Vampire Wire

More Blogs for You to Follow & Foreign Cover Fabness

2012-01-27T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Passionate Bookworm seems to be a relatively new blog, but, wow, has it shot out of the gate. (The Husband, who is from Argentina, thinks "wow" sounds ridiculous. Say it several times in a row and you might agree.) I can't find any blogger bio, but I think it's a very cool looking blog with lots of cover art and a great color scheme and background graphic. Lots of reviews, giveaways, and a terrific Foreign Cover Friday feature. TPS shares the German cover (above) for the newly released Everneath and I really love the Czech cover for The Forest of Hands and Teeth (right).

What can I say about Book Lovers Inc.? I can say that the fantastic Stella of Ex Libris is one of the international crew of book bloggers who specialize as: Geeky Lover, HEA Lover, Latin Lover, Smutty Lover, Quirky Lover, Winged Lover, Cornered Lover, Danger Lover, Needy Lover, and Coffee Lover. So, whether you're faithful to one genre or you like to skip around, you're sure to discover something at Book Lovers.

Recent posts include a pictorial with explanation of the Winged Lover's bookshelves, The Needy Lover's Q&A and Giveaway with author Regan Summers, and The Smutty Lover's Bookish News of the Week. Check out the right sidebar for a list of all their contests!

I suffer from blog envy, but sometimes a blog's design and art is just so good that they wipe away all my grimy feelings and just make me happy. That's how I feel when I visit Kathy's I'm A Reader, Not a Writer. The lovely banner makes me think of being a kid and that pure magical joy of reading a story. Kathy is a stay-at-home mom, who says, "I read from a variety of genres but favor fairy tales, fantasy and clean romance. I try to read books that are clean & uplifting."

She has reviews, interviews, and contests, including the Young Adult Giveaway Hop that is cohosted by Amber of Down the Rabbit Hole. Over 200 blogs have joined in this giveaway hop.

Here are a few German book covers that you might like.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I think I'm just going to post nicer, gentler videos as a Friday special. (Don't expect this mood to last beyond this week.) Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Fantastic Blogs & Monsters GVDs, continued.

2012-01-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Every time I go searching around for information about books, I discover bloggers who are bright, interesting, and fun. I get sidetracked and inspired and am utterly impressed that so many book-lovers devote their time and talent to blogging.

Here are a few sites you might want to check out. These are all sites that constantly update their content.

Wastepaper Prose: As a reader, I enjoy Susan Robertson's blog, and as a writer, I really appreciate her "Author Insights" feature, where authors answer her questions about writing, careers, and work. This series is not only fun to read, but makes me think about my own writing projects. Susan also has contests (like this one for Cinder by Melissa Meyer) and she's an all around great supporter of books and authors.

Down the Rabbit Hole: Amber is an aspiring author and a fan of paranormal and young adult. She has lots of lively graphics, author interviews, contests, and fun features like this "The Time Will Come" meme, where she challenges readers to tackle a book that's been on their shelves for too long. Amber sides with unicorns, not zombies, and if you need something to lift your mood, check out her "Happily Ever Ending" recommendations.

A Cupcake and a Latte: Okay, just the title makes me smile. Wendy aka Mocha says she has "a passion for reading Young Adult novels, whether it be a delicious paranormal romance or a suspenseful dystopian." Oh, and also pink-frosted cupcakes and strong lattes. Wendy has mad organizational skilz, so the site is easy to navigate. She also has an awe-inspiring list of reviews. Her writing style is breezy, conversational, and a joy to read.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

It's still monsters and beauty. Yes, Gerard Butler once did "The Monster Mash" as Count Dracula! Color me amused.

Eminem, so expect some cussing with this fab video.

New Releases with Contests and Monstrous Beauty GVDs

2012-01-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here are a few new releases to check out at the bookstore and library.

Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton

Gorgeous cover art, right? If you like the dress, you can win a copy by entering the contest at Waterstone's for UK and Ireland residents.. (See other restrictions at the site.) "The dress will be handmade in the winner's size by fashion designer Sally Higginson and worth up to £700." You can read a review of Everneath at Novel Novice.

SUMMARY:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath. Now she's returned - to her old life, her family, her boyfriend - before she's banished back to the underworld . . . this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these precious months forgetting the Everneath and trying to reconnect with her boyfriend, Jack, the person most devastated by her disappearance - and the one person she loves more than anything. But there's just one problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who enticed her to the Everneath in the first place, has followed Nikki home. Cole wants to take over the throne in the underworld and is convinced Nikki is the key to making it happen. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back, this time as his queen.

BRODI ASHTON'S WEBSITE

Now, this is unusual -- Patricia Briggs' third Mercy Thompson novel, Iron Kissed, was originally released in 2008 in mass market paperback. It's been so successful that it's coming out as a hardback edition. But it's still got it's then-trendsetting tramp stamp cover art. If you've never seen Doug Knipe's nifty video at SciFiGuy, prepare to be amused.

SUMMARY:

When her former boss and mentor is arrested for murder and left to rot behind bars by his own kind, it's up to shapeshifting car mechanic Mercy Thompson to clear his name, whether he wants her to or not. And she'll have to choose between the two werewolves in her life-whether she wants to or not.

Read a sample chapter of Iron Kissed.

PATRICIA BRIGGS' WEBSITE

Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12) by Kresley Cole

I've posted this cover before. Yep, it still looks like a red-eyed Owen Wilson to me, but the title reminds me of Mike Myers' Lothar of the Hill People skit.

SUMMARY:

From the humblest of beginnings a millennia ago, Lothaire the Enemy of Old rose to power, becoming the most feared and evil vampire in the immortal world. Driven by his past, he will not rest until he captures the vampire Horde's crown for himself. The discovery of his Bride, the female meant only for him, threatens to derail his plot.

Elizabeth Peirce is a mere mortal, a glaring vulnerability for a male with so many blood foes bent on annihilating anything he desires. Yet soon he discovers his Bride's secret. A magnificent power dwells inside the fragile human, one that will aid his quest. But to possess that power, he will have to destroy her. Will Lothaire succumb to the torments of his past, or seize a future with her?

KRESLEY COLE'S WEBSITE

Third Grave Dead Ahead (Charley Davidson #3) by Darynda Jones

Everyone says that this urban fantasy series is really funny and sexy. If you'd like to win a copy, Heroes and Heartbreakers is having a contest for it that runs through January 30.

SUMMARY:

Paranormal private eye. Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she's drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because, every time she closes her eyes, she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the parthuman, part-supermodel son of Satan. Yes, she did imprison him for all eternity, but come on. How is she supposed to solve a missing persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hellbent on murder when the devil's son just won't give up?

DARYNDA JONES' WEBSITE

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton

I rather like the "girl with a really crappy job" theme in a lot of urban fantasies. The crappy jobs usually involve demons, ghosts, and corpses. You can read an interview with Courtney and enter a contest for an ARC of her new book at My Shelf and I. The contest ends in four days.

SUMMARY:

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined. Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven's warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell's strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night. She's been warned. Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information of Bastian's new plan to destroy Ellie's soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of them, the revelations of those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything - including herself. She'll be betrayed. Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be Hell to pay.

COURTNEY ALLISON MOULTON'S WEBSITE (very fun artwork here!)

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I'm continuing the monsters and beauty theme. This is a little gory, but really well done.

I'll post something soon about the new Underworld movie that just came out.

I was happy to see James Marsters, aka Spike, on Caprica. Spike is still one of my favorite vamps.

It always bothers me when I see convertible scenes and people's hair isn't fiercely blowing forward and they aren't shouting to hear each other. Because that's what happens in a convertible when you go over 5 MPH. No, realism doesn't work for pretty and romantic conversation scenes, so put them in a regular car.

Miscellaneous Monday: The Monstrous Beauty Edition

2012-01-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

Here's are a few interesting things I've come across.

The first is Elizabeth Fama's debut YA novel, Monstrous Beauty, which will be released on August 21. Terrific title and the story sounds terrific, too: The cover image fits the title: initially it's quite beautiful, but then you see the creepy ridges and texture of the mermaid's tale.

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

You can find out more about Elizabeth's book and her writing at her fun author website.

I don't know if I mentioned the Vampires for Guys site before, but it's worth checking out even if you aren't a guy. I like the description: "dedicated to the manly appreciation of vampire fiction.) Today Vampire Guy has a positive review of the Fright Night remake and says:

It seemed to have exactly the right balance of keeping the best of the original while changing enough things to keep it interesting. So “fright night” is a website and live Vegas act instead of a late night TV show. Peter Vincent is still a phony but in a completely different way. What I really liked was the way all the characters had a little more depth.

You can read Kate Krake's more in-depth compare and contrast review over at Vivid Scribe.

Colin Farrell makes a surprisingly good vampire – he’ll never be Chris Sarandon though. Maybe it’s the lack of cable knit sweaters.

I can certainly understand how putting Colin Farrell in a cable knit sweater would make him more terrifying -- but if it was an Irish fisherman's cable knit sweater, he'd be terrifying and romantic...a monstrous beauty.

Has anyone read The Native Star by M.K. Hobson? It's the first of her Veneficas Americana series and came out a few years ago. The Wild West setting for the steampunk is a refreshing change from all the big city steampunks. Here's the summary:

The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an influx of mail-order patent magics. Attempting to solve her problem with a love spell, Emily only makes things worse. But before she can undo the damage, an enchanted artifact falls into her possession—and suddenly Emily must flee for her life, pursued by evil warlocks who want the object for themselves.

Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock from New York City whose personality is as pompous and abrasive as his name, has been exiled to Lost Pine for mysterious reasons. Now he finds himself involuntarily allied with Emily in a race against time—and across the United States by horse, train, and biomechanical flying machine—in quest of the great Professor Mirabilis, who alone can unlock the secret of the coveted artifact.

Tatiana at Goodreads said:

"The Native Star, IMO, is the real deal, a well thought-out and original alternative universe romp. ..her magical system is one of the most interesting and complex I've ever seen. Hobson incorporates it into her story seamlessly. In the author's vision, magic permeates American history and all parts of people's lives in a very organic and realistic way...This mix of history, magic, adventure, gadgetry and love is right up my alley."

Okay, I'm adding this to my to-read list. The second in the series is The Hidden Goddess (April 2011), and The Warlock's Curse will come out this year. M.K. is diving into the self-publishing world with The Warlock's Curse. You can read more about her steampunk series and writing at her fab Demimonde website.

I really enjoyed designer/illustrator Lee Moyer's critique of why the cover for Native Star works and what went wrong with the cover for The Hidden Goddess didn't.

My own assessment is that the cover for The Hidden Goddess makes me think that an earwig crawled into the character's hair at night and ate its way into her BRAIN! But, since it's a steampunk story, the earwig is actually a tiny evil robot that will now be controlling her entire life in its quest for WORLD DOMINATION!! I know...it's a monstrously beautiful plot idea.

GRATUIOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is new videos set to songs with "monster" in the title.

Ghostly THE FADES, Feyish LOST GIRL, and ROYAL STREET E-Galleys

2012-01-20T10:31:00.000-08:00

Thanks to those of you who recommended Lost Girl, a Canadian urban fantasy series running on SyFy on Mondays at 10 pm. (SyFy calls it a "SyFy Original," because no one ever gave the people at SyFy a dictionary. Whatever.) As readers commented, the production values are cheezy. But it's quite fun with interesting characters and lots of action.

Lost Girl stars Anna Silk as Bo, a young woman who has no idea why she needs to suck the life-force out of others. She's living on the downlow, leaving a trail of corpses, including those of friends and lovers. A few strange members of the police force track her down and introduce her to the fae world, where she discovers that she's a succubus. No free agents are allowed in the fae kingdom, and she's got to choose between joining the light side or the dark side.

The smexy show has lively snark and hawt chicks wearing black leather boots and kicking ass. I especially liked Bo's self-proclaimed "manager," Kenzi (Ksena Solo), a crafty criminal hottie who recognizes immediately the benefits of befriending someone with Bo's powers. Kris Holden-Reid plays the vampire police detective, whose kisses are "like the Fourth of July" in Bo's mouth. (I don't know what a Canadian Fourth of July is, but I believe it involves poutine and beer.)

I ran across another new to the U.S. urban fantasy series, The Fades, on BBC America. Here's the summary:

“The Fades” is a coming-of-age fantasy drama showcasing the supernatural skills of a reluctant teenager named Paul (as played by Iain De Caestecker, formerly of “Coronation Street”). His best friend, Mac (Daniel Kaluuya, “Johnny English Reborn,” “Skins”), as well as his therapist, are completely stunned by the apocalyptic dreams that he’s been having. His twin sister Anna (Lily Loveless, “Skins”) is also unsympathetic of his socially awkward behavior.

As if things aren’t difficult enough, Paul is seeing the spirits of the dead (known as Fades) all around him. An embittered Fade finds a way to break the barrier between the dead and the living, aiming its vengeance at Paul, Mac and their loved ones.

Soon the fate of humanity rests in the hands of the two best friends, who already have enough trouble getting through the day in one piece, let alone saving the world.

The Fades is both moody and funny, with some very creepy imagery and spookiness. I struggled a bit to understand some of the accents, but I was delighted to see that Natalie Dormer (who played the pouty beauty Anne Bolyn in The Tutors) has a recurring role. The teens in this show aren't precocious or supermodelly -- they're real people with real issues and they've got to save the world with help from a few battlescarred adults.

Suzanne Johnson, who blogs at Preternatural, will soon have her debut urban fantasy, Royal Street, published by Tor Books. But you don't have to wait until April if you're a member of NetGalley. Egalleys are available there, so race over and request one. I'll be posting more about Suzanne's terrific post-Katrina themed novel as the publication date approaches.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

After the longest winter drought that I remember, it's finally raining. So my theme is rain, water, storms, lightening, any of that stuff. Have a great weekend!

This song will kills a large chunk of your brain cells, but the videos kinda fab anyway. Go figure.

Okay, I'm making it up to you with this beautifully edited vid to Adele's marvelous song.

Lots of Contests - Part One

2012-01-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I love free books. I'm always excited when the Post Office person tosses a big manila envelope over the gate. (I have to keep an eye out because Betty von Snoggle will occasionally chew up packages.) Here are a few contests for new books and ARCs.

Adult Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Goodreads has a contest for a signed ARC of Darker After Midnight (Midnight Breeds #10) by Lara Adrian.

Goodreads also has a contest for an ARC of Alpha Instinct, the first book in the Katie Reus' Moonshifter series. Here's the summary:

Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past.

Young Adult Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy has a contest for The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe, and this book is way at the top of my wish list.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Books By Their Cover is giving away a copy of Cinder, a steampunk retelling of Cinderella, by Melissa Meyer.

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

The Book Cellar also has a contest for Cinder and a Q&A with author Melissa Meyer, and Doug Knipe is giving away the Cinder audiobook at SciFi Guy.

YA Bookshelf has a contest for Tempest by Julie Cross.

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy... he's in college, has a girlfriend... and he can travel back through time. But it's not like the movies - nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there's no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors - it's just harmless fun. That is... until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he's stuck in 2007 and can't get back to the future...

You know, I hadn't been won over by the cover (assumed it was an angel book), but now that I know it's about time-travel, I want to read it.

If you live in the UK be sure to enter ProphecyGirl's amazing Three-Year Anniversary giveaway at Wondrous Reads. The contest winner will get nine books including: Fated by Sarah Alderson, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, and Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale. Here's a summary of Fated:

When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.

But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked.

Congrats on the anniversary, ProphecyGirl!

Wendy at A Cupcake and a Latte has an interview with Anna Banks and a giveaway for Of Poseidon.

Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish. What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts.

Okay, song lyrics from The Little Mermaid are now stuck in my head, which is not such a bad thing.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Well, since I've posted contests, my theme today is winners and losers. But doing a search for "win" gives me weird results, so...

Shall We Say Hasta La Vista to Patricia's Vampire Notes?

2012-01-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

I started blogging as a way to let readers know
about what was being published in the
vampire/paranormal fiction world. I think
it was my librarian soul wanting to get out the
word about all the neat books to choose from.

Patricia Altner, Patricia's Vampire Notes

Last week, among the brouhaha about the YA Mafia (and here and here) there was much discussion about the roles for authors and the role of bloggers. Most people seemed to think that authors and bloggers should be distinct from one another, and that bloggers are not authors' friends. Well, I'm not a big one for rigid rules (except that you shouldn't ruin a good champagne by using it in mimosas), and I didn't see the sense in these rules.

In my half-decade of blogging, I've gotten to know several reviewers on a level that goes beyond "please read my novel, thank you." I've learned their opinions about books, something of their real life, and a little about their other interests. I've come to trust them, like them, and care for them. When they stop blogging, I miss them. When I've been worried, I've even stalked them across international borders (that's you SciFi Guy!) to make sure everything's okay.

In the early days, before the huge vampire/paranormal trend and the thousands of blogs dedicated to the genre, Patricia Altner was writing thoughtful, thorough genre reviews at Patricia's Vampire Notes. Patricia, a former librarian, treated the paranormal/urban fantasy books seriously, and had even written a guide to them, Vampire Readings: An Annotated Guide (1998).

I can't remember exactly how we became acquainted. I probably wrote to her and asked, "Can you review my book?" She liked my writing and "got" what I was trying to do. We've exchanged many emails over the years. After getting multiple rejections for my YA manuscript and being told to give up on it, I shared it with a few trusted readers, including Patricia. She loved it and encouraged me. That manuscript became Dark Companion, which will be published in July.

When debut authors were trying to figure out how to promo their books, I often sent them to Patricia because she's always supported new authors as well as established and famous authors. (Yes, she's interviewed Stephanie Meyer and Charlaine Harris.) She never became involved in online shenanigans, but was always had a librarian's voice, more concerned with creating a calm place to read than drama.

Patricia was never really one for self-promotion. When she ran contests on her blog, they were simple. She didn't constantly ask for followers or links or even reviews when she put out an updated edition of her book. She was always in it for the love of the genre.

After her many years of blogging, Patricia's going to take a break. She'll still post occasionally at author Michele Hauf's terrific VampChix site, as well as her Vampire Readings website, a directory of vampy books. She also has a family blog, The Traveling Altners.

She has certainly earned it. But I will miss her. But I'm not saying good-bye, only hasta la vista -- we'll see you later, Patricia! Thank you for all you've done for book writers and book lovers. The current lively state of bloggers/reviewers wouldn't be here without the foundation that you helped establish.

You can read my interview with Patricia here.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme for today is partings -- saying goodbye, or adieu, or so long, or see you later.

I don't especially like the overlay of images, but I do like the sentiment.

LOST GIRL Fey Series & Happy Birthday, Martin! GVDs

2012-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

As a general rule, I'm disappointed with the SyFy Channel, and not only because I have to use the stooopid "syfy" spelling that their branding geniuses thunk up. I mean, these are the people who decided to remake a terrific paranormal series (Being Human) that was still running and already in English. Really? Really? (If you haven't watched the BBC's Being Human, go out and rent this awesome vampires-werewolf-ghost show.)

