The Places You Will Go

The Book Makers Podcast: Virago Press

ABC Radio National has a new series (The Book Makers) that looks "at what goes on behind the pages; how a book gets into print, the work of the publishers, the editors and designers".

Virago

Here's the first segment, which features an interview with Lennie Goodings, publisher and editor of Virago Press (the publishing company dedicated to women's writing). Goodings, who has been with the company since day one (back in 1973) talks about the early days, the reasons why Virago was founded and why it's still relevant today.

I like what she says about how there should be people from all walks of life and backgrounds making decisions about what books get published as only in that way can stories represent all voices.

This ties in with what Chimamanda Adichie says in her TED address about the danger of a single story. Listen to her talk here.

A Conversation with Maurice Sendak

Maurice Sendak on Life and Living

Jennifer Ludden (National Public Radio)  interviews the famed author and illustrator of books for young readers, best known for 1964's Where the Wild Things Are.

The Guardian Books Podcast: Books for Christmas

Christmas books for kids and chefs

Julia Eccleshare discusses what childrens books would be a welcome Christmas present, including the new edition of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Plus, Susan Smillie tips the best cookery books this year. And Richard Lea talks to Richard Wrangham about how preparing meals helped humans evolve.

That Time of the Year, Again

It's 43 days to Christmas. Made your lists yet? Trying to figure out who's naughty and who's nice?

Should a good girl be rewarded with the latest Gossip Girls book or served with a stack of Austens? How about a subscription to Vogue? And what would Roger Sutton (left), editor-in-chief of The Horn Book magazine, say if you asked him?

By the way, I wouldn't say no to a subscription to The Horn Book Guide (I've already treated myself to the magazine).

God Speaks

I keep meaning to but forgetting to post about The Horn Book's podcasts. Yes! Now not only can you read Roger Sutton's essays and reviews online, you can also listen to him talk about children's books. Featured authors in the podcasts so far include Jon Scieszka [The Stinky Cheese Man] and M. T. Anderson [whose The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing won last year's National Book Award for young people's literature].

The Next Best Thing

Can't afford the RM400 ticket to watch Ian McKellen play King Lear in Singapore's Esplanade Theatre? The next best thing (sort of) might be to listen to him read Michelle Paver's Wolf Brother.

Go to the Guardian Unlimited's podcasts of the first five episodes here.

There will be 13 episodes in all.

Adele Geras: Telling Stories Her Way

The Guardian's World Book Day programme ended with a seminar about reading for pleasure in secondary schools. The high point was a talk by Adele Geras on her own experiences writing for children.

You can listen to the podcast of this hilarious, interesting and enlightening talk here.

Geras' latest young adult novel Ithaka has been longlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

World Book Day

World Book Day was celebrated in the United Kingdom and Ireland yesterday (2 March 2006).

To mark the event, The Guardian Unlimited held an online survey about readers' tastes in endings in novels. The results show that most people prefer to close their books feeling happy, and Pride and Prejudice seems to be a big favourite when it comes to novels with happy endings.

Read more here and here.

Other World Book Day celebrations included children's authors entertaining kids in The Guardian's Newsroom Theatre. You can listen to Malachy Doyle reading his picture book The Dancing Tiger; Ian Whybrow singing songs; and many more.