HarperCollins Book Bloggers Event

(aka How I Got Tongue-Tied InFront of Maureen Johnson... as you do!)

Am a bit late writing this up so BEAR WITH ME if my notes/memory are wrong!

So, on Saturday, I was invited to the first EVER Harper Collins Book Bloggers Event. It was very touch-and-go with me but, somehow, I made it! I had to leave the Person I'm With (aka the PIW) at Westfield Stratford (yes, I know! He is very understanding and yes, I know I'm a terrible boyfriend!) and rushed to Les Deux Salons around the Convent Garden/Leicester Square area for Afternoon Tea.

Oh yes, it sounded like a posh affair. And when I turned up, I felt very undressed. But it was lovely! There was a dangerous amount of food and tea. Now, as you guys know, I love my food and cups (the PIW coughed "Giant mugs of tea" then) so I was one happy blogger already. So, when you have three authors at this little event - Maureen Johnson, Will Hill and Robin Jarvis - you kinda forget why your there.

After quick introductions (where I got nervous and introduced myself as "I'm Andrew and I'm a book addict. No, wait! Wrong meeting!"), the three authors quickly chatted about their books.

Robin Jarvis chatted about his new trilogy Dancing Jax, which is about a dangerous book written by Austerly Fellows, a mysterious turn-of-the-century occultist, which has recently been discovered in a basement of an empty house. This book is dangerous and soon, children and teenagers are slowly getting caught up in this danger. Robin compared the dangers of Dancing Jax like "pushing drugs onto kids. But it's a book." and describe the dangerous world as "Narnia on crack". Now, this trilogy is a big deal as this is Robin's first novel in a DECADE!!!

Then, we had Will Hill, author of Department 19 and its sequel The Rising. He chatted about how the two books can be read together or separately (which is good as I haven't read Department 19 but The Rising sounds like awesomely scary!). He described both books as "violent and unpleasant", and yet his mum just finished reading The Rising and said "I liked it, though I'm not sure about page 300...". Will continued to talk about how Department 19 can be seen as a "rescue mission" whereas The Rising is "very much a fight for survival."

And then, Maureen Johnson talked about Name of the Star. She introduced herself as "The one with the accent". She explained how the idea of the Shade of London series came about. It came from when she was in London, researching The Last Blue Envelope. She was on a ghost tour and thought "Why aren't I putting dead bodies in my books?" then "Why do people think there's a ghost that opens a door or makes a cold spot? Why not have a ghost with attitude?". With that, she researched London, Jack the Ripper and the sewer system (Still not sure why, Maureen?). With that, she revealed that she kept up the death in the series as within the first chapter of book two, she "killed a character with a hammer". Then, suddenly, she said, "I have the title of book 2 but I haven't told my editor" [who was sitting a seat away from me]. So, quickly whispered in the editor's ear and the editor went "Love it!", Maureen revealed the title to us. The second book in the Shades of London series is...

... THE MADNESS BENEATH!

So, after that, we were offered books, more cake and a chat to quickly to the authors. I was late to the books so I only got some (but I grab a copy of Carrier of the Mark which I have my eye on for quick some time...) and then chatted to the authors briefly. I told Robin Jarvis that after starting one of his books (it was either The Alchymist's Cat, The Raven's Knot or Deathscent), I left it unfinished as it scared me beyond words! He seemed a tiny bit pleased about that.

Then, I tried to talk to Maureen and ask her to sign my copy of Name of the Star. Now, here's the thing. I get nervous easily, so I fake my confidence quite a bit. And seeing as I almost whacked my head on a lamp, it didn't go that well. But Maureen was lovely and must have been shattered seeing as she literally came from a book-signing (I bet the line was full of Nerdfighters! DFTBA!!!!). And I'm not sure why I was nervous around her when I was chatting with her one-to-one as a group of us chatted to her while drinking tea and eating scones about Misfits, John Green, Alex Day & Charlie MacDonald (Nerimon & CharlieIsSoCoolLike for those of you who use YouTube).

After the event, when having a quick drink, chatted quickly to Will Hill over his iPad (I know. How rock and roll) and going "He's random and cool. And where the hell did he get that T-Shirt from? WANT!") and with that, I left to return to the PIW at Westfield and hope he didn't spend too much money.

