Chicklish Birthday Event and More!

Firstly, I need to apologise for being a bit slack with news posts. Things have been a little hectic away from the internet over the last few weeks, a lot has been happening. But here is one post with all the news bits I need to share with you all.

CHICKLISH BIRTHDAY EVENT

Chicklish, the wonderful book blog edited by awesome YA author Luisa Plaja, is turning four this year! To celebrate, there is going to be a Birthday Event!

Tales on Moon Lane and Southwark Libraries would like to invite you to spend an evening with teen authors Luisa Plaja, Sarra Manning, Keris Stainton and Simmone Howell at Dulwich Library on Monday 28th June at 5.45pm.

The authors will be discussing their writing from 6.15 followed by an opportunity to get books signed. Drinks will be served. There is no charge for tickets but places are limited, If you would like to book a place please call Tales on Moon Lane on 0207 274 5759, email us on info@talesonmoonlane.co.uk or pop into the shop or Dulwich Library.

I am SO excited! I have booked my place, and I'm really looking forward to it - as long as my new job hasn't started before then! Not only am I going to meet some seriously awesome authors and have a good time with some fellow book bloggers - there is at least one I know of who's planning on going - but I will also finally get to meet the awesome Luisa! After the help and support she has given me over the last year, it'll be awesome to meet her and thank her properly.

Fellow UK book bloggers - how about another UK bloggers meet up? I think there are at least a few of us who would be eager to go to this event, so how about it?

BLOOMSBURY AUTHOR VIDEOS

I received an email from Bloomsbury with some links videos to share with you all.

Take a look at Celia Rees talking about her Shakespeare inspired novel The Fool’s Girl at The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Lucy Jago takes us on a tour of the National Trust property Montacute House, and explains why she chose to set her book of the same name in this beautiful house.

Ian Beck’s thrilling trailer for Pastworld will have you on the edge of your seat.

The chilling trailer for Mortlock by Jon Mayhew will send shivers down your spine.

TORMENT EXTRACT

I was emailed by Random House Children's Books with news that Random House US had released a Torment extract! I am sooo excited for this book you have no idea. Get clicking and get reading! Feel free to discuss here if you like!

MELVIN BURGESS

On Saturday 5th June, I went with Becky of The Bookette, Caroline of Portrait of a Woman and Non of Catnip Publishing to a Melvin Burgess talk and signing! It was just awesome! Becky has written an awesome event summary, go check it out!

BI&SP MONTH UPDATE & REQUEST FOR HELP

As I said at the beginning of this post, life has been a bit hectic for me lately. This means I haven't made as much progress as I would have liked with my BI&SP Month reading. I'm still working my way through the books I want to read, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to get through them all in time, unfortunately. I had no idea I would be so busy, or I would have managed my time a little better. What does this mean? There might not be quite as many posts as I would like on my blog for this month.

With this in mind, if there is anyone who would be willing to help me out, either by reading a book on the topic (check out the list here) and writing a guest review, or writing a guest post on the topic, I would really appreciate it. If you're interested at all, please email me at joannestapley[at]googlemail[dot]com. Thank you so much!

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Event Report: The First UK YA Book Bloggers Meet Up

A group of 13 women of varying ages caused havoc at Costa Coffee shop in the basement of Waterstone's Piccadilly on Saturday 15th May, at 12pm. Other customers looked on in shock as the ladies pushed tables together and formed a huge meeting. Their reason for meeting? To discuss books.


Sammee, Becky, Caroline, and Sophie.
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Those in attendance of the first ever London YA Book Blogger's Meet Up were Lynsey of Narratively Speaking, Sarah of Sarah's Book Reviews, Cat of This Count's as Writing, Right?, Sammee of I Want to Read That, Becky of The Bookette, Caroline of Portrait of a Woman, Sophie of So Many Books, So Little Time, Nayu of Nayu's Reading Corner, Carly of Writing from the Tub, Kelly and Lauren from RHCB, Non from Catnip Publishing, and myself. The ladies had travelled to London for the meet up from across England, including Southampton, Basingstoke, and Bath.


Caroline, Sophie, Cat and Nayu.
Carly was next, but I didn't realise I'd missed her. Sorry Carly!
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Ok, I'm done trying to write this like an article. It's been forever since I've actually written an article, and it's already taken me too long to write this much. Saturday was such a great day! It would be a little difficult to mention everything about the meet up, so I'll give you a rough overview. A few of the things discussed: Twilight, Fallen, the Vampire Academy series, werewolves and vamps. The books bloggers were writing, books publishers were publishing, books we were reading. Recommendations flew all over (I should have written some down. I remember Heavenly, and that's about it. Ladies, if you're reading, and you mentioned to me a book I should read, comment please!). Some of the ladies went to browse books, while Sarah, Lynsey and I stayed behind to eat and watch bags, and so being three of, if not the only, bloggers who also review some adult fantasy, urban fantasy was discussed, including Jeaniene Frost, Lara Adrian, Keri Arthur, Laurell K Hamilton, J. R. Ward - basically, books that have sex scenes, but those with more story than sex and vice versa - I'm more of a fan of the former, Jeaniene Frost ftw!


Kelly (RHCB), Lauren (RHCB), and Non (Catnip Publishing).
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The lovely RHCB publicists, Lauren and Kelly came, as I said, and it was great meeting them! They talked to us about a few of the books they publish, but mainly Fallen by Lauren Kate. And they came baring gifts! You wouldn't believe the squeeing that was made by us as we opened our ailver wrapped bound manuscripts of Torment, the sequel to Fallen! You have absolutely NO idea how excited I am to read this book! Finally, some answers to some questions! Unfortunately for you, though, you won't be reading any of my thoughts about the book until much closer to the release date, around October time. Yup, we were terribly lucky!


Lynsey with both Lauren Kate books.
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Though there wasn't just gifts from the publicists. On Friday, before the meet up, we emailed each other with spare books we had, and swapped some on the day. I gave Becky my extra copy of The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and gave Sarah some urban fantasies in the middle of series I haven't yet started. Sarah gave me the whole Vampire Beach series by Alex Duval, and Sophie gave me her spare copy of Spirit Bound! I am absolutely dying to read it! I can't thank both girls enough.


Sarah.
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People had travelled from quite a way away, and some had other commitments, so slowly but surely, our group of 13 dwindled down to 6. First to go was Non, then the RHCB girls, then Carly, followed by Cat, who was then followed by Sarah and Nayu. That left me, Becky, Lynsey, Sophie, Sammee and Caroline.

Evetually, there was shopping. We spent forever in Waterstone's YA section, and moved on to another book shop who's name I forget, and then Foyles. To see what I bought, check out yesterday's IMM post. I had a severe case of book lust, and said several times "I want to live here" - at Waterstone's and at Foyles. I could have bought more books - I wanted to! - but I had to be sensible. My TBR pile is mad enough as it is.


Me. With a dalek. In Waterstone's. It had to be done.
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Then, we went to Weatherspoons, for a well earned sit down and rest from the heavy bags we were dragging along the road behind us - and a drink of course. There was more talk! Male lit crushes, different types of review, other blogs, blogging ethics, and much more.

By the time half 7 came along, we were all tired and ready for home, so we called it a day. I had such a BRILLIANT time! It was great meeting, and seeing again in some cases, these wonderful bloggers that I admire. The first meet up was a brilliant success, and it won't be the last! Thank you to everyone who came along, and made such a great day! Some of the other girls mentioned writing posts about the event, so check out there blogs! :) Sarah has one with some really awesome photos, it's great!

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