Serendipity Reviews

The Big Break with Ruth Warburton

2012-01-27T08:00:00.014Z

On the blog today, I have the fabulous debut author Ruth Warburton who has me drooling for the second book in her series. You may remember me screaming with delight over A Witch in Winter last week, but if not, please click here to read the review.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog.

Thank you for having me!

What did you do for a living before writing became your chosen career?
I actually still have the day job – I work in the publicity department of an adult publisher. I have no plans to change that – I only worked part-time anyway, because I have kids, so it fits in well with writing.

Your debut novel, ‘A Witch In Winter’ has just hit the bookshops, how are you feeling about it right now?
Kind of scared and kind of thrilled! Mostly thrilled. But it's very weird realising that my book is out there now for anyone to read. I feel incredibly lucky – I'm fairly sure I'll wake up any moment.

I just love the sound of Wicker House, where did you get the inspiration for it from?
It's a little bit like my cousin's house. Her house is very old – Tudor, I think – and it was in a really bad state when they bought it. It had been kind of hacked around and generally neglected, and it felt a bit sad and draughty. They've restored it and now it's full of polished dark wood, warm stone and big sofas and is absolutely gorgeous. Wicker House starts off more unlivable than their house ever was, but I wanted it to have the same feeling of somewhere ancient and tired, that could still shine – if only given the chance.

Winter sounds like a town I would love, is it based on a real place?
It's a little bit like lots of places I've stayed on holidays – Cornish and Breton fishing villages, parts of Devon and the South coast. But it's also influenced by my home town of Lewes, where I grew up. Lewes isn't exactly like Winter – it's not a fishing village for one thing, it's about five or six miles inland. But it's very old, with a ruined castle that glowers above the town, a bit like Winter Castle. And it has the same mix of chocolate-box prettiness with a tough, sometimes anarchic interior.
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Did you have to do a lot of research into witchcraft to write the book? If you did, what was the most interesting thing you found out about witchcraft?
I had a fantastic time researching witchcraft legend and spells – there wasn't room for most of it sadly! Lots of snippets of real spells and superstitions did find their way into the book – the broom across the door is a real superstition, and the blood in the wine spell is based on an old voodoo charm to keep a man, although in voodoo tradition you put the blood in his coffee.
For book two my research has shifted towards more counter-witchcraft stuff, and I've ended up reading some very old witch-hunting manuals, which are incredibly scary and make you thoroughly glad to live in a time when being different is, if not completely accepted, at least not likely to get you burnt at the stake. The research was fascinating, but I wouldn't recommend them for night time reading.

How long did it take you to write ‘A Witch In Winter’?
The first draft took about three months, and was written while I was on maternity leave. Then I fiddled with it and edited it over the course of about a year, changing things here and there.

I know you have two sequels planned. Can you let us into any secrets about them?
Book two is called A Witch in Love. It starts just before Christmas, about six months after A Witch in Winter finishes. Anna is going to find out a lot more about her past – and she's going to discover that there are worse things than witches out there. We'll be seeing a lot more of Emmaline, Bran and Abe. And above all, Anna and Seth's relationship will be tested to the limit.
Book three is called A Witch Alone and I can't really tell you too much about it without giving some major spoilers! But it's when all the threads come together and Anna's faced with some impossible, terrible truths and choices.

Was ‘A Witch In Winter’ your first finished manuscript, or are there others hidden away?
No, I have dozens under the bed! I've always written fairly compulsively, and was writing book-length screeds from my teens onwards. But A Witch in Winter was the first one I really tried to do anything with. The early ones were pretty rubbish, and then later on I was writing adult stuff, and because I work in adult publishing I thought it would be too awkward to send it out to people I knew or might have to work with. I couldn't bear the idea of getting rejected by an agent and then having to sit opposite them in a meeting the next day! I know – horribly cowardly.
It was only when I wrote A Witch in Winter and it somehow came out as YA, I realised that it was a completely different set of agents – ones I'd never met, and would probably never meet again in the course of work.

How many times did you have to edit your book before the agent was happy to send it off to publishers?
Not very much actually – I think that year of tinkering paid off, because she gave me back some notes on my manuscript and suggested a couple of scene changes, but that was it. The whole process was very painless compared to some of the rewrite stories I've heard.

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
Complete disbelief. Even when I had an agent, I still didn't really think it would happen. I know how high the bar is, and how many fantastic writers get rejected day in, day out. It's still really hard for me to take in!

How long has it taken for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement?
In the end, just over a year – which is fairly quick in publishing terms.

What was happening to your manuscript during this time?
First of all in November I met my editor, and we had a conversation where she told me what she thought needed doing. Then in January she sent me an editorial letter outlining the broad structural changes, and a manuscript marked up with more detailed comments. I went away to work on her suggestions and about a month later I came back with a second version of the book. Then we did more fine tuning (mainly line-editing by this point). Then she read that version, and after a little bit more to-ing and fro-ing we were both happy we'd made all the changes we needed to. Finally, around April/May, it got signed off to go to the copy editor, who checked the spelling and changed all my commas to semi-colons and all my semi-colons to commas.
I had to go through the copy edits and check I was happy with those – and it was signed off to be typeset. Then I had to check the typesetter's galleys – and eventually all the mistakes were ironed out (I hope!) and it was sent off to the printers.

How have you kept yourself occupied as you waited whilst waiting for publication day?
With two small children, two sequels to write, and a day job, that hasn't really been a problem!

What other projects are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I'm kind of immersed in book three and can't really see beyond that. But I'm beginning to get the glimmerings of another idea beyond the horizon – I can't say too much about that in case I jinx it!

Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?
I only have two days a week to write, and they are short days as they're topped and tailed by the school/nursery run. So basically I put my head down at 9.30am and don't look up from my laptop until 2.30pm. I try to ignore the housework (usually successfully) and the internet (usually unsuccessfully). Otherwise it's snatched half hour slots in the evening and at weekends.

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
I'd say the first thing is read. Everything. Classics. Contemporary. Genre. Literary. Get a feel for what makes a good story, what grips you, what turns you off. Then try to forget it all and tell your own story. (Easier said than done, I know).
I think it can also be immensely helpful to join a critique group, or find a peer review website, and read some of the manuscripts. Oddly, not so much for the advice you get on your own work (although that can be immensely helpful) but more because there's nothing like assessing other people's work to make you sharper eyed about your own faults.
And maybe most importantly, enjoy it. Not the subbing and the rejection – you'd have to be a masochist to enjoy that. But the writing – enjoy the writing. Short of magic, it's still the best way I know to inhabit another world for a while.

Thanks Ruth for joining us today. You know I can't wait to read A Witch In Love!

To find out more about Ruth Warburton:

Twitter: @ruthwarburton
Website: http://www.ruthwarburton.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ruthwarburtonwriter?sk=info

Beyond The Grave by Mara Purnhagen

2012-01-26T08:00:00.001Z

Published by Harlequin

Pages - 253

' I never should have sent my boyfriend to the electric chair. Watching Noah from the monitor in the next room, I felt awful for him. Frayed leather straps restrained his arms. Shackles held his legs in place and, even though his eyes were squeezed shut, I knew he was anxious and uncomfortable.

Being Charlotte Silver, the daughter of famous paranormal investigators, means my life isn’t like that of other teenage girls. Especially after what happened to my parents. Things changed. I missed prom and deferred my big college plans. But I still have my boyfriend, Noah. He’s everything I could want—if I can figure out what’s up with him. Suddenly Noah is secretive.

I fear it has something to do with what happened to us three months ago. The bruise Noah suffered during a paranormal attack has never completely faded. Now I’ve learnt Noah is researching demons. And when he disappears, it’s up to me to find him—before something else does.

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A you can read from the paragraph above, the book explodes in the first page. I began reading and I was panicking about the situation Charlotte had found herself in. Seriously, an electric chair!

The story is told in first person, so you get to experience everything just as Charlotte does, which really works for this series. There is a quite a twist at the end, which really pulls the rug from under you. I will be honest and say it was a bit slow going to begin with, but it is definitely worth carrying on, as the plot thickens and throws out some unexpected fireworks.

It was lovely to see this book finish with a happier ending than the previous one which had a shocking and violent ending. I have really enjoyed this series but I was left unsure as to whether this book was the last one or not.

I can't say too much about this book as I don't want to give away spoilers, so I will try and be really careful.

Noah, Charlotte's boyfriend is very strange in this book. I was really worried how his character was going to develop. He really had a lot going on in his head and I was concerned that Charlotte might be in danger, throughout the book.

The development of the friendship with Bliss was a bit of a turn up for the books. Extremely unexpected, after the claws being out between them in the previous book. Michael was a gorgeous addition to the list of characters - definitely one you could get to know better.

A good plot with surprises along the way.

Random House Bloggers Brunch

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001Z

I was lucky enough to be invited along with many of my fellow bloggers to the Random House Children's Books blogger's brunch at their offices in Vauxhall. I can't describe just how much I love events like this. There is nothing more exciting that drooling over up and coming titles and being the first to see them as well as catching up with good blogging pals. We also got to meet three fabulous authors. At the front of the photo, you will see John Lucas, Victoria Lamb and Bali Rai who all have new books coming out with RHCB this year. For details see below.

We were also treated to home made Whoopie pies which they made using the recipes found in Whoopie Pie Fun which you know I am now going to have try out! I was made to eat two by Lynsey from Narratively Speaking and now I am addicted! This book is available to buy now.

Random House have some excellent books coming out and I thought I would share them with you.

First we have Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate which is coming out at the end of January (26th to be precise) which is a collection of short stories dedicated to love and featuring characters from the Fallen series. This would be an ideal present for a loved one on Valentine's Day.

The final book in the Fallen series, RAPTURE will be out in June and will probably top the book charts again in its first week of release as you guys just can't get enough of this series.

Now there is something special happening with the cover of the book, but until I have more news you will have to wait patiently for me to reveal it. So WATCH THIS SPACE!

Wonder by R.J. Palacio is already causing a storm on Twitter and rightly so I believe. This book will make you cry, so do not read it in a public place where you value your image. This book was inspired by real life events and handles the very difficult and delicate issue of looking different to everyone else with sensitivity and honesty. The author, who is an editor at Workman publishing, was in an icecream shop with her children, when a young girl entered the shop with a similar condition to the character in the book. Her children were confused and upset and she herself didn't know how to react and from this chance meeting her story was born. In June of last year, R.J. Palacio was picked by the Times as being one of the hundred people to watch in the future.

I am really excited and intrigued by this book as well as frightened of how I will feel reading it. I get the impression this is one of those books that just stays with you.

Transworld are also publishing it as an adult book, but *whispers loudly* buy the one from Random House Children Book when it comes out on the 1st of March.

I have to say, I am completely in love with this cover. The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers is a collection of flash fiction stories which feature teenagers. From what I can gather it is very dark in tone. Now I really love flash fiction, so I will definitely be interested in this one when it comes out in March.
Aidan Chambers is a renowned prize winning author, who has won the Carnegie Medal for Postcards From No Man's Land as well as the Hans Christian Anderson Award which is the highest international honour to be given to a chidren's author.
Aidan also has a new full length novel called Dying To Know You coming out in May 2012, which has the feel of Goodnight Mr Tom and captures the awkwardness of youth.

*rubs hands together in glee* Now this is the first dystopian novel from Random House Children's books and what a corker to start the ball rolling. Starters by Lissa Price is the story of a society where only the young and very old have survived due to being vaccinated against a virus. Food is scare and in order to survive, the young rent out their bodies to the old in exchange for food. Now this is fine, but what happens when your body is used for something bad...
There will be a short story coming out before the book is published in March, sort of like a pre starter. If you happen to go to the cinema to watch The Hunger Games soon, this cover will be there to greet you in the advertisements. This book is going to be HUGE!

I have just seen the US cover of this and I have to say I much prefer the UK. The American one resembles the books of another YA author who has recently written about the 1920's. This book debuted in the US last year and Jillian Larkin got an amazing response becoming the favourite debut with many bloggers.
This is the first in a trilogy about the 20's/ and comes out in March.

I can see you all reading the author's name and questioning whether it is the 'real' Simon Mayo, well yes it is. Simon Mayo is a bit of a legend, who I remember from the morning breakfast radio show on Radio 1, who is now known for being the King of Drive time on Radio 2. He really is a major household name if you live in the UK.
This book came about from interviewing scientists for Radio 5. After listening to them, he came up with the real life super hero - Itch! Itch doesn't need any super tech gadgets or secret weapons; his passion for chemistry and his love of the periodic table leads him on an adventure. If you like the Alex Rider books then you will love this one. It comes out on the 1st of March.

Where She Went is the follow up to the worldwide hit - If I Stay and continues the story of Adam and Mia. The film rights for If I Stay have just been optioned by Summit who made Twilight! Squee. Out on the 19th of April.

Black Arts is a joint collaboration between Andrew Prentice and Jonathan Weil. Set in Elizabethan London, we find Jack the 'Judicious Nipper' who picks the wrong person's pocket and find himself mixed up in the world of the occult. Described as a 'mind-blowing adventure series filled with no-holds-barred sword and pistol swashbuckling, alchemical time travel and mystery'. Very exciting. This one is an ideal book for the more confident readers at MG level.

I have been excited about Struck since I first heard about it last year. If you don't follow Jennifer Bosworth on Twitter, then you should! This book will be BIG. It is described as 'Heroes meets How I Live Now' and is the second offering of dystopian fiction from RHCB this year.
Mia Price, the lead character, is a lightening addict. She has survived countless strikes but with each one she is endangering her life more and more. Within this book expect a country in ruins and eerily familiar massive earthquakes. Will Mia be able to save the world?
From what I have heard, Jennifer's husband is a film director and he has created a wicked trailer for her!

Now Is The Time For Running is set on the dusty fields of Zimbabwe, where Deo finds meaning in football. He is a huge Man United fan and with his home-made ball, he hopes to make it big one day. This book is violent and harrowing and is one that needs to be read. Told in first person, you learn the events of the book at the same time as Dio, keeping you on the edge of your seat.
If you enjoyed Out of Shadows and Unhooking the Moon you will love this, though do be prepared to cry.
Michael Williams is the managing director of Cape Town Opera in South Africa and will be touring the UK in June to celebrate the publication of his book on the 7th of June.

Blood is the tenth installment in the chilling Wardstone Chronicles. Now I have read the first three books in this series and I really did enjoy them, so I must catch up with these books soon.
For Tom, the Spook's apprentice, the pressure is on. Having bound the Fiend's spirit temporarily, he must come up with a permanent solution. But the forces of evil are throwing everything they have at him, and with the Spook's health ailing, he has to face more and more on his own.
The first book in the series will be released as a film on the 13th February, with Jeff Bridges playing the Spook. Exciting stuff!

