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Paramount Pictures has unveiled a second trailer for The Big Short film adaptation. The video embedded above features scenes with Brad Pitt as Ben Hockett, Christian Bale as Michael Burry, Ryan Gosling as Greg Lippmann, and Steve Carell as Mark Baum.

Here’s more from The Hollywood Reporter: “The actors are positioned as the collective David against Goliaths like Merrill Lynch, Chase and Lehman Brothers…Adam McKay directed the The Big Short, based on Michael Lewis’ book that chronicles the 2008 financial collapse following the mortgage loan crisis.”

According to The Huffington Post, the theatrical release date has been scheduled for Dec. 23. Follow this link to watch the first trailer. (via The Washington Post)

Paramount and Plan B plan to create a film adaptation of Michael Lewis’ 2010 bestselling title, The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine.

Actors Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, and Ryan Gosling will join the cast. Pitt will also serve as a producer. Filmmaker Adam McKay has signed on as the director and will work on writing the script.

Here’s more from Variety: “Lewis’ nonfiction tome tells the story of the build-up of the housing and credit bubble during the 2000s that led to the financial crisis of 2007-2010…Production start date is unknown. The book follows several key people who played a role in creating the disastrous credit bubble.”

Benedict Cumberbatch (pictured, via) has been cast to take on the title role for Marvel’s Doctor Strange film adaptation. According to The Hollywood Reporter, other Hollywood stars who were being considered for this part include three-time Oscar nominee Joaquin Phoenix, The Notebook actor Ryan Gosling, and Academy Award winner Jared Leto.

Filmmaker Scott Derrickson will serve as the director for this project. Screenwriter Jon Spaihts will oversee the script; the first draft was a collaborative effort between writers Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer.

Here’s more from Deadline: “Doctor Strange was hatched by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko during that Marvel Comics heyday of the early 1960′s. He’s a neurosurgeon who becomes Sorcerer Supreme, protecting Earth against magical and mystical threats with powers of sorcery, mysticism, and martial arts.” (via The Verge)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

So the release date for THE MONSTORE finally arrived!

Dude, I was bustin’ out!

OK, I wasn’t that hot to trot. After all, I had been waiting for three years. So my excitement was more, um, subdued.

But inside, I was like this.

And this.

And this.

But I soon found out Barnes & Noble wouldn’t be carrying THE MONSTORE.

At first, I thought it was no biggie.

I would overcome!

But then, I slept on it.

Somehow, I didn’t break down.

With a little help, I kept it together.

In fact, I had something to say to that brick-and-mortar behemoth.

So I rallied the troops.

And people went to bat for me. For me?!

They’ve even told me funny stories about how B&N has been ‘splainin’ the book’s absence. (Yeah, they got a lotta ‘splainin’ to do.)

They said: “It’s with a small publisher.”

“It has to be reviewed first.”

“It’s a Halloween title.”

So, maybe this means it will be there in October?

Doesn’t matter, though. My peeps got my back.

These peeps, too.

Yeah, the response to THE MONSTORE has been pretty insane.

Oops, not Bynes insane. Stone insane.

And the fun has only just begun.

Because, remember…

Ryan and I would like to say “thank you” for visiting my blog this year. Now go rock the Auld Lang Syne.

Yes, it’s finally here!

Congratulations to my great friend, picture book champion and critique partner, Corey Rosen Schwartz. And a round of applause for Dan Santat, whom I knew would be the perfect illustrator for this story.

My rating? Five stars, of course. (And I’m not just saying that. It’s a rollicking good read! Just ask the NY Times.)

Order your copy today!

IndieBound
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Special thanks to illustrator Kayla Skogh for the Photoshop help! (Check out her illustrative work, she’s amazing!)

My debut book is still 9 months away, but what I’m hearing from friends is that the promotion process is fraught with dilemmas and doubts. Yes, we managed to write a book, submit it and get it accepted for publication, BUT WILL ANYONE BUY IT? And what if some bookstores don’t even carry it?

Well, don’t worry. Ryan Gosling is here again today to calm your fears.

*Photo Credit: WENN.com

“Tara Lazar’s LITTLE RED GLIDING HOOD, with an icy twist on the familiar fairy tale, where Little Red is desperately searching for a partner in the upcoming doubles skating competition, to Heidi Kilgras at Random House Children’s, by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency (World).”

Thanks for making my announcement, Ryan. *blush*

It couldn’t have come on a better day!

This was a deal that required a lot of perseverance. It proved to me that writers should never give up on a story.

And I must say that I am thrilled beyond all beyond (is that even an idiom?) to be working with Heidi Kilgras, who has edited titles of industry legends such as Jane Yolen. WOWZA.

From the very beginning, Heidi had a particular illustrator in mind for this project. I hope to share that news with you soon because it’s pretty darn awesome!

Congratulations to all the writers and illustrators featured in PM today! In picture book news, Marilyn Sadler sold ALICE FROM DALLAS to Abrams Children’s and Susan Reagan sold PINGO AND PUFF to Hyperion Children’s.

And now, it’s time to PAR-TAY!

In 2008, I had the most nerve-wracking 20-minute drive of my life. My knuckles paled, my stomach gurgled, and my thoughts raced faster than the 35 MPH I could manage to clock on the highway. I was on my way to my first kidlit conference ever: the Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature One-on-One Conference. AHHHH! Somebody help me!

Thanks, Ryan. I know you would have, honey. But I digress…

I knew practically nada about writing for kids. I had slipped the first three pages of my middle grade novel into an envelope earlier that summer and waited patiently for the response. Thankfully, I was on vacation for two weeks of the final countdown. It made my vacation go by much more slowly. I recommend this tactic to anyone who needs to wait—go to a beach, plop a lounge chair in the sand, facing the ocean. Or facing Ryan Gosling in surfing trunks.

But when the vacation was over and the car hit our driveway, I jumped out and dashed to the post office. Awaiting me was a thick envelope, and remembering the drill from college admissions, I knew this meant a “yes”!

So off I went. I was so green. (Although I wore a cute purple top.) But when the event was done, I blogged all about it. Hopefully my notes help prepare you for this year’s conference. You can review them all here: RUCCL 2008.

But Tara, what does this all mean?

It means that the RUCCL 2012 Application is now available!

And guess who’s your morning “Success Story” speaker?

As Miss Piggy would say, “MOI!”

Yeah, I was pretty floored they asked me. Trinka Hakes Noble sent me an email saying, “I hope you don’t mind, but I put your name forward as our Inspiration Speaker for the mentee breakfast.  Would you be interested?”

Would I be interested? Are you kidding? Of course I am! Wow! Whoopee! Holy macaroni! Keeno Yaccarino!

Wait a second, what did I just agree to…? Pale knuckles and gurgling stomach again?

Well, I am hoping many of my blog readers will be accepted to the conference this year. Because not only do I want to see you succeed, I’ll need your help during my presentation. (Details to come. No, you won’t need to hold a barf bucket. Well, maybe. OK, don’t quote me on that.)

So polish up those manuscripts! You’ve got until July 2 to postmark them.

And if you have any questions about the conference, please ask away in the comments!

10 Comments on Rutgers University Council on Children’s Literature One-on-One Conference 2012, last added: 4/9/2012