Walker Undercover Reads Event - 27th November 2010

Just over a week ago I was very excited to be invited to visit the Walker offices to find out more about their Undercover campaign and learn about some of the young adult titles they will be releasing next year.  I really love getting to see what books publishers have in store for us & I have to say after looking at the selection Walker are publishing I'm even more excited about 2011 than I was before - I think it's going to be a really exciting year for YA!

I met up with Lynsey (from Narratively Speaking) before the event and we managed to find the Walker offices quite easily where we were joined by Liz (My Favorite Books), Lauren (I Was A Teenage Book Geek) and Becky (The Bookette).  We were greeted by Sean, Ruth and Rebecca from Walker who had arranged an array of drinks and snacks for us to nibble on throughout the presentation.  We were all very excited to find a lovely goodie bag waiting on our chairs for us & I'm slightly embarrassed to say how excited we all were to find a Walker teddy inside it! 

The team had a great presentation lined up for us and I'm really looking forward to reading all of the books they mentioned.  They have a wide selection of titles so I'm sure there will be something to appeal to everyone.  Here is a slide show of the books we got to talk about:

Long Reach - Peter Cocks (Publishing 3rd Jan 2011):
This is Peter Cocks' debut novel although he is also the co-writer of the Triskellion series that was written with Mark Billingham and published under the pseudonym Will Peterson.  Long Reach is a gritty crime thriller set in present day East End London and is the first book in a new series starring character Eddie Savage.  Eddie is a character that girls will love and boys will want to be and I'm really looking forward to reading the first installment of his story.  We got to see the (not quite finished) film trailer which I have to say could easily have been a trailer for a new TV drama and the feel of the story definitely made me think of Martina Cole for young adults.  We have been assured we'll be sent links for the trailer as soon as it's finished so I'll post it as soon as I can - it has the author and several Walker staff members acting in it which I thought was a great idea.

Walker are actually adding a code on the back of quite a few of their newest releases so that if you pick up the book in a shop & scan the code with an iPhone (or other smart phone) you'll be taken straight to the book trailer.  I hadn't seen these codes before but I think it's such a fab idea and I'm sure it is one that will end up becoming very popular with publishers.  I love the idea of being able to use this to help me decide what books to pick up when I'm book shopping.

Flip - Martyn Bedford (Publishing 7th March 2011):
This is a psychological thriller about a boy called Alex who wakes up one day in a different body.  He has to work out how this happened and try to find his way back into his own body but it sounds like there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.  This is a YA debut by a UK author who has already published several adult books and it sounds very different from anything else I've read before so I'm looking forward to reading it.

Clockwork Angel - Cassandra Clare (Publishing 7th March 2011):
Although Clockwork Angel has already been published in the UK as a trade paperback it is being released as a regular paperback in March.  I still haven't read Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series (although I own the first 2 books) but I've heard a lot of great things about the series from other bloggers so I really must get around to reading them.  Clockwork Angel is the first book in the Infernal Devices series and I've been assured that although it is in the same world as the Mortal Instruments series it is a separate series and can be read first.  I haven't actually tried much steampunk but it's a genre I've been wanting to read more of for a long time so I'm looking forward to trying this one & I really like the fact that it is set in Victorian England.  I didn't realise that the first Mortal Instruments book is going to be made into a movie, in fact they start filming next year so hopefully that means we won't have too long to wait before we can see it at the cinema.  We also found out that there are going to be another 3 books in the Mortal Instruments series so it looks like I really do need to get a move on & start reading the series!

Blood on my Hands - Todd Strasser (Publishing 4th April 2011):
This is a new thriller from a prolific US author who has already written approximately 20 YA books (although I'm ashamed to say I haven't read any of them yet).  It is a pacey read that was described as Gossip Girls meets James Patterson which was more than enough to get me interested!  The main character is found kneeling over a dead body holding a bloody knife in her hand and has to set about proving her innocence and finding the real killer.  Sounds good doesn't it?

Pride and Premiership - Michelle Gayle (Publishing 2nd May 2011):
Those of you in the UK will probably recognise the name Michelle Gayle as an actress and a singer but this is her debut novel.  I have to confess I'm usually sceptical when it comes to famous people publishing novels as I tend to think they don't actually do most of the writing (yes it is a prejudice I have & I'm trying to overcome it lol) however we have been assured that Michelle Gayle wrote the whole book herself.  When I saw the title, cover and heard that it is a story about a main character who's only goal in life is to become a WAG I have to confess I instantly decided that this book isn't one for me.  I'm not a big fan of the WAG culture and had absolutely no intention of reading the book but I found that my opinion was completely changed as I listened to the Walker presentation. 

