Zoning complaint shuts down ‘Little Free Library’

Advocate staff file photo by Darlene Denstorff -- Linda Prout, right, the regional ambassador for the Little Free Library project, places books inside a library box in Donaldsonville in November 2013. Lester Lerch, left, assisted Paul Marchand with the installation of the box, which was donated by Susan Weinstein, who lives in Israel.

Advocate story

Feb. 03, 2015

SHREVEPORT (AP) — Shreveport’s Metropolitan Planning Commission has shut down a book swap box called a “Little Free Library,” and others could face the same fate.

City ordinances allow libraries only in commercial zones, zoning administrator Alan Clarke told The Times.

Rick Edgerton said the commission told him it would cost $500 to appeal the ruling against the Little Free Library that he and his wife, Teresa Edgerton, created, KSLA-TV reported.

Rick Edgerton made the wooden box with shelves, a hinged glass front and a sign telling people who pass their house to “take a book, return a book.”

The couple has 10 days to appeal the decision, which KSLA reports was prompted by a single anonymous complaint.
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JK Rowling's life advice: ten quotes on the lessons of failure

The Harry Potter author’s new book is based on an inspirational speech she gave to Harvard students. Here are some of the best quotes

Successful failure ... JK Rowling at her Harvard University commencement address in 2008. Photograph: Lisa Poole/AP

Marta Bausells

Monday 30 March 2015 - The Guardian

JK Rowling has some inspirational advice for graduating students – or for anyone in this universe, really. Her new book, Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination, out on 14 April, is her 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University, published by Little, Brown. Proceeds from sales will be donated to Lumos, a charity for disadvantaged children founded by Rowling, and to a financial aid programme at Harvard. Some of her wisdom from that speech, for those of you who weren’t in the Harvard audience, is collected below.

Rowling, who came from a family where her imagination was seen as “an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension”, struggled considerably before becoming one of the world’s most successful authors: seven years after graduating, “I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.” Only last week, she tweeted about the rejections she has received in her career – even under the pen name Robert Galbraith which she adopted, after the succcess of the Harry Potter novels, for crime fiction.
The writer based her speech – the most viewed commencement speech on Harvard’s website – on “failure and imagination”. Delivered to some of the world’s most elite students, her words went beyond the get-ahead cliches of careers advice. 
Here are 10 of our favourite quotes:

Reminder: lunchtime tomorrow (Wed 1 April) public history talk by Dame Margaret Sparrow

Please join us at a public history talk by Dame Margaret Sparrow who will speak about her book:  

Rough on Women:  Abortion in 19th Century New Zealand

The women who had abortions in 19^th century New Zealand are all long dead and little is known of their shortened lives. Most of what we know about them comes from coroners’ reports and newspaper accounts, and in many cases we know more about the abortionists than the women themselves. Those who survived had engaged in criminal activity so they were unlikely to talk about it.  Abortion was not written about or mentioned in their correspondence to family and friends.

 The information we have is biased towards events with a tragic ending but even this gives us some insight into the lives of ordinary women.  At a time when contraception was frowned upon by the medical profession women obtained abortions by whatever means they could, despite the dangers of poisoning, haemorrhage and infection. Abortionists did their work despite the threat of long prison sentences.

Dame Margaret has had a long career in general and reproductive health. She was awarded an MBE in 1987, the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993, and the DCNZM for services to medicine and the community in 2002, which in 2009 became a DNZM.

 Time and place:  12.15pm at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Level 4, 101-103 The Terrace, Wellington on Wednesday 1 April, 2015.

Storylines honours children’s writers

Storylines Children’s Literature Trust of New Zealand

 

The Storylines awards for new writers and the Storylines Notable Books List for 2015 (books published in 2014) were announced in Auckland yesterday.

The Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for an unpublished manuscript for children:
Tom E. Moffatt (Rotorua) for Barking Mad.

The Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text:
Joy Halloran-Davidson (Napier), for Witch’s Cat Wanted, Apply Within.

The Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book:
Bob Darroch for Little Kiwi is Scared of the Dark (Penguin).

The Storylines Tessa Duder Award for a young adult manuscript, sponsored by Walker Books Australia, is not being awarded in 2015.

The Storylines Notable Book Lists 2015 (books published in 2014):

Storylines Notable Picture Books List 2015
Books for children and/ or young adult where the narrative is carried equally by pictures and story.

Blackie the Fisher Cat by Janet Pereira, illustrated by Gabriella Klepatski (Craig Potton Publishing).

Have You Seen a Monster by Raymond McGrath (Penguin).
Jim’s Letters by Glyn Harper, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Penguin).

Kakapo Dance by Helen Taylor (Penguin).
I Am Not A Worm by Scott Tulloch (Scholastic).

The Song of Kauri by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Dominique Ford (Scholastic).

The Anzac Puppy by Peter Millett, illustrated by Trish Bowles (Scholastic).

My New Zealand ABC Book by James Brown (Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of NZ).

My New Zealand Colours Book by James Brown (Te Papa Tongarewa, Museum of NZ).

Construction by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books).

Storylines Notable Junior Fiction List 2015
Fiction suitable for primary and intermediate-aged children.

The Volume of Possible Endings by Barbara Else (Gecko Press).

Island of Lost Horses by Stacy Gregg (HarperCollins).

Conrad Cooper’s Last Stand by Leonie Agnew (Penguin).

Teddy One Eye: The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear by Gavin Bishop (Random House).

MNZS: Harbour Bridge by Philippa Werry (Scholastic).

Monkey Boy by Donovan Bixley (Scholastic).

Trouble in Time by Adele Broadbent (Scholastic).

The Name at the End of the Ladder by Elena De Roo (Walker Books).

Ophelia Wild, Deadly Detective by Elena De Roo ( Walker Books).

Storylines Notable Young Adult Fiction List 2015
Fiction suitable for upper intermediate and secondary school students.

While We Run by Karen Healey (Allen & Unwin).

Speed Of Light by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press).

I Am Rebecca by Fleur Beale (Random House).

Singing Home The Whale by Mandy Hager (Random House).

Spark by Rachael Craw (Walker Books).A Little ABC Book by Jenny Palmer (Beatnik Publishing).

Storylines Notable Non-Fiction List 2015
For authoritative, well-designed information books accessible to children and young adults.

Maori Art for Kids by Julie Noanoa, illustrated by Norm Heke (Craig Potton Publishing).

Under The Ocean: Explore & Discover NZ’s Sealife by Gillian Candler, illustrated by Ned Barraud (Craig Potton Publishing).

The Book of Hat by Harriet Rowland (Makaro Press).

New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame: 25 Kiwi Champions by Maria Gill, illustrated by Marco Ivancic (New Holland Publishers).

A Treasury of NZ Poems edited by Paula Green, illustrated by Jenny Cooper (Random House).

Ghoulish Get-Ups by Fifi Colston (Scholastic).

The Letterbox Cat & Other Poems by Paula Green, illustrated by Myles Lawford (Scholastic).

Piggy Pasta & More Food with Attitude by Rebecca Woolfall and Suzi Tait-Bradly (Scholastic).

A New Zealand Nature Journal by Sandra Morris (Walker Books).

Did you miss The Penguinery on Waiheke Is?

Did you miss The Penguinery?

All is not lost - in Tivoli's plein air section

(outside behind the grey screen)

we have, for two weeks only, a number

of vintage Penguins for sale at $2
$2 !

Liz has run out of storage at home.

Drop by at Tivoli and snap some up...

...vintage Penguins are getting more
vintage by the minute...

TIVOLI
art   |   books   |   film

2/118 Ocean View Rd, Pendragon Mall, Oneroa, Waiheke Island
PO Box 316 Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Auckland 1840 New Zealand

+64 9 372 3361
021 175 2218
tivolinz@gmail.com
www.TivoliNZ.com

A Powerful Memoir of Love and Grief

For Fans of Wild: A Powerful Memoir of Love and Grief By Grace Stearns    |   Monday, March 30, 2015 - Off the Shelf “Grief turns out to be a place none of us know until we reach it,” Joan Didion concludes at the close of her 2011 memoir A Year of Magical Thinking. “Nor can we know ahead of the fact (and here lies the heart of the difference between grief as we imagine it and grief as it is) the unending absence that follows, the void, the very opposite of meaning, the relentless succession of moments during which we will confront the experience of meaninglessness itself.” For Artis Henderson, grief was a place reached in early childhood, after she survived the airplane crash that killed her father. She was just five years old. Grief was a place to which Artis returned two decades later, when her husband of four months died in a non-combat-related helicopter accident in Iraq.  Henderson’s memoir, Unremarried Widow, unfolds within the eerie, symmetrical tension of these two catastrophic events, her renderings of which expertly map the intimate contours of the mysterious transformation we all undergo in the face of tremendous loss. Laced with lyricism and complexity, Henderson’s generous account of the loss of her husband capably transports even those who have yet to reach the incorporeal location Didion desc... READ FULL POST

The Tuesday Poem

This week Helen McKinlay has stepped into the gap and shared with us this poem by UK poet Linda France. Helen says of the poem 'I am fascinated that Linda can relate the detail in the craftsmanship of the wasp's nest to such diverse  patterns of life as the waves in a Japanese woodcut, fungi on an Italian market stall, and wind's rhythm through mountains in Cappadocia.' 

The poem is from Linda France's forthcoming collection Reading the Flowers, which charts the journey of looking at 15 of the world's Botanic Gardens over two years. 

Enjoy! http://tuesdaypoem.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/nest-by-linda-france.html

Latest book news from The Bookseller

Indie bookshop numbers fall again in 2014 The number of independent bookshops in the UK fell once again last year, with nearly 50 high street bookshops closing in 2014.  The number of indie members of the Booksellers Association fell by 48 in 2014, to 939 indies. The 2013 figure (987) was a watershed moment for the industry, as it was the first time since records began that indie numbers had fallen below 1,000.

Settle appointed c.e.o. of libraries task force Kathy Settle has been announced as chief executive of the Leadership for Libraries task force. Settle is currently director for digital policy and departmental engagement in the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Cabinet Office. She will begin the new role in April, while continuing in her current role until late summer. The task force met for the first time earlier this month, chaired by the chief executive of Northamptonshire County Council, Paul Blantern.

SuperAwesome: 'authorship is changing' Publishers should realise that the idea that authors are writers coming up with stories in their garden shed is no longer true, says Dylan Collins, c.e.o. of SuperAwesome, a digital company that bills itself as the “biggest kids’ marketing platform in the world”.

ALLi to launch bookshop campaign during LBF The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is to launch a new campaign aimed at bookshops during the London Book Fair. Called Authors for Bookstores, the campaign will launch at the Indie Author Fringe Festival, which will be held on 17th April at Foyles’ Charing Cross Road flagship. ALLi founder and director Orna Ross (pictured) said the organisation saw getting books into bookstores as “the next step for indie authors”.

OUP makes pre-Bolonga signings Oxford University Press has signed a host of book deals in the run-up to the Bologna Book Fair, including titles by Joel Stewart and Roland Chambers. OUP commissioning editor Peter Marley bought world rights Tiny Cops and Robbers, by Stewart, who is an illustrator who has worked with Julia Donaldson and Michael Rosen.

WHS revenues soar in Ireland Revenues at WH Smith Ireland jumped 66% to €19.29m (£14.1m) in the year ending 31st August 2014 from €11.6m (£8.47m) for the same period the year before. The Irish Independent has seen accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office in Ireland, which shows that despite the revenue rise, pre-tax profits fell slightly from €1.54m (£1.12m) to €1.5m (£1.1m).

PRH acquires cookbook from Ottolenghi and Scully Penguin Random House has acquired The NOPI Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi and Ramael Scully. The collection of more than 120 recipes from Ottolenghi and collaborator and NOPI head chef Scully will showcase the pair’s favourite recipes from the celebrated central London restaurant.

