all fixed (touchwood)

[adelaidesean]

I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I have a new kids' series due from Omnibus/Scholastic next year. The dates are now confirmed: each of the four books will come out a month apart, starting in May and finishing in August. More importantly, the books now have titles.

The series is called THE FIXERS and the individual books will be:

1. Castle of the Zombies
2. Planet of the Cyborgs
3. Last of the Vampires
4. Invasion of the Weird

What do you think? Does that sound like something kids would want to read?

ETA Thanks, everyone, for your feedback. I am very pleased!

Comments

[editormum.livejournal.com]

*counts up the number of kids reading zombies, vampires, and all supernatural nastiness in her library*

*quickly runs out of fingers and toes*

I think so, yes :)

Want to see cover art! Covers are MOST important to my little ratbags!

[ladnews.livejournal.com]

Covers are a way off, I think, but will post them here as soon as I have something. If we get the artist we want, they will be excellent.

It wasn't my intention to tick off all those cool categories in one series, but I was pleased that it fell out that way. :-)

[catsparx.livejournal.com]

There is no such thing as a child who wouldn't want to read a book called Planet of the Cyborgs. In fact, screw the kiddies -- I wanna read it!!!

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! I was hoping someone over ten y.o. would say that. :-)

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd look at that one, too. :)

[firenzekat.livejournal.com]

what age are they aimed at?

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

10+. Each book is around 10,000 words.

[angriest.livejournal.com]

I totally misread your heading that thought you were writing for Torchwood.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

:-) I want to say "if only" but wouldn't really mean it if I did. Do you watch Torchwood? I keep trying but can't get into it.

[snorefish.livejournal.com]

I think it needs a Volume 5.

How about

"Revenge of the Automated Sprinklers"


;)


(looks good - I'll read them too, and as an English teacher, I'll get my school library to buys some."

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right! Hurrah!

Thanks for the positive feedback. I'm relieved they're getting such a positive response.

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

We'll stock them at the bookshop, too. Working on a Scholastic credit application already :-)

Suggestions for the rest of the series:

5. The Menacing Phantom
6. Attack of the Mummy
7. Revenge of the Werewolf
8. A New Pope.
9. The Crawling Hand Strikes Back
10. Return of the Golem.

I must confess, I'm not absolutely sure I have the best title for #8.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah, never mind the kids, I'd read these.

But aside from appealing to your not typical 45 year-old reader, whoever said that it will largely depend on the covers is absolutely right. Title and cover have to work for the target audience.

It sounds like something that could be a huge series!

Cheers

Garth

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Garth. I hope it will be huge, so fingers crossed on the covers. :-)

[nyssa-p.livejournal.com]

Well back when I was a kid (which wasn't all that long ago really...) I was obsessed with the supernatural and subscribed to a monthly horror package with magazine and a new R L Stein book. So I would have been ALL over those titles :P

And since kid's books are still cool, I can review them on my site ^_^ I'll get in touch with Scholastic for review bookies so I can nab yours!

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! I'll keep you posted. Only one year and two months before they come out. :-)

[tikiwanderer.livejournal.com]

I'd read it! I read a lot of teen fiction, often in preference to the adult stuff.

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Thanks. I know it's a long way off, but I hope you enjoy these fun little stories.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Sean,

It's Angie here but as I'm 'blogless' I will come up without an identity - wish I could merge just as unobtrusively in my work surroundings!
No, seriously - as a School Librarian/Teacher trying to get students to form an addiction to fiction - I think any titles with words like 'invasion' 'vampires' 'cyborg' and 'zombies' will entice even the most hesitant readers. The fact that they are 10,000 words long each also means that they will get classified as 'Quick Reads' for our readers 13+ so will be suitable for high school too - and for school librarians like myself! : )
I'll be buying the series for our school. : )
Angie : )

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

That's great news, Angie. Thank you!

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

I'll read them. And if I was still a children's librarian, I would be buying them for my library. Alas, they don't fit the collection policy of the current library. You don't feel like writing an anatomy textbook by any chance?

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

The location of the first book is a giant living castle, so there exist various analogues of human anatomy. Is that close enough? :-)

I used to joke that we should call it The Dungeon of Snot but the kids and I were outvoted.

Does that sound like something kids would want to read?

[garyreynolds.livejournal.com]

With titles like that, it sounds like something I want to read! Maybe I could get them for my son and pretend they're a present?! Clearly Daddy would have to read them first to make sure they're suitable ;-)

Re: Does that sound like something kids would want to read?

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. That's what dads are for. :-)

dude!

[jasonnahrung.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

These are the best book titles I've seen in ages! It's hitting all my Ed Wood buttons, but of course, Williams won't have wobbly headstones in his work :) Can't wait to see the covers. And damn the kiddies, I'll have a set, thanks :)

Re: dude!

[seanwilliams.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jason. You are my primary audience--as opposed to my primary school audience. :-) I'll throw in a wobbly headstone just for you.