We were shown a clip from a video of Michelle talking about Pride and Premiership (I've included the full video below as I found it really interesting) and explaining her motivation for writing the story.  The name is a play on Pride and Prejudice for a reason - in much the same way that in Jane Austin's time women had to marry a wealthy man to find their fortune a lot of young girls today think that bagging a footballer and becoming a WAG is a way for them to live a life of luxury.  However the main difference now is that women don't need a man to find their fortune, we can become rich and successful in our own right.  I'm really pleased I had a chance to find out more about this one because there is just no way I would have picked up the book before but now I'm really keen to read it.  Walker have some interesting things planned for the launch of this one (including releasing it on mobile phones before the paperback is published and extra content throughout the book using the smart phone codes I mentioned earlier) so keep an eye out on the Pride and Premiership website for more information.


Michelle Gayle talks about Pride and Premiership from Walker Books on Vimeo.

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick (Publishing August 2011):
Girl Parts is a debut novel already published in the US and one I've been looking forward to reading for a while.  The story is about a boy who is given a robot by his parents to help teach him how to interact with people.  Charlie finds himself attracted to Rose (the robot) but if he tries to make a move too quickly he ends up getting an electric shock.  It sounds like a fun read and I'm sure I'll enjoy it.

Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet (Publishing 6th June 2011):
This is a semi biographical story set during the Cuban missile crisis and is a literary coming of age story.  You follow the main character through his experiences of first love told in flashbacks and it sounds like it will be an interesting read.  Mal Peet is an award winning author who has written several books for young adults and although this doesn't sound like my usual read I'm curious enough to give it a try.

We had a bit of a break at this point for lunch while we were waiting for the mystery author to arrive.  The Walker team served up a lovely spread of sandwiches and refreshed drinks and then we were introduced to the lovely Zoe Mariott who had braved the snow to travel all the way from Grimsby to London to meet us and talk about her latest novel that is being released next year.  Zoe arrived with her editor Annalise and it was a pleasure to meet her, she is such a bubbly lady and her stories had us all laughing out loud. 

Me, Liz, Zoe, Becky & Lynsey

Zoe has already had 2 books released - Swan Kingdom & Daughter of the Flames both of which come highly recommended by Liz (I've already ordered my copies from Amazon & can't wait for them to arrive - damn the snow for delaying all my deliveries!).

Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott (Publishing 4th July 2011):
It was really interesting listening to Zoe talk about Shadows on the Moon and I have to say it is probably the book I'm most looking forward to reading in 2011 so I was very excited to find out we had been given an ARC (which Zoe very kindly signed for us).  In Zoe's words Shadows on the Moon is a cross between Memoirs of a Geisha, Cinderella and The Count of Monte Cristo and it sounds like a fascinating read.  It is a fantasy fairytale set in feudal Japan with magic and is about transformation, revenge and hatred.  Although it is dark in places it is also a story about love - love for friends and family and a love that is powerful enough to bring you back to yourself when you thought you were lost forever.  Although the book hasn't been released yet it has already won a Japanese award for promoting understanding between Japan and the UK (unfortunately I missed the name of the actual award) and it sounds like an amazing read.  Although Shadows on the Moon is a fantasy novel we have been told that Zoe is very good at writing romance and first love and even non fantasy fans will still enjoy that aspect of the story.

Zoe very kindly gave all of us an envelope with some promotional material for Shadows on the Moon including a beautiful miniature fan that is scented with cherry blossoms and really set the mood to talk about the book.  I'm planning on sitting with the fan when I read the story to add to the reading experience!  If you like the sound of Shadows on the Moon you might want to head over to Zoe's blog where she is currently holding a giveaway with a chance to win one of three ARCS.

I didn't seem to take many pictures at the event but here is a slide show with a few of the ones I did take:

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Sean, Ruth, Rebecca and Annalie at Walker for arranging the event and talking about their plans for next years releases.  Thanks also for the advanced copies you gave us - I can't wait to read them all!  I'd also like to say a special thank you to Zoe for making the effort to travel all that way to meet us - I hope the journey home wasn't too bad for you!

Who was there:

Sean, Ruth, Rebecca and Annalie from Walker - website

Zoe Marriott - website / blog

Lynsey - Narratively Speaking

Liz - My Favorite Books

Lauren - I Was A Teenage Book Geek - Event Report

Becky - The Bookette

Atom Blogger Party - 9th November 2010

I can't tell you how excited I was to be invited to the Little, Brown offices for an Atom blogger party to find out about the books they have coming out in the first half of 2011.  Being a massive paranormal fan Little, Brown publish some of my favorite books under their Atom & Orbit imprints so I couldn't wait to see what they have planned for us to read in the new year.

I had arranged to meet up with Sammee (I Want To Read That) before the event so we got together for lunch and some book shopping in the Piccadilly Waterstones before heading to the Little, Brown offices.  We gave ourselves plenty of time just in case we got lost but luckily Rose had given us fool proof directions and we arrived without any problems.  I have to say their offices are in a very impressive building that I'm sure has a great view over the Thames (I didn't think of peeking out of the windows while I was there).  Reception is in a huge atrium and after signing in and being issued with passes security let us through to the glass elevators.  I have to confess I was relieved we only had to go to the second floor because I'm scared of heights!

