Night School Saturday - Jodie Hirst Talks About Playing The Dead Girl

Yes, it's another Night School Saturday! Yes, another one. THESE WILL NEVER END (well... until the lovely director Jack says he has nothing more to share with me...)!

If you haven't seen yesterday's episode, All The Pretty Killers, I will pop it down below. There is a HUGE SPOILER in it from the second book in the series, Night School: Legacy, that carries the series forward. So, if you haven't read Legacy, you might want to skip this episode. And this blog post in general. Just covering myself!



Have we seen it? Is it safe to talk?

Ok, well, because Jack is a really nice guy, he asked if I wanted to help promote the Night School: Web Series. I said yes (of course I did, have you not read any of my other Night School Saturday posts?) and Jack got Jodie Hirst - the actress who played Jo in yesterday's episode - to write a tiny blog post for me. And it's on the subject matter I wondered over...

Anyway, before I let Jodie take over my little blog, I want you guys to share the kindness and love. If you want to follow Jodie, Jack or CJ Daughtery on Twitter, you can go and follow them at @BlondeBob24, @JackJewers (or @trailer_made) & @CJ_Daugherty.

Ok, Jodie, all yours!

“So you’re playing a dead girl?” enquire all my friends. Blunt, to the point, but true.

Not one to back down from a challenge I wanted to convince the audience that I was alive, not only to make the ending all the more poignant, but to show that even in death you can still have a big influence on those you leave behind.

I can relate to Jo (apart from the being dead part!) in the way we can both talk to anyone, we like to please people and can also be a tiny bit mischievous (we all like skinny dipping, right?!)

Jo and Allie’s relationship from the start is one that many girls can relate to. Jo takes her under her wing and through all the highs and lows (and there have been a few) they still remain firm friends, and, in a time of need who does Allie turn to? Me!

The location for my episode of Night School : The Web Series is beautiful and adds to the dreamlike nature of this narrative. The scene which sees Allie running to Jo is on top of a hill overlooking a gorgeous Surrey landscape. However, it may be a little tainted as I believe there’s still a bit of fake blood up there!

Talking of blood, there’s just a bit in this episode... What fun that was to play with! Who wouldn’t want to ruin a gorgeous dress? Oops! I’m pretty sure we have some funny outtakes of that scene; you may get to see them soon!

What a privilege to have been given the opportunity to play this beautiful character. She has so much depth and grace and I hope that the Night School fans think I have done her justice.

As for a second series? Oh yes, even a dead girl can come back more than once!  

If I Made The Movie Soundtrack For...

OK, this is an idea I've been sitting on for a the past few weeks. I love books and I love music. And I love it when I read/hear news that a book I like or love it getting turned into a movie.

Now, I was thinking a while ago over A Monster Calls a few weeks ago and I started thinking about the soundtrack. To me, the soundtrack has to reflect the movie and the book, but stand on its own two feet. And I had a wave of ideas hit me - what if this artists did a song for this moment? What if they did an instrumental? What if? What if? What if?

Normally, ideas like this usually go away, but this one won't. So, to give into my curiosity, I'm going to try it out. Only on 3 novels - ok, 2 novels and a series. So, for the next few weeks, am going to put on post up where, in my head, these books have been turned into movies (well, one is but SHHH!) and I am in charge on the movie soundtrack. What sound would I go for? What artists? What songs?

I'm doing this as a trail. If I like doing them, I will probably do more, but I just want to see if I like them. IF being the important word here.

As I'm still figuring out when/how am going to do this trail, I might as well tell you the books that have caught my attention on this idea of mine. They are...

Yeah... an odd mix but I hope I can give you a nice mix of music (and remember, this is a trail idea and this is going to be MY OPINION). Ok, now I said and posted this, let's get my rear in gear and boot up my iTunes!

GoodRead - The Art of Frozen

If you have followed my blog for a while, you know I like these types of books. I like reading about how films such as Finding Nemo, Up, The Avengers and Harry Potter got made and the art behind it. So, for Christmas, I asked for two books tackling the art behind the films. The first is about one of my main book/film loves (and with that, am going to take my sweet time over reading it) and the second was this.

