A Thorough Loving of the Common Road

Winona Post editors John and Fran Edstrom have hopped into their car for a road trip – and the adventure described in Fran's article reminds us Anthony and Miss Eells's adventures touring the back roads of Hoosac. We doubt the Edstroms come across anything as mesmerizing as a mansion in New Stockholm, though:

Book Alert: La Médaille Ensorcelée

The French edition of the The Figure in the Shadows, with cover art by Lalex, is to be published this June. This is book #2 in the Kévin et les magiciens series.

Interview: Ann LaPietra

Ann LaPietra is the owner of the Marshall, Michigan bookstore "the kids' place" and the woman behind the popular John Bellairs Walk, a tour of the sights and sounds of Marshall and how they inspired John’s New Zebedee. We asked Ann about the walk, the city, and John’s enduring popularity.

James Stoddard: The High House

I recently came across a review of James Stoddard’s The High House (1989) by author Darrell Schweitzer. Schweitzer notes Stoddard paid homage to many classic works of fantasy with references to such esteemed authors as Lord Dunsany, Mervyn Peake, C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald. His nod to Bellairs, by way of The Face in the Frost, comes on page 48 where the young protagonist, Carter Anderson, explores a magical house's library and is surprised at some of the titles shelved in its history collection:

Gorey at Bromer Booksellers

Edward Gorey's illustrations for The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, The Dark Secret of Weatherend, The Ghost in the Mirror, and The Vengeance of the Witch-finder are available from Bromer Booksellers. As Beast is Gorey's last completed bookwork before his death in 2000, one understands how and why the cost of this artwork - along with one swell copy of the published work - sells at $10,500.00.

And, no, the Bellairsia staff cannot make you any deals.

Remembrances: Alan Loxterman

Recent comments from Alan Loxterman:

Both in physical appearance and with his sardonic sense of humor, I recall John Bellairs as a cross between Alfred Hitchcock and Charles Laughton.

Interview: Lalex

Imagine our surprise to see some familiar characters running around - but this time around speaking French!  Bon Sour One Frank, indeed! Lalex is the contemporary illustrator of the French translations of John Bellairs' Lewis Barnavelt books in the "Kévin et les Magiciens" series.

"Tower" nomination

From Kalev Hantsoo:

The children's magazine Disney Adventures is having its annual book awards and The Tower at the End of the World is a nominee. The information is found in the Winter 2002 issue with votes due by February 15. Go vote!

Book Alert: 鏡のなかの幽霊

The Japanese edition of the The Ghost in the Mirror (loosely translated as Ghost inside of the mirror) will be published next March.

Evidence of Autumn

Jay Cook passes along word that dummies.com, through their daily travel e-Tips, began running a number of Halloween-themed tips October 11, including the following:

Book Alert: The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost

Lewis Barnavelt's legacy continues as Brad Strickland lists the next title on his website. The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost is due out summer the 2003. For now, The Tower at the End of the World is his latest release, with cover by illustrator S.D. Schindler.  Says Brad:

The next book (The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost) will be out, my editor tells me, in the summer of 2003 because Dial's rejiggering its publication dates so that Halloween books come out in summer.  Although John Bellairs' characters have run up against evil sorcerers, animated mummies, and ghosts before, they've never had to deal with a classic monster, like, oh, say, a vampire...until now.

Book Alert: La Pendule d'Halloween

The French edition of the The House with a Clock in its Walls, with cover art by Lalex, is to be published this October. This is the first book in the Kévin et les magiciens series.

Remembrances: Norbert Geier

Recent comments from Norbert Geier:

I knew John during the two years that he taught at the College of Saint Teresa in Winona and, if I remember correctly, I was Chairman of the English Department during his second year.

I don't recall that John talked about his family or much about his life in Marshall, Michigan. I do remember that he talked about the nuns in the parochial school, especially how they made the children practice life-saving maneuvers should the Russians deiced to bomb Marshall. The children had to practice hiding under their desks.

Meet the Dead Boy Detectives

The Dead Boy Detectives are Charles Rowland and Edwin Paine, two British schoolboys from different eras who are now ghosts. The characters were created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner during the "Season of Mists" storyline in the Sandman comics. Now the boys are being given their own adventure in Sandman Presents: Dead Boy Detectives by writer Ed Brubaker and illustrator Bryan Talbot:

Who Will Play the Cook?

We knew Professor Childermass liked to bake a thing or two but don't forget there's plenty of food in John's books, including Mrs. Zimmermann's cookies and that German restaurant Anthony and Miss Eells enjoy visiting.  And drink, too, such as Snake-Year Sherry.

Earlier this year we discovered that Bellairs fan and author Ursula Bielski was putting together a cookbook inspired by the works of John Bellairs. Yum!  At the time the book was still being written and she was in the process of finding a publisher.  She said at the time that she will see the project through to the end and if it comes down to it, she might even publish it herself.