The Seeing by Diana Hendry is the author's first book for children in ten years and is definitely going to be worth the wait. Set in a quiet, respectable seaside town in Norton, just after the war, Lizzie is bored. Until Natalie and her brother Phillip, arrive in the town. Natalie is a force to be reckoned with and what begins as child's play ends in a shocking conclusion. Philip is believed to have the second sight, and Natalie believe he has the gift to see who the left over Nazi's are in the town, and who need to be disposed of...
This book looks closely at bullying and manipulation. I am VERY EXCITED by this book!

Witchstruck by Victoria Lamb will be the first book in a five part series. Set during the Tudor period, we are introduced to Meg, a feisty, powerful teenage witch, and her brooding, charismatic counterpart, Alejandro. Meg is set to marry someone who can only be described as a dirty old man, who happens to also be a witch finder!
This page turning historical thriller, is full of smouldering sexual tension and dark supernatural undercurrents. Imagine Stephanie Meyer creating a book with Philippa Gregory with Celia Rees, checking for full stops. Roll on the 5th of July!

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman is filled with dragons who can take on human form. With a sizzling love story, this fast paced fantasy will appeal to fans of Christopher Paolini and Anne MaCaffrey. Think Eragon meets Game of Thrones with a female twist. Out on the 9th of July.

If you are a fan of Darren Shan and the Spooks series, then you will love Grymm by Keith Austin . When it was described it to me, I kept imagining the programme 'Eerie Indiana' but with distorted fairy tales.
A family moves to the town and something is just not quite right. When the main character's baby brother disappears, his parents seems to forget he exists after they had casually wished him away the night before.
Full of dark humour, with elements of the League of Gentlemen in it, I think this one will be very popular with the boys.

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As you can see some awesome books coming out between now and the end of July. We also got to hear about books that will be published later in the year. Here is a quick rundown of the other books to be published.

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket - John Boyne (2/8/12)
Blood Keeper by Tess Gratton (30/8/12)
Spy for The Queen of Scots by Theresa Breslin ( 2/8/12)
Turf by John Lucas ( 2/8/12)
Falling to Ash by Karen Mahony ( 6/9/12)
Fire City by Bali Rai ( 6/9/12)
On The Day I Died by Candace Fleming ( 4/10/12)
The Oathbreakers Shadow by Amy McCulloch ( 2/5/13)

An exciting year for Random House Children's Books!

A Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001Z

Pages - 390
Published by Mira Books, an imprint of Harlequin in January 2012

The little girl wouldn't stop crying. I didn't blame her. She was dying after all. Her lungs were so full of fluid she'd drown in another few hours. Tossing and turning on my thin mattress, I listened to her cries as they sawed through the floorboards and through my heart, cutting it in two.

Goodreads Summary
Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Fifteen Realms, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

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I have been meaning to read one of Maria V. Snyder's books for a long time, so when I realised she was writing a brand new series I jumped at the chance to read it. I was not disappointed. In fact I am now in the process of collecting the books from her other series. Touch of Power was an incredible read and one I know I will read again in time. The story is set in a fantasy world where Avry is forced on a journey to cure someone she would rather stick a knife through. She has no choice but to accompany Kerrick after he saves her life. This book is not about the destination, it is about the journey to get there.

The relationship between Kerrick and Avry is definitely a love/hate relationship, which has you sucked into the story. Avry is an extremely feisty girl who knows her own mind and will stand her ground. Kerrick, who is used to people obeying him, struggles to cope with her. The sparks that fly between these two lights up the book like firecrackers, creating an excellent side story. I was totally gripped in their arguments and fights. This is the best love/hate relationship I have read about in a long time. When the evil Tohon, joined the story, it was like adding fuel to the fire. He is determined to win Avry, by any method he can, but Kerrick fights him all the way. Now I know I am supposed to detest Tohon, but there was something about him, that really made me like him. I can't put my finger on what it might be, but I have a soft spot for this rather evil man.

Avry was definitely my favourite character in the book. She was just so strong and had very little thought for herself. She healed without considering her own health. She was determined to help people and take on their illnesses. She showed no fear of dying,even though the worst of the illnesses could kill her. Her mind was just on healing the sick; she risked her life to carry out her destiny. The secondary characters were written beautifully and you came away feeling emotional about Flea and Belen.

The fantasy world created by Maria V. Snyder was completely believable. I found it inventive and original. The idea behind the Peace and Death lilies was just brilliant. I often worry when I read fantasy novels,whether I might not be able to fully absorb the world created by the author, but I couldn't say that was a problem with this book. The plot line with all the twists was fantastic and I was thoroughly absorbed by the story.

This is not a book to be rushed. It is an epic journey that needs to be experienced. I was so disappointed by the end of the book not to have the next one to read. If you love feisty female characters and a world full of fantasy, then I really think you will enjoy this one.

I think I might be a Maria V. Snyder convert!

American Journey - Next stop - Alaska

2012-01-23T08:00:00.003Z

If you have been reading my blog for a few years now, you might remember I began an American Journey Challenge where I had every intention of travelling through all of America's states via literacy. I have this huge dream of one day, buying a winnebago and travelling the whole of America for a few months with my husband when we are old and grey. So knowing that this wasn't going to happen any time soon, I decided to take the literary journey first, as what better way to travel than by books.

Well when I began the challenge, I started alphabetically and managed to complete all of one state! Yep, I read my way through Alabama and then got sidetracked. Well it is something that has always bothered me and definitely something I wish to continue, so I thought I would resurrect the challenge and include weekly blasts here and there throughout the year dedicated to the exploration of different states.

So my next stop is Alaska!

From the 13th to the 19th of February this blog will be featuring all things Alaskan! I even managed to find a real Alaskan who has written me a fantastic post about what it is like to live there, as well as a nutty Australian who has travelled to Alaska.

I will also be featuring 'The Snow Child' by Eowyn Ivey which is a magical tale set in Alaskan, and hopefully if all goes well, Eowyn will be telling us why she chose Alaska. Also, the lovely Sam at Headline has given me an extra copy of The Snow Child to give away to one lucky winner.

Other books featured are as follows:

Ice Island by Sherry Shahan

Letters From Cicely by Ellis Weiner ( from the hit TV show 'Northern Exposure)

Snow In Love by Claire Ray

There will also be some other Alaskan treats too. So make sure you stop by the blog between the 13th and the 19th of February for some Alaskan culture!

A Witch In Winter by Ruth Warburton

2012-01-21T08:00:00.000Z

Pages - 346
Published by Hodder Children's Books in January 2012

The first thing that hit me was the smell - damp bitter. It was the smell of a place long shut up, of mice, bird-droppings and rot.

'Welcome to Wicker House,' Dad said, and flicked a switch. Nothing happened, and he groaned.

Goodreads Summary
Anna Winterson doesn't know she's a witch and would probably mock you for believing in magic, but after moving to the small town of Winter with her father, she learns more than she ever wanted to about power. When Anna meets Seth, she is smitten, but when she enchants him to love her, she unwittingly amplifies a deadly conflict between two witch clans and splits her own heart in two. She wants to love Seth, to let him love her – but if it is her magic that's controlling his passion, then she is as monstrous as the witch clan who are trying to use her amazing powers for their own gain.

Although a perfect fit for the paranormal romance genre, A WITCH IN WINTER avoids fangs, excessive body hair and submissive female leads, and tells the heart-wrenching story of a couple meant to be together, but being forced apart. Seth is utterly irresistible and Anna is an empowered, proactive young woman with unimaginable magic inside her. This is fast-paced, sensuous writing with believable incantations inspired by Warburton's research into witchcraft legend and old English.

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I really feel like I have been spoilt lately. I don't seem to have anything negative to say about any of the books I have read in the last month and this one is no exception. I always know I am on the right track with a book, when my best friend phones me up to tell me she has bought this fabulous book and can't put it down. As soon as she mentioned the title 'A Witch In Winter' I had to grin, because she was spot on. I almost wish I hadn't read it, so that I could enjoy it afresh all over again.

Many of you know I have a thing for witches, so this book was always going to find a way into my hands. As soon as I started to read it I loved it. The first few scenes are set in Wicker House - all I can say is my ideal home makeover! An old creepy house, infested with every small living creature, with a dodgy history - I want to live there! Wicker House would have been sold on sight to me.

As the story progressed, events happen which bring a desperate Seth to Anna's door. His declaration of instant love, scared the hell out of me and I was concerned that she might have a stalker on her hands, but once she sorted out the problem, he turned into a really lovely guy.

Anna was AMAZING! Her powers were AMAZING! She seriously was electrifying in her abilities and took on her new found abilities with ease. I really want a power like hers.

I found the book to be really well paced, as each chapter swiftly moved you on in the story. I found I couldn't put it down for long, as I needed to know what was happening next.

The ending was seriously explosive. If you had added fireworks they would have gone unnoticed, with such lightening powers occurring from the witches. Some serious magic going down! Not sure I want to remain living by the sea though...

This is a book about a new girl in a new town with some seriously new talents. A magical start to a new series that leaves me waiting impatiently for the next book. At least it didn't end with a cliff hanger, all the loose threads were sewn up by the end of the book.

A promising new start to a series I am already growing to love.

The Write Way with Alyxandra Harvey

2012-01-20T14:00:00.000Z

I finished reading Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey in one evening! It is that good. So then I pestered the lovely Emma from Bloomsbury to get me an interview with Alyxandra and she waved her magic wand and granted me my wish. Read below to discover Alyxandra's writing secrets.

1) Your new book Stolen Away is AMAZING. What made you want to write about faeries?

Thank you so much! I’ve always loved to read Faerie stories so I was eager to tell my own version. I love the possibilities, and the poetry of it.

2) From vampires and ghost to now faeries, which subject do you enjoy writing the most about?

I love the traditions behind Faerie and the way everything is just a little askew. Magic shines through...and magic is as dangerous as it is beautiful, which I think is part of the allure. And I love the history of vampires, of characters who could have met Anne Boleyn or Robin Hood or Boudicca. Ditto ghosts... I just love them all!

3) My favourite character has to be Jo, but which character did you enjoy writing about most?

Isadora was fun because I was able to subvert different Faery archetypes in one character; especially the Victorian “flower fairy” against the darker UnSeelie Fae.

4) I love the twists and turns the story takes, especially with Antonia’s story, did you plot it all out before you wrote it?

Thank you! I don’t generally plot very much beforehand. I usually jump right in because most of my stories follow from the characters’ motivations and actions. Some parts of the plot end up being a surprise to me too, which I find exciting. That said, it’s important after that first draft to go back and tighten and polish so that all the puzzle pieces fit.

5) I love the budding relationship between Jo and Eldric the most. Will there be a sequel or will they feature in a companion novel?

I would love to write a companion novel for them. There is nothing currently planned or contracted for that however. As with all sequel books, to make that a reality the readers would have to love the book enough to request it from their bookshops, libraries and ebook site. Readers are powerful creatures!

6) Being an experienced writer, do you find the process gets easier with each book you write?

Every book is different, so I’m always surprised at which parts suddenly seem easier and which have turned into mysteries overnight. The hope is that each book is better, and while I’d obviously prefer the road to be smooth, there’s just no guarantee for that. Some days feel like arduous work and some days feel like ice cream and puppies. The point is: words get onto the page, puppies or not. ;)

7) What kind of research did you need to carry out before writing Stolen Away?

I’d already done quite a bit of research because I’ve long had a fascination for Faerie, Ancient Celts and Victorian history... so this was a great excuse to read more and dig deeper.

8) Do you try and aim for a daily word target when writing?

I like the idea of schedules but my inner rebel just laughs at me every time I try to adhere to one. My goals are fairly simple: write every day. One page is good, 5 pages is best. On some days, a paragraph will do . . . as long as I keep one foot in the world of my book.

9) Do you edit as you go along or do you wait until the first draft is finished?

I do a bit of both. I look over what I’ve written before I go to sleep and make changes, and in the next day I’m better able to move on to the next scene.

10) When is your ideal time to write? Morning, afternoon or evening?

I tend to write in the afternoon into early evening but that can change on a whim. If I’m on a tight deadline I’ll be in the studio all day and all evening, even if I’m just sitting in the space. I’m big on taking naps...it helps me to figure out the next part of the story...plus I just like naps. ;)

11) Which authors inspired you whilst growing up?

I loved the Bronte sisters, Tennyson and Jane Austen. I also read a lot of fantasy novels and romance novels (and still do!).

12) If you could have written any other book in the world, what would it be?

Oooh . . . I adore Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and “The Wood Wife” by Terri Windling but I’m not sure I’d want to have written them exactly. I’m just really, really glad they exist.

13) What are you working on right now?

I have just finished the last book in the Drake Chronicles series (#6). It’s quite a bit longer than the others. It’s a very strange feeling to have completed a series. I sincerely hope to be able to visit that world again.

Once I’ve gone over it for a bit of polish, I’ll start thinking about my next book which is a YA about three friends in the early 1800’s who discover they have a family history of witchcraft...

14) What advice would you give unpublished authors?

The bad news is: there’s no secret handshake.

The good news is: there’s no secret handshake

Carry a notebook with you to jot down ideas. Read lots. And then read some more.

To find out more about Alyxandra Harvey:

Twitter: @AlyxandraH

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AlyxandraHarvey?sk=app_7146470109

Website: http://alyxandraharvey.com/

Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey

2012-01-20T08:00:00.001Z

Pages - 278
Published by Bloomsbury Books

' I hate this town,' Jo complained. 'There isn't a single hot guy anywhere.'
'Hey,' Devlin protested mildly, out of habit. We weren't really listening; we'd heard Jo give this same speech about a hundred times, and frankly, my mint choc chip ice cream was more interesting. It was too hot to worry about guys. Only Jo could muster the energy to multitask a tantrum whilst sweating through her T-shrit and eyeing the carful of perfectly droolworthy guys currently ignoring her. Mind you, I'd seen her flirt with a photograph of Ian Somerhalder in a magazine once. A little drought wouldn't stop her.

Goodreads Summary
For seventeen years, Eloise Hart had no idea the world of Faery even existed. Now she has been abducted and trapped in the Rath of Lord Strahan, King of Faery. Strahan was only meant to rule for seven years, as Faery tradition dictates, and then give up his crown to another. But he won't comply, and now chaos threatens both worlds.

The only one who can break his stranglehold on the Faery court is his wife. . . Eloise's aunt Antonia. Using Eloise to lure Antonia, Strahan captures his wife, desperate to end the only threat to his reign. Now Eloise must become the rescuer. Together with her best friends Jo and Devin, she must forge alliances with other Fae, including a gorgeous protector named Lucas, and Strahan's mysterious son, Eldric-who may or may not betray them.

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I had no intention of staying up until the wee hours of the morning to read, but as soon as I picked up this book, I just couldn't put it down. I was completely gripped from start to finish and like with all of Harvey's books, I was completely lost in the story. The story just flows with ease, captivating my imagination and losing me in a world of faeries. I seriously had forgotten how much I love a faery book.

