Don't miss Courtney Sheinmel tonight

Just to remind you that Courtney Sheinmel will be at Kepler's tonight at 6.30 with singing sensation, Jessarae. Courtney is one of the nicest authors you will meet so don't miss this opportunity to hear her talk about her newest book, Positively.

Firelight - a Twilight parody

Did you see this? A Twilight parody with Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live. Hilarious!

Trailer Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

-Grab your current read.

-Open to a random page.

-Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.

-BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

-Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

And this week I'm reading Fallen by Lauren Kate.

And here's my teaser:

"I could swear we've met before," she said. "Am I crazy?"

"Crazy? Isn't that why you're here?" he said, brushing her off.

"I'm serious."

"So am I." Daniel's face was blank. "And for the record" - he pointed up at the blinking device attached to the ceiling - "the reds do monitor for stalkers."

Have I tempted you with that teaser?

Publishers Weekly Best Children's/YA Fiction for 2009

Did you read that Publishers Weekly just announced their list of best children's/Ya fiction for 2009? How many have you read from this list and what would you add/delete?

Wintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson

Going Bovine
Libba Bray

Fire
Kristin Cashore

Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins

If I Stay
Gayle Forman

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate
Jacqueline Kelly

Purple Heart
Patricia McCormick

The Ask and the Answer
Patrick Ness

A Season of Gifts
Richard Peck

When You Reach Me
Rebecca Stead

Shiver
Maggie Stiefvater

Marcelo in the Real World
Francisco X. Stork

Tales from Outer Suburbia
Shaun Tan

Lips Touch: Three Times
Laini Taylor, illus. by Jim Di Bartolo

The Uninvited
Tim Wynne-Jones

I would have added Hush, Hush. Of course I would. And Dust of 100 Dogs. But I haven't read them all so can't suggest which to switch...

Eoin Colfer

Well, I talked and talked about Eoin Colfer before he arrived at Kepler's but I was still blown away when he visited us last week to talk about And Another Thing...He's charming, a wonderful storyteller, and so very, very funny. I'm smitten, I admit it! One of the very best author presentations I've had the good fortune to attend - like going to a very good comedy club - and I just want to say that you should make the time to go and hear him wherever and whenever he talks. He's that amusing.

So Don’t Panic - but Arthur Dent is hitchhiking through the galaxy again. Eoin Colfer has written a 6th novel in the ever-more increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy on the 30th anniversary of publication of the first book in the late, great Douglas Adams’ phenomenally successful series. It was one of the funniest books ever published.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, triggered by the destruction of Earth to make way for a hyperspace expressway, has 15 million copies in print, has been heard on radio, seen on TV, enjoyed on the big screen, adapted for the stage, spawned several computer games, - there was even a musical version. And it has many many fans.

And now, in an effort to achieve enlightenment through the pursuit of towels, liberty, and a nice cup of tea, Eoin Colfer explained how be has brought the eternal pessimist Arthur Dent, his alien best friend Ford Prefect, and everyone’s favorite renegade Galactic President Zaphod Beelbebrox back for another adventure along with a pantheon of unemployed gods, a lovestruck green alien, an irritating computer, and at least one very large slab of cheese.

Eoin told us how The Hitchhikers Guide sat on his Golden Shelf - along with his Kate Bush and Pink Floyd LPs - his favorite things from his teenage life along with the first Highlander film. And how the series made him realize science fiction did not have to be serious. Here was an author who managed to write fantastic books that were also funny - very funny - full of one liners and witty parody. They were unlike anything else.

Eoin talked about how excited and nervous he was when asked to write this 6th edition of the series (and how he initially said no because he didn't think it should be done). He talked about the fans (and facebook groups) who wrote to say how he really shouldn't be attempting to write it. But Douglas Adams' widow was a fan of his work and thought he could introduce the series to a younger audience. Apparently Douglas did leave notes but Eoin didn't use them because he wanted it to be HIS book. So he picked his favorite characters and then did something controversial with one of them (OK, yes I'll tell you, it's Zaphod).

Here he is talking about And Another Thing...:



And here, Eoin talks about Artemis Fowl:



Finally, I must talk about his chair. The egg chair (see photo) is being shipped from book shop to book shop on this tour. It's gorgeous, with cow cushions and magificent Hitchhiker art on the back. Eoin explained all that is significant about the chair and happily swirled around on it for enthusiastic fans.

But for all those fans who unhappily missed Eoin this time for whatever reason, we did video the entire presentation and I'll let you know as soon as it's posted.

And, for the record, And Another Thing is very funny. It keeps the spirit of Adams' work but is very much Colfer's. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie by Maggie Stiefvater - Review

I loved Lament and thus was eagerly awaiting the publication of the sequel, Ballad. And make no mistake; it is every bit as wonderful as Lament.

Do you remember James, Dee's talented musician friend? Of course you do - funny, quirky, in love with Dee - he was my favorite character in Lament. Ballad focuses on James as he follows Dee to a private conservatory for gifted musicians. It's not really a good choice for him as he's a piper and they have no real program for him but he wants to be near Dee, even though she doesn't reciprocate his feelings and doesn't have much to do with him once they get to school. She's still mourning Luke, seems changed, and despite the new setting, still sees the Fae.

Despite making new friends James is lonely, sad, and ultimately catches the attention of a faerie muse called Nuala who mentors and brings out the best in artists while feeding on their creativity, until they burn out and die. But this is James - charming and handsome, clever, funny but complicated, - and Nuala begins to fall in love with him as they compose music together. Did I mention that James hears songs of the dead at night and that Nuala ultimately has to decide where her allegiances lie?

When I say that I liked Ballad even more than Lament, can you now see why? James and Nuala both tell the story in alternating chapters - with a few text messages from Dee sprinkled here and there. I couldn't read quickly enough this beautifully written story of unrequited love, doomed romance, heartless Fae, and gorgeous music. Maggie is a wonderful writer and yes, I admit, I'm a fan. There's a haunting lyricism to her writing that just sucks me into the narrative and leaves me asking for just one more glimpse into this wonderful world she's created. Please.

Linger

I am so excited! Here's what Maggie Stiefvater (author of Lament, Ballad, and Shiver) - one of my very favorite YA authors - posted for her Teaser Tuesday on her live journal (click here to see for yourself). A copy of the cover of Linger (sequel to Shiver) and the first paragraph!

• Grace •

This is the story of a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one.

Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn’t cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend.

But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it’s only me who’s not firmly in my own skin.

I just can't wait! Thanks Maggie.

Swim the Fly by Don Calame - Review

Three friends, Matt, Sean, and Coop, have a tradition. Every summer since they were about eight they’ve set themselves a goal. Like building a clubhouse out of old boxes or playing a thousand ping pong games. This summer Coop decides that their goal should be to try to see a naked girl – in person.

And just to make life a little more complicated, Matt volunteers to swim the 100-yard butterfly to impress Kelly, the newest girl on their swim team. Oh – did I mention that Matt is not one of the better swimmers on the team and that he actually can’t even manage to swim one lap of butterfly? But he has all summer to practice – right? How hard can it be? Especially as he finds a new swim instructor who has a very unusual (sadistic) coaching style.

This is a laugh-out-loud, be-careful-where-you-read-it, kind of a book. It screams out for a movie version (Judd Apatow, can you hear me?). But I’d certainly give this a PG-13 label!