Tuesday 15 November 2011

Really Random Tuesday


Really Random Tuesday is a meme created by Suko at Suko's Notebook which is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes, photos--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.

I can't believe it has been so long since I wrote one of these posts and I will have to apologise now because it is going to be a long one. I shall add a few book trailers in so you can rest in between!
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First up the winners of the Judy Blume competition. The prize was to win three books from the Judy Blume collection which Macmillan Children's books have just reissued with gorgeous new covers. There were to be three winners for the competition. 

The winners are:


Congratulations ladies, an email will be winging its way to you this morning for your addresses. Thank you to everyone who entered this competition. Sorry for the people who didn't win, but do look out for a new competition very soon. 
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The Winner of the Runemarks and Runelight by Joanne Harris is:

Mary of Mayfield

Congratulations Mary. An email is on its way to you this morning for your address. 
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Celia Rees has a new book out next year called This Is Not Forgiveness and I thought I would share the trailer with you. 
Doesn't it look good?
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Egmont UK have a shiny new teen/YA imprint coming out in 2012 and they have some awesome books coming out on it. They chose on the name Electric Monkey as the felt it would be instantly attention grabbing. They plan to launch the first ten books between January and June 2012.
Here are two that have caught my eye. 
Oliver Twisted by JD Sharpe. 
Think Oliver Twist but with vampires! JD Sharpe presents us with a retelling of Oliver Twist with a huge twist! I am really excited about this book. I am sure it is going to be huge. 
Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt
After a car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna is permanently scarred.She struggles to rebuild her life, but every stare in the street, every glance in the mirror makes her want to retreat further from the world. Until she meets Ryan....

Don't they sound fantastic?  And they are just two of the delights on offer from Electric Monkey. Look out for more news about Electric Monkey soon. 
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Avenger's Angel is due out at the end of this month and it looks super hot. Here is the trailer.
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Lots of news from some of my favourite authors this week too.
 The fabulous Keris Stainton has signed a deal to bring out a new book with Orchard next year. It will be called 'Emma Hearts LA' and features Emma, Jessie's friend from 'Jessie Hearts NY'. Keris is on her way home from California this week after doing some research out there. What a glamorous life these authors lead!
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Some news concerning Guardian Teen Books and Random House.
'Guardian Teen Books has partnered with Random House for a new interactive, serialised story called Root - a fast-paced thriller set in the shadowy world of computer hacking and espionage. Every weekday for six weeks a new chapter will be released on guardian.co.uk/teen-books. The content will be directly influenced by readers’ contributions, such as their ideas for characters' personalities and skills.
The heroine Molly Root is a 15 year old computer genius whose friend Danny is killed after being caught stealing priceless data from a ruthless global corporation. Now she's in over her head. So far Molly Root's mission to get to the bottom of her best friend's murder has taken her on a perilous trail across London. Her key lead is a dodgy police detective - and her attempts to expose his shady contacts are testing her ingenuity to the limits.
As well as incorporating suggestions from readers, the story will also be brought to life via several social media platforms. For example, Guardian Teen Books' Twitter and Facebook accounts will be providing behind the scenes updates of how Molly is progressing, along with clips on Audioboo featuring the voicemails that Molly has discovered. This will be accompanied by onsite quizzes and photo puzzles on Flickr.'
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The two covers have just been released for the two new Lauren Kate books 'Fallen In Love' and 'Rapture'. I thought you would like to see them.
Aren't they simply gorgeous?
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I got sent a link for this a couple of weeks ago and I really wanted to share it with you. It is the map of Highgate which relates to the Mia James books 'By Midnight' and 'Darkness Falls.' All the interesting places from the books are pinpointed on the map for you to see. 

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Another favourite author of mine, Jenna Burtenshaw reveiled the new cover for the final part in her Wintercraft trilogy. Legacy is out on the 10th May 2012. I can't wait!
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Finally, Zoe Marriot, another one of my favourite authors, revealed her huge news this week. This is what she printed on her blog this week. She has just announced her first trilogy to be released by Walker Books. 
THE KATANA TRILOGY. A breathtaking new urban fantasy trilogy from the critically acclaimed, award winning author of The Swan Kingdom and Shadows on the Moon
When fifteen year old Mio Yamato furtively sneaks the katana

The paralysing paranoia that descends on her before she gets to her friend's party is her first clue. The vivid and terrifying visions that nearly get her killed are a pretty good warning too.

The giant nine-tailed cat demon that comes after the sword and tries to rip her throat out? Overkill.

Seconds away from becoming kitty-food, Mio accidentally releases Shinobu, a warrior boy who has been trapped within the sword for centuries. He saves her life and sends the demon running. But it's already too late. Mio has ruptured the veil between the mortal realm and the Underworld, and now the gods and monsters of ancient Japan stalk the streets of London, searching for her and the sword.  

With the help of her best friend Jack, a fox spirit named Hikaru - and the devoted protection of the betwitchingly familiar Shinobu - Mio attempts to discover the true nature of the sword and its connection to the Yamato family. Because if she doesn't learn how to control the katana's incredible powers, she's in danger of being overwhelmed by them. And if she can't keep the sword safe from the terrible creatures who want it for their own, she'll lose not only her own life... but the love of a lifetime.

The Night Itself, Book One of THE KATANA TRILOGY, is due for publication in summer 2013 from Walker Books, publishers of Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments Series and Patrick Ness' Chaos Walking Trilogy.
I can't wait!
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Phew! I think that is enough news from me today. Might need to go and lie down after all this excitement.

11 comments:

  1. wow I won, thank you. It will take me back to my teenage years. Loving Jenna's new cover it's gorgeous in fact so many gorgeous covers on this page. x

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  2. Oh thank you so much Vivienne :D I shall be re-introducing myself to Judy Blume as well as foisting her on my lot as well.

    Oliver Twisted looks AMAZING!

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  3. Congratulations to the winners! I'm not usually a fan of books like that, but I'm very curious about Oliver Twisted.

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  4. Great post filled with so much exciting stuff! I love the sound of Electric Monkey (and what a brilliant name)!

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  5. Congratulations to all the winner :)

    Puuh that was some wonderful news you've gathered in this post, Vivienne.

    Electric Monkey was a very unusual and cool name! Certainly one that I'm not going to forget.

    Can you believe that I actually pre-ordered Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw but I still haven't gotten to it?

    I loved the Avenger's Angel trailer, it was fab.

    I think I need to read Zoe Marriot's books, her latest novel sounds so good!

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  6. congrats to the winners. Interesting updates here, I'm intrigued by Oliver Twisted.

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  7. Susan - I hope you enjoy them.

    Carmen - I hope you love them too.

    Bermudaonion - I am so excited about Oliver Twisted!

    Jenni - the books from Electric Monkey will blow your mind.

    Mari - I think Electric Monkey is going to get a lot of attention. You must read Wintercraft and The Shadows On the Moon by Zoe Marriot!


    Naida - me too. I can't wait to read that one.

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  8. I will :D I just have to read a few other books first and the one about CeeCee ;)

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  9. LOL! That IS a lot of excitement. ;) And those Judy Blume covers are WAY too fun. I love how retro they look.

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