Question And Answer With Samantha Rendle

Samantha Rendle, author of House of Vampires (AmazonUK, Barnes&Noble, Silverwood Publishing) is here for an interview today!  I haven't had time to finish the book yet, but from what I've read it's really good!  Check out more about the book on Goodreads!  Now I'm going to hand over to Sam, who will tell us a little about House of Vampires before the interview... 

House of Vampires is a book about vampires and other worlds, for younger and older audiences. The main character, Pete, finds a key to a mysterious world and must protect it from the vampires, who want to use the key to turn the world upside down. He joins the Hunters, a group of people who stand against the vampires, and hides the key, but soon the vampires come after a loved one and he's forced to face them.

When did you first realise that you wanted to be an author?

Probably primary school, when we had to write a story. I wrote about sky pirates and really enjoyed it. My teacher loved it and I wanted to write more.  I also remember having to rewrite the Jabberwocky poem with my own nonsense words. That was fun.

Now, you’ve put a whole new angle to the vampire mythology: what was the first aspect to pop into your mind?  Was it a twist, a character, a name?

I had Pete’s character already, and I’d tried him in a few different scenarios before making him a vampire. The key was the next idea after that, then Lilith. Again I rewrote a few times before House of Vampires properly formed.

Of all the characters you created, who is your favourite?

Well, Pete was wandering around in my mind for a long time before I settled him into a storyline. I knew what I wanted him to look and act like, and after spending a lot of time developing I’ve grown attached to him, so I’d say Pete’s my favourite character. I also like Will and Frank, though, and I have a favourite character in the new book but I won’t say more than that!

If House of Vampires were to be made into a film, who would you cast as your main characters?

That’s a good question. I think about that quite a lot, actually! My sister always says she’d star in it! Let’s see... I think Emily Browning would be pretty good as Annie, Alex Pettyfer can play Frank, Toby Regbo can play Pete and Juno Temple can play Lilith. Also my friend Calum wants to be an actor so I’ll be nice and give him a role. He can be Will.

Are you planning a series for the House of Vampires characters?  Or are you working on a whole new project (can you give us a hint!)?

I am planning a sequel; I’m actually pretty far through it, but I’m concentrating on another supernatural adventure at the moment. Hopefully that’ll be a series, too.  This one’s about magic, and for a similar audience to House of Vampires.

You’re only a teenager: what was the hardest part of getting your book written and out there for all to read?

Well SilverWood was local, and one of the first publishers I wrote to. I contacted Helen at SilverWood and she was very interested in the book, but asked if I should see an agent first. But I thought self publishing would be easier with my age and lack of writing experience, so I went with that. I was in sixth form at the time, and I’d say saving EMA to publish the book wasn’t all too easy.

Sticking to writing, do you have any particular writing habits?  Do you need a special pen, a strict schedule and plan, or do you just let the story develop whenever you get an idea?

I got a journal for Christmas, but at the moment I already have a journal for when I need to complain about something or just write personal things down, so I just use the new one for book ideas and developing stories, and keep it with my laptop for when I’m writing.

A seemingly easy question: What is your favourite book of all time?

Oh God, that’s not easy! I love Nicholas Sparks, so I’d say Safe Haven and The Notebook, but I’m also into the I Am Number Four series and Frankenstein. There are so many! I can’t choose. I’ll go with The Notebook because I’m soppy.

A ridiculous question: If a Book Fairy appeared, and said you could be any character or creature – ever – from any book, who would you be?

Either Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Diaries because she’s gorgeous and powerful and she has two Italian vampires drooling over her, or Saphira from the Eragon series because she’s a dragon.

Final question: What advice can you give to all the aspiring authors out there?

Never throw away paper you could use for notes, always keep a pen on you and don’t rule out self publishing just because you have to pay for it.


Thank you for stopping by, Sam!   It was lovely having you!

Question & Answer With Cliona @ Bookster Reviews

It is a huge pleasure to have Cliona here, from Bookster Reviews!  This is an amazing blog, one I always love to visit.  I hope you all like the interview and love Cliona's blog as much as I do!

Why did you become a blogger?  Was it something you’ve always wanted to do, or was it a more spontaneous decision?

Actually, I hadn’t really heard of blogging before I took it up! So yes, it was a spontaneous decision. I was actually on the Threads (by Sophia Bennett) website, and I found a link to a blog called The Mile Long Bookshelf. The blogs owner, Amber, had the same taste in books as me, and after reading TMLB for a few weeks until I decided to make my own blog! I actually had been looking for new book recommendations anyway around that time, so I was delighted to find this new book-related!

 

Do you have a favourite genre or theme?