Okay, we all know I'm cranky, but I'm not so cranky that I'll completely write off SyFy, especially when it will be running Lost Girl, a series that's been running in Canada for two seasons already. The show premieres tonight. SyFy doesn't bother having an episode summary, or even a series summary, but I found a review at BlogCritics by Michelle Alexandria:

Anna Silk is Bo, a Succubus raised as a human. She has no idea where she comes from or what she is. The world doesn’t know her and she doesn’t know the world. That is until she makes the mistake of saving a human Kenzi (Ksenia Solo) from being date raped. This action has repercussions because you can’t just leave dead bodies around town without someone noticing. Turns out there’s a whole other world out there made of of Fae.

The Fae are a mixed group of “supernatural” species. In this world everyone has to take a side - you are either for the light or the dark, no independents allowed...

Most other reviews mention that Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans might enjoy this series and that it's got a little snarkiness and a little sexiness and a little kick-assness and a little fae/human political intrigue. So I'll watch it.

Here's the trailer.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, here are videos of some of my favorite characters who make the paranormal/supernatural world more thrilling.

Gina Torres is always terrific, especially when she was sexy, kickass Zoe Washburne in Joss Whedon's Firefly and Serenity.

I'm crazy about Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) of Doctor Who, who went from being a doctor to saving the world...a couple of times.

Bonnie Bennett (Kat Graham) is the girl who discovers she's a witch on The Vampire Diaries. I'm still catching up on this series.

Annie (Lenora Critchlow) of Being Human is my favorite ghost ever. The clip at the beginning of this is from Misfits and there's a little cussing. Do I have to warn you guys about cussing? I have no idea.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall: YA Cover Love

2012-01-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

I am digging the trend of covers with reflecting images.

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee (to be released July 17)

I was immediately intrigued by the up-is-down and down-is-up cover for this ghosty story. It's just the right amount of odd and the colors are somber, yet rich.

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications (again!) and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home and school. She refuses to be daunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom, or that her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth. Soon reality and fantasy meld into one, till Rinn finds it nearly impossible to tell the difference. When a malevolent force threatens the lives of everyone she cares about--not to mention her own--she can't help wondering: who should she really be afraid of?

JEANNINE GARSEE'S WEBSITE

Two Truths and a Lie (The Lying Game #3) by Sara Shepard (to be released February 7)

I think this cover is simple and elegant. I love the sharp contrast between the dark blue background the the pale girl in the white top. The title at center draws you to the center and there's a great sense of balance in the cover art.

Summary:

Sutton Mercer watches from the afterlife as her long-lost twin, Emma Paxton, takes over her identity to solve her murder. But after ruling out her early leads, Emma still hasn’t found Sutton’s killer. A lot of people wanted her dead—but one name keeps popping up: Thayer Vega. When the gorgeous and mysterious Thayer returns to town, Emma has to move fast to figure out whether he’s back for revenge…or if he already got it.

The Sharp Time by Mary O'Connell (November 8, 2011)

If I saw this cover in a bookstore, I'd pick up the book immediately. It's gorgeous and makes you wonder, is she look at something or wait for someone? The summary interests me, too, because I connect with teenage anger than with teenagers who want to be princesses. But that's just me.

Sandinista Jones is a high school senior with a punk rock name and a broken heart. The death of her single mother has left Sandinista alone in the world, subject to the random vulnerability of everyday life. When the school system lets her down, her grief and instability intensify, and she ponders a violent act of revenge.

Still, in the midst of her crisis, she gets a job at The Pale Circus, a funky vintage clothing shop, and finds friendship and camaraderie with her coworker, a boy struggling with his own secrets.

Even as Sandinista sees the failures of those with power and authority, she's offered the chance to survive through the redemptive power of friendship. Now she must choose between faith and forgiveness or violence and vengeance.

MARY O'CONNELL'S WEBSITE

The Selection by Kiera Cass (to be released April 24)

I love the multiple reflected images and the colors and textures on this cover. I'm also somewhat fascinated by the distortion, making the model's lower half way out of proportion with her torso. It's that "models on stilts" thing that Tyra Banks loves. (Of course, Tyra is insane, but that's another story.)

Summary:

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

Will she choose Maxon or Aspen? I hope there will also be a third rival for love named Spokane. He wears flannel shirts, runs a cafe, and does poetry slams under the name "Spoke-man."

Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3) by Rachel Hawkins (to be released March 13)

This image is rather clever, showing the duality of the character's life. I think it could be better executed, though. The reflected image of the girl in the uniform shows more vitality than the girl with the sword...but that may be because the model had to stay still to keep the cat calm. Cats are notoriously bad models.

SUMMARY:

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident.

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

RACHEL HAWKINS' WEBSITE

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is mirrors, images, reflections, any songs with that in the title.

Okay, I couldn't find any others, so here's a multifandom vid. Have a great weekend!

It's in the Eyre

2012-01-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

I've been working on my upcoming novel, Dark Companion (Tor Teen, July 2012) forever and the story is an homage to Jane Eyre, which I first read when I was 12 or 13 and have reread many times since. But I'm not the only writer with a novel influenced by the themes in Charlotte Bronte's classic gothic. Here are just a few.

The Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margot Livesey
January 24, 2012

SUMMARY:

When her widower father drowns at sea, Gemma Hardy is taken from her native Iceland to Scotland to live with her kind uncle and his family. But the death of her doting guardian leaves Gemma under the care of her resentful aunt, and it soon becomes clear that she is nothing more than an unwelcome guest at Yew House. When she receives a scholarship to a private school, ten-year-old Gemma believes she's found the perfect solution and eagerly sets out again to a new home. However, at Claypoole she finds herself treated as an unpaid servant.

To Gemma's delight, the school goes bankrupt, and she takes a job as an au pair on the Orkney Islands. The remote Blackbird Hall belongs to Mr. Sinclair, a London businessman; his eight-year-old niece is Gemma's charge. Even before their first meeting, Gemma is, like everyone on the island, intrigued by Mr. Sinclair. Rich (by Gemma's standards), single, flying in from London when he pleases, Hugh Sinclair fills the house with life. An unlikely couple, the two are drawn to each other, but Gemma's biggest trial is about to begin: a journey of passion and betrayal, redemption and discovery, that will lead her to a life of which she's never dreamed.

MARGOT LIVESEY'S WEBSITE

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
March 27, 2012

SUMMARY:

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own

EVE MARIE MONT'S WEBSITE

Ironskin by Tina Connolly
Fall 2012

No cover art yet for this steampunk retelling of Jane Eyre, which will be released by Tor Teen, my publisher, so I'll definitely try to get a copy of this for a contest here and invite Tina for a Q&A.

SUMMARY:

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask. It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.

TINA CONNOLLY'S WEBSITE

Jane by April Lidner
October 11, 2010

SUMMARY:

Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

APRIL LIDNER'S WEBSITE

Jayne Slayer by Charlotte Bronte & Sherri Browning Erwin (this is a mashup that includes Bronte's original text)
April 13, 2012

SUMMARY:

Jane Slayre, our plucky demon-slaying heroine, a courageous orphan who spurns the detestable vampyre kin who raised her, sets out on the advice of her ghostly uncle to hone her skills as the fearless slayer she’s meant to be. When she takes a job as a governess at a country estate, she falls head-over-heels for her new master, Mr. Rochester, only to discover he’s hiding a violent werewolf in the attic—in the form of his first wife. Can a menagerie of bloodthirsty, flesh-eating, savage creatures-of-the-night keep a swashbuckling nineteenth-century lady from the gentleman she intends to marry? Vampyres, zombies, and werewolves transform Charlotte Brontë’s unforgettable masterpiece into an eerie paranormal adventure that will delight and terrify.

SHERRI BROWNING ERWIN'S WEBSITE

GRATIOUTOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is air, of course! This one is too schmatzy.

This one is too corny.

This one is too saccharine.

And this one is just right.

Secrets Uncovered About the YA Mafia!!

2012-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

Now, because growing up with my family was like being raised in a PIT OF VIPERS, there's nothing I like better than inflamed emotions, ranting, unjustified accusations, shifting alliances and paranoia. Naturally, I'm delighted whenever I hear that an author has gone entirely off the rails and written hundreds of scathing comments online to perceived enemies. I think, "There but for the grace of my evening glass of French rose' go I!"

Many book bloggers and authors call for peace and understanding, ignoring the fact that it's all a lot of fun -- all these emotions run amok! All this exciting intrigue! So, no, I'm not for peace and understanding. I'm for the craziness.

These skirmishes happen with delightful regularity. The gist is usually a blogger writing, "I hate your book and you suck!" and an author responding, "Your stoopid and I am a semi-published author and you are a doodiehead and I'm going to tell the Library of Congress NEVER to give you a copyright!!!"

And then the blogger writes, "What about freedom of speech? You are trying to censor me and now I can't become a famous author if the Library of Congress won't give me a copyright!!!!" And then the blogger-reviewer tells her friends to attack the author and they say, "Authors should NEVER comment on reviews because we have freedom of speech and they don't!"

And authors say, "Hello? You published it on the WORLD WIDE WEB so it's not exactly a private document," and have their friends attack the blogger because the blogger is a doodiehead who should never be published.

And everyone has an amazing time being part of this excitement which is so much better than paying attention to your boring microbiology professor or working on a spreadsheet or doing the laundry.

I don't know how the latest brouhaha started (does it matter?) but it involves something called a YA Mafia that looks out for the interests of its author-members. People are saying the YA Mafia doesn't exist. Yeah, and that one nice gentleman I temped for once at a major construction biz wasn't a made man. (He just wanted me to sit at the front desk and he let me read novels all day.) Anyways, of course there's a YA Mafia! I've been trying to get in it.

In fact, here's the application.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Since these blogger/author contretemps are all about the girls, today I'm featuring fab girls for my GVDs.

The Joy of Ranting & Stacia Kane's SACRIFICIAL MAGIC

2012-01-09T10:09:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm going over Happy Hour at Casa Dracula, my first novel, to get it ready as an audio read. I'm tweaking and editing and second-guessing myself. So it was very reassuring to find a new review from A Buckeye Girl Reads today:

Happy Hour at The Casa Dracula was just pure fun. It's I loved that the villains were so great not to like, the hero wasn't your typical ego centric hero, and that the secondary characters were lovable and became instant book friends...so I'll just say again how much I loved this book. If you are looking for a different kind of paranormal romance, then look no further. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

A Buckeye Girl reviews urban fantasy, paranormal romance, YA, chick lit, "and everything in between," and I really like her meter rating system which scores every book on fun categories such as Crush Meter (how much wants to make the hero her book boyfriend), Sizzle Meter (does the romance sizzle?), Sidekick Meter (are the friends entertaining?), and my absolute favorite, Cheesy Line Meter, because she says, "I mainly use this in historical/contemporary romances because the characters sometimes have these wonderful cheesy lines that they say to each other." Yes, cheezy is misspelled, put the cheezy spirit is celebrated!

Stacia Kane, author of the terrific Downside Ghosts series, has a righteous rant on her blog today about authors who react to negative reviews. Go and add your opinion!

In the past nine days or so the internet–at least the writer/reader part of it–seems to have gone kablooey. Specifically, the writer part of it, in that we’ve had a rash of writers deciding it’s their place to tell readers A) How to review books; B) What is and is not okay to say or think; C) Why their opinion is totally wrong; and D) whatever other ridiculous shit they come up with.

Stacia's just shared the new cover art to Sacrificial Magic, the fourth book in her urban fantasy series. I devoured the first three and can't wait for this one, which will be released in March. Here's the summary:

When Chess Putnam is ordered by an infamous crime boss—who also happens to be her drug dealer—to use her powers as a witch to solve a grisly murder involving dark magic, she knows she must rise to the challenge. Adding to the intensity: Chess’s boyfriend, Terrible, doesn’t trust her, and Lex, the son of a rival crime lord, is trying to reignite the sparks between him and Chess.

Plus there’s the little matter of Chess’s real job as a ghost hunter for the Church of Real Truth, investigating reports of a haunting at a school in the heart of Downside. Someone seems to be taking a crash course in summoning the dead—and if Chess doesn’t watch her back, she may soon be joining their ranks.

Damaged, troubled Chess Putnam is easily on of my favorite urban fantasy heroines. I'll try to get Stacia here for a giveaway and Q&A when her book is released.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme today is new videos. Talking bout troubled heroines, Faith is still one of my faves.

This Selene tribute is kind of awesome.

Books That Should Be Judged By Their Cover

2012-01-06T11:13:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, I had a quirky idea for a non-fiction project so I searched around online to find possible publishers. One of the big surprises was discovering Quirk Books, a book packager. What's a book packager? Well, say there's a popular trend...like Jane Austen books and there's another popular trend, like zombies. A book packager might mash-up these trends and then hire a writer to come up with a Jane Austen zombie book.

(Okay, you know how I feel about these "concept" novels, but there's no arguing with their success.)

Or say you're a writer and filmmaker who collects fascinating, weird old photos and you want to write a story around them. This is not your ordinary novel and would require specialty printing and high production values, like gorgeously printed Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. (If you love photography, visit his website to see some wonderful pics.

Great covers are essential to these books because the books are not merely stories, but objects to enjoy in and of themselves. Well, I'm a girl who loves a deckle-edged page and beautiful typeface, and I don't think picture books should be just for children. Illustrator Scott McKowan's cover of Quirk's upcoming release, The Thorn and the Blossom (above) by Theodora Goss is quite lovely and I'll look for the book the next time I go to the bookstore.

SUMMARY:

One enchanting romance. Two lovers keeping secrets. And a uniquely crafted book that binds their stories forever.

When Evelyn Morgan walked into the village bookstore, she didn’t know she would meet the love of her life. When Brendan Thorne handed her a medieval romance, he didn’t know it would change the course of his future. It was almost as if they were the cursed lovers in the old book itself...

You can open the book in either direction to decide whether you’ll first read Brendan’s, or Evelyn’s account of the mysterious love affair. Choose a side, read it like a regular novel—and when you get to the end, you’ll find yourself at a whole new beginning.

Visit Theodora Goss's website. Her name sounds like a character from an Evelyn Waugh novel.

By the way, if you'd like to blog for Quirk Books, they're looking for a few bloggers who'll chat about things bookish on their fun site.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I'm watching the last final episodes of Battlestar Galactica, and I had no idea this series was so good. It's bittersweet saying goodbye because I want to know what happens, but I'll miss all the awesome characters and great stories.

I'm Baaaack! Awesome Stuff: MISFITS on HuluPlus & Amazon ACX

2012-01-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a terrific time over the holidays! I was cheered by news of a great freelance writing gig that will keep me busy for the next few months while I wait for my next book deal and the release of Dark Companion on July 3. Speaking of which, I announced the winners of my ARC contest, Kelly H and Lelelia, on my author website. Please subscribe to my website's blog to automatically be entered in future contests.

Great news! I was able to get my audio book rights reverted back to me (my publisher had owned them) and I'm using Amazon's fantastic new audiobook program, ACX, to bring my Casa Dracula series out as audiobooks. (Neil Gaiman is narrating all his books through ACX and Maria Lima, author of the Blood Lines books, just told me she's doing the same!)

Marvelously funny actress and comic Deanna Moffitt will be narrating my books. Deanna has trained and toured with famed Second City and she's absolutely wonderful as snarky, hilarious, cheerful Milagro. We expect the audiobook to be available by Spring.

The best present I got for Christmas was a Roku streaming player, so I can watch shows from HuluPlus and Netflix on my television. This kept me entertained during all the football bowl games. I'm able to geek out and watch scifi flicks, and I discovered Misfits, a sci-fi series from the UK, on HuluPlus and got absolutely hooked.

Misfits follows five outsiders on community service who get struck by a flash storm and lumbered with special powers.

Hard as nails Kelly (Lauren Socha) can suddenly hear people’s thoughts, shamed sporting hero Curtis (Nathan Stewart Jarrett) discovers he has the ability to turn back time when he regrets something, and party girl Alisha (Antonia Thomas) can send people into a sexual frenzy when they touch her skin. Even painfully shy Simon (Iwan Rheon) can make himself invisible when he feels he’s being ignored, which makes it all the more hard to swallow for smart aleck Nathan (Robert Sheehan), who seems to have been unaffected, much to his dismay.

Unlike their more conventional counterparts, our misfits don’t swap their ankle tags and mobile phones for capes and tights. Instead, they discover what a pain in the arse life can be when you’re stuck with a super power you didn’t want.

These superheroes aren't nice, well-behaved people. They're the sorts of cussing, drinking, partying, sexing, morally-compromised characters who end up forced to do community service. So when you find yourself caring for them, when they show true bravery and loyalty, it means so much more. I love love love this show, but I suspect a lot of people will find the sex and nudity, drugs, and language crude and offensive. And, oh, yeah, lots of people die pretty gruesome deaths. Season Three just started and runs on Monday nights on HuluPlus in the US.

Here's the first season trailer. Some cussing and crudeness.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Here's a video for my favorite new series, Misfits.

Some of you Eric Northman fans were probably missing new videos, and this one was just uploaded.

I've finally watched a few episodes of The Vampire Diaries. I'm not quite hooked, but I am getting more interested.

Here's a moody multifandom vid. Tomorrow I'll try to have cheerier songs.

Holiday Gratuitous Videos

2011-12-23T09:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, I've rented the first season of The Vampire Diaries and I'm finally watching it. I'm not hooked yet, but I do see the potential that everyone's talking about. I was surprised to see that Damon isn't bad in a cool way, but in a really evil disturbing way -- a nice throwback to old vamp traditions. The actors all look like they should be in graduate school, not high school, but that actually gives Elena an interesting maturity. She "plays" older than Stefan, who obviously has spent the last 100 years not picking up any social skills.

Eternal life should be good for something other than reeling off dates in a high school history class. Also, has anyone who's written and/or cast this show seen what actual high school football players look like? Here's a hint: they're taller and bigger than the girls in their class. But we'll see where things go.

My favorite moment so far: when Caroline plaintively asks Damon if he's going to kill her and he answers, "Yes, but not yet." You see that she's just a girl and he really is a monster.

Here are your holiday videos! Have a great Christmas...with or without zombie invaders.

I apologize for inflicting Kenny G on you, but I like the video anyway.

I miss Rose Tyler.

Have a Very Batty Christmas!

2011-12-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

Illustrator and author Jeff Berg wrote to tell me about his children's book, Mrs. Claus & the Batty Christmas. Jeff says, "I wrote it for my daughter who asked me on Christmas morning 'Dad, how do vampires get their presents if their up all night?'"

Good question and I'm glad that we'll finally know the answer! You can learn more about Jeff's Christmas treat for his kids and enjoy some of his fun and lively illustrations at the Batty Christmas website.

Want a great and FREE ebook to dive into over the holidays? Amazon is offering a free download of the very popular Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. Publishers Weekly gave this young adult paranormal a starred review and said:

Down-to-earth mathlete Jessica Packwood is completely horrified when, a few months shy of her 18th birthday, a Romanian named Lucius Vladescu shows up on her doorstep, claiming that he and she are vampire royalty betrothed to each other since infancy—what's worse, her adoptive parents verify the betrothal story and explain that her birth parents identified themselves as vampires, too. Fantaskey makes this premise work by playing up its absurdities without laughing at them, endowing Jessica with a coolly ironic sensibility and Lucius with old-world snobberies that Jessica's girlfriends find irresistible.

I've been wanting to read this book since I read the first rave reviews, so I'm going to try to download it to my Nook. I wanted to add the cover graphic here, but Blogger is being balky. You can visit Beth's website to learn more about her series.

GRATUITOUS HOLIDAY VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Some are old and some are new but all are holiday themed!

