James Dawson's New Book Info!

I completely forgot to talk about this! I saw it on Twitter when the news was released and got VERY excited. So, why I forgot to blog about it is ANYONE's guess! 

But now I remembered, James Dawson (the author of the brilliant Hollow Pike) has revealed the title and a tiny amount of information about his new novel, which should be out next summer (TOO FAR AWAY!). It's called... CRUEL SUMMER. 

And here is the info James revealed: 

A year after Janey’s suicide, her friends reunite at a remote Spanish villa, desperate to put the past behind them. However, an unwelcome guest arrives claiming to have evidence that Jane was murdered. When she is found floating in the pool, it becomes clear one of them is a killer. Only one thing is for certain, surviving this holiday is going to be murder…

Isn't it great? It sounds dark and twisted (I like dark and twisted reads) and a tiny part of me thinks it's Hollyoaks and And Then There Were None. 

But I want this book. I NEED to read this! So, dear UK publishers, are you SURE you want to publish it in August 2013? Could you just push it forward a few months...? 

Cover Reveal for... oh, do I have to say the full title?

Last year (yes, in 2011. Cast your minds that far back), I read a debut novel which had stupidly long title (aka say it in one breath) that was One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite (gasps from breath). Since last year, myself and several other bloggers (mainly Laura from Sisterspooky to name but one) has been annoying Tom Clempson about a sequel. We know he was writing one and the UK publisher, Atom, said the book won't be on sale till mid-2013. 

But earlier today, Tom revealed the cover and some info on the book. Ready? 

Jack Samsonite's Foolish Plan for Being Amazing at Everything

(including getting a life, getting into Film School, and getting into a girl's knickers)

1.Make an amazing(ly bad) short film about zombies... or maybe superheroes... or just three idiot friends. It has to be deep and meaningful and (most importantly) has to have a scene where I kiss a girl on the mouth.

2.Write the world's best university application ever! (Or at least one that doesn't make me seem like a nob).

3.Don't get expelled trying to complete 1&2

It can't possibly fail. . .right?

The Bone Season's Film Rights

Sorry! I got the email yesterday but forgot to upload it. SORRY! (I haven't heard of this book till now, if I am TOTALLY honest with you, but am aware now! I sense good things from this series...)

THE IMAGINARIUM STUDIOS ANNOUNCES

INAUGURAL SLATE OF FILMS

Performance Capture Studio Founded by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish secure rights to “The Bone Season” and “Animal Farm”

London, England – October 22, 2012 – London-based performance capture studio The Imaginarium has secured the film rights to the highly anticipated book series The Bone Season, by Samantha Shannon as well as the film rights to adapt George Orwell’s seminal novel Animal Farm, it was announced today by Andy Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish, founders of The Imaginarium. 

“The dystopian world created by Samantha in The Bone Season series offers a fantastic setting for a truly extraordinary and thrilling narrative,” said Serkis.   “We are honoured that she chose to collaborate with us in the adaptation of her work.”

“Samantha has created a compelling and unique world and a gripping story crafted to span a series of novels.  The Bone Season offers the opportunity to create a dynamic franchise with global appeal,” adds Cavendish.

Scheduled for publication on August 20, 2013, by Bloomsbury, The Bone Season was acquired during the London Book Fair in a pre-emptive bid by the publisher.

"Samantha Shannon is an extraordinarily talented writer. The Bone Season is a startling combination of a unique literary voice, a fully conceived, terrifying parallel world and a narrative pace that grips like a vice,” said Alexandra Pringle, Bloomsbury editor-in-chief. 

 “I am thrilled to be working with The Imaginarium,” said Shannon.  “Their name had me from the start: a place devoted to imagination.  There is a strong, visual sensibility to my writing process and I am very excited by the creative possibilities for how The Bone Season could translate from page to screen.  I am confident that all the members of the Imaginarium team are as passionate about the book as I am and I look forward to working with them to make this project a reality.” 

