GoodRead – The 13 Secrets

I got my hands on The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison randomly via Twitter. I won it on a competition that the UK publisher, Simon & Schuster (Love ya @simonkids_uk!), talking about three covers and I tweeted that I adore the shiny cover of the 13 Secrets. Because of that, I won and got a copy a month and a few weeks before the book came out (the end of December).

Now, for the shocking fact: I have never read the previous two books in the 13th Treasures trilogy by Michelle Harrison. SORRY! So, I basically won a book and read the final book in a trilogy without reading the rest of the series. HOW DARE I!

So, if you are a fan of the trilogy and want a true review of the final book in this trilogy, read the brilliant review from Wondrous Reads. If you have randomly picked up 13 Secrets (like I have), then stick around.

Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and is trying to put the past behind her with Tanya and Fabian. But her past isn't staying behind her. People from her past want her to participate one last time in a changeling trade and Red is having nightmares about Hedgewitch's cottage and Eldritch, who has sworn revenge when she left him trapped there.

But, when events begin to take a sinister turn and Rowan's past beginning to catch up with her, what will she, Tanya and Fabian do?

So... where to start? Yes, it's the last book in the trilogy. Yes, I should have read the first two books, The 13 Treasures and the 13 Curses, because stuff is touched upon within 13 Secrets that happened in the previous two books. Yes, this does make me a slight hypocrite to me friends and family when I tell them to read the series in order. Yes, yes, yes, I KNOW!

But, I fell under this book's charm. It was a joy to read. It was darker than I first expected. I expected it to be light and fun. Yes on the fun part, no on the light. It went in a direction that I loved (I have a dark reader's soul. What can I say?) and there were times I read the book and it revealed a nasty twist (oh, there are several of those!) and went, “What? What?! WHAT?!” or “No freaking way!” . And if I did that while reading this, a guy who randomly won a copy, I shuddered to think of the reactions the readers of the series!

And the tweets – oh, once I read the book, I spend a few days tweeting the author, Michelle Harrison (@HarrisonMM) & Jenny from Wondrous Reads (@WondrousReads) and generally getting excited and go “I want a tea caddy brownie!” (after snooping on Wondrous Reads website, I have found out he appears more in 13 Curses.)

I fell under this book's charm. So much so that when I was at Cat Clarke's book launch, I saw Michelle there and went all starstruck. So much so, that I kept my distance. I fear Michelle's reaction if I came up to her and went, “Hi!”. I would probably come across as some deranged fan!

But I really enjoyed reading 13 Secrets and, yeah, once I can afford it/make room on my To Be Read pile, I will be getting my hands on 13 Treasures & 13 Curses. I want very badly to return to
Elvesden Manor...

*

And now, for the book trailer and for music I listened to while I was reading this book. ENJOY!

GoodRead - UK Cover vs US Cover

It feels like AGES since I did a UK Cover vs US Cover blog (just checked. It hasn't. Last time I did, it was the beginning of January this year). So, am going to try and do one here with an adult novel that I saw and I am planning to read soon - I hope.

The novel in question is THE POSTMISTRESS by Sarah Blake. So, here is the UK cover...



And here is the US cover for THE POSTMISTRESS...



I like the US cover. But I prefer the UK. There's something about the UK cover that has an edge over it. No idea what. But I really prefer the UK cover.

But what do you guys think? Leave a comment and let me know, please!

Fancy a Cup of Tea?

Becca Fitzpatrick UPDATE

Even since Becca Fitzpatrick Said the title of her third book in her Hush Hush saga was TEMPEST then she took it back, saying it didn't feel right for the book, readers of Nora and Patch have been waiting... and checking out Fallen Archangel... and waiting...

And now, we have a title!



And this was what Becca said:

At long last! I am thrilled to finally announce the title of the third book in the Hush, Hush saga! If you follow me on Twitter, or if you're a fan of my Facebook page, you've probably noticed there has been (just a little!) drama surrounding this title recently. Ever since I decided Tempest wasn't the right title for the book, I've been on the search for a worthy replacement. I spent weeks sorting through titles and, in the end, for one reason or another, none of them felt right.

I always thought the title of the third book would be loud— something a crescendo would build up to. And it made sense; the storyline of the third book is daring and twisty and oh so romantic. Which is why I was surprised to find, in the end, the title I chose isn't flashy or loud or culminating. Instead, it's a haunting word, quietly powerful, filled with mystery and beauty. A word that means to put doubt, fear and anxiety to rest. A word that is synonymous with stillness, secrecy and all that is forgotten.

