Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels/Outreach/Newsletter tip line

Welcome to The Novels WikiProject Newsletter's Tip Line. You are welcome to leave any tips/news below.

Naturally it isn't guaranteed that every tip will make it into the Novels Newsletter.

Shantaram to marry Princess
Gregory David Roberts, author of Shantaram, a reformed Australian convicted armed robber has just announced his engagement to Princess Francoise Sturdza of Switzerland, who he plans to marry soon. His life has changed dramatically for the best after the release of his first novel four years ago, which depicted his life in India after escaping from prison. A movie based on his novel is planned for production later this year, starring Johnny Depp in the lead role.  - Boylo (talk) 01:28, 8 October 2008 (UTC)

Shannara series purchased by Warner Bros
The Shannara Series by Terry Brooks have been picked up by Warner Bros. They plan to first develop The Elfstones of Shannara, the second book in the series as the opening movie and writers are now being sought for the adaptation. The first book The Sword of Shannara, was published in 1977 and was the first fantasy book to reach, and then top, the New York Times Best Seller list.  - Boylo (talk) 01:28, 8 October 2008 (UTC)

The Novel - Author Notes by kind permission of Gregory David Roberts
What is a novel? What are the elements that must be found in any piece of writing for it to be considered a novel? I think it fair to say that traditional definitions of the word “novel” work along these lines: A novel is a fictitious prose story of book length. In my view, a novel has six basic elements: 1) It must have a society of characters; 2) They must be undergoing transformations; 3) And those must be in the course of a sustained prose narrative; 4) The sustained prose narrative must be impelled by a plot; 5) And it must be unified by clearly discernible central themes; 6) And to the extent possible, it must be universalised by a complex architecture of allegorical and symbolical sub-strata. If I write those six basic elements into a single definition, I come up with this: A novel is a society of characters, undergoing transformations, in the course of a sustained prose narrative, which is impelled by a plot, unified by clearly discernible central themes, and universalised by a complex architecture of allegorical and symbolical sub-strata. Boylo 12:46, 2 July 2007 (UTC)

For April 2008 newsletter
I boldly made two inactive projects into task forces.
 * Chronicles of Narnia task force
 * Lemony Snicket task force

While individual editors were working on their own articles, the project pages had no activity. Without regular contributions to the talk pages, and the regular housekeeping of project maintenance, the two projects were not contributing at all to fostering a community. Within a larger group of like-minded editor, a community will form around a centralized talk page. Cheers! Wassupwestcoast (talk) 20:00, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

For May 2008 Newsletter

 * Maybe a good one idea to mention What I am reading at the moment as many members have not updated for awhile and others may not know of its existance. Boylo (talk) 07:15, 3 May 2008 (UTC)


 * On March 26th, 2008, Brandon Sanderson commenced work on the completion of A Memory of Light, the twelth and final novel in The Wheel of Time series by the late Robert Jordan. Boylo (talk) 07:59, 3 May 2008 (UTC)

For June 2008 Newsletter
Boylo (talk) 05:21, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
 * May 1, 2008, Danton Burroughs, who marketed and protected the work of his grandfather, Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs, died of a heart attack after been devastated by the loss of family memorabilia related to his father, John Coleman Burroughs and grandfather, due to a fire which destroyed a room in his family home in Tarzana, the day before.

Boylo (talk) 03:56, 4 June 2008 (UTC)
 * The Book Show is the world's only daily radio program devoted to books, writing and publishing. It features interviews with authors such as Salmon Rushdie and Ursula Le Guin and has a host of experts from various literary fields. Can be listened to live or via podcast, and has text interview transcript archives available for viewing.

For July 2008 Newsletter

 * The Margaret Atwood novel The Penelopiad reached FA status on June 29, 2008. It is the first article created through Articles for creation to become Featured.
 * To Kill a Mockingbird will be on the main page July 11.
 * I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings reached GA status on July 1 -maclean 01:51, 5 July 2008 (UTC)

For October 2008 Newsletter
Did you know facts? Would novel articles that made it to the DYK section of the main page be something to put in the newsletter? I always try and come up with a DYK fact for any new articles that I write. I had three novel article DYK's in August and if its something that would be useful for the newsletter I will remember to put them on the newsletter tip line if I create any in the future. --Captain-tucker (talk) 15:25, 8 September 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes post the articles that make it to main page and i will add a few to each newsletter, as it encourages others to submit DYK facts for articles.Boylo (talk) 03:45, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

A Did you know fact from the new article The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg appeared on the main page on 19 September, 2008. --Captain-tucker (talk) 09:16, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

For November 2008 Newsletter

 * WikiProject North of the Rio Grande has begun. WP:NRG is an educational project aiming to "improve a selection of articles on Chicano and Latino literature to featured article status (or as near as possible)."


 * Thought that this might be interesting...twist it so it sounds better though. :) &mdash; Ed 17   for President  Vote for Ed  15:38, 19 October 2008 (UTC)


 * On 26 September, Shea Ohmsford appeared in the DYK section:
 * [Did you know] ... that in the fictional 1977 novel The Sword of Shannara, Shea Ohmsford is the only descendant of Jerle Shannara left in the Four Lands, and therefore the only one left who can use the Sword of Shannara? &mdash; Ed 17   for President  Vote for Ed  15:38, 19 October 2008 (UTC)

I went through the DYK archives and found this:
 * On October 22, the expanded articles The Sirian Experiments and The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 written by Doris Lessing appeared on the main page in the DYK section.
 * ... that Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated 1910–13 Antarctic expedition was the inspiration for two of Doris Lessing's novels, The Sirian Experiments and The Making of the Representative for Planet 8?


 * On October 11, the new article Going, Going, Gone written by Jack Womack appeared on the main page in the DYK section.
 * ... that Jack Womack's 2000 alternate history novel Going, Going, Gone is set in two converging parallel versions of New York?


 * On September 29, the expanded article about the novel  'Thrones, Dominations'' written by Dorothy L. Sayers and Jill Paton Walsh appeared on the main page in the DYK section.
 * ... that the Lord Peter Wimsey novel Thrones, Dominations was started by Dorothy L. Sayers in 1936 and completed by Jill Paton Walsh over 60 years later?

--Captain-tucker (talk) 11:03, 23 October 2008 (UTC)

Good job, Captain! Wow...

Anyway, quick thoughts after peeking at your sandbox :) : Cheers! &mdash; Ed 17   for President  Vote for Ed  15:19, 28 October 2008 (UTC)
 * Voting has begun for coordinator
 * Pyfan removed his name from all positions at the Job Centre
 * "Indian writer Aravind Adiga won the Man Booker Prize for his debut novel, The White Tiger."
 * Peer Reviews are open for three articles still
 * add something about the collaboration of the month maybe?

Another DYK
 * On October 25, the new article A Real Basket Case by Beth Groundwater appeared on the main page in the DYK section.
 * ... that Beth Groundwater ' s A Real Basket Case was nominated for the Best First Novel Agatha Award in 2007?

--Captain-tucker (talk) 00:31, 29 October 2008 (UTC)

For July 2009 Newsletter
Add anything that you think should be in the newsletter here. Alan16 (talk) 19:01, 23 June 2009 (UTC)


 * You should add a note to the effect that the old style delivery inclusions and exclusions is back and should be updated by interested parties! :: Kevinalewis  : (Talk Page) /(Desk)  12:34, 1 July 2009 (UTC)

For Feb 2010
GA at The Last Theorem. Sadads (talk) 12:45, 11 February 2010 (UTC)