The book was written in first person, but alternating to between two viewpoints: Eloise and Jo, who are best friends. Jo was without a doubt, my favourite character in this book. She was just like any other modern day teenager who finds herself falling head over heels with a dark,handsome stranger,who actually sweeps her off her feet. Eldric, is the dark handsome stranger in question and he definitely ticks all the right boxes required for a leading love interest. Lucas was rather dashing and constantly reminded me of the Prince from the film Enchanted; you know the one declaring his love in the middle of a busy Manhatten street.

The book is rather fast paced, and a lot is packed into its small frame. It was a thrilling journey, which I couldn't get enough of. I was so disappointed to discover that this book is a standalone, as I felt there were many questions about the future left answered. I desperately want to know how the romances within the book turn out. So I may start a petition for a sequel!

Alyxandra Harvey astounds me. Is there any paranormal creature that she can't write about? From vampires and ghosts to faeries, she gives her own unique stamp to each. She is fast becoming one of my favourite paranormal authors.

If you have enjoyed the books by Michelle Harrison, Holly Black and R.J. Anderson, you will love this one to.

Touch Of Power Blog Tour - The Write Way with Maria V. Snyder

2012-01-19T08:00:00.001Z

As part of the Touch of Power blog tour, I was extremely happy to be able to interview Maria. V. Snyder and find out more about the way she writes.

You new book Touch of Power comes out this month, in your words can you describe the book for my blog readers in one sentence?

Healer Avry is on the run because her world blamed the healers for the deadly plague, but one man and his men believes her powers can save their world and he’s determined to convince

Your main character Avry, has a very rare talent, where she can take on other people’s illnesses and wounds. How did you come up with this idea?

Avry’s healing powers are very similar to Yelena’s ability in my Study series of books. While Yelena’s power is but one of many, Avry can only heal. I really wanted to explore that aspect in more depth. The ability to heal with magic is very appealing to me. As a mother, I hate to see my children sick or injured and always wish I could make it all go away. I also have to give credit to an old Star Trek episode titled The Empath about a race of healers/empaths who would can take on the injury or illness of another. I watched all the Star Trek episodes, but this one always stayed with me.

The covers for you books both from the UK and the US are stunning, do you have any creative control over how the covers are developed?

Nope! The covers are created by the art department and then approved internally by other departments like marketing and sales. I did help with the cover for Inside Out. When I saw the US cover for the first time, the model's gaze wasn't direct – she appeared to be looking over your shoulder. Trella is very direct and I thought she should be staring right at the reader. So they sent me a bunch of pictures of the model and I picked the one on the cover. That's the only time I've had any input. And that's fine with me as I agree all my covers have been rather fabulous!

Touch of Power is the first book in your fourth series. Out of all the series you have written which is your favourite?

Asking a writer which book, character, or series is her favourite is like asking a mother who her favourite child is! I love them all for very different reasons. The Study series because it’s my first, the Glass books because I really enjoyed learning about glass and getting to blow glass and call it work! The Insider books are unique since their dystopian and not fantasy, and my Healer series because it’s the baby of the family.

Being an experienced writer, do you find the process gets easier with each book you write?

It’s easier in some ways as I’ve gotten better at characterisation and keeping track of all the details. However, it’s harder to find new and fresh ways to say, “his heart pounded,” and other clichés. I also have my favourite phrases and they’ll creep into all my books so it’s a struggle to find a better metaphor. Also I don’t want to write the same characters in the same situation with the same pacing and action scenes. I try to create something unique with each book.

What kind of research did you need to carry out before writing Touch of Power?

For this book, most of my research focused on the various plagues and epidemics throughout history. I wanted to learn what happened after these plagues, how the survivors coped with the bodies and grief and with the everyday tasks of life. I also studied up on guerrilla warfare tactics. Small elite forces fighting against a larger army will come into play in the next book, Scent of Magic.

Do you plan each book meticulously before you begin the writing process or do you just take the idea you have and go with the flow?

I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer. I start with an idea that has a vague ending point and I write, discovering the story as I go.

Do you try and aim for a daily word target when writing?

I do. I’d like to write at least 1200-1500 words a day. I don’t always hit that mark. Some days, I can barely get 700, while others I clock in over 2000.

Do you edit as you go along or do you wait until the first draft is finished?

At the start of my writing session, I do light edits of the pages I wrote the night before then write new pages. I like to finish the first draft before doing any major edits. I’ll write down the changes I need to make in a notebook as the story develops and mutates so I don’t forget them.

When is your ideal time to write? Morning, afternoon or evening?

My ideal time is between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. No one calls and no one bothers me at that time - it’s wonderful! I’ve always been a night owl and I finally have a job that suits my biological clock.

Which authors inspired you whilst growing up?

I remember enjoying Dr. Seuss and Leo Lionni when I was little, then I was addicted to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries then graduated to reading Agatha Christie, Ed McBain, Dick Francis, and Robert B. Parker. My brother-in-law introduced me to science fiction and fantasy when I was in secondary school and I loved Ursula K. LeGuin, Piers Anthony, David Eddings, and Marion Zimmer Bradley.

From a pure income and fame point of view, the obvious answer is Harry Potter. However, I’m very proud of all my books and I haven’t read any other that I’d wished I’d written. While I love certain books, they just aren’t...me.

Are there any plans for you to come to the UK for a book signing this year?

Probably not this year. But there has been some initial talk of another UK tour.

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on Scent of Magic. It’s the second book of the Healers series and it’s due out at around the end of 2012/early 2013.

What advice would you give unpublished authors?

Persistence is the best advice. I’d been writing for ten years and submitting for eight before I sold anything. Learn the craft of writing as well as the business of writing and attend writer’s conferences and classes if you can. Consider that time an apprenticeship. Be wary of predators, if someone is asking you for money it's a bad sign! Get feedback on your stories from fellow writers before submitting. Joining a critique group is very helpful. I also find that if I let a story sit on my desk for a few weeks I can pick out all the problems, typos and inconsistencies easier. And I agree whole heartily with Stephen King’s advice in his book, On Writing. He wrote, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” And don’t give up! Ever!

I have writing articles on my website for anyone who’s interested in learning more. Here’s the link:http://www.mariavsnyder.com/advice.php

Maria has written a special blog for the first day of the blog tour which is on the Touch Of Power website -http://www.touchofpowerbooks.com/exclusives.html -it seems she’s as excited about the blog tour as we are!

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Create a video review of A Touch of Power and be in with a chance of winning an iPad!

Maria V. Snyder has teamed up with top teen mag Mizz to give you the chance to win an iPad and be the official book review for MizzMag TV to boot! All you need to do to enter is make a video review of A Touch of Power. MIRA Ink is giving away free review copies to the first 50 people who get in touch, so visit facebook/MIRAInk for more details on how to get involved! Also, check out Mizz Mag TV at www.youtube.com/user/MizzMagTV for an exclusive video of Maria talking about her new Healer series!

What are you waiting for???

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-18T15:00:00.003Z

Pages - 403

Published by Egmont in the UK, and Harper Teen in the US.

In the dream, there's sorrow. I feel it over everything else, a terrible grief that chokes me, blurs my sight, weighs down my feet as I move through the tall grass. I walk among pine trees up a gentle slope. It's not the hillside from my vision, not the forest fire, not anyplace I've seen before. This is something new. Overhed the sky is pure, cloudless blue. Sun shining. Birds singing. A warm breeze stirring the trees.

Goodreads Summary

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

*********

I can't help it - this is going to be a gusher! Cynthia Hand's angel series is definitely at the top of my list of the best angel fiction around. I just can't get enough of this series. It may have something to do with Tucker, who is probably one of the most droolworthy male characters I have come across (next to Alex from Hunting Lila of course) but it is also to do with the original slant on angel fiction.

This is the second book in the series and I felt it should be retitled 'Revelations' because all the secrets come spilling out in this one. Seriously - a can of worms writhing all over the floor! All the reasons for the way Clara's mother behaves come stumbling out. I am going to be really careful here as I don't want to give away any spoilers, but if you haven't read Unearthly ( first book in the series) then you might want to stop here.

The book is quite self explanatory at the beginning, so I do feel that this book could easily be read as a standalone. The author gives us enough information to be able to slot right back into the story.

Suddenly there seems to be a love triangle going on, as Clara feels that she is meant to be with Christian. How upsetting was this! Tucker is just amazing, but appears to be a little too human for Clara and she can't stand to cause him pain. I am hoping she clears the angel dust out of her eyes soon so that she realises she might be making a mistake. The poor girl is in complete confusion over which route her love life should take. I feel I need to intrude and direct her in the right way.

The first couple of scenes mention Midas, Tucker's beloved horse, and as I drew my first tissue of the book, I knew I was in trouble. I felt like my guts were being wrenched out at the very thought of what might have happened to the horse.

The last quarter of the book had me in tears. There I was again, with my Kleenex mansize tissues, blubbering away. The story line took an unexpected direction which left me feeling really sad by the end of the book. Life is really cruel! I felt sorry for Jeffrey as revelations concerning his purpose come to light. I even felt sorry for Samjeeza, the Black Wing angel from the first book, and I can't believe I am saying that. But it was sooo sad!

This isn't a fast paced book at all, so don't expect a thrilling, intense ride. This book is slow in pace which is definitely necessary as the truth comes flowing out. The ending is poignant and yet enlightening as Clara knows so much more about herself now.

If you love angels, then this series is a must read!

Hallowed Blog Tour - Where we get to drool over Tucker.

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001Z

I am extremely excited to be the third stop on the Hallowed blog tour. If you have missed the previous two posts then please check them out using the blog tour guide in the right hand column. I was drooling at the bit, when I realised my guest post was all about Tucker! Who doesn't love Tucker? He definitely keeps me coming back for more.

So I will pass you over to Cynthia who will tell you about Tucker.

This may come as a bit of a surprise, but when I was writing Unearthly, I had no idea that readers would respond to Tucker with so much enthusiasm. I thought there would be a fairly even split between people who fancied Tucker and people who fancied Christian. They were pretty balanced, in my own mind, after all. But I was, er, wrong. If there was a metaphorical fist fight between Tucker and Christian in Unearthly, Tucker definitely won. Hands down.

This makes me happy, actually. Being Team Tucker means that you appreciate a real guy and not just a dream/perfect boy. I always laughed at reviews of Unearthly that pointed out that Christian is not a well-defined character in the book. That was my intention. I didn’t want us to get to know Christian very well in Unearthly. I didn’t want there to be a real triangle, a real decision that Clara had to make about who she loved. (There would be a decision about who she saved, but that’s a different matter. . .)

I wanted us to get to know Tucker. And I wanted Tucker to be a real, authentic, flawed-but-also-good-at-heart, red-blooded seventeen-year-old boy from Wyoming. He was very much a character who came to life for me once I had decided on Wyoming as the setting, and there was a dab of Gilbert Blythe in him, I discovered to my utter delight, and a dab of that old-school chivalrous cowboy who takes his hat off to talk to a lady. I found him wonderfully warm and funny and sweet. I think I fell in love with him as much as Clara did!

Tucker is good for Clara because he likes her for who she is. He makes her feel normal, in a world where she is sick of feeling special all the time. She can relax with him. And she can laugh
with him; they never take each other too seriously. There’s no pressure, with Tucker. No expectations. Clara needs that. She needs someone to love her as a human being, and not as an angelic being.

That said, Tucker is not perfect for Clara. (Okay now, hear me out. . .) I firmly believe that good stories come from FLAWED CHARACTERS. If you want to daydream about perfect people, go play with Barbies or Sims or something. My characters are messed up. Clara is deeply, wonderfully, flawed on all kinds of levels. And so is Tucker. . .(Okay now, hear me out.) Tucker is a tad hot-headed, first of all (which is why so many sparks fly between he and Clara in the beginning). He’s honest to a fault. He can, in Clara’s words, be a rude hick. He’s also stubborn as a mule. Just try getting him to do something he has firmly decided he doesn’t want to do. I’ve tried it—it doesn’t happen! But probably the biggest problem with Tucker, relationship-wise, is that he is not totally comfortable with Clara being an angel-blood. He wants to be; he tries to get his head around it, act like it’s no big deal, be supportive, but her angelic nature ultimately scares him. He’s no coward, so he faces his fear. But he still feels it, and it makes him question whether or not he can fully be a part of her world.

(Ducks for flying vegetables being thrown at my head.)

Did I mention that I fell in love with Tucker as much as Clara did?

You weren't the only one to fall in love with him Cynthia!

Thank you Cynthia for a fabulous post. For the next stop on the tour tomorrow, you need to pop over to my good friend Emma's blog -Bookangel Booktopia.

To find out more about Cynthia:

Twitter: @CynthiaHand
Website: http://www.cynthiahand.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cynthia-Hand-Author-of-Unearthly/146043542087551?sk=wall

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - Winner Announced

2012-01-17T15:00:00.001Z

I really should have drawn this competition last week but I forgot completely. so apologies all round. Thank you for some lovely comments on the post. They were all so good, I had to turn to the randomizer to pick the winner.

The winner of a hard backed copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is:

Verity

Well done Verity, an email is on its way to you for your address.

Sorry to everyone who didn't win, there will be a new competition coming up soon.

As The UK prepares for the publication of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000Z

Tomorrow see the UK publication of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman and personally I can't wait! It seems like we have waited forever and now the day has finally arrived. I love this book completely and I really hope you do too. I was over the moon that Beth mentioned me in the Acknowledgements too! Thank you Beth!
In order to celebrate, Beth agreed to come on the blog and say a few words about CeeCee. So I will pass you have to Beth so she can tell you all about it.

Thank you so much, Viv! I’m delighted to be here today. The way you reached out to Little, Brown and Company about my novel is so extraordinary that I’m still in awe. And now CeeCee and all the gals of Savannah have arrived in one of my favourite countries … the UK! To say I’m thrilled and grateful doesn’t come close to what I’m feeling.

In celebration of this special day, I’d like to talk about how important it is that we reach for our dreams.

I spent 20 years as an interior designer. Most days I loved it—working with furniture, fabrics, wallpapers and artwork delighted me—but the long hours and stress that go hand in hand with business ownership were wearing me down. Often I’d drive home late at night and fantasise about going after my secret dream of writing a novel, yet I never had the courage. Then, when I nearly died of septicaemia (the same infection that took Muppet’s creator Jim Henson’s life), everything changed.

I woke in ICU surrounded by life support, and I was terrified. The road to recovery was long, and when I was finally released from the hospital, I was quarantined at home for weeks. I remember being sprawled on my bed having a full-blown pity party. I wept into a wad of tissues and watched my hair fall out from the massive antibiotics that had been pumped into my veins. I was a basket case of wrecked humanity. So many questions banged around in my head—why me, and what did I do to deserve this? I’m ashamed to admit that I was also angry. Instead of being grateful that my life had been saved, I felt bitter and consumed by stress. I didn’t know how I could keep the workload waiting for me from turning into an avalanche.

