Posted by Jami Schwarzwalder:

Opening General Session for PLA Conference
Linda Ellerbee
March 22, 2006
2:30-4pm

President of ALA:
You can judge a community by the quality of its libraries

The library is the only place you can walk in off the street and get advice from a Master level professional without a fee

Linda Ellerbee
Journalist, Author, Producer, Breast Cancer survivor
Luck Duck Programming, Get Real! series

“what could be nicer than being a room with people who love books and read them”

Take Big Bites life philosophy

When I was young I thought change was a choice
I also told myself that anything is possible

Went to college to find a husband or in the case he died, or left me in another less honorable manner I would HAVE SOMETHING TO FALL BACK ON

Love college so much she left after a year

Taught in the mountains
Worked at an FM station

Married Texas Cowboy poet

In Alaska, left commune to write radio programs for politician

In Juno, her husband left her with a two and three year old. Parents wanted to raise her kids so she took matters in her hands

She wrote letters to editors telling them-that she could be an excellent journalist if she just had a chance.

She got one response. If she passed a test she could have a job. She passed.

She wrote a letter in 1972 about how the APO has only one female, and if they want to show they aren’t discriminatory they should hire a diverse individual (half cre lesbian….)

Letter wasn’t supposed to go out, but it went to the entire associated press

Of course she lost her job, only because they couldn’t shoot her.

That’s when the job offers poured in

To take a microphone and put it in the face of anyone who just went through a personal tragedy is being a moral dwarf.

People said Murphary Brown was based on her
Who wouldn’t like a loud mouth woman who’s mouth is always getting her in trouble

She wanted to change the way broadcasting worked

If men run the world why do they get up every morning and tie a noose around their neck.

Women have learned much from men in the industry.
“Let us not forget that we have much to teach”

One night a woman came in crying. The women gave her a huge made her a cup of tea, and then the world went on. The corporate didn’t stop because a few acts of kindness.

A sick child is important, a lost love is important

I have seen the effects of the stress that pulls in all the different directions

#2 Face a new change with joy

“He who can not change the fabric of his own thoughts cannot change anything”

As a kid there were drills for the soviets dropping nuclear bombs, but they didn’t talk about the fears.

Now we talk about hard times, we don’t hide it from them.

#3 You must always set a place at the table for and unexpected guest

A boy talked his mother into leaving just in time. He only packed a few clothes, but when asked what he needed most that had been left behind he said “ My Friends”

She learned that the easier a change is make the less important it is

Change can be a form of hope
to risk change is a investment in the future

#4 Just because everything has changed doesn’t mean its different.

More things are possible than she ever imagined, both good and bad

She was as young as she was going to be and she was never going to be any younger

#5 IN this world a good time to laugh is anytime

She owes her life to 5 people and one thing
Her two kids, Her two parents, her English teacher, and her library card.

Most grateful for being able to say Thank You to her old mentor.

Pre-conference Conclusion

In Conclusion, History RA is not much different from other RA. As I was sitting through the session, I was reminded of many Movies that would pair nicely with the titles mentioned. I could not think of many games that connected with historical fiction, but there are not many historical games. Eternal Darkness, Civilization, and Oregon Trail were the only ones I could think of.

I think that YA librarians have the potential to use what their patrons know in order to connect them to books. My high school history experience was quite dull and boring, until I found children’s historical fiction that I would read along with what we studied in class. I doubt many teens with be as industrious as I was, but We may connect them on these three points (topics from history class, historical/biographical movies, and historically set video games)

I will conclude with some quotes from the end of the Pre-conference session

(on Historical fiction connecting to Non-fiction)
Its about picking threads and linking them- Sharron Smith

Look for more narrative non-fiction-Sharron Smith

Taking a reader from non-fiction to fiction is harder than fiction to non-fiction – Brad Hooper

A well written biographical novel is not necessarily cradle to grave – Brad Hooper

Connect books with Strong Characterization – Brad Hooper

Biographical novels convey a Hero with flaws – Brad Hooper

A well written historical novel seamlessly weaves in history to the story through characters dialogue.- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Setting is important – Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Look at themes- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Suggest non-fiction that “reads like a story” – Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Ask Do people want the same or something different- Cathy Jo Yarmoski

Closing Remarks

Duncan Smith

“The real reason we are here is not books…It’s the reader”

“I have always thought of history happening to others. But it happens to me too.”

