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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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Original poster

Author needs your help

156 replies

mortalcoils · 14/02/2010 17:50

Sorry if this is the wrong place (or, indeed, thing) to post, but I'm after some advice. I'm perhaps best known as an author of slightly edgy/very edgy teenage novels, e.g. Hellbent, Henry Tumour and The Knife That Killed Me. Over the last couple of years I've also written 4 books for younger children, beginning with The Bare Bum Gang and The Football Face-Off. All 4 books are about the same group of children, and are aimed at 7-10 year olds. They are published by Random House, and got really nice reviews from all of the broadsheets. However, they haven't exactly set the world on fire, commercially, and I've been told it's because the titles, which all feature the dreaded words 'Bare bum Gang', have been putting people off. I've been told as a fact that book clubs won't have them because of the 'bum'. The books are really quite sweet, albeit rather rude, in a fart/poo kind of way. So, what do you reckon - should I ditch the bum, or keep on trying?
Regards
Anthony McGowan
(apologies again if this isn;'t the kind of thing that belongs here.)

OP posts:

Original poster

mortalcoils · 16/02/2010 16:40

K - yeah, i know. Hated writing an underpant book. The trouble is it's about, well, Einstein's Underpants. It would have been perverse to call it anything else. It's aimed at an older readership than the Captain Underpants type stuff. Tweenagery, I suppose. It's a sort of Terry Pratchett type thing. It's really about friendship. And learning to love people, even if they are annoying. Which reminds me of something ....

OP posts:

zapostrophe · 16/02/2010 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

madamehooch · 17/02/2010 08:00

When is 'Einstein's Underpants' due to be published?

Original poster

mortalcoils · 17/02/2010 09:49

Madame - Due out on 1st April. I'll be doing a publicity tour, so if any mumsnetters want me to do a free school visit, get in touch with my publicist at Random House [email protected] I've done thousands of school/library visits, and I'm fully CRB checked. The book's aimed at years 5-7.

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Pogleswood · 17/02/2010 10:35

Well,reading this thread was a bit of a rollercoaster ride!
I have a 9yr old DS,he loves books but is not a brilliant reader,and I'm always looking for books he will read that are within his capabilities.I wouldn't have looked at this series because of the title and cartoony covers(if DS fancies a book I get it,but often it's me choosing) BUT having read your description about where the gang's name came from,and reviews on Amazon,I'm now thinking we'll give them a try.
I think part of the problem is that they merge into a vast mass of possibly funny/rude books with similiarly styled covers aimed at boys...

mistlethrush · 17/02/2010 11:04

Thank you for bringing my attention to your books MC - I've certainly not seen them around anywhere yet. My ds is only in reception and just getting to grips with reading. However, based on both dh's and my voracious appetite for reading (mine particularly when I was a child) I am sure we'll get onto that sort of stuff soon. I think ds would probably like the title, but not be impressed with the art-work. However, I am sure that people would not buy him one of the series as a present due to the title.

However, based on dh's and my experience, I would also second the call for some 'advanced readers' matter for the younger reader... Enid Blyton only goes so far.

I think that this thread has got back onto a more even keel - please be aware that MN has been getting in the press a lot lately, normally portrayed as place to come for a bust-up. Whilst there are some threads that attract very opposing beliefs, and some people will champion 'their' cause very vociferously, my experience is that these are relatively few and far between. But because of the general press comments, I think quite a few people are ready to jump in quite quickly. Thanks for sticking with it - and for adapting your style of posting to suit the site and contributors much better!

saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/02/2010 15:48

Do you do nationwide publicity anthony? Ds2 and ds3's school like to get authors in but we're a long way from London.

I asked ds2 this morning if he'd want to give the bare bum gang a try and he said yes please. We have book tokens to use so I'm not going to get it from Amazon but will pick one up once I get over half term houseboundness.

I told ds2 he will have to tweet and tell you what he thinks. He is quite excited about that!