Okay,it's not a Christmas song, but it was made for the Christmas season.

I usually don't post slideshows, but I admire all the labor that has gone into this obsessed fangirl video. I can practically feel the glitter swirling around my brain.

Since I'm doing slideshows, check out this one to this odd, compelling "I'd Like You For Christmas" by Julie London. I've never heard this song before. It makes me think of mod London, late night parties, ennui, and smexytimes between girls with cat-eyeliner and sequined dresses and suave guys in narrow suits.

Christmas Shows & Movies

2011-12-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

I always like watching Doctor Who during the holidays, because there's a tradition of Christmas going terribly wrong (alien invasions, zombies, killer Santas) and I also like Supernatural's bittersweet Christmas episodes, where the two Winchester brothers try to celebrate in their own way, which is usually in a shabby motel room.

I'm also a sucker for holiday movies and most holiday movies are technically supernatural/paranormal stories. Here are a few of my favorites, in no particular order.

Elf: Will Farrell and director Jon Favreau created this unexpectedly unapologetically sweet confection about a human child raised by elves who goes to find his biological father in Manhattan. There's so much to love about this movie, from Bob Newhart's dry Papa Elf to Peter Dinklage as an arrogant children's author. Farrell's enthusiasm about things like revolving doors makes you realize just how we take for granted too many fabulous things in our everyday lives. SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT: Elves.

The Bishop's Wife: Cary Grant is at his warm, charming best as a gorgeous angel named Dudley who visits a bishop (David Niven) who's beginning to waver in his convictions about building a cathedral that honors God, not his rich benefactors. Loretta Young is the bishop's wife, and when Dudley shows up, her own convictions about her marriage begin to waver. Note to heaven: don't expect sexy angels to solve marital problems without some mayhem. I heart Monty Wooley as the professor. This movie is in the public domain, so it runs all the time on TV for free, but is not readily available as a DVD. SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT: Super hawt suave angel.

A Christmas Story: No one expected this little movie to become such a part of the Christmas tradition. The title is modest -- it's a Christmas story -- and their are no big names in the cast or flashy special effects. It's just a story about an everyday family -- they don't even have last names -- who has the eccentricities you'll find in all families. Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) wants a BB gun with an innocent passion. Darren McGavin is delightful as his father, a man with a temper and a good heart. They don't have to express their love to have you feel it. And who can forget the double-dog dare? SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT: Darren McGavin also starred in the groundbreaking paranormal Nightstalker series, which inspired Chris Carter's The X-Files, so it's supernatural by association.

It's a Wonderful Life: I had mixed feelings about this Christmas classic until I saw the unedited version. Do yourself a favor and watch the movie without the usual cuts. You'll see some terrific scenes that round out the story and add dimension to the characters, especially Jimmy Stewart's George Bailey. Donna Reed is just lovely. I haven't seen this in years, but I may watch it this winter to see how the themes of a banker's greed and duplicity fit into current business affairs. SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT: Henry Travers plays sweet Clarence, the angel.

Miracle on 34th Street: I love the original version from 1947 starring dewy eyed young Natalie Wood as a little girl whose cynical mother doesn't believe in Santa. Edmund Gwenn is my favorite Santa ever. He's gentle and funny and warm and wonderful. This movie is corny is absolutely the best way. I've seen this movie so many times that I can't watch it anymore. But if you haven't seen it, you should. SUPERNATURAL ELEMENT: Santa Claus.

I'll try to post a few more of my favorites tomorrow.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Wherein I continue my holiday theme.

This videos especially for Margaret and all the other dedicated fans of sauve, dangerous Henry Fitzroy (Kyle Schmid) in Blood Ties.

Happy Holiday Gratuitous Videos Week

2011-12-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

The sun is shining so I've got the doors and windows open and I'm trying to get into the Christmas mood because there are presents to be bought and wrapping to be done. I'm also caught up in a new writing project, The Poison Tree, set in the 1850s and the present with ghosts and madwomen.

I love end-of-the-year videos set to holiday songs. Sometimes I find great ones in July, and it's hard to hold off on posting them. Now I can indulge in all these holiday treats, which I'll run through the end of the week. Enjoy!

This is the most invigorating and most fun version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" I've ever heard.

Book Contests & Giveaways for the Holiday Season!

2011-12-16T10:43:00.000-08:00

There are lots of great book contests and giveaways around, so I'm listing a few. Maybe you'll win a few for Christmas or Festivus or Smugglivus! (My general philosophy is "more holidays are better," especially when they involve colored lights, presents, champagne, and cookies.) I'm splitting up the contest lists into Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance and Young Adult categories, although many Young Adults cross-over into UR/PNR

Sparkling Reviews is giving away a $1,000 Visa Giftcard, and that's a prize that definitely crosses genres and categories!
.

PARANORMAL ROMANCE/URBAN FANTASY

Spaz at Wicked Little Pixie posts a long Q&A with Adrian Phoenix's characters and has a great contest for signed sets of Maker's Song books and also the Hoodoo series.

Abigail at All Things Urban Fantasy has an entertaining guest blog by Terry Spear and a contest for Dreaming of the Wolf or any other of Terry's books.

I have to smile when I think about going to Barnes and Noble to autograph some of my wolf books and three male store clerks were excited, until they learned the werewolf stories weren’t horror, but…horror—happily-ever-after romance!

Or to smile at the volunteer who asked if my werewolf books were shelved under fiction or nonfiction.

YOUNG ADULT BOOKS

Wendy at A Cupcake and a Latte has a giveaway for a signed copy of the soon-to-be-released Switched by Amanda Hocking. Amanda became a sensation as a bestselling self-pubbed author and she's now gone over to a traditional publisher.

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

Susan at Wastepaper Prose is giving away ARCs of Sarah Tregay's Love and Leftovers and Christina Meredith's Kiss Crush Collide.

The crew at Page Turners is having an amazing end-of-the-year contest with lots of prizes, including:

Cassandra Clare Pack 1: Audiobook City of Fallen Angels, Clockwork Prince ARC & Swag
Cassandra Clare Pack 2: City of Fallen Angels & Swag
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Forbidden

Jessica Torres at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile hosts Michelle Madow and has a contest for her reincarnation YA Remembrance. You can also read Jessica's review of Remembrance:

Madow weaves a lovely romance that transcends the ages. Pulling influences from Austen, she brings Drew and Lizzie together in a heartbreaking manner. Star crossed lovers anyone? Readers who enjoy well written teenage dialogue will like their story.

Kristi at The Story Siren is giving away an ARC of Jennifer R. Hubbard's Try Not to Breathe.

Learning to live is more than just choosing not to die, as sixteen-year-old Ryan discovers in the year following his suicide attempt. Despite his mother’s anxious hovering and the rumors at school, he’s trying to forget the darkness from which he has escaped. But it doesn’t help that he’s still hiding guilty secrets, or that he longs for a girl who may not return his feelings. Then he befriends Nicki, who is using psychics to seek contact with her dead father...

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

You're lucky because today I turned on the radio and Florence and the Machine's "Shake It Off" was playing.

I love this song, but fast cuts can be overdone. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Now this is how you do it right.

Just Gratuitous Videos Thursday

2011-12-15T10:12:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of time yesterday catching up on my internet stuff, so today I'm just posting videos. Today while flicking around stations on the radio, I heard a song by Black Lab and then later when I turned on the radio I heard a song by the Black Keys. You can figure out the theme.

Christmas Giveaway: DARK COMPANION ARC!

2011-12-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

“A modern-gothic fairytale that pulled me in and refused to let go. Eerily suspenseful with a heroine worthy of any Brontë novel.”

--Kady Cross, USA Today bestselling author of

The Girl in the Steel Corset and The Steampunk Chronicles

“Compelling and dynamic, Dark Companion lures you in, casting a distinct spell you won’t want to break. A modern Gothic with classic style. Awesome stuff.”

--Leanna Renee Hieber, bestselling author of the Strangely Beautiful

and Magic Most Foul sagas

On Monday, I was surprised and delighted to received a few Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of Dark Companion, my Young Adult gothic to be released by Tor Teen on July 3. Yippee! It looks just lovely and I can't wait to see it when it's in hardback. I wanted to share them with readers and also celebrate the launch of my author website redesign, so I'm having a contest.

SUMMARY: Orphaned at the age of six, Jane Williams has grown up in a series of foster homes, learning to survive in the shadows of life. Through hard work and determination, she manages to win a scholarship to the exclusive Birch Grove Academy. There, for the first time, Jane finds herself accepted by a group of friends. She even starts tutoring the headmistress’s gorgeous son, Lucien.

Things seem too good to be true.

They are.

The more she learns about Birch Grove’s recent past, the more Jane comes to suspect that there is something sinister going on. Why did the wife of a popular teacher kill herself? What happened to the former scholarship student, whose place Jane took? Why does Lucien’s brother, Jack, seem to dislike her so much? As Jane begins to piece together the answers to the puzzle, she must find out why she was brought to Birch Grove—and what she would risk to stay there….

The book has received some very nice early reviews (and you can read them at my website).

If you would like a chance to win one of TWO COPIES of a signed ARC of Dark Companion, all you have to do is subscribe to my new author blog using the subscription form in the left column. This subscription will put you on the mailing list whenever I update the blog, which will not be often. (Seriously, one of the reasons I'm using a subscription is to phase out my other newsletter, because I sent it out so very rarely, so don't worry about spam.)

The contest is open to US and Canada residents and runs through December 31. Winners will be selected by random draw.

“Dark Companion reads like a dark, supernatural ode to the classic Jane Eyre. The academy is the perfect shadowy, creepy setting for this twisted tale to play out...a delicious mix of danger, romance, and unexpected magic that will make you shiver.”

—Tirzah Price, The Compulsive Reader

"Dark Companion skillfully combines YA themes of acceptance and fitting in with a Gothic atmosphere, Jane Eyre, a sweet romance, and feminism. I loved it! Loved Jane and loved her group of friends."

—Ana Grilo, The Book Smugglers

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

My dryer stopped working and I'm waiting for the repairman, so the theme is broken, damaged, wrong, things not working.

This is just a lovely song and I'm not even a fan of country.

Upcoming YA Covers: Girls in Water & Gratuitous Holiday Videos!

2011-12-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

I love these images of girls swimming or rising from the water. Here are some new and upcoming YA book covers you might like.

On the Fringe by Courtney King Miller (10/19/11)

SUMMARY: Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she's still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn't helping.

Neither is thinking she sees Daniel's face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination.

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever.

Courtney King Miller's Website

New Girl by Paige Harbison (January 31, 2012)

SUMMARY: They call me 'New Girl'...Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back

Paige Harbison's Website

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter (July 3, 2012)
Lost Voices Book 2

SUMMARY: After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn’t last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, the tribe’s cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary.

But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce’s new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change its murderous ways

Sarah Porter's Website

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown (June 12, 2012)

SUMMARY: Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake.

Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined.

Anne Greenwood Brown's Website

The Unquiet by Jeannine Garsee (July 17, 2012)

SUMMARY: Sixteen-year-old Rinn Jacobs has secrets: One, she’s bipolar. Two, she killed her grandmother.

After a suicide attempt, and now her parents' separation, Rinn and her mom move from California to the rural Ohio town where her mother grew up. Back on her medications (again!) and hoping to stay well, Rinn settles into her new home and school. She refuses to be daunted by the fact that the previous owner hanged herself in Rinn's bedroom, or that her classmates believe the school pool is haunted by Annaliese, a girl who drowned there. But when a reckless séance goes awry, and terrible things start happening to her new friends—yet not to her—Rinn is determined to find out why she can’t be "touched" by Annaliese...or if Annaliese even exists.

With the help of Nate Brenner, the hunky “farmer boy” she’s rapidly falling for, Rinn devises a dangerous plan to uncover the truth

Jeannine Garsee's Website

Okay, I had to read the summary below aloud (literally!!) to The Husband, who said, (literally!!), "Well, you gotta give it credit -- communicates with fish!"

Of Poseiden by Anna Banks (May 22, 2012)

SUMMARY: Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange – is it attraction? – and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of – a human who can communicate with fish.

What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either – and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings.

Anna Banks' Website

I am loving this cover and the summary sounds twisted, exciting, and fun, too. Be sure to visit the author's website, because she's having a very fab giveaway of signed copies of Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber and Possess by Gretchen McNeill.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova (April 12, 2012)

SUMMARY: Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

Zoraida Cordova's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Yesterday, I was visiting my mother, helping make tamales, and complaining about her Christmas music. Today, I'm posting Christmassy videos. No, it doesn't make sense.

New Website, HEAD RUSH, & 2012 Reads

2011-12-12T09:52:00.000-08:00

First things first! I've redone my Marta Acosta website, thanks to Sharon of Redbud Designs. I asked for something clear and bright with a little quirkiness and I'm really happy with the graphics she designed. I am still in the process of adding my content, but once I get the site established I'll be able to post regularly about my author news and contests.

Speaking of new things, congratulations to Carolyn Crane on the publication of Head Rush, the third book in her The Disillusionists series. I am dying to read these books and they are on my wish-list. Here's the summary:

In an attempt to put her unhappy past behind her, Justine Jones throws herself into nursing school and planning her wedding to Otto Sanchez, the man of her dreams. But something is off. Random details aren’t adding up…and is it her imagination, or are her friends and fiancé keeping secrets from her? And what’s with the strange sense of unease, and her odd new headaches?

Justine tries to stay upbeat as Midcity cowers under martial law, sleepwalking cannibals, and a mysterious rash of paranormal copycat violence, but her search for answers leads her into the most dangerous mind game yet.

With the help of unlikely allies, including her paranoid dad and best frenemy Simon, Justine fights her ultimate foe…and unravels the most startling mystery of all.

This book is available only as an ebook and an audio, but it will be available in paper sometime soon. To find out more about Carolyn and The Disillusionists books, visit her website.

You can read an early review of Head Rush at All Things Urban Fantasy. Abigail says:

The cliffhanger at the end of DOUBLE CROSS was as evil as they come, and from the very first page of HEAD RUSH, all those same emotions of disbelief, rage, and shock at what had happened came back in an instant. It was awesome.

Danielle Binks at Alpha Reader has a terrific list of books she wants to read in 2012. She's including many by Aussie authors, so you'll definitely discover books that aren't showing up on most must-read lists. I was very happy to find Dark Companion, my Gothic, listed here. Small Review also included my book on her anticipated 2012 reads. Yeh!

I found the most awe-inspiring list of 2012 paranormal/urban fantasy and YA publications is at Wicked Scribe. Kaleisha describes her site as a place to organize information about her fave authors, characters, and books, and her focus is paranormal romance. I could spend days checking out all the links to these books and I know I'll visit this list again and again.

I tried to do a list of beautiful underwater covers of 2012, but the photos aren't loading so I'll try again tomorrow.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The wind is kicking up, so my theme will be weather: storms, ice, rain, tornadoes...Let's see what I can find!

Goodreads Fun, Part II

2011-12-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I mentioned how much I like exploring Goodreads, and Marg of Clockwork Reverie said that sometimes she gets angry comments at the site when she writes negative reviews. Naturally, I had to go right to Goodreads to look for her reviews. I recognized having read them before because Marg has her own inimitable style and because she gets always hung up on little things like, oh, I don't know, like books that have no internal logic whatsoever.

Marg, has degrees in psychology and nursing and was born and raised in Poland, and I totally dig her European world-weariness about other-worldy books. Here are some delightful snippets from her reviews.

"Gosh darn it, sweet baby Jesus, where do I begin this review and how do I do it tactfully? Oh, screw it! No sugar-coating here. Strap on some bubble wrap, people. This ride is gonna get bumpy."
"Just because the cover model looks like she's been shopping at HOOKERS-R-US doesn't mean it's an accurate representation of the heroine. And if by chance it is, that might not necessarily be a bad thing either. I mean, hookers can be badass. Seriously. In my old neighborhood, a hooker managed to escape handcuffed from a cop and proceeded to steal his police car in order to make her getaway, which naturally resulted in a high-speed chase that involved helicopters & spotlights. True story."
"One of the strongest of all animal instincts is the drive to survive. Unlike with other animals, however, the human struggle for survival is far more complex than just a hardwired fight or flight response. People are capable of awe-inspiring feats of bravery & ingenuity in the face of danger. They can be confronted with insurmountable odds and still refuse to give up."

I love her passionate, funny, smart, wacky reviews. She loves some books and hates others with equal enthusiasm, and she's having great fun writing her reviews.

Here are some of Marg's five-star picks:

The Hour of Dust and Ashes by Kelly Gay (08/30/11)
Charlie Madigan #3

Marg says:

What I love the most about this series and especially this 3rd installment is the nonstop, fast-paced action. Danger, conflict, and all sorts of complications await the characters at every turn.

Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
October Daye #3

Marg says:

She has values and principles that she holds steadfast to no matter what. And despite being totally kick-ass, she has a vulnerable side. Toby isn't too proud to admit to being scared and tired of constantly having to fight. She knows that others look at her as a hero, and she acknowledges and partially resents the weight of that responsibility. There were several moments in the book that made my heart break a little for Toby and made her that much more real to me.

Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield (02/22/11)
Aftertime #1

Marg says:

I loved Cass. She was such a damaged, complicated, multilayered character and the epitome of a fighter. She reminded me of why I have such a deep respect & admiration for mothers. In fact, her unwavering determination and unmeasurable love for her daughter reminded me of my own mother. The combination of inner strength & selflessness that mothers possess is a painfully beautiful thing, and Cass continuously exuded it throughout this book. Despite her pain, fear and self-doubt, she never stopped pushing herself forward; never gave up on Ruthie. When I finished reading Aftertime, one of the first things I did was go over to my mom, give her a hug, and tell her that I love her.

We all have our favorite reviewers. My favorite reviewers have a sense of humor and really think about the books they're reviewing, so it's more than "this book was really good!" They make me think about a story with a different perspective. They're not afraid to have an opinion and might snark, but they'll also fall in love with stories. Who are your favorite reviewers?

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today I'm posting some of the videos I've found when looking for other themes.

I'd tagged this one "bad Sammy."

This song is a bit much. I'm like, "Dude, stop being so melodramatic. Would a cookie make you feel better?"

Friday is always Richard Armitage tribute day. Have a great weekend!

Book Catalog Sites and How I Came to Love Them

2011-12-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

A long time ago in internet years, book websites were created for readers to catalog their books. There was LibraryThing, Shelfari, and Goodreads. Now, the internets are exactly like real life. (Except not at all, but let's pretend for the sake of this metaphor), and there's a survival of the fittest thing that goes on. (Except for the people who don't believe in evolution. Sorry -- I got nothing for you if you don't buy basic science because I'm all about the science, which is why I'm trying to build an evil robot that does housecleaning. World domination and a clean house? That's real genius.)

So what was I saying? Oh, yeah, the book websites. I pretty much ignored them because I thought I didn't need to catalog my books online when I don't even shelf them alphabetically at home. While I was ignoring these sites, Goodreads came out as the dominant site and I had to go there because I have to network because of that authory thing I do. And then I discovered that I could find out about new books and authors and remember series I'd like and connect with bookish people.

I read reviews I liked and discovered lots of terrific book blogs. Many of my favorite book bloggers, and most on the sidebars here, are also on Goodreads.