Remember that today’s teens were born in 1988 to 1995. They probably do not remember the Challenger, the Berlin wall falling, or the first Iraq conflict.

“The Odyssey is what hero has to do to become human again.”

Posted by Jami Schwarzwalder

Book Buzz
Nancy Pearl
March 22, 2006 10:30-11:30

Nancy Pearl, Librarian, Book enthusiast, Action Figure Model

Since Nancy Pearl focuses on mostly Adult titles, I do not know if some of the titles will be appropriate for Young Adults, but they may be appropriate for you the book lover.

This event is so popular that many people are sitting in the lobby.

“People clap at the beginning out of faith and hope. And they clap at the end out of charity”

“We are here today because we can’t be reading, so we do the next best thing and talk about them”-Nancy Pearl

“We forget just how practical reading can be” – Nancy Pearl

She was in the Mallory hotel and when she shut the door, the handle didn’t work. When she tried the handle, it did not work and she thought: “I’m locked in the bathroom in the Mallory hotel, and I have nothing to read” –Nancy Pearl

“How many people brought at least two books to the conference?” Most of the room raised a hand.

Four editors from the publishing world. (I am sorry I know I will butcher the names, I am so very sorry)

Marcy Presell- Head of library marketing for Random House

Nora Robinson- Began career in Baltimore county, went to Library Journal
Time Warner Book Group

Virgina Stanely- Library Marketing for Harper Collins

Tellya Ross- Jewish studies from Barnard. Head of Library Marketing Holts Spring.

Marcy

“Hardest to pick out the books to talk about”

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
already out
“Remember me when I am Gone”
Alternative World
World of all the people who already died
As long as someone remembers them that is alive
Once forgotten they disappear

“Reminds us what it means to be alive”
Nancy-Going to be on my list of the top ten list of fiction
Literally power of memory
For people who read for character

Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
A tender mysterious coming of age story
rural England
Great for YA audience

breaks treasured Christmas ornament
spends year trying to replace
Characters leap off the page

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
What makes us happy
what we think will and why it doesn’t
“Why does the line at the grocery store slow down just when you get in it”
“Why will a wife forgive infidelity, but gets mad about dirty dishes?”

Professor at Harvard

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra
A doctor who’s wife is killed in a terriost attack
discovers secret about her

Miracle in the Andes by Nando Parrado
1972 a plane carrying a group of athles crashes in Andes
One of the most amazing survival stories told through the voice of one of the boys who walked over the Andes with Airline seats as snowshoes

Gives message of Hope.

The Man of my Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld
Author of Prep
Hannah is 14 in 1991,
Magazines cover elaborate weddings
Parents marriage falling apart
then She grows up
How can she find true love

The Whole World Over by Julia Glass
Story of woman in a bad marriage
chef in Brooklen
Gets attention of Offical from New Mexico
Becomes professional chef for him

The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl
Edgar Allan Poe didn’t die of natural causes

when researching book author found some new information about him

Stuart: A Life Backwards by Alexander Masters
Grim but important
man who is knife welding alcoholic heron addict who spends half his live in prision

The Good, Good Pig by Sy Montgomery
A woman adopts small pig, and he grows to 750lbs
about community

The Culture Code by Clotaire Rapaille
Very scientific
Why Americans like
Why German kids need instructions to play legos

A Day with a Perfect Stranger by David Geregory
After Dinner with a perfect stranger
Seatmate is Jesus

Wisdom of Our Fathers by Tim Russert

The New Ann Coulter by Ann Coulter

Armageddon’s Children by Terry Brooks

Glass Books of the Dream Eater by Gordon Dahlquist

Culture Warrior by Bill O’Reilly

Thirteen Moons by Charles Frazier

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides
Coldmountain guy
The Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama

Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
Histerical

Soldier: The Life of Colin Powell by Karen DeYoung

Foxworthy’s Redneck Dictionary II by Jeff Foxworthy

Thunderstruck by Erik Larson

Barefoot Contessa at Home by Ina Garten

Rachael Ray 2, 4, 6, 8 by Rachael Ray

Talla Ross from Holtzbrinkck

www.HoltzbrinkLibrary.com

Request Adult Books for Teens Catalog

St. Martin’s Minotaur (Mystery Publisher)