Later that same day I discovered an old cardboard box filled with short stories that went back to my childhood years. They were silly and unpolished, but the more I read them, the more I knew my fire could no longer be ignored—it was time to let it burn, even if it scorched me in the process.

In my novel, Aunt Tootie looks into CeeCee’s eyes and says, “Far too many people die with a heart that’s gone flat with indifference, and it surely must be a terrible way to go. If there’s one thing I’d like most for you, it’s that you’ll find your calling in life. That’s where true happiness and purpose lies … you’ll never be fulfilled if you don’t.”

I believe Tootie’s words; they were born from my own experience. It took several years before I finally gathered the courage to leave my design business and began fanning my flame, and when I did, life and I how I viewed it dramatically changed. Even during those times when I knew I might never become a published author, I never looked back—partly because I’m stubborn as a mule, but mostly because I was genuinely happy.

I’d like to offer my encouragement to anyone who is wondering about their own dreams—their own fire. There’s a saying I’m quite fond of. I don’t remember where I heard it or read it, but it holds so much wisdom: “It doesn't matter what are dreams are, it's that we have them.”

And I believe we have our dreams for a reason!

Thank Beth for an inspirational post. Make sure you pick up a copy of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt tomorrow.

About the author: Beth lives in a quaint historical town in Kentucky with her husband and several furry, four-legged children. She loves animals, feeding the birds, reading, gardening, and laughing with girlfriends. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a New York Times bestseller; foreign rights have sold to the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Norway, Hungary, Israel, Poland, Indonesia and Korea. The book is also available through Bookspan in the Philippines and Canada

Visit Beth’s website at www.BethHoffman.net
You can also find her on Twitter (@wordrunner) and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saving-Cee-Cee-Honeycutt/257344499729

Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith

2012-01-16T15:00:00.001Z

Pages - 201
Published by Orion's Childrens Books in January 2012.
Thank you to Orion for sending me a review copy for an honest review.

Amazon Summary
Martha's decided friends are stupid. Especially if they're anything like Colette and Chloe. She never wants another friend. Ever. But it's the first day of the summer holidays, and there's not that much to do... until she spots a strange little furry creature who leads her to Opal Moonbaby. Opal's been sent down from her planet on a mission: to work out what on earth people are (and my goodness - people are strange) and to make a friend.

***********

Who can resist this delightful, quirky, entertaining book which brings new words and phrases to our vocabulary, such as scoff capsules, hydrophones, swimbats and fantariums. Opal Moonbaby is one of the most charming children's books that I have read in a long time. It definitely had an old school feel about it, reminding me of the classics from my childhood.

As soon as Opal stepped out of her spaceship I found her adorable. Her zany and vibrant behaviour would brighten anyone's life. I found myself suffering from extreme belly laughs as I watched Opal mix her words and phrases up completely. She is definitely a character I can't wait to read more about. Garnet - OMG! Garnet is just so super cute. He reminded me of the daemons from Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials series. You will come away from this book, desperate to have a creature just like him.

There is a brilliant plot within the book, that twists in all directions. I actually don't think I read this book; I am sure I inhaled it. It took me two hours to absorb this joyous book.

There is a moral to this story. Don't judge everyone the same. Just because one person treated you in a certain way, don't write the rest off the world and accuse them of acting the same, before giving them a chance. Martha was so quick to judge Opal, she nearly missed out an endearing friendship that would bring a smile back to her face.

This book is truly a delight and will entertain all age groups. I really can't wait for the next book. Even though this book had an alien in it, I found it quite believable. In fact, next time I walk past a playground I might just check the hiding places to see if there is a Carnalian hanging around.

Opal's Fantasy Tea Party- Opal Moonbaby Blog Tour

2012-01-16T08:00:00.001Z

I am delighted to be hosting the next stop on the Opal Moonbaby blog tour. Opal Moonbaby is a magical children's book which I will be reviewing later on today. The author Maudie Smith has stopped by to tell us who Opal Moonbaby would invited to her tea party. This is one tea party, I really don't want to miss.

Guess who's coming to tea!

What if? That's what writers ask themselves all the time. And someone's just asked me, what if Opal Moonbaby had a tea party? Who would she invite?

Ooh, great question! The answer is: a lot of people. Opal's very gregarious and she'll probably need a banqueting table for this tea party. Here's a sample from the guest list.

Mary Poppins. She'll be able to provide most of the food and even the furniture from her bottomless carpet bag. And if there isn't enough room for everyone at the table she'll take a few people up to the ceiling for a fondant fancy and a good chuckle.

The BFG. He and Opal will swap sayings and get one another properly and very happily confused. (No snozcumbers on the menu though, no scoff capsules either probably.) Sophie will be there of course, travelling in the BFG's ear, along with Annika from Pippi Longstocking and Polly from Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf. The girls will sit with Martha and exchange notes about the pros and cons of having such unusual friends.

Mowgli. Mowgli probably thinks people are as strange as Opal does. He could give her some tips about human beings but he'll want to sit next to Robbie. Captain Jack Sparrow will be on Robbie's other side and they'll be joined by all the lost boys from Peter Pan. Robbie will love it.

Pippi Longstocking will sit with her bottom on the table and her feet on her chair. Mr Nilsson, her monkey, will have a chatter with Garnet.

Two special seats piled high with cushions will be reserved for ET and the psammead.

Mrs Pepperpot, Tom Thumb and Arietty from The Borrowers will run round and round the tablecloth with party streamers.

Peter Pan won't eat much or sit down for long. He's too restless. He'll fly round and round the chandelier while Wendy sits quietly below, mending a hole in Peter's shadow.

The Cat in the Hat and Willy Wonka will arrive late and give a cutlery-juggling display. They'll walk round the table handing out Wonka bars and I'm afraid the Cat will leave a pink trail on the carpet.

Dr Who will pop in. He'll be very relaxed and at home with all the guests - contemporary or classic.

Tea will be served by everyone who needs to be taught a lesson: Miss Trunchbull, Captain Hook (he'll be instructed to keep his hook safely in a sponge cake), Miss Minchin from A Little Princess, Cruella de vil, and the White Witch. There'll also be two wolves, one from Red Riding Hood and the other from the Clever Polly books. You might not know this but wolves make very elegant waiters. They can even do Silver Service if they put their minds to it. All these baddies will be overseen by a ticking crocodile, a bunch of school children led by Bruce Bogtrotter and a fair few hundred dalmatians.

Unaccustomed as she is to public squeaking, Opal will say a few loud words once tea is over. Afterwards the BFG will organise a whizpopping competition which he will win hands down, but being a kindly sort, he'll pretend that Robbie has won instead.

Will Opal enjoy her tea party? Oh yes, she'll have a Beluga whale of a time!

Thanks Maudie for stopping by and leaving me a slice of cake on the side! Next stop on the blog tour is Beth Kemp ( who is just fabulous!) Remember to pop back at 3pm for my review of Opal Moonbaby.

To find out more about Maudie Smith:

Twitter: @MaudieSmith

Website: http://www.maudiesmith.co.uk/

The Big Break with Daniela Sacerdoti

2012-01-15T08:00:00.001Z

After reading Watch Over Me, I was desperate to read more about Daniela Sacerdoti, so I hounded her for an interview. If you want to read my review of Watch Over Me, then please read the post below. So here is Daniela Sacerdoti telling us about her big break into publishing.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog.

Thank you so much for having me!

Watch Over Me is a rather poignant read, was it quite emotional to write it? Emotional, yes, but not sad at all. Actually, I found the whole experience very cathartic, and ultimately uplifting. I was recently asked the same question in a radio interview, whether the themes of the story made the writing quite heavy going, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Where did you get your inspiration for Watch Over Me?

The inspiration for Watch Over Me came from a dream I had in extraordinary detail: I was kneeling on a wooden floor in a stately home, and from the window I could see green fields and a few trees. I was wearing a brown skirt, and those flesh-coloured tights that were fashionable in the seventies, which made me feel I was sort of back in time. I knew, in the way you ‘know’ in dreams, that I was in the Highlands of Scotland, that there was an older couple in the room, a lord and a lady, and that my name was Elizabeth. The snapshot finished with a little blond boy running in my arms, and me holding him tight. I woke up with a sense of loss, and nostalgia, and profoundly touched. That’s when the character of Elizabeth was born, and of course, her son, the little blond boy – grown up to become dark-haired Jamie. I’ve often wondered since then what that dream meant – I know it was probably some reworking of a scene I’d seen, or some story I’d heard – but it made me once again wonder if it actually was a memory of somebody else’s life drifting in my consciousness somehow, like a message; or a memory of a past life of mine. I suppose I’ll never know, but I can still see that dream so clearly, as if I’d had it yesterday.

What research did you carry out before writing the book?

None, it came all from inside me. And I know Glen Avich, I grew up in it! Glen Avich is really Caravino, a little village in the Italian Alps.

How long had you dreamt of being published before you got that life changing call?

All my life I suppose, but I never thought it would happen, and I hadn’t submitted anywhere before. I wasn’t even sure about submitting Watch Over Me, I still wonder what would have happened had I not submitted it. If I would have become a writer somehow, all the same.

What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?

I found out just after having gone through the worst experience of my life, the loss of a baby in advanced pregnancy, so it was a lifeline really. I threw myself into writing and it got me over the worse.

How many rejection letters did you get before it was accepted?

For Watch Over Me I think about five or six. More were to follow,for my YA, Sarah Midnight. I think that stubbornness is the virtue of the writer, that’s for sure!

How long did it take for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement?

Eleven months.

How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?

Keeping myself occupied is never a problem! I have two young children who take care of that! Also, during those months of waiting I wrote a lot. Between being told I was going to be published and the publication date, I was shortlisted for a children’s writing prize, I secured a contract for the Sarah Midnight trilogy, I was told that the shortlisted children’s book was going to be published AND I landed a brilliant agent, Lindsey Fraser at Fraser Ross Associates. It was a pretty busy year!

How did you celebrate on publication day?

The plan was a special dinner with just the family, but the boys kept getting ill so it was a bit of an anti-climax! But we got away for a weekend in Dublin for a first novel celebration/wedding anniversary present, so it was all good!

How supportive have your family and friends been during your publication journey?

My friends didn’t know, I made up a translating job to justify refusing coffees and play dates…Once I’d told them, they were all very happy for me. As for my family, they’re the best: my husband

is very supportive, my in-laws help with the children, and my boys put up with Mummy being very busy.

What are you working on now?

I’m editing The Really Weird Removals Company, a children’s book out with Floris Books in Autumn 2012, and writing Tide, the second volume of the Sarah Midnight Trilogy. The first volume of the trilogy, Dreams, is out next May.

Do you write full time now?

No, I write part time and look after my children full time, which, like the writer Rebecca Brown said, makes me one and a half person!

Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?

What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
To be very, very, very determined. Rejection is part and parcel of the process, so you need to learn to ignore it and move on. To work extremely hard and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
And to fight for your time to write, because it might well happen that the people around you won’t give it to you quite so willingly. To believe in yourself, but if you can’t, to look for someone who believes in you. Oh, and a practical suggestion: find an agent. A good agent is pure gold, like I’m finding out these days!
Thank you Daniela for taking the time to come on the blog today. It sounds like a really busy household!

To find out more about Daniela Sacerdoti:

Twitter: @Danisacerdoti

Website: http://danielasacerdoti.com/en/

Watch Over Me by Daniela Sacerdoti

2012-01-14T08:00:00.001Z

Pages -247

Published by Black and White Publishing in 2011

The strangest, most amazing day of my life, the day that changed my perception of life and death, started like any other. I woke up in the world I've always known, I went to sleep wrapped in a mystery.

Goodreads Summary
Eilidh Lawson's life has just been turned upside down. Her marriage is ending and she's lost her much longed-for baby. Mentally and physically exhausted, she's not sure what to do but feels oddly compelled to return to Glen Avich, a small village in the Scottish Highlands, where her family has lived for generations. Here, she meets her best friend from childhood, Jamie McAnena, who is raising his daughter alone. Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth, Jamie has resigned himself to being a family of two, closing himself off and devoting his life to his daughter, Maisie. What none of them can know is that it is Elizabeth who has called Eilidh back to Glen Avich. Though dead for three years, she has not been able to leave Jamie behind in his lost and lonely state. Now, she starts working behind the scenes for Jamie and Eilidh to get close again, but both are scared of repeating the past and Elizabeth's influence can only reach so far. An ethereal tale narrated from several different perspectives, "Watch Over Me" is a beautifully written debut novel. It is a poignant yet subtle story about letting go and moving on - with a little bit of help from beyond the grave.

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As I began to read this book, I was completely unaware of how the author was quietly captivating me and drawing me into the story. If you look at the book as a whole, you realise it is a basic love story, yet as you delve into the layers of the story you find it is so much more. There is magic hiding within the chapters.

The little village of Glen Avich, is enchanting. It reminded me of the mythical Scottish town in Brigadoon, one of my favourite musicals ever. It seems like a town that hasn't aged with time. Everyone still knows everyone else's business and goes about the same thing just as they have done since they were children.

I hated putting this book down, as I needed to find out what would happen and I found myself desperate not to let go of this book, once I had finished it. I was so mesmerised by this beautiful village and its inhabitants, I was sad to finish it. I wanted to find the village and move there. Search out the characters to see how their lives had progressed, because the way they were written had brought them to life for me. There wasn't a character in the book, that I did not feel empathy for. I was convinced I could see snippets of people I know within them.

This book has a strong theme to it. It is about learning to accept the past in order to help you move on with the future. The characters had been trapped by the events of their past, which seem to cloud their judgement of the decisions they should make. However, a little helping hand from the spiritual side of life, helps to bring them together.

The book reminded me of two of my favourite authors. It had the warmth of Beth Hoffman's book and the magic of the books by Sarah Addison Allen. A book I will treasure and read again and again. I feel like I should buy hundreds of copies and give them out in the street. If you want a mesmerising, captivating read that presents the circle of life in such a magical way, then I suggest you read this book.

The Hunting Ground by Cliff McNish

2012-01-13T15:00:00.001Z

Pages - 274
Published by Indigo in paperback in January 2012

'Dead thing can sound alive when they choose. Dead things can move around.
At first nothing woke sixteen-year-old Elliot. Asleep in bed, he failed to notice the eerie whispered rhymes. Or the sighs. Or the footsteps. Those footsteps came lightly and swiftly towards him. - someone or something running incredibly fast across the floors of the old house. A presence long dead was on its return to the world of the living.'