The noise between Patch and Nora is gone in this book. They've overcome the secrets riddled in Patch's dark past...bridged two irreconcilable worlds...faced heart-wrenching tests of betrayal, loyalty and trust...and all for a love that will transcend the boundary between heaven and earth. Armed with nothing but their absolute faith in one another, Patch and Nora enter a desperate fight to stop a villain who holds the power to shatter everything they've worked for—and their love—forever.

With much pleasure, I give you the title of the third book...



If you want to read a transcript that Fallen Archangel & MundieMoms had with Beccam click here!

Tomorrow When The War Began & Hunger Games Movie Update

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY, FOLKS!!!

As it's Australia Day, one of my fave sites revealed a trailer for Australia smash, TOMORROW WHEN THE WAR BEGAN. The book series, written by John Marsden, is huge down under and, if this trailer is anything to go by, it might become huge in the UK and the USA!



According to DigitalSpy, the film will be out in the UK on 15th April. Not sure who has the publishing rights to this book series, but if you are waiting for the Hunger Games movie, this might be the film you need to see.

Speaking about the Hunger Games movie, Liongate and the director, Gary Ross, have revealed the US release date for the movie. The date in question is 23rd March 2012. This comes mere days after Liongate hired Debra Zane as Casting Director. Some people will know her as the casting director for Breaking Dawn.

But what do you think? Do you think that Liongate can make a great movie within a short time period?

My reaction: I can't wait to see how the film looks, but I always thought we would get the film at the end of 2012, the start of 2013. But I feel I can trust the director and the script writers (the author herself, Suzanne Collins, wrote the first draft) so I can trust them. But I do worry over the CGI/Special Effects - my example is the first Twilight movie...

Cat Clarke's Launch Party

I was invited to a launch party for a debut novel, Entangled, by Cat Clarke that happened last night.



It was so cool!

Before the event, I met up with Sya from Mountain of Insteads and Lauren from I Was A Teenage Book Geek. Now, I have been Twitter-friendly with Sya for a while, but it was lovely to meet her in the flesh! Both were lovely and, because they were friendly and made me feel completely at ease, I beg you to check their blogs!

So, when the three of us turned up at the launch party, it was FULL! Loads of people turned up! And I bumped into Book Bloggers I met once before at the Atom Books Bloggers Event. I met Liz from My Favourite Books & Sarah from Feeling Fictional again and I met new bloggers. I met Carly from Writing From The Tub, Caroline from Portrait of a Woman.

There were, also, some authors there. As well as Cat herself (who I hugged! She's awesome!), there was Michelle Harrison (who I got a bit starstruck over and, because of that, I stayed away. If I did go up to her, I would have probably come across like some crazy!) & another debut author, Karen Mahoney, who I chatted to later that evening. I love her laugh! Also, the model who was on the cover of Entangled came! A "Surprise Surprise" guest!

Actually, I have a story about Karen Mahoney. When I first entered the party and bumped into Liz, she silently pointed to a woman who had her back to me. "That's Karen Mahoney," she whispered. My reaction: "Shout up!" and Liz must have seen the giddiness/hyperness in my eyes and said, quickly, "Don't hug her from behind! She's a Londoner and will beat you up!"

It was a really cool night and I really think you should read it! Go on... you know you want to...

I got a few pictures (see below), but Sarah from Feeling Fictional or @sarahreviews took loads and they look MEGA professional! And, yes, there is a photo of me. *sobs* Click here to see them!

Let's Have A Random Moment, Shall We?

I thought we should have a random blog where we can have our smile on our face as today is National Hug Day! *Hugs you lovely people!*





Also, last night while at the Launch Party for the novel "Entangled" by debut author Cat Clarke, another just-published YA author, Karen Mahoney, spotted this out the corner of her eye and a few of us laughed!



No New Moon, I see... And there was me getting ready to choose a side - Twilight Saga or Warrior Cats...

Books and Their Theme Songs (Volume 5)

Why, hello again! It's been a while since I did a Book and Their Theme Songs blog, but am doing it now. I hope the next blog won't be as long as this one...

But, let's get started, shall we?

