Author: christmaspresspicturebooks

A small press with big ideas.
Announcements, authors, Books, celebrations, Illustrators, New releases, News

Publication day for Two Troll Tales from Norway!

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Two Troll Tales from Norway coverToday we are celebrating the official publication day for our beautiful new picture-book title, Margrete Lamond and Ingrid Kallick’s gorgeous Two Troll Tales from Norway. 

Retold in lively and authentic style by Norwegian-Australian author Margrete Lamond, and sumptuously illustrated by Norwegian-American illustrator Ingrid Kallick, these stories of magic and mischief from Norway will enthral young readers!

Margrete Lamond is a consummate storyteller with a deep understanding of fairy tales and folk tales. Her books include Tatterhood and Other Feisty Folktales, illustrated by Peter Sheehan, The Nutcracker, illustrated by Ritva Voutila; Frankenstein, illustrated by Drahos Zac; and the Once Upon A Timeless Tale series, a collection of retold folk and fairy tales, illustrated by a variety of leading Australian and international artists.

Award-winning illustrator Ingrid Kallick’s work has been featured in magazines and books, including in the Once Upon A Christmas anthology (Christmas Press 2014). Her work was selected for the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles shows in 2013 and 2015, with a bronze medal in 2015. Her magazine covers won the SCBWI Magazine Merit Award in 2012 and 2015, while her selection for the SCBWI stand at the Bologna Book Fair in 2014 received an honourable mention. Two Troll Tales from Norway is her first picture book.

Two Troll Tales from Norway is available from all good bookshops around Australia.

 

 

 

authors, Books, Business, celebrations, conferences, Events, News

Christmas Press in Sydney next week!

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Umbrella event 7th Sept SCBWI Conference-page-001Christmas Press will be going to Sydney next week–first to be part of the SCBWI Conference, and then to cheer on our author John Heffernan as he presents his beautiful book with us, Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia, in two special events.

On the Monday of the conference we’ll be viewing the Illustrator Showcase, and looking forward to seeing the work of new and established illustrators! We’ll also be conducting a manuscript critique and appearing on a fabulous panel at 2pm about building a brand while maintaining your passion. Our books will also be featured in the conference bookshop and we’re looking forward to meeting authors, illustrators, readers and publishers!

John Heffernan Two Tales Author Talks (2)-page-001On Tuesday 6th, John Heffernan will be giving a talk at 1 pm Leichhardt Town Library; and will also present at a SCBWI event at 4.30 pm on Wednesday 7th, at the Children’s Bookshop in Beecroft when John will be part of a stellar panel of authors and illustrators from Australia and New Zealand. Both are free events, all welcome. Two Tales of Brothers will be available for sale at both these events, and John will be happy to sign them for you!

authors, Books, Imprints, interviews, New releases, Second Look

Interview with Libby Gleeson, author of our new Second Look title

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Libby GleesonIt’s the official release week for the new edition, in our Second Look imprint,  of multi-award winning author Libby Gleeson’s wonderful first novel, Eleanor Elizabeth!

To celebrate, we spoke to the author about the novel and what’s it like seeing it back in print. (Interview cross-posted from the Second Look website)

First of all, Libby, congratulations on the release of the new edition of Eleanor Elizabeth in Second Look! We are so thrilled to be bringing this wonderful novel back to a new generation of readers. In your new introduction to the book, you wrote about how the book came about. How does it feel like, revisiting your first novel?
It’s a strange experience. I feel so proud to see it back in print. It was my first attempt at writing a novel, I didn’t know if it would ever be published and so revisiting it brings back all the pleasures of creating it while at the same time fearing it would never see the light of day.
One of the striking things about this novel is the sense the reader gets of the natural environment, which has a real role to play in the story. How did you build up that vivid background?
I wrote the book while I was living in Europe so I was missing my homeland at the same time as wanting to place my characters there. I spent a lot of time focusing on my own memories of landscape and the difference between where the story starts and where the family moves and lives. The new environment helps shape the main character. It’s almost a character in the story.
Elizabeth’s diary is almost like a kind of time-travel device, plunging Eleanor back into the past. How did you recreate Elizabeth’s world? Eleanor Elizabeth final cover
I knew enough about rural life in the late nineteenth century – that’s the story of my mother’s family.  I had to spend time looking at the kind of language Elizabeth would use. Diaries were a great help – especially Ethel Turner’s, despite it being about twenty years later.
You have gone on to become one of Australia’s most acclaimed and popular authors. What role do you think Eleanor, Elizabeth played in that?
The success of Eleanor, Elizabeth gave me confidence to keep going. I had written it while I was a member of a writing group in London and that group was very demanding in terms of finding the right image and language and sentiment. It encouraged experimentation. I still have that in my head as I write. I think I have also been lucky.
 The Second Look edition of Eleanor Elizabeth is available in all good bookshops.  ISBN: 9780994234070, RRp $18.99.
Announcements, authors, Books, Cover reveals, Illustrators, News

Cover reveal for our fabulous Christmas title!