In addition to The Bone Season, The Imaginarium has negotiated the rights for a feature film adaptation of George Orwell’s classic tale, Animal Farm.  

“Both The Bone Season and Animal Farm are perfectly suited to the Imaginarium,” said Cavendish.  “With Animal Farm, we will reinvent this iconic story for a new generation, using the unique storytelling techniques offered by performance capture. The acquisition of these two projects marks an exciting time for all us at The Imaginarium.”

Serkis and Cavendish will serve as producers on The Bone Season; Serkis will direct and act in Animal Farm and produce along with Cavendish. 

The Imaginarium is represented by CAA and Larry Taube, Principle LA Entertainment; publishing and films rights for The Bone Season and Ms. Shannon were handled by David Godwin Associates, UK (DGA, Ltd.).

"We are delighted to officially announce our involvement in bringing this classic yet controversial fable to life, hopefully allowing it to resonate for our times with a combination of a fresh perspective, real emotional heart, a great deal of humor and satire," said Serkis.   "By utilizing performance capture, a deeply talented and committed cast of actors will be able to explore and fully inhabit Orwell's fairy tale world where 'some animals are more equal than others.' "

ABOUT THE IMAGINARIUM STUDIOS

Established in 2011 by actor/director Andy Serkis and producer Jonathan Cavendish, The Imaginarium harnesses the power of performance capture to fuel a new generation of storytelling in film, television and videogames.  The Imaginarium’s central London studio base acts as magnet to the international film community as well as providing a development and production base for writers, filmmakers and creative visionaries from all over the world.  www.theimaginariumstudios.com

ABOUT THE BONE SEASON

The Bone Season begins in 2059. Nineteen-year-old Paige Mahoney is working in the criminal underworld of London. Paige is a clairvoyant, and in this future world, clairvoyance is forbidden and Paige is committing high treason. Attacked, kidnapped, and transported to Oxford, a city that has been kept secret for two hundred years, she meets Warden, a Rephaite with dark honey skin and heavy-lidded yellow eyes. He is the single most beautiful and frightening thing she has ever laid eyes on—and he will become her keeper. 

ABOUT SAMANTHA SHANNON

Born in 1991, Samantha Shannon was raised in West London, where she started her first novel at the age of fifteen. She is currently studying for a degree in English Language and Literature at St Anne’s College, Oxford. The Bone Season is the first in a projected series of seven novels.

ABOUT ANIMAL FARM

First published in 1945, George Orwell’s allegorical tale Animal Farm has been hailed by TIME magazine as one of the best 100 English-language novels (1923-2005), is currently listed at number 31 on the Modern Library List of the 20^th Century’s best novels and was awarded a retrospective Hugo Award in 1996. 

GoodRead - Never To Sleep

I'm not a Soul Screamers fan. I know that sounds odd, seeing as in the past, I have read the two previous eNovellas that Rachel Vincent has written, My Soul To Lose and Reaper. So, of course, when she and Mira Ink released this, Never To Sleep, I was in two minds before I bought it. I do enjoy reading her eNovellas but for some reason, I don't get on with the series. Every time I try to start My Soul to Take, I seem to lose interest very quickly. But I have heard that the series goes up a gear from book three onwards and I would quite like to, one day, read one of them.

So, for you fans out there, Never to Sleep takes place at the same time as the fifth in the series, If I Die. This eNovella does have a spoiler about If I Die, so my advice is read this AFTER If I Die but BEFORE Before I Wake. 

This eNovella follows Kaylee's cousin, Sophie, who won't let her cousin's weirdness get in her way. Not after all the work she has done to get the right look, the right friends, the right life. But when she bumps into a new transfer student, Luc, and they both see something so horrible that Sophie scream and, somehow, both of them are transferred into a parallel world. With no way to get back, Sophie begins to panics... is this real? Or does insanity run in the family?