It was all in one place -- book covers with summaries and publication info, author websites and blog feeds, reviews by blog reviewers with links to their sites, genre groups, and Listopia. I indulge in my cover obsession by coming up with thematic cover lists like this one. You can explore within your favorite genre, learning what's coming up, or try something new.

Shelfari seems to be primarily a sales site for Amazon, and if I want to buy something from Amazon, I'll go directly there. Also, I don't want Amazon tracking all of my book interests and purchases.

I hear very good things about LibraryThing, especially for people who are serious about tagging and cataloging books. It has a fun Zeitgeist feature: you can find a list of authors whose works are read most completely (Georgette Heyer and Christine Feehan are on this list), a list of top authors, and even a list of lowest rated authors.

LibraryThing is not a fancy site. You're not going to find the design equivalent of bells and whistles, but it is an interesting site and if I wasn't already hanging out at Goodreads, I'd be exploring its features.

Publishers, who just figured out that maybe typing everything on an old Remington is a little outdated, have come up with their own site. I find most publishers' sites to be klunky and, well, really crappy. I usually skip publishers' sites to search for their own books because they don't keep them up properly. Who knows when Bookish will actually launch and how much control the publishers will try to keep on members' opinions.

Here's some more info if you're thinking about joining a book catalog site:

AmyReads compares the features of Goodreads vs. LibraryThing.
Hamel at Hamel TwoPointOh gives a librarian's perspective of these sites. "As a librarian in a very small school, I like the idea of students being able to look for recommendations beyond their immediate peer group."
The Love of Art and War gives a breakdown of the different sites' features.
If you're interested in YA and Children's lit, check out JacketFlap, which has all sorts of info.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I saw a video with Lady Gaga shaking her head just like the brothers in A Night at the Roxbury. So the theme is "What is Love?" -- songs that ask a question.

Geek Bat Signal, Same Dress, Different Book, What's in a Name?

2011-12-06T10:22:00.000-08:00

GEEK BAT SIGNAL! I'm trying to transfer my wwww.martaacosta.com domain from SquareSpace (nice site but not simple enough for my tiny brain) to Blogger, because I know how to use Blogger. But I've pretty much screwed the whole thing up. Can someone tell me how to do this? Help me, Mr. Wizard!

SAME DRESS, DIFFERENT BOOK

Yes, I watch Fashion Police and, yes, "Actress or Streetwalker?" is my favorite segment, but I also like "Bitch stole my look!" Well, when a dress is as fab as the one on the cover of Dreaming Awake by Gwen Hayes, you can see why someone else will want it.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Dreaming Awake features a character named Haden Black. Now, some authors like these obviously symbolic names (black hell!). I love silly names when used in comedies, and I love distinctive names. (Like Kurt Russell as Snake Plisken hissing "Call me Snnnake.") However, I tend to step back from names that sound too self-serious in their import. I'm listing a mess o' characters from new or upcoming paranormals and urban fantasies. Whaddaya think?

Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla (12/6/11): Darien, a shaede, and Xander Peck, a Shaede king.

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams (10/25/11): McKenzie Lewis, a college student who hunts rebel fae, and Kyol, a fae swordmaster. Yeah, that's what they all say.

Blood Rights by Kristen Painter (09/27/11): Chyrstabelle, a vampire's concubiney thing, and Malkolm, an outcast vampire.

Cold Touch by Leslie Parrish (07/05/11): Olivia Wainwright, who can bring back the dead, and Gabe Cooper, a police detective. Olivia Wainwright is a name that I'd remember easily, and yet it's not common.

Sins of the Angels by Linda Poitevin (09/27/11): Alexandra Jarvis is a detective and Aramael is a hunter of fallen angels.

Killing Rites by M.L.N. Hanover (11/29/11): Jayne' Heller, a magical heiress, and Ex, an ex-priest. Okay, in this age of the internets, I have issues with any names with accents. Because I'm not going to learn the code to do an accent.

I'll also admit to occasionally deciding not to mention a book simply because the characters' names are a pain in the neck to spell.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

It was Britney Spears' 30th birthday this week, can you believe it? Britney's songs always add a little something special on videos.

Website Re-Do & Purply Upcoming YA Covers

2011-12-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have to get my new author website design transferred and set up, so I'll be busy with that. Here are a few things to amuse you.

Suzanne Johnson has a brand spanking new Reader's Choice Contest at Preternatura with a mess o' releases including Nancy Collin's Left Hand Magic, Amanda Bonilla's Shades of Gray, Jennifer Colgan's Uncross My Heart, and Stephanie Julian's How to Worship a Goddess. Honestly, the list is too long to include here, but it's awesome.

She's also offering some YAs with purply covers like Laurie Faria Stolartz's Deadly Little Voices and Ellie James' Shattered Dreams.

Amanda at Love Vampires gives a rave review to the Karen Marie Moning's latest in her fae series, Bloodfever.

Karen Moning came up with a complex mythology and discovering her world along Mac proves to be rewarding. As the events unravel, certain details mentioned in the passing, click into place and the reader starts to understand how some things may play out in the future. I know, I sound awfully cryptic, but Bloodfever is a kind of book where secrets are piled up thick and spoilers would just suck the whole fun out.

If you want another chance to win Stephanie Julian's How to Worship a Goddess, with it's purply cover, she's guest blogging at Anna's Book Blog and has a contest for her new book.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I'm going to try to find videos set to songs with something about purple, pink, mauve, in the titles or band names. It might all be songs by Pink, but that's not a bad thing.

Terrific little vid set to Pink's "F*cking Perfect."

This one's for Jane!

Contest Winner & "and your mama dresses you funny!" Part Two

2011-12-02T09:29:00.000-08:00

The winner of the contest for the signed cover flat of Dark Companion, my upcoming YA, is:

THE STYLE VAMP

Congratulations, Vamp, and I'll be heading to your fun website to see what style crimes I'm committing. (Okay, I already know, since I'm wearing my old, too-short jeans with Clarks muckers, which seemed fine for a walk with the dogs.)

I thought I'd continue with my analysis of WTF? book covers. Please know that I have suffered from my own WTF? book covers, so my sympathy is with the authors of these novels.

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer (01/03/12)

Why it doesn't work: Whenever I see the smaller jpg of this cover, it always looks like a page torn in half. You have to enlarge it to see the wolf on one side. The photo of the girl's face in black and white with the clipart of a generic wolf just looks cheezy. This is a bestselling author and you think the art department would invest in a better cover. I loved the beautiful old covers of her series and really hate the new ones.

Why I should reconsider: The series gets raves from critics and blog reviewers alike. Bibliopunkk says, "Cremer's writing style is, as usual, phenomenal. And what she has concocted with this series at large, that is driven home beautifully with this book, is a damn near perfect trilogy."

Andrea Cremer's Website

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (01/03/12)

Why it doesn't work for me: The shoe's high heel leaves the angle of the foot too steep even for a robot or android. It's an ugly shoe, too shiny and the wrong color red. I actually like the title font, but not enough to say ugh whenever I see this cover. If they'd gone just a few steps farther, it could have been funnier.

Why I should absolutely reconsider: The story sounds terrific -- a Cinderella retelling with a cyborg-mechanic as the unwanted stepdaughter. It sounds playful, imaginative, and exactly like something I'd enjoy. Publishers Weekly gave Cinder a starred review and wrote: ""First in the Lunar Chronicles series, this futuristic twist on Cinderella retains just enough of the original that readers will enjoy spotting the subtle similarities. But debut author Meyer’s brilliance is in sending the story into an entirely new, utterly thrilling dimension."

Marissa Meyer's Website

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington (03/01/12)

Why it doesn't work: Seriously, wtf is going on with this model? It doesn't look like an embrace and I have no idea why she's wound braided hair extensions around her neck. I have no idea what kind of book this is -- is it one of those books you find in the hair salon with style examples? Why is her body cut off at her pointy elbows? The title font seems to say "retro cocktail lounge." Okay, I like retro cocktail lounges, so I'd be really disappointed if I read this book and there were no mentions of gin gimlets or angostura bitters.

Why I should reconsider: The book was a big hit in Australia, where it was first released. Reviewers are raving, like SJH at A Dream of Books, who says, "I picked it up almost as soon as it fell through my mailbox and I was glued to the pages for the rest of the day!...Paranormal fans will love this exciting new series which really puts angels back on the map!"

Okay, I just found the new cover (below) and it's much better, with the subtle wings in the back for this angel/demon book.

Jessica Shirvington's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today is beautiful, gorgeous, warm, so the theme is videos set to songs with beautiful, gorgeous, any of those words in the title.

It's Eminem so be warned about the language.

Love this little video. Have a great weekend!

And your mama dresses you funny!

2011-12-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

When I'm surfing through book sites, looking for upcoming releases, there are some covers that just make me go WTF? Generally, I ignore them, which isn't fair to the authors who had little or no say in the covers. I don't know about you, but I've been seduced by beautiful covers and bought books that were dreadful. So let's visit some soon-to-be-released books that fall into the category of "and your mama dresses you funny!"

At top is the cover for Fever (Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren Destefano. The book will sell a gazillion copies, but the cover is all kinds of ugly, from the faded-bruise color scheme to the cheezy (bad cheezy) rocking horse, to the nodding-off smack-addict model who is not rocking her messy hair. I thought the cover for the first in the series, Wither, was quite lovely, so I don't know what's going on here.

A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton

What doesn't work: Is it just me or does this snake look too phallic? I mean, snakes are always used as phallic symbolism, but do I want to buy a book with a metaphoric weiner on the cover? No.

Why I should reconsider: Bestselling author Melissa Marr says, "“If I could become a character in a fictional world, I would pick this one. Action and romance combine with good storytelling and an alluring world. More, please!”

Kelly Keaton's Website

Dark Victory (Lady Lazarus #2) by Michele Lang

What doesn't work: I dunno. The color of red looks "off." The composition is pretty basic photoshop and doesn't tell me anything about the book. Is it a book about jewelry? Or a romance? Is it contemporary family drama or what? Actually, it's a WWII era pararnormal with witches, werewolves, and demons.

Why I should reconsider: NYT bestseller Rachel Caine calls it "the best entry yet in a groundbreaking, rich, enthralling series that combines the darkest days of World War II with magic, very human characters, and stakes that couldn’t be higher. A tour-de-force!”

Michele Lang's Website

Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows

What doesn't work: I'm pretty sure everyone else absolutely loves this cover, but to me, it just looks like someone who collects ceramic unicorns designed it. It's got that rainbows and fluffy bunnies aesthetic that warns me of super sissy things to come. I blame this attitude on being raised with a pack of brothers.

Why I should reconsider: popular author Jeri Smith-Ready says, "One word: Breathtaking. More words: Heart-melting. Soul-feeding. Mind-blowing. Incarnate captured all of me and won’t let go."

Jodi Meadows' Website

Lothaire (Immortals After Dark #12) by Kresley Cole

What doesn't work: The model looks like a cross betwen Alexander Skarsgard and Luke Wilson, but without the interesting broken nose. ("Hansel! He's so hawt right now!") The red eyes? Ugh.

Why I should reconsider: I don't need to because Kresley's devoted fans will always buy her books, no matter what the cover.

Kresley Cole's Website

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

What doesn't work: This is the UK cover and I'm so glad it was changed for the US publication, because, seriously, what the heck is going on here? Rainbow bunny colors, some freaky creature spooning (if that's what he's doing -- I don't want to go there) an albino girl. Too much pinky pink stuff. This cover gives me nightmares. The interesting US cover is below.

Why I should reconsider: Karin Librarian at Karin's Book Nook says, "Under the Never Sky is intoxicating. Full of mystery, adventure, romance, and betrayal it is practically impossible to put down."

Veronica Rossi's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I really love Adele's voice and songs. That's the theme.

Vampire Diaries Praise & Google+, Please Go Away

2011-11-30T09:45:00.000-08:00

At Tor.com, Julianna Weiss-Roessler explains why we should all be watching The Vampire Diaries.

It wasn’t until this summer that we had a reason to revisit Vampire Diaries, and after a binge week of watching about half of the first season, we were hooked. The story moved so fast and was so (bear with me) fangs out. Main characters died or had other life-changing things happen to them. The mythology deepened and expanded in unique and unexpected ways. Sure, they didn’t hit a home run with every choice, but the show was becoming surprisingly good. By the second season (which, thanks to streaming video we were able to start immediately after the first,) it was fast becoming one of our favorite shows.

I've just been waiting for a few free days to do a Season One and Two marathon. I actually like holding off on a series and then watching episodes one after another.

Robert Pattinson, who plays Edward Cullen in the Twilight movies, claims that The Vampire Diaries and True Blood are copycats of Twilight.

He said, “It’s like that Coke versus Pepsi thing, and how Coke just said, ‘There’s a reason everyone compares themselves to us.’ Twilight was the original and everybody’s trying to copy it. They’re all just trying to jump aboard the Twilight train.”

Uh, check the publication dates of these books, dude. Dead Until Dawn (Sookie Stackhouse #1) was first published in May 2001. The Vampire Diaries was first published way back in 1991. Twilight wasn't published until 2005. Also, in blind taste tests Pepsi always beats Coke, which drives Pepsi crazy because people insist Coke is better when they can see the branding.

Today's Rant (with Kitten Pictures!)

The other day, one of my friends was saying how wonderful it was to connect with art school friends on Facebook and I went off on a rant about social networking. Because I made that MySpace page and endured glitter graphics that effectively killed off large portions of my gray matter. Because I hired a designer (at first) to come up with the site. Because I've changed my personal website around to one that is supposedly user-friendly and now I'm changing it again.

Because I've got those fracking Facebook pages and the author one doesn't let me contact individuals. Because I joined Klout and it's too stoopid for words. Because I've forgotten the passwords for all those other essential sites.

Because what starts out as supposedly cool and fun immediately becomes an unmanaged and unmanageable behemoth where you can't talk to an actual human to get anything fixed. Because the hucksters and crooks and pornsters are always on the techie cutting edge and they quickly find ways to junk up any site. Because the founders, who once claimed purity (not to be believed) now court investors and try every way to monetize the sites.

Because the members, once promised efficiency and ease, find that every detail of their lives is being tracked and sold so that companies can do finely-honed target marketing.

We are only too happy to provide the free content that makes these monster websites valuable.

Lately, when I go to Google, I'm invited to join Google+ -- because it will make my life simpler. The only way a social network will make my life easier if is it comes to my house, vacuums, does two loads of laundry, files my paperwork, and rakes up leaves.

Which is not to say that it's not convenient for some people to connect with art school friends on a social network. Because it is.

But there's a limit. So, frack you, Google+. And you can quote me on that.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today's song on the radio was "Supermassive Black Hole" and my theme is Muse songs.

This is a long video, but I'd say it actually encapsulates "Dracula 2000" better than the actual movie. Of course, the movie is totally unwatchable, but one must keep trying to watch it because Gerard Butler as Dracula...nuff said.

Upcoming Urban Fantasy Releases

2011-11-29T10:40:00.000-08:00

Here are a few upcoming paperback releases of urban fantasies to think about when you get those bookstore gift certificates!

The Mortal Bone (Hunter Kiss #4) by Marjorie M. Liu

SUMMARY: When the bond Maxine Kiss shares with the demons tattooed on her skin is deliberately severed, the demon hunter is left vulnerable and unprotected. For the first time in ten thousand years, the demons have a taste of freedom. And as the little demons grow more violent and unpredictable, Maxine starts to fear they will lose their minds without her. Reuniting won't be easy, since a greater temptation waits for these hellions: a chance to return to their lives as Reaper Kings, and unleash hell on Earth.

Marjorie M. Liu's Website

Second Grave on the Left (Charley Davidson #2) by Darynda Jones

Summary: When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can't help but wonder what Cookie's up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Darynda Jones' Website

Bedeviled (Dark Breed #2) by Sable Grace

SUMMARY: Kyana thought only to save her friend’s life when she fed Haven her blood; instead, she created a monster. Now the woman she thought of as a sister is under the spell of an ancient, vengeful god, determined to set him free and wreak havoc on the mortal world . . . and only Kyana can stop her.

But time is running out. In just seven days, Kyana’s Vampyre and Lychen abilities will be gone and she’ll be completely transformed into the Goddess of the Hunt—and her blood ties to Haven will be severed. By her side is Ryker—ally, demigod, lover— who will sacrifice everything to keep Kyana safe . . . even the attraction that burns between them. Together they have one chance to save Haven from herself . . . to save humanity from hell on earth.

Sable Grace's Website

Immortal Beloved (Immortal Beloved #1) by Cate Tiernan

SUMMARY: Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today's theme are new multifandom videos. Enjoy!

Ah, love the song and this video. If you haven't watched The Tudors, do! I have to start watching Merlin.

Blogger Catfights & Doppelganger Keys Covers

2011-11-28T10:48:00.000-08:00

Isn't this cover lovely? Gin Phillips' Come In and Cover Me is a ghosty story.

SUMMARY: When Ren was only twelve years old, she lost her older brother, Scott, to a car crash. Since then, Scott has been a presence in her life, appearing as a snatch of song or a reflection in the moonlight. Now, twenty-five years later, her talent for connecting with the ghosts around her has made her especially sensitive as an archaeologist.

You can learn more about Gin and her books at her website.

BLOGGER CATFIGHTS: Jennifer at Reading with Tequila has a fun feature where she vidblogs advice, and today she responds to blogger jealousy.

It grates my teeth reading blog posts about bloggers going to uber-exclusive events and explaining why they got the invite: because they work super hard on their blog, insinuating that those that didn't get invited don't.

I had no idea that blogger-reviewers were having catfights over popularity and freebies and invites to special events. I never get invites to special events. (Do you think it's because I send loony snarky responses to publicists sometimes when they offer me an "opportunity" to post special trailers and whatnot?)

But here's a tip: it's not an uber-exclusive event if bloggers are invited, unless one of them is Perez Hilton. Otherwise it's a sales event.

I do get blogger jealousy. Like I'm totally jealous of a lot of great blog designs. I'm jealous that author Suzanne Johnson has such awesome contests at Preternatura, like her new Reader's Choice contest. When Rebecca Baumann blogged, I got jealous of her fun drawings.

DOPPELGANGER COVERS

Nope, the covers for Bitterblue and Lord John and the Scottish Prisoner aren't identical, but they're really similar. It's a nice concept, and I love the idea of keys leading to secrets.

UPDATE: Here's another key-themed new bookcover.

Last week I got freaked out by the fact that bloggers, including Trisha at The YA YA YAs had noticed that another cover looks just like mine for Dark Companion.

Yes, the model and the dress are identical, but the cover for Dark Destiny photoshopped the dress strap wider and the building in the distance. Both books are being published by the parent company Macmillan and both are YAs that come out on July 3.

I'm so obsessed with my next book that I sometimes forget about my other books. (Bad author!) I was really delighted to see a review today for Happy Hour at Casa Dracula at Sarah's Book Shelf. Sarah said:

This was a fast and funny read. Published in 2006, it's the first in a series, and I can't believe it's taken me this long to read my first Marta Acosta book. Written in a chatty, witty, first-person narrative, Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is a refreshingly different take on vampires.

Ah, I miss my Casa Dracula characters! I also got a nice review from The Style Vamp for my "fashionista fiction," Nancy's Theory of Style, penned under the name Grace Coopersmith. (Don't ask.)

Nancy's journey of self-discovery will definitely give you style pointers along with plenty of laughs. I completely enjoyed reading this book and seeing how Nancy's view starts to change and evolve....I highly recommend Nancy's Theory of Style.

