Simon & Schuster is giving a temporary gift to Cassandra Clare’s fans: read the first 100 pages of Clockwork Angel for FREE!

It’s temporary, so go check it out ASAP – HERE!

Interview with Kaleb Nation by B. Marie

B.Marie: “In your bio on KalebNation.com, it is mentioned that you began writing as a child. What types of stories did your young mind come up with? How did you share these stories with others or did you keep them to yourself?”

Kaleb: My first story (the one I was forced to write by my mother, because back then I hated writing) was about a certain person named King Kaleb who rode in a submarine under the North Pole and met with aliens. After I finished it and realized just how much I enjoyed writing (after all, in my stories I could be King all I wanted) I wrote mostly science fiction before moving to fantasy for a while, then finally years later starting on Bran Hambric. I shared them with my siblings by printing them up in little booklets.

B.Marie: “Do you share any similarities with your character Bran Hambric or do you consider yourself to be a complete opposite?”

Kaleb: I actually think Bran has a lot in common with me, but only in indirectly similar ways. For example he likes to draw, I like to write. We also talk similarly. I’m not sure how it happens, but I think almost every character an author writes will always have a piece of them in it.

B.Marie: “I know writers have little things they do, eat, or listen to while writing to help them focus or draw in inspiration. What are some crazy things you do or have around while going through the writing process?”

Kaleb: When I write, I’m always listening to a movie soundtrack, usually something by Thomas Newman or Harry Gregson-Williams. And when I’m having a particularly hard time concentrating I chew on Eclipse mints, because they’re crunchy. Then I found out you’re not supposed to have more than three or four of those a day or you get stomachaches. But at least it’s better than the energy drinks I was addicted to while I wrote the second Bran Hambric book!

B.Marie:: “How is Chilla doing?”

Kaleb: She’s doing very well. She’s getting much fatter. Right now she is sleeping beside her food bowl. This could be a big reason she is getting fatter.

B.Marie: “Are there any moments in Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse that didn’t make it into the book that you wish did?”

Kaleb: There was one scene in the first Bran Hambric book (The Farfield Curse) when Bran goes to see Larak the Baker. It had been in the book since the beginning, and had to be taken out. Luckily I got it into the second book in a shorter form. Also, much of the first chapter was cut out, with Trolan, Ben and Mr. Brewer talking about the Wilomases. That was one of my favorites, but it had to go.

B.Marie: “I have to say you have been busy this year in 2010. Do you have a favorite moment so far from this year?”

Kaleb: Vidcon 2010 in Los Angeles was easily one of the best times of my life. I can’t even explain it. A conference entirely made up of Youtubers like me? I think I met all my idols in a single day.

B.Marie: “The next book in the Bran Hambric series, The Specter Key is scheduled to come out this Fall. Can you give us 3 words from the book? Or 3 words to describe the book and what to expect?”

Kaleb: Hello, Bran’s father.

I suppose that works? Three words that could speak for the book in a way. The plot thickens in this one. You get to see more of what’s been going on in the background through The Farfield Curse. Plus, how to disarm a gnome trap.

B.Marie: “There is a section on the BranHambric.com website called, “Alvondir” where the readers can learn how to read and write magical words or phrases just like in the book. There is a process and a formula to be followed; how long did this take you to figure out? I saw in one of your videos “On Finishing a Book [PART 1]”, the original chart (or what I assume to be the original chart) in a note book. Was it a trial and error sort of thing or did it just naturally come to you? I admit to have been playing around with this; it sure is a lot of fun.”

Kaleb: I was sitting outside with a pen and notebook and randomly came up with the system. It wasn’t hard for me, because I had been using a similar code for some time (what teenager doesn’t write things they don’t want their parents/friends reading?). I wanted something that looked like gibberish, but if you knew the code, it would be extremely easy to read in a line what the magic words meant. Now I can read lines and lines of Alvondir without skipping, because it’s easy to rearrange in your head.

B.Marie:: “You once created a “In 2009, I Will” video where you talked about all the things you would do. If you were to create a “In 2011, I Will” video, what would be some of the things you hope to accomplish?”

Kaleb: In 2011, I want to be on the bestseller list, at least for a week. That’s one of the things on my list of dreams.

B.Marie: “Last question (or challenge, really), please decipher the following using the Alvondir system. “Werito Meoro Binra Hicambri!”

Kaleb: Write more Bran Hambric!