The Art of Frozen does exactly what it does on the tin. With a preface from John Lasseter, the creative head of Disney's Animation Studios, and foreward from Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, the directors of the movie, this book shows the art of how the movie was made. We had scenes from the storyboard stages, pencil drawings, digital designs, photography among others which showed how Frozen was created.

I love these types of books. I love staring at the pictures and going "Oh, that's cool!" or "I see why this had to be done, because of that!" There are a few scenes I saw in art form where I went "I didn't realise that was the original trail of thought for this movie but am glad they didn't continue with that!"

But I loved reading this and staring at the pretty pictures. Yes, this isn't much of a review, I know that, but I loved reading this and I shall be plotting to watch the movie again soon.

Night School Saturday - Grace Parry Talks About All Things Gilmore

Another Saturday, another Night School Saturday. This is turning into a habit, isn't it, lovely readers, is it not?

The director of the Night School: The Web Series, Jack Jewers, asked if I wanted to take part in showing off the series (the first of its kind in the UK - who knew?!) and I said yes - like I said last week, am a bit of a fan of the series...

Anyway, today, the actor playing Katie Gimore - Grace Parry - talks about what it was like to play the mean girl in yesterday's episode, The Gilmore Girl. Not see it yet?



Compared to last week's very tense episode of Power, this is very much the opposite (and possible one of my fave episodes so far in the series!).

Now, before I throw this over to Grace (who took time out to write this tiny piece!), I just want to share the love so, if you want to follow Grace, Jack or CJ Daughtery on Twitter, you can go and follow them on Twitter at @GraceParry93, @JackJewers (or @trailer_made) & @CJ_Daugherty. (and once you've done that, you might want to watch CJ and Grace on London Live, chatting about the web series and how it came to be...)

All set? Right, over to you, Grace!

There’s a quote ‘everyone loves to hate a mean girl’ and I’m sure the fans of Night School will say this definitely applies to Katie. She’s someone who will say EXACTLY what’s on her mind and not think about the consequences. (Somewhat a trait I admire in Katie. At least you know where you stand!)

I love that my episode of Night School: the Web Series gives Katie the chance to tell her side of the story. Yes, she may be privileged (I wish I could be chauffeur driven everyday) and something of a queen bee (“thank God for this face!” – my favourite line) but ultimately her heart is in the right place. I think because of this Katie helps bring the comedy to Night School she was certainly a LOT of fun to play.

My casting is very often ‘the nice girl’ so playing Katie was something of a new and exciting challenge for me. There was something very exhilarating as an actress, having to unleash my inner ‘mean girl’ for the role. I think the fiery red hair definitely helped the character choice too. In fact, not only was I tempted to keep the hair after filming, I was finding myself having to bite my tongue and not get in trouble for saying something Katie might!

After reading the books and The Gilmore Girl script, I immediately saw a character reference to Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls (name a teenage girl who can’t quote the whole film – not ashamed to admit I can!) It would be hilarious if people were quoting Katie after the episode goes up.

The day spent filming The Gilmore Girl was so much fun! The school used as Cimmeria Academy (Frensham Heights in Surrey) was just like Hogwarts. I think every girl should have the chance to have a day in the life of Katie Gilmore – a trip to the spa, shopping and of course, after all that hard work, stopping for a Cappuccino (without sprinkles!) A chance to do all of that again would be lovely- so fingers crossed for a second series ;)

I just hope by the end of the episode the audience learn to love Katie as much as I do!

Bookish New Year's Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL, MY LOVELIES!!! Are you all enjoying the new year so far?

But it's that time on the blog, me talking about my bookish New Year resolutions... And I have 4 kinda resolutions for my reading this year. I might not stick to all of them (bar one. One I am sticking to NO MATTER WHAT!). But yes, my resolutions are as follows...

1. Read More - This isn't me saying "I must read more books!" because if that is the case, I will fail. What I mean is read more widely. Read genres I'm don't normally read in. And I have a few already in my TBR (and some books in grown-up genres I like [ie. 3 KATHY REICHS!!!]) and one preordered (should be out in April if all goes to plan), but yes... be braver in my reading.

