified, much to everyone else's amusement.  Thanks guys!

However, the lovely Nina Douglas and Louise were on hand to get everyone else's attention yet again.  They talked enthusiastically about the books being launched from September through to April next year as part of the list:

Marcus, Sara, Kate, Sally

September 2011

Darkness Falls by Mia James - the second novel by the Mia James authors which does sound very involved and interesting and I know Sarah really did like the first novel, By Midnight.


Soul Beach by Kate Harrison - she read from the book and it is sounding very good! She also gave a little talk about the idea behind Soul Beach and what she did in her Previous Life as journalist and romance writer. 

The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

Shelter by Harlan Coben

October 2011

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick - the Sedgwick also read from his new book and it sounds incredible.  The story starts in the future and moves backwards through time, basically making use of the "have you ever felt that you've lived another life" idea and toying with that.  It sounds superb.

Dark Parties by Sara Grant - who also read an extract.  I am very proud to know Sara as she is a fellow SCBWI member as well as a great writing coach and I've had the benefit of sitting through one of her classes on revising.  Listening to her read made me realise how much hard work she's put into this, her debut novel.  Sara is also one of the key members at Working Partners so she knows how stories go!  Am really looking forward to reading this dystopian novel.

White Cat - Holly Black (Love It!)

The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima

November 2011

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner - Sally read the opening sequence of her novel and on the way home Mark turned to me and said: That lady, Sally Gardner really knows how to write, doesn't she?  The words just flowed and the descriptions were amazing.  I couldn't agree more. We are looking forward to reading The Double Shadow as the concept just sounds wow.

The Dragon Heir by Cinda Williams Chima - now, I've not been saying anything about these books because I know nothing about them apart from he fact that Jenny over at Wondrous Reads is a fan.  Which is good enough for me.  I actually have the first book which I bought last year on a whim from Foyles as one of their imports and it sounds excellent.  However, Indigo/Orion confirmed that these will be released in standard sized paperbacks which is far better for me personally as I tend to read the majority of my books on commute and travelling with oversized books is not idea.



Kate chatting to us about Soul Beach

January 2012

The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish - ah, yes.  Lovely Cliff writes deeply worrying things and I'm very much looking forward to this!

Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding - Chris is a tremendously prolific writer, writing for both adults and younger readers.  Retribution Falls was published in the past by Gollancz, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Orion.  However, it was decided that Chris has such a strong following of younger readers that it would be a great idea to offer them Retribution Falls and the follow up novel, Black Lung Captain, on the Indigo imprint too.

Crossing Over by Anna Kendal - also a Gollancz release in the past, but again it was felt younger readers would love the intrigue.

The Double Edged Sword by Sarah Silverwood - Sarah is also equally prolific and this is her fantasy novel for younger readers.  Adult readers would know Sarah as Sarah Pinborough who excels at writing darker fiction for adults.

February 2012

Hollow Pike by James Dawson - looking at James in Real Life you would never expect anything dark and supernatural to come from him.  However, we have it on superb authority to not be fooled by James's lovely looks because, like Cliff, looks can fool you and Hollow Pike is grim and scary and dark and wonderful.  I can't wait! Also, the cover which I did not take a photo off (sorry) is simply stunning.


Sally being utterly charming whilst talking to us about The Double Shadow
 An Act of Love by Alan Gibbons - Alan is such a mainstay of great writing and I cannot wait to read this novel about two blood brothers who grow apart.  I know he has done a tremendous amount of research to get the facts and story right for this novel and it sounds like it is one of those books that might become a game-changer.

Dark Mist Rising by Anna Kendall

March 2012

Firespell by Chloe Neill

Darkness Falls by Mia James

Raining Fire by Alan Gibbons

The Traitor's Gate by Sarah Silverwood

April 2012

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

A bright and Terrible Sword by Anna Kendall

The evening ended with much applause and we all decamped to their outside patio balcony area for air and lovely treats.   We got the chance to chat to the four authors in attendance and get all fan-girly. 

It was a really lovely evening and Mark and I are very proud to have been asked to attend.  The Indigo imprint looks like it is going from strength to strength and I wish Nina and the editors the best of luck in their new endeavour.

Also a massive shout-out to all our blogging friends who were there - it's always so great to see them all because (selfishly) events like this always make me feel like we're at some kind of convention of our own.  I know, totally self-centred but hey, what can I say? If I can't talk books and blogging to my mates, who can I talk to?

In attendance were (the ones I can remember speaking to!):

Wondrous Reads
Floor to Ceiling Books
Bookzone for Boys
Feeling Fictional
Teenage Fiction for All Ages / Eurocrime 
Books and Writers
The Bookette
Carly Bennett
Matt Teen Librarian
Serendipity Reviews

This is the original Indigo press release sent through to us a few months ago, should you be interested in reading it.

And these are the titles I nabbed for MFB's reading pleasure:

8 comments:

serendipity_viv said...

You managed to get The Double Shadow! Hurrumph! LOL.

It was a fabulous evening and so lovely to see all the new books that Indigo are bring out for us very soon.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great evening Liz. Really sad I couldn't attend, but had been in London the day before. Those titles look great. I think the paperback of Sister...Mantelpiece will do incredibly well for Orion as Hardback is already going from strength to strength.
Nice pile of books you got there :)

I Want To Read That said...

Sounds like a fantastic event! I'm really looking forward to all the titles - they sound awesome! But I am soooooooooo excited for the Harlan Coben one!

Jenni @ Juniper's Jungle said...

Sounds like a great event. So many of these books have piqued my interest, lots to look out for!

SusanKMann said...

Sounds like a great evening and so many amazing titles coming up. x

Beth Kemp said...

I second Viv's 'hurrumph' for The Double Shadow! I hadn't been to an event like this before, having only been blogging for six months, and it was so exciting. What I thought was great was that many of you clearly did know each other from events like this, but I was made to feel very welcome and not 'outsiderish' at all. Book bloggers are the best!

Raimy from Readaraptor Hatchling said...

Im so sad I couldnt get to this event! I would have loved to have been there! :(
Dark Parties really does sound amazing!

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Sounds like a great event!

I've already read The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish and would recommend it :)