5 “Fun Facts” about Kaleb Nation!

1) Until last year on my book tour, I had never eaten Indian food. Now Chicken Tikka Masala is one of my favorite dishes.

2) I buy Eclipse mints by the half-dozen so I don’t run out.

3) Authors get free copies of their books when they go to print. I have so many, they’re in piles against the wall.

4) The homepage on my computer is Yahoo.com.

5) I do not like Klondike bars.

(I have a video with a list of strange facts about me going up in a few weeks, after I hit 50,000 subscribers. I got some of these from that list, which is why they’re so random )

Check out Kaleb’s Youtube Channel by clicking here!

You can get more information about the Bran Hambric novels by clicking here!

Be sure to keep an eye out for Bran Hambric: The Specter Key coming soon on 10/10/10!

Follow Kaleb on Twitter! @KalebNation

I just wanted to Thank Kaleb again for his time, it was really fun interviewing him! <3

-B. Marie-

Where She Went is the sequel to If I Stay by Gayle Forman.
This new story is set 3 years after the events in If I Stay and it’s focus in the main character, Mia, and her life amongst the living as she meets up with her former boyfriend, Adam, for the first time in years.

Title is set to be released April 5, 2011.

[Source: Ew Shelf]

If you don’t want any spoilers before your Mockingjay reading, we advise you not to watch this video.

Suzanne Collins reads Chapter 1 of Mockingjay.

Photo credit is Vania Stoyanova

Interview with Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl with B. Marie

B.Marie: “How did the two of you come to be friends and then partners in crime for The Caster Chronicles?”

Kami: I was Margie’s oldest daughter’s third grade teacher. We both love books, and found ourselves talking books all the time, which led to lots of hanging out & drinking Diet Coke.

B.Marie: “Okay Margaret, on your website bio it mentioned you “designed and wrote for lots of video games”. I love video games and love you even more after finding out that you had named one of your beloved beagles after my favorite video game of all time, “Zelda”. Do you yourself currently play any video games? Is there a game right now that you can’t get enough of or is there one that has caught your eye?”

Margie: Right now, it’s more of a family thing. I never get sick of Rock Band, though I stink at the drums. We just got Starcraft 2, which hopefully will take over from Angry Birds. 17 and 15 have been busy with Assassin’s Creed. 9 is all about Little Big Planet.

B.Marie: “Kami, your turn. Again, after stealing a peak at your bio on the website in the last sentence on the page you said “you love disaster movies”, let me just say we are kindred spirits (to quote Anne of Green Gables) for I too love disaster movies, especially when the world is coming to an end (strange, I know). What is a favorite disaster movie of yours? Is there one out there that you never tire of watching?”

Kami: My favorite is The Day After Tomorrow & I literally cannot turn it off if it comes on.  I’ve seen in it at least 20 times.

B.Marie: “Kami and Margaret, in your Author Video (which can be found here), it was mentioned that the two of you spent an “excessive” amount of time in the graveyards. I remember when I was younger my cousins and I had a strange experience in one. Have either of you had a similar experience? Something that was eerie happen while IN a graveyard?”

Kami: My family is from the South, so ghosts and graveyards aren’t that creepy or exotic.  Personally, I love graveyards because they represent love and memories – the act of remembering the people we love and marking a place for them in this world after they’re gone.

Margie: I haven’t had a creepy experience in a graveyard, but visiting Faulkner’s home in Oxford, Mississippi was equally bizarre. We got the feeling that house was not too happy to be visited. My sister-in-law even has the blur of light on the film to show for it.

B.Marie: “This one is for both of you. In Beautiful Creatures, your character Lena wears a “charm” necklace with all kinds of little trinkets on it. If you were to wear a similar necklace, what sort of trinkets would we find hanging on it?”

Kami: I have several charm necklaces, but I won’t cheat.  I would definitely have some kind of medal for good luck, but it wouldn’t be a rabbit’s foot—dyed animal parts are not good luck.  An old silver ring I wore in high school.  A piece of my great-gramma’s handkerchief.  The best fortune cookie fortune I ever got, in a little glass bottle.  Bluestone to ward off evil spirits.

Margie: A charm of the Arc du Triomphe, the place where I was when I found out our book became a bestseller in the US. Something from Heidenheim, Germany, where I was when I found out the book was becoming a movie. Something from each of the places I’ve lived and loved: Amherst, Palo Alto, New Haven, Park City, Sun Valley, Santa Monica, Otranto – Italy, New York, Norwich – England.

