March 13th, 2007 by Wendy McAuliffe
A literary prize for the best books based on blogs has been announced today, by self-publishing website Lulu.
The prize celebrates ‘blooks’ that have begun life in the blogosphere. Fifteen titles have been short-listed, including the much written about Frank Warren’s ‘My Secret: A Post-Secret Book’, which grew out of a blog that encouraged young people to mail in their secrets anonymously on a postcard.
Blooks are said to be creating a new genre of literature. The BBC website cites last year’s winning blook - ‘Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously’ - which has now sold over 100,000 copies and is being made into a film.
The 2007 Blooker is offering a total prize fund of $15,000 (£7,750 ) for winners in the three categories of fiction, non-fiction and comics. The overall winner - announced on 14 May - pockets $10,000 (£5,170).
While citizen journalism has received a great deal of press, the growing phenomenon of blooks is yet to be explored properly. The prize is certainly a step in the right direction.