Goodreads Summary
When Elliott and his brother move into the old and crumbling Glebe House they don't expect to find themselves sharing it with ghosts. But soon sinister events are unfolding. An old diary reveals glimpses of the mansion's past - and of a terrible tragedy. An old woman talks to ghosts - but is she in fact being controlled by them? And what of the sinister East Wing - a hideous labyrinth devised by a truly twisted mind? Can Elliott and his family escape the clutches of Glebe House? Or will they end up trapped in the endless maze of corridors, forever hunted by the dead?

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Cliff McNIsh knows how to scare the pants off you! This book is full to the brim of hair raising, spine tingling, ghostly moments that will leave you constantly looking over your shoulder. You won't be able to sleep at night, as you analyse each and every sound to convince yourself there is no such thing as ghosts!

This book is told from the point of view of Elliott, a sixteen year old boy who has moved into a rather sinister house with his father and younger brother, whilst his dad repairs the house to sell. The house alone, is a huge character in this book. Glebe House is just full of evil and it seeps out of the page, playing tricks with your mind. If this house was real, I wouldn't even step in it's driveway, let alone stay the night. The paintings! Oh my - how I didn't walk round my house and turn every picture I have to the wall, I really don't know.

Cullayn is a really evil character in this book. I haven't come across such a sinister character in some time. Yet Eve, the little ghost girl is quite a match in evilness. Every time she came into the story, all I could think of was the film The Ring, and the girl coming out of the television!

Janey was an excellent character - I really loved her flower dress, covered in real flowers. She really had me fooled and confused as to her real intentions.

I loved the use of the diary. At one point, I wasn't sure who Elliot should trust, as the author had created so much doubt in my mind. I also loved the ending of the book. I was pleased the way things turned out for all the characters.

The plot was excellent and fast paced. The events of the book all occur in a matter of days. Once Eve had revealed herself, I thought they would have made a quick exit from the house, but no, they decide to stay another night. Madness! I would have been out of there quicker than it would take me to blink.

This book is dark and atmospheric and will keep you up all night. It is definitely not suitable for younger readers who might scare easily.

Cliff McNish is an excellent storyteller. He knows how to achieve the highest creep factor in a book. I am adamant that I wouldn't want to sit around a camp fire with him, listening to his ghost stories as I would spend the whole night awake. I still find it amazing that someone so funny and charming, could write such a scary book.

The Write Way with Cliff McNish

2012-01-13T08:00:00.001Z

Ever since I met Cliff Mcnish last summer, I have been desperate to get him to come onto the blog, so I was really pleased when he agreed to this interview. Cliff's book The Hunting Ground has just been republished as a paperback under Orion's new imprint Indigo. I will be reviewing this book on the blog later today.

What inspired you to write The Hunting Ground?
I’ve always liked creepy ghost stories. In BREATHE I’d created an obsessive mother. This time I wanted to create a truly monstrous adult, but I was equally interested in the little ghost girl locked away with him. Every ghost story should have a little girl in it somewhere, don’t you think?

The cover of the book sends a shiver down my spine. Did you have any input or say in the design of it?
I got final approval and I also suggested the lighting up of the sky. Otherwise it was all the brainchild of the excellent Orion team at the heart of all production decisions, led by Amber Caraveo.

Glebe House sounds really creepy. Is it based on a real house or has is just been conjured from your dark imagination?
I guess it’s a composite of many old houses. But the dark heart of it – The East Wing – is entirely a creation.

Do you like to read books that scare you witless?
I like to read books that keep my attention, and that often, for me, means a certain psychological tension, rather than blood and gore. I particularly love it when an author scares me by unexpectedly tipping characters and plot into odd places that still feel psychologically true. Supernatural stories especially should feel off-kilter, and many authors don’t know how to achieve that.

After meeting you at the Orion Summer Party, I am aware of your wicked sense of humour and I wondered if you would ever write a satirical book?
Good idea. I might do a vampire novel about a teen vampire who’s trying to give back all the blood he’s taken from people. He’s guilty, you see. The trouble is that good red juice is all mixed up inside him now, and he can’t remember who he took it from either, and then there’s the extra problem that he has to bite them AGAIN to put the blood back, and they tend to run away when he tries that...

With each book that you write, do you find it gets easier or harder?
Harder, usually. Partly because you don’t want to repeat yourself. Partly, also, because as you gain in technical skill more options open up to you about execution, which paradoxically makes some choices harder rather than easier because you can envisage so many more viewpoints/styles to adopt. Plus, as you get more experienced, you should get more ambitious – which automatically means you have to work harder, and that’s just as it should be.

Do you meticulously plan out your books or do you just go with the flow?
I plan the outline, making sure that the overall story arc works and that I have the characters to drive it. I also do a basic plan for each chapter. Then I just write and see what works. Half the original plans gets jettisoned in the process but only because you improve on it.

How long does it take for you to write the first draft?
Usually about 4-5 months.

Do you read many books by debut authors? If so, which book did you enjoy the most?
I wouldn’t say I focus on debut authors, but sometimes new writers can astonish you. Amanda Coe recently debuted with WHAT THEY DO IN THE DARK and it was so scary and brilliant. Adults only.

Will you be doing any book signings to promote the paperback publication of The Hunting Ground?
I’m not sure, actually.

Apart from your own books, which book do you wish you had written?
Good Question. The best YA book I’ve ever read (in terms of grip, originality, and sheer writing brilliance) is Melvin Burgess’s BLOODTIDE.

What advice would you give unpublished authors?
Study the YA and children’s market closely. Read in it widely and feel the power and breadth of the competition. Don’t be daunted by it, but learn about it. Far too many would-be children’s writers hardly read any kids fiction, but somehow still expect to be successful in it. It works the other way round.

I read that you are a lover of hot and spicy food, what is the hottest thing you have ever eaten?
A mature naga chilli. Mind-blowing. Most people would die if they ate it. I took it down in slivers with a nice Chianti.
Thanks Cliff for joining us today. I love the Hannibal Lecter reference at the end. Eeep!

The Hunting Ground is available to buy from all major bookstores.

To find out more about Cliff Mcnish

Twitter: @cliffmcnish
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cliff-McNish/143173582361885?sk=info
Website: http://www.cliffmcnish.com/

Pop back at 3pm for my review.

Tempest Blog Tour - Julia Cross' Soundtrack to Tempest.

2012-01-12T08:00:00.001Z

I am pleased to be hosting the last stop on the Tempest blog tour.
Julie Cross has created a fabulous post for us, where she tells us about the playlist she created for TEMPEST.

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I have a bit of a song lyric obsession when it comes to TEMPEST. My playlist began forming a LONG time ago and I've altered and changed it many times. I've also asked readers for suggestions and the response has been awesome. One book blogger even sent me a CD of her brothers band out in California because they have a time travel song that goes so well with Tempest and I don't have an i-Pod to download it from i-Tunes. Anyway, my playlist is, like 40 songs...and I have it broken into categories-- I'm a nuts when it comes to songs. Hope you enjoy and feel free to make more suggestions.

Jackson and 009 Holly (before and with the "flash forwards")
The Scientist- Coldplay
Secrets- One Republic
Falling In Love In A Coffee Shop- Landon Pigg
Collide- Howie Day
Creepy Espionage Songs
Teenage FBI- Guided by Voices
Eyes On The Horizon- Brendan Benson
Cornerstone- Arctic Monkeys

Poor Jackson stuck in 2007/time-travel related songs
These Walls- Teddy Geiger
The Man Who Can't Be Moved- The Script
The Scientist- Coldplay
You and Me- Lifehouse (also sort of time-travel related)
1983- Neon Trees
Still- Matt Nathanson

Jackson and 007 Holly
Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol
Faster- Matt Nathanson
Fallin In- Lifehouse

Jackson and Courtney
Somewhere Only We Know- Keane
Slipped Away- Avril Lavigne
Fix You- Coldplay

Jackson and 009 Holly (after)
Broken- Lifehouse
Only Hope- Switchfoot
If Its Love- Train
Your Guardian Angel- Red Jump Suit Apparatus

Songs for the VERY end of Tempest *sob*
Run- Snow Patrol
Everyday is Exactly The same- NIN
Someone Like You- Adele
Hold On Hope- Guided by Voices

Tempest went on sale on January 5th and is available at all major bookstores.

To find out more about Julie Cross:
Twitter: @Juliecross1980
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FansOfJulieCross?sk=wall
Blog:http://juliecross.blogspot.com/

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler - Review and Guest Post

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000Z

Pages - 356
Published by Simon and Schuster in January 2012

I can't break up with Graham today, even though I told my friends I'd do it the next time I saw him. So instead, I'm hiding in my bedroom, setting up my new computer while he plays Ultimate Frisbee in the park across the street.

Goodreads Summary
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbours their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

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This is one of those Young Adult books that I am convinced was written with the older YA reader in mind. The book is set in 1996, where there is no wifi, no dedicated internet line, no Facebook and certainly no Twitter. Just reading that information, brought me out in a cold sweat! Just the thought of going back to such prehistoric times makes me feel really nervous and also rather scared by how quickly we have become dependent on these things. I couldn't imagine going back to a time where I would have to come off the internet to make a phone call. To a time, where I couldn't update my status every five minutes! This book actually makes you question why you update your status so often with such banal information such as what you had for dinner an what you are watching on TV - in fact, it makes you feel a bit daft.

If you are an older YA reader, like myself, this book will instantly transport you back to the 90's. You will find yourself searching out music from that time period, books you read during those years and programmes you used to watch. This book is a real trip down memory lane.

The book is told from the view points of both the leading characters. Emma and Josh, who have been friends since they were little. When Emma discovers Facebook magically appearing on her computer, she becomes obsessed with it. She is not impressed by the life her future self is leading and becomes hell bent on changing her future by altering her decisions now. Josh, on the other hand, becomes reluctant to mess with the future, and realises what looked like a perfect life, really isn't the one he would choose for himself.

I loved the whole concept of this book. I thought it was so amazing to imagine how everything you do now effects your future. Every decision you make, however tiny will effect something in your future - mind blowing, I know!

This book was really easy to read and I found it only took me two days to finish it. I found it very entertaining, and extremely humorous. I loved the way it ended, when both parties realised how they wanted to spend the rest of their lives. It made me feel all warm inside.

If you are looking for a light hearted, yet heartwarming read with lots of hints of nostalgia, then this is the book for you.

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As part of The Future of Us blog tour, Jay and Carolyn have made a list of the ten best things about the 1990's.

Jay & Carolyn’s ten best things about the 1990s

Dave Matthews (Carolyn)

Def Leppard in concert (Jay)

The blinking light on an answering machine (Carolyn)

My So-Called Life (Jay)

Bill Clinton, the good, the bad, and the newsworthy (Carolyn)

The Discman - you could walk around listening to your favorite CDs or plug it into your car stereo with a cassette tape adapter (Jay)

Baggy overalls (Carolyn)

Magic Eye books and posters (Jay)

Receiving my first email (Carolyn)

Titanic-mania (Jay)

Saving Daisy by Phil Earle

2012-01-10T08:00:00.001Z

Pages - 338

Published by Penguin Books

'My name is Daisy Houghton.

I'm fourteen years old.

Six months ago I killed my dad.

Goodreads Summary

Daisy’s mum is gone. Her dad refuses to talk about it and as far as Daisy’s concerned, it’s all her fault…

Saving Daisy is a powerful and moving story that follows the life of Daisy Houghton who first featured in Phil Earle’s critically acclaimed debut, Being Billy.
As Daisy struggles with misplaced guilt over her mother’s death, she turns to extreme and violent measures and soon her life starts spiralling out of control. This leads to tragedy and suddenly Daisy finds herself left all alone. But sometimes the kindness of a stranger can turn things around. A stranger who desperately wants to save Daisy – if she’ll only let herself be saved.(

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Phil Earle is not an author to hold back. When he writes, he takes hold of real issues that affect teenagers and thrusts them into awareness. Saving Daisy is a gut wrenching, gritty realistic read that pulls no punches. Phil writes about real life issues we try and forget exist.

Saving Daisy is a companion novel to Being Billy, which I really enjoyed reading last year. With Phil's books you feel bad, saying you enjoyed them because they deal with children in care who suffer, but Phil really brings his characters to life, so that you feel like you know them so well and you are cheering them from the sideline to be one of the children who survive the system and come out winning.

I loved Daisy even more that Being Billy, it was so nice to see her journey before she reached Billy's world. This girl really suffered from guilt and had to learn that the events of her life were not her fault, she was just one of the unlucky ones who found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. On reflection after reading the book, I wondered how many children in the world live with a similar guilt, who feel responsible for the death of their parents, when in reality it wasn't their fault. Phil really expresses and explores Daisy's life in detail and you feel privileged to be able to watch her journey of survival. I was extremely impressed by Phil's ability to write from a female perspective, something which I felt he captured accurately. I actually felt like I was in Daisy's head. I could see everything from her point of view and understood completely where she was coming from.

This book covers many issues that children in care often face, including self harming and adults grooming children. In this story, Daisy has an encounter with one of the supply teachers which made me feel quite sick. The way adults can manipulate children like this to thinking it is their fault and how bad it would be to them if it all came out, really kicks me the gut. This is one area where I find so difficult to read about, but it seems so much more common than we realise. Self harming is an issue that I have never really understood, however this book made it all so much clearer to understand.

After finishing and reflecting about Saving Daisy, I now feel the need to go back and reread Being Billy, to remind myself how well Daisy turned out in the end. She really is such a strong character who heroically comes back from the brink of depression to see that life is actually worth living, with the help of Ade,. Daisy combats her demons, which would send most sane adults on the road to insanity. Ade is an exceptional character in this book and makes key workers look brilliant. Without her help, I am not sure whether Daisy would have been able to come back.

Saving Daisy broke my heart and opened my eyes. It made me think and stayed with me long after I had finished reading it. Within just two books, you can see how much Phil has progressed as a writer. I will be first in the queue for his third book. A very real, gritty book that all teenagers should read.

Phil Earle - The Movie Maker

2012-01-09T08:00:00.004Z

A new feature on Serendipity Reviews today called The Movie Maker where authors get to pick their ideal cast, directors, music as well as locations for the movie of their books. Phil Earle steps into the limelight today and settles down into the casting director's chair in order to pick his cast and director for Saving Daisy, his new book which was published on January 5th of this year. I will be reviewing Saving Daisy tomorrow on the blog. I will now pass you over to Phil.

Films were important to me before books.

Long before.

Maybe I was a typical lazy boy, but I much preferred stories on the big screen to ones printed on the page. I must have seen fifty films before I finished reading a book on my own.

In fact, films acted as a bridge to reading, as well into my teens I lacked the confidence to pick up a novel and read it. What helped me were novelisations of films I’d seen and loved.

Alright, there wasn’t a lot of artistic worth to ‘Predator’ or ‘The Karate Kid’ – the novel, but they proved absolutely invaluable as they acted as a stepping stone.