The King of Lies by John Hart

Sequence by Lori Andrews

Still life by Louise Penny
Quebec country side

first book in three
People that don’t read mysteries will love this book

The Darkest Place by Daniel Judson

Heart of the World by Linda Barnes
Most intense, most suspenseful Carlotta Carlyle Mystery

Cold Kill by David Lawrence
part of a series

Tella’s favorite
Blood and Guts

No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
7th installment

The Highly Effective Detective by Richard Yancey
a loveable but bumbling investigator
first book in serious

Inside the mind of Gideon rayburn by Sarah Miller
For YA audience
inside Gideon’s mind
funny sexy wise and more human than you ever imagined

Trying to get authors in libraries check out website for more

Virginia
www.harperlibrary.com

The Girl from Charnelle by K. L. Cook(man)
Coming of Age story
60’s
Texas
reminded of She’s come undone

Full of Grace by Dorothea Benton Frank

funny southern story about couple who are retired

Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
Sequel to Savannah Blues
one woman’s discovery about what’s important in life
Southern Fiction

No Good Deeds by Laura Lippman
Series, but can start anywhere

“Great speaker” Virgina
Has won every mystery author award

Coronado: A Collection of Stories by Dennis Lehane
Author of Mystic River and Shutter Island
Wonderful short story writer
Collection of previously published, and one new

Abundance: A novel of Marie Antoinette by Sena Jeter Naslund
Historical Fiction
make you feel like you are there

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood
was executive at Microsoft
walked about from Microsoft to start a non-profit dedicated to fight against illiteracy in the world.
Room to Read roomtoread.org
Building schools and libraries faster than Starbucks did in its first 5 years

Nancy-Remember to pick up Galleys, and realse lists. Do what the patrons do and start placing holds on them in the library

Nora Robinson

Smitten: a kitten’s guide to happiness by Rachael Hale
Adorable kitten on the cover

My Smart Puppy

how to raise puppies

Monkey Portraits by Jill Greenberg

“Librarians say they need to know about books as early as possible”-Virginia

A perfect Mess: The Hidden Benefits of Disorder by Eric Abrahamsom and David H. Freedman (Coming in January)

YA titles
Gossip Girl by Cecily Von Zie

The It Girl
James Patterson- Maximum Ride
Kids who are genetically engineered

“Young adult novels deal with so many issues that we tend to forget about.”

Twilight
Girl falls in love with a Vampire

New Moon

Second in series

Incantation by Alice Hoffman (October)
Historical Novel
Jewish during Spanish Inquisition

Skylight Confession by Alice Hoffman
for Adult
Family issues

How Opal Mehta got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life by Kaavya Viswanathan
Indian
Opal spent entire life to get into Harvard
Out in Audio- American Accent of daughter and Indian of parents

“thinking about audio galley book club”
The Notebook Girls
Adult books
Parents see how kids are behaving

Four real girls notebooks
they pass around among each other

The Girls by Lori Lansens
Printing books early Coming in May
two sisters who are very close
conjoined twins
Steven Spielberg has purchased as potential movie

Sleep away the pounds by Cherie Calbom

To access info about New Orleans or to view a complete list of programs and events sponsored by YALSA at the ALA conference, go here: Annual Conference
-Beth Yoke
byoke@ala.org

Reactions to Historical Fiction

Brad Hooper- panel member

Adult Books Editor, Booklist

Historians are ask
How do you know that?
Ok you told me where you got it why do you believe it?

Must argue why they trust material

Novelists
underlying is with Characters

back-story game

How do you handle a event or a social group that didn’t keep much historical details?

to be convincing to a reader you have to do the research

Spend time retracing roots of characters. (evening prayers are time markers) Readers will follow as well

Accounts of gypsies were not that accurate, but linguists transcribed what the actual gypsies said. German language was what linguist spoke, so transcripts are in German

Difference between Narrative fictions and historical is narrative-historical fiction

Historical fiction have a consistency of truth, and must teach readers the difference.

“As an author it is a great experience to switch genres”

Poke through archives and dig through time

Look for convincing details of the time

Kathryn Lasky-panel member
Speaker

“Fortunately history is not made by headlines, blogs, and hot news. It takes time to … “Donald Rumsfield(yesterday in paper)

I think historical fiction is made of everyday people doing every day things

Author of first Dear America title

best resource was Morts relation not William Bradford
day by day journal written by pilgrims
Pilgrim Bloggers

can be found earliest accounts of Mayflower contract
it gives it a live that transcends centuries.

