Argentinian illustrator Isol clinches Astrid Lindgren award

Pakistan News & Features Services

The world's largest award for children's literature has been won by a picture book illustrator from Argentina, Isol, whose work exposed the absurdities of the adult world. She was the deserved winner of the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award announced on the fourth and final day of the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2013 in Italy on March 28. 

   

Isol herself was not present on the occasion and the bouquet on her behalf was received by Guadalajara Book Fair in Mexico, where her publishing house is situated, from the Swedish Minister for Culture, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth. She, however, is expected to collect the award personally in the presentation ceremony to be held in Stockholm on May 27. 

Isol succeeded in beating the Hungry Caterpillar's creator Eric Carle and War Horse author Michael Morpurgo to clinch the world's largest award for children's literature, the SEK5m (£500,000) Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. 

Given annually by the Swedish government to an individual or organisation working ‘in the spirit of Astrid Lindgren’ to ‘safeguard democratic values’, there were 207 candidates from around the world competing for this year's prize. 

Isol, born Marisol Misenta in Buenos Aires in 1972 and an illustrator, cartoonist, graphic artist, writer, singer and composer, was chosen by a jury of 12 international children's literature experts to stand alongside former winners including Shaun Tan, Philip Pullman and Maurice Sendak. 

“The author was very happy and very surprised to have won though I did wake her up with the phone call to tell her,” Chair of the jury, Larry Lempert, admitted, describing Isol as a visual storyteller who works with extreme elements, fun, unpredictable elements and with humour, and who crosses borders and new boundaries. 

The author and illustrator of 10 books of her own, as well as a collaborator with Argentinian poet Jorge Luján, the jury praised Isol for creating picture books from the eye level of the child.

Ontario in Transition: Achievements and Challenges launched in Toronto

Pakistan News & Features Services

Jean-Louis Roy’s ‘Ontario in Transition: Achievements and Challenges’ was launched recently in the bustling Canadian metropolis of Toronto, the capital of Ontario.

   

 The book is a look at the modern Ontario and the changes that have profoundly transformed it over the last decades. The fact that it has been authored by a Quebecker historian, former journalist and diplomat, and one-time Devoir publisher makes the publication even more intriguing. 

At a time when Quebec sovereignty is once again in the news, Roy's book highlights the point that, with $70 billion in trade between Ontario and Quebec and a cross-border migration that has seen 1.2 million Quebeckers moving to Ontario and 750,000 Ontarians settling in Quebec, the two provinces were more closely linked than ever. 

Ontario in Transition, in the words of its author, is a book of many firsts. Not only does it represent the first time a prominent Quebecker has deigned to write a book about Ontario, it's also the first time Ontario's staggering demographic diversity and rapidly transforming economy have been so thoroughly examined. 

Ontario's emergence culturally from colonial backwater to its current dazzle, which reaches its apotheosis in the Toronto International Film Festival, has also attracted Roy's journalistic curiosity. 

 Jean-Louis Roy, who currently heads the Montreal think tank Partenariat International, is the author of some 20 works of literature, history and politics that have been published in Quebec, France, the United States, Brazil, the Middle East and a number of African countries.

Ollie Locke makes writing debut with Laid in Chelsea

Pakistan News & Features Services 

The Made in Chelsea star, Ollie Locke, celebrated his writing debut at London's 151 King's Road with the launch of Laid in Chelsea. 

It's billed as an insight into the mind of the modern man with Ollie Locke, an entertainment presenter for television, having put his own spin on things in his maiden book. Surrounded by his reality TV pals, the brunette 28-year-old beamed as he was surrounded by the glamour girls with a copy of the book in his hand. 

Joined by Binky Felstead, he quickly slipped into MIC mode as they enjoyed a flirty frolic for the cameras. Cheska Hull also shared the spotlight, looking beautiful in a chic navy number. 

Ollie Locke is acclaimed as the heart of Channel 4’s hit show Made in Chelsea. He had arrived at the party showing off a ridiculously dark tan on his face but he became unstoppably cheerful once there. 

In ‘Laid in Chelsea’ he has shared his stories from developing his first crush, dire first encounters, terrible dates to true love besides offering his unique advice on how to stay sane in the crazy world of love. Witty, surprising, touching, downright hilarious and always honest, ‘Laid in Chelsea’ is described as an exclusive insight into the mind of the modern man, and a backstage pass to the secret world of Chelsea.

Neil Nitin Mukesh promotes India’s 100 Best Destinations

Pakistan News & Features Services

Famous Bollywood actor, Neil Nitin Mukesh, also a Volkswagen brand fanatic, has been promoting the coffee table book ‘India’s 100 Best Destinations’ which has been brought out by the automobile giant.

   

The Volkswagen editorial gem has been crafted by Bob Rupani, which exclaims a delightful quotient of the seen as well as some of the unseen locations of India. It features travelogues stretching from the various corners of the country, divulging in all directions. 

