HisDarkMaterials.org

The Campaign against age banding, led by Philip Pullman, gained additional support as well-known Harry Potter author JK Rowling joined the online petition.

BookTrade reports: Philip Pullman will host Waterstone's Writer's Table this autumn. Launched earlier this year by Sebastian Faulks, The Writer's Table allows its curator to reveal some of the books and authors that have shaped and influenced their writing.

The Guardian reports: The practice of indicating suitable ages for goods bought by or for children is rarely the subject of controversy. Apart from the children themselves, who always desire whatever happens to lie in the age bracket above, most adults find such advice helpful in avoiding potentially dangerous or inappropriate items.

Barnes & Noble in McLean, Virginia will host an appearance by His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman on July 8. Pullman will be speaking at the Barnes & Noble beginning at 2p.m. with a book signing to take place afterward.

Pullman's new comic strip, entitled The Adventures of John Blake makes its first appearance Friday, 30 May. The DFC, published by Randomhouse, is bringing back the comics for children as Pullman and many other talents will set their adventures in motion in a weekly comic strip.

Pullman will be working with illustrator John Aggs in creating the comic strip.

See some artwork

Catch an interview with Pullman, Publisher David Fickling, and Illustrator John Aggs.

Read an article in the Guardian by Philip Pullman introducing the comic.

[...]The Adventures Of John Blake is the story of a boy on a sailing ship somewhere in the Pacific. It's an adventure story, plain and simple, but it's not an ordinary ship, and he's not an ordinary boy[...]

Sign up or Visit the official site to find out more.

Update

Download a preview of the comic strip [pdf file] from The Guardian

Publisher's Weekly posts a Q&A;with Pullman on his upcoming novella Once Upon A Time In The North, hosted by Donna Freitas.

Philip Pullman is the author of the bestselling trilogy His Dark Materials (Knopf) and two short spin-off novels, Lyra’s Oxford, and coming this April, Once Upon a Time in the North, which follows the adventures of aeronaut Lee Scorseby and reveals how he meets the armored bear Iorek Byrnison. We spoke with Pullman on the phone from his home in Oxford.

The Times Online has an exclusive interview with author Philip Pullman on the upcoming novella Once Upon A Time In The North.

Philip Pullman has a new target in his sights. After taking on the Catholic Church - and scoring a not inconsiderable victory, if sales figures for his bestselling trilogy His Dark Materials are anything to go by - he is now pitting himself against a new enemy: multinational corporations.

The Yorkshire Post reports:

Sitting behind a huge oak table surrounded by priceless literary treasures, Philip Pullman is in his element.

New Wales News reports:

Philip Pullman, internationally known author of the His Dark Materials novels, one of which has just been filmed as The Golden Compass, will be joining other writers and academics at Bangor University, 9 February, for a celebration of literature at Bangor, entitled Upon My Word! This will be Philip Pullman's first engagement at Bangor since his recent appointment as an Honorary Professor at the University.

Telegraph.co.uk holds an engaging interview with Philip Pullman regarding the interaction between environmentalism and storytelling.

The Oxford Mail spoke with author Philip Pullman at the London premiere. They touched about various subjects, such as The Book of Dust (“could be released in 2009”), Once Upon A Time In The North and a new untitled green companion novel about Will’s story.

In His Dark Materials terminology, the Gyptian way of life can continue.

Councillors won a standing ovation tonight (11 December) when they threw out plans to build flats on the site of an historic Oxford boatyard.

On December 9th - only two days from today - Philip Pullman will be on UK cinemas screens, live via satellite, at 4.40pm, broadcast from Oxford's Phoenix Picturehouse cinema to 17 cinemas nationwide. See www.picturehouses.co.uk for more information about this fascinating and insightful live discussion, as well as a full theatre listing. This live event will explore The Golden Compass movie adaptation, the author's literary inspirations, and spirituality and esoteric wisdom. A rare treat inside the mind of a great modern fantasy writer.

Full theatre listing

TimesOnline reports: The British author Philip Pullman has attacked leading American Catholics as "nitwits" after they called for a boycott of The Golden Compass, which has its world premiere in London tonight.

Philip Pullman visited the Barnes & Noble Union Square in New York City, which HDM.org staff member JParry was lucky enough to attend. His write-up of the event, including photos, follows below. The event was filmed by Barnes & Noble, and is available for viewing at Barnes & Noble media.