Some of Atom's current releases

Once at the offices we were met by Rose, Sam, Kate, Gina and Kirsteen and shown into the boardroom where an impressive array of books and cupcakes had been arranged on the massive table.  We were handed champagne and had time to mingle while we waited for everyone to arrive.  It was lovely to see some other bloggers I already knew - Jo (Once Upon A Bookcase), Liz and Sarah (My Favorite Books) but it was also nice to get a chance to meet other bloggers too (see the bottom of this post for a list of everyone who was there).  Some I recognised as soon as I heard their blog names but others I'm looking forward to getting to know better in the future.

Close up of the delicious Nightshade & Atomics cupcakes

The Atom Team: Gina, Kirsteen, Sam, Rose & Kate

(Sorry the picture is so dark but I took it during the presentation when we had mood lighting to give us a better view of the screen)

When everyone arrived and we'd all found seats (along with a fab goodie bag each that may just have caused a few excited squeals!) the Atom team gave a presentation telling us all about some of the new releases we can look forward to in the new year.  The team were very enthusiastic about their new titles & let me just say I can see why - they have some VERY exciting things coming up!  I know I'm looking forward to reading them all.

Here is a slide show showing some of the books we got to talk about:

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer
This is the first book in the Witches' War series and is released in the UK on 28th December.  I've already seen a lot of hype about this book on US blogs and have been dying to get my hands on a copy - you can imagine my excitement to find a lovely shiny ARC in my goodie bag (I just about restrained myself from doing a happy dance right there in the boardroom but was close to making a fool of myself!).  Andrea Cremer is a Professor in Medieval History and Nightshade is her debut novel.  We've been told that the story is exciting, informed, pacey and has a strong Buffy style kick ass heroine - what's not to love about that!

Awakened - P.C. & Kristen Cast
This is the 8th installment in the House of Night series which I have to confess is a series that I'm badly behind reading.  I read & loved the first 5 books way back before I started blogging but have been meaning to re-read them so I can review them here.  I was very excited to be able to pick up copies of the few books I was missing and am going to need to do a House of Night marathon reading session so I can get caught up in time for Awakened.  Apparently P.C. Cast will be visiting the UK in January so I'm really hoping there will be an opportunity to meet her, I'll definitely be going to a signing if I can.

Bloody Valentine - Melissa de la Cruz
This is a new romantic novella in the Blue Bloods series and will be released in January.  This is a series I've been wanting to pick up and read for a long time so I was very excited when Rose said I could take a set home with me.  I can't wait to dig in & catch up with the rest of you!

Invincible - Sherrilyn Kenyon
I'm a massive fan of Sherrilyn's adult Dark Hunters series so have been looking forward to trying her new young adult spin off series The Chronicles of Nick.  Invincible is the second book in the new series and will be released in February.  I still haven't read the first book (Infinity) but I did manage to pick a copy up yesterday so am planning on reading it very soon.

The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide - Stephanie Meyer
Released on the 12th April the Illustrated Guide will be full of all sorts of new Twilight material including character profiles, pictures by the illustrator of the Twilight graphic novel and an interview with Stephanie Meyer.   Atom have confirmed that despite the rumors Stephanie Meyer IS writing the illustrated guide & I'm sure I'm not the only Twilight fan who is looking forward to reading it.

Halo - Alexandra Adornetto
This is another book I've heard a lot about on international blogs and am already looking forward to reading.  I absolutely love the cover too which is so pretty.  Alexandra Adornetto was just 14 when Halo was published in Australia and when Halo was released in the US it hit number 4 on the NY Times list - pretty impressive!

Red Riding Hood - Sarah Blackley-Cartwright & Catherine Hardwicke
I'm really curious about this one, it is a sexy retelling of the fairytale and is being made into a film by Warner Brothers directed by Catherine Hardwicke (director of Twilight).  The book is being written alongside the film and they will be released together in the spring.  It will be interesting to see how much they have changed the original story.

Rosebush - Michele Jaffe
This is Atom's first non-paranormal release and it sounds great.  A dark mystery where the main character wakes up in hospital after a hit and run car accident.  As she starts regaining her memory she realises that the story her friends have told her doesn't quite add up and it looks like they are covering for someone.  But who was behind the accident and does she have any friends left that she can trust?  This won't be released until March so I'm very happy that we got given an ARC, I'm sure I'll enjoy this one.

Pretty Little Liars - Sara Shepard
This series is already available in the UK but Atom are re-printing the books with tie in covers for the TV series.  I've heard a lot of good things about these books and the TV series but I've not read / watched any of them yet.  After hearing everyone rave about them I'll really have to give them a try.