Original poster

mortalcoils · 17/02/2010 18:21

Curse you, mumsnet, for this cunning new strategy of niceness! Well, you don't fool me - I know you are trying to lull me into a false sense of security before you pounce again.
Well, two can play at that game. I've a box full of The Bare Bum Gang Battle the Dogsnatchers. I'll send one to any mumsnetters that want to give it a go. If you don't think it's any good, then give it to Oxfam. If you like it, perhaps you could repay me by buying another. Or two. And telling your friends. Get hold of me through twitter, if you've a mind.
Anyone that can't be bothered with the faff, I'll say one word: libraries. Love em to death.
And, seriously, thanks for the considerate posts at the end, there.
Saintly - I do lots of school visits, but the logistics can get a bit iffy if it's miles out of London, unless I'm on a tour in the area. But feel free to get in touch through my publisher and I'll see what can be done.

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saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/02/2010 18:27

Hey I've been nice all through this thread. Must be my elasticated polyester trousers.

Will send you a Twitter message tonight when things are a bit calmer here.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/02/2010 19:19

right I am following you. I don't use twitter enough to understand the bloody thing, but I think you have to follow me before I can send you a direct message.

So I will reply to one of your tweets.

saintlydamemrsturnip · 17/02/2010 19:38

cheers!

Jux · 17/02/2010 20:15

I'd have bought my dd bare bum gang books if I'd seen them at the time. She's 10 now and reads books for lder kids. She would probably still enjoy the toilet humour though, so I'll give them a go if you're still prepared to send us a set; I generally read to her when she's in the bath.

I'm definitely interested in your next - the science fiction one for 9-11 year olds.

Jux · 17/02/2010 20:15

I'm definitely interested in your next - the science fiction one for 9-11 year olds.

Jux · 17/02/2010 20:16

Computer's playing up, curses

EVye · 17/02/2010 20:37

Just read this thread. What fun!

I can only speak as someone with daughters but I wouldnt buy the books as the cover art is appaling and it would really put me off.

The titles wouldnt completely put me off but I would have to check them out (reviews etc) before buying so it would put me off an impulse buy in a bookshop.

Must go now, and if I leave my trousers in the machine too long they get quite static ;)

EVye · 17/02/2010 20:39

will also go and seek you out on twitter as quite like your humour. don't let it go to your head though.

Original poster

mortalcoils · 17/02/2010 23:04

Ah, someone's just reminded me of this - a slightly embarrassing video on the meet the author website. I stammer, sweat and lisp, but at least it explains a bit more about the Bare Bum Gang.
www.meettheauthor.com/bookbites/1753.html

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Original poster

mortalcoils · 17/02/2010 23:05

I mean,
www.meettheauthor.com/bookbites/1753.html

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roisin · 19/02/2010 16:06

Thanks for that mortalcoils. I've not come across that site before - interesting stuff.

Sorry I wasn't here earlier in the week to join in the scrum.

mistlethrush · 24/10/2011 17:32

I know this was from an age ago, but I thought I'd report back on how ds (now 6.5) got on with one of your books. He loved it!!!

He thought that the down-to-earth language was really funny (and he couldn't believe that some things were actually WRITTEN DOWN like that).

We read it together just so that we were able to get through the story in a reasonable amount of time - he was able to read it quite happily though, although it would have taken him quite a bit longer if I hadn't been reading some of the pages for him.

I think that the illustrations within the book are good, and there are about the right number of them - just breaks it up a little bit without being too intrusive. However, I think that the front cover is much less sucessful and, to be honest, it would have put me off buying them in a bookshop - although having read one now, I would be quite likely to get him some more of the same series.

I thought it was nicely paced, with a story-line that got ds interested right from the start, with a few twists and turns. I also liked the realism brought into it - I'm sure that ds appreciated the details.

jongleuse · 24/10/2011 23:07

Hi mistlethrush. Randomly saw this very old thread and missed all the controversy (and can't be bothered to go through it all now) but my 6 year old also completely loved the Bare Bum Gang. Have met author and he is V Nice Chap.

MNHQ

CatherineMumsnet · 25/10/2011 10:17

Hi all, we're going to delete this thread as we don't actually allow advertising of this kind to be posted on the boards

mistlethrush · 25/10/2011 10:20

But he wasn't advertising he was asking for advice Catherine?

mistlethrush · 25/10/2011 10:21

And it was started over 18 months ago, I came back because I wanted to say how good the book was DESPITE the title AND the front cover illustration

HerdOfTinyElephants · 25/10/2011 10:32

Speedy response there, then, MNHQ. The original post has only been there for 20 months so far...

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