I enjoy most genres. My favourites would be fantasy, like Harry Potter, Darren Shan, Percy Jackson, that kind of thing. I’ve actually begin reading The Chronicles of Narnia recently, which I’m enjoying too! I love how fantasy just let’s me escape to a whole different world, instead of boring old reality! I also like contemporary realism, and chick lit, just because they’re fun to read! Genres I wouldn’t like so much would probably be historical fiction, and sometimes paranormal. I know a lot of people really like historical books, and think it takes them to a different world, like fantasy does with me. But I find it a little…tedious. Of course, it depends on the author and the book, but in general, I’m not a big fan. And with paranormal, a lot of them can be fantastic, but I think since Twilight, there’s been too much of the same boy- meets girl-girl finds out boy is vampire/werewolf/etc.-girl and boy fall in love and so on!

Do you have a book or author that you always seem to go back to?  After you have a tough day or when you feel ill?

Well, it depends on my mood. Harry Potter, of course, would be one! They were the first books I really loved, so they’ll always be special to me. Darren Shan’s Demonata series or Saga of Darren Shan would also be books that make me feel better. Also, if I don’t feel like reading those, for some good chick lit, Cathy Hopkins’ Mates, Dates… or Cinnamon Girl series. And a great, not very well known favourite of mine, The Wedding Planner’s Daughter: Playing Cupid by Coleen Murtagh Paratore. It’s such a sweet, lovely book!

Now, I know you spend a lot of time reading, but what else do you do?

Well, of course, I love blogging and reading other blogs. Also, I love playing sport and cycling. Oh wait, cycling is a sport, isn’t it…J I like Irish Dancing, listening to music, watching movies, playing Mario Bros on the Wii and spending time with friends and family! 

How long have you been a hard-core reader?  Have you just seemed to have grown up with a book in your hand?  Or did a story change your mind about reading?

I’ve been a reader since I was about six. I remember I never read, and then my teacher told me it was World Book Day, and to read a book that day, and I was so inspired I went home and read six and a half books! Short ones, mind you, but that’s quite and achievement for a six year old, I think!

Let’s say you can go and live in any book – any book at all.  Which book would you choose and why?

This might seem like a typical answer-but Harry Potter! It just sounds like so much fun! Being able to do magic, and having exciting adventures, and studying exciting subjects in school, like Transfiguration and Defence Against the Dark Arts, not Maths and French!

Do you have any ‘pet peeves’ when it comes to writing?  A type of character that really winds you up?  A personality?

Eh… Well, I don’t really like it when descriptions are very long and there isn’t much conversation. I find that boring! Or if the story doesn’t have a good structure, and just rambles on.  I would just stop reading it then! If the main character is really needy and whingy, then that really turns me off the book too! I like strong, kind characters!

Which book would you most like to see be made into a movie?

Lord Loss by Darren Shan. One of my all-time favourite books. It’s a fantasy horror novel about a boy who’s parents and sister are killed by demons. He sees the demons but escapes before they can catch him. No-one believes him about the demons except his uncle, who he goes to live with. He finds out why his family was killed and some other sinister secrets about his family… It would be very gory though! One of Shan other novels, The Vampire’s Assistant has been turned it a movie, but that wasn’t great. I hope, if they ever make a movie out of this, that it is better than that was!

Be honest here – what are the worst and best parts of being a book blogger?  The highs and lows?

The worst…I’d say would be sometimes I feel bad that I don’t post a lot of reviews! And then I look at other blogs and they have so many posts and review on theirs and I feel bad, but I just don’t have enough time! The best bits are the nice comments and the followers! A nice comment can really make my day. And knowing that there are people I’ve never even met who like my blog and enjoy reading my reviews is brilliant! I don’t have a lot of followers compared to other blogs, but to me it’s more than I ever imagined I would have!

Thanks so much for interviewing me Megan! 

You are very welcome, Cliona!  It was a pleasure having you!  And I very much agree about going to Hogwarts!  Good luck with your future blogging, and I hope everyone enjoyed the interview!

Teaser Tuesday (#29)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Here are the rules:

• Open your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
• Be careful not to include spoilers!
• Share the title and author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teaser!

Technically, I've already finished this book, but I just loved it so much that I just had to give a little snippet from it!  This is... a brilliant moment in the book, one I was smiling stupidly at and made me fall in love with Trudie, even though you never 'meet' her...  I really loved this book and I hope you love the quote!!

From Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale, Chapter Four, Page 52

"Poor Eileen?  She didn't have a clue!"

She'd come in, introduced herself, then spoke to Mum ve-ry slo-wly and loudly.  Mum just stared at her, looked at me and Sarah and then said, "I'm sorry, are you quite well?"

"The look on her face!" Sarah laughs.  "Priceless!"

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

 

Synopsis From Blurb, Check The Book Out On Goodreads

One Secret Can Change Everything.