Am I still freaked out? Not as much, although I wish the release dates were different and "dark" wasn't used in both titles. But designers are trendy people. They know the trends, love the trends, reflect the trends, so doppelganger covers happen all the time.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

No theme, just the first interesting videos I find.

Thankful for the Gratuitous Videos

2011-11-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone will have a happy, safe, and warm Thanksgiving. My family is celebrating at my brother's house and I'm only responsible for salad, so it will be a stress-free day for me.

One of the many things I'm thankful for is all the talented people who create the videos that I post every day. They help introduce us to new shows and characters, and they keep the love going for older shows and characters. Enjoy and see you next week!

Here are several new videos.

Sometimes I'm grateful for really bad songs.

Contest Winner, Miscellaneous Stuff & Pretty New Covers

2011-11-22T09:52:00.000-08:00

M.L.N Hanover's Website

CONTEST WINNER: Thanks to everyone who entered the contest for Cindy C. Bennett's Geek Girl. It was fun hearing about your favorite geeks! The winner of Cindy's book is:

MARTHA LAWSON

who loves Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon's awesome. Congrats, Martha! Please send me an email with your mailing address by Monday, or I'll have to pull another winner.

I'm delighted that Stephanie Takes Desbiens at Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust gave Midnight Brunch (Casa Dracula #2) a wonderful review today:

Marta hits the nail on the head and I couldn't put it down. Marta's writing is witty and she is clever. The plot is fun, with twists I didn't see coming. I highly recommend that you give Milagro a whirl and read this book and series.

Gee, thanks, Steph! I'm hope you like the next ones in the series.

Brad Wirz emailed me to share the news that he's started a philanthropic organization to help fund libraries in the developing world. You can learn more about this work at Gone Reading. You can shop for their book-related items (all profits go to the libraries) and read the entertaining blog. I liked the advice from guest blogger Benjamin Clark on best methods for book shelving, and I really enjoy Brad's blogging on everything from vicious author insults to reading Jane Austen for the first time.

You know how I feel about libraries. Last night I was going through my bookcases selecting good books to donate to the local library's fundraising sales. If you need more space on your shelves, consider donating books to your library.

Because you can always buy or check out new books. Here are covers of upcoming books.

Cheyenne McCray's Website - Ilona Andrews Website

Nancy Gideon's Website - Carole Nelson Douglas's Website

Amanda Bonilla's Website - Nancy A. Collins's Website

Tami Dane's Website - Mary Lindsey's Website

No videos today because YouTube keeps making my browser crash.

Vampires in the Libraries & The Self-Pubbed/Dirndl Skirt Connection

2011-11-21T09:32:00.000-08:00

"It reminds you why you fell in love with vampires all those years ago when you had your first Anne Rice's book or watched Count Dracula with his fake Transylvanian accent charm Mina."

Kara-Karina, Nocturnal Book Reviews

I've been spending more time on Goodreads, which means I'm discovering all sorts of books, including self-pubbed ones that I want to read, such as A Hidden Fire, the first book in Elizabeth Hunter's Elemental Mystery series.

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted.

Kristin, who blogs at Better Read Than Dead, says, "A Hidden Fire is saturated with mystery, intrigue, and romance. To be quite honest…this book will make my paranormal romance top ten list of 2011. The characters are enigmatic and brimming with charisma." In fact, all the reviews for this book are raves.

Visit Elizabeth Hunter's website, where you can read excerpt and chapters 1-2 of A Hidden Fire.

So why is it self-pubbed? I'm guessing the author, who is a teacher with a degree in English, decided to self-pub for the usual reasons: writing a kick-ass novel is a different talent than writing a kick-ass query letter and getting an agent.

Agents are essentially personal shoppers. Their clients are not authors as much as editors. Maybe dirndl skirts come into fashion. (Don't laugh because many of you have heinous bubble skirts in the back of your closet.) The client says, "I saw an amazing dirndl skirt in Vogue and I realized that I really need a dirdl now!"

The personal shopper says, "I know just where I can get the hawtest dirdl that's ever been woven out of itchy tweed!" Then the personal shopper goes to her designers (authors) of dirndl skirts, looking for the right one. Maybe she doesn't have any dirndl skirt designers, so she finds a really young one right out of Today's Darling Millinery Academy for the Well-Coiffed and Photogenic.

By this time, all the other clients are clamoring for hawt dirndl skirts. Designers who've never worn a dirndl in their lives are stitching up things that sort of look like dirndls. The clients have dirndls and more dirndls. Some are chic and well-tailored, but some are hot messes. The market is flooded with dirndls. Those designers who have lovingly been trying for years to sell their beautifully crafted dirndls get swept away in the flood.

And a few years later, all the clients are saying, "Ugh, dirndl skirts! They are so sad and tired and tacky." Media experts, who had previously promoted the dirndl craze, are saying, "Haven't we had enough of those stoopid dirndls?" Stylish personal shoppers who see the beauty of a truly chic dirndl tell designers, "You've made a gorgeous dirndl, but no one wants them anymore. Do you have any lederhosen you can show me?"

Now you know everything about publishing.

Caveat: Venture into self-pubbed books at your own risk, because for every beautiful dirndl that has been ignored, there are thousands of hideous dirndls that were rejected for excellent reasons.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Here's a nifty tribute to a dirndl that was rejected over and over again and when it was finally produced, only 1000 copies were made despite the fact that it was so fabulous that it never made anyone's butt look fat.

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer replaceda show canceled mid-season on a then very small cable network.

This week's Supernatural finally starting hitting itsmarks again. Here's a terrific new video.

DARK COMPANION Signed Cover Flat Contest

2011-11-18T10:16:00.000-08:00

"Dark Companion is a powerful, mesmerizing coming of age novel with dark mystery, romance, and magic."

Patricia Altner, Patricia's Vampire Notes

I have a few sales proofs of cover art for Dark Companion, my upcoming YA gothic to be published by Tor Teen on July 3. These flats are given to bookstore buyers so they can find out about books and order them. They're fun because they have gloss and slightly metallic finishes that don't show up in an online graphic. It includes the back cover summary.

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls, she jumps at the chance to escape her violent neighborhood. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.

The classes are amazing, the campus is beautiful, and the other students are bright and interesting. The elegant headmistress and her two handsome sons are especially friendly. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.

What dark secrets are being kept from her and what price is she willing to pay to get everything she's always wanted?

If you would like to win this cover flat, just leave a comment telling me one of your favorite book covers. It can be new or old or upcoming. You know I'm obsessed with cover art, and I want to know what you like. Do you like sexy couples like Bride of the Night, romantic and windswept like Rapture, cartoon covers like The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf, hip urban fantasy covers like Hellbent...

The contest runs through November 30 and a winner will be selected at random. It is limited to the US and Canada, and an email address must be available.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Catherine Karp, whom many of you know from her fun Suburban Vampire website, has just sold In the Shadow of Blackbirds, a young adult historical gothic, to Amulet Books. The book will be published in 2013, and here's the announcement that ran in Publishers Weekly:

Cat Winters's IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS, the story of a teen girl mourning the loss of her first love in 1918 California, where a flu has turned deadlier than a world war, and spirit communication has become a dark and dangerous obsession, illustrated with early-twentieth-century photographs, to Maggie Lehrman at Amulet, by Barbara Poelle of Irene Goodman Agency (World English).

I'm delighted that Catherine, aka Cat Winters, will be joining the ranks of YA gothic writers! To find out more about her book, visit her new Cat Winters website with it's awesome banner art.

OTHER CONTESTS

The girls at Novel Novice is having a contest for Kimberly Derting's exciting fantasy dystopia The Pledge. Three winners will be chosen and the contest runs through November 25.

My contest for Cindy C. Bennett's sweet teen romance Geek Girl runs through November 20. It's cheeze, but it the absolute best way and I was rooting for the cool tough main character, Jen, to trust others enough to let her inner geek girl shine and find love.

Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole is giving away signed copies of Swoon and Swear by Nina Malkin. When Amber reviewed Swoon earlier this week, she called it "A steamy and sexy physiological thrill ride that will have its reader blushing and swooning in equal parts!"

Suzanne Johnson, author of the upcoming urban fantasy Royal Street, is giving away her own basic wi-fi Kindle at Preternatura. If you've been wanting to try online books, but haven't been able to afford a reader, here's your chance. Suzanne says, "Yeah, it's used, but it's cleaned off and deregistered and ready to go...and free. I have a leather case for it and a charger (it charges either by USB port or by AC adapter)."

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I tried to follow a theme, but only found slide shows set to Evanescence. I'm posting the first newish videos I can find.

It's Friday so here's your Richard Armitage video.

International Doppleganger Covers!

2011-11-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

You ever see a book cover and think, "That looks really familiar?" It's entirely possible that the same stock photo was used before, which is why I'm so happy that Tor Teen got exclusive US rights to the lovely moody photo used for the cover of Dark Companion, my upcoming YA gothic. Tez Miller of Tez Says found an Aussie book, Crave by Melissa Darnell, with the same cover, and Amanda of Love Vampires found the UK edition of Incubus by Carol Goodman, which uses the same photo for a gothicy romance.

Some covers are so similar they might be from the same photo session.

I love a dark gothic book cover -- and if you'd like to win a book with a dark gothic book cover, visit K.T. Grant's Babbling About Books, where Leanna Renee Hieber guest blogs about Darker Still: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, her new YA, and has a contest!

My work holds echoes of books past, books that are like ghosts in the pages of my work. Yes, I have my own distinct style, and my own distinct voice, but it is colored and shaped by my favorite genre; I am deliciously haunted by the 19th century Gothic novel.

I've got a copy and can't wait to start reading it!

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today's theme is new multifandom videos. These skew pretty young. Tomorrow I'll post videos featuring characters who've gotten a few bumps and bitterness over the years.

A Picture is Worth Approx. 100,000 Words

2011-11-15T09:55:00.000-08:00

I'm delighted that Dark Companion is now available for pre-sale at Amazon! The cover art, summary and blurbs will come later. Thanks to Tez Miller of Tez Says for discovering this listing, but I'm not surprised that she did since she's always got the latest scoop!

I was lucky in that my publisher got exclusive US rights for the photo used in my book cover, because good images often show up on more than one book. Such as the beautiful photo used for the covers of both The Hedgewitch Queen by Lilith St. Crow and The Treachery of Beautiful Things by Ruth Frances Long.

The Treachery of Beautiful Things will be released on August 16, 2012.

But sometimes the same book will have a dramatically different cover in different countries, such as Marie Lu's Legend. I like the clearly urban fantasy cover art of the UK cover (left), but think the US cover looks like a logo for a car or maybe a tech consulting group. The release date is November 29.

SUMMARY:What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Marie Lu's Website

I've posted these covers before, but I love the rich creepy gothicy feel of the UK cover on right. The US cover is also good, but much more modern.

Rarely both versions are so beautiful, I can't decide which I like better as with Alyxandra Harvey's Haunting Violet, which was released in June 2011. Okay, I prefer the UK cover with the girl in the black dress.

One Thing Looks Like Another

Lynn Weingarten's The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers (December 27 release) and Kiki Hamilton's The Faery Ring are both YA's with magic, but that's about all they have in common. I think the cover photos are from the same photo shoot, but the treatment is quite different. I prefer the dreamy cover of The Faery Ring, but that's also because of the beautiful title font.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Today I'm posting brand new videos, preferably less than a week old. Enjoy!

DarkArt987 did a beautiful job editing scenes to match this haunting song.

I am very conflicted because I hate this song so very much that I don't think it deserves redemption.

Aussie Books & Bloggers Concludes & Thrilling New Feature

2011-11-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

NEW FEATURE: If there's a question you want to ask about the writing biz, query letters, what rejections mean, working with an agent and editor, self-publishing, etc., send it to me and I'll answer it in my new feature, "Marta Pretends to Know." I actually do know lots of stuff about the writing biz and if I don't know the answer to your question, I can make up an answer. That's why fiction is called creative writing.

Aussie Bloggers to Watch

Sarah Brown at Head Stuck in a Book describes herself as:

I'm an Aussie who never goes anywhere without a book, if I'm not reading I'm probably daydreaming about the book I'm currently reading (usually while I'm working, whatever gets you through the day).

Sarah seems to be a new blogger and covers a lot of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, both adult and young adult. No snob, she reviews best-selling authors and self-pubbed. I especially like her running "Aussie versus US" book cover category, like the ones below. (The Aussie cover is on the left.)

Here's the UK cover.

Beautiful Malice is by Aussie native and resident Rebecca James, who somehow manages to writes while raising four sons.

SUMMARY: To erase her past, Katherine has moved to a new city, enrolled in a new school, and even changed her name. She’s done the next best thing to disappearing altogether. Now, wary and alone, she seeks nothing more than anonymity. What she finds instead is the last thing she expected: a friend.

Even more unlikely, Katherine’s new friend is the most popular and magnetic girl in school. Extroverted, gorgeous, flirtatious, and unpredictable, she is everything that Katherine is not and doesn’t want to be: the center of attention. Yet Alice’s enthusiasm is infectious, her candor sometimes unsettling, and Katherine, in spite of her guarded caution, finds herself drawn into Alice’s private circle.

But Alice has secrets, too—darker than anyone can begin to imagine. And when she lets her guard down at last, Katherine discovers the darkest of them all.

You can visit Rebecca's website and her blog to learn more about her and her writing. Rebecca must have rescued puppies and orphans in a previous life to get such amazing cover karma.

At top is the cover art for Mammon by J.B. Thomas, who lives in Perth.

SUMMARY: After the savage, tragic deaths of their parents, Grace and Joe Callahan learn that they they are descendants of the sarsareh - an ancient order of mercenaries who hunt very special prey. Grace and Joe take their place in the Order, but are treated with hostility and fear by other recruits.

For the Callahan siblings have powers that fascinate and terrify. Joe is a Ferryman, capable of opening dimensional rifts, while Grace's telepathic abilities surpass anything the Order has ever seen. To complicate matters, Grace falls for her older, more experienced squad leader, Ivan. Meanwhile, the sarsareh elders have their own plans for Joe.

But none of that will matter if the powerful demon Mammon manages to convince Joe to open a gateway to his demon world and overrun Earth with his armies.

J.B. seems to only blog at Goodreads, and you can check out her page there.

Dangerously Placed by Nansi Kunze

SUMMARY: Alex Thaler can't wait to start her dream work experience placement at Virk, where staff from all over the world mingle in an astonishing virtual office. But when an employee is found murdered, the dream becomes a nightmare—because Alex is the prime suspect. Fortunately, Alex's friends are willing to brave shark tanks, disgusting pathology specimens, and even a nude beach in order to clear her name. Can a hippie chick, a goth girl in a lab coat, and two guys with a taste for blowing things up really help solve the mystery before Alex becomes the next victim?

Visit Nansi's blog to learn more about her and her writing.

Death's Sweet Embrace by Tracey O'Hara

SUMMARY:Teenaged shapeshifters are being slaughtered by a sadistic serial killer who rips their still-beating hearts from their paralyzed bodies. A task force forms to halt the madness, including the vampiric Aeternus Antoinette Petrescu, as well as Kitt Jordan and Raven Matokwe, members of enemy Animalian tribes . . . and forbidden lovers.

A centuries-old blood feud has divided their shapeshifting peoples, and if their passion is discovered it will doom them both. But past hostilities must be put aside, for the killer they seek is but the first sign of the all-consuming nightmare of The Dark Brethren.

Visit Tracey's website to read about her series, including free excerpts.

You can find lists for Aussie books at Goodreads:

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I've been struggling to find videos with Aussie stars and all of a sudden I had a forehead-slapping Duh! realization that I've been celebrating Australia's spirit all along with all the AC/DC vids I've posted.

Upcoming Aussie YA Books & a Very Special Hugh Jackman Tribute

2011-11-11T10:06:00.000-08:00

My celebration of Aussie lit and book bloggers is going to be extended into next week, because the more I explore, the more fab books I discover. Today I'm featuring new and upcoming Young Adult novels by Australian writers and I found some of these on Aussie Reviews and at Booktopia, a Sydney-based online bookstore that ships worldwide. On Monday, I'll feature adult fiction books.

Froi of the Exiles by Malina Marchetta

SUMMARY: Blood sings to blood … Those born last will make the first … For Charyn will be barren no more.

Three years after the curse on Lumatere was lifted, Froi has found his home ... or so he believes. Fiercely loyal to the Queen and Finnikin, Froi has been taken roughly and lovingly in hand by the Guard sworn to protect the royal family, and has learned to control his quick temper with a warrior's discipline. But when he is sent on a secretive mission to the kingdom of Charyn, nothing could have prepared him for what he finds in its surreal royal court. Soon he must unravel both the dark bonds of kinship and the mysteries of a half-mad princess in this barren and mysterious place.

It is in Charyn that he will discover there is a song sleeping in his blood … and though Froi would rather not, the time has come to listen.

Melina Marchetta's Website

The Sending (Obernewtyn Chronicles #6) by Isobel Carmody

SUMMARY: The time has come at last for Elspeth Gordie to leave the Land on her quest to find and stop the computermachine Sentinel from unleashing the deadly Balance of Terror arsenal. But before she can embark on her quest, she must find a lost key. And although she has long prepared for this day, nothing is as she imagined.

Elspeth's search will take her where she never thought to go, and bestow upon her stranger companions than any she thought to have. It will lead her far from her destination to those she thought lost forever.

And it will test her, as she has never been tested before…

Isobel Carmody's Website

The Spider Goddess by Tara Moss

SUMMARY: It's been two months since Pandora English left her small hometown to live with her mysterious great-aunt in a haunted mansion in Spektor – the fog-wreathed suburb of Manhattan that doesn't appear on any map. With the help of her great-aunt and the beautiful – but dead – Lieutenant Luke, Pandora is beginning to understand the significance of the Lucasta family heritage her late mother kept secret from her. Pandora is heir to a great gift. And with that comes frightening responsibility...

Meanwhile, she seems doomed to be forever underestimated in the mortal world. Her fashion editor boss doesn't seem to know she exists. But New York needs Pandora's special gifts. There is a new designer in town, and her ambitions extend far beyond taking over the fashion world one knit at a time..

Tara Moss's Website

Muse (Mercy #3) by Rebecca Lim

SUMMARY: Mercy is an angel, exiled from heaven, and when she wakes in the body of nineteen-year-old Irina, Mercy discovers that she′s one of the world′s most infamous supermodels on the verge of a very public breakdown.

Against the glamorous background of Milan′s opulent fashion world, Mercy continues her increasingly desperate search for Ryan Daley, the mortal boy she remembers falling for in a past life. But, this time, Mercy′s memories and powers are growing ever stronger - and she begins to doubt the pleas of her dream lover, Luc, as more of her mysterious past is revealed by beings both celestial and demonic. Are Luc′s desires as selfless as her own or does he want her for a more terrifying purpose?

The grand scale celestial battle for Mercy′s soul builds to an incredible stormy crescendo as archangels and demons clash in a cataclysmic showdown that not all will survive ...

Rebecca Lim's Website

The Ivory Rose by Belinda Murrell

SUMMARY: Jemma has just landed her first job, babysitting Sammy. It's in Rosethorne, one of the famous witches' houses near where she lives. Sammy says the house is haunted by a sad little girl, but Jemma doesn't know what to believe.

