Wikipedia:WikiProject Novels/Outreach/Newsletter June 2007

Project news

• This newsletter was unfortunately delayed till now - my apologies for that - I needed to respond to a whole host of image challenges that appears on my personal talk pages. So, if you have uploaded non-free book covers that are being used under fair use terms, please add your own "Fair Use Rationale" to the images.

Member news

• The project has currently 236 members, 7 joined & 0 leavers since the last newsletter at the start of May 2007

Other news

• The Brothers Karamazov (nom.) was demoted from Featured Article status for concerns over sources, structure, and coverage/focus.
• The 2007 Wikipedia Selection for schools, targeted around the UK National Curriculum, included 39 novels. Volunteers at Wikipedia had suggested articles considered valuable and relevant for inclusion. See here and the WP Signpost news.

Novel related news

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. [1]

Shannara series purchased by Warner Bros The film rights to 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. [2]

• both items courtesy of Boylo (talk · contribs)

Special: Year in review, first Newsletter in June 2006

• The Newsletter was started on 14 June 2006 by Kevinalewis.
• Issue I in June 2006 informed us that the project had 88 members with 30 of them having joined after 1 May 2006. A year later the project had 236 members.
• The Collaboration of the Month was not yet running in 2006.
• New articles by 23skidoo on the Simon Templar as The Saint novels were mentioned in project news.

Current debates

• The {{Infobox_Book}} was protected so only administrators can edit it and there is a discussion going on over the release field in the template as the {{Infobox short story}} has already had this changed.
• Spoiler warnings debate affects also novel articles.

From the Members

Welcome to the thirteenth issue of the Novels WikiProject's newsletter! Use this newsletter as a mechanism to inform yourselves about progress at the project and please be inspired to take more active roles in what we do.

We would encourage all members to get more involved and if you are wondering what with, please ask.

Kevinalewis : ^{(Talk Page)}/_(Desk), Initiating Editor

Collaboration of the Month

• This month's Collaboration has been selected by popular vote and is A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Newsletter challenge

Last month's Work: A Story of Experience challenge was met by our new member Baby ifritah (talk · contribs) with a stub.

• The first person to start the article is mentioned in the next newsletter. This month's article is Pity is Not Enough by Josephine Herbst.