Never written ”history book”, but has done immense amounts of research

Why I write historical fiction:
“Reading history it is a way of living extra lives” –Tony Hindra author of Father Joe

Don’t write to teach, but wants to raise questions in the minds of reader( ethics, morality) Explore not be told

Beyond the burning time about Salem witch trials made her think. Appalled by commercialization of Salem. “it was like Disneyworld”, so she started doing some research. Read transcripts of trials. “what would it be like if my mother would have been arrested and tried as a which”

getting it right-sometimes you do have to depart, alter. you cannot disrupt the fabric of the period. You have to really understand the fabric of period

pet peeves-when people try to imposed a 20th century aire of political and environmental correctness.
If a women is locked in a tower she would not know about injustice. She may get mad and stomp her foot, but she will not go on about how women should be treated.

Killing a bunny in the 18th century should be realistic. They won’t have a funeral for the bunny.
Girl was raped, she was shunned and a reader wrote in saying that the author should have had a support group in novel (it was in the 18th century-they didn’t have support groups then)

Know editors will want to edit something out so she will put in something that she can use as a bargaining chip. Go over the top, so that she can keep some elements.
Scholastic wanted her to take out Bear baiting (Animal rights issue), but was fine with the beheading.

Reviewing historical novels
Brad Hooper- panel member
Adult Books Editor, Booklist

Tell upfront it is a historical novel. “It is set in renaissance Italy”
Don’t go into historical detail, assume people don’t know basic history ID people places events, except for painfully obvious.

Judge historical fiction as any fiction. hold same standard for light fiction as light historical fiction and same standard for serious historical fiction and serious fiction

How well is the history integrated into the story. Should be a smooth transition

Pay attention to characters. Characters need to be developed.

Trends
Pre-Cold Mountain and Post-Cold Mountain

Post Cold Mountain
very literary

Upcoming April 15th Focus on Historical novels about China are big, lot are beautifully done. More and more people are going to China, and China is more in the news today.

I don’t see a trend in: Middle East. (maybe a travel thing)

Interest in female renaissance painters

Female protagonists are on the rise

Many set in New York City (Dramatic place)

Civil War setting, but now most are just like Cold Mountain

Broadening out of Historical fiction. Don’t’ have to be about kings and queens or big events

can be ordinary people doing ordinary things just set one hundred years ago

15 min break
Then we are breaking into groups to talk about historical fiction
13 moderators will stay and talk about subgenre then rotate.

I’m going to save my sanity and not Blog this.

Reading the Past: the Appeal and Characteristic of Historical Fiction

Sarah L Johnson
Author published by Libraries Unlimited

Started with Fantasy and transitioned to Historical Fiction

Why people read historical fiction
What is it?
How do you define it?
Who reads it?
When does it take place?

Where can you find it?
How Much of it’s is history and how much is fiction

“The past is another Country…they do things differently there” –L.P. Hartley

They want to read about characters that do things different. Escape into past. Forget about day-to-day lives.
We need to be able to identify with them, without the familiarity, we cannot make that connection

Some authors take unfamiliar and make it familiar-leave feeling that human nature is the same no matter the time period

Some novelists express how different characters in the past are from us. Get feeling that is another world
“All novels are historical… but some are more historical than others”
George Orwell (sort of…)

Novels set at time the authors write them are not historical fiction.

Novels that are written about 50, 30 even 20 years in the past can be historical fiction, especially in children’s fiction.

Books dealing with the past are not historical novels

“Nouns always trump adjectives, and in the phrase ‘historical fiction,’ it is important to remember which is which.”- Thomas Mallon

Readers are not forgiving if the author changes events, or adds an event that did not happen

They are more forgiving if there is an author’s note in the end

Historical fiction can help to fill gaps in history.

Readers like to read many different accounts of the same event

Author needs to convince reader that the world is real

what readers want

Very picky, very annoying, not very forgiving if author gets something wrong

Convincingly accurate historical setting
Not all readers are familiar with the history

Entertaining plotline
Historical facts are not enough.