THE KILLING PLACE by Tess Gerritsen = "I Am Here" by Sia



MATCHED by Ally Condie = "Catalyst" & "Wreck of the Day" by Anne Nalick





NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer = "Head Over Heels" by Digital Daggers & "Human" by Ellie Goulding





SHADE by Jeri Smith-Ready = “If I Ever Leave This World Alive” by Flogging Molly, “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol & “I Will Possess Your Heart” by Death Cab for Cutie







PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White = "Freeze" & "Choices" by Honey Ryder





ENTANGLED by Cat Clarke = "Bloodstream" by Stateless, "Cut" by Plumb with "Hurting Me Now", "Cloud" & "Oh Father" by Sia (with an afterthought of "Must Be Dreaming" by Frou Frou.)













And now, THE 13TH SECRETS by Michelle Harrison (I will review and update the blog nearer the time of the book's release) - "Only Girl (In The World)" & "Complicated" by Rihanna.

This Made Me Smile...

Thank you Mickey and Minnie Tumblr!

GoodRead - Entangled

When Grace wakes up in a white room with a table, pens and paper, she has no idea how she got there. Or why she's in there.

Slowly, Grace pours her tangled, messed-up life down onto paper, she's forced to face up to everything that she's tried so hard to forget. Her friendship with Sal and her falling in love with Nat. But something is missing. Something that's too painful to remember. Something that unravelled her. What happened that was so bad that pushed Grace to a dangerous limit? And, more importantly, why is she trapped in this room?

I think I discovered this book randomly on Twitter – oh, Twitter! I love you lately with you recommending books to me! - and, after getting a WHSmith Giftcard as an early Christmas present, I picked this up (with a copy of Maggie Stiefvater's Lament and Brenna Yovanoff's The Replacement [I was in 2 minds to get this book or My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent]) and decided to put it to my (already huge) To Be Read pile. After I finished my last book, The 13th Treasures by Michelle Harrison (not reviewing that yet! Soon, but not yet), I randomly picked it up and read. And fell quickly under the book's dark charms.

Now, there are reviews out there that some people have is that, within the first few pages, they found Grace rather hard work in liking, but I liked her. She was, to me, an typical angry teenager. But the more I read, the more I saw past the angry and the guard she put up and saw the fragile girl underneath.

Now, there are something I want to warn you. This touches on tough subjects. I knew for a while that Entangled raises the issue of self-harm, but it's not a just a “self-harm” book, but it's more. Scratch the surface of this book, and you see that there is a lot of issues and questions raised. It was like reading a storyline out of Hollyoaks. Maybe the author, Cat Clarke, should work with them...

People, I might be meeting Cat Clarke and I can say to her how much I liked/loved the book! And how I am waiting her next book impatiently...

*

WOW! How much does that sound like a book review! flinches away Let's ruin this image I have of myself with some music I seemed to always be listening to while I was madly reading/devouring this book... (and there was a LOT!)











(Note to self: Must do a "Books and Their Theme Songs" blog soon...)

You Are My Childhood

PIXAR!!!

Have I told you guys I ADORE Pixar?!

Thanks to the tumblrs of FzngWizbee and Mickey & Minnie

SWEAR WORD ALERT!!!

Secret Book Santa

So, I did this book blogger Secret Santa event for this Christmas just gone (even though I have doubts that I can call myself book blogger? No other book bloggers blogs the randomness I do!) and after the madness of Christmas and the Post (mainly the latter!), I discovered that the present I sent to my Secret Santa-ee was received (and talked about on their blog yet I can't find it!) and, due to Royal Mail, I got my Secret Santa present this Saturday just gone.

My Secret Santa was from Emma from Asamum Booktopia – one of my fave blogs out there and who's lovely to chat to on Twitter! So it was a lovely surprise that I got my Secret Santa from her! So, with a few odds and ends I'm not telling you (because I'm mean like that!), am going to show you the books I received and which have been added to my already HUGE To Be Read pile...





BLACK SWAN RISING by Lee Carroll
Jeweller Garet James isn't the same as everyone else. She just doesn't know it yet.
With her fair share of problems – money (lack of), an elderly father, a struggling business – Garet should be just like any other young, feisty, single New Yorker. If only it was that simple...
It begins with the old silver box that had been soldered shut. All Garet has to do is open it. A favour for the frail owner of the antiques shop. Who wouldn’t help?
Only it’s then that things start to change. Garet doesn't notice at first, the shifts barely perceptible. But the city in which she grew up is beginning to reveal a long-hidden side – darker, and altogether more dangerous: parallel world of chaos, smoke and blood.
And now it’s out of the box...and it has no intention of going back in.