When Rosie Kenning's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's disease, her whole world falls apart.  Not only does Rosie desperately miss her mum, but now she has to face the fact that she could have inherited the fatal illness her self.  Until she discovers that Trudie wasn't her biological mother at all...  Rosie is stunned.  Can this be true?  Is she grieving for a mother who wasn't even hers to lose?  And if Trudie wasn't her mother, who is?

But as Rosie delves into her past to discover who she really is, she is faced with a heart-breaking dilemma - to continue living a lie, or to reveal a truth that will shatter the lives of everyone around her...

This book is truly, truly amazing!  Beautiful, sad, life-affirming, thought-provoking...  Seriously, before I write my whole review here, let me recommend this to everyone!  It's a 5 Star book for me, and I can't wait for what Katie brings out next!!

 

 

Well, that's my little teaser!  Hope you liked it!

 

What's your teaser this week? :)

In My Mailbox (#44)

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's a perfect way to see who's reading and review what.  Awesome! 

I was lucky enough to be invited to Katie Dale's Book Launch of Someone Else's Life: thank you for the invite Katie!  I had so much fun, especially during the acting-out of your Fairy Tale Twists book!  It was lovely to meet you, and all the other authors there!  The other Edge Authors: Savita Kalhan, Miriam Halahmy (see her guest post on The Book Addicted Girl), and Dave Cousins - it was great to see you again Dave!  And also Mark Robson and Jackie Marchant.  For everyone else I know I met and forgot their names, I'm sorry but it was a pleasure to meet you too!  Of course, as the launch was held in Waterstones, I simply had to browse the books!  I managed to pick up a beautiful book, and of course Someone Else's Life! :D  Check out Katie's site: here.

From Katie Dale's Book Launch:

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale (Goodreads | Amazon)
How Can You Face Your Future When Your Past Is A Lie?
I'm so almost finished this, and loving every second of it!  Katie, thank you so much for the invite and signing my book!  I'm very much looking forward to your guest post for your blog tour! :)

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick (Goodreads | Amazon)
This is such a beautiful book!  More than half of it is these gorgeous drawings, and even though it's probably too young for me, I just couldn't resist buying it!  Well, if these things are going to be held in Waterstones, what do you expect?!
The Edge Leaflet
Dangerous little leaflet: too many good books!! ;)
The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan Bookmark (Goodreads | Amazon | Author Site)
This book looks SO GOOD!  I HAVE to buy it!  :D
Fairy Tale Twists by Katie Dale Bookmark (Goodreads | Amazon | Author Site)
God, these little books are hilarious!  This mark is now being used in Someone Else's Life. :D
Dragon Orb Series by Mark Robson Bookmark (Goodreads | Amazon | Author Site)
This series looks ace: I want to read it!  :D 

For Review:

Immortal City by Scott Speer (Goodreads | Amazon)

When Guardian Angels Protect For Money,

What Happens If One Saves For Love?
This looks so, so, so, so good!  I can't wait to read it!   I mean, guardian angels who protect for money and get treated like celebrities?  It just sounds so good!!!!!!

Explorer X: Beta by L.M. Preston (Goodreads | Amazon)
Thanks to the author for sending this to me, and for Stormi who invited me to take part in the blog tour.  :)

The Traitors by Tom Becker (Goodreads | Amazon)

Adam Wilson Has BETRAYED His Friend.

Now He Must Face The CONSEQUENCES.
This is such a new idea for me: getting sent to a special prison for betraying your friend?  I've never heard of anything like it.  And from the bit I've read, it's so cool!
Thank you Scholastic and L.M!

 

E-Books For Review:

 

Winterborne (Universe Unbound, Book One) by Augusta Blythe (Goodreads | Amazon)

This looks brilliant, so I simply couldn't say no to Augusta!  And this cover?  I am so in love with it right now!

Ravenstoke (Universe Unbound, Book Two)  by Augusta Blythe (Goodreads | Amazon)

This also looks brilliant, and the cover is equally brilliant! :)

Teagan's Blood (Ultimate Powers, Book One) by Lorraine McInerney (Amazon)

This sounds great too, and I am equally loving this cover!


Well, that's what I got this week.  I'm super-please with all my books and am loving (and almost finsihed) Someone Else's Life. 

What books did you get this week? :)

Legend by Marie Lu

Series: Legend Trilogy, Book One

Publisher: Puffin

Format: ARC

Published: 2^nd February 2012

Book: For Review*

Genre: Dystiopian, Science-Fiction, Action-Adventure, Mystery, Romance, Thriller-Suspense, YA

Recommended Age: 12+

Contains: Violence, Death

No Alcohol, Drug References

Author's Site: Marie Lu

Los Angeles, California

Republic of America

He is Day.

The boy who walks in the light.

She is June.

The girl who seeks her brother’s killer.

On the run and undercover, they meet by chance.  Irresistibly drawn together, neither knows the other’s past.

But Day murdered June’s brother.

And she has sworn to avenge his death.