Once I’d proved to myself that I could finish a book, it spurred me on to try others, stories that hadn’t yet reached a cinema screen. As I read them, I thought of them as movies themselves, ones where I could cast whoever I wanted in the leading roles. It powered my imagination massively.

So in a way, casting roles for an imaginary film of ‘Saving Daisy’ should be easy, a joy even.

But I can’t do it.

Largely that’s because the many of the roles are for young people, aged 15-18, and as much as I admire actors like Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland) or Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) they just aren’t how I see Daisy or Jimmy in my head. What would excite me more would be to see unknowns in the title roles, maybe even people who have never acted before. That feels far more exciting, with the potential to drag really authentic, raw performances out of them.

What I do know is who I would like to direct a film of ‘Saving Daisy’, or ‘Being Billy’ for that matter.

And that is Shane Meadows.

He makes films and television that I LOVE.

I first came across him over ten years ago, when he made a film called ‘Twenty Four Seven’. Now I’m a bit of a sucker for a boxing movie anyway, but this is no Rocky III, this is gritty, painfully raw cinema, which reminded me of Ken Loach’s brilliant films, like ‘Kes’.

It didn’t feel like I was watching a film, it was like I was eves dropping on real life. There was no rhetoric to the dialogue or emotive sweeping music to build

mood, just the most painfully real dialogue and performances I’d ever seen. I was transfixed.

I felt similarly about ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’, a brutal movie about a man returning from military service to find his brother (who has learning difficulties) being bullied by a group of locals. Paddy Considine’s performance remains one of the most chilling turns I’ve ever seen…oh and there’s a twist to die for.

But the Shane Meadows film that really did it for me was ‘This is England.’

I find it difficult to articulate why this film (and the two subsequent TV series, TIE ’86 &TIE’88) move and captivate me as they do, but I think it’s to do with the characters.

In Woody, Lol and Milky, Meadows chose real outsiders: Skinheads and Mods. Feared and often hated by the rest of society.

(Woody and Lol from THIS IS ENGLAND)

Yet he lets us love them. Makes us in fact, by stripping their harsh exteriors away, revealing the massive hearts that lie beneath.

Meadows never sugar-coats his stories. They seldom have traditional ‘happy’ endings, yet they are amongst the most heart-wrenching, engaging and truthful pieces of storytelling I’ve ever seen.

I desperately want my books to have the same heart and intensity as Shane Meadows films, and that is why he would be my dream director…

Thanks Phil for picking your perfect director for Saving Daisy. I am ashamed to say I haven't seen any of these films yet, but I shall make an effort to do so in the future.

Saving Daisy is out to buy right now. If you are going to buy it I would highly recommend the companion novel Being Billy too.

To find out more about Phil Earle:

Twitter: @philearle

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PhilEarleAuthor?ref=ts&sk=wall

Website: http://www.philearle.com/

Wish Upon A Star by Sarah Morgan

2012-01-08T08:00:00.000Z

Published by Harlequin UK in October 2011
Pages - 264

'Mum, where are we spending Christmas?'
Christy glanced up from the letter she was reading. 'I don't know. Here, I suppose with Uncle Pete and your cousins. Why do you ask? Christmas is ages away.' And she was trying not to think about it. Christmas was a time for families and hers appeared to be disintegrating.

Goodreads
Love is in the air this Christmas!

Christy was hoping to skip Christmas this year. Her kids have other ideas - they've put their dad's name at number one on their Christmas list. So it looks as if Christy will be hightailing it up to the Lake District to play happy families with her ex!

Snow-capped mountains and roaring log fires - Alessandro's home is like walking into a Christmas card. Is it really safe for her to spend Christmas with her dreamy, funny - no! - entirely infuriating ex-hubby?

Miranda has completely the opposite problem. Being single and pregnant at Christmas was certainly not her wish come true. She doesn't believe in miracles, but then resident hunk Jake sweeps her off her snow-covered shoes. Come Boxing Day dare she dream that Mr Sex-on-Legs might be for more than just Christmas?

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This book really took me by surprise. I was desperate for a lovely festive read and fell straight away for the cover of this book when I saw it on Net Galley, so I quickly requested it. Little did I know that it was a Mills and Boon book! To be honest I was shocked. I grew up reading my nan's Mills and Boons books and although I enjoyed them they were quite a secretive read. This was mainly due to the covers, so I was quite surprised to see such a lovely cover on this book.

I was even more flabbergasted when I realised how much I loved this book. It was a comforting yet realistic read that was just perfect for the season of goodwill.

The book is made up of two stories which are interlinked as a secondary character in the first story becomes the major character in the next. The first story is about Christy, a mother of two who has left the marital home after falling out with her husband. This story takes us on a journey to see them reunited in time for Christmas Day.

Christy dithers quite a bit and the miscommunication and misunderstanding of each other's feelings began to grate on my nerves a little. I wanted to sit Christy and Alessandro down for a marriage guidance session. Alessandro is a little too bullish for my liking. You get the impression that onlyhis opinion matters and I was pleased to see Christy stand up to him. I found his Alpha male attitude a bit tiring for my liking, but I warmed to him by the end of the story. Their daughter Katie was hilarious as she went out of her way to play Cupid between her parents. The things she got her brother blamed for in the name of love; poor little soul was constantly in trouble. I wasn't always convinced by Katie's language as for an eleven year old she seemed sometimes far too mature for her age. Having two eleven year olds myself, I could never imagine them talking to me with such maturity.

My favourite character in the book is Jake, who thankfully is one of the main characters in the second story, Miranda. He is so sweet and loving, as well as being protective and understanding just the type of man everyone is looking for.

To be honest, I loved the story of Miranda more than Christy's story. I loved the relationship between Jake and Miranda. How he took this pregnant unmarried mother under his wing was just beautiful, even though she fought him all the way, as she was determined to keep her independence. The second story was definitely more realistic and gritty too as it deals with teenage pregnancy and abandoned babies. Not the type of subjects I expected to find in a Mills and Boons book.

On the whole, I really enjoyed Sarah Morgan's style of writing. I found I could believe in the characters and I whipped through both books rather quickly. I loved the way both stories were interconnected and followed on from each other.

I would love to see more of the Mills and Boon books with new covers. I am positive they would appeal more to the modern chick lit brigade if they all looked like this one. I really enjoyed the book and think I may have found a new secret guilty pleasure in Mills and Boon books!

The Court Painter's Apprentice by Richard Knight

2012-01-07T08:00:00.002Z

Pages - 175
Published by Catnip Publishing in January

Take a look in a mirror.
What do you see? A nose that's too large, or skin marked with freckles like paint splashes from a brush? Perhaps eyes that seem sunken and dark, an expression of gloom baked hard on the mouth? Whatever you see, staring at your reflection for too long is rarely a comfortable experience for all but the fairest of us. We prefer only fleeting glimpses of ourselves, long enough to brush our hair or wash our faces.

Goodreads Summary
'Paint what you see, Johann; not what you think you see.' This is the advice that Hugo, master portrait painter, gives to his protege, Johann. But Johann's talent for painting the truth runs deeper than anyone can ever imagine. Johann soon discovers how changing the portraits he paints, can change the lives of his subjects- from fixing the pox-marked skin of a lowly serving girl, to changing the course of history by painting a petulant and spoiled heir to the empire as a noble ruler. But with the power to bring good fortune to those around him, Johann is soon tempted to change his own...

********

From the beginning of the book I was sucked into the atmospheric world created by the author. The author has a way of making you feel like you have stepped into the story as all your senses are hit at once. The story unravels beautifully and leaves you with a unsuspecting twist that I don't think I have ever come across before. This book has a real Dickensian feel to it and reminded me a little of The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde.

My favourite characters had to be Hugo and his wife. I really felt that they tried their hardest to create a stable and loving environment for Johann to grow up in, but like most teenagers he rebelled. Unfortunately he suffered because of his choice of actions. I found I struggled to warm to Johann. I couldn't help but find him foolish in his actions. Definitely a case of pride comes before a fall as he realises his potential and enjoys the opportunities it created. I wanted to give him a good shaking to make him see what just might happen. I know I should feel sorry for him, as he lost out on a childhood, after becoming an apprentice so young, but he just annoyed me.

I love the idea of this book. The thought of being able to change one's future by altering a painting is really an excellent idea. It is definitely an interesting topic to play with. I was surprised how the ending turned out, I would never suspected it would end is such a way. I was also expecting a love interest to occur after the friendship between Johann and Matje developed as it was quite obvious how they felt about each other.

This is a book that can easily be devoured in one sitting. I loved how the story played out as well as the detailed descriptions that brought the book to life. If you like books similar to The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin, then you will definitely enjoy this one. It is short book, yet bursting with detail and extremely atmospheric.

The Big Break with Sarah Alderson

2012-01-06T15:00:00.000Z

The first Big Break of the year. Where I get to interrogate a debut author about their new book. This week I have had the pleasure of featuring Sarah Alderson, author of Hunting Lila and Fated. Sarah is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors and I was so happy she agreed to be questioned by me.

Firstly, can I thank you for joining me today on my blog.

Thank you so much for having me! I love your blog.
What did you do for a living before writing became your chosen career?
I spent a year after finishing university temping in the private sector in posh banks and got very quickly put off by the whole environment. I’m a hippy at heart and pretty rebellious when it comes to following orders. I got fired from a job at Accenture! At that point I thought I needed a change of sector so I entered the charity world.
I ended up working for about eight years at a charity in London, working my way up until I was Head of Projects. Which basically means I was very bossy, made up a lot of nonsense in order to get funding and had a lot of meetings with patronising men twice my age. It was great fun most of the time; I had a brilliant team and together we created a lot of very cool volunteering projects that helped thousands of people – refugees, elderly people, people suffering from mental health issues and kids who weren’t in education or employment. It was an amazing thing to feel like I was making a real difference to people’s lives rather than just making rich people richer.
You and your family now live in heavenly Bali. Tell us about your journey to find the dream place to write?
My husband and I decided that we wanted to live somewhere else – we’d had enough of commuting and juggling childcare in London - so we packed up our bags and took our then 3 year old daughter around the world for 9 months to look for somewhere else to live.
It was epic – the most amazing time. We started in India – Alula (our daughter) wore her pink tutu and went to school on the beach in Goa whilst we both worked on our laptops at beach bars! I was writing the sequel to Hunting Lila at the time.
After a few months in India we travelled through Singapore and on to Bali, which we totally fell in love with – it’s such a magical place, with all the beauty and vibrancy of India only with better toilets. We spent another three months there checking it out, after which we carried on to Australia and then finally to the US. I have so many incredible memories of that trip. We returned to the UK for just a month to stock up on Marmite before we moved to Bali for good.
I blogged the whole trip, from the lows (Indian night trains on a cramped bunk with a three year old and a cockroach for company) through to the highs of finding home (canoeing with dolphins, daily massages, confronting a bear in Yosemite)...and I still write the blog, detailing our crazy but incredible lives www.canwelivehere.com
I can write anywhere, so long as I have my laptop and my music, but Bali is the perfect place to write. It’s the most peaceful place in the world (once you learn to tune out the geckos, the frogs, the cockerels and the dogs) – I’m so relaxed there and without too much to do or worry about it’s easier to focus on writing.
How long did it take you to write your debut novel ‘Hunting Lila’?
It took about four and a half months. But it was ridiculously long. I had no idea how many words YA novels were supposed to be so I just wrote it. And then I spent a few weeks editing it (kind of). And then I sent it off to agents. Now I look back I wonder how on earth I got to where I am – but there’s something to be said for naïvete.
Where did you get the idea for Hunting Lila?
I was tired of reading about girls swooning after boys with supernatural powers and waiting to be rescued. I wanted to write about a girl with a super power who didn’t need rescuing. And then I thought wouldn’t it be cool if she was part of a conspiracy and what if her mother had died because of it and what if she’d been in love with this boy for as long as she could remember and I kept saying ‘what if’ and it just flowed from there.
Was this your first finished manuscript, or are there others hidden away?
No, Hunting Lila was my first ever attempt at writing a book. Haha – don’t tell me that’s obvious!
How many times did you have to edit your book before the agent was happy to send it off to publishers?
My agent told me I needed to cut out 40,000 words from the first half (I told you it was long!). Losing that number of words is easier said than done. It took me about a month. Originally Lila, Alex,
Sara and Jack go for a weekend jaunt to Catalina Island and there were a few Alex and Lila scenes on the beach, which did nothing to further the plot, only to further my fantasies of Alex with his top off. So I had to lose them (sigh).
Once I’d cut the words we did a quick line by line and it was ready. I got my agent in early March 2010. I think we sent out the book for submission at the start of June and I signed my contract with Simon & Schuster.
What was your first reaction when you found out that your book was to be published?
We were having a party at our house in Bali. It was a Friday night. I had spent the previous three weeks on tenterhooks as publishers came back to my agent with rejections and some interest. I knew that the editor at Simon & Schuster had taken Lila to a submissions meeting that day and I literally was teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown. I had constant butterflies in my stomach and couldn’t eat a thing.
And then at about 9.30pm our time in Bali I had a text from my agent with the offer (I still have the text). I was on our balcony and my husband was beside me. My hand was shaking as I opened it. And I just burst into tears. It felt like a complete release of all these hopes I’d been holding onto. I couldn’t believe it.
The cutest thing was my daughter and her friend were playing nearby and were so excited by my reaction (though they had no clue why I was laughing and crying and hugging John) that they started throwing bits of torn up paper over us like it was confetti.
Then we hugged them and went and opened a bottle of champagne and celebrated with all our friends. It was brilliant.
How long has it taken for your book to reach publication after the initial agreement?
I signed in July 2010 and Lila was published in August 2011. Fated was accepted in November 2010 and is being published in January 2012. It’s a long wait – but I know that’s actually quite short in comparison to some authors who wait years.
What was happening to your manuscript during this time?
For six months nothing much! Which is why I wrote Fated. Whilst I was waiting for Fated and Hunting Lila to be published I wrote two and a half more books. Then about nine months before publication it becomes quite frantic – with edits flying back and forth. Thankfully for both my books this has only ever been line by line and not a plot restructure. I find it only takes a couple of days to do the amends as often it’s just a sentence or two that isn’t working or a problem with continuity, nothing too major. I have since learnt about ideal word counts! Sometimes I’m asked to make a kissing scene less steamy (that happened in Fated)! There was a lot of debate about the covers too.
After the manuscript is sent back and forth between me and my editor it’s sent to a copywriter who checks it for continuity and grammar errors and then they print the unproofed copies for review. I have to wait two weeks for those to arrive in the post to Bali. At first I couldn’t bring myself to read the uncorrected proof for Hunting Lila. But then I did and was so glad, as I picked up a dozen or so errors. It’s much easier to proof it as a book than on screen. The final changes are made at this point, signed off, and then it’s sent to print with lots of prayers. It’s usually at that point I remember I’ve forgotten to mention someone in the acknowledgements and / or discover a glaring continuity error half way through.
How did you keep yourself occupied as you waited for publication day?
With Hunting Lila I kept busy by writing three and a half more books and spending a lot of time online promoting Lila.
Also I must admit to a dangerous massage habit. If I’m not writing I’m normally occupied with having a massage or watching the latest offering from HBO. There’s plenty to keep my busy!
You are about to see the release of your second book ‘Fated’. How different is it from your first book?
Well Evie, the main character is seventeen like Lila, and like Hunting Lila this book has got a lot of action in it and the bonus of a very, very hot guy. It’s also a thriller with plenty of page turning conspiracy moments. But whilst Hunting Lila was told through Lila’s eyes, Fated is told from two perspectives – both Evie’s and Lucas’s (the half Shadow Warrior, half human sent to spy on her and then ordered to kill her). There’s a cast of really cool secondary characters too – not all of whom are human.
Fated is a bit darker than Hunting Lila. It’s about the concept of fate versus freewill – do we have choice in our lives or not? It’s very difficult sometimes I think as a teenager, if you’re being told certain things about who you are and what’s expected of you, to break free and do what you want to do – be who you want to be – hell, it’s hard even as an adult to shake off the weight of expectation. It takes real bravery to stand up and say ‘No, I’m not going to be this person that society expects me to be. I’m going to think for myself and choose my own path.’
I wanted to explore that as an idea. I really do believe in fate too – that the people who come into your life come into it for a reason, as with Lucas and Evie. Actually, now I think about it, both books
have revenge as a central theme too. So maybe, deep down, I have a thing about vengeance!
Do you feel just as excited by its release as you did with your first book?
Yes. I feel really nervous though, in case it doesn’t get the same amazingly positive reception as Lila did.
When you love characters so much and have invested so much in them and their story it’s hard waiting to hear whether others feel the same way or not.
Where did you write ‘Fated’?
I started writing Fated when I was in California, on the last stretch of our round the world trip. We were staying with friends and they have the most incredible house just north of LA. I was desperate to start writing as the idea for Fated had been in my head for a while bursting to get out, and then John took Alula to the beach for the day to give me some space. I sat at the table with my laptop and opened a new document. I can still remember writing the first line.