B.Marie: “You have a playlist for both Ethan and Link on your website (which you can listen to here). I have to say I downloaded some of those songs to my iPod and am jamming to them now. What would be some tunes we would hear on YOUR personal playlist?”

Kami: OUTSHINED — Soundgarden, RUNNING TO STAND STILL — U2, PICTURES OF YOU– The Cure, ICKY THUMP – The White Stripes, THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE – The Smiths, SYMPTOM OF THE UNIVERSE – Black Sabbath, WISH YOU WERE HERE – Pink Floyd, BACK IN BLACK – AC/DC, SIMPLE MAN – Lynyrd Skynard, SWEET CHILD O’ MINE – GUNS N ROSES, SOULSHINE– The Allman Brothers, LANDSLIDE – Stevie Nicks, MAGIC MAN – HEART, FADE TO BLACK – Metallica

Margie: The soundtrack to Spring Awakening, which I write to. Every song that has ever been on Glee. Kate Nash. Ingrid Michaelson. Regina Spektor. Vampire Weekend. Death Cab for Cutie.

B.Marie: “Beautiful Creatures has been nominated on the Teen Reads Awards for Best New Writer. Congratulations! What was your initial reaction to hearing about this!? Don’t know about you lovely ladies but there was a lot of jumping up and down on my part when I found out, and I am just a fan!”

Kami: We’re surprised every time something like that happens – and incredibly grateful. We never wrote BEAUTIFUL CREATURES with the intent of publishing it. We wrote it on a dare from Margie’s oldest daughter & my students. We wrote it for them. When it came out, I was just hoping my parents and friends would buy it.

Margie: I was so flattered, especially for the category of Best New Writer. I hope our improbable story inspires other people to just sit down and write, if they have something to say.

B.Marie: “Bringing us back to your author video one final time. I believe it was Kami who mentioned that graveyards are a way to see that someone was loved and is remembered. How would the two of you like to be remembered in the future by not only your loved ones but by the readers (who love you also)?”

Kami: I would like to be remembered as a person with a fierce love of reading, who was determined to help people find the book that would help them fall in love with reading. Beyond that – a good mother, a loyal friend, an advocate for the underdog or Outcaster, a dedicated Black Sabbath & Diet Coke fan, straight shooter, and hopefully a decent writer.

Margie: I would just be happy to be remembered. I’ve saved three small colored glass bottles that sat in my grandmother’s window. I have three daughters, and if each one of them can just bottle up a few memories of me, I’d be content with that.

B.Marie: “Beautiful Darkness comes out October 12^th of this year. Is there anything you can tell the readers about BD and what to expect? (Can’t wait to get my copy come October!)”

Kami: It’s darker. The stakes are higher. And whatever you think is going to happen… probably won’t. Be prepared for some twists and turns.

Margie: My daughters prefer BD to BC. I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for our first book, but I’m curious to find out what our readers think.

B.Marie: “Last question, are there any books either one of you have recently picked up and simply could not put down?”

Kami: Melissa Marr’s RADIANT SHADOWS, Holly Black’s WHITE CAT, SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley, and MATCHED by Ally Condie.

Margie: All of the above, and Cassie Clare’s CLOCKWORK ANGEL, Sarah Rees Brennan’s THE DEMON’S COVENANT, and Carrie Ryan’s DEAD- TOSSED WAVES.  And the terrifying, forthcoming sequel to BAD GIRLS DON’T DIE by Katie Alender – FROM BAD TO CURSED.

5 “Fun Facts” about Kami & Margie!

Kami:

I don’t like birds or flan.

I would never walk over a grave or plot, in a cemetery.

Most people know I love Black Sabbath, but I also love Neil Diamond.

I know how to get out of the trunk of a car.

My favorite shows of all time were: Magnum PI, Fame, The A-Team & Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Margie:

I think Veronica Mars is better than Nancy Drew.

Joss Whedon may not be god, but he is the creator of most of the universes I care about.

I’m a hard core Gleek.

I listen to Spring Awakening compulsively when I work.

My kids are fencers and I travel all around the world with them to tournaments.

You can find out more about Kami & Margie and their books BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS (in stores October 12^th) at:

www.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com

The Official US Fansite:

www.castergirls.com

Thank you again ladies for your time! <3

The fans were ecstatic today when Cassandra Clare announced , during her live chat with Simon&Schuster, that her phenomenal Mortal Instruments will be a six book series.