Compelling, realistic characters that reflect their time

Characters have to be appropriate for that time. They want to know what it was like to live in the time setting

To learn what it is like to live in another time period

Historical detail that is woven naturally into the story
not interested in information dumps

Successful with combine historical facts with realistic characters, and a moving plot.
Historical fiction is everywhere.
Historical fiction is part of all genres, so you have to look in all areas of fiction

you do not need a PHD to do RA in history. You can ask the reader about a particular period if you are unfamiliar with.

Very Broad Category. It tends to be invisible..
Invisible in collection, too broad to fit into its own section
Libraries and Bookstores do not have historical section.
Cannot rely on on-line catalog. Subject headings do not help

Librarians may need to spend more time connecting with patrons.
Spend time knowing benchmark books, create displays, and reach readers..

Benchmarks
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Religious, Literary, appeals to Jews, Women, and Historians

Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier
It is a universal novel

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Anne Bolyen told by sister Mary.

First to come out in trade paperback
More popular novel of court women

All these novels have strong female characters
Readership is 70 to 75% women (informal guess)

Sub-genres

The Basics

Traditional Historical Novels

Goals Realistically portray a historical period.
Biographical novels
Strong Protagonists
Author is storyteller

the Lady in the Tower-Jean Plaidy
Widow’s War

Multi-Period Epics

James A Michener
Delany

Let readers view a culture over an extended period of time
Provide comprehensive picture of a civilization area
Doorstops (1,000 pages)

Sagas
Family relationships
Social history

Long or Series

John Jakes Civil War
Jessica Stirling Wives of War

Genre-Blending

Romantic Historical Fiction

Romantic Epics

Large scale stories with sweeping drama and star-crossed lovers.
Long and detailed
exotic
no guarantee romance will end happy

Romantic Historical
Smaller scale
equal emphasis on history and story
possible multiple love interests

Historical Romances
One central relationship
focus on romance, not on history
Characters react to history, not really part of it
Romance will end happily

Western Historical Novels
Authentically will portray the old west
more diverse subjects and view points

“Westerns”

now more diverse main characters (women, African Americans, Native Americans)
Longer
Broader time period

Historical Adventure
Entertain
Let readers travel and have adventures
Fast paced

Heroic protagonists(usually men)

Historical Thrillers
Engage and thrill with exciting suspenseful exhilarating storylines
fast paced

Literary Historical Novels
Use historical story as a way of expressing a universal or contemporary theme
often referred to as contemporary novels
Address serious issues

Character driven
Leisurely paced

Christian Historical Novels
From a Christian worldview

Inspirational.
Portray religious lives in previous time
deal with Christian principles
No explicit sex or language

Francine Rivers
Liz Curtis Higgs

Historical Mysteries
Solving mystery in past
must be accurate in how they solve crime

Part III The Outer Limits
Time-Slip Novels

let readers pretend going back in time is possible.
Supernatural events.
Creatively written
Elements of romance, mystery, fantasy, thrillers, even science fiction

Alternate History
Cross between Science Fiction and Historical Fiction
What IF…
Examine alternative outcomes

run counter to historical fact.
Many based around wars or battles
thought provoking
must know what happened to know what would have happened so very historically based

Fatherland
Never Call Retreat

Historical Fantasy
Fantastical settings

On the edge of myth and history
Medieval
Otherworldly atmosphere
Supernatural events important, but not a plot device

Multi Genre Titles
The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett
Traditional, literary, swashbuckling adventure

Outlander Eiana Gabaldon

Romantic epic, time-slip, traditional

Possession A.S. Byatt
Literary, romantic, mystery

The Future of Fantasy PLA Pre-conference Part II
Many authors are mentioned, and I apologize if I misspelled any names.

Charles De Lint

Author
http://www.sfsite.com/charlesdelint/bio.htm

Non-Fantasy readers read his books

Books and Librarians
Recommends Firebirds Rising (abandon girl raised by librarians)

Fascinated with creative impulse.

Write what he likes to read.

The more I write I realize that telling a story isn’t enough

I want to learn something I never could before
Elements have to arise from the story elements themselves

If the world is supposed to be dark, why were we given light?

Support the artists

Writing characters requires paying attention, and research

Deal with real life. When a death and depression enters it changes you, and you can’t ignore that in a novel

Writers tend to gravitate toward characters they are interested in.

Cast in stories will look like friends

Strong reactions to characters means the writing is working

Fell let down when finishing novel, like moving to a new job.