One day when the two girls are playing hide and seek, Jemma discovers a rose charm made of ivory. As she touches the charm she sees a terrifying flashback. Is it the moment the ghost was murdered? Jemma runs for her life, falling down the stairs and tumbling into unconsciousness.

She wakes up in 1895, unable to get home. Jemma becomes an apprentice maidservant at Rosethorne - but all is not well in the grand house. Young heiress Georgiana is constantly sick. Jemma begins to suspect Georgiana is being poisoned, but who would poison her, and why? Jemma must find the proof in order to rescue her friend - before time runs out.

Belinda Murrell's Website

The Extinction Gambit (Extraordinaires #1) by Michael Pryor

SUMMARY: Kingsley Ward is in dire trouble. Instead of thrilling the audience with his death-defying escapology, his first performance ends in disaster when his hidden wolfish nature bursts free. That same night, his father is abducted and his home ransacked.

To find Dr Ward and redeem himself, Kingsley braves the Demimonde, the mysterious world that exists alongside our own. He is soon the target of two warring factions: immortal magicians whose diabolical plans will create mayhem at the 1908 Olympics, and the last Neanderthals, whose vengeance will wipe out humankind.

Kingsley needs help. The famous author Rudyard Kipling will assist, but why is he so interested in Kingsley? Evadne Stephens, juggler and weaponsmith, is a Demimonde expert - but what does her mercurial nature conceal?

Michael Pryor's Facebook

The Day the World Ended (Extinction #1) by Lizzie Wilcock

SUMMARY: The world is going to end on the 21st of September. We know this because we've seen it. We were there.

Twins Annie and Mac are the only survivors when humanity is wiped out - or so they think. A mysterious website reveals that they are not alone, and that they have the ability to undo the mass-extinction. But there is someone who will do anything to stop them...

Lizzie Wilcock's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Yesterday I spent an inordinate amount of time looking for tributes to Aussie stars, but most were slide shows (some better than others but a lot hokey). So I'm just accepting the inevitable: if I want to carry on the Down Under theme, I'll just stick to Hugh Jackman videos. Have a great weekend!

This cool music in the background is the Raymond Scott Quintet. His compositions were frequently used in old cartoons and it's great music for kids -- smart and crazy at the same time.

Australian Books & Bloggers: Part Three

2011-11-10T10:08:00.000-08:00

Really, really want to read this!

In celebration of Aussie YA Month, I'm writing about Aussie bloggers and books, but the more I look into Aussie lit, the more interesting things I discover, such as:

Carla at The Crooked Shelf's celebration of Aussie YA books with guest posts, reviews, sites where you can find Aussie YA... So just go there and bookmark it. I did.
Nomes at Inkcrush is an Aussie blogger, who describes herself as "one of those Slightly Less Young fans of Young Adult literature." Check out her right sidebar for "Le Aussie Love," a blogroll of great Aussie book blogger and writer sites. Nomes also shows a love of cover love, including covers of Aussie editions of books. You know I'm addicted to the cover stuff.

Aussie versions thanks to Nomes at Bookcrush.

Adele at Persnickety Snark is an Aussie teaching in Japan and she describes her site as "a home of YA (Young Adult literature) reviews, discussion posts and interviews with an emphasis placed on Australian authors. A blog where constructive and honest reviews, in depth interviews, thought provoking discussions and a unique perspective can be found. Adele also provides an impressive list of all her reviews, from A (A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl) to W (Wings).
Middlemiss has a great list of Aussie writers with links to bios and bibliographies. I could spend all day exploring this site. If you enjoy poetry, be sure to scroll down your screen to the link of poems.

Here are some new and newish Aussie books and links to the author's or publisher's sites. Hope you'll want to try something from the flip side of the world!

The Coming of the Whirlpool (Ship's Kings #1) by Andrew McGahan

It is not drowning your mother fears. What she truly dreads is that if you go to sea then you will come to the attention of the Ship Kings. And that if they discover who you are, they will kill you. Young Dow Amber is no sailor. But driven by a strange sea-longing he ventures from the high country of New Island all the way down to a grim fishing village on the shores of the bay known as the Claw. There he finds a cursed people living in dread not only of the mysterious Ship Kings that rule their country, but also of the fury of the ocean itself. When the Ship Kings sail their tall ships into the Claw, Dow's forbidden longing only grows. Who are the Ship Kings? How do they navigate the high seas? And what of the strange and fascinating girl who lives aboard one of their ships? When the whirlpool rises, will the call of the sea lead Dow to his heart's desire or to certain death?

Burn Bright (Night Creatures #1) by Marianne di Pierres

In Ixion music and party are our only beliefs. Darkness is our comfort. We have few rules but they are absolute . . .

Retra doesn’t want to go to Ixion, the island of ever-night, ever-youth and never-sleep. Retra is a Seal – sealed minds, sealed community. She doesn’t crave parties and pleasure, experience and freedom.

But her brother Joel left for Ixion two years ago, and Retra is determined to find him. Braving the intense pain of her obedience strip to escape the only home she’s ever known, Retra stows away on the barge that will take her to her brother.

When she can’t find Joel, Retra finds herself drawn deeper into the intoxicating world of Ixion. Come to me, whispers a voice in her head. Who are the Ripers, the mysterious guardians of Ixion? What are the Night Creatures Retra can see in the shadows? And what happens to those who grow too old for Ixion?

Only Ever Always by Penni Russon

Claire lives in an ordinary world where everything is whole. But inside Claire is broken. The silvery notes of her music box allow her an escape from her grief into a dream-world, into Clara's world.
Clara's world has always been broken. She finds broken things to swap at the markets; she walks the treacherous route past the brown river where lone dogs prowl; she avoids the seamy side when she can, but with powerful people pulling the strings, it's not always possible.

Which world is real?

Claire's and Clara's paths are set to collide, and each has much to lose - or gain.

Embrace (The Violet Eden Chapters #1) by Jessica Shirvington

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Night Beach by Kirsty Eager

For Abbie, the ocean is a refuge and the only place she feels in touch with her wilder, truer self. But when her step-cousin Kane returns from a surf trip with something to conceal, she learns that what the sea wants, the sea shall have … A page-turning gothic thriller from award-winning author Kirsty Eagar.

"It’s about art, the ocean, and the very dark things that feed the creative process … There’s surfing in there, and a look at the idea of ownership. But mainly it’s about a girl called Abbie and a guy called Kane."

I'll post more about Aussie books and bloggers tomorrow!

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I feel all kinds of wrong for even listening to this song let alone posting it, but Alex O'Loughlin is one of Australia's biggest stars here in the US.

Since I'm wallowing in guilt, why not add glitter graphics?

Who doesn't love Sam Neill and this totally bitchin "Peter Gunn" theme?

And now you can get a little culture with a language lesson. There are some Aussies in this slide show.

Australian Books & Bloggers: Bloggers, Part Dos

2011-11-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

When I look at my map of the world, conveniently printed on my shower curtain, I'm always amazed at just how large Australia is. I have "New York - London - Toronto - Sydney" right with the publisher's name on my books, but my publisher doesn't actually have most of its titles available in Australian bookstores. So, like the beloved and inscrutable platypus, Australian publishing is more or less isolated from the rest of the word.

The Aussie book community is busy evolving idiosyncratically and independently, and most of us aren't even aware enough to say, "Whoa, totally cool and fascinating beak on that weird fish-bird thing!"

Luckily, some book bloggers regularly feature the wonderful world of Aussie fiction.

Shelleyrae at Book'd Out: Sometimes I visit sites and get immediate blog envy. I want the design, the graphics, the layout. That's how I feel each time I visit Book'd Out: I consider stealing all the social network buttons. Shelleyrae is a voracious reader, a self-described book addict, says,

In all the places I have lived the librarians quickly learnt my name because I visited so often but I’ve not always been able to find what I want. I’ve never had the budget to feed my book habit – book prices in Australia are extortionate – and in the country town I now live in there are no second hand booksellers within a 2 hour drive.

...don’t expect erudite literary critique, I tend to just write about what I did or didn’t like about a book. I try very hard to avoid spoilers and I am not interested in denigrating anyone, no book bashing allowed.

Shelleyrae has a terrific list of Aussie writers and a cool "Aussie Author of the Month" feature, where you can find lists of fantasy, horror and speculative fiction, YA fiction, etc. She covers a wide range of genre and non-genre fiction, as well as non-fiction. She's very active on Goodreads and other book sites, so you can also sign up there to follow her reviews. (You can find the link on those social buttons that I mentioned.)

Kate at Nomalicious Reads: Kate is a college student majoring in writing, and she says,

My blog is mostly focused on the Young Adult genre, I'm pretty flexible with the sub-genres, but take a look around my blog before contacting me so you can get a feel for what I like. I also read adult books in contemporary, dystopian, urban fantasy, fantasy, paranormal or romance mixed with the previous listed, along with murder, mystery, crime (these genres also go for YA also). etc. ;

She has reviews and giveaways (often international giveaways), and Nomalicious Reads has a lovely design, simple and pretty. It would be really nice if Kate would occasionally highlight and/or identify Aussie authors for those wanting to read more Aussie fiction.

JudiJ at Slightly Addicted to Fiction focuses on YA and Children's Fiction, and she includes lots of book news from all over the world. JudiJ describes her blog as an "eclectic blog that gives news about fiction books and reading in all forms and genres but perhaps with a bias towards publishing for children and young adults."

She has an impressive and extensive list of Aussie YA/children's book writers and illustrators. I could (and probably will) spend way too much time checking out these links to author sites.

If you know of an Aussie blogger or you are an Aussie blogger, please tell me and I'll mention your site.

Tomorrow I'll be featuring Aussie YA authors, whoohoo, because NYC ain't got nothing on the Australian outback when it comes to a ripping dystopian story.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Yes, Thor is Australian.

And Dracula is Australian, too.

And Dr. Doom is Australian.

Okay, I'm not a big Russell Crowe fan, but I'm sure someone is.

Australian Books & Bloggers Week: Bloggers to Watch, Part I

2011-11-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

This week, I'm featuring books and book bloggers from Down Under. If I don't feature them all on my right sidebar, it's only because their blogs are more extensive than paranormal/urban fantasy.

Danielle Binks, Alpha Reader: I don't know how I had missed putting this site on my blogroll until now because I visit Alpha Reader all the time. I love Danni's insightful, thorough reviews and if she says something's fab, I add it to my to-read list. Her bio says:

My blog is nothing fancy. I prefer Spartan over flash, and I am more concerned with writing long, sincere and rambling reviews than aesthetics. This is just a little list of pointers I try to write by, based on my own preferences, likes and dislikes...

My preferred genres are: Romance (paranormal/historical/contemporary), YA, Urban Fantasy, Murder Mystery, Erotica, Cozy Mystery and Crime Thriller. I have also developed a new fascination for graphic novels (particularly those that are adapted from book series).

Reading Danni's reviews is like having a serious and fun chat with a book-obsessed pal who throws everything into literary, historical and cultural context, but still can be a ecstatic fangirl.

Here are some of Danni's favorite (or as she writes "favourite") Australian YA books:

Saving Francesca & The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta

Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta

Beatle Meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams

Good Oil by Laura Buzo

Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

Chasing Charlie Duskin by Cath Crowley

The Night Creatures series by Marianne de Pierres

Days Like This by Alison Stewart

Tez Miller, Tez Says: What does Tez say? Well, she's not afraid to tell someone not to be a tosser and she's not fond of toffee-nosed characters! Tez's bio says:

When not obsessively re-checking the release dates on her reading wish list, she can be found enjoying junk food, foreign accents, and animated TV comedies. Tez writes speculative fiction, and is easily distracted by shiny things.

Tez has had her review site since 2008 and frequently puts together awesome upcoming book covers. Her blog includes interviews and guest bloggers. I love the restrained way Tez uses graphics and white space on her blog -- it's just so lovely to visit her site and she makes you want the books she features.

Tez has written Shift, a shapeshifter story; Bloodroot, her take on vamps; and is currently working on a futuristic YA novel.

Tez recommended the Australian book site, Book Thingo, which is primarily a romance book blog. The site is run by Kat, with additional reviews by Wandergurl and Decadence. Kat says:

You can probably expect rants and musings and the odd tangential post. We’re also interested in local book news, events, bookstores and general book-related stuff that’s going on in our part of the world...

Seriously, we love to talk books with other people, so the more the merrier. You can call it a review site, if you like, but we (and by that, I mean me—Kat) freely admit that half the time we’re just waffling on about stuff we love. Hopefully in an entertaining way.

But "romance" is just a starting point for Book Thingo, which includes reviews of books like Aussie writer Sara Creasy's Song of Sarabeus, which Kat describes as "this is a page turner for science fiction readers who like a bit of romance, not the other way around."

I'll have more Aussie bloggers for you tomorrow and then feature Aussie novelists the rest of the week.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is...fab Aussies!

GEEK GIRL Blog Tour: Q&A with CIndy C. Bennett & Contest

2011-11-07T09:58:00.000-08:00

"I went into this one with a totally negative attitude and this book killed me with adorableness."

Flannery, The Reading Adventurer

"The author does a make-my-heart-flutter job of letting the love simmer and build, creating realistic timing for the attraction and chemistry between the two main characters."

Sandy, Sunny Books Blogspot

When I heard the title of Cindy C. Bennett's new book, Geek Girl, I wanted the book. When I saw the cover of Geek Girl, I wanted the book more. When I found out the premise of Geek Girl, I really really wanted the book. Cindy's publisher, Cedar Fort, was kind enough to give me an e-galley and I had a great time zipping through the story of mismatched love.

Here's the summary:

Jen's life of partying and sneaking out has grown stale. So on a whim, Jen makes a bet to turn Trevor, a goody-two-shoes geek, into a "bad boy." As she hangs out with Trevor, however, she finds it's actually kinda fun being a geek. But when Trevor finds out about the bet, Jen must fight for the things she's discovered matter most: friendship, family, and, above all, love.

It's a great fun read, full of sweetness and romance. You know what the ending will be and the joy is getting to that ending.

I'm very happy to have Cindy here to talk about Geek Girl, and geeks, and girls.

Cedar Fort is also providing a copy of Geek Girl in an international contest so be sure to read to the end of the post for entry information.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

MARTA: Hi, Cindy, and welcome to Vampire Wire! Congratulations on the publication of Geek Girl. You took a very different route toward publication, initially self-publishing the book. What’s been the most surprising thing about having your book published now?

Original cover art

CINDY: Thanks, Marta, for having me. I think the most surprising thing about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing has probably been having the support of a group of editors, rather than having everything on my shoulders. It’s kind of nice to have someone else in charge of making the decisions about certain things. Also, I’m not very good at self-promotion, so it’s nice to let someone else do that for me in certain circumstances.

MARTA: You have teen daughters and a proudly geeky son. Can you name a few ways your day-to-day experiences with them helped you shape your characters, Jen, Trevor, and his Geek posse?

CINDY: I actually have two geeky sons (along with the two un-geeky daughters). They’ve helped me fully release my inner geek, lol. It’s definitely helped having teen kids over just having been a teen, because I can look at it from the outside and be a little more objective. When I was a teen, I was far too involved and too close to the subject to see some truths about being a teen. But as I’ve watched my kids, and their friends, I can see a little why teens do the things they do, or make the decisions they make, and see that most teens are acting not from a place of cruelty or bad intentions, but more from a lack of understanding how unimportant some things are, which comes simply from a lack of experience. We all make mistakes, and I think we make the most in those formative years, which of course helps shape who we become.

MARTA: What I really got from your book is such warmth and love. Jen takes on a bet to convert Trevor to the Dark Side. He resists the glamour of decadence, but at the same time, he’s not at all judgmental about Jen. She’s the one who had a preconceived notion of who he was. In your mind, how does Trevor really perceive Jen when she first flirts with him?

CINDY: Okay, I love that you used the Dark Side, with capitalization. I’m such a Star Wars nerd that any reference just softens my heart! I always try to imagine the opposite side of what I’m writing, so I had a definite idea of how he perceived her. He saw this girl who would normally not even give him a second look unless it was to make fun of him suddenly coming on to him. He’s confused, and suspicious, which is why he leaves the stomp so angrily. He believes she’s playing him, but doesn’t know why. But he’s been raised to have an open mind and respect differences—admittedly more from his father’s POV than his mother’s—and so he gives her the benefit of a doubt. When she comes to his house the first time, to him that puts their relationship into a sort of “friend” realm where he then trusts her, because to his way of thinking she’s been a guest in his home, so she deserves that from him.

MARTA: Trevor is all kinds of fabulous. What do you love about geeks and what did they offer Jen that she didn’t expect?

CINDY: What don’t I love about geeks??? I love that as a general rule they are genuinely open and accepting of those who are different. They don’t have any preconceived notions of what “normal” is, because their normal is whatever they make it. That’s part of what they offer Jen, this acceptance of her as is, which she has never experienced before from peers, let alone from adults. When they accept her that way, she finally begins to accept herself for the first time, and realizes that not only does she want more, she deserves more.

MARTA: What does Jen offer this pack of socially-awkward guys?

CINDY: Something to gawk at! Lol. I think she shows them that they can be true friends with people who don’t speak geekanese, that their world is a little larger than they thought. Also, that they can have a collective impact of someone’s life by being kind and non-judgemental.

MARTA: I was rooting for Jen and Trevor throughout the story, and that relationship propels the story forward. But I also wanted to know more about Jen – her classes, her interests, her plans after graduation, what she liked to cook... Any comments?

CINDY: Because she had pigeonholed herself prior to meeting Trevor, she hasn’t ever tried to excel at school. Therefore, she has just been taking basic classes, the bare minimum needed to get by. Of course, we learn she’s capable of so much more, so as a senior, I imagine she takes tougher classes. Her foster mother opened the door to what had been a private dream, the desire to become a chef, making her believe it’s possible. So I like to think that after high school, she went to culinary school and was able to pursue her dream. Maybe she’ll appear on Hell’s Kitchen or Chopped? She likes to cook gourmet-type meals that are simple and appealing. She’s more of an entrée type cook, than a baker.

MARTA: Your story sends very positive messages about the simple pleasures that can be found in the company of kind, thoughtful people. You make family bowling night sound fun. (Okay, bowling is fun!) What do you think the most important message of your book is?

CINDY: I hope that the message people get is to not judge others based on their appearance. I think we’re all guilty of that to some degree, even if we try not to do it. Jen appears to be one thing, but we discover that she’s really a kind, loving girl who is hiding beneath a disguise of sorts—not just in what she wears, but also in her attitude. She uses that to keep people at bay. It just took a couple of people who didn’t judge her for her to believe she didn’t need to hide anymore.

MARTA: You have lots of shout-outs for sci-fi fans. What’s your favorite classic scifi show and your favorite new or newer scifi show?

CINDY: Oh, gosh, how much space do you have? Lol. My absolute favorite classic would be Star Wars (the original trilogy). Also, the original Superman, Batman (1989) and Star Trek TNG. I’m a huge fan of the old Twilight Zone as well. They had some really crazy, creative stories on there. Not sure if the Underworld movies fit in classic, or newer. Newer, I suppose. Other newer shows are Smallville, all of the amazing comic book movies coming out, particularly The Avengers series of movies, and I’m addicted to The Walking Dead. I like the newer Star Wars, but I’m not as crazy about them as I am the older ones, excepting episode III. That one is pretty amazing, and Hayden Christensen is a beautiful thing in that movie. I can’t wait to see what they do with The Hunger Games. Wow, that was hard to narrow down! And you wanted me to pick just one. :o)

MARTA: Cindy, thanks so much for visiting today! What’s next for you and where can readers find out more about you and your books?