City of Fallen Angels is coming out 03/05/2011, and the two other titles will be: City of Lost Souls (Spring 2012) and City of Heavenly Fire (Fall 2013).

The new books will have Jace, Clary, Simon and most of the same characters known in the series, plus a few other minor ones.

We’re eagerly waiting for the official cover of City of Fallen Angels (you see the teaser one in this post). We’ll be posting it as soon as it comes out.

Clockwork Angel Tour Dates & Excerpt

Yes. These were posted last month but I thought I would post them again.

Especially since Cassandra will be in New York City TOMORROW night and she released an excerpt today of Clockwork Angel!

Click HERE to read the Excerpt!

Times and Details for Signing:

Wednesday August 04, 2010 7:00 PM

Barnes and Noble
Union Square
33 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003,
212-253-0810

Also, Cassandra will be having a LIVE chat tomorrow evening at 5:00pm (EST) for those who can’t make it to NYC!

Attendees will be able to submit questions and participate in a chat! There will be a sweepstake and Cassandra will be making some announcements!

You can CLICK HERE to visit the Simon and Schuster Ustream site!

]]> http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/08/03/clockwork-angel-tour-dates-and-excerpt/feed/ 0 http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/08/03/white-cat-by-holly-black-review/ http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/08/03/white-cat-by-holly-black-review/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:29:53 +0000 Jenni http://lifeaftertwilight.net/?p=2017 WHITE CAT (CURSE WORKERS, BOOK 1)
BY: HOLLY BLACK
LEVEL: YOUNG ADULT
PAGES: 320 PAGESPUBLISHER: MARGARET K. MCELDERRY

SUMMARY
Cassel comes from a family of curse workers — people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn’t got the magic touch, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail — he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago. Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen. Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love — or death — and your dreams might be more real than your memories.

MY REVIEW

I really liked this book. It may have taken me awhile to get through, but I was definitely swept up by this story. It was so creative and fascinating. Holly Black has created a wonderful and fascinating world in this book with all these very cool abilities that the people have. I found this book to be a psychological and creative astounding story. The clever “crook” thought process that was involved in elaborate detail for some of the events and things that occured in this story was absolutely mind blowing. It was quite a thriller. I liked the adventure, and the irony of the book. where, it takes a crook to stop crooks and save the day kinda deal. This was a exceptional and classy story.

Characters: I really liked the main character Cassel, he was a very sincere and caring guy. He was the youngest and he came across as a tad bit of a weakling but his devotion to care and concern for Lila was quite beautiful. Lila was such a great female character, and I love her strength and personality. I really really loved Lila’s and Cassel’s relationship. I’m a gushy romance person, so I totally wanted Holly to develop that but that’s not what the story was about anyways. Holly Black really brought out a very frustrating hatred toward the crooked and evilness of Cassel’s brother’s and Anton, which makes for a amazing author to rise such emotions and reactions that she could in this book.

Writing: This is the first story of Holly Black’s that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, although she’s come highly recommended for a long time now. I can only describe her writing as brilliant in this book, Ms. Black definitely knows how to develop a story and capture the audience. I found it fascinating of her to write in the perspective of a male. The writing style was just right and perfect for this story. She is a highly talented and skilled writing master to have managed to pull off such an ingenious and inventive tale in this book, and I’m totally excited about her Curse Workers book 2, titled Red Glove.

Rating 41/2 Out Of 5 Stars

Review By

Red Glove (Curse Workers Book 2) due out April 5, 2010. (PreOrder)

Visit the author’s Official Webpage at http://www.blackholly.com/
Visit the author’s LiveJournal at http://blackholly.livejournal.com/
Follow Holly Black on Twitter
Order White Cat on Amazon

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]]> http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/07/27/07-27-10-life-after-twilight/feed/ 0 http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/07/22/city-of-glass-paperback/ http://lifeaftertwilight.net/2010/07/22/city-of-glass-paperback/#comments Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:39:59 +0000 Livia http://lifeaftertwilight.net/?p=1997

Cassandra Clare has been saving a lot of goodies for the release of City of Glass paperback version.

The edition comes out  August 3rd and contains acclaimed bonus chapters in it: a full chapter from City of Fallen Angels and a chapter from Clockwork Angel.

[Source: Author's Facebook]