Through letters he has the impression he is doing the right thing.

Question: What books to you read?
C:Historical Fiction, YA books, everything
Will Lamore

Q: Other Authors that need to be recognized
Favorite Books

Holly Black
Hindacoff studio
Godmother night
Andrew Bax

Editor Panel
David G. Hartwell

Ruth Katcher

Betsy Mitchell

Sharyn November

www.firebirdbooks.com

Fantasy was first a part of the children’s section
the genre boundary between YA and Adult is TOTALLY artificial

Upcoming Authors (Fantasy)

China Mieville
Charles Stross
The family Trade
Paul Park
Jeff Van der Mejr
Venis Underground
Jean Wolf
Ken Oppel

Margo Lanagan
Mette Harrison
The Princess and the Hound

Not Known Authors
Nina Carikay Hoffman
A Fist full of Sky

New Classics-
Terry Pratchett
China Mieville
Jean Wolf
Orson Scott Card
Dragon Waiting
Magic for Beginners- Small Bear Press
Garth Nix
Series of Unfortunate Event

Nancy Farmer
Diana Winn Jones
Megan Willen Turner
Phillip Pullman

Short Story collections are working again.

Magazines
Realms of Fantasy
Mag. of Sci Fi & Fantasy

Mix it up, Don’t focus so much on labels. Reader’s don’t care whether a book is published under Children’s or Adult.

Presenters:
Diana Tixier Herald
Author Editor
Genreflecting Series

Bonnie Kunzel

Authors speaking
Elizabeth Haydon
Kenneth Oppel

Online Resources
Feminist Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Utopia

http://www.feministsf.org/femsf

Fluent in Fantasy
http://sff.net/people/dherald

Genreflecting
http://www.genrefluent.com

International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts
http://ebbs.english.vt.edu/iafa/iafa.home.html

Reader’s Robot Fantasy Page
http://www.tnrdlib.bcca/fa-menu.html

Recommended Fantasy Author List
http://www.sff.net/people/Amy.Sheldon/listcont.htm

First Contact
Fluent Fantasy
Teen Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests

Genreflecting: A Gude to popular Reading Interest

History of Fantasy

Gilgamesh first fantasy
Iliad and Odyssey is where it started for most fantasy readers
Beowolf
1001 Arabian Nights- first printed in print
Gulliver’s Travels

Gothic Novels
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Worm Ouroboros by E. R. Eddison (influenced many fantasy writers)

The King of Elfland’s Daughter
Conan the Barbarian-

Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit

Swords against death by Fritz Leiber (short stories)
The Chronicles of Narnia
Ray Bradbury (dark fantasy)

Wealth of Short stories in

Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin 1968
Anne McCaffrey (Dragonriders Series) 1968 Science Fiction not Fantasy, but Fantasy readers love.

70’s was a time of big series
Katherine Kurtz (Deryni Series)
The Sword of Shannara (1977)
Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Dark and grim) Non fantasy readers were reading

the 80s had many Arthurian legends
The Mists of Avalon by Bradbury

Current boom-Harry Potter

Fantasy readers don’t care if the book is published for children, Young Adult or Adult. They just want to read.

Elizabeth Hayden

Author of the Symphony of Ages: Rhapsody Trilogy
YA-The Floating Island Comparable to the Princess Bride part of The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme,

http://www.elizabethhaydon.com

The future of fantasy
Librarians know more about what is going in the genre field than authors
“When you ever look at anything escapist you have to look at the state of the world” When the world is relatively calm things that are familiar are stagnate, and when the world is turbulent, things that are familiar are comfortable.

When Elizath Hayden was at a conference in New Orleans she met with an author who told her that women in Fantasy were typically cast as Warrior Princesses, and little mystery, romance and other non fantasy genre.

Three predictions
1. Things that are familiar (established series, authors,) will be popular, and comfortable, and new innovative things will be a bright spotlight and be truly innovative
2. Continuation of the blurring of lines will continue.

3. Throughout all of history it is the Young Adult and Children’s stories that lead the way.

Created a interactive curriculum about The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme,
for educators and librarians that she is giving away for free linked to this presentation on PLA website.

Questions:
Andre Norton
Mentor to female fantasy writers
Librarian

Root award winner

Will there always be series?
I hope not-People crave series, they want to know what happened

Bonnie
Harry Potter has been a world wide event
It was the reason we now have a Children’s Best Seller list
Only book people will wait outside at midnight to have a party and read.