I Know What You Did Last Summer - Lois Duncan
Like a lot of people I've seen the film but I've never actually read the book.  Originally released in the 90's Atom are re-releasing 3 of Lois Duncan's books (I Know What You Did Last Summer, Don't Look Behind You and Killing Mr Griffin) in March, April and May 2011.  The books have all been updated by the author to make them more modern so I quite like the idea of getting copies of the originals & the new versions and reading them both so I can make a comparisson!  Apparently the book is quite different to the film and deals with some interesting issues so I'll definitely be adding it to my wish list and giving it a try.

The Ghoul Next Door - Lisi Harrison
This is book 2 in the Monster High series and I have to say it sounds like a really fun read.  The main character Frankie is Frankenstein's granddaughter and the book has all kinds of supernatural characters from vampires, mummies and werewolves all the way through to mermaids.  I've picked up a copy of the first book so keep an eye out for my review.  This series is a join US and UK project with Mattel toy company producing tie in toys.  Check out this fab doll based on one of the characters Draculaura (Dracula's daughter).  My inner child is begging me to go out and buy one, it's the kind of thing I would have loved when I was younger (I still do if I'm honest hehe)!

Draculaura from Monster High

The team also showed us a clip from the Monster High music video which has a really catchy song and dance moves.  We have been told that Rose can't hear anyone mention Monster High without doing the dance & having now watched the video I can understand why!  I had to include the video for you:

The Gathering - Kelley Armstrong
This is the first book in Kelley's Darkest Rising series, a new spin off series set in the same world as her popular Darkest Powers YA trilogy.  Atom are re releasing the Darkest Powers trilogy (that were previously published under a different imprint) and we can look forward to The Gathering in April.  I've not read any of Kelley's YA books but I'm a massive fan of her adult Women of the Otherworld series so am really looking forward to reading her YA books.  For more information you can check out the new Darkest Powers website

The Game - Krystyna Kuhn
This is another first for Atom and is actually a translation project of a series that has been published in Germany.  The book is aimed at both boys and girls and is about a brother and sister who move to a new school in a remote village in the Rocky Mountains.  After finding a body within their fist week at school they soon discover that the school is not all it seems.  I really liked the sound of this one & the great news is that we're only going to have to wait 9 months between each release in the series.

Chasers - James Phelan
Chasers is the first book in a new dystopian trilogy and will be followed by Survivor and Quarantine with the 3 books releasing in June, August and October respectively.  The story starts on a school trip in New York, when an explosion rocks the subway carriage they are travelling in Jesse and his 3 friends crawl out of the wreckage to find things have gone badly wrong.  The only other survivors have been infected with a virus turning them into zombies.  With a strong I Am Legend feel I think I'm going to really enjoy this series and it is another one that I think will be popular with both boys and girls.  The Atom team happened to mention that they all have a slight crush on James Phelan so of course I had to track down a picture, now I've seen him I can see what they were talking about!  This picture was found on James Phelan's website

James Phelan

One Seriously Messed-up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite - Tom Clempson
I think this has to be the winner of the longest book title I've ever seen award!  I have to say that this book sounded hilarious and I'm definitely going to be getting myself a copy.  It was described as a modern Adrian Mole and Louise Rennison for boys so I think it's safe to say it will be a fun read and it sounds very different to anything currently on the market, especially anything aimed at male teen readers.

Wolfsbane - Andrea Cremer
I was very excited to find out the sequel to Nightshade will be available in the UK in July.  The cover picture in the slide show above is actually the US cover as the UK one hasn't been confirmed yet but hopefully we won't have to wait too long to see it.  I'm really looking forward to this series!

So what do you think of the new releases we have to look forward to next year?  Are you as excited about them all as I am?  I think 2011 is going to be a fantastic year for books!

We were also given some information about an exciting new program that Atom will be releasing within the next few weeks.  They will be adding a section to their website aimed at getting more young adults reading and also to encourage the next generation of bloggers.  They will be giving out free books to a limited number of under 18's each month and encouraging them to discuss the books and write reviews on the website.  The program is called The Atomics and I just wish I was young enough to join myself!  If you know any under 18's that you think would like to take part keep an eye out for more information on the Atom website.  Atom will be sending out a press release soon so I will post more details as soon as I have them.

I didn't get many pictures of the bloggers who attended but here are a few shots I took as we sat around the table for the presentation:

After the presentation finished we had a chance to mingle in the Little, Brown library before it was time to go home.  It was great to get to chat to some of the other bloggers (I'm sorry I didn't speak to you all but the time just seemed to fly by, hopefully I'll see you all again at future events!).  All of the information in this post has come from my notes and my not-so-reliable memory so if you were at the event and you spot anything that is incorrect or if I've got any of your blog links wrong please let me know & I'll change them.

I'd like to say a massive thank you to all of the staff at Atom & Little, Brown for hosting the event.  It was so lovely to meet you all and I really enjoyed finding out about the books you have coming soon.  Thanks also for letting us loose on the pile of books on the table (believe me there weren't many left by the time we'd all finished!).