I liked this. A lot. I always enjoy reading Rachel's eNovella but I enjoyed reading about this spoilt, self-centred character who, when faced with something impossible, somehow manages to keep her head and fight back. Sophie is a funny character and there's a lot of inside jokes that am such fans of the Soul Screamers series. One of which is when Sophie thinks that her "insane" cousin, Kaylee couldn't handle the Netherworld. I snorted at that line. 

Oh, if you only knew...!

Luc is an interesting character. This is very much his introduction as, from the other reviews I have read, he's playing a major role in Before I Wake, so I might have to treat myself to that to find out happens. 

This is very much a story for the fans so if you're a fan, enjoy. If not but you're curious, go back to the first book, My Soul to Take or the eNovella prequel, My Soul to Lose, and work your way forward... 

SMILE - The Meaning Of Life

I KNEW IT! Thank you That's Serendipity tumblr for confirming it for me!

We Are All Important

Dear readers, 

I fear this blog post will turn into a rant so, in advance, I wish to apologise. But I have been sitting on this since last night so I need to get it out of my system. 

Yesterday, a gay couple won a court case. From what I understand, this couple were turned away from a B&B, because the woman realised that they were a couple and turned them away, saying it went against her Christian faith. I'm not talking about this as I don't really understand this case. 

What I am talking about are the tweets from Nick Griffin, leader of the far right political party, the BNP. In a space of two hours, he tweeted the following: "If anyone can give us address of the 2 bullying 'gay' activists who've won case v Christian B&B owners, we'll hold demo … for rights of all home owners, gays included, to rent or not rent rooms to whomsoever they wish." and "A British Justice team will come up to [the couple's address] & give you [the couple] a … bit of drama by way of reminding you that an English couple's home is their castle. Say No to heterophobia!"

Later, he then tweeted "Why don’t left & gay activists confront Muslims instead of picking on meek & forgiving Christians? Bullies are always cowards!" and continued to defend his comments by saying he spoke out for the "silent majority" and "I think people have the right to discriminate."

I'm sorry, but pardon? He thought that his actions were ALRIGHT?! 

Let's talk about his tweets and himself. Nick Griffin is the leader of a far right political party who, until recently (due to a law change), only accepted white men (and then used the term "I have black friends"). This is the man who describled gay people as "creepy" and would ban civil partners while claiming he had made his political party more gay friendly (which doesn't make sense!). This is the man who thought tweeting these words was acceptable, even though it revealed private information, was threatening and homophobic. 

And he speaks for the "silent majority"? Is this the silent majority who were so outraged that they complained to Twitter to have him removed (he was but, strangely, the account seems to be reactivated this morning)? Is this the silent majority who phoned and emailed the Police, demanding an investigation into his words? Is this the silent majority who emailed the Prime Minister (via 10 Downing Street's website), demanding action for, not only did he break Twitter's Terms and Conditions, but he broke the law (I can't remember the act in question, but I know it's dated 2003)?

I know some of you are wondering why this upsets and angers me so much? I live in the UK and I know what the BNP stand for and I am against their views. So why am I so angry over it? 

Because it brings a horrible truth: discrimination still happens. 

In the last 100 years, women were fighting for the right to vote, the right to be seen as equal to any man. 100 years ago, people thought that if you didn't have the right skin colour, you were a second class citizen. 100 years ago, if you were gay, you would go to jail because it was against the law. 100 years ago, if you worshipped the "wrong" religion, then you would go to hell. 

And look where we are now. We have a black President of the United States, Australia has a female Prime Minister. The UK had a woman Prime Minister in the 80s. People have the same rights, despite their gender, despite the colour of their skin, despite their religious beliefs. 

And yet, more has to be done for equality. 

I was bought up, believing that everyone is equal. That everyone is important. It didn't matter whether you were male or female, gay or straight, able-bodied or disabled, whether you are religious or not, etc. 

I could go on with this list I won't as I don't want to waste any more of you valuable time, and I know how busy you all are. 