Readers Advisory Resources

Locus Magazine-publishes lists
http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/index.html

Hugo Award (World Science Fiction Convention)-incorporate Fantasy
Titles nomitated by Attendees of the Convention
Nebula (Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers of America Fantasy Science Fiction and Horror)-Books, short Stories, Young Adult new this year
Selected by published authors

VOYA great resource (they review paperback fantasy original) April has Years best Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Horror, Annotated lists, and includes Adult titles as well because the teens devour it.
New York Review of Science Fiction. Not many Fantasy titles.

John Moore twisted Fairytale

Kenneth Oppel

Author: Silverwing (grounded on science fact) most interesting part of story is based on history fact
Airborn (inspired by stories of individuals who first flew on airplanes) Pints Honor

www.kennethoppel.com

When he was 14 he was deeply engaged by Dungeons and Dragons
Father read the Hobbit out load.

“As much story as a game”

Games didn’t last long enough.

So he became the Dungeon Master. Started with map, to funnel the characters. Best part was designing. Laid out the monsters, rooms, and events, but players would just come in and mess it up.

So he started writing stories. His first three stories were rejected by Dragon magazine.

What appealed to him was reaching a world where he could reach by no other means. He loved stories grounded in some way to our world.

Always have an escape. Grounded stories make it seem possible that these worlds are just hidden and if you pay close attention you may find it as well.

His own work has tried to combine fantasy and the world.

Like with DnD he writes with many rules. He is a blueprinter, and planner.

Fantasy is now being set in history. He personally likes these stories. Inspiring and more interesting, and more visual. The possibility of more exciting discoveries seems more likely.

What he loves is the daydreaming stage. the possibilities then are limitless.

Future of fantasy: show us old things in a new light?
Questions
Thanks for mentioning Lloyd Alexander

Definably more books with Matt. Currently working on prequel to Silverwing

Most libraries have Science Fiction to categorize Fantasy, Horror and Science Fiction.

Librarian: We are re-instructing patrons to mean Speculative Fiction. that way it is still SF

Librarian: I color code it

Librarian: I put the books in the Teen section. We are currently having a sticker war. Some librarians don’t want smaller genres to have stickers because they think it discourages Reader’s Advisory

Librarian: Found interest in Fantasy through gaming. Will video gaming cause more interest in Science fiction?
Oppel: I don’t think so. I

Not working with Screen Writer because he doesn’t want to splice it up.

Fantasy Sub Genres

A huge diversity of Fantasy

Epic Fantasy Long series that go through many generations
you continue to go on and on. As a reader keep…Sorry my Computer Died. Most of the things discussed are on the handout Fantasy Sub-Genres

On my way back from dinner, I stopped by the Boston Public Library. The building was very beautiful, and the Young Adult section, had its own floor, located on the mezzanine between the children and the adult floor. The mezzanine only contains half the floor space of the other levels, but is home to only the foreign language collection and the Young Adult Section, tucked away in its own room. Upon entering the room, you realize it is not very modern or flashy, but when you look closer at the shelves and on the walls, you see the marks of teens. The shelves are lined with YA books in every genre a librarian could want. The tables and chairs look exactly like the uncomfortable but durable chairs that are in many libraries, but on the tables, there are art models and supplies for teens to use. In one corner, a shelf has a few games, but use has pretty much worn out the collection of Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess, and Checkers. On the walls teen artwork, postcards, and photographs cover the dull paint. When I arrived, a Yu-gi-uh gaming group had just left. Their group was not an organized library program, but I think it speaks volumes that these teens choose to use the library for their meeting place, and the librarians supported and encouraged their non-traditional library use.

At first glance, the Young adult room looks slightly dreary, but when looking past the surface you can see a lively young adult area. I wonder if this room’s first impression affects the young adults. I started asking the librarian questions, and that is how I learned about all of the wonderful things going on in the room. I admire what the librarians are working to accomplish for the teens, but wonder if our Young Adult Sections should need an interpreter.

I think it is important to talk about what could be improved even in the Young Adult Spaces we all admire. We can work to advocate the equal treatment of teens with the adult and children services, as well as strive to provide a teen area that is ideal for teens without having to construct a new building. I think the only way we can make an innovative teen section is if we can take educated risks.