Who was there:

Rose, Sam, Kate, Gina & Kirsteen from Atom - website - Event Report

Sammee - I Want To Read That

Jo - Once Upon A Bookcase - Event Report

Liz & Sarah - My Favorite Books

Ana - The Book Smugglers

Lynsey - Words and Pieces - Event Report

Karen - Reading Teenage Fiction - Event Report

Rhys - Thirst for Fiction - Event Report

Amanda - Floor to Ceiling Books - Event Report

Matthew - Teen Librarian

Andy - Pewter Wolf - Event Report

OUP Celebration of Dark Fiction Halloween Event - 27th October 2010

I was thrilled to be invited to the OUP Celebration of dark fiction and have been looking forward to this event ever since I first found out about it.  I was looking forward to the readings by Joss Stirling, William Hussey and Rhiannon Lassiter - I hadn't read anything by these authors but had heard great things about all of them.  Thanks to Jennie at OUP who sent me a copy of Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide which I actually started reading on the train to London for the event!

One of my favorite things about blogging has been getting the opportunity to meet not only some fabulous authors but also some amazing bloggers.  It's so nice to chat to others who are as passionate about books as I am and it's great fun to meet up with them before / after events to catch up on all the latest news.  Sammee (I Want To Read That) and I decided to make a day of the event so although it didn't start until 7pm we met up at Waterloo train station at lunch time.  We'd arranged to meet Becky (The Bookette) at about 3pm so that left us with plenty of time to have a look around Piccadilly Waterstones, if you've read any of my other event reports you'll probably have guessed by now how much I love that store!  I think we've both added quite a few books to our wish list but I was impressed with our willpower and the fact that neither of us actually brought anything.

We had arranged to meet Becky outside Holborn tube station and the 3 of us ended up spending a couple of hours sitting in Starbucks chatting away about books.  I think I could happily chat with the others forever and the time literally flew by before Becky had to leave to go to her writing class.  Sammee & I headed over to Tottenham Court Road tube station where we were meeting up with Caroline (Portrait of a Woman) for dinner before the event (Becky was meeting us at the event after her class finished).  Sammee & I had time for a quick stop in the Holborn Waterstones before we left & I'm still not quite sure I believe this but we both managed to resist buying for a second time!  I did to a little shopping on Oxford Street though when we were scouting out the event location while we waited for Caroline to arrive (nothing book related but I did buy a very cool pair of fingerless gloves & a fab backpack!).

Caroline had to fight the commuter traffic to get to us but luckily we had time for a quick dinner in McDonald's before heading to The House of St Barnabas where we met up with Lauren (I Was A Teenage Book Geek) Lyndsey (Heaven, Hell and Purgatory) outside before going in.  It was so nice to finally meet Lyndsey, we've been chatting on Twitter for ages so it already felt like I knew her but it was lovely to meet face to face.

We were let into the building by a doorman who had to tick us all off on his list (luckily we were all on there!) and then a really friendly member of staff from OUP (I'm so sorry I didn't catch her name!) showed us to the cloak room where we could leave our coats and bags and we made our way to the room where the event was being held.  I have to say what a beautiful building it was, I'd love to go back there and explore a bit with my camera.  A lot of people had already arrived but we were greeted with drinks and found a nice spot to sit ready for the readings.

Lauren, me, Sammee, Caroline & Lyndsey

The lovely Joss Stirling, who we found out is actually Julia Golding (I'm going to have to check out some of her other books!) came and sat with us for a while.  She was so friendly and genuinely seemed interested in finding out about our blogs and how we find the time to run them.  Unfortunately it was quite loud in there so I did struggle to hear some of the things she was saying but we were all very excited when she happily signed our copies of Finding Sky for us.  We also got to meet author Victoria Connelly (author of A Weekend with Mr Darcy which is another book that has been added to my wish list!) who came and sat with us and Joss. 

Victoria Connelly & Joss Stirling

At about 8pm it was time for the author readings and first up was William Hussey who was reading from the beginning of the second book in his trilogy Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight which will be released in January 2011.  I'm currently reading the first book Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide and I can definitely attest that it's perfect Halloween reading material!  William attended the event with his demon familiar (a giant spider) who spent the evening sitting on his shoulder.  He told us a little about the main character in the series Jake who is a proud geek with dark hair who thinks he is funny (just like William - and those are his words not mine!).  Jake is obsessed with horror stories which is probably a good thing as it comes in useful when he finds out that demons, witches and monsters are real and that he'll have to fight them.

William Hussey reading from Witchfinder: Gallows at Twilight

After listening to the reading I'm definitely very excited about getting my hands on Gallows at Twilight which includes trolls, skin walkers, time travel, civil war zombies and is at least partly set in a monster hotel! Sounds like a fun read doesn't it?  The reading was fab but not for the faint hearted or squeamish, all I'm going to say about that is read the book and wait until you get to the part about the witches' stew and something that looks like sausages!  William also mentioned an infamous line about a shopping bag that he was only just allowed to include in the final version of the story and I'm just about dying of curiosity to find out why.  I was interested to discover that William has previously published 2 adult horror books Through a Glass, Darkly and The Absence and I think I'm going to have to get my hands on copies of both of these.

