Edible book art contest

Mm, mm, good!

Are you a reader, creative, AND a wiz in the kitchen? Then I have the perfect event for you. An edible book contest! Start thinking about your favorite book--and whether you could turn it into something edible. Look for inspiration here.
http://books2eat.com/books2eat2006.html
http://colophon.com/ediblebooks/books2eat2005.html
Books will be showcased at MLA 2007 with the winner receiving a fabulous prize. With good participation, this could become an annual event--how festive! So come up with your best edible book art. We'll eat it in your honor! Please contact me with any questions, Ljackson@mt.gov.

Participate--it will be much fun. Thanks! Lisa, MLA 2007 Planning Co-Chair

Let's Talk Neil Gaiman...

Think you know Sandman?
How many different gods can you find in American Gods?
Where’s your lime?

And finally… are you ready for Neil Gaiman to make his first, and hopefully not his last, official visit to Montana? Librarians attending MLA this year get three chances to experience genre-conquering Gaiman: 10:30-Noon Intellectual Freedom and Comics, 12:30-2:00pm Lunch with the author, and at 2:30pm Public Lecture and book signing.

A sought-after guest author and public speaker, Gaiman consistently lectures and reads to capacity crowds. I had the immense pleasure to see Gaiman speak at last year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. I was one person in a sold out auditorium of over 5000 fans; all there to hear him, along with Stardust screen-writing partner Jane Goldman, talk about the transition of Stardust from book to feature film. Needless to say, his scheduled appearances at MLA will be less crowded than San Diego was. His presentations are enjoyable, intellectual, and comfortable; if you doubt this, I encourage you to check out some of the free videos available on his website… just to whet your appetites for what promises to be an amazing day at MLA: http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/Video/

In the meantime, what do we all do to gear up for a famous author visit? We’ll read tons of the author’s stuff, of course!

So, here is your mission: I am officially opening up this blog as a forum for your Gaiman literature recommendations, opinions, and suggestions. Give Montana librarians a month, and we’ll all be Neil Gaiman book experts.

(Note: for those of you who did not see the message on Wired—the Friday Hot Tub book discussion for this year’s MLA was announced by Karen Gonzales: Neil Gaiman’s Anansi Boys. Are you ready for hot water and hot discussion?)

My final question for today… Is Neil Gaiman ready to visit Montana?

~ This blog entry brought to you by Hannah Nash, an emissary of the MLA PR Committee, “See you all in Helena!” ~

Bid on Dinner with Nancy Pearl

Let's start the bidding on Nancy Pearl. You are bidding for the opportunity to take Nancy out to dinner on Thursday, April 26, 2007. If you win the bid, you or your group are responsible to take her out to dinner, pay for her dinner, and have her back by 7:45 for the Cates Event. The money the winning bider(s) pay goes to the Cates Scholarship Fund. We are encouraging people to form teams to give you more bidding power...

Remember - this is a fundraiser for Cates - so bid 'em up!