                                                                   Review:

Day is the most wanted person in the Republic.  June is the Republic’s prodigy, on a mission to find her brother’s killer.

Day.

Undercover, the two meet, oblivious to the other’s identity.  Against all the odds, they start to fall in love.  But June has promised her brother that she will avenge his death.

When the truth is revealed and both of their worlds begin to crumble, will these two teenagers be able to put aside their differences and fight to say alive?

Now, I recently have read a lot of dystopian books.  And, boy, did I have high expectations of Legend!  And you know what?  It lived up to them all.  There was a totally epic and wonderfully thought-out world (which was also terrifying), a strong heroine, a swoon-worthy hero, a totally believable love story and a huge web of lies.  In my eyes, this not only equals great dystopian, it equals just all-round great book!  Marie Lu, I can’t wait to see what you bring out next!

Day was a legend in Los Angeles – everyone knew his name.  He was sweet: he had to know his family as safe and he really, really cared for and loved Tess.   A worryingly good actor, he was brave, adventurous, rather reckless and was able of doing the impossible.  I loved that he was snarky, loud-mouthed and clever, and just as observational as June.  As for why he chose the name “Day”, oh it just made me love him even more!

June Iparis, aged fifteen, was “the Republic’s favourite little prodigy”.  But instead of being all goody-goody, she was cheeky, mildly rebellious and often in trouble!  The way she saw and noticed everything really reminded me of Sherlock Holmes: a freakin’ deduction genius!  But despite the rebellious streak, she was devoted to the Republic: the perfect soldier.  She was just a good person who has been fed lies all her life.  She was also snarky, confident, funny and strong, and absolutely doted on her brother.  I couldn’t help loving the crazy, reckless, kick-butt genius!

The other characters were amazing, and equally well padded out, in my opinion.  Tess, who hung with Day, was so sweet.  It was obvious she adored Day, and her fragility just made her so loveable to me.  Captain Metias Iparis, June’s big brother and guardian: he was just so lovely, always there for “Junebug”!  He was a really good person, one I fell in love with the moment I met him!  There was Captain Thomas, a soldier, who I started of liking, until I slowly saw the real person inside.  Commander Jameson, stern, strict, ruthless, the Republic’s lackey.  Day’s brother John, so loving and warm and protective of his little brothers: even though he wasn’t in it much, I loved him too.

The relationship between Day and June was brilliantly done – neither knew who the other was, and yet I could feel the history, the chemistry.  Even when they both found out who the other was, they couldn’t help the feelings.  And they were alike in so many ways, so it was no secret why they should like each other.  They had the same talents.  That’s why June was sent.  The Republic knew they thought alike.  They knew June would get Day, given a motive.  People have complained about their similarities, but I would’ve thought that after reading the book it would have made sense.  Or maybe it’s only in my (very twisted) mind that all the pieces clicked.  For me, the similarities, shared gifts and traits were a MUST.  Plus, none of the other events would have been possible otherwise. 

I, in a twisted way, love dystopian worlds.  They all haves some parallels with our world, often exaggerating the extreme wealth and poverty.  And this world? So, so epic!  I loved how it was all described, how it was controlled and how everything was explained.  The pretence covered the terrible truth without a single fault.  Lu just wove the most amazing society, terrifying and amazing.

And the writing was amazing!  It kept me on the edge of my seat.  I was totally immersed in the world and story.  There was enough description so I saw everything, it not enough to make it boring in the slightest.  I really got into Day and June’s heads; fell in love with both of them.  More, Lu’s writing was addictive and exciting, and before I knew it, I had finished the book.  Amazing! 

I loved the plot of Legend.  The twists and turns.  The way the romance happened.  The way the truth came out, the way… Well, how more or less everything happened.  There were, of course, aspects from the beginning I suspected would happen – this is a dystopian world, after all, and everything tends to kick off in similar ways.  But some I didn’t see some things coming at all.  And whether I guessed the plot parts or not, I loved every second – I simply cannot wait to see where Book Two takes us!

A prodigy, genius girl, a master criminal boy and a Republic with more secrets than citizens, Legend was a brilliant story that had me hooked from start to finish.  I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5

Read this book if you liked:

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Divergent by Veronica Ross

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

Challenges It's Taking Part In:

100 Books in a Year Reading Challenge 2012 (Hosted by Book Chick City)

Happy Reading

Megan

* This book was received from Puffin in exchange for an honest review

Number of Pages: 304

Waiting on Wednesday (#32)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, and it's a weekly meme all about the books that are coming out soon that we really can't wait to read.

One book on my list this week.  And it is...

Unravelling

By: Elizabeth Norris
Published: 7th June2012

Published By: HarperCollins
Found: On Amazon

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.
From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!   This looks SO good!  As in, I may DIE waiting for it good!  Ok.  I'll stop now.

Well, that's the book I'm waiting for.

What're you waiting for today?