Rick Riordan

Are you a fan of the Percy Jackson series?

I was lucky enough to meet Rick Riordan on Saturday when he visited Kepler's to talk about The Last Olympian, the last volume in the Percy Jackson series. What a charming man. You should have seen the crowd - 600 easily! And apparently he's turning to the Egyptian gods next. Can't wait.

Richelle Mead

I was lucky enough to meet the lovely Richelle Mead yesterday at her book signing at Kepler's where she talked about her Vampire Academy series and the inspiration behind the series. Of course we all wanted to talk about Dimitri and the new book Blood Promise. But Richelle said that her publishers don't want her to talk about it yet (so I have a video languishing on my computer that I'm not able to share yet!)

Richelle had this with her - from a fan. Isn't it great?

Anyway, here's video of Richelle talking about her Vampire Academy series:


And here she is talking about the inspiration behind the books


And we have to wait until August for Blood Promise. August! AND they are changing the covers of the books (whew!)

Waiting for Wednesday

This meme is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and lets you know which books we are just desperate to get hold of.

This week, because I've just devoured and loved Shiver (review soon) I of course wanted to write about Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater - the book I now want to get my hands on more than anything else. Sigh.

Product description: In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Sigh. So hard to wait. What are you waiting for?

Teaser Tuesday - Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Teaser Tuesday is a new meme hosted By Jenn at Should be Reading.

Rules ARE:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12. You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
Please avoid spoilers!

As I moved about the moved about the kitchen, Grace shadowed me, her fingers finding my elbow and her palm brushing along my back, finding excuses to touch me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her staring unabashedly at me when she thought I wouldn't notice. It was as though I had never changed; as though I still gazed at her from the woods and she still sat on her tire swing and watched me with admiring eyes.

This book is SO good so far.

What do you think?

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead - A Review

I have a confession. I often don’t follow a series to its conclusion. So often I lose interest in a world or a collection of characters. But not this series as it seems to be getting better and better and is really one of the best vampire series around.

So what do you do when you start to see ghosts? Do you tell anyone? Your best friend? Your mentor and crush? Or do you wonder about your sanity. This is the predicament in which we find Rose – she starts to see Mason’s ghost. Then she finds out that Victor Dashkov is about to go on trial but she and Lissa are not invited to testify. The Guardians are being tested in the field and Rose and Lissa are split up. Only Adrian seems to suspect there is anything between her and Dimitri. Oh, and it appears Strigoi vampires and humans are teaming up to attack the Moroi. No wonder she’s seeing ghosts!

Trying not to include any spoilers in this review, I want to say that although I would never have wanted this ending, I’m so impressed that the author actually took the story where it had to go. The omens were there, seeds sown long ago, and you read the book shouting “NO!” It made me cry; of course it made me cry. It made me late for work. It broke my heart. Yet it also made me admire Ms Mead’s storytelling abilities and her very wonderful character, Rose, who is everything a heroine should be: strong, beautiful, loyal, tough, independent (hear that, Ms Meyer?) and can take anyone in a fight.

Do I really have to wait until August to read Blood Promise? Really?

And for anyone in the Bay Area who is reading this, don't forget that Richelle Mead is visiting Kepler's tomorrow, May 6th, at 4.00. Oh, I'm hoping she'll be dropping hints about Blood Promise...will let you know!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox lets you peek into the contents of my mailbox on a weekly basis and see what books I've acquired this week. This all started on the Story Siren's blog, and was inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie, two really great blogs you should check out.

And this week I was very very excited. Because the first book I got (and am nearly finished - already) was
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.
I loved loved loved Lament, interviewed Maggie soon after I finished Lament. And have been eagerly awaiting Ballad - and Shiver. So just couldn't wait to start (thank you Antonia)
Product description: For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

What can I say? So far, it's hard to put down, it's made me cry, and it's beautiful. Review to follow.

The Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
Already out in the UK it's due out in the US in September.
Product description: Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she would have to make sacrifices to be in the Knights Templar. Sacrifices like losing her mother to the Templar's ongoing battle against the Unholy; sacrifices like trading her childhood in for relentless training; sacrifices that keep her completely isolated from the world of a normal teen girl. Billi's lone wolf status is challenged when her childhood friend, Kay, returns from his psychic training in Jerusalem. Kay manages to stir things up quickly - he's gorgeous, arrogant, and wants slide right back into his old place in Billi's life. Billi is skeptical, but interested, until she meets Michael - an ethereally handsome guy who seems to understand her like no one before him, and effortlessly stakes a claim in her heart.

But in a moment of bravado, Kay uses the last of the Templar's treasures, King Solomon's cursed mirror, and drawing the attention of one of the most dangerous of the Templars' enemies-The Angel of Death. Only with the mirror can the dark angel unleash his full powers, and now that he's heard the call of the mirror, he'll stop at nothing to get it. To save London from catastrophe, Billi will have to make sacrifices greater than she'd ever imagined.

Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
From the back cover: This collection tells five tales of creatures who live and die by fire, tales of the present day and the prehistoric past; a tale of a confrontation in a haunted graveyard, and of the firespace where only dragons can survive, of a boy who is claimed by fire, of a young man who chases the fireworm through dark tunnels of dream, and of the long history of the Phoenix.

Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley
From the back cover: In Feyland, all fairies with born with unique magical abilities. Zaria, at 12, became one of the most powerful fairies ever. But she is earth-struck when sneaking through a secret doorway to the human world. But when she is seen her exposire puts all of Feyland at risk. And Zaria must then try to fix the mess she's made on earth. Will she use her new powers wisely?

All sound great. Must get back to Shiver!

AS King's Competiton

AS King, author of the very wonderful Dust of 100 Dogs, is hosting a competition on her blog. Click here for more details.

Challenge: Write a story (beginning, middle & end) that is 100 words or less.

Rule #1 = The story must begin with this line: "Janet didn't like him."

Rule #2 = The story must end with this line: "As the creature lifted into the dark sky, she could see it dangling from his talons." (No, your story does not have to include a monkey, as pictured to the left. Thinking outside the box is encouraged.)

BONUS ENTRIES: You can increase your chances of winning by posting about this contest on your blog or on your facebook page--or even on Twitter.

WINNING:
#1 - Best story gets a signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs and a VOG. (Very Odd Gift)
#2 - The runners up will then be tossed into a hat (with bonus point entries) and two more winners will be picked.

* First pick = A signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs and a VOG.
* Second pick = A VOG Care Package.

How to Enter: Leave you answer and an email address in the comment trail on her blog.

Deadline: Monday May 4th, 11:59pm EDT.* Tomorrow. So enter as soon as you can!

I loved this book.

Director chosen for Eclipse

After much speculation, David Slade (Hard Candy; 30 Days of Night) has just been chosen to direct the next movie in the Twilight series, Eclipse, scheduled for release on June 30, 2010.

And there’s an Internet rumor that Breaking Dawn has been greenlighted and will begin production in spring 2010 (though Summit Entertainment denies the report). I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of talk about this in the weeks to come. Click here for original article.