‘Her name is Evie Tremain. She’s seventeen years’ old. She lives in Riverview, California. Now go and kill her.’
I finished Fated about two months later back in Bali.
What other projects are you working on at the moment?
I’ve just finished two sequels to Fated, which I wrote in very quick succession (the last one only took me 30 days). I loved the characters so much, and wanted to write about what happened to them next, even though I didn’t have a book deal.
For the last couple of weeks I have been crazy busy promoting both books. But I’m also writing a sixth book - a totally new story. It’s very different to both Hunting Lila and Fated and I’m really excited by it. I studied female resistance to Fascism and I’m very interested in how during times of war some people accept the way things are, even when really inhumane acts are being carried out right in front of them, whilst others resist even when to do so is suicidal. I’m especially interested in the ways that women contribute to resistance movements.
On top of this, I’m also writing a short story spin off from Hunting Lila – about Suki and how she first got involved with Demos. And yes, Alex will be in it!
It’s going to be sold as an e-book and all profits will be going to my friend’s charity Girltank which supports young women around the world who are making social change happen. For me probably the most exciting part of getting a profile as a writer is being able to use it to promote the causes I feel strongly about, and empowering women is probably the most important one for me.
Tell us what a typical writing day would be like?
When I’m in Bali I wake up really early – around 6ish – and steal out onto the balcony to check my emails and start writing. I try to pack in as much as I can before my daughter wakes up but once
she does I’m on mummy duty until she goes to school. Around 8.30 I’m back at my desk and will work solidly for several hours. If I’m having a plotting day I’ll always go for a swim – that’s where I do most of my plotting and thinking. Ok, and sunbathing.
I’m a total social media addict so I’ll stop every fifteen minutes or so to check email and Facebook and Twitter. I stop working most days at 2pm so I can pick my daughter up from her school in the middle of the rice paddies.
Normally if I’m in the throes of a book I can’t think about anything else, so once Alula is in bed I’m back in front of my computer – though I’m a morning person, usually I’m brain dead and only ready for a G&T by 7pm.
What advice would you give to aspiring and unpublished authors?
Keep writing and keep believing!
I keep hearing people scoffing at the idea of writers getting their first manuscript accepted. I got my first and my second! It is possible and I hope people draw inspiration from me rather than listening to the negative comments out there.
I would also say start building a following and a platform now because publishers don’t have huge marketing budgets anymore – and they can only take on a few new authors. Simon & Schuster children’s section I think signs maybe 8 authors a year. Publishers want authors who can promote themselves and who are themselves promotable. I know that the fact I had a blog which had been featured in the Guardian and Grazia, and that I had a social media presence on Twitter was a contributing factor to my deal. So try to build that presence any which way you can. It will make
you oh so much more attractive when the deal is about to be.

Thank you Sarah for giving us fantastic answers. I am a little envious of your writing life.

Both Hunting Lila and Fated are available to buy now.
To find out more about Sarah Alderson:
Twitter: @sarahalderson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HuntingLila?ref=ts&sk=wall and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fated/135896646517046?ref=ts&sk=wall
Blog: http://www.canwelivehere.com/
Website: http://www.sarahalderson.com/

Fated by Sarah Alderson

2012-01-06T08:00:00.002Z

Pages - 310
Published by Simon and Schuster in January 2012

'Her name is Evie Tremain. She's seventeen years old. She lives in Riverview, California.Now go and kill her.'
Goodreads Summary
What happens when you discover you aren't who you thought you were? And that the person you love is the person who will betray you? If your fate is already determined, can you fight it?
When Evie Tremain discovers that she’s the last in a long line of Demon slayers and that she’s being hunted by an elite band of assassins –Shapeshifters, Vampires and Mixen demons amongst them – she knows she can’t run. They’ll find her wherever she goes. Instead she must learn to stand and fight.
But when the half-human, half-Shadow Warrior Lucas Gray - is sent to spy on Evie and then ordered to kill her before she can fulfil a dangerous prophecy, their fates become inextricably linked. The war that has raged for one thousand years between humans and demons is about to reach a devastating and inevitable conclusion. Either one or both of them will die before this war ends.
If your life becomes bound to another’s, what will it take to sever it?

*********

If you read and loved Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson, then you should be prepared to know that this book is nothing like it. I am not saying it isn't fabulous, I am just saying it is completely different. This book is full of fast action, edge of your seat moments, involving Hunters whose sole destiny is to destroy Unhumans. Think how Stephanie Meyer wrote Host which is in a completely different vein to the Twilight books and you will understand what I mean. Luckily I had been prepared for a different kind of story and was more than happy to ride this thrilling rollercoaster.

From the first chapter, you are hooked as Evie captures your interest. She is a sassy, smart girl who has a real toughness about her. Considering everything that is thrown at her, she deals with it brilliantly. She jumps from being a normal everyday girl like the rest of us, to becoming the one who could end the war. That is a tough deal for anyone to live with. However, she is quick to come to terms with her destiny and makes a shocking decision affecting everyone's future.

This is definitely a situation of opposites attract as there is no way that Lucas and Evie should be together. He is sent to kill her and she is destined to kill him, yet they end up falling in love! If I was Evie, I would still be a bit weary of him in the future.

I am rather in awe of Sarah Anderson's writing talent. I am still amazed that she managed to come from nowhere and write six books in two years. She really does blow me away and I seem to come away so inspired by her writing. Also her talent for writing is obvious as soon as you begin reading one of her books - I never feel like I am reading a debut author. She is very detailed in her description and picks up on the little human nuances we all have giving her characters an extra air of reality. The writing is fast paced and the action well timed, proving that Sarah knows how to write an action scene. I found the plot to be excellent and very convincing and I was surprised by some of the events that occurred.

This book also hit a personal note with me. One of the characters in the book is a dog called Lobo. I had to find out where the character name had come from as Sarah had mentioned in the back of the book that she had borrowed his name. Sarah told me that he was the only real character in the book. It instantly took me back to my honeymoon in Mexico where I met the local beach dog - Lobo! It is such an unusual name, that it would have been amazing if it had been the same dog!

I had one little niggle with the book and I know it is daft. I didn't like vampires being called Thirsters. I don't know why, it just didn't sit with me at all. I am probably just too fussy.

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller where opposites really do attract, then this book might be for you. I thought it was brilliant, I didn't love it as much as I love Hunting Lila, but I did really enjoy it. However this obsession with Hunting Lila may just have something to do with the swoonsome Alex!

Sarah Alderson has definitely earned her spot in the YA author map.

Pop back to the blog at 3pm to read my interview with Sarah Alderson.

15 Days Without A Head Blog Tour with Dave Cousins

2012-01-05T08:00:00.002Z

Today is officially publication day of '15 Days Without A Head' by Dave Cousins, published by Oxford University Press. You may remember me raving about this book when I read it last year. If not, please click here to read my review. I am over the moon to be hosting the third stop on Dave's blog tour and I was lucky enough to get to interview him again. Here is the interview where Dave tells us about his hopes for publication day as well as more information about his book.

Hi Dave, Thanks for coming on my blog again!
It’s good to be back, Viv!

Today is officially publication day. How are you feeling?
Relieved, excited, exhausted … and if I'm honest, a little bit nervous. It seems a lifetime ago that I started writing 15 Days Without a Head with no thought that one day it might actually be published. So, it’s great to think that today the book will finally be in the hands of readers.

You know how much I loved 15 Days Without A Head but I am curious. How many scenes were taken out of the book that you would have loved to have kept in?
To be honest – none! I enjoy the process of editing and am always amazed and delighted how a book comes to life when all the superfluous words and scenes have been cut away. Having said that, there were a family with a dog that featured in a very early draft, but were cut when I completely rewrote the second half of the book. I liked them as characters, so there’s a chance they might crop up in their own story sometime. They actually get the briefest of mentions on page 159 of the book.

How did you come up with such an interesting surname as Roach for your characters?
That came as a result of one of those magical moments when separate elements in a story suddenly connect. I started the book by placing two brothers in a run-down flat with cockroaches in the kitchen. I thought I ought to do some research on roaches, and when I discovered they could live for days without a head, it was one of those light bulb moments. I knew I had my title and thought it would be fun to give Laurence the surname, Roach. As the story developed, I realized how apt this name was, considering the theme of survival running through the book. At one point Laurence actually said: “I’m a Roach, a born survivor!” though the line didn’t make the final edit.

For me, Jay was one of my favourite characters, but which was your favourite character to write about?
It was Jay actually. I had the most fun with him. I enjoyed thinking up humorous ways he could make things difficult for Laurence – like forcing him to play Scooby-Doo in public. I like the relationship between the brothers, it was the driving force behind the book, so I enjoyed writing the scenes where they were together. I have to say, I wouldn’t want Jay as a little brother though.

The book deals with some very hard hitting issues. How did you research these to make them so authentic in detail?
Most of it was imagination. I tend to start by imagining and using my own experience, and then go back and check authenticity with an expert. A friend of mine put me in touch with a children’s social worker who was kind enough to read parts of the story. Her feedback was incredibly useful for making sure that procedures were correct, but also in terms of the details – the social worker checking the fridge had food in it, for instance. It was important to me that she felt the book was an accurate portrayal and did justice to a situation that unfortunately many children find themselves in. According to the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, there are an estimated one million children in the UK affected by parental alcohol problems.

If the book was picked up by a TV production company tomorrow (which I am definitely rooting for), which actor would you like to see playing the part of Laurence?
That would be great – and fascinating to see someone else’s interpretation of the book. I don't know many actors of the right age, so I’m probably not the best person to cast the role though. Ollie Barbieri who played JJ in series three of Skins, might be good; or Daniel Roche from Outnumbered and Just William – he’s a good actor and would be the right age by the time anyone got round to filming! The person would have to be tall enough though, as Laurence is over six feet!

The scene in the book, where Laurence wears a dress is hilarious. Did you have to act this out to gain authenticity?
Ha ha! As you know, I sometimes use that scene for readings, so I get asked this question a lot. The answer is yes! Though I did tell my wife first, so she didn't catch me trying to struggle into her clothes and wonder what I was up to. I rely on a mixture of imagination and experience when writing. You can't have first hand knowledge of everything you write about, in fact there are things I've struggled to put into a story because they are too close to my own life. On the other hand, having done something yourself, does give you those extra details that your imagination would never supply. Finding exactly how awkward it is to put on a bra for example!

The scene mentioned above was one of my favourite ones in the book, but which scene did you enjoy writing the most?
That's difficult! I remember vividly the scenes I struggled with and had to revise many times, whereas the ones that flowed easily are less fresh in my mind. The scene when Jay attacks the trees with his stick – the way it weaves into what Laurence is doing at the time – I remember being pleased with that; and the scene with Mina in the café was fun. The thing is, if I’m not happy with a particular scene, I tend to rewrite it until I am!

What books do you like reading?
I read almost exclusively teen and YA novels – not because it’s my job, but because I think that the best writing and stories are found on those shelves. There are certain authors whose books I’ll buy every time, people like Keith Gray and Julie Hearn, Frank Cottrell Boyce … but I'm always on the look out for new books. I like interesting story ideas and a unique voice, something that tugs at my heart or makes me laugh. I love it when a book is so good it floors me, though as a writer it can be a bit deflating. You just have to think, maybe if I keep trying, I'll write something this good one day. Lucy Christopher’s Stolen was one book that knocked me off my feet last year. Superb!

Will you be doing any book signings to promote the book, and if so where will you be visiting?
I'm off on a week of school visits soon and have a provisional date for a book signing in my local Waterstone's, to tie in with more school visits in March. I'm hoping to get out as much as possible to meet readers all over the country, and have a number of things lined up. I’ll be posting event dates and information on my website as it becomes available.

Last time we spoke, you mentioned you were presently working on your second book, Waiting for Gonzo. How far have you got with that?
I'm happy to say that I've completed the early drafts and it’s now with my editor. I know the manuscript still needs some serious revising before I get it right, so I'm looking forward to getting on with the next version. I'm really happy with parts of it already though, which is good. I've also got two new stories jumping up and down for attention, but until Waiting for Gonzo is finished I have to resist the temptation to think too much about them! Thanks for having me on Serendipity Reviews again, Viv, and for all your support for 15 Days Without a Head. It’s much appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to come and join us again. I know alongside my readers, we wish you all the best with your publication.

To find out more about Dave Cousins:

Twitter: DaveCousins9000
Blog: http://davecousins.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DaveCousinsAuthor?sk=wall

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith - Review and Giveaway

2012-01-04T15:00:00.001Z

Pages - 215
Published - 5th January by Headline.