Rhiannon Lassiter reading from Ghost of a Chance

The next author reading was by Rhiannon Lassiter who was reading from her newest book Ghost of a Chance that will be available in January 2011.  Rhiannon is the daughter of famous author Mary Hoffman (who also attended the event but I didn't get to speak to) and had her first book published before her 19th birthday.  She has written 13 books for children and young adults so I'm going to have to make sure I get hold of some of those to read.  Ghost of a Chance is set in a large (and creepy) stately home owned by a family who can't afford the upkeep.  The family have opened the house to tourists to raise money and are thinking of starting offering ghost walks.  Eva lives in the house with her Grandfather but there are apparently lots of unpleasant family members who visit regularly. 

Rhiannon read from chapter 4 which is titled Invisible Girl and we got to follow Eva down into the cold, dark cellar where she finds an array of torture devices that have been collected by the Chance family through the generations.  The story was incredibly creepy and I have a feeling it will be one I'll be reading while peeping out from behind a cushion but I'm definitely looking forward to it!

Joss Stirling reading from Finding Sky

Last but by no means least was the reading by Joss Stirling from her book Finding Sky.  Joss is well known as Julia Golding but she wanted to indulge in her English love for the Gothic with Finding Sky and is using a different name as this book is aimed at an older audience.  Before the reading Joss talked about her road trip across America and how she was inspired by the Rocky Mountains, she did admit to hating Las Vegas though.  I've not yet read Finding Sky but it is high on my to read pile and I'm very much looking forward to getting stuck into it.  Her main characters all have the gift of ESP (something I love to read about) but they have to pay a price for their gifts.  Each character has a soul mate who was born at the same time as they were but may be anywhere in the world and could be impossible to find.

The reading was a snippet from Sky's second date with Zed which was suitably set on Halloween and included a misunderstanding between them and some trick or treaters which had the audience laughing out loud.  Joss talked about the theme of the book being how gifts can backfire and it shows how people can use or abuse the powers they have been given.  I'm definitely planning on reading this book soon so keep an eye out for my review

William Hussey

I didn't have much time to mingle after the event as Sammee & I were both worried about the possibility of missing our trains home but I did get to have a quick chat with William Hussey and get my copy of Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide signed.  I think I may have embarrassed myself just a little bit when I confessed how squeamish I am but told William that I'm a big girl now & I can take it (please someone remember to chaperone me at future author events and stop me opening my big mouth LOL).  I also got to talk to lovely blogger and aspiring author Natalie (The Writer Side of Life) and I said a brief hello to Liz (My Favorite Books) but unfortunately didn't have time to chat with her properly - hopefully next time Liz!

Here is a slide show with a few more pictures from the event, I'm sorry I didn't manage to get better pictures of the authors during the readings but I didn't have a great view from where we were sitting.

I'd like to say a massive thank you to all of the staff at OUP who worked hard to make this such a great event.  I'm sure I can speak for all of us when I say what an amazing time we had and I really enjoyed listening to all of the author readings.  Thank you also for the lovely goodie bags, I've been enjoying the sample chapters and was thrilled to be able to get my copy of Finding Sky signed by Joss!  Jennie it was lovely to meet you, even if it was only for a brief hello as we left to catch our trains.

Who was there:

Oxford University Press - website

Joss Stirling - website - Joss' Event Report

William Hussey - website

Rhiannon Lassiter - website

Victoria Connelly - website - Victoria's Event Report

Sammee - I Want To Read That

Becky - The Bookette

Caroline - Portrait of a Woman

Lauren - I Was A Teenage Book Geek

Lyndsey - Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

Liz, Sarah & Mark - My Favorite Books - Liz's Event Report

Natalie - The Writer Side of Life - Natalie's Event Report

RHCB Bloggers Meet Lauren Kate Event - 18th October 2010

Lauren Kate (centre) with the lovely RHCB publicists Lauren (left) & Becky (right)

Last week I was lucky enough to be one of the bloggers invited by RHCB to meet up with Lauren Kate, author of the popular YA books Fallen & Torment.  It was an event I've been looking forward to since I read Fallen earlier this year and I'd like to say a massive thank you to RHCB for arranging the meet up for us.

The event was at a pub called The Angelic in Islington and I was planning on meeting up with Lynsey (Narratively Speaking) beforehand for a little book shopping but I woke up late and missed the train I was aiming for.  I wasn't too worried because I thought the event started at 2:30pm and that I had plenty of time but when I arrived at about 12:45 I realised I'd got the time wrong & it had already started!  Luckily I wasn't too late and there were a couple of people who arrived after I did.

