Very good news. We have it.

Yes. We have it. We have it in truckloads.

1) In local awards news: The NSW Premier's Literary Awards & NSW Premier's History Awards  Shortlists have been announced. And look. LOOK!

The Patricia Wrightson Prize

Kate Constable, Crow Country 

The Ethel Turner Prize

Bill Condon, A Straight Line to My Heart 

Ursula Dubosarsky, The Golden Day 

Scot Gardner, The Dead I Know 

Penni Russon, Only Ever Always 

HISTORY AWARDS  Young People's History Prize 

Anh Do and Suzanne Do, illustrated by Bruce Whatley, The Little Refugee 

Nadia Wheatley, illustrated by Ken Searle, Playground

Very good news indeed. Many HURRAHS to Kate, Bill, Ursula, Scot, Penni, Anh, Suzanne, Bruce, Nadia & Ken. Many, many HURRAHS!

And congratulations to everyone on the shortlists.

2) And in UK awards news: The longlist for the CLIP Carnegie Medal has been announced. And look. LOOK!

Sea Hearts (aka The Brides of Rollrock Island) by Margo Lanagan is on it.

Such good news. So many HOORAYS for Margo!

3) But wait, there's more. In news from the USA. Libba Bray & Margo Lanagan both have books on the Publishers Weekly Best Books for 2012 list. LOOOOOOOK!

Sea Hearts (aka The Brides of Rollrock Island) by Margo Lanagan

Lanagan brings dark, wonderful depth to the legend of the selkies, creatures whose limitations pale beside the weaknesses of men. While other writers revel in the novelty of supernatural romance, Lanagan exposes the true costs of such arrangements - financial, emotional, and otherwise - in stories that span generations.

The Diviners (aka The Diviners) by Libba Bray

It's generally impossible to know what Bray has up her sleeve - few writers are as daring and varied in their output. One thing's for sure, though: it's always a blast. That definitely describes this electric combination of Jazz Age New York City, the occult and the psychic, and some truly gruesome murders.

Brilliant news! A thousand cheers for Libba & Margo!

An Open Letter

Dear Libba Bray,

Wow.
Okay.
Deep cleansing breath.

We Onions are fond of a letter, of the art of letter-writing, and especially of open letters. And we hereby anoint you Queen of the Open Letter. Your letter to Fiona, 'Your mileage may vary' made us cheer; it made us reflect; it made us proud; and it made us a little weepy.

Thank you.

Onions

Three Million Cheers*

We want to say a

big

fat

humongous

CONGRATULATIONS
to Libba Bray
because...

Going Bovine has won the
Michael L Printz award.

Very well done, Libba - and very well deserved!

We are thrilled and delighted to be publishing Going Bovine
in Australia in February.
That's only a week and a bit away, people.

*As much as we love stationery, we're cheering for something MUCH more exciting than paper clips.

Introducing... Libba Bray!

Stamp your feet, swish your tail, chew your cud in an excited fashion because we are welcoming Libba Bray to the House of Onion! Mooooo!*

Why are we behaving like barnyard animals?

Because in February 2010 we will be unleashing Libba's wonderful book Going Bovine on an unsuspecting Australian public.

Here are some things about Libba:

1. She is related to Davy Crockett (on her mum's side.)

2. She names her computers.

3. She is the New York Times bestselling author of A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing.

4. She lives in New York City, where she can often be found not eating doughnuts (although she spells them differently).

5. Her latest book is Going Bovine, which we are publishing in Feb 2010. (Did we mention that?)

We're not quite sure how to define Going Bovine - it's a bit of a boundary-buster. What we do know is that we love it. In an attempt to be more specific we will ask ourselves some questions about it and then, helpfully, we will answer them.

Q) Who is Going Bovine for?

A) Teenagers. Oh and definitely adults. And certainly garden gnomes. Also probably some Norse gods would like it. And very possibly Miguel de Cervantes. But maybe cows should steer (ha!) clear.

Q) What is it like?

A) It's the funniest thing we've ever read. No wait, it's really sad and moving. And it certainly makes you think. But also it's a strange road-trip that just sweeps you along.

Q) Is there any romance in it?

A) Yes!

Q) Does it contain any penetrating philosophical questions?

A) Why, yes, Grasshopper.

Q) What about the main character, Cameron, will I like him?

A) You will love him! And then you will want to shake him by the shoulders and give him a good talking to, and then you will love him some more.

Go here to find Libba's official website.
Go here for her blog.
Go here to see a cow chewing its cud in an excited fashion.

We're desperately hoping that Libba will make it to Australia at some stage, and that when she does she will bring her cow suit to the House of Onion.

What cow suit? you ask.

THIS ONE... Behold the wonder...

If that video didn't move you (What are you, made of stone?), you can read other people's raves here, here and, well, all over the web really.

So... Libba Bray - welcome to the House of Onion! We're very pleased and proud to be publishing Going Bovine.

*Anyone who's read Margaret Mahy's The Tricksters will remember that moooo means good and grunt means bad. It's all mooooo round here this morning.