2. Get my TBR pile under some control - This is NEVER HAPPEN but make it neat and tidy. My TBR pile grows without me knowing and I need to be either more organised and make lists or be more ruthless over what books I can give to my local library or charity shops. But yes, get things up straight with my books and maybe my blog...

3. British Books Challenge - You might have seen the tab on the top of the blog but yes, I'm taking part in the British Books Challenge. Which is, if I understand this right, a challenge to read 12 books from UK authors. I'm pretty certain I will complete this very quickly but it's going to be fun to see who I read and what I think of them...

4. Reread Harry Potter - I did talk about this in a previous post but THIS IS THE YEAR WHERE I READ ALL SEVEN HARRY POTTER! I don't think I need to explain myself any further, do I?

But yes, this is my ideas and plans for my reading. I hope I can stick to a few of them but OH WELL! We shall see...

I suppose I should have a real new year's resolution. Maybe get fitter...

Ok... maybe not getting fit... 

Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Oh, were you enjoying that lie-in?

GETUPGETUPGETUP!!!!

Thank You

Only a few hours to go before we say bye bye to 2014 and hello to 2015 and I just wanted to make a tiny note to you all.

It's a small note, but it's important to say it. Thank you.

Yes, I know that's a bit of an anticlimax but it's true. You guys are awesome and I want to say thank you. Thank you to the publishers who think my blog/opinion is good enough for their books and invite me to bookish events and say "Do you want to read this? We'll think you'll like...". Thank you to book shops and coffee shops for making me buy books and read them while I panic over if I ordered an extra hot skinny latte or a hot chocolate with all the works. Thank you to you guys for reading my blog &/or following my twitter/facebook/Goodreads/etc. Thank you for the book blogging community for chatting to me about books and making me discover new books/eBooks. Thank you to my family and friends who have to deal with me going "I can't right now. Am reading/blogging/am in London for bookish reason". And thank you to my other half (who I know will never read this) who has to deal with all of this and yet, still loves me because of it.

And who hasn't started a bonfire with all my books. (In case you are reading this, my other half, you dare touch my Harry Potters, I will destroy you in one form or another...)

There is too many of you to thank, but I do mean it when I say thank you. This year with my blog has been a bit harder than normal (there was one or two things I did think "Maybe I should just quit. This is no fun anymore...") and am still here, blogging in my little corner of the Internet, enjoying the fact I'm changing the blog up.

Yes, changes are a-coming. Slowly (this is me we're talking about).

Again, I just wanted to say thank you for staying with my blog, liking my blog and everything else that comes with this blog. I hope to get better with reviewing and reading and everything else blog-wise and real life-wise. Now, I will leave you so you can enjoy the New Year in and I will... well...

Books and Their Theme Songs - Volume 27

I'm popping this up now as it's Christmas and New Year and I don't think I shall be blogging for the next few weeks. Hopefully. I doubt I will keep to this plan but either way, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas or whichever religious holiday you keep.

Be happy, be kind, be full of love, be you.

Anyway, before you go enjoy the next few days, let me show you guys the music I was listening to while I was reading in the past two months. I hope you like these songs choices!

THIS SHATTERED WORLD by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
"The Only One" by James Blunt


THE BANE CHRONICLES by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan & Maureen Johnson
"Welcome to New York" by Taylor Swift [Not available on YouTube at this time]

CONSPIRACY GIRL by Sarah Alderson
"If Only" & "Fine" by Kylie Minogue

A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness (Based on the Original Idea by Siobhan Dowd)
"Only Lonely" by Tina Arena


THE SNOW GLOBE by Sheila Roberts
"Intro (Return of Blackbird) by Rumer


COLD WIND by Nicola Griffith
"The Hanging Tree" by James Newton Howard (Sung by Jennifer Lawrence)


SHADOWS ON THE MOON by Zoe Marriott
"No One's Here To Sleep" by Naughty Boy featuring Bastille & "Don't Forget Me" by Way Out West



CAPTIVE by A. J. Grainger
"Happy" by Marina and the Diamonds