CINDY: Thank you again for having me; this has been a fun interview. You can find me at my website. From there you can easily find links to info about all of my books, where to get them, and a link to the geekcast (geek podcast) I do as well.

Visit Cindy's blog and follow her on Twitter.
Friend her on Facebook and Goodreads.
Visit her publisher's home.

INTERNATIONAL CONTEST INFORMATION: If you'd like to win a copy of Cindy's Geek Girl, all you have to do is leave a comment for Cindy, or a comment about geekiness. Who's your favorite geek (mine is easily Sheldon of The Big Bang Theory). Or you can leave a comment about any geeky qualities you have. (Mine is minor OCD about details, which is why my friends and family can't ask me weird questions because I'll become obsessed with finding out the answers.)

The contest runs through November 20 and a winner will be selected by random drawing. If the winner lives in the U.S., the prize will be a hard copy or an e-book, winner's choice. If the winner lives outside the U.S., the prize will be an e-book.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

In honor of Cindy's book publication, here are videos featuring some of her favorite shows. And I was able to find this tribute to Luke Skywalker set to the the most cheezetastic disco. Oh la la oh la la la!

That was fun, but here's a lovely tribute to Smallville by OneDestiny set to Florence & the Machine's "Cosmic Love."

Imagemode made this amusing tribute to Star Trek The Next Generation and set it to Elvis Presley.

Friday Fun: Lots of YA Giveaways

2011-11-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Please be sure to visit on Monday, because Cindy C. Bennett will be my guest to talk about her fun new Young Adult (YA) book, Geek Girl. I hope to be featuring more YA in the future.

On Tuesday, I'll start my Celebration of Aussie Authors & Bloggers. I've already received some good lists, but if you have a fave Aussie book or blog, please tell me!

I have a lot to do today so I'm just going to share a few good links:

Catherine Karpp at Suburban Vampire has 5 Scary Questions with Sophie Littlefield and a contest for her new book, Unforsaken,

At Preternatura, Suzanne Johnson has yet another of her AMAZING contests for a mess o' YA books including: White Cat by Holly Black, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, Feed by M.T. Anderson...

Authors agonize over first lines. Well, first paragraphs, first scenes, middle scenes, last scenes...we agonize over everything. But especially that opening line. It should make us readers want to keep reading. So below are opening lines from seven YA novels. Some bestsellers, some that maybe should have been but weren't. Some new, a couple not so new.

Tirzah Price at The Compulsive Reader has a guest blog from Ally Condie and has a Crossed giveaway.

I believe I sent out about 50 queries total, with my fastest rejection arriving via e-mail within half an hour and my slowest…well, let’s just say that some of the rejection letters still haven’t arrived. But after two months of querying, an agent offered representation. When I let the other agents know that had happened, suddenly my book was moved to the front burner and people were reading it more quickly. Eventually I had seven offers of representation. I couldn’t believe it.

Yan at Books by Their Cover (and her site as fun graphics) has an interview with Anna Carey and a contest for Eve, a YA dystopian.

There are good secrets (surprise parties) and very bad secrets (dead bodies under the floorboards). But, in general, I lean towards the "secrets are bad" side. I like to keep everything out in the open, and own everything I've done--even the more cringe-worthy stuff.

Ana and Thea at The Book Smugglers are giving away an audiobook of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan.

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you’d been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival — not love — the issue?

Susan Robertson at Wastepaper Prose is giving away copies of both SwoonSwear by Nina Malkin and .

Torn from her native New York City and dumped in the land of cookie-cutter preps, Candice is resigned to accept her posh, dull fate. Nothing ever happens in Swoon, Connecticut...until Dice's perfect, privileged cousin Penelope nearly dies in a fall from an old tree, and her spirit intertwines with that of a ghost. His name? Sinclair Youngblood Powers. His mission? Revenge.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

We conclude our week of videos featuring the Tom Jones Effect (tm). Have a great weekend!

And here are two videos by our very own Vampire Wire pal, TisReina.

Upcoming Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy Books: Part Dos

2011-11-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some more upcoming releases. The title/author link will take you to the author's website. All graphics courtesy of Fantastic Fiction, one of my top websites for book news and information.

Born of Ashes by Caris Roane

SUMMARY: For years, she was kept as a human slave - one of seven unwilling 'blood donors' for the death vampires who thirst for absolute power. Now, Fiona is a free woman, haunted by her memories of being strapped to a gurney, drained of blood, then revived at the last moment. She lives to avenge her captors - but only one warrior can help her.

Jean-Pierre has lived and fought for over two-hundred years. He knows the triumph of slaying a death vampire, but has never known anything like the feelings that arise when he becomes Fiona's guardian. Her beauty, her pain, her passion - and her growing power - consume his senses. Now the warrior must draw his sword once more.and fight the gates of hell itself - for love.

Vampire Days Ahead by Cheyenne McCray

SUMMARY: With zero tolerance for bloodsuckers, Nyx and the Trackers have made the streets safer for warm-blooded New Yorkers. Unfortunately, they didn't drive a stake through the problem nationwide. Vampire attacks are on the rise. Proctors are dropping like flies. And Volod - New York's ousted Master Vampire - is trying to make a comeback.

Nyx is worried - about her city, her job, and her neck. But mostly she's concerned about her former lover, Rodán, a Proctor who's gone missing. Scarier still, Volod is capturing and 'turning' paranorms to help him paint the town red. Which sucks. Because some of these new vampires are Nyx's old friends. But hey - if she can stake them here, she'll stake them anywhere.

UK Cover

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

SUMMARY: Ari can't help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can't be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

US Cover

Her search for answers uncovers just one message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it's impossible to protect herself when she doesn't know what she's running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid of her.

Ari won't stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

Tricks of the Trade by Laura Anne Gilman

SUMMARY: When magic goes wrong, who are you going to call?

The name's Torres, Bonnie Torres, and I'm a paranormal scene investigator—rooting out the truth about crimes of magic. It's dangerous and boring and scary and fascinating. Though not everyone in the Cosa Nostradamus is happy we're around, which can make things…tricky.

Working two cases—looking into a murder for the NYPD, and a rich man's break-in—should be well within our abilities. But when things start getting weird in the Electric Apple, Private Unaffiliated Paranormal Investigations is stretched to the limits, trying to keep one step ahead and out of trouble. Add in rumors of a powerful creature gunning for us and it's not just our rep on the line this time—if we don't solve this case, everyone will suffer.

Fortunately, around here, when the going gets weird, the weird hire us.…

Silver-Tongued Devil by Jaye Wells

SUMMARY: Now that the threat of war has passed, Sabina Kane is ready to focus on the future. Her relationship with Adam Lazarus is getting stronger and she's helping her sister, Maisie, overcome the trauma of her captivity in New Orleans. Even Giguhl is managing to stay out of trouble thanks to the arrival of Pussy Willow and his new roller derby team. But as much as Sabina wants to feel hopeful about the future, part of her doesn't believe that peace is possible.

Her suspicions are confirmed when a string of sadistic murders threatens to stall treaty negotiations between the mages and the vampires. Sabina pitches in to find the killer, but her investigation soon leads her down dark paths that have her questioning everyone she thought she could trust. And the closer she gets to the killer, the more Sabina begins to suspect this is one foe she may not be able to kill.

The Mortal Bone by Marjorie M. Liu

SUMMARY: When the bond Maxine Kiss shares with the demons tattooed on her skin is deliberately severed, the demon hunter is left vulnerable and unprotected. For the first time in ten thousand years, the demons have a taste of freedom. And as the little demons grow more violent and unpredictable, Maxine starts to fear they will lose their minds without her. Reuniting won't be easy, since a greater temptation waits for these hellions: a chance to return to their lives as Reaper Kings, and unleash hell on Earth.

Wild Wild Death by Casey Daniels

SUMMARY: Her job has been cut, she's low on cash, and her detective sometime- boyfriend refuses to even talk about her ability to see the dead and solve their murders. So Pepper is most certainly down for a vacation to get her spirits up. But when her cute scientist friend Dan is kidnapped, Pepper soon stumbles upon another deadly mystery that brings her to New Mexico. And she's after a clever murderer-one whose idea of Boot Hill has nothing to do with Jimmy Choo.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

This week's theme is classic video songs, i.e., songs that dramatically contribute to the delightfulness of any video due to some inexplicable kismet. So far, we've enjoyed videos set to songs by Britney Spears, Tom Jones, and AC/DC. But there are some new players on the scene whose songs are genius with videos. One of these is Florence & the Machine.

If you haven't yet watched the BBC's Being Human, about a ghost, vamp, and werewolf who are roommates, I strongly suggest that you rent the DVDs.

Here's a video featuring Faith of Buffy and Alcide of True Blood.

Upcoming Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Releases

2011-11-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some upcoming PR/UF paperback books to consider for your to-read lists. These will all be coming out in the next few months.

Shaedes of Gray by Amanda Bonilla
Shaede Assassin Book #1

In the shadows of the night, Darian has lived alone for almost a century. Made and abandoned by her former love, Darian is the last of her kind-an immortal Shaede who can slip into darkness as easily as breathing. With no one else to rely on, she has taught herself how to survive, using her unique skills to become a deadly assassin.

When Darian's next mark turns out to be Xander Peck, King of the Shaede Nation, her whole worldview is thrown into question. Darian begins to wonder if she's taken on more than her conscience will allow. But a good assassin never leaves a job unfinished...

Amanda Bonilla's Website

River Marked by Patricia Briggs
Mercedes Thompson Book #6

Car mechanic Mercy Thompson has always known there was something different about her, and not just the way she can make a VW engine sit up and beg. Mercy is a shapeshifter, a talent she inherited from her long-gone father. She's never known any others of her kind. Until now.

An evil is stirring in the depths of the Columbia River-one that her father's people may know something about. And to have any hope of surviving, Mercy and her mate, the Alpha werewolf Adam, will need their help...

Patricia Briggs' Website

Fate's Edge by Ilona Andrews
Edge book #3

Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...

Ilona Andrews' Website

Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
Lords of Deliverance #2

The signs are everywhere...disastrous world events. Evil rising up, unleashed upon the innocent. The prophecies were there...but no one listened. Until now. The time has come for those who can either usher in Doomsday...or prevent it. They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.

Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.

Larissa Ione's Website

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
Angelfire Book #1

Every night Ellie is haunted by terrifying dreams of monstrous creatures that are hunting her, killing her.

Then come the memories.

When Ellie meets Will, she feels on the verge of remembering something just beyond her grasp. His attention is intense and romantic, and Ellie feels like her soul has known him for centuries. On her seventeenth birthday, on a dark street at midnight, Will awakens Ellie's power, and she knows that she can fight the creatures that stalk her in the grim darkness. Only Will holds the key to Ellie's memories, whole lifetimes of them, and when she looks at him, she can no longer pretend anything was just a dream.

Now she must hunt. Ellie has power that no one can match, and her role is to hunt and kill the reapers that prey on human souls. But in order to survive the dangerous and ancient battle of the angels and the Fallen, she must also hunt for the secrets of her past lives and truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Courtney Allison Moulton's Website

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead
Dark Swan Book #4

Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld. . .

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't--or won't--reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon--and risk the ultimate sacrifice. . .

Richelle Mead's Website

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

This week I've been featuring classic video songs, i.e. songs that dramatically improve any video. The reasons for this are inexplicable, but someone scientific training could probably explain why Britney Spears, Tom Jones and AC/DC songs have in common that makes them vidlicious. It's AC/DC's turn today.

Sturmlock3B3nni did some awesome editing to "Hell's Bells."

I once called a young friend of mine a cultural barbarian because she went to see this movie.

HARBOR Winner, Aussie Bloggers & Authors Alert, and SUPERNATURAL Nitwittery, and Whatnot

2011-11-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Lharmell #1 from Aussie author Rhiannon Hart

The winner of the copy of the spookilicious Harbor by John Ajvide Lindqvist is:

MONA

who gets the heebie-jeebies when she's in a big house alone. Me, too! Congratulations, Mona, and please send me an email with your mailing address.

Also, CINDY, this is your last chance to contact me for your prize, a copy of Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett. If I don't hear from you by tomorrow, I'll pick another winner.

Thanks so much to Rachel, who features Dark Companion, my YA gothic, as you Waiting on Wednesday selection at The Rest is Still Unwritten. Rachel says:

A tale of a an elite academy, two compelling, yet completely different brothers and a missing student....all woven together mysteriously and in an eerie package. Sounds like just my kind of thing.

Rachel's an Aussie who prefers her books to be supernatural/paranormal, and she has reviews, interviews and international contests. You can follow her at her site, on Goodreads, or follow her on Twitter, where she tweets about lots of great contests.

YA Dystopian from Alison Stewart

AUSSIE BLOGGER ALERT: Next week, I'll try to put together a list of Aussie bloggers and authors, because many of us are missing awesome books that are not published/promoted in the US or UK. If you have a favorite Aussie author and blogger, please leave a comment and tell us! If you are a paranormal/urban fantasy/YA Aussie blogger or author, I'd like to hear from you, too.

SUPERNATURAL NITWITTERY: I'm one episode behind on Supernatural and I haven't been keeping up on the show descriptions. I was delighted to discover that Buffy alumni James Marsters (Spike) and Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) were guest starring. Marsters is all growed up, but I miss his damaged...no, not soul...his damaged bleached hair. Carpenter looked lovely and the scenes with them and between them were so fun and sparky that it took me a while to say WTF? when the episode was over.

I mean, several people are brutally murdered and we're all "ha ha ha, isn't it funny that they're having a spat!" Since when did Supernatural treat death of humans so casually? Where were the sorrow, the regret, the devastated families that made the show different than every other dead-bodies-on-the-floor series? Sure, they had a few scenes with Dean regretting that he killed a fricking MONSTER who Sam had met one day when he was 12. And Dean has a one-second dream of Castiel's death, and they didn't mention Castiel at all even though, hey, he just died and he was your best friend.

Eric Kripke, the show's creator, only planned for the show to run six seasons and then stepped down from his role guiding the series. The show also lost Kim Manners, who directed and produced some of the best episodes of Supernatural. Manners' had also directed and produced The X-Files, and he understood how to create shows that balanced drama with humor and how to merge the small details of a personal life with a big overarching theme.

So far this season is all over the place, but it seems to be headed for a monster-of-the-week pattern, which is less than what it was. I hope whoever is now in charge will get his/her act together.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

It is a well-acknowledged fact that any Tom Jones song will improve the quality of a video by at least a factor of 10. This is called the Tom Jones Effect (tm).

STAINED & Genre Conventions: "Sweet Romance" ...with Vampires!

2011-10-31T09:54:00.000-07:00

Heart o' Gold

Different genres have their own lingo. When I had my first book published, one reviewer complained that there was no alpha-hero or HEA. I had no idea what these terms meant, so I googled them. After figuring out that HEA was probably not the Higher Education Act, I learned it meant "happily ever after." It's a romance book thing, as is alpha hero, which means macho-macho man with a heart of gold.

I wasn't writing romance, but that seemed to be besides the point to people who wanted their HEA and macho-macho men.

So here we are years later and I'm still not caught up on genre slang. Case in point: a few advance reviews of my next book, Dark Companion, referred to a relationship as a "sweet romance." I was struck by the coincidence of two people using the same phrase.

It's gettin hot in here!

My online pal, Tisreina, the maker of totally awesome videos, who writes Regency-era mysteries under Reina Willliams, just informed me that "sweet romance" is romance-slang for a romantic relationship without sex.

Reina was good enough to explain to me that even Regency-era novels without sex in them are now being shunted off to the Inspirational sub-category. I guess that means, "I hope this book inspires you not to act like such a major hoo-er."

So would Jane Austen be asked to sex up her novels if she wanted to release them today as romances? Maybe Lizzie Bennett could be tapping that with with Wickham, while Jane Bennet was knocking boots with Bingley, and then Darcy would eventually come around to say, "Yeah, I'd hit that so hard she'd be knocked back to the 17th Century."

Honestly, I will never comprehend the desire to only read books that fit neatly in a category. I thought reading was about discovery and surprise, not going to the same fast-food joint in Paris that you go to in your hometown.You can see why some writers just say, fergetaboutit and self-publish, such as Reina's friend, Jessica McBrayer, who just self-published Stained, a paranormal set in my locality.

Thorn works after dark. That’s when she combines her gifts as a tattoo artist and her powers as a natural born witch to weave magick into her ink. Her tattoo parlor, Stained, on Berkeley’s quirky Telegraph Avenue draws clients from all walks of life. Her work is in high demand from the supernatural community and the undead.

With her raven familiar, Thorn’s been on the run all her adult life. She won’t talk about why. She only wants to practice her art in peace. But when a murderer targets her clients, Sé, a tall, dark and Irish detective is assigned to investigate. They must trust each other to survive the cat and mouse game that ensues.

Reina says, "Stained is a solid mystery/suspense, with a strong romance and is just dark enough--with a touch of humor." You can find out more about the book on Jessica McBrayer's blog.

CINDY ALERT: Cindy, you won Jenn Bennett's Kindling the Moon last week, but I need to know your mailing address and you didn't leave contact info. Please send me an email with your address.

CONTEST REMINDER: Today is the last day to enter my contest for the haunting, haunted and spooky new book, Harbor, by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

What makes a song a classic for video tributes? The song on its own may be of any quality, from meh to terrific, but combined with a video, it must become more than what it was before and the video must be improved exponentially. I'm sure there's an algorithm for this. Some performers have only one song that transforms this way, but others like Britney Spears were just made to be set to video tributes.

A classic.

Spamvertising, Blogging Myths, and Terrifying Cat Book Covers

2011-10-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

I just read a couple of fun rants from fab bloggers.

Yan at Books By Their Cover rants about bad manners and spamming on Goodreads. For those of you who don't use Goodreads, the site and LibraryThing started about the same time, both offering places for book lovers to catalog and review books as well as network with other book lovers. As with all competing formats, one was VHS and the other was Beta. Beta was supposedly a better video recording system, but everyone wanted VHS, so that became the standard, and Beta tapes became a joke in sitcoms.

What was I saying? Oh, yeah, with social sites comes spam and bad manners. I still haven't figured out Goodreads' rules, but one is that authors shouldn't use the sites just to spamvertise (tm 2011) their books and threaten anyone who writes a bad review.I'm afraid that I mostly go to Goodreads to look for way too many books to read and check out covers. If you're a member, go ahead and send me a friend invite, because I never ask anyone since I'm not sure where the spamvertising line is with authors.

Kristi at The Story Siren has a great post, "The Ten Myths of Book Blogging." After I got over my disappointment that none of the myths involved hunky gods in short togas having sword fights, I was pleased to read Kristi's advice that fewer, but valuable posting is more worthwhile than frequent, boring posting.

Another myth, she says, is that one must be a great writer to blog.

Being a great writer and being a successful blogger are two totally different things. I don’t have any background in writing as I’m fairly certain most bloggers don’t. As long as you have knowledge about what you are blogging about, books in this instance, you should be able to have a successful blog!

