Itzkoff on Young Adult Fiction

As someone whose subway rides tend to resemble scenes from an “Evil Dead” movie, in which I am Bruce Campbell dodging zombies who have had all traces of their humanity sucked out of them by a sinister book — not the “Necronomicon,” but “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” — I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting author of speculative fiction can find fulfillment in writing novels for young readers. I suppose J. K. Rowling could give me 1.12 billion reasons in favor of it: get your formula just right and you can enjoy worldwide sales, film and television options, vibrating-toy-broom licensing fees, Chinese-language bootlegs of your work, a kind of limited immortality (L. Frank Baum who?) and — finally — genuine grown-up readers. But where’s the artistic satisfaction? Where’s the dignity?

Nicked from Antick Musings

Itzkoff on Young Adult Fiction

As someone whose subway rides tend to resemble scenes from an “Evil Dead” movie, in which I am Bruce Campbell dodging zombies who have had all traces of their humanity sucked out of them by a sinister book — not the “Necronomicon,” but “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” — I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting author of speculative fiction can find fulfillment in writing novels for young readers. I suppose J. K. Rowling could give me 1.12 billion reasons in favor of it: get your formula just right and you can enjoy worldwide sales, film and television options, vibrating-toy-broom licensing fees, Chinese-language bootlegs of your work, a kind of limited immortality (L. Frank Baum who?) and — finally — genuine grown-up readers. But where’s the artistic satisfaction? Where’s the dignity?

Nicked from Antick Musings

Itzkoff on Young Adult Fiction

As someone whose subway rides tend to resemble scenes from an “Evil Dead” movie, in which I am Bruce Campbell dodging zombies who have had all traces of their humanity sucked out of them by a sinister book — not the “Necronomicon,” but “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” — I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting author of speculative fiction can find fulfillment in writing novels for young readers. I suppose J. K. Rowling could give me 1.12 billion reasons in favor of it: get your formula just right and you can enjoy worldwide sales, film and television options, vibrating-toy-broom licensing fees, Chinese-language bootlegs of your work, a kind of limited immortality (L. Frank Baum who?) and — finally — genuine grown-up readers. But where’s the artistic satisfaction? Where’s the dignity?

Nicked from Antick Musings

An unexpected find

Normally I shop at Zehrs but today I was in a Food Basics. It turns out that although in general the experience of shopping there is not unlike being beaten with a shovel, they did have a really good price on a brand of ice cream I like, they also have a brand of jam that most other stores have dropped, a sour cherry import from Croatia (I think - the jar is upstairs).

It was in with foreign foods, which is technically correct but not where I expected to find it.

An unexpected find

Normally I shop at Zehrs but today I was in a Food Basics. It turns out that although in general the experience of shopping there is not unlike being beaten with a shovel, they did have a really good price on a brand of ice cream I like, they also have a brand of jam that most other stores have dropped, a sour cherry import from Croatia (I think - the jar is upstairs).

It was in with foreign foods, which is technically correct but not where I expected to find it.

An unexpected find

Normally I shop at Zehrs but today I was in a Food Basics. It turns out that although in general the experience of shopping there is not unlike being beaten with a shovel, they did have a really good price on a brand of ice cream I like, they also have a brand of jam that most other stores have dropped, a sour cherry import from Croatia (I think - the jar is upstairs).

It was in with foreign foods, which is technically correct but not where I expected to find it.

Another hat in the ring

Amy Sterling Casil announces candidacy for SFWA treasurer.

"One motive for my candidacy is my commitment to openness and transparency, particularly in financial and policy matters. Members can look forward to regular, easy-to-read, and understandable treasurer's reports if I am elected. They can count on me to handle the organization's finances to the best of my ability and help SFWA move toward the future."

Another hat in the ring

Amy Sterling Casil announces candidacy for SFWA treasurer.

"One motive for my candidacy is my commitment to openness and transparency, particularly in financial and policy matters. Members can look forward to regular, easy-to-read, and understandable treasurer's reports if I am elected. They can count on me to handle the organization's finances to the best of my ability and help SFWA move toward the future."

Another hat in the ring

Amy Sterling Casil announces candidacy for SFWA treasurer.

"One motive for my candidacy is my commitment to openness and transparency, particularly in financial and policy matters. Members can look forward to regular, easy-to-read, and understandable treasurer's reports if I am elected. They can count on me to handle the organization's finances to the best of my ability and help SFWA move toward the future."