2009 Book Info

Posted by GregF on
Just talked to Scholastic today and got the current 2009 schedule --

It looks at this point like there will be a total of five books in 2009, three the young readers and two chapter books (potentially larger than the normal ones, but don't know yet) --

The readers would be out in January, April, and September, with the chapter books out in summer and fall. The hope is that between the buzz the readers are generating among the retailers (apparently, they are going to get into some big stores that the chapter books currently do not), the increasing sales of BIONICLE and the movie coming, and the chapter books being more of "event books", that chapter book sales will go up and we will be able to do a more extensive schedule of them in 2010. Scholastic does not want to abandon them, but sales continue to be in a trough for them, so right now the two is the best they can manage for the schedule.

I will still be doing them, but will probably also be spending some time on my own, non-LEGO writing, since the readers don't take much time to do.

Greg
Eranok
Original#1
Awesome! I can't wait for the bigger chapter books, thanks Greg :D .
~ShadowBolt~
Original#2
Sounds interesting. When you say that the level # readers will be in stores that the chappies aren't you mean stores like Wal*Mart and Target? Also, will the second chapterbook be kind of like a movie novelization?

Can't wait to hear from you how the sets, movie, and books will intertwine next year since that part is confusing me. I don't know the set release schedule for next year so I really can't guess Lego's plan. :P

~SB~
GregF
Original#3
Hi Shadowbolt --

We have not decided if one of the chapter books will be a strict movie novelization or not -- regardless, my guess is I would focus both books on second half story, rather than first half, but we'll see.

The readers, as they are this year, will be side stories that aren't essential to following the main story, since I don't expect BZP's 15 year olds to troop to the store to buy books written for 6 year olds.

Greg
Snoopy82
Original#4
Oh, good. I'd be pretty embaressed. :blush:

How long will these two books be? If there are only two, they have to convey ALOT of story.

-S82-
GregF
Original#5
I don't know yet -- right now, they are 128 pages, could go up to 160 pages if we feel there is enough story to warrant it. That's up to Scholastic to decide.

Greg
~ShadowBolt~
Original#6
So 2009 might be going to be like 2005? Where we know most if not all of the characters in the winter for the whole year?

I know it may seem odd, but I am going to buy the Level 3 readers. Mostly for the story that is in it (I know not to expect much) and the artwork. Will there be the artist doing them next year too?

I think that's all for now. :P

Thanks for the info,
~SB~
Toa of Kenn
Original#7
The chapter books will still be aimed at the current main age group, correct?
We can not really expect more detailed and complex storyline and writing, can we?
Oh I wish you could do books like you did with Time Trap - tell the story you want and not be tied to "advertise" the sets.... You know: You have to write about all Phantoka, you have to mention the Midak skybalster and what it does, the tools, the masks....


Bio D
Original#8
Yes, I sometimes think it a shame that the story has to bso directly intertwined with the sets.
Oh well. Guess that's what happens when you write stories about a toy line :P

Nice to hear some news.
GregF
Original#9
TK - The two chapter books would be, yes. The readers are, of course, aimed younger.

I can't really speak to the complexity of the writing this early, it's too soon to know. The original plan for the chapter books next year was to do 10,000 word books rather than 20,000 and make them simpler, so I am actually kind of glad we are with the larger book idea rather than doing more and shorter ones. What we will have to see with the readers is whether there is a younger audience for BIONICLE out there, and if so, can we transition them up to the chapter books or not?

Greg
Visorak-kal
Original#10
Saddening that there will be less chapter books as those are my favorite story medium, but sales are sales. Hopefully they will rise again and we'll be able to have a good number of books again.

Just curious, but you mentioned that you might also be doing some non-BIONICLE writing. What kind of writing do you like to do that's non-BIONICLE?

VK
Swert
Original#11
Very interesting.

Quick question, are there any plans in motion to include a novelization of the movie, and if so would that be one of the books in question, or just seperate from the series altogether? -Swert
~Sernakann~
Original#12
So if these younger reader books will probably be short stories instead of main story, will the web stories be the first-half main story?

~S~
Shadow-Nui
Original#13
So will we get any story in the first half of 2009?
~Vezerus~
Original#14
Shadow-Nui
So will we get any story in the first half of 2009?

Probably comics, but not sure.
Greg? Will we get comics next year?
Wrinkledlion X
Original#15
Of course we'll get comics, they're always popular.

Anyways, my personal preference would be that neither of the books are full novelizations. If there's no alternate way of getting the content in the movie, it could generate more demand. Plus it might be difficult to write out the entire non-movie story in one book... If you do have one of them as a novelization, though, it might make room for more web content, such as canon animations or an online game like the MNOLG... Which I'd recommend strongly as well.

(Especially if they're by Templar.)
Greivous's Malevolence
Original#16
I remember the good old days when there were 7 books (2004, the most book-filled year, with three books that weren't even in the comics, one based on a movie).

2 books will....unbearable. But hey, at least we'll have a movie.
LewaLew
Original#17
Great! Normally I would consider only two chapter books for the whole year to be WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too few, but seeng as they will probably be longer and there will be a movie, it will be accepteble... if the price doesn't get raised.
LewaLew
ChocolateFrogs
Original#18
GregF
I don't know yet -- right now, they are 128 pages, could go up to 160 pages if we feel there is enough story to warrant it. That's up to Scholastic to decide.
Greg
I'd hope we still get plenty of story info in the books. (rather than not having tangible write-ups on Bionicle.com)
Either that or the comics start to really get involved directly into the story again, like back in the good ol' days. (Instead of just showing some characters moving around, getting some story in there. At the least, I'll say I'm missing seeing full character bios in the centerfold.)

Hope you have fun doing some writing of your own. What kind of genre? How long? Will it appeal to a lot of BZPers? I can't wait!

-CF
Freeze
Original#19
Well, well. So there will be possibly larger books, and three younger ones?

Interesting.
Lhilertoro
Original#20
I really hope there will be some sort of new ways to provide more story for the first half.