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A Toy Christmas Cover Final-jpegWe’re delighted to reveal the gorgeous cover for our Christmas title, A Toy Christmas, which will be released on November 10. That beautiful cover illustration is by Fiona McDonald, design by Beattie Alvarez and David Allan.

Compiled and edited by award-winning author Sophie Masson, this fabulous anthology of new, original seasonal tales, written by some of Australia’s most talented authors, both established and emerging, features the special magic of toys at Christmas. Illustrated in full colour, this is the perfect book to snuggle up with in the festive season—and well beyond!

With an introduction by Sophie Masson.

Featuring:

Natalie Jane Prior—Meredith Costain—Michael Grey—Fiona McDonald—Juliet Marillier–Anna Bell–Ian Irvine—Kathy Creamer—George Ivanoff—Goldie Alexander—David Allan—Rebecca Fung—Beattie Alvarez.

Have a look here at what Natalie Jane Prior, has said on her blog about the experience of writing The Dolls’ Nativity, her story for the anthology.

Book details:

ISBN 9780994234063

RRP: $24.99

Format: Large Paperback

Page extent: 96 pages, illustrated in full colour

 

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Excellent review for Brothers in Magpies Magazine

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Those fabulous reviews just keep on coming for John Heffernan and Kate Durack’s gorgeous Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia! The latest is in the new issue(July) of the prestigious children’s literature magazine, Magpies. The review is not available online, but here is a short extract:

Two Tales of Brothers is told with lively, colourful language, and illustrated by Kate Durack in rich, vibrant colours. The beautifully-designed book will appeal to children from mid-primary school to upper secondary.

 

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Yet another great review for Two Tales of Brothers!

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John Heffernan and Kate Durack’s gorgeous Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia just keeps collecting those great reviews! The latest is from ReadPlus blog.

Here’s a short extract:

These two stories tell of rivalry and bitterness, of forgiveness and love, of bravery and allegiance. The second story tells of Gilgamesh and Enkidu going out of the city to destroy a huge monster. This marvellous story full of blood and gore will appeal to primary people.
The illustrations are bright and vivacious, reflecting the images found in the temples and carvings left in the Middle East by civilisations of long ago.

You can read the whole thing here.

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Interview in Books +Publishing

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One of our directors, Sophie Masson was recently interviewed for the ‘Small Publisher Spotlight’ feature in Books+Publishing. Here’s a short extract:

What makes your small press unique?

All our imprints focus on very particular areas—we decided early on we did not want to do a general list, as we felt that otherwise our tiny press might get lost in the great ocean of children’s publishing. Because we’ve done that, we’ve been able to market our books in specific ways and give each imprint a flavour all of its own, which makes it easier to brand our books in the trade and to schools and libraries.

You can read the whole thing here.

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Another good review for Brothers!

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And Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia just keeps collecting those great reviews!

Here’s a short extract from the latest, on The Great Raven blog:

Here is yet another beautiful picture story book from the wonderful Christmas Press. Christmas Press is a fine example of Australian small press publishing, springing up to fill a niche that the large publishing houses have left open. It only does a few books a year, but all of them are carefully and exquisitely produced, retelling folk and fairytales from various countries. 

You can read the full review here. 

Announcements, authors, celebrations, Events, Illustrators, New releases

Celebration of Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia

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Absolutely fantastic event last night at Walcha Gallery of Art, celebrating John Heffernan and Kate Durack’s gorgeous book with Christmas Press, Two Tales of Brothers from Ancient Mesopotamia. The evening featured a great exhibition of Kate’s original art from the book and a fabulous talk by John about the experience of writing the book, and the extraordinary Epic of Gilgamesh, which is the source of the stories he retold. The big,enthusiastic crowd just loved it and all the stock of books went in a flash!

Fiona McDonald and Sophie Masson represented Christmas Press at the celebration, and had a lovely time!
Thank you to the Walcha Gallery of Art, Reader’s Companion, and everyone who helped make this such a great event. And congratulations to that fantastically creative duo, John Heffernan and Kate Durack.