I still believe in that view. So seeing non-equality really angers and upsets me. I know where still have a long way to go before we all live in a world where everyone in the world is treated the same. As equal. 

So, my dear readers, I wanted to say that. I will be there, hoping for the day this happen. It might take days, weeks, months, years. I might not see it in my lifetime. I hope I do see this before I die. But, I wanted to say this: 

YOU ARE IMPORTANT. 

Whoever you are, you are important. You are valued. You are an equal to the person next to you. You have every right to be who you are, and don't let anyone take that away from you. We will change the world to be a better place. Might take a while, but we will get there. So be you. 

UK Cover Reveal for THE LOST PRINCE!

Am a bit late revealing this as Mira Ink revealed the cover for The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa. This is the first book in a new series, Call of the Forgotten, which is (in a sense) a follow-up series to The Iron Fey series. But, I have been told by Mira Ink that, even though it is set in the same world, it's a new series so you can read that without reading the previous.

And here is the UK cover to The Lost Prince:

This is very different from The Iron Fey covers, which the US cover has stuck with as you see below:

Now, out of the two, I much prefer the UK cover. I just prefer it. I think it'ss because of the silver and the magical edge to it whereas the US cover feels a bit... you know... LOOK WHO HIT PUBERTY! It feels a bit like they using the age old "Sex Sells" and my reaction is "NO! You have a fanbase, you don't need to use this tactic!!!"

Now, I do need to read The Iron Daughter and The Iron Queen, but am very intrigued over this. And, to wet your appetite, here is the US book trailer... Enjoy. 

GoodRead - What He Wants

OK! OK! I know in Tuesday's review (Whiskey Dreams), I said normal YA reviews will resume in the coming days. But apparently, I was lying. To everyone. Including myself. So yes, we have another ADULT GAY EROTICA! So, if you don't like this kind of thing, BACK AWAY!

Matthew's girlfriend dumped him, using an excuse that can not be true. No way is he in love with his best friend, Aaron. But when she talks to Aaron, putting the same idea in his head, could this be the end of their friendship? Or could Matthew's ex be right?

AVOID! Let me state this again in case you missed it. AVOID!

*sigh* I don't think I have ever written a review using that word before... and probably never will again...

Anyway, now I have that out of my system, I can tell you why to avoid this. While this was a fast read (read it in about ten to fifteen minutes), there was something (pardon the pun) stiff about it. It never felt right. It felt, dare I say it, the outline of a bad porn movie. There was no quality in the writing or how the story went forward.

And the last page. Right, ok, am going to spoil this for you now but the two characters are together after having sexual intercourse, Aaron has confessed that he's in love with Matthew (after realising that he could be gay the PREVIOUS night!) and Matthew, while having enjoyed the sex, says that he's not ready to "come out of the closet" yet he stills "desire women". He can't imagine Aaron being with anyone else or imagining his life without him, yet he says it's "weird and unnatural" when he said "I love you" to Aaron. I'm sorry, but what? If Matthew comes out as bi, fine. I would have accepted that (kinda) but everything else he said, I felt like he was going "Well, I want my cake and I'm gonna eat it."

You can't say "I love you" then say "It feels weird and unnatural" to say that. You can't say "I'm not saying I'm ready for a relationship" then say "I can't think of you being with anyone else". If Matthew wants a relationship with Aaron, SAY IT! If Matthew wanted to have Aaron as a Friend With Benefits, SAY IT! If it was a mistake, SAY IT! Don't contradict yourself several sentences later!!!

I guessing that the author was trying to do a "Happy In The Moment" ending. And it fell flat!

Again, if you see this, RUN AWAY FROM IT! DON'T CLICK THAT "PURCHASE" BUTTON!

(I promise this time, normal YA book reviewing will resume next week! PROMISE! I think I wanted to review these "naughty" stories as I want to be a little bolder/braver with my reading/reviewing choices...)