It was lovely to get the chance to meet Lauren Kate, she seemed a little shy (I guess us enthusiastic bloggers can probably be a little overwhelming) but was lovely and friendly.  We had all brought stacks of books with us which Lauren very kindly signed, it was probably good practise for her as I know she had lots of signings coming up throughout the week.

Lynsey pumping Lauren for spoilers!

We were all keen to try and get some information about the 3rd book in the Fallen Series (Passion) but Lauren managed to keep her secrets close to her chest.  She did say that the story picks up right after the ending of Torment which I'm relieved about as I'd heard that Passion was going to be a prequel to Fallen and I really need to know what is going to happen next! 

Lynsey, me, Lauren Kate, Carly, Becky, Jo & Lauren

I was very excited to find out that Fallen has been optioned by Disney and I think Lauren said the movie is due to be released in 2012.  Lauren told us that she will be consulting on the film and has met the team who will be producing it but she wasn't sure how much say she would have when it comes to making any decisions.  I'd never really thought about who I'd like to play the characters in a film but there were some great suggestions made as we chatted about it.  I wish I'd thought to write the names down while I was there as I could only remember a couple of them by the time I got home.

I think Lauren's choice for Daniel is Ed Westwick (who plays Chuck in Gossip Girls) and that the studio would like Liam Hemsworth.  I apologise if I've got that wrong (please feel free to correct me in the comments if you were there & I'll edit this post!) but they were definitely 2 names that came up as suggestions for Daniel.  I have to confess I've never seen Gossip Girls and I'm useless when it comes to names so I couldn't picture either of these actors when we were talking but here are a couple of pictures I found on Google:

Ed Westwick

Liam Hemsworth

If you've read Fallen or Torment what do you think of either of them as Daniel?  I don't think either of them are quite how I'd pictured him but I have to say I think they could both be good!  Who would your pick be for Daniel or any of the other cast members?  I wish I could remember people's suggestions for Luce & Cam!  Please don't think that either of the above actors have been cast - I'm sure that no decisions have been made yet - we were just talking about ideas :o)  I'm looking forward to seeing the cast list when it has been finalised though & I can't wait to see the film.  I think we should try and arrange a bloggers trip to see the film (wonder if we could get tickets to the London premier?? Yes, I know that's wishful thinking but it's fun to dream LOL).

Becky, Jo, Lauren & Carly

Lauren Kate and Lauren & Becky from RHCB had to leave at 2:30pm to head to another event but I'd like to thank them all for arranging the meet up.  We all had a great time & it was lovely to get a chance to chat with Lauren!  I'm so relieved I got there "early" or I'd have ended up missing the whole thing (I'm going to be so careful double & triple checking times for any future events!!!)

Becky, Lynsey, Lauren & Jo posing with an Angel wing sculpture near Angel tube station

It was also great to get to spend some time with some of my blogging friends.  One of the best things by far about book blogging has been getting to make some wonderful new friends who are part of the blogging community.  I love getting together with them all & we always have so much to chat about :o)  Carly, Jo & Becky had to leave after the event but Lynsey, Lauren & I all headed back to Victoria station together and found a pub to sit in until it was time for Lynsey's bus home. 

Caroline

Caroline (Portrait of a Woman) came to meet Lauren & I for dinner after she had finished work and we had a lovely meal at Garfunkels together.  It was a shame that Caroline couldn't make it to the event but I'm glad we got to meet up afterwards.  The evening flew by and before we knew it it was 9pm and we all had to leave to make sure we didn't miss our last trains home!  I did get to give Caroline her surprise from the Jennifer Lynn Barnes event though - I think she was happy with her signed book & wolf pen :o)

Who was there:

Lauren - Lauren Kate
Lauren - RHCB
Becky - RHCB 

Lynsey - Narratively Speaking

Becky - The Bookette

Lauren - I Was A Teenage Book Geek

Jo - Once Upon A Bookcase & Ink and Paper

Carly - Writing From The Tub
Caroline - Portrait of a Woman

Quercus Blogger Party with Jennifer Lynn Barnes - 4th October 2010

The fabulous Jennifer Lynn Barnes

When I first heard about the Artwork my ARC tour of Raised by Wolves that was arranged by Parul from Quercus and Lynsey (Narratively Speaking & UK Book Tours) I couldn't wait to take part.  I really loved Raised by Wolves (you can read my review here) so the idea of getting to meet Jen was too good to resist.  The idea behind the tour was that we would all get to make notes, draw pictures & generally decorate an ARC of the book that would then be presented to Jennifer Lynn Barnes at a party during her UK tour.  I'd like to say a massive thanks to both Parul & Lynsey for all the effort they went to organising the tour and the event - it was such a fun idea and I'd love to take part in something similar again! 

