The Key of Aramath

We recently received an email from a budding author who goes by the handle A.A. Riley who - besides being a big fan of John Bellairs and Brad Strickland - has attempted her own children's book, The Key of Aramath. The synopsis below is part of her press release:

More Books on Tape

We recently came across an old newsletter, the Talking Book Topics from January-February 1999, highlighting the then-recent books that were read to cassette and/or CD for the blind and physically handicapped. We were surprised to see three books of John's were listed in the mix:

• The Doom of the Haunted Opera, read by Erik Sandvold. 
• The Drum, the Doll, and the Zombie, read by Erik Sandvold 
• The Secret of the Underground Room, read by Christopher Hurt.

We would appreciate hearing more about these editions, if more is to be told (or heard).

Review: Face "Cheerful Tone And Unapologetically Anachronistic"

Book review: The Face in the Frost

Time Capsule: 1967

February, 1967: Prospero and Roger Bacon could sing the Dies Irae and apparently John Bellairs could, too.

Creepy Carvings in Wood

Something...rather someone...jogged my memory this week of raising the dead (don't ask), which in turn led to John Dee, which brought to mind that eerie engraving of him and the spectral woman in white in the English Churchyard. Chances are you may have seen the picture.  John Bellairs apparently did and described the engraving in a book read by Lewis Barnavelt [The House with a Clock in its Walls, 67-8].

All About Evil: Timothy Foulest

by Broteus Mitchell

Feb. 12, 2007

Guess Who's Coming To Film?

Reports have surfaced that a film adaptation of Edward Gorey’s The Doubtful Guest is in the works.  Who knew Gorey would win over Bellairs in getting one of their books adapted for the silver screen first?

Edward Gorey: The Doubtful Guest

It came fifty years ago - and to this day....

The Edward Gorey House is currently closed but reopens on Sunday, April 15, 2007, when it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of The Doubtful Guest [review] with special exhibitions of original illustrations, dolls and ephemera for one of Edward Gorey's most popular books.

About The Legion of Decency

We've noted over the years that the Bellairsia email inbox garners some interesting comments and questions. Enough time has probably passed to share this unexciting anecdote we received a few months ago - not because there was any sort of security issue but because we managed to lose it amidst everything else. It also proved to of us people were actually visiting the site – and not primarily always as Bellairs fans.

Book Alert: La Poupée et Le Zombi

February 15 is the release date for the new French language Johnny Dixon adventure, La Poupée et le zombi (titled, for some reason, without the tambour).

Time Capsule: 1649

January 30, 1649 - "Of the Witch-Finder, and the Troubles He Brought" reads the chapter title of a moldy manuscript tucked away within Barnavelt Manor, near Dinsdale in Sussex. Lewis Barnavelt learns of his magical ancestry: Puritans of olde believed strongly against witches and warlocks, leading some people to go into business as witch-finders - drifting through duchies and traipsing through towns, exposing men and women for practicing their evil sorcery.

Geoffrey Chaucer and the Internette

Anybody who has ever received chants of support from his peers that go something like, "Go Bellairs! Quote Chaucer!" (as John did) would undoubtedly enjoy the fact that said person named Chaucer has a blog. To be specific: Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog. Wife of Bath – eat your heart out. Looks like there are some Steppenwolf lyrics in there, too.

This is my birth-day; as this very day

Happy birthday to John Bellairs on what would have been his 69th birthday.

Grimoire: The Edge of Nightmare

Brad Strickland's website has announced the second title in his Grimoire series staring Jarvis Midion: Grimoire: The Edge of Nightmare will be published by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2007.

It follows Grimoire: The Curse of the Midions.

Memoriam: Ann LaPietra

Marshall, Michigan, and fans of John Bellairs lost a friend this week: Ann LaPietra, the owner of the kids' place bookstore in Marshall, died Wednesday, January 3, 2007. She was 73.