Bammel to leave IPA Jens Bammel, secretary general of the International Publishers Association (IPA), is to step down from his role. Bammel has led the IPA since 2003, but will step down ahead of the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair.

Bloomsbury to publish Rosoff's first adult title Bloomsbury has signed Meg Rosoff's first novel for adults, a romantic comedy set in New York. Helen Garnons-Williams, publishing director for fiction, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, at auction from Catherine Clarke at Felicity Bryan Associates. Duck Zoo tells the story of Jonathan, his dogs Dante and Sissy, and their vet Dr Clare, along with a wedding that feels more like a funeral, an office job that feels like the ninth circle of hell and a guardian angel named Greeley.

Tracy Chevalier appointed to British Library board Author Tracy Chevalier is among six new people appointed to the board of the British Library. Chevalier will serve a term of four years commencing on 1st April. Other appointments to the board include Sir John Riblat, a property developer; Dr Simon Thurley, an architectural historian; and Professor Dame Helen Wallace, an officer of the British Academy. The final two new board members are Jonathan Callaway and Martin Dickson. The appointments are made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid.

Sixteen books awarded English PEN grants Sixteen books have received an award in the latest round of grants from English PEN’s Writers in Translation programme. The programme, which is celebrating its 10th birthday this year, gives grants to books displaying outstanding literary merit. All books chosen for the programme will be featured on the World Bookshelf website, which celebrates contemporary international literature in translation.

Celebration of dogs to Canongate Canongate has signed a book celebrating dogs of all shapes and sizes by photographer Lynn Terry. Publishing director of non-fiction Katy Follain bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, in a deal with Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein. US rights went to Gallery Books after an eight-way auction. The book, Tails from the Booth, began life a photography project to raise money for local pit bull shelter. Terry takes photos of dogs inside a vintage photo booth. When images from the project were put on website Boredpanda, they were viewed 1.2m times.

Lunchtime Event | Wednesday 15th April 12-12.45 | Unity Books Wellington

Unity Books warmly invite you to a lunchtime event for

Which Way Is Starboard Again?
by Anna Kirtlan

Wednesday 15th April
12-12.45pm
Unity Books
57 Willis Street, Wellington

An evening with comedy legend Michele A'Court

When: Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm
Where: The Bruce Mason Theatre
Cost: $24 - tickets available via Ticketmaster.

The North Shore Libraries Foundation invites you to enjoy a fun night out to hear how Michele's award-winning comedy show has now become a book, Stuff I forgot to tell my daughter.

Female Comedian of the Decade at the 2010 NZ Comedy Guild Awards, comedian and writer, Michele A’Court will be appearing at the Bruce Mason Centre for one night only.

She will be talking about her memoir of motherhood, Stuff I forgot to tell my daughter, a funny, wise, honest and wonderfully diverse book about relationships, family and life.

Michele will be introduced by high-profile journalist and publisher, Finlay Macdonald, and will then entertain the audience with her unique take on motherhood - just in time for Mother’s Day!

Copies of Michele's books will be available for sale and signing, courtesy of her publisher HarperCollins and bookseller John Graham from PaperPlus

This event is brought to you by the North Shore Libraries Foundation, with ticket sales supporting Auckland’s North Shore libraries.

http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events/Events/Pages/aneveningwithmicheleacourt.aspx

Literary magazine Granta undergoes digital makeover

The Drum, 29 March 2015

 

Literary magazine Granta is undergoing a digital transformation that will see its online and mobile offering pulled closer together in the hope of attracting new readers.

The magazine, which is known for launching the careers of Salman Rushdie and Martin Amis, has overhauled its website to sport a more modern, modular design.


Similarly to other publisher sites, Granta has gone for a block-type format less reliant on countless sections to surface content to readers. The revamped look, complete with a feature that allows visitors to discover new content, aims to offer a less cluttered and seamless experience.
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