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Andrew Miller Wins 2011 Costa Book of the Year
 Andrew Miller has won the 2011 Costa Book of the Year for his novel, Pure. The UK book award carries a $47,000 cash prize.
Pure is Miller's sixth novel. Set in pre-revolutionary Paris in 1785, Pure tells the story of Jean-Baptiste Baratte, an ambitious young engineer, who is assigned the task of emptying the overflowing Parisian cemetery Les Innocents, and demolishing its church.
The judges describe Pure as a "structurally and stylistically flawless historical novel, this book is a gripping story, beautifully
written and emotionally satisfying."
Reuters reports that there was bitter dissent among the judges and a "fierce debate." Some of the judges in the eight-member panel felt the prize should have gone to Now All Roads Lead to France by
Matthew Holli.
Costa also announced that it will expand its awards in 2012 to include a short story award. Details about the new competition will be announced later this year.
Posted on January 24, 2012
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84th Academy Award Screenplay Nominations Announced
The nominees for the 84th Academy Awards were announced this morning by actress Jennifer Lawrence and Academy President Tom Sherak at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Here are the list of nominees for adapted screenplay and original screenplay.
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
- The Descendants, screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon and Jim Rash
- Hugo, screenplay by John Logan
- The Ides of March, screenplay by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
- Moneyball, screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, story by Stan Chervin
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, screenplay by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan
Writing (Original Screenplay)
- The Artist, written by Michel Hazanavicius
- Bridesmaids, written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig
- Margin Call, written by J.C. Chandor
- Midnight in Paris, written by Woody Allen
- A Separation, written by Asghar Farhadi
The Artist, Bridesmaids and Midnight in Paris are also nominated for Best Original Screenplay for the 2012 BAFTAs. Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris won the Screenplay Golden Globe Award.
You can see a complete list of the Oscar nominees here.
Posted on January 24, 2012
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Winners of 2012 Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal Announced
 Jack Gantos is the winner of the 2012 Newbery Medal for his novel, Dead End in Norvelt. The book was published by Farrar Straus Giroux. The annual Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery.
Newbery Medal Committee Chair Viki Ash says, "Who knew obituaries and old lady death could be this funny and this tender?"
The 2012 Newbery honor books are Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (HarperCollins Children's Books) and Breaking Stalin's Nose (Henry Holt and Company, LLC).
A Ball for Daisy (Schwartz & Wade Books) by Chris Raschka won the Randolph Caldecott award for best illustration. Caldecott Medal Committee Chair Steven L. Herb says, "Chris Raschka's deceptively simple paintings of watercolor, gouache and ink explore universal themes of love and loss that permit thousands of possible variants. A Ball for Daisy holds as many unique stories as there will be young readers and re-readers."
The 2012 Caldecott honor books are Blackout, written and illustrated by John Rocco (Hyperion Books) and Grandpa Green, written and illustrated by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press).
Photos: Farrar, Straus and Giroux/Schwartz & Wade Books
Posted on January 23, 2012
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Apple Launches Digital Textbooks, iBooks Author Tool
Apple announced new electronic textbook features and partnerships with major electronic publishers at a recent press conference. Apple partnered with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, McGraw-Hill and Pearson to offer digital textbooks (called iBooks textbooks) with interactive animations and high quality diagrams and photographs. The textbooks also have highlighting and note-taking features and digital study cards.
Apple says most of the digital textbooks will cost $14.99 or less. You can view some of the digital textbooks here.
Apple also debuted a new iTunes U app, which lets teachers create and manage courses, including electures, assignments, books, quizzes, and syllabuses.
Apple also launched iBooks Author, a free app from the Mac App Store, that enables anyone to create a book for the iPad. There has been some criticism of Apple for using a proprietary file format for its iBooks author files, but Amazon does this with the Kindle as well.
Photos: Apple, Inc.
Posted on January 22, 2012
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2012 BAFTA Screenplay Nominees
 Here are the screenplay nominations for the 2012 Orange British Academy Film Awards. The winners will be announced on February 12.
Original Screenplay
- The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius
- Bridesmaids by Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
- The Guard by John Michael McDonagh
- The Iron Lady by Abi Morgan
- Midnight in Paris by Woody Allen
Adapted Screenplay
- The Descendants - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, adapted from the novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings
- The Help - Tate Taylor, adapted from the novel by Kathryn Stockett
- The Ides of March - George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, adapted from the play "Farragut North" by Beau Willimon
- Moneyball - Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, adapted from the book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, by Michael Lewis
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan, adapted from the novel by John le Carre
Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris won the Golden Globe Award in the screenplay category. Oscar nominations will be revealed on January 24.
Image: British Academy of Film and Television Arts
Posted on January 22, 2012
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