“A coffee table book on travel is a very natural extension for a company like Volkswagen. With this book we provide every travel enthusiast the opportunity to simplify drive out and enjoy the country,” Lutz Kothe, Head of Marketing and PR, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, remarked in the launching ceremony. 

 It gives me immense pleasure to work with Volkswagen on a subject that I am passionate about: travel and driving. I sincerely hope people not only enjoy reading the book but also drive out,” author Mr. Bob Rupani hoped. 

Neil Nitin Mukesh spoke about his love for driving the Volkswagen cars which, in his opinion, were loaded with all the luxury of niche segment, brightened by more authenticated suspensions, and that too in a competitive price band.

Turkish market to capitalize on London Book Fair

Pakistan News & Features Services

The spotlight will be on the Turkish publishing trade in the coming edition of the London Book Fair to be held from April 15 to 17 and they are gearing up to make the most of this opportunity.

   

The British Council, under the auspices of the British Consulate in Istanbul, organized a reception recently in which renowned writers, publishers, interpreters and publishers as well as representatives of NGOs and the Turkish National Book Committee were in attendance. 

The purpose of the gathering was to introduce Turkish writers to the British community and British writers to Turks. Quite a few eminent Turkish writers and literary figures are expected to be at the London Book Fair 2013 in which Turkey will be the Market Focus partner. 

The Turkish National Book Committee General Coordinator, Ümüt Yaşar, disclosed that they had held talks with British media members about the fair and informed them about translation support projects and Turkish literature. 

The British Council Turkey Director, Margaret Jack, said that the fair would create new partnerships between the two countries. 

Famous Turkish writer, Ahmet Ümit, reckoned that their country has a rich literary culture but the biggest problem for Turkish writers was the lack of international promotion. 

“This is why being the guest or focus country in the book fairs of Frankfurt, London and France is very important. The time may be limited but speaking about Turkish literature there could create an opportunity for us,” he was quoted as saying.

Nkem Mpamah’s The Art of Achievement and Fulfillment launched in Cambridge

Pakistan News & Features Services

Nkem Mpamah’s book titled ‘The Art of Achievement and Fulfillment’ was launched recently at the David Lloyd Centre in Cambridge.

   

Published by Balboa Press, the book describes the process by which, Mpamah pictured, began his journey via humble origins to a strategic role in the African banking system, and thence to Cambridge where he founded his business coaching company, Cognition Global Concepts. 

“He writes with humility, but with assertiveness, not with arrogance. The book reminds me that the Chinese word ‘weiji’ means both ‘crisis’ and ‘opportunity’,” Prof Alan Barrell remarked. 

Guest speaker Charles McLachlan, while congratulating Mpamah on doing the book, noted that he is “about to step into a whole new level of abundance in his life”. 

‘The Art of Achievement and Fulfillment’ has been described as a motivational book, delivering the codes that could literally take an individual to another level, whether starting a new career or business, or feel overwhelmed and looking for change; whatever that moment the principles shared in this book could lead to transformation. 

Preliminary programme of Yale Publishing Course 2013 announced

Pakistan News & Features Services

Some of the eminent personalities from the field of publishing and bookselling will be enlightening the participants during the Yale Publishing Course 2013 whose preliminary programme was announced recently.  

 

Although the deadline for submitting the application in both the programmes remained June 7 the prospective candidates were advised to apply early to secure their participation because the enrollment was limited to 70 in each programme. 

The YPC course on Leadership Strategies in Magazine & Digital Publishing is scheduled to be held from July 14 to 19 while the other course on Leadership Strategies in Book Publishing will be taking place from July 21 to 26. 

Richard Stolley, Senior Editorial Advisor, Time Inc, Michael Clinton, President, Marketing and Publishing Director, Hearst Magazines, Richard Foster, Senior Faculty Fellow, Yale School of Management, Peter Kreisky, Founder and Chairman, The Kreisky Media Company, LLC, Cynthia Leive, Editor-in-Chief, Glamour and Nigel Holmes, Principal, Explanation Graphics, are among the confirmed speakers listed for the Leadership Strategies in Magazine & Digital Publishing programme. 

Michael Jacobs, President and CEO, Abrams Books, Dominique Raccah, CEO and Publisher, Sourcebooks, Carolyn Pittis, Senior Vice President, Publishing Transformation, HarperCollins Publishers, Kirsty Melville, President, Book Division, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Bruce Harris, Publishing Strategist, Bruce Harris Books and Maria Campbell, President, Maria B. Campbell Associates, Inc, feature among the confirmed speakers for the Leadership Strategies in Book Publishing programme. 

“As the disruption in the publishing industry continues at an ever-accelerating rate, we have been refreshing the YPC curriculum to reflect the latest advances in technology and evolving innovative business models. We are dedicated to making your time at Yale as informative, collegial, and productive as possible. Past participants have attested that they left New Haven inspired, energized, and better-equipped to lead their companies into the digital future. Join us and be a part of the worldwide network of YPC alumni,” Tina Weiner, Director, YPC, suggested.