Hmm, and I always tell people, "Do not try this at home! Consult a professional!" I will say that I read some boooring blogs by authors and some way amusing blogs by people who have only a rudimentary grasp of grammar and spelling. I'd recommend this post for anyone considering book blogging or with a book blog.

Have a great weekend!

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I was a little outraged that the winner of Project Runway seems to be predetermined long ago, and she was always given a pass to the next round because she -- not her endless line of bedly made kaftans -- was highly marketable. If you can't rely on a competitive cable TV show for justice, what hope is there for the rest of the world? So my theme is wrong things, unfair things, things that not even a magical scary cat could fix.

"Who is the fly in your champagne?" I love this song.

"Strike down the one that leads me." Yeah, that's what happened on Project Runway. Stefan Salvatore is suddenly much more interesting.

Now a vampire on rollerblades would really have an unfair advantage.

That was gory, so here's the pretty for you. I've been watching the BBC's Case Histories. How come I've never heard of this show or noticed Jason Isaacs before?

Just SUPERNATURAL Videos Thursday & Dean Winchester is "Painfully Heterosexual"

2011-10-27T10:44:00.000-07:00

It was one of those days that started with an earthquake. Okay, it was only a small one, but it did wake me up at 5:30. So I need some reassuring and cheering videos of guys who are never afraid to take on the worst, Dean and Sammy Winchester.

I watched a recent episode (not last week's but the week before) of Supernatural and I was tremendously disappointed. Hey, if a major character has just died tragically, he should be referenced at some point instead of totally forgotten. It was a stoopid monster-of-the-week episode that seemed to have been written by someone who got laughed away from the gazillion legal dramas on TV.

Osiris, the Egyptian god of something or other (head wax? the Hawaiian Tropic tan?) had popped up in the midwest and was conducting the lamest trials in the history of the world. The guest actor was schlocking up the part with some generic accent and lots of hand gestures. He should have gone all the way to campy. A seriously dumbed-down Sam was acting in Dean's defense. I've heard six-year-olds with more judicial game.

I'm hoping the next episode (i.e. last Friday's episode) is better.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is Supernatural videos that are better than the dumb Osiris episode. I'm starting off with this very amusing song by Tastyboots in honor of Dean Winchester: "Painfully Heterosexual."

But we all love angsty Dean.

I am quite fond of Evil Sammy.

And something a little more fun.

Poutine Expert & Joss Whedon's Shakespeare & Contest Winners

2011-10-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I'm back online. A nice guy came by yesterday and hooked up my fast fast connection to the internets.

I was even able to create a list on Goodreads of 89 new YA book covers featuring girls in white or black dresses. Yeah, I have an obsessive streak. If you're a member of Goodreads (which is a frickin addictive site for any booklover) please vote for Dark Companion on the lists in which it's included.

Speaking of lists, I joined Klout because they give away Moo business cards to people who are "influential." I love Moo business cards because you can order them with different designs on each card. I have cards that read "Everyone knows that writing isn't work," a quote from my Casa Dracula books. Tragically I'm neither influential enough to get free biz cards or a free soda from Subway, so I'm feeling pretty discouraged about my worth as a human being.

Klout seems to think I'm an expert on "poutine" which is a Canadian specialty dish of French fries with gravy. I think my expertise is probably due to my status as an honorary Canadian so I'd like to give a shout-out to my Northern pals!

Speaking of (you can tell that "speaking of" is my favorite segueway) Northern pals, Nathan Fillian, one of Joss Whedon's troupe of actors, is starring in a new Whedon flick of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. 1) Love the play. 2) Love Shakespeare. 3) Love the cast which is full of Buffy the Vampire Slayer alums. 4) Whedon knows his Will Shakes and has a deep understanding of wordplay and character dynamics. He shot the movie in 12 days in his house.

It will be a great fix for those of us who are rapidly losing giant chunks of brain matter while trying to watch Sarah Michelle Gellar in Ringer. Look, SMG could probably kick kittens and I would forgive her, but she's making things hard for those who heart her. Her version of the rich girl in Paris is scarily like Roseanna Arquette's hilarious turn as the sleazy murderous housewife in The Whole Nine Yards.

CONTEST WINNERS

Congratulations, winners, and thanks to everyone who entered my recent contests! The winner of the random drawing for Cassandra Clare's City of Bones is:

TORE

The winner of Jenn Bennett's Kindling the Moon is:

CINDY

Winners, please send me an email with your mailing address so I can send out your book. Hope you enjoy them!

CURRENT CONTEST: Don't forget that my contest for the spookilious Harbour by Swedish thrillmaster John Ajvide Lindqvist runs through October 31.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is brand new videos!

I've never forgiven Rod Stewart for this song.

Back to Regular Schedule Soon!

2011-10-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

I've been exchanging a lot of phone calls with a nice guy named Jeff in the San Diego executive offices of ATT and he's all, "Chillax! I'm totally hooking you up with a wicked fast internet connection sose you can post those gratuitous vids of hawt vamps."

And I'm like, "You're a righteous dude, El Jeffo. Cuz my posse needs their vids fix and I can't even watch them to see if the vids are totally bitchin or heinous. I mean, what if I accidentally post a vid set to an Evanescence song?" And he said, "It would be like Joseph Conrad wrote in Heart of Darkness -- 'the horror! the horror!'"

The gist of this is that I should have a real internet connection by mid-week.

I recorded the last episode of Supernatural and the debut of Once Upon a Time and will discuss those after I watch them.

I tried to watch the haunted spooky new BBC series Bedlam, and I got freaked about midway through the opening credits.

I've always been a fan of old movies and I recently saw a fab Gothic, My Name is Julia Ross. If you like stories about domineering mothers and their psychopathic sons who live in remote mansions in Cornwall, this is the movie for you.

I'll announce winners in my contests tomorrow!

Rockin and a Rolling and Grimm & Once Upon a Time

2011-10-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

Prince Charming wears a puffy shirt.

I'll try to post although my internet connection is so tenuous and besides I'm all frazzled by the earthquakes (just moderate, but still) that were centered a couple of miles from my house. I never get used to them. I probably shouldn't have been friends with geologists and geophysicists who liked to tell earthquake horror stories.

Speaking of horror stories, don't forget to tell me something that scares you in my contest for spooktastic Harbour by John Ajvide Lindqvist.

I also have a contest for Jenn Bennett's marvy debut into urban fantasy, Kindling the Moon, and a giveaway of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones. I don't know what I'd compare Jenn's book to. It's action-filled and sexy with magic and danger, but there's great character building, too, and the magic works in Jenn's world.

I saw an advertisement for Grimm, an upcoming series on NBC that premieres next Friday. Has NBC ever done fantasy well? I can't think of any shows. Generally, the cable networks have been the only ones to invest in a series, but they often bail too early as well. The cast features five men and one woman, which I generally think is a red-flag that the show is constitutionally unbalanced. I mean, not everyone can be David Mamet and create totally male-dominated brilliant stuff.

The show's website does not have a summary or an episode summary. Here's a review of Grimm and another fantasy, Once Upon a Time.

So, to compare the two, Once Upon a Time is the better show - wacky with over-the-top characterizations, a giddy who's-on-first premise zipping back and forth between present-day reality and fairy tale land, nice special effects and a winning cast.

The review calls the Once Upon A Time "great fluffy fun" suitable entertainment for both kids and adults.


Grimm knows yellow tape means drama!

As for Grimm:

Grimm is about a homicide cop in Portland, Ore., who discovers he is descended from a long line of Grimms - special crime fighters responsible for keeping mythological shape-shifting wolves and other creatures from the door of civilized society.

Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli) is only slightly unsure of his own sanity when he begins to see seemingly normal people shift suddenly into fanged, salivating lupines and then back to human form. Eventually, he learns the world is full of these creatures from a reformed Blutbad Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell), who's still capable of shape shifting but has trained himself not to consider humans as takeout.

Oh, yeah, the one female in the cast gets to play the girlfriend. Here, I'll provide some dialog for her:

"Honey, that's just crazy!"
"Don't go there -- it's dangerous!"
"But you said you'd have dinner at my parents!"
"Oh, honey, I'm so glad you're safe, but I worry about you!"

Demon's Luke & Rupert

Okay, maybe it will be better than that. I hope it it will better than that. But NBC? I don't think I watch anything on NBC and there's probably a reason for that. And the Grimms were special crime fighters? Seriously? If you're looking for the ancient crime fighters thing and don't mind a show geared toward a younger crowd, try renting Demons, which has a super appealing cast, and a plot featuring a descendant of vampire-fighter Van Helsing.

Demons only ran a season, but it's worth renting.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

I'll see if I can post a few videos of Demons. I can't actually watch them myself because they take too long to load. The very appealing Luke Rutherford is played by Christian Cooke. And Phillip Glennister played Rupert. Nuff said.

Mina was quite wonderful.

And Ruby was a lovely character.

Contest for Spookilicious HARBOR by John Ajvide Lindqvist & Eric Northman Vids

2011-10-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

"...it should come with a warning - once picked up, mesmerizing. I couldn't put it down...a stark, beautiful, moving, confronting, sad, lyrical and emotional book."

Karen Chisholm, GoodReads

"There are not many horror books that I would recommend to those that aren’t fans of the genre, but Harbor is a book that would be appreciated by fans of a multitude of genres. The writing is rich, the characters multi-dimensional, the storyline compelling. Highly recommended."

Jenn Lawrence, Jenn's Bookshelves

Today I've got a contest for Harbor by John Avide Lindqvist, best known in the US as the author of the acclaimed and amazing vampire novel, Let the Right One In. If you love horror, you'll want to read Lindqvist's books because he's called "the Swedish Stephen King." Even if you don't love horror, you'll want to read his work. As you know, I'm a scaredy-cat, but I've read enough about this book that I want to dive into it. It probably should come with a "safe for scaredy-cats" label on it.

SUMMARY:

One ordinary winter afternoon on a snowy island, Anders and Cecilia take their six-year-old daughter Maja across the ice to visit the lighthouse in the middle of the frozen channel. While the couple explore the lighthouse, Maja disappears -- either into thin air or under thin ice -- leaving not even a footprint in the snow. Two years later, alone and more or less permanently drunk, Anders returns to the island to regroup. He slowly realizes that people are not telling him all they know; even his own mother, it seems, is keeping secrets. What is happening in Domaro, and what power does the sea have over the town's inhabitants?

Catherine Hawley at Juxtabook says:

For a book that kicks off with a child disappearing and alcoholism it is surprisingly uplifting. The ending is very satisfying and the journey to get there is often magical and theatrical. It is hard not to think of the The Snow Queen and Kay and Gerda, and also Anna-Greta and Simon both in different ways resemble a kind of Gandalf or Aslan or Dumbledore...it has a sense of enchantment that one rarely gets with adult fiction, even in Stephen King whose writing is the closest I can think of here. If reading gothic fiction or even horror is not something you usually do, don't be put off, this character-lead thriller might take you out of your comfort zone but you may well feel the trip was well worth while.

Now I can't wait to start reading it! Thanks to Kat Brzozowski at Thomas Dunne Books for offering the hardback edition of the book for a contest!

You can visit Thomas Dunne Books and listen to read more about the book and listen to an audioclip. You can also visit John Ajvide Lindqvist's website, which offers content in both Swedish and English. (Now I'm worried that I should have my website content in both Swedish and English.)

You can also read an excerpt from Harbor.

TO ENTER THE CONTEST FOR HARBOR: Just leave a comment about something that spooks you. My family thinks it's hilarious that I'm scared of moths. TV shows with scare-crows that move spook me so much I have to cover my eyes. The contest runs through October 31 and a winner will be chosen by random draw. Limited to the US and Canada.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme today is Swedish fabness...and who is more fab than Eric Northman?

Just Some Contests

2011-10-18T10:18:00.000-07:00

I'm in a reading and writing mood, not a blogging mood, but I wanted to share links to a few contests. I also am switching internet providers and I have no idea when my current service will cut off and how long it will be before I'm on the other, so I may go out of communication for a while.

First, I just discovered that my link for the contest for Cassandra Clare's City of Bones was wrong. Sorry about that! Because of my mistake, I'm extending the contest until October 23. Please enter!

My contest for Jenn Bennett's Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1) runs through October 22. I thought this was a great start to Jenn's magic series.

A Dream of Books has a contest for Maggie Stiefvator's new fantasy novel, The Scorpio Races. The contest is open internationally!

Paper Cut Reviews is having a Feast of Screams with a contest for Dearly, Departed and a guest post by author Lisa Habel. Blobatrix Steph says, "Dearly, Departed is a fantastic Futuristic-Victorian-Steampunk-Zombie-Romance about a young lady named Nora Dearly who finds the truth through the walking dead."

Suzanne Johnson, who always has the best contests at Preternatura, reviews and is giving away a copy of The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison. Suzanne calls the book "hands-down the best 'companion' guide to any series ever."

Tirzah Price at The Compulsive Reader has some fab swag to give away in celebration of the release of Beautiful Chaos, by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. You can win a signed bookplate, pins, and jewelry. Pretty swell, right?

Natasha at Wicked Little Pixie (who had her birthday yesterday!) is giving away Laura Ann Gilman's The Shattered Vine.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

The theme is new and newish videos set to Katy Perry songs.

Internet Down

2011-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:00

I'm at the bookstore because my internet crapped out. I will not be able to post for a few days or respond to comments, but please enter my contest for Jenn Bennett's fab entry into urban fantasy (see yesterday's post) and add your comments to my How to You Read post on Wednesday.

Have a great weekend and hope to see you next week!

KINDLING THE MOON Giveaway & The Something of the Something Book Titles

2011-10-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

"I was smitten with this book right from the beginning...a must-read for all lovers of Urban Fantasy, with such a compelling and believable romance."

Spaz, Wicked Little Pixie

Yesterday I was yakking about reading and then, instead of working on my new book, I had to finish reading Jenn Bennett's Kindling the Moon (Arcadia Bell #1). I will say here and now that this book deserves a better title -- not because the title doesn't make absolute sense within the story (because it does) but because most of us think of Amazon's Kindle with "kindling." Jenn's book is an exciting urban fantasy debut with wonderful characters, fab worldbuilding, and it reads well as a stand-alone, too. It has some smexy steaminess, but not at the expense of the action, so this is not romance disguised as urban fantasy, but urban fantasy with a romance.

I'd thought it would be heavy on the humor, which would be fine by me, but it's really more of a mystery with magic. I also thought more of the story would take place in the tiki bar, but action happens across many locations, including the depraved Hellfire Club, built in caves. You can read the first chapter on Jenn's blog.

I liked it so much that I want to share it. So here's the contest for my pre-read (for your convenience!) copy of Kindling the Moon! Just leave a comment about something magical. Me, I had an inordinate love for Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, especially Caroline Rhea as her aunt. Or snarky Salem Saberhagen, that ridiculously phony cat puppet voiced by Nick Bakay. Are you wild about Harry (Potter)? Are you waiting for the magic in the next Downside Ghosts book? Say whatever you want.

The contest runs through October 22, and is restricted to the US and Canada, only because one of the funniest episodes of Sabrina was when her aunt, a Canadian illegally in the US, gets nabbed by the INS when she says, "oout and aboout."

Seriously, you should try Jenn's book.

Talking titles: remember when every title was only one-word? Yeah, that was a great trend, but it's run its course and titles are becoming longer and more intriguing. Here's a book I just noticed, The Treachery of Beautiful Things, a YA fantasy by Ruth Frances Long (August 2012). It follows the "The Blank of Blank" style.

The trees swallowed her brother whole. And Jenny was there to see it. Years later, when she returns to the woods where Tom was taken to say good-bye at last, she finds herself lured into a world where stunning beauty masks the most treacherous of evils, and strange and dangerous creatures await—creatures who seem to consider her the threat. Among them is Jack, mercurial and magnetic, with allegiances that shift as much as his moods. Determined to find her brother, with or without Jack’s help, Jenny struggles to navigate a faerie world where nothing is what it seems, no one is who they say, and she’s faced with a choice between salvation or sacrifice—and not just her own.

Alls I can say is, I'm glad that my YA book with a girl in the woods on the cover and a character named Jack is coming out a little earlier! Anyway, that's a gorgeous cover and I'll try to find out more about the book.

Back to "the blank of the blank." Where did it start? Here's what I can find.

1950 - The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner by Alan Sillitoe
1961 - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark and I haven't read the book, but I've seen the marvelous movie at least three times
2006 - The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbury (which I hated, hated, hated, hated for its stoopid premise, stoopid characters, endless digressions, and utter tendentiousness). And you'd think I'd love digressions. I do, but in conversations over fizzy wine with witty companions, not in self-consciously literary novels. Life is plotless, but books should have a plot.

I know there are other ones, but using Amazon's search feature for "of the" yields incorrect results.

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS

I can't post any because every time I go to YouTube my browser crashes. I may try later.

Ranting About Reading: What Kind of Reader Are You?

2011-10-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jane did not wear crimson lipstick and nail polish.

I've been a reading fanatic ever since I learned how to read, but I've always read one way: I read every word in a sentence and every sentence in a book. I read the beginning epigraph to the epilogue, and I don't jump around. I ponder over ambiguity and am aware of punctuation. I read one book at a time, loving the feeling of being submerged in a world. I like books that linger with me, books that teach me something, and books that make me see new things or see old things in new ways. I like books that make me feel for the characters and laugh at least occasionally.

Thornfield was not atop a mountain.

When I am finished a book, you can ask me about the details and I will be able to tell you because I paid attention to all of them. This makes me an extremely nitpicky reader. I respect the author by devoting attention to her book, and I expect the author to respect me as a reader by taking even more care with her story.

I think metaphors should make sense. If you say that Thing A is like Thing B, I should be able to imagine the similarity. When an author throws in metaphors that don't make sense, I assume she's doing it merely to impress, but that sloppiness will throw me off a book. I want each sentence to serve a purpose and to do so gracefully.

When I started going out with the person who became The Spouse, I was appalled that he'd pick up a book, read a few pages, and pick up another book and do the same thing. Of course, he was reading about geopolitics or something equally tedious and non-fictional. He was digesting information, so I gave him a pass. But I didn't consider what he did to be really reading.

Jane was never set upon by a cast member from Wicked!

Also, I called him a book slut because he wasn't in a monogamous committed relationship with one book at a time.

Well, I've since learned that lots of people read the way he does. They skip from a chapter in one book to a chapter in another book. Is it better or worse than the way I read? Is it the literary equivalent of watching an episode of Glee and then a classic movie on TCM, and the local news?

Rochester is not handsome.

I do wonder at the people who say, "I read the book in a few hours." I want to say, no, you didn't. You skimmed the book in a few hours. You went hunting and searching for juicy parts and ignored everything else. But what if people who "read" that way enjoy books as much or more than I do, because I'm fixated on the crappy metaphors? What if I'm missing out on thrilling, dramatic plots because I actually read every word of a bloated book? (I'm looking at you, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo!)

So I think I've got to get over feeling that there is only one right way (my way) to read. What kind of reader are you?

Also, I was happy to see that Dark Companion, my YA gothic, was the Waiting-on-Wednesday selection at LC's Adventures in Libraryland. Thanks, Lea!

GRATUITOUS VIDEOS OF THE DAY

Hmm, since I'm ranting, the theme is videos with a bad attitude.

Hilarious. A Van Helsing tribute set to Cee Lo's "Fuck You." (Do I have to tell you to mute the sound in your office?)

You know I love Fiona Glenanne.