I know Lynsey was getting quite stressed worrying about getting the book back in time to present to Jen so we arranged to meet up early on the day of the event for lunch & so I could add my notes.  I ended up getting to London really early so as Lynsey was delayed I spent a couple of hours sitting at a coffee shop in Waterloo station.  I'd planned on drawing some pictures in the book but since I had time to kill I drew them on paper instead so I could stick them in the book before the presentation.  I ended up keeping a few other travellers amused while they sat drinking their coffees watching me doodling.  I'd printed off quite a few pictures from google to help give me ideas & here are the pictures I came up with:

Because of strikes on the underground we'd come to London prepared to have a nightmare travelling around but luckily the only tube line we needed was still open.  We had agreed to meet Jenny (Wondrous Reads) at Euston station so we could all figure out the bus to the event together but as we had plenty of time Lynsey & I decided to have a look around Waterstone's in Piccadilly first.  We managed to get a tube to Leicester Square & then had to walk to Piccadilly but luckily with the help of a couple of passersby we managed to find it quite easily.  We happily spent ages wandering around the YA books (they have such a huge selection to choose from!) and then completely lost track of the time after getting chatting to a lovely member of staff (Hey Nicole!!) who was an absolute expert about all things YA. 

By the time we'd dragged ourselves away from Waterstone's and made it to Euston Station we were very late meeting up with Jenny (I'm so sorry Jenny!!) but at least we found her in the end.  I have to say it was so lovely to finally get a chance to meet Jenny, I've been following her blog ever since I started blogging but hadn't had a chance to meet her before now.  We just about had time to grab some food and for Jenny & I to make quick notes in the book before we had to leave for the event.  I didn't have quite enough time to add everything I wanted to but at least I had already prepared my pictures to stick in.

I don't think any of us had ever needed to navigate London by bus before so we were all a bit nervous that we wouldn't know when to get off the bus but luckily Parul had given us fantastic directions & we found Truckles bar really easily.  It was a lovely surprise to find that Lauren (I Was A Teenage Book Geek) was at the event, I hadn't seen Lauren for ages so it was good to have a chance to catch up.  It was so disappointing that Caroline (Portrait of a Woman) couldn't make it though - we can blame that one on the tube strike!  I did manage to get her a special pressie though, so I'm looking forward to seeing her soon to give it to her.  When we arrived we were greeted by Parul and given drinks & these fabulous Raised by Wolves cupcakes

Aren't they cute?!

We also got given these lovely carved wooden wolf pens (& yes one of the ones I'm holding in this picture might just be for a halloween giveaway I'm planning for the end of the month along with a signed copy of Raised by Wolves)

Me, Jen & Lynsey

After spending some time chatting with Jen (who is absolutely lovely by the way) and getting to meet some of the staff from Quercus it was time for speeches and for Lynsey to present Jen with the ARC we'd all doodled in.  It was great fun listening to Jen talking about Raised by Wolves, she got inspiration for Brynn from growing up as the only girl hanging around with her older brother & his friends so she knows exactly what it's like to be the younger, smaller girl who the boys want to protect.  Having a degree in cognitive science and spending time studying primates has also come in handy when it comes to writing about a werewolf pack.

Lynsey & Jen after the presentation

After the presentation Jen was happy to spend time chatting to us bloggers and signing all of the books we'd brought with us.  She really is so sweet and I'm amazed at how much she has achieved at such a young age - she wrote the first draft of Golden in just 3 weeks when she was only 19 years old and it was sold to a publisher just before her 21st birthday.  I don't know where Jen found the time to write & publish 7 novels while studying for her degree but it is obvious from talking to her that she is very passionate about both her writing and science so she works hard to fit it all in.  We did manage to get a few hints about Trial by Fire (the sequel to Raised by Wolves) and I was very excited to find out that she is currently in talks with her US publisher about writing a 3rd book in the series.  We won't know if this is going to happen for at least a couple of months but I for one am keeping my fingers crossed!

Another fun Jen fact for you - she is the only person I know who reads books in the shower (yes the shower!), she has perfected the art of holding the book with one hand and still being able to turn the pages while using her other hand to wash with.  I'd never heard of anyone doing that before but Jen assured us that Sarah Rees Brennan does the same so perhaps it's an author thing!

Me & Jen

The picture above shows Jen and me with a werewolf picture I'd made for her with encaustic wax.  I have to confess I'm very new to encaustic art so it isn't a fantastic picture but I had fun trying to create it - it's amazing what you can do with coloured wax and a travel iron!

Lauren, Lynsey, Jen, Jenny & me

I'd like to say a huge thank you to Jen for being so lovely and answering so many of our questions.  I can't wait to get my hands on Trial by Fire (is it 2011 yet???) and I'm really hoping you get to write a third book in the series!  I'm definitely planning on ordering Jen's previous books too (hopefully we'll get them publised in the UK soon).  Thanks again to Parul and all of the staff at Quercus who went out of their way to be so welcoming to us bloggers - we had a fantastic time :o)

Here is a slideshow of some more of the pictures I took that evening:

Who was there:

Jen - Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Parul - Quercus

Lynsey - Narratively Speaking

Jenny - Wondrous Reads

Lauren - I Was A Teenage Book Geek - Lauren's Event Report