FINDING SKY by Joss Stirling
You have half our gifts, I have the other . . . When English girl Sky, catches a glimpse of bad boy Zed in her new American high school, she can't get him out of her head. He talks to her with his thoughts. He reads her mind. He is the boy she will love for ever. Dark shadows stalk her past but a new evil threatens her future. Sky must face the dark even if it means losing her heart.


TITHE by Holly Black
Sixteen-year-old Kaye finds a white-haired young man of exotic appearance bleeding to death in a rain-drenched wood and saves his life. From that moment nothing in her life will ever be the same. Soon she is plunged into an inhuman world of conflict and betrayal, with a sacrifice -- hers -- and a kingdom as the prize. Cleverly combining romance with the resonance of myth, Holly Black masterfully evokes the dark heart of her conjured realm where Kaye must fight for her lover and her survival -- a place of wonder, to be sure, but also of trickery, decadence, brutality and blood.

HALF BROTHER by Kenneth Oppel
Ben Tomlin has been an only child for thirteen years. So when his research-scientist parents bring home a baby chimp to raise as a human child, Ben's life is turned upside-down. Teaching a baby chimp how to understand language is not his idea of fun, especially when he's trying to settle in at his new school.
But it isn't long before Zan's infectious personality endears him to everyone and he becomes a real member of the family. But just what will happen when he grows up and the experiment comes to an end? Ben must take dramatic steps, and the repercussions ricochet through home and community with devastating results.
This phenomenal novel is a thought-provoking story of relationships and family, first love and growing up, ethics and dilemmas.

Now, these books are really wow! The book that has got me the most excited is Black Swan Rising. It looks so interesting and dark and set in New York (am a bit of a sucker of dark fantasy based in New York).

So, thank you, Emma! And thank you for the Hunger Games tattoos and the AWESOME Maggie Steivfater bookmark! I ADORE that the most! :)

Stephenie Meyer Press Release

My friends at Atom Books sent me a press release in connection with Stephenie Meyer and her new release, The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide. And I thought I would share with you...

LITTLE, BROWN BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
TO HOST AN INTIMATE GATHERING OF
TWILIGHT FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
TO MEET STEPHENIE MEYER

TWILIGHT INTERNATIONAL FAN EVENT
TO CELEBRATE UPCOMING RELEASE OF
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED GUIDE

ATOM FAN COMPETITION ON WWW.STEPHENIEMEYER.CO.UK

London (12th January, 2011) – Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, a division of Hachette Book Group, will host a special International Fan Event, featuring Twilight fans from around the world. Ten fans will be chosen to have an once-in-a-lifetime intimate meeting with international bestselling author Stephenie Meyer. The event coincides with the upcoming release of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide (April 12, 2011; £17.99).

Little, Brown US is partnering with the Twilight Saga publishers around the globe to find the lucky Twilight fans who will attend this event. Atom (an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group UK) will be running a competition in their international English language territories (Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK) to find one super fan to join fans from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Taiwan at the exclusive event. Each special guest will receive an advance copy of The Official Illustrated Guide and get to talk extensively with Meyer, who will answer their Twilight-related questions.

“The one thing I miss most about my first book tour was the chance I had then to spend quality time with my readers,” said Meyer. “At an event with just ten or twenty people, I was able to get to know everyone a little bit. I could also more effectively answer each person’s questions. I’m so excited to have that opportunity again, and to get to spend time with fans from many different places and backgrounds.”

“We receive hundreds of travel requests for Stephenie from our foreign publishing partners every year,” said Megan Tingley, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. “Since it is physically impossible for one author to be in so many places, we thought this would be a great way to bring some fans to her.”

Fans from Atom’s international English language territories will be invited to upload a short video clip explaining why they are the ultimate Twilight fan. Finalists from Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK will go on to a final judging round, from which the ultimate Twilight fan will be picked. Further details can be found at www.stepheniemeyer.co.uk.

Due to the intimate nature of this event, details regarding the location and timing are being kept confidential. Photos and additional details will be distributed upon the event’s conclusion.

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide provides readers with exclusive new material and everything they need to further explore the unforgettable world Stephenie Meyer created in Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn and The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. The Guide also includes character profiles, outtakes, a conversation with Meyer, genealogical charts, maps, extensive cross-references, and much more. Originally announced as “The Official Guide,” The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide includes illustrations from several artists, including Young Kim, the illustrator behind the #1 New York Times bestselling Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1.

In five years, Stephenie Meyer has become a worldwide publishing phenomenon. The Twilight Saga’s translation rights have been sold in nearly 50 countries and 116 million copies have been sold worldwide.