There are so many ways it could have turned out differently.
Imagine if she hadn't forgotten the book. She wouldn't have had to run back into the house while Mom waited outside with the car running, the engine setting loose a cloud of exhaust in the late-day heat.

Goodreads Summary
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

**********

This book should come with a huge big red sticker on the front warning you about it! I am serious - this book is a time eater! You settle yourself down for a quick read in between putting the washing out and hoovering the living room and before you know it, you have has lost about three hours and you have finished the book!

I am such a sucker for love , that a book that provided me with a simple love at first sight story, carried me away instantly. There is no fanfare, no gimmicks, no cliff hanging endings, just pure love that naturally develops when you know you have found THE ONE. I know that Hadley and Oliver fall in love very quickly, in 24 hours to be precise, but it does happen. When I met my husband for the first time, I remember telling a friend how I felt like I had known him all my life; all these years later and we are still together and happy. So I could well believe in love at first sight and I am rooting for anyone else who experiences it. The chemistry between these two is instant, that you are convinced that Cupid had intervened and shot them both with his arrows.

This book brought tears to my eyes. It really has a strong emotional pull within it, that will find you looking towards you own life. Both Hadley and Oliver are struggling to come to terms with the relationships within their own families. Oliver will melt your heart instantly - he is completely swoonsome and comes across as being a real gentleman, especially for someone so young. I felt that Hadley partly experienced a coming of age phenomenon. As she comes to terms with the changes occurring in her life, you feel like you are in the front line as you watch her move form immaturity to maturity.

If you are looking to let a little love into your heart during this cold and miserable season, then this book would be perfect for you. Let this book warm your heart!

*******

Luckily for you guys, I have a hardback copy of the book to give away. I am afraid this is a UK only competition due to posting costs.

If you would like to win a copy of The Statiscal Probability of Love at First Sight, then please leave a comment about your views on love at first sight. Also leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win. The winner will be drawn on the 14th of January.

Good luck everyone.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight - International Blog Tour and Review

2012-01-04T08:00:00.007Z

This is the third day of the joint UK and USA blog tour for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and I am happy to be sharing the spotlight with Good Books and Good Wine today. Both blogs will be featuring half of a day in the life of author Jennifer E. Smith. I have the first half of the day and if you pop over to Good Books and Good Wine later, you will be able to read the second half of Jennifer's day.

Typical Day in the Life of Jennifer E. Smith

6am – My alarm goes off. I hit snooze. Several times. I don’t usually get out of bed until about 6:30, at which point I take a quick shower, throw on some clothes, and take my dog to the park across the street, where I distractedly play fetch with him while reading the New York Times on my phone.

7am – While the dog runs madly around my apartment with a squeaky toy, I finish getting ready, eat some breakfast, and watch a bit of the news. In addition to being an author, I’m also an editor, which means there’s always lots of reading to be done, so I’m usually reading a manuscript on my Kindle in between things, frantically trying to get through some last minute pages before work.

8am – I’m out the door and heading to the subway. My office isn’t too far, so I usually just listen to music and zone out on the way. This is when I often think of really good writing ideas, which I have to put on hold until I get a chance to focus on them later. When I get to my office, I spend the first hour or so responding to emails and just generally trying to get myself organized.

9am – Phone calls with authors and agents, lots and lots of emails, and quite a bit of staring out my window, which looks out over the west side of midtown Manhattan and is great for people watching.

10am – On this particular day, I have an editorial meeting, where all the editors gather to discuss the manuscripts we’re reading, especially the ones we’re really excited about. It’s always fun to hear about what others are reading, especially since everyone has such different tastes.

11am – Next up, a cover meeting, where I’m choosing a jacket for a collection of dog stories I edited. There’s nothing more fun than picking from a sea of adorable puppy photos. There’s one that I especially love, so I send it to the author and hope he feels the same way.

12pm – More email, more phone calls. My best office friend stops by, and we procrastinate for a bit. Just before heading off to lunch, I put my author hat on for a few minutes, returning an email to my agent and checking over the copy on the beautiful cover for my middle grade novel, which comes out in April.

1pm – Lunch with an agent at the French restaurant across the street. We talk about books we’re excited about, books we’re reading for fun, the effect of e-books, etc. It’s a fun perk of the job to get to meet up with other industry people who love books as much as I do.

2pm – My afternoon is free of meetings, which is nice, so I have some time to do a little bit of editing at my desk. This is pretty rare; most of the time, the reading and editing come home with me. I always feel really lucky when I can find a pocket of time to do this at the office.

3pm – Still editing when a submission comes in from an agent I really admire, so I drop everything to read the first chapter at my desk. It seems promising, which is exciting; there’s nothing better than that hopeful feeling you get when you read a few pages of something with potential.

4pm – I have to return some more phone calls, and then write a few rejection letters for submissions that weren’t as promising. This is one of the hardest parts of being both an author and an editor – the writer part of me is acutely aware of how much work goes into a novel, and how it feels to get a letter like that, but the editor part of me needs to be discerning. I’ve been doing this for years now, and it never gets easier to send along those passes.

5pm – I’m wrapping things up after a busy day. My days at the office are obviously a lot different than the ones that I’m home writing, which usually happens one or two days a week. My schedule on those days would look more like this: Wake up, go to park, write, daydream, write, take a break, write, daydream, write, take a break, write, daydream, write, go to park, write, go to bed. Plus meals. And probably some TV time too.

Phew! Thanks Jennifer for giving us an insight into part of your day.

To find out more about Jennifer E. Smith

Twitter:@JenESmith

If you would like to read the rest of Jennifer's day, then please visit Good Books and Good Wine to read the rest.

Night School by C.J Daugherty

2012-01-03T15:00:00.001Z

Pages - 456
Published by ATOM books in January 2012

'Hurry up!'
'Will you chill out? I'm almost finished.'
Her jaw set, Allie crouched in the dark, painting the last 't' as Mark knelt beside her holding a torch. Their voices echoed in the empty corridor. The light beam illuminating her work quivered when he laughed.
A sudden snapping sound made them both jump.
Lights flickered above them, then flooded the school hallway.
Two uniforms stood by the door.

Goodreads Summary
Allie Sheridan's world is falling apart. She hates her school. Her brother has run away from home. And she's just been arrested.
Again.
This time her parents have finally had enough. They cut her off from her friends and send her away to a boarding school for problem teenagers.
But Cimmeria Academy is no ordinary school. Its rules are strangely archaic. It allows no computers or phones. Its students are an odd mixture of the gifted, the tough and the privileged. And then there's the secretive Night School, whose activities other students are forbidden even to watch.
When Allie is attacked one night the incident sets off a chain of events leading to the violent death of a girl at the summer ball. As the school begins to seem like a very dangerous place, Allie must learn who she can trust. And what's really going on at Cimmeria Academy.

**********
This book explodes with a thrilling opening scene, that finds the protagonist, Allie, in enough trouble to push her family over the edge. You can tell instantly that she is a troubled soul who needs help. She is sassy, tomboyish and full of teenage anger yet she is also a pretty cool character.

From that first chapter I was sucked in and I knew I wouldn't be able to put the book down until I found out the truth. Imagine a mixture of Hogwarts and Mallory Towers but filled with murder instead of magic. That is what you get. This book blew me away. Half way through, the author had thrown so many red herrings at me, I was convinced that the school was a mental institution only to discover that I couldn't have got it more wrong if I tried. Talk about, keep me on my toes. I can usually work out which way a book is going, but Night School had me totally fooled from the beginning and the events that passed were surprises to me. I thought the plot of the book was brilliant. The truth behind Night School really amazed me and it is definitely something I haven't read before.

I loved Carter from the start and I could definitely see his potential long before Allie could. Allie seemed to be blinded to the charms of Sylvian, who I really wasn't keen on from the beginning. I am sure this little love triangle will continue through future books, but I am pretty sure I will be rooting for Carter throughout the series.

The school is really creepy. It has a very Gothic feel to it and the descriptions provide just the right amount of atmosphere to the story. Just my kind of school. I am desperate to discover where the school is that C.J. Daugherty based the book on.

For a debut novel, I thought this was fantastic. The writing is strong throughout and with each cliff hanger ending chapter, I was desperate to read the next. I was lost in the book from the first to the last page. This is definitely not a book to read whilst you are busy, as you will find yourself cursing at your lack of time to finish it.

A chilling, nerve racking, nail biting thriller that left me wanting more. I can't wait for book two! Well done C.J. Daugherty on such a gripping debut.

Night School Blog Tour - C.J Daugherty's inspiration for the book.

2012-01-03T08:00:00.004Z

Today I am happy to be hosting the third stop on the ATOM blog tour for Night School by C.J. Daugherty. I read this book before Christmas and I absolutely loved it. I will be publishing my review this afternoon at three. However if you want to find out how C. J Daugherty was inspired to write about Night School, then read on!

The Inspiration for Night School by C.J Daugherty

I’m the kind of person who’s always telling stories. Stories about my life, or just something that happened on this day, you know, the one when the lady did that thing that made me laugh… I’m the kind of person who gets told fairly often that she should ‘write a book, someday’.

But I never really thought I could do it.

Now and then I would try half-heartedly – I’d write a chapter here, or an outline there. But when I sat down to actually write, only really awkward, boring words would come out.

And eventually I’d give up and forget about it for another year.

One day in 2008, my husband and I were on holiday in Devon in November (I KNOW) it was freezing (inevitably) and we were scrambling up some cliff or another, and I was telling another hilarious story about my childhood when he interrupted me and said, “I bet you a bottle of champagne – the good kind – that if you sat down to write a book now – subject of your choice – you can do it.” When I demurred, he frowned and added, “I dare you.”

I have never in all my life been able to resist the lure of a dare I am fairly certain I’m going to win. And he knew that perfectly well.

So I started thinking.

When we first considered moving to the town in Surrey where we now live, we spent some time driving around the countryside near it. Along the way we passed the private boarding school at the edge of town where my husband’s sister had gone to school as a day student.

School was out at the time but the big, metal gates were open. So we turned in to the school’s short, curving drive. At the end of it stood a vast, Gothic-influenced Victorian building. I was stunned by how beautiful and scary it looked. I couldn’t imagine dropping a child off at those steps and just saying ‘Bye! See you in six weeks!”

That afternoon stayed with me. And after Jack dared me, I sat down one afternoon and tried to imagine what it would be like for a city girl like me to be summarily uprooted from my urban life and dropped into such a different world. What would that feel like? How would I react? How would the other students react to me?

I wrote the first chapter of Night School that day, sketching out the character of Allie Sheridan, with her troubled home life, dodgy friends and unsteady grades.

By the time I got to the end of that first chapter, I knew I had something. I loved Allie already. I could feel her emotions with her. I understood her. And I needed to know what would become of her.

Night School came out of that.

Thank you Christi for showing us how you were inspired. I would definitely like to see this school, although I couldn't imagine being dropped off either.

To find out more about C.J. Daugherty

Twitter: @CJ_Daugherty

Website: http://www.christidaugherty.com/index.htm

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/CJ-Daugherty/226429684069435

Remember to pop back at 3pm for my review of Night School.

And the winner is........

2012-01-02T14:00:00.000Z

As part of the Mid-Winters Eve Blog Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not a Writer and Oasis For YA, I recently posted a give away for a paperback copy of Dark Parties by Sara Grant. The competition has now closed. The winner has been selected by Randomiser and the winner is:

LISAILJ

Congratulations to LisaILJ, an email will be making its way to you today. Thank you to everyone who entered. There will be a new competition later this week, so do pop back.

Hot Books for January

2012-01-02T08:00:00.002Z

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and got lots of fabulous presents. I also hope you had a good New Year's Eve. We had a quite Christmas due to illness, so I am struggling a little to get organised this week. So my hot books post is going to be a little different this month. Below you will see all the fantastic books that have piqued my interest in the YA section for January. If you want to know more about each book, then click on the picture which will transfer you to the Goodreads page that will tell you more.

ATOM Books

Bloomsbury

Headline

Indigo

Egmont

Puffin

Macmillan Children's Books

Oxford University Press

Catnip Publishing

Templar

Simon And Schuster

Hodder Children's Books

Orion Children's Books

HarperCollins Children's Books

MIRA Publications

Random House Children's Books

Walker Books

Chicken House

Frances Lincoln Publishers

These all look so fabulous. Which books do you want to read this January?

Happy Christmas!

2011-12-23T08:00:00.002Z

This is officially my last post for 2011! That had you creeped out, didn't it. You thought I was going to say last post ever! Hehehehe! No chance of that happening in the near future. However I do need a little break and with the festive season nearly upon us I will be taking a blogging break from today until the 2nd of January. Then I will be storming into January with an abundance of new publications and amazing blog tours.
So for now, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to stop by and read my posts and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Tempest by Julie Cross

2011-12-22T08:00:00.001Z

Pages - 415

Published by Macmillan on the 6th January

My name is Jackson and I can travel through time. Now, wait, it's not as exciting as you might think. I can't go back in time and kill Hitler. I can't go to the future and tell you who wins the World Series in 2038. So far, the most I've ever jumped is about six hours in the past. Some superhero, right?

Goodreads Summary

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveller. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

***********

I think that Julie Cross may find herself sitting pretty in the number one spot for time travel fiction. This book seriously shook my brain. Imagine taking Quantum Leap, Back to the Future and The Time Traveller's Wife and putting them in a blender. Then adding a touch of Heroes for flavour and voila you have an original time travel novel that takes your breath away. You will get to certain points in the story and you won't have a clue as to which direction the book might go.

This has to be the first book in ages that I have read from a male perspective yet written by a female. Normally I would worry that the author might struggle to capture the way the opposite sex thinks and feels but in my mind, the character of Jackson is written beautifully. He is all man, but in touch with his feminine side, which makes him really rather cool and adorable. He will make you weep into you sleeve, as he desperately tries to save Holly. He will stop at nothing until she is safe, his love for her is that strong.

Julie Cross has created strong realistic characters who have the ability to play with your emotions. Courtney will break your heart. Her story reminded me of those weepy real life films they show on TV. I keep hoping that her story will turn out to all be a dream and she will get a happy ever after. You will be unsure about Jackson's dad too. I struggled to decide whether I trusted him or not and even after finishing the book my thoughts on him are still unclear.

The ending actually wrenched my heart out and threw it on the floor. I sat there screaming at the book, 'NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!' I couldn't believe that it could end like that, not after everything Jackson had been through. I understood why it did, but I still couldn't believe it.

The last few chapters are explosive and action packed. A Mission Impossible style ending that will leave you shocked to the core.

This book will make you think. It will make you look at your present relationship and wonder whether it would still have worked if you had met at a different time in your life. Would the person you love now be the same person if you had met them five years earlier? Would you love them as much or would they need time to grow into the person you love now? See it will make you think.

This really is an action packed, fast paced, thrilling read that will have you jumping all over the time continuum.