Now, to HarperCollins, I want to give a quick thank you for inviting me. It was a lovely afternoon!

PS - HarperCollins gave us a mysterious USB stick, which is rumoured to have extra content (video, extracts, etc). Haven't plugged it into my computer yet but will soon...!

You Were Fired?

Thanks Cats That Talk tumblr for making me smile!

GoodRead - The Near Witch

I'm not 100% sure how I came across this author. I suspect Twitter. So, because of that, I preordered this (this is rare for me. Recently, I seem to be getting books from the publishers and friends to review. I have been very lucky, me thinks!). So, after a few books that were a bit dark, I fancied something different. So, my hands found this in my Books To Read pile by the side of my bed (let's say nothing about the piles by the foot of my bed, shall we...?)

In the town of Near, some facts hold true. The wind is lonely and if it calls you at night, don't listen to it. The Near Witch is a fairy tale is told to scare children. And no strangers ever come to Near. But one night, Lexi sees a stranger of the moors, and he seems to vanish like smoke. And then, the next night, children start to vanish. The village beginning to think the stranger is to blame, starting a witch hunt.

But Lexi doesn't believe that he's guilty. So, if he isn't, who is taking the children? Is the Near Witch more than a scary fairy tale? Is that even possible?

Now, I read this book quite fast (especially near the end! Oh, that chapter!) for two reasons: first, I discovered that I got a job and I wanted to finish Near Witch before I started (I now don't have it so, that worked out!). The second was I just flew through this story. It is very fairy tale-like but had an edge to it. You sense that not all was well and, due to the time where the story was set, you wanted Lexi to figure it out as the book was set in a early time (not medieval, but I had that in my head) and with nearly every male character going "You can't do that", it was more to prove a point.

Which is why I like Lexi. She knew her own mind and wasn't afraid to go "This isn't right. This is what I must do." She has a strong sense of doing the right thing, even if other people disagree.

There were times I was reminded of another book in which a village is gripped by paranoia and that was Red Riding Hood by Sarah Blakely-Cartwright (click here for that review - oh, I watched the film. I prefer the book more. Just saying!) but there were times that it seems better and you sensed that the people of Near wanted an Scape goat and weren't afraid of framing an innocent person. I found that moment quite shocking...

Now, as I read the book so fast, I felt the last few chapters could have been a bit thicker. But that's me. Maybe I should reread those chapters to get my head round it. And yes, this included one really creepy moment when you discover what happen to the missing children...

At the present moment, I believe this book doesn't have a UK publisher (WHY NOT?!), so if you want to read this book, you have to get it imported from the states from Amazon or Book Depository but if you fancy reading a fairy tale-like story with a slight dark edge, this might right up your street.

That Becca Fitzpatrick Event...

So, yesterday, I went meant to go to a signing up London for Becca Fitzpatrick, author of the Hush, Hush saga. AND GUESS WHAT? The trains were out to "overhead wire damage at Bethnal Green" (thanks for saying that online the times I check, National Rail!)

So, as a sorry, I hope you enjoy this video... :)

GoodRead - Silence

As you guys know, I like Becca Fitzpatrick. She seems to get the whole Fallen Angel genre. And she seems to write fallen angels better than any other writer out there. So, fans have been excited over the third book in the saga, Silence and the secrets in this...

Following the climax of Crescendo, Nora finds herself on her father's grave. Expect she has been missing for three months and her memory is missing for the past five (aka since the start of Hush, Hush). So, what happened to her? What happened in those three months she was mssing? And if so, where's Patch?

Now, I finished the book Sunday night so am, at the moment, trying to get me head round it and understand it all. So, bear with me.

Silence is still as dark and as twisted as Hush, Hush and Crescendo and that's always a good thing. I wouldn't have liked it if it lose its edge in the dark side. And with this mystery over Nora's memory and why Patch is no longer around is interesting. Plus, the fact we're ahead of Nora on the whole Fallen Angels and Nephilim so seeing Nora figuring it out ALL OVER AGAIN was very interesting.