Atom is an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, a division of Hachette UK. Launched in 2002, Atom publishes fiction for young adult readers with writers as talented and diverse as P.C. & Kristin Cast, Melissa de la Cruz, Lisi Harrison and, of course, the phenomenal bestseller Stephenie Meyer. For more information visit: www.littlebrown.co.uk / www.atombooks.net

Nightshade Blog Tour - Andrea Cremer Interview

Hello everyone! Welcome to the Blog Tour of Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. MY FIRST! And I'm the 13th blog, according to Atom Books (have I told you guys I love the number 13?). And my blog post for this tour is about Andrea Cremer and her writing process, which I am still shocked and thrilled over having (even via email!). I hope you like the interview...

Andrea, thank you for answering some of my questions. First of all, I wanted to know where the idea of Nightshade came from?
Calla was the inspiration – my books are usually inspired by characters, and the plots are driven by the problems/hopes/dreams of those characters. With Nightshade I knew Calla was a strong, independent young woman and that she was a warrior. I also knew she was a wolf, which presented a major challenge for me because I’m generally not a fan of werewolves. I ended up creating a new wolf mythology involving witchcraft that better portrayed the ways I’ve always viewed wolves: as beautiful, intelligent and social rather than the diseased or cursed half-man/half-beasts of lycanthropy.

I love the mythology about the Guardians, the Keepers and the Searchers. Where did that all come from? And far back did you research their mythology?
Thank you! Creating the mythology was one of my favorite parts of writing the novel. It emerged as an offshoot of figuring out Calla as a character. I knew she was a wolf warrior, but I also knew she was in trouble. The mythology was my way of discovering what could be more powerful than a Guardian – and the answers was witches. I focused on witchcraft because my ‘day job’ is as a history professor. My research focuses on the early modern period (1500-1800), which is the era of the Inquistion and witch hunts. The research has gone way back because my fourth book, which is a companion to the Nightshade trilogy, is about the origin of the Witches War in the 1400s.
 
Most people who have read Nightshade talk about Calla and how kick-ass she is. Was that always your intention or did she evolve into that as you wrote her?
From the moment I met her, Calla made it clear she was independent, kick-ass and unapologetic about it. I loved that and I wouldn’t have her any other way.
 
I love reading about Calla's pack members and Ren's too. Were they as much fun to write as they were to read?
I love the packs so much I don’t know where to begin. They are like family to me!

I want to ask some questions about writing. When did you get the writing bug?
I’ve written as long as I can remember – since I was a child I’ve been a daydreamer, always thinking up stories. I didn’t think that writing was something you could do for a living though so I went to graduate school and became a history professor. Two summers ago, fate took matters in her own hands when my foot was broken in a horseback riding accident. I couldn’t walk for twelve weeks and since I was stuck on the couch I started writing a novel. Once I started writing I couldn’t stop and I knew I had to do everything I could to pursue writing full time.

Most people (myself included) want to know about how you got your literary agent and your publishing deal? Was it quite an easy journey or was it quite hard going?
I often think I was lucky because I didn’t know anything about publishing when I decided I wanted to become an author. I just turned to research for answers and found out that I’d need an agent, and that meant querying. I started querying in late 2008 and got the request for the full ms from my agent in February of 2009 followed by an offer of representation in March. At the time it felt like agony but now that I’ve learned how the industry works I know that my experience has been lightning fast.
 
How long did it take you to write Nightshade from the original idea?
I wrote the first draft between Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2008 and then revised through February, did more revisions with my agent through the spring and then final revisions with my editor in the fall of 2009.
 
What is your typical day of writing?
It varies quite a bit. Right now I’m on sabbatical so I have a flexible schedule, but when I’m teaching I adjust my writing to accommodate classes and class preparation. I don’t have a particular time of day that I prefer to write I just try to sit down and write whenever I can. I’m a ‘binge’ writer, meaning that when I can I like to sit down and write for hours and hours.

Random question: Did you write Nightshade (and Wolfbane) in long-hand or straight onto the computer?
My long-hand is illegible, so I’d be in trouble if I tried to write that way! My handwriting also can’t keep up with my brain, whereas I’m a really fast typist. I’ll jot down notes longhand if my laptop isn’t available but I do most of my writing on a computer.

While you were writing Nightshade, you must have written scenes that you, sadly, edited or completely cut it? How did you decide what stayed in and what “little darlings” you cut out?
Editing is all about tightening up the pace. I like to keep readers as close to nail-biting as possible in a book, so the bits I cut out were moments where the plot relaxed a bit.

