Something About Kryptos

News of the Kryptos sculpture was passed on to us this week and it immediately reminded us of something Johnny Dixon might stumble upon – and then figure out while at Boy Scout camp (see The Mummy, the Will and Crypt) – and we thought others might enjoy its tale:

What A Treasure Hadst Thou!

Here’s an interesting story about author Michael Stadther’s book, A Treasure Trove:

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but Michael Stadther can top that: His illustrated children's book, A Treasure's Trove, could be worth just over $1 million—if you can solve the riddles. Hidden within the 116-page forest-world fantasy are clues to the location of 12 golden tokens, each of which can be redeemed for a jeweled insect brooch valued at $8,500 to $450,000. "Anyone who can read can solve the puzzle," says Stadther, 53, a lifelong treasure-hunt fan. "I've [always] wanted to do this."

An Announcement from Brad Strickland

Brad Strickland writing:

Brad Strickland has agreed to write more books in the series begun by John Bellairs. Following the death of John's son Frank, the copyright situation was complex and tangled. Through the efforts of John's and Brad's agent Richard Curtis, all of John Bellairs's surviving relatives (his former wife Priscilla, his sister Suzanne, and his brother Frank) have reached an agreement regarding copyright with Dial Books for Young Readers, clearing the way for new additions to the series. Titles have yet to be worked out, but this fall Brad will turn in the first new Bellairs series title since The Whistle, the Grave, and the Ghost. I hope the readers think this is good news!

All best,
Brad

Edward Gorey Art For Sale

Up for grabs on ebay this week are the original pen and ink illustrations by Edward Gorey from the interior of The Trolley to Yesterday. On one sheet of paper are the illustration of the pointing hand, candle and sword as seen on page 120 and, our favorite device, the tabergan from page 107. The seller notes that the piece was purchased from the Gotham Book Mart on April 22, 1995.

La Pendola Magica - e altro ancora!

Longtime Bellairs fan Lorenza Boisi recently wrote to us from Italy and helped fill in some of the gaps of the Italian editions of House and provided some thoughts on the books:

Whither Travel You?

Visiting Vinalhaven this summer? Heading to Hoosac? Partying with puffins on Lundy Island? Zephyring over to New Zebedee? We are interested in hearing about any of your summer vacation plans that include visits to locations or ports of calls mentioned in John or Brad’s books. Or let us know if your vacation ends up like Rose Rita’s in The Letter, the Witch and the Ring (but if it does...well...you’re on your own...). Anyway, once you’re returned write a review of the destination, include a picture if possible, and we’ll share it online.

Time Capsule: 1955

May 31, 1955 - Fifty years ago John Bellairs graduated from Marshall High School. According to the MHS yearbook, the Dial, he spent two years in the Latin club and the Chess club for all four years of high school. Dubbed "Genius John," the yearbook says his future included attending Notre Dame and studying pre-law. Only half of that came true: Bellairs did live in South Bend for four years but focused his attention on English literature and, during his senior year, becoming a minor television celebrity.

Something About Summer Reading

NPR has a list of librarian Nancy Pearl's options for kids - and parents – for reading this summer in the downtime between Harry Potter adventures. Her choices " range from new releases of proven classics to new, irreverent and witty fantasy books that cross boundaries of genre and age." Titles include long-time favorite The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and The Ear, the Eye and the Arm by Nancy Farmer, the tale of three children in a futuristic Zimbabwe.

Encouraging Boys to Love Books

 Author Jon Scieszka has spent his adult life trying to encourage young boys to read. The former teacher and the author of more than 20 children’s books says treating boys and girls the same in school just doesn’t work. Read part of an interview at NPR and excerpts from his literacy program or visit the guysread website.

Go, Bid Thy GothGirlsCloset

Longtime ebay seller gothgirlscloset has 26 John Bellairs books (and those later completed and written by Brad Strickland) for sale. She notes many titles are almost out of print in this format with the Edward Gorey illustrations. These are all first editions, with many books being first printings and are a mixture of ex-library and brand new books, most in very good to excellent condition! Definitely a look-see for any collector.

Book Alert: Le Crâne du Sorcier

The fourth book in the French Johnny Dixon series has been published: Le crâne du sorcier. It follows Le secret de la salle souterraine, published this February.

Great Reckonings In Little Rooms

We received an email earlier this month from a writer for the British magazine Dolls House and Miniature Scene who is working on a forthcoming article about the use of dollhouses in fiction. We’re told that John's The Spell Of The Sorcerer's Skull will be mentioned in the piece, in reference to the Childermass Clock:

Memoriam: Saul Bellow

Author Saul Bellow died April 5 in Massachusetts. He was 89. Bellow was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize for Literature, and was the only writer to win the National Book Award for Fiction three times.

Researching the Tropical Hut

When it comes to learning about some of John’s exploits in Chicago one of the better sources is his friend and fellow adventurer, Bob Yaple, who shared the names of some of the restaurants and bars that he and John visited during their graduate school days of the early 1960s.

Greetings From Barnavelt House

If you’re into the Sims games, stop by Mt. Geneva and visit Barnavelt House, a rendering partly inspired by the Cronin House in Marshall, Michigan by Sims fan Jen: