Personal Post: Theatre and Me

Photo by Gwen Ong on Unsplash.
So here is the first of hopefully many more personal posts for you to read to find out a little about me.

I am a huge fan of the theatre, and have been ever since I started Drama Club at Primary School. I was always very shy, and not particularly good at it, but there was nothing like the feeling of becoming someone else and performing - from playing Baby Face in my school's production of Bugsy Malone when I was 11, through to playing Madame Arcari in Blithe Spirit for A-Level at 17. I absolutely loved it. And although I wasn't the best at it, through learning the things I did, I found an even deeper appreciation of plays and the actors. Because of studying Drama at school through to A-Level, and a general love of the theatre, I have have been lucky enough to see quite a number of plays and musicals, and thought I'd share with you some of the ones I've seen, and what I thought of them.

Continue reading Personal Post: Theatre and Me

It's Not Personal, But Should it Be?

I have been thinking over the last few days about possibly making the blog a little more personal. Pretty much all of my posts are in someway related to books, and that's fine, that's what a book blog is mainly for. However, I've just been wondering whether or not my readers felt they knew me at all. You know I can get really gushy about books I love, and that I can be passionate about certain topics because of the themed months, but about me?

So I thought I'd ask you. Do you think you know me? Would you like to see an addition of personal posts, or keep it strictly book related? Are you not bothered either way? If you would like to see personal posts, what are the kind of things you'd like to see?

Also, while I'm here, what do you think of vlogs? I've finally worked out how to work my inbuilt webcam, and have been toying with the idea of vlogging IMM (and possibly event reports, because I just can't write them up. I can go on and on about them verbally, but writing doesn't seem to work for me). Would this appeal or not? And does anyone know of some good, reliable free video editing software I can download? Because I know I'll screw it up :) Thanks for your thoughts!

Continue reading It's Not Personal, But Should it Be?

Bookish News!

This week's bookish news!

News on the fourth novel in the Inheritance Cycle:

Random House Children’s Books announces final book in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle London (23rd March 2011) The fourth and final book in Christopher Paolini’s global bestseller Inheritance Cycle will be published this autumn. Following the number one bestselling novels Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr, the book will be called INHERITANCE. ‘The burning questions asked by fans around the world will be finally answered in this last instalment,’ said Christopher Paolini. ‘All will be revealed!’

INHERITANCE will be published in the UK on Tuesday 8th November 2011, simultaneously with the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, priced £18.99. It will also be available in ebook and audio editions.

Publication will be backed by a major marketing and publicity campaign, including cinema advertising, innovative and content-rich digital marketing activity, a book video trailer and media coverage.

All Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK, Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr have been international publishing sensations. The first three books have sold over 25 million copies worldwide, including more than 4 million copies in the UK and Export markets.

Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr will be reissued in paperback in the UK on 7th July with new cover designs that breathe new life into John Jude Palencar’s stunning artwork.

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Last Monday, Hodder & Stoughton held an event with Lauren Oliver to celebrate it's release (I was there, it was amazing!), and they made a video! Check it out...



You can also read event reports at The Crooked Shelf, Wondrous Reads, and Feeling Fictional.

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I found the following blog post over on Portrait of a Woman's Sunday Brunch, and thought it was just too cute! Date a Girl Who Reads. (In my opinion, I think it works for guys too!)

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Books to check out:

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler (released 1st April 2011) - Star basketball player Chelsea “Nitro” Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone’s admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family. As a graduation present, Chelsea’s dad springs for a three-week summer “boot camp” program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she’s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who’s haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain—or finally heal their heartbreak?

Karma by Cathy Ostlere (released on 31st March 2011) - It is 1984, and fifteen-year-old Maya is on her way to India with her father. She carries with her the ashes of her mother, who has recently committed suicide, and arrives in Delhi on the eve of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination - one of the bloodiest riots in the country's history. Then Maya is separated from her father and must rely upon the help of a mysterious, kindhearted boy, Sandeep, to safely reunite them. But as her love for Sandeep begins to blossom, Maya will have to face the truth about her painful adolescence . . . if she's ever to imagine her future. In this gorgeous, haunting portrait of love, loss, and growing up, Cathy Ostlere - in masterful strokes of verse - has created a simply unforgettable read. From Amazon US

Continue reading Bookish News!

Review: Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton

Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton (review copy) - Della’s over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party – but then she discovers her diary has disappeared...
When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della’s distraught – how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets? From Amazon UK

I have had this book sitting on my TBR pile for such a long time, and I really regret not picking it up sooner. Della Says: OMG! Is such a sweet novel!

It's completely believeable, it's a situation any teenager who keeps a diary would die over. You can't help but feel for Della when she realises her diary is gone and excerpts start appearing - especially considering the type of entries that show up. Not only are they personal, but they are likely to cause friction between her and the people in her life, because of things written in anger or changing situations. In some ways, it reminded me of Good Girls by Laura Ruby - although the plots are slightly different, they both involve humiliation through the sharing of things that should have be kept private through new technology. I had the same jaw-dropping reaction to both over how mean people can be.

Although it was pretty bad, I found that Della's relationship with Dan, and the sub-plot of her best friend Maddy's own relationship problems, to be what I was interested in most. Was Dan really genuine? What was Maddy going to do? I think this book really says something about relationships, how the most unlikely of relationships might not be as rocky as you'd assume, and how the strongest of relationships might not be as strong as you think.

There are funny moments, sad moments, and moments of extreme embarrassment, but what I love is the change that came over Della as the story progressed. From the unsure, self-concious girl, to the one who is a lot more confident, Della's story really is wonderful to read. My only negative is that I felt it ended quite abruptly, but overall it was a really sweet, lovely quick read. It would be great for summer reading!

Thanks to Keris Stainton and Orchard for sending me a review copy.



Published: 6th May 2010
Publisher: Orchard
Buy on Amazon US
Keris Stainton's website

Continue reading Review: Della Says: OMG! by Keris Stainton

Bookish News!

Bookish news this week!

YA author Kate Hart got number savvy and created some really interesting graphs on genre YA sales in the US. It really is fascinating! You can check them out here.

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Trailers:

Trash by Andy Mulligan (released in paperback 31st March 2011)



Trash by Andy Mulligan - Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it.

Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael’s world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It’s a bag of clues. It’s a bag of hope. It’s a bag that will change everything.

Soon Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat are running for their lives. Wanted by the police, it takes all their quick-thinking and fast-talking to stay ahead. As the net tightens, they uncover a dead man’s mission to put right a terrible wrong.

And now it's three street boys against the world... From Amazon UK

Shimmer by Alyson Noël (released in the US



Shimmer by Alyson Noël - Having solved the matter of the Radiant Boy, Riley, Buttercup, and Bodhi are enjoying a well-deserved vacation. When Riley comes across a vicious black dog, against Bodhi's advice, she decides to cross him over. While following the dog, she runs into a young ghost named Rebecca. Despite Rebecca's sweet appearance, Riley soon learns she's not at all what she seems. As the daughter of a former plantation owner, she is furious about being murdered during a slave revolt in 1733. Mired in her own anger, Rebecca is lashing out by keeping the ghosts who died along with her trapped in their worst memories. Can Riley help Rebecca forgive and forget without losing herself to her own nightmarish memories?

You can find out more about Shimmer, including audio excerpts and Riley's diary, here.

Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon (released in the US 22nd March 2011)



Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon - Nick Gautier?s day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul.

His new principal thinks he?s even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to things he can?t even mention and the girl he?s not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him.

But more than that, he?s being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn?t learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them...

You can check out an excerpt from the book here.

Flip by Martyn Bedford (released 3rd March)



Flip by Martyn Bedford - Fourteen-year-old Alex Gray wakes up one morning to discover he's not in his own bedroom. More surprising is that he doesn't recognize his hands, or his legs... When he looks in the mirror he gets the shock of his life! How is it possible that Alex has become another boy – a boy who everyone calls Philip? And how have six whole months passed overnight? A riveting psychological thriller by a brilliant new voice in children's books. From Amazon UK

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Acquisitions:

HarperCollins Children's Books has acquired a teen love story set in the midst of the horrors and heart-break of the Iraq war. A pre-emptive offer for world rights including film and translation was concluded with Carolyn Whitaker. A Brighter Fear, by debut author Kerry Drewery, is the first of a two book deal, set to be published in 2012.

A Brighter Fear is the story of Lina, a teenage girl who lives in Baghdad during the Iraq war. A love story for both a country and a person, this is a novel that shows love is worth fighting for, even if that person is the most dangerous choice imaginable…

A Brighter Fear was created through Kerry’s own fascination with the Iraq war. Kerry’s sensitive approach creates a beautiful, contemporary fairytale that will stay with teen readers for a lifetime.

Kerry has always had a passion for writing. She was a finalist in a BBC script writing competition in 2009 and is currently hugely involved with Bookstart. Kerry lives in Lincolnshire with her husband and children.

Nick Lake, Editorial Director, said: “Devastating and uplifting in equal measure, A Brighter Fear establishes Kerry as a really exciting new voice in teen fiction. Lina’s story, of impossible love and of bravery in the face of horror, seized hold of me from the first line. I’m sure I won’t be alone.”

Continue reading Bookish News!

Poetic Ponders (4)

Poetic Ponders is a feature run by the lovely Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time, where we share poems we love. As I'm a bit of a poem fan (when I understand them), I decided to join in!

This week, I'm sharing...

The Lady of Shallott by Tennyson
On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And thro' the field the road runs by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.

By the margin, willow veil'd,
Slide the heavy barges trail'd
By slow horses; and unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd
Skimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?

Only reapers, reaping early,
In among the bearded barley
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly;
Down to tower'd Camelot;
And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy
Lady of Shalott."

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

And moving through a mirror clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear.
There she sees the highway near
Winding down to Camelot;
There the river eddy whirls,
And there the surly village churls,
And the red cloaks of market girls
Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
An abbot on an ambling pad,
Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,
Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad
Goes by to tower'd Camelot;
And sometimes through the mirror blue
The knights come riding two and two.
She hath no loyal Knight and true,
The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often through the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, went to Camelot;
Or when the Moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed.
"I am half sick of shadows," said
The Lady of Shalott.

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flamed upon the brazen greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrily
As he rode down to Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his armor rung
Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,
As he rode down to Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, burning bright,
Moves over still Shalott.

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flashed into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces through the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.

In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining.
Heavily the low sky raining
Over tower'd Camelot;
Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat,
And around about the prow she wrote
The Lady of Shalott.

And down the river's dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance --
With a glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right --
The leaves upon her falling light --
Thro' the noises of the night,
She floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.

Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

Under tower and balcony,
By garden-wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
Dead-pale between the houses high,
Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came,
Knight and Burgher, Lord and Dame,
And around the prow they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.

Who is this? And what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."

A bit of a long one this week, but I really like it. I love that it's based on the Aruthian legend, but there are the fantasy elements too. And I absolutely adore the line "I am half sick of shadows". You can read an analysis here. Again, it's another poem that has inspired art, and here is The Lady of Shalott by William Holman Hunt - but there are so many! Google image "the lady of shallott" and feast your eyes on all the beautiful paintings!

Continue reading Poetic Ponders (4)

Bookish News!

This week's bookish news:

Cover reveals.

The US cover for Die For Me by Amy Plum has been changed to an edited version of the UK cover. Read Amy's thoughts here.



In the US, Nightshade by Andrea Cremer has had a cover change for the paperback release. Because of this, the hardback of Wolfsbane has had a cover change to match it. Read Andrea's thoughts here. (Sorry about image size, can't make any bigger.)





And the UK cover for Wolfsbane:



Finally, the cover for Crossed, the sequel to Matched by Ally Condie has also been released. Read Ally's thoughts here.



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Vicki of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory is organising a Northern UK Book Blogger Meet-Up. Anyone in the UK is welcome, but as most Northerners have trouble making it down to London, they're organising one up north. Check out the post and let Vicki know if you're interested!

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The wonderful Michelle of Fluttering Butterflies is bringing back her blog feature, Awesome Women. Michelle says, "On my blog previously, I'd always tried to maintain a regular feature highlighting amazing and inspiring women but after several (fascinating!) guest posts, the feature kind of fizzled out. I'm really going to do my best to keep it going this time, with Saturdays being dedicated to profiles of individual women, fictional characters and to mix things up, some interviews with some incredible bloggers/authors."

Her first post is about favourite authors from her childhood, and the second is an interview with the lovely Vivienne from Serendipity. Check them out! There shall be an interview with me at some point soon, too!


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Richelle Mead had adult urban fantasy author of the Jane True series, Nicole Peeler guest post on her blog to discuss how young is too young when it comes to reading books not considered YA. Really interesting post!

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Alyxandra Harvey will be coming over to the UK in May to promote her forthcoming novel, Haunting Violet. You can find out more details on the facebook page.

Here's a note from Alyxandra about the book, and after that, a video of Alyxandra talking about the novel at her own haunted house in Canada.

Dear Reader

I love historical fantasy because I can lose myself in a world where Mr. Darcy might be just around the corner . . . or the ghost of a murdered girl out for revenge. It combines corsets and cravats with paranormal mysteries of every kind.
Haunting Violet takes place in Victorian England, during the 1870's, which was the pinnacle of the interest in mediums and séances. Talking to ghosts was all the rage in private parlours and public halls. The details of clothes and food and the popularity of séances are as accurate as I could make them to create a realistic backdrop for ghosts and spirit possession. But in the end people are people; we still just want to be happy. And 1870 or 2010, I love a girl who can kick butt . . . especially when wearing a corset. I hope you'll enjoy meeting Violet as she struggles to come to terms with her new gift for communicating with the dead . . . and as she chooses between a traditional safe life and an Irish pickpocket with a wicked grin.

Alyxandra Harvey





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Orion announce new YA imprint, Indigo:

The Orion Publishing Group is delighted to share the exciting news of the launch of INDIGO, the new imprint that will publish a wide variety of genres for teens and young adults by established authors and rising stars.

Launching in September 2011 INDIGO will publish four titles per month.

INDIGO will publish fiction for older teen readers focussing on the strengths of the publishing that currently sit on the popular and successful Gollancz and Orion Children's Books imprints.

A stellar list of authors will launch the new venture, becoming our first INDIGO authors: Mia James, Cinda Williams Chima, Harlan Coben, Kate Harrison, Holly Black, Marcus Sedgwick, Sara Grant, Sally Gardner, Chris Wooding, Anna Kendall, Cliff McNish, Sarah Silverwood, Alan Gibbons, James Dawson, Chloe Neill and Annabel Pitcher.

Read the press release for more info.


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Books to check out.

Jenna and Jonah's Fauxmance by Emily Frankland and Brendan Halpin (released 7th March 2011) - Teen TV celebrities Jenna and Jonah (real names, Charlie Tracker and Fielding Withers) make more money in a month than most people do in a lifetime. They can't stand to be in the same room as each other, but to boost the TV ratings their agents make them a 'real life' couple. Then the deception is uncovered by the paparazzi, and Charlie and Fielding have to disappear to weather the media storm. It's not until they're far off the grid of the Hollywood circuit that they realise there's more to each of them than shiny hair and a winning smile. From Amazon UK

You can read an extract of the first chapter here. Find out more about Brendan Halpin on his website, Facebook page, and on Twitter @bhalpin, and find out more about Emily Franklin on her website.


The Fall by Anthony McGowan (released 1st Mat) - Mog and his mates are bored. Their school’s a dump – the type of place kids get expelled to. Their lives seem pointless – they spend their time at school messing around or going out thieving. The most exciting thing to do is to jump over the beck: the polluted stream at the back of the school. And it’s there that two separate events occur which will change Mog’s life forever… From the press release.

This is Anthony McGowan's first book for Barrington Stoke, a publisher for dyslexic and reluctant readers.

Continue reading Bookish News!

Authors for Japan Auction

We've all seen the devastating news and images of the catastrophic events in Japan. The awesome Keris Stainton, author of Della Says "OMG!" and Jessie Hearts NYC, is calling for help from authors and publishers to organise an auction, Authors for Japan.

I really don't know how many authors or publishers read book blogs, or how often, when it's not read a review, so I really don't know if this post is going to help that much at all, but if anyone who can help is reading, please check out Keris' blog post.

I think this is just a fantastic idea, and can really help a country in serious need, so if there is something you can offer, please do. And if you can bid, watch this space.

Thank you.

Continue reading Authors for Japan Auction

Discussion: The Book Effect

I was inspired by Read for READ's 2011 short story competition on the theme of "The Book Effect" to write something, but no good story ideas were coming to me. So, instead, I decided to write about a post on The Book Effect.

There is nothing quite like reading a book. Books are a fantastic form of escapism; they can transport from a world of the ordinary and mundane to a world where something exciting is happening, whatever the genre. They can make you laugh, they can make you cry. They can amaze you with the things they hold in their pages, and they can get you talking. They can take you to far away worlds on a spaceship, they can take you into the sewers of a city, they can take you into the lives of everyday people, and cause you to go through a number of emotions along the way.

I've also found books to be brilliant learning tools, and I'm not just talking about teaching kids to read. It's very rarely a day goes by when I'm reading when I don't have to look up a word in the dictionary, and end up increasing my vocabulary. But books can teach you so much more than just reading and words. You can learn about history, myths, religions, beliefs, human nature, politics... the list goes on. I remember instances of being "taught" a recipe, of learning music and movie trivia, of how ships used to be run, and aspects of espionage. There is a great wealth of knowledge incorporated into the most fantastical of fictional stories just waiting to be discovered.

I love the way a book can challenge you. They can force you into situations you never thought you'd be in, make you face an idea or an act, show you a different side to a story and ultimately (possibly) change your opinion, make you understand, or simply open your eyes. They can spark discussion over right and wrong, on the grey areas of a not so strictly black and white world, of morality and ethics. Books can also cause huge uproar among the book community when anyone suggests book banning for inappropriate content.

Books also have this incredible effect of seeming new and fresh even when you re-read them. A book you read when you were 15 may have a completely different story to tell when you're 25 and have lived life a little more and experienced more things. Without anything in the pages having changed, you can get something completely different from it just by being a little older. A book is the gift that keeps on giving.

How many people have overcome something, or at least felt a little better about something due to a book dealing with something they can relate to? Books are a great way of showing people that they're not alone in bad situations, that there are other people out there who understand, and people who can help - and that, ultimately, things can get better.

And finally - though I'm sure there are many other things I could discuss - books bring people together. You have no idea how grateful I am for the wonderful friends I have found through books because of book blogging. Like minded people who understand my squeeing and will squee with me, who will discuss the issues raised, who will drool over that hot fictional character as well, who are also moved or amazed by the wonderful things our talented, talented authors write. I am so glad to know the people I do, either in real life or just online. It's not something I thought would happen, but I'm so glad it has!

So that's what "the book effect" is to me. Never underestimate the power of a book. Books are not just for Christmas, but for everyone. Any time. For life. For ever.

Opinions/thoughts please!

Continue reading Discussion: The Book Effect

Discussion: How Fast Do You Read?

I am in huge awe of my 15-year-old cousin. She's a hugely avid reader. Now I know what you're all thinking, to be a book blogger, surely I'm an avid reader? And I am. But my cousin is avid! She can come and visit my family for a weekend - just a weekend - and will bring about 3-4 books with her. Those books will go with her everywhere. To the shops, to a cafe, to the pub (I owuld like to state here that she doesn't drink at the pub - the adults drink, and so she reads while we're all making fools of ourselves). Depending on the books, she can read most if not all of them while visiting - and we're not talking small little books here; she'll have at least one, sometimes two Harry Potter novels, the brick sized ones. And she'll finish them, on top of everything else we do, normal everyday things. And I envy her.

Me? On a really, really good day, I can read about one book in a day, but that's if it's a book that hooks me in from the very beginning and refuses to let me go. It happened with Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and I believe it happened with Fallen by Lauren Kate too. But my average is probably around 3-4 days, even if I'm really enjoying a book, sometimes longer. And if I'm not enjoying a book, then it can take even longer, but that's a different story. Yet there are bloggers I follow who can spit out reviews like there's no tomorrow and their life depends on it - and these aren't scheduled reviews, but write-them-as-soon-as-I've-finished reviews, and there are ALWAYS new reviews. I know this isn't a competition, and I'm not thinking of it as such, but I sooo wish I read quicker! Let's face it, I'm going to die one day, and I'd quite like to fit in as many books as possible before that happens, so reading faster would be helpful. But I'm just terribly slow, and it winds me right up! I'm never going to speed read, because I absolutely cannot read by skimming text. I can't do it for one thing, I just have to read every word to know what's going on, and I hate the idea of skipping parts, it seems sacriligious to me.

So how fast do you read? How many books can you read in a week? Does anyone else struggle with slow reading? Please tell me I'm not alone!

Continue reading Discussion: How Fast Do You Read?

New Twitter Account

I've been following too many people on Twitter lately, but it would take me FOREVER to unfollow everyone, so I've created a new Twitter account. Instead of following me at @Jo_Scrawls, which will be deleted, you can now follow me at @Jo_Stapley. I'd appreciate it, if you want to follow me, to switch the new account. Thank you! :)

Continue reading New Twitter Account

Winners of the Limited London Edition Long Reach by Peter Cocks Contest

It's time to announce the winners of the Limited London Edition of Long Reach by Peter Cocks. Thanks to everyone who entered. Randomizer.org has done it's thing, and the winners are:

Andrew & Siobhan!
Congratulations to you both! I have notified you both by email. I will send your details on to my contact at Walker, who will be sending you your prize.

To those who didn't win, better luck next time!

Continue reading Winners of the Limited London Edition Long Reach by Peter Cocks Contest

Interview with Photographer Josefine Jönsson

Remember when the cover for Entangled by Cat Clarke was revealed? Remember how everyone reacted to how beautiful it was? Well, I was lucky enough to interview the strikingly beautiful photographer AND cover model for Entangled and Forgotten by Cat Patrick, Josefine Jönsson!

N.B. All photos used in this post are copyrighted to Josefine Jönsson and used with her permission.

Thank you so much, Josefine, for letting me interview you! I absolutely love your photos! Can you tell us a little about yourself and your photography?Thank you, very glad you like them!

I started photographing in the beginning of 2006, back then my very best friend Harriet used to model for me. This was also when my love for photography first started and by then I was ever so eager to experiment with different lights, locations and models. I learned a lot by taking self-portraits, this way I could test new things that I wasn’t ready to test on other models. If I failed I could just throw the photos away and make it better next time. But taking self-photography is a great way of letting your creativity flow and that is what I like the most by modelling myself.

Basically what I’d like to express with my photography are my dreams and memories, doing this by scouting locations I find timeless, as well as creating my own characters. I do find my self-photography a lot more different than my other work with models, as I take my self-portraits for myself rather than to anyone else. I guess that is why they’re filled with more emotions than my other work.

Not only did you take the photos for the covers of Entangled by Cat Clarke and Forgotten by Cat Patrick, you are also the model. Is it difficult to take self-portraits?
I’ve been taking self-portraits for quite some time now, but now and then I find it quite hard. Sometimes they turn out how I like them to turn out, but other times they don’t. And finding the right angles sometimes is hard! Working with a remote sure make it easier, but sometimes the focus drives me insane. To achieve a certain emotion is easier when taking self-portraits as you know exactly what you want, but also a lot harder when you’ve have to do it all yourself!

Are you approached about using your photography for book covers or do you have to submit?

Being a member in a photo agency makes it easier for clients to find my work, but I’ve been approached personally also about selling my photos for covers.

When using an older photo rather than taking a new one for book covers, how do you decide which photo to use?

It is not usually me who decides which photo to be used. But it depends on the book, because sometimes I think my older work fits the cover better than my newer photos.What is the process from photo to book cover? Do you just take the photo, or are you involved in actually designing the covers?

Most of the time the clients see a photo they’d like to use, then it is a photo I’ve had on the agency or on my own website. But they can also request a shoot where they decide how the photo should look like. I am not involved with designing the photo, even if it would have been fun. But I guess it is for the better, I am not good with designing anyway.

Your photo _heartbeat II. had a few edits before making it to the cover of Forgotten, the most noticeable being the edits to your top. Why were the changes to the sleeves made?

Yes, actually I didn’t know this until I saw the cover. I have no idea why they decided to change the sleeves, but I guess they had good reasons for doing it. Personally I prefer it without the sleeves like the original, but it’s up to the designer to decide.

_heartbeat II.


You have also had photos used on the covers of The Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt and Kwetsbare Vrouwv (Willing Flesh in the UK) by Adam Creed. Out of the four covers that feature your photography, which is your favourite?

I really enjoy the cover of Entangled, which has also gotten the most feedback. But the cover for Mari Jungstedt is also a favourite of mine.


Click for larger views.

Outside of book covers, what can people expect from your photography? What do you hope they will see?

I always explain that I rather speak with my photography than with words, because this is how I express myself the best. And hopefully they will enjoy looking through my thoughts, dreams and memories resembled as photography.

_playing with fire.


_hearbeat III.


_autumn sleep II.


Who or what inspires you in your photography?

Dreams and tales inspire me a lot, also when seeing a certain location gives me several ideas, so nature sure inspires me a lot. A few photographers I am inspired by are Carl Bengtsson and Jimmy Backius.Are there any more book covers featuring your photography coming soon that we can look forward to?

Yes! There might be two, but one I am sure about, I believe it is in Dutch though!

Thank you, Josefine, for such a fascinating interview! Look at those beautiful photos! Oooh, I love them! You can see more of Josefine's photography on her website, her blog, or her deviantART page. I highly suggest you go check them out!

If you haven't yet, but the covers have piqued your interest, you can read my reviews of Entangled by Cat Clarke and Forgotten by Cat Patrick.

Continue reading Interview with Photographer Josefine Jönsson

Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost - WARNING! This is the fifth book in the Night Huntress series, and I cannot review it without spoiling the other books in the series. Do not read any further ff you plan on reading them and don't want them spoiled for you.

The highly anticipated continuation of Jeaniene Frost's New York Times and USA Today bestselling Night Huntress series, in which Cat and Bones face an enemy unlike any they've met before.

Danger waits on both sides of the grave.

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield and her vampire husband Bones have fought for their lives, as well as for their relationship. But just when they've triumphed over the latest battle, Cat's new and unexpected abilities threaten to upset a long-standing balance...

With the mysterious disappearance of vampires, rumors abound that a species war is brewing. A zealot is inciting tensions between the vampires and ghouls, and if these two powerful groups clash, innocent mortals could become collateral damage. Now Cat and Bones are forced to seek help from a dangerous "ally"--the ghoul queen of New Orleans herself. But the price of her assistance may prove more treacherous than even the threat of a supernatural war. ...to say nothing of the repercussions Cat never imagined. From Amazon US

Continue reading Review: This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Interview with Cat Patrick

Today I'm honoured to share with you an interview with the wonderful Cat Patrick, the debut author of Forgotten!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Oh boy...where to start? I drive a minivan and live in the suburbs but am still clinging to my youth with the help of black nail polish, white Converse and an obsession with writing about the incredibly complex and wonderful lives of fictional teenagers. I’m addicted to Starbucks, in love with Arcade Fire and nothing writing-wise without my baby name book (for characters), Thesaurus.com and my copy of National Geographic’s Brain: The Complete Mind.

Forgotten is such an exciting and unique novel. How did you come up with the idea for it?

Thank you! I’d always wanted to write a novel and was just waiting for the right story to tell. One morning, when my twin daughters were five months old, I was doing something in the kitchen when suddenly I forgot what I was doing...inconveniently right in the middle of doing it (so much so that I still can’t recall what it was). I thought to myself what a tragedy it would be to have amnesia, then I started thinking up scenarios where it would be especially difficult. Getting up with twins in the middle of the night...waking up with a stranger...GOING TO HIGH SCHOOL! Then I thought, “Yeah, but what if instead of remembering the past, you remembered the future?”

My husband’s job is forecasting entertainment trends; I ran the idea by him and watched his eyes light up as I talked. I started writing Forgotten that day and finished it less than two months later.

There are parts of Forgotten that are reminiscent of the movie 50 First Dates. Were you inspired by the movie when writing your novel? Do you mind the comparisons?

I have a theory that there are really no original ideas, as much as we’d like to think that there are. In creative writing classes, everyone writes on the same topic and every story is different. In that way, I don’t mind comparisons—I’ve heard Forgotten compared to 50 First Dates, Memento, and even Time Traveller’s Wife without the time travel—but as much as I appreciated their stories, I wasn’t directly inspired by them.

I was most inspired by the idea of forward memories: how it would be wonderful and awful at the same time to remember your future.

What research did you have to do for Forgotten, if any?

I didn’t do any beforehand, but while writing, I did a lot of random one-off research to make the story and the characters as believable as possible.

For example, I’m still (thankfully) in touch with my high school creative writing teacher and he was a wonderful resource for things like typical junior class schedules and course requirements. One of my brothers used to work at a retirement home, so he was helpful in the scenes about London’s grandmother. And my high school boyfriend’s brother is the chief of police in my hometown: I asked him about how one might go about digging up a body.

There are quite a few serious issues covered in Forgotten. Is it important to you to cover such important subjects in your writing? If so, why?

It’s important to me to actually say something in a novel, but I never wanted Forgotten to come off as a message book. I do think that teens are smarter than some fiction gives them credit for, and they’ve got tough stuff going on in their lives, so it’s worth presenting the bigger issues because not only are they open and capable of understanding, but they can also relate.

How was your route to publication?

The road to publication of Forgotten was, so I’m told, abnormally fast. Yet for me, an impatient person, it was painfully slow. I wrote the novel in two months; when I was nearing the end, I researched a list of agents who I thought might be interested. On a chilly February morning, I was feeling particularly giddy about the state of the novel and, thinking that it would take awhile for him to get back, I emailed a pitch to my top pick. He wrote back in seven minutes, requesting the entire book via email. After doing a nervous/happy freakout dance, I promptly called my husband and asked him to fake sick and come home to watch our girls for the afternoon, which he did. I finished the book around 10 p.m. and sent it off to the agent. He liked it; he signed me up. We did several rounds of edits to get it ready for sale, then in August, 2009, it went to auction with (a shocking) six publishers bidding. Ultimately, Little, Brown bought it in the U.S., Egmont in the U.K. and several others worldwide. Since then, there’s been editing/copyediting, cover development, marketing planning and a whole lot of me tapping my nails, anxiously awaiting the worldwide launch of my first book.

Forgotten is your first book. How does it feel to know your debut novel will soon be in the hands of readers?

Exciting/terrifying/thrilling/amazing/exhilarating/overwhelming.

There have been a fair number of gorgeous covers for Forgotten on the internet, for the different editions in varying countries. Being from the UK, I have to say I love the cover designed by Josefine Jönsson. Which is your favourite?

I love each of the covers for different reasons. The US cover is incredibly striking with the massive print and the shadowy girl (plus I recently met the cover model, who is just lovely and also a Cat). The Australia cover is very dreamlike to me, with the swirling field of red flowers. It makes me so happy. And I adore the dark and mysterious UK cover. That “vibe” is what I’d always envisioned for Forgotten. I think the literal translation of the two sides of London’s brain is amazing and the windy, desolate backdrop is just perfect.



Tell us about how you write; do you write in a particular place? Do you have any music playing? Do you have any must-haves with you while writing?

We moved recently, and I took the opportunity to create my perfect writing space. My office is light grey with a wall of white bookshelves and two big windows that let in lots of natural light. I shut the door to block out sounds of lively toddlers playing with Daddy or Grandma, and listen to nothing but what’s happening in my brain (I love music but it’s way too distracting for me to have on in the background). I’m always cold, so I usually have a blanket wrapped around me and a latte next to me, too. I’m most productive in the morning; often I roll out of bed and write in my PJs for a few hours until hubby goes to work. My brain tends to shut down from three to five in the afternoon, so you’ll never catch me writing then. But I do think it’s important to write everyday to stay involved in your story.

What was most surprising to you during the writing process? And the publication process?

The most surprising thing about the writing process was how quickly my story leapt onto the page when I got really excited about it. When I have ideas for new books, I just start writing...if it’s taking too long or if I’m having to think too much about it, I know it’s not right and I move on.

Everything has surprised me about the publication process because I’m a newbie. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ride so far.

What are you working on now? Can you give us a teaser?

I’m editing my second novel, which will come out June 2012, and working on a third book which no one has seen yet but which I’m very excited about. I can’t give any details yet other than to say that both fall into my favourite niche...what I like to call “strange in Normalville.”

Which authors inspire your writing? What are you reading for at the moment and most looking forward to?

I’m very inspired by fiction crime writers like Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben and Tana French. I am in awe of the heartbreakingly genius character development that authors like Markus Zusak, John Green and Carolyn Mackler are known for. I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman: the man can do no wrong. Right at the moment, I’m reading my own second novel again; I’m not sure what I’ll start next. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the Matched series by Ally Condie.

Anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to spread the word about Forgotten!

Oh, and I’d love for anyone and everyone to friend me on Facebook; follow me on Twitter and check out my website at catpatrick.com.

Thank you, Cat, for such a fantastic interview! Be sure to check out Cat's website, and my review. Forgotten will be released on 6th June 2011, and you can pre-order it on Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Continue reading Interview with Cat Patrick

News: READ International Launches the Read for READ Anthology Competition

News from READ International about this year's short story writing competition.

READ International Launches the Read for READ Anthology Competition

READ International, a student-led educational charity that distributes textbooks to secondary schools in East Africa, is delighted to announce the official launch of the 2011 Read for READ Anthology Competition, on World Book Day, 3rd March.

The Read for READ Anthology 2011 is a unique short story competition for young, socially motivated aspiring writers, and will be launched with support from the British Library. To celebrate the endless possibilities that can derive from a single book, the theme of the anthology this year is ‘The Book Effect’, and will be a collection of stories that focus on inspiration and motivation.

Entrants can submit their story for free in the Read for READ competition, get the chance to have it judged by some of the best in the industry and be published in the anthology alongside established authors and other aspiring writers. Writers that get through to the second round of the competition will have their stories published on the READ website and will battle it out for public votes. Each vote token will cost 50 pence, the cost for READ International of sending a book to a child in Africa.

As Rob Wilson, founder of READ International, says ‘It never costs READ International more than 50 pence to move one book from a UK classroom into the hands of a Tanzanian or Ugandan school child or teacher’. With over three thousand pounds raised by voting cast by the public in 2010, the Read for READ anthology raised the potential to send 1500 books to East Africa, demonstrating how a love of reading and writing in the UK can directly enable more reading and writing amongst students in East Africa.

In anticipation of sending our one millionth book to East Africa this year, the Read for READ Anthology completes the circle of young aspiring writers and global citizens encouraging a new generation of readers and writers to become more socially engaged.

How can I enter?

The theme of the competition this year is ‘The Book Effect’.

At the heart of READ International’s work in the UK and East Africa is the potential for books and education to empower, motivate and inspire young people to achieve development, drive their communities forward and make change in their world. In this competition we would like you, as aspiring writers, to write a short story on this theme. It can be the subject of the writing itself or the characters within which create 'The Book Effect' and it is up to you to explore this in your entry. Be creative as you want with the theme, and then put pen to paper and enter it into our competition for free, starting your own 'Book Effect'.

For some inspiration and to see our own take on ‘The Book Effect’ click here.

To enter, write a short story of no more than 5000 words and be as creative as you like! Enter between the launch of the competition on 3rd March and the closing date on 29th April 2011. You can enter online by filling in the online Submission Form or by sending in your printed typescript story to us, along with a signed Postal Entry Form, to READ International, 39-41 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NR.

Who can enter?

Anybody over the age of 16 from anywhere in the world can enter the competition.

Continue reading News: READ International Launches the Read for READ Anthology Competition

Poetic Ponders (3)

Poetic Ponders is a feature run by the lovely Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time, where we share poems we love. As I'm a bit of a poem fan (when I understand them), I decided to join in!

This week, I'm sharing...

La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats
Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
Alone and palely loitering;
The sedge is wither'd from the lake,
And no birds sing.

Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel's granary is full,
And the harvest's done.

I see a lily on thy brow,
With anguish moist and fever dew;
And on thy cheek a fading rose
Fast withereth too.

I met a lady in the meads
Full beautiful, a faery's child;
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
And her eyes were wild.

I set her on my pacing steed,
And nothing else saw all day long;
For sideways would she lean, and sing
A faery's song.

I made a garland for her head,
And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She look'd at me as she did love,
And made sweet moan.

She found me roots of relish sweet,
And honey wild, and manna dew;
And sure in language strange she said,
I love thee true.

She took me to her elfin grot,
And there she gaz'd and sighed deep,
And there I shut her wild sad eyes--
So kiss'd to sleep.

And there we slumber'd on the moss,
And there I dream'd, ah woe betide,
The latest dream I ever dream'd
On the cold hill side.

I saw pale kings, and princes too,
Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
Who cry'd--"La belle Dame sans merci
Hath thee in thrall!"

I saw their starv'd lips in the gloam
With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke, and found me here
On the cold hill side.

And this is why I sojourn here
Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is wither'd from the lake,
And no birds sing.

I'm a bit of an art fan, especially of the pre-raphaelite paintings, as you may have guessed from last week's post. So when I find a beautiful painting and read it's based on a poem, I have to read it. And this one I love! The title means "The beautiful lady without pity." Another femme-fatale, I know, but I do love these poems that have an element of fantasy to them.
This poem is the version that was published in 1820, but it's not the original that was written in 1819. You read both and see the differences here. You can also read an analysis here. And below is a painting of the same title inspired by the poem by Frank Dicksee.

Continue reading Poetic Ponders (3)

Bookish News!

Book news for this week!

I've recently discovered the cover for Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready. Isn't it gorgeous?!

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (released 9th June 2011) - Born after The Shift, a little-understood event that enabled the younger generations to communicate with the dead, sixteen year-old Aura can see ghosts. These violet-hued spirits are constantly talking to her, following her, wanting her to help them make amends for their untimely deaths. Aura finds this all rather annoying ~ until her boyfriend Logan died and began to haunt her. Aura wants to be there for Logan, to support him as a friend, but while Logan struggles to come to terms with being a ghost, she finds herself increasingly drawn to her very-alive and very-cute friend, Zachary. And as the lines between ghost and shade, and friendship and love begin to blur, Aura realises that time is running out, and if she is to unlock the mysteries of the Shift then she must choose between Logan and Zachary. But when both boys hold a piece of your heart, how do you choose? From Amazon UK


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News from Quercus:

Quercus will imminently re-publish John Marsden’s Tomorrow, When the War Began. You might already be familiar with this YA classic as it was first published in Australia in the nineties where it sold by the truckload and become part of the Australian cultural landscape - so much so that it’s just been made into a film. It’s to be released here in the UK in April, and we at Quercus are delighted to be publishing the first title as a movie tie-in and then all of the subsequent six titles in the series over the next year or so.

I’m thrilled to say that Quercus have bought the entire series because of the incredible writing and gripping storyline-indeed though it has been around for a while, it feels oddly contemporary, tapping in as it does to the dystopian strain evident in so much current YA fiction.

You can see the trailer below:




Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden (released 7th April 2011) - When their country is invaded and their families are taken, eight high school teenagers band together to fight.

Seventeen-year-old Ellie Linton wants one final adventure with her friends before the school holidays are over. Packed in Ellie's parents' land rover they drive to the famously isolated rock pool Eden dubbed 'Hell' by the locals.

Returning to their home town of Wirrawee, the seven teenagers realize that something is seriously wrong. Power to the houses has been cut, pets and livestock have been left dead or dying, and most alarmingly of all, everyone's family has vanished.

When the hostile armed forces discover that the teenagers are lying low in the vicinity, Ellie and her friends must band together to escape, outwit and strike back against the mysterious enemy that has seized control of their town and imprisoned their friends and loved ones... From Amazon UK


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News from Puffin:

On 4th March, to begin the celebrations for the 10th Anniversary of Artemis Fowl this year, Puffin Books launched the iconic and very contemporary new covers for the Artemis Fowl series at a book jacket premiere on the big screens at London’s Piccadilly Circus. The author Eoin Colfer himself was present to do the countdown into the reveal. The new look books will publish, alongside the paperback of Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex, on 7th April 2011.

You can see the cover reveal below:





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Random House Children's Books now has it's own blog, Talk About Random:

Talk About Random has a jam-packed schedule of guest posts from some of our fabulous authors & illustrators including Louise Yates, Steve Cole, Jo Cotterill and Lauren Kate to name a few…

All our guest bloggers will be talking about their book choices for the following categories… Desert Island, New Discovery, Guilty Pleasure, Wish I’d Written & Use for Kindling. So, if you’re looking for some new reading ideas, come check out the blog.


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The Guardian has created a new Children's Books Site. Taken from the article:

Launched on World Book Day, the brand new Guardian children's books site has been designed and curated with the help of a dedicated editorial panel of 100 children and teens from around the world. They told us what they wanted, and we did our best to make it happen. And that's how the site will work: by children, for children.

Take a look around: you can read reviews, follow discussions, and watch and listen to the questions our panel have put to top authors, from Jacqueline Wilson to Malorie Blackman, Michelle Paver to Charlie Higson. There's age-themed content, a monthly podcast, a book club, extracts, quizzes, competitions with amazing prizes (win your height in books!) and much more. Inspired to get involved yourself? If you're under 18 and a booklover, we'd love to have you on board. Here's how.


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Books to check out:

David by Mary Hoffman (released 4th July 2011) - Michelangelo's statue of David is renowned all over the world. Thousands flock to Florence to admire the artistry behind this Renaissance masterpiece, and to admire the beauty of the human form captured in the marble. But the identity of the model for this statue that has been so revered for over five hundred years has been lost ...In this epic story Mary Hoffman uses her persuasive narrative skills to imagine the story of Gabriele, an eighteen-year-old who, by becoming Michelangelo's model, finds himself drawn into a world of spies, politicking, sabotage and murder. Set against the backdrop of Florence, a city in a state of constant siege, this is a rich, colourful and thrilling tale. From Amazon UK.


Blood on My Hands by Todd Strasser (released 7th April 2011) - In this gripping thriller, award-winning author Todd Strasser depicts a maddening tale of murder, betrayal, love and loyalty. A powerful and uncompromising read, it’s certainly not a book for the faint-hearted!

Some girls are glamorous, beautiful … and deadly. Found kneeling by a dead body, with a bloody knife in her hand can only mean Callie Carson is guilty of the brutal murder of Katherine Remington – can’t it? Joining the in-crowd is tough; leaving is a killer.

This is the first in a series of three slick and sophisticated books, it has all the glamour of Gossip Girl with the action of a techno thriller. Follow Cassie as she desperately tries to prove her innocence and find the real killer before her time is up and she faces losing everything important to her. From the press release.


The Captain Jack Sparrow Handbook by Jason Heller (released 1st April) - Exotic adventures and death-defying escapades with cinema’s favorite buccaneer!

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most successful film franchise in history, loved by adults and children alike. With the release of On Stranger Tides in 2011 – based on the book by best-selling fantasy author Tim Powers – this series is set to scale new heights of popularity.

With this hands-on book, full of practical information, tips, advice, anyone can realize their dream of becoming a pirate like their hero the unforgettable Jack Sparrow. Crammed with true-life, historical information from deciphering a treasure map, climbing rigging, how to survive when marooned, breaking a curse, evading pursers on land and at sea, firing a cannon and use of weaponry, to dress, eating when at sea, historical facts ,top pirates of the 18Century, The Pirate Code, the Geography of the Caribbean, treating a wound, dealing with supernatural forces, and much, much more, illustrated with line drawings and photographs, this is a must-have book for anyone who wants to buckle a swash, and sure to prove as popular as the other Handbooks from Quirk books! From the press release.

Continue reading Bookish News!

Favourite Covers: Atmospheric

Favourite covers is a feature run by the lovely Carly over Writing from the Tub, and she has kindly let me take part too.
Despite what's inside, some books can blow you away just by what's on the cover. I'm forever coming across beautiful, beautiful covers, and thought I would share them with you. Today's post, atmospheric covers!


Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter


Timeless by Alexandra Monir


My Soul to Steal by Rachel Vincent


Silver Smoke by Monica Leonelle


Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake


Exile by Rebecca Lim


Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton


Honalee by Amanda Hocking


Intrinsical by Lani Woodland


Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon


Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach


Hereafter by Tara Hudson


The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

So which is your favourite? I can't choose! There are too many beautiful ones!

Continue reading Favourite Covers: Atmospheric