Was there a scene you loved writing but you had to edit out?
There was one scene that I cut which had Calla, Ansel, Mason and Bryn driving from Calla’s house to Burnout and involved their banter in the car. I loved it but it wasn’t essential to the plot, so I ended up cutting it. I love seeing the pack interact so I’d be happy to have loads of scenes just showing the pack hanging out, but it probably wouldn’t do much for pacing here :)

What do you feel when you see people reading Nightshade and their reactions on blogs/facebook/twitter? Does it feel surreal?
It's definitely surreal. I keep waiting for it not to be surreal but I'm somewhat convinced it will never feel 'normal' and I think that's a good thing. Honestly I'm wary about reading reviews or reader comments only because I have a thin skin and I'm terrified someone will hurt my feelings. Despite the incredible response to Nightshade negative reviews are simply par for the course, so that fear is probably something I need to just get over!

Now, I have to ask, what little titbits can you tease us about with Wolfsbane and, dare I ask, Bloodrose?
I have a strict no spoiler rule so I can’t share much. I can tell you that you’ll learn a lot more about the war between Keepers and Searchers in Wolfsbane, you’ll meet new characters, and you’ll see lots more of all the pack members in books 2 and 3.

I must thank Andrea Cremer for answering my questions and I must, also, thank Rose from Atom Books for allowing me to ask questions to Andrea via her!

The last day of the Nightshade tour is this Friday (aka 14th January) on the Atom Books website. So, till then, either get your hands on the book (it is awesome!) or check out the websites below!

Andrea Cremer Official Website - http://www.andreacremer.com/
Nightshade Series Official Website - http://www.nightshadeseries.co.uk/
Atom Books - http://www.atombooks.net/

GoodRead - UK Cover vs US Cover

Okay, I admit it. I kinda love the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy. And a few days ago, Scholastic UK released the cover for the third and final book in the trilogy, Forever. And so, I wanted to show them both to you and go "Which do you prefer?"

So, here is the UK cover of Forever:



And here is the US cover of Forever:



Am going to be honest. I ADORE them both. I love the US cover because of the redness while I love the UK cover because of the rose. I also love the SHINY-ness of the UK cover. It looks quite reflective (an added bonus!).

So, the UK cover might have a slight edge to it, but what do you guys think? UK cover or US cover? Let a comment and let me know!

PS - the peeps at @ScholasticUK gave a little tease over what Forever is going to be about. So, what does this mean?

"Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in."

...more Harry Potter?

Isn't that cool?! I want this for real! Any idea what book was used [Found it! It's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on the chapter, Diagon Alley] (thanks to my pal's tumblr, FzngWizbee, who reblogged this from MuggleNet's tumblr)

And look what else I found...! LOOK!!!



A REAL HOGWARTS ACCEPTANCE LETTER!!!! *sits by postbox and waits...*

(thanks to MuggleNet's tumblr for reblogging the image from the Beauty of Solitude's tumblr)

High Five Those Angels, Luna!

I Shall Call Him Squishy!

GoodRead - Shadow Days

As you guys know, I read (and fell completely and utterly in love with) Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. So, when I found out that a prequel – Shadow Days – was free to download via Amazon.co.uk, I had to print off all 80 pages and read like mad!

So, the prequel (based on the US publisher setting up a blog and a Facebook page) following Shay moving from Portland to Vail, leading up to the start of Nightshade.

I don't really know what to say about Shadow Days, seeing as I loved Nightshade. I love Shadow Days and got excited over reading little titbit clues and hints that we read in Nightshade. PLUS, there were throwaway comments of Harry Potter and The Hunger Games so I got very excited!

BRING ON WOLFBANE!

If you want to download Shadow Days, click here and look under Product Details. If you want to befriend Shay on Facebook or follow his blog, click on the right word! Or, if you want those eight vlogs, click here! (The first vlog is at the bottom of the blog!)

And I'll see ya on Wednesday 12th January for my FIRST EVER interview with Andrea Cremer (thanks Atom Books! Here's info of the Nightshade Book Tour!)

Snape Vs Umbridge

Now, as you guys know a few blogs entries ago, I showed you thois video from the Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.



Well, a friend (who I forced to read Harry Potter - heehee!) found this while reading the book:



I forgot that this was in the book! It's been so long since I've read the Harry Potter series... maybe I should reread them this year...

First Blog of 2011!

HAPPY 2011! See ya throughout the year!!!

PS - I stole the above from Reasoning with Vampires tumblr.