Talent it Up, Suckers!

Look. I know there are illustrators out there who read this blog. I know this because I keep pronouncing some of you "hot" in as obvious a way as possible. And I know that all illustrators, irregardless of gender, make just gobs of money and have nothing better to do than lounge about on their private yachts, sipping lemon martinis and informing the handsome pool boys that they "missed a spot". This is all common knowledge. So since you have nothing better to do, why not use your artistic talents for good instead of evil? I am referring of course to the Cybils Award. Right now it looks something like this:

Simple. Utilitarian. Gets the job done and doesn't pussyfoot around. Problem is, it doesn't stick onto dust jackets all that well. A pity that. Y'know what would stick well? A redesigned award of a circular nature. Perhaps one that somehow managed to convey that it was handed out by bloggers. Hmmmm. But where oh where to find someone with the chops to design such an image?

Here's what I figure. You design something schnazzy (snazzy with a 'ch' in it) and apropos. You then send said image to Kelly Herold and she (in turn) makes cute little stickers out of it. THEN your art ends up on the cover of all sorts of books for years and years and years to come. Instant fame! Instant recognition. Instant tiny kisses to your feet.

Go for it, dudes. It's like getting a chance to redesign the Newbery only with a 21st century twist.

The Post Mortem Has Begun

Remember The Cybil Awards? Good times, eh? We were so young. So gay. Ah, to go back to that era.

Ever wanted to complain about them, though? Maybe there was something that bugged you about it. Something you'd like to see changed. Well, the time to voice such complaints is nigh. The site asks that you consider the following topics:

Judging:

1. how panelists and judges are chosen
2. guidelines and criteria
3. timeline for judging

Website:

1. design and ease of use
2. content--profiles, book reviews, Q&As, etc.

Organization:

1. inclusiveness
2. transparency
3. marketing and PR

1. 
   

Go wild. Politely wild, of course. Be nice.

Cybils Countdown

You all got so hot and bothered with that fun Cybils debate on my blog just after the Newbery announcements that it seems a shame not to stir up the pot again. Rather than voice your concerns, praise, and queries regarding this first ever blog-based children's literature award here at Fuse #8 where your ideas are bound to sink beneath the quagmire of mediocre postings, why not head on over to a post Anne Boles Levy put on the Cybils site instead. It's already garnered a whole host of interesting comments, so head on over even if you just wanna give it a glance out of curiosity.