Monday Amusements

Gender Balance in YA Award Winners since 2000 takes on the idea that female authors ‘dominate’ YA fiction. Another fascinating read is On Book Packagers and Literary Development Companies (via @catagator). I’ve known about book packaging since the first time I read an article about Alloy, but it was really interesting to read about the new literary development companies started by well-known YA authors.

I love all this jewellery inspired by books! It’s part of an auction running this week and I am really tempted to bid on a couple of items! (via @cloverness)

A letter To My Fairy Bookmother. I would ask for a chair that never gets uncomfortable, perfect recall of all my favourite books (I don’t want to waste time remembering my least favourite too), and for Robin McKinley to write a sequel to Sunshine, or better yet, a whole series.

I also enjoyed reading Sex, swears and… er… unicorns? at Author Allsorts (via @Yayeahyeah), which makes a very good point!

I thought that Lit Medicine: 11 Books To Save Your Ass (Or Just Your Weary Soul) was great, especially as I’m planning to make my own list of comforting or inspiring books.

Have you read any really good blog posts or articles about books this fortnight?

I’m thrilled to announce that I’m joining nine other UK book bloggers for the new collaborative channel, Bookish Brits! Here is the introductory video for the channel:

I hope you enjoy it and make sure that you also watch the first of the personal introductions, by Fluttering Butterflies’ Michelle! My intro will be going up a week today. I’m scared, excited…and I can’t decide which hat to wear.

SisterSpooky presents her thoughts on Book Tours. I agree with all her points really and would add that I almost never read book tour posts for debut authors, but on the other hand I can get excited about book tours for authors whose books I have previously read. I think that reviews and trailers are much better promotional tools for new authors.

I love reading books about characters I can relate to, but also adore reading about people who are as different to me as can be. As Tanya at Girlxoxo points out with her post On Only Reading Books You Can Relate To … Why? (Dangerous Reads Month), I’d be missing out on a lot of wonderful books if I limited myself only to those I can relate to.

Five Fictional Characters Saved by the NHS!

If you live anywhere near Newcastle, Holly Black and Sarah Rees-Brennan will be discussing gothic fiction at Seven Stories. If you go I will be very jealous.