Now, there's a few things that might bother you guys. On one or two occasions that I did go "Wait! What?". There are so many things that go on that you do have to keep ahead of yourself. Also, there was a few moments where you want to grab Nora and shake her as she does something that you go "NO, YOU STUPID GIRL! DON'T DO IT!!!". One occasion I can think of when Nora returns home from hospital after being found at the graveyard and, within a matter of hours, she goes back to the graveyard without telling anyone where she was going and IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! NONONONO!!!!

And the ending... let's briefly talk about that. With dates before Silence was released, Becca revealed via Twitter that there will be a fourth book in the Hush, Hush saga and this fourth book will be the final book in the series. Now, that I have read the ending of Silence, I can completely understand why there has to be a fourth book. It was left so open-ended and, at the same time, on a cliffhanger that there was no way fans of the series would have accepted the ending of Silence as it is to be the end of the saga.

Though Silence might not be my fave in the series, it still punches about its waist and give fans of the series more Nora and Patch. Plus, Becca Fitzpatrick is wonderful at writing, so I will be waiting for, what I hope will be, a stunning conclusion...







PS - when I bought both the Waterstones' (with exclusive chapter from Patch's Point of View) and the red WHSmiths at the PIW's (the Person I'm With) dad, and this is what happened...


GUARDKITTY!

Books Make You Become Someone Else

Love this pic. Want to thank Sasha aka FzngWizbee and her tumblr for showing me this.

WHITE CROW by Marcus Sedgwich MOVIE NEWS! (& quick City Of Bones Movie News)

Let's chat about Marcus Sedgwick. As you know, I recently reviewed Marcus' latest novel MIDWINTERBLOOD and from that, I discovered that Marcus is adapting his novel, My Swordhand is Singing, into a stage play (was quite excited about that - make it come to London or Essex!). But, randomly, I discovered that the film rights to another novel of his, White Crow, has been snapped up and will begin filming as early as NEXT YEAR!

Hypable exclusively revealed the press release and it makes VERY interesting reading! Here is it in full:

Independent financier and production company Kerry, Kimmel and Pollack (KK&P) has secured the rights and will co-finance and co-produce the novel WHITE CROW, written by Marcus Sedgwick. The film will be produced and/or executive produced by Kami Garcia, NYT bestselling co-author of The Beautiful Creatures Series, Mark Morgan (The Twilight Saga), Michael Pollack (Quattrocento) & Brett Hudson (Cloud 9).

WHITE CROW is a psychological thriller that centers on a 16 year-old girl who moves to a sleepy seaside town with a deadly past, and discovers what’s on the other side of death.

KK&P plans to shoot the film in the fall of 2012 on Isle of Man, located within the British Isles.

The author, Marcus Sedgwick, has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, the Edgar Allan Poe, and the Guardian Children’s Book Prize.

WHITE CROW marks Kami Garcia’s entrance into the world of film and television production. While some Young Adult and Adult authors are currently producing their own novels, Garcia is not only producing her upcoming solo novel Unbreakable: Book 1 in The Legion Series from Little, Brown (also with Mark Morgan and KK&P), but other film and television properties as well.

Now, as I've only recently read my first Marcus Sedgwick, am very intrigued over this. I am very intrigued that one half of the Beautiful Creatures series, Kami Garcia is either produce and/or executive produce this film. As some of you LOVE the Beautiful Creatures series (I haven't read it!), it will be interesting to see what she does to it...

But I love this news! Can't wait to get my teeth into this...!

Also, random add-on and not connected with Marcus Sedgwick, is the movie vision of Cassnadra Clare's City of Bones. It has been revealed by Hypable & Mundie Moms that Marlene King is writing the screenplay. For those of you who are wondering, she is the showrunner for the Pretty Little Liars TV series! So, hopefully, the film will start getting filmed soon!

Hunger Games ADULT covers!

I've been away (at Alton Towers with the Person I'm With aka the PIW). And, of course this happens, book news hits Twitter. Scholastic UK revealed that they will be publishing The Hunger Games trilogy with adult covers. Now, I'm not 100% certain why we need adult covers, but Scholastic revealed them on Friday and they do look lovely!





For those eagle-eyed amount you, the birds are the Mockingjays taken from the US covers (and I do like the US covers of Mockingjay. I love the blue) so I might consider getting the adult Mockingjay. But what do you guys think?

The adult covers of the Hunger Games will be out in the UK on